Astrild; Goddess of Love

Chapter 29 - Training with The Winter Soldier

Author's Note; Sorry I haven't published any chapters in a while, so I'll give you guys two today. Thanks for reading and as always remember to comment and vote, FanGirl8ygc3804

The next morning I woke up around nine to a thumping noise. I lit a fireball and snook down the corridor.

Opening the door, I found Bucky beating up a punch bag with his metal arm tied behind his back.

"Need a partner?" As I spoke I extinguished the Fire.

"F--for crying out loud!" He managed to change his sentence at the last second. "Can you step on a lose floorboard or something next time?! You gave me the fright of my life."

"Sorry." I said trying to hold in my laughter. "You do realize you can swear in front of me?"

"Oh it's not you, it's Steve. He's not a fan. Force of habit, I guess." He shrugged and picked up a staff. "Why don't you grab a staff?" The room we were in had reinforced walls and plenty of training equipment still laying around. I picked one up, tested the weight and twirled it around to behind me.

Creating some vines I tied my left hand behind my back. I twirled the staff one handed,

"I have to warn you, my trainer was very thorough and any gaps I did have Steve filled in." I said smugly.

"Well, I had the Army and Captain America himself trained me so we'll see."

We stood opposite each other and took a fighting stance.

"I haven't got all day." I teased.

In response Bucky tucked the staff behind him and running into a hand spring came towards me. I ran towards him striking at his shins as he landed. He was quicker jumping out of the way.

We now stood left shoulder to left shoulder. I let the staff drop also all the way out of my hand then in one fluid motion placed it in front of his me and swinging my right leg around to hook over the end of that staff. I effectively had him in a choke hold. My body pressed against him as I kept my balance on my left leg.

"Had enough?" He wheezed mockingly before using his firm footed to pull my supporting leg from under me towards him. As my balance shifted gravity pulled my backwards and my hold brought Bucky down on top of me. He primed his elbow and it contacted with my lower ribcage with a sickening crack.

"Argh! I think you broke my rib." I exclaimed as pain spread across the middle of my torso. I focused the healing. "Yep, that's broken." I said as Bucky helped me up.

"Sorry, that was a bit rough and a dirty trick besides." He admitted scratching the back of his neck awkwardly as I removed the jumper he'd thrown at me previously.

"It's alright HYDRA won't exactly play fair, will they?" I asked rhetorically. I poked around to see how bad the bruising was and hit a raw nerve and had to take a sharp breath before I could continue, "How bad is it?"

"Hmm?" He asked his back to me.

"The Winter Soldier isn't squeamish is he?" I laughed but soon regretted it.

"No, he just respects your privacy." He said solemnly.

"Would you just look I need to know how much pain it'll be." I whined.

"Fine, but if Steve returns now, you're explaining because I would rather not get a black eye." He said as he faced me, he laid his hand on my ribcage, moving slowly until the pain stopped. "From below your bra to your waist is bruised." He concluded.

"Thanks. Give me a minute?" I smiled.

"Sure, anything for Steve's dame." He winked before bounding up the stairs. It annoyed me being referred to as property but he made me laugh all the same.