The Proposal

Pushing it

In the week following the party in the city all Artemis could think about was Steve and Bucky's proposal. Didn't matter what she was doing or who she was with, the thought of their offer and what they would do to her if she said yes was always present in the forefront of her mind. For sure the next morning, hell, the next few days after the party had been a little awkward for her while she attempted to go about her business like they hadn't said what they did to her. Not wanting anyone to know Artemis was forced to keep her thoughts and concerns to herself. That is until she broke down one girls night with Natasha who she swore to secrecy. As for the men in question? Well they seemed a little tense themselves but for the most part they, especially Bucky, were more relaxed around her.

Maybe finally having gotten out what they needed to say had cleared the air in a way for him to finally relax around her. Glad that someone was chill, Artemis had to focus extremely hard on each and every task especially when either man was around. And now that things had been cleared up she had no choice but to attend the daily knife sessions with Buck that she requested. Although to be fair when she originally had asked it was to hone her skills and to work on their friendship at most a couple times a week. Not anymore. Insisting that he make up for his asshole-ish behavior Bucky scheduled time for them every day after their group run in the morning.

Unfortunately for her or should she say him, Bucky had her so distracted that she'd slipped and nicked him while they trained this morning. The first time was an accident that she'd apologized profusely afterwards for. The second time he totally had coming after his head got a little swollen from her slip up and then there was the third time because he had been getting handsy. On his knees before her facing the opposite way Artemis had Bucky's head tipped back into her chest as her dagger dug into the tender skin underneath his chin. Hissing in his ear so no one else could hear her Artemis snarls, "What do you think you're doing, Barnes? Just because I admitted I don't find you ugly and I kissed you once, doesn't mean your hands can wander."

Sharing a look with Sam who was looking at him like he was a dead man he winks at his friend making him snort out a laugh as he bumps Steve's side who was correcting Peter's form. Both turn to see Buck still on his knees and Artemis's knife to his throat. Shaking his head Steve smirks at him knowing exactly what he was up to, telling the others to leave Buck to his punishment he slips on a pair of boxing gloves and motions to the kid to come at him. Rolling his eyes up to the bit of her face that he could see Bucky grins at her. "My hand slipped. I swear, angel." He chuckles, turning his head as far as her blade would allow to graze his lips along her cheekbone.

The feeling of his soft lips on her skin had her repressing a shiver of want. Half a second later she realized what he was doing. "Slip again and see if you don't end up with a second metal hand, doll." Fighting back the urge to lick a line up the side of his throat to taste the salty sweat clinging to his skin, Artemis straightened up clenching her jaw and flaring her nostrils. Forcing him forward onto the mat on his stomach with a not so gentle nudge in the middle of his back with her knee. "Now get up and let's go again. Without the wandering hands or I tag in Romanoff." Her threat made him hold his hand up in surrender while the other still held his own blade.

"Aright, angel. Alright. No more playing about." Getting back onto his feet Bucky grins as he slowly circles Artemis who keeps him in her sights determined to not let him get into her head again. But the damned man couldn't help himself. Staring at her with heat in his eyes like he was undressing her and imagining those fantasies he'd overheard.

Lashing out Artemis halfheartedly slashes at his stomach to get him to back up. She hisses not daring to take her eyes off of Bucky in case he went to strike out. "Will you stop looking at me like that!" She was more than aware of the fact that they are in a very crowded room and didn't want to attract anymore attention than they already were.