Sucker Punched

I cough out a breath as I stand after having been thrown down onto the mat. I look up to see a concerned Bucky, stooped down to make eye contact.

"I'm fine, Buck." I say, waving him off.

"Are you sure? You seemed to land pretty hard."

"I've taken harder hits and falls before. Don't worry, I can handle myself." I retreat to my duffel in search of my water bottle.

"Okay." He concedes.

It's true. I have taken harder hits. Some of of them are the perks of the job, and most others are from home. I've got a few bruises around my rib cage to prove it. No one knows. I cover up what I can with clothing and the rest I mask with make-up. It's not that I don't trust the team enough to tell them, it's that I don't trust how they'll react when they find out. It is my fight afterall.

"Hey, do you think you'll stick around for movie night?" Bucky asks. "The entire thing usually sucks, but I think it would be better with you there. I mean, most things are."

"I'm sorry, Buck, but I can't. Josh has some sort of night in planned and he wants me home at..." I check the time quickly and my stomach drops. "Oh shit. I have to be there in fifteen minutes. Oh man. He's gonna be so pissed."

I shove my belongings into my duffel and practically run for the door.

"Wait!" Bucky calls after me. "Are you going to be at Stark's party tomorrow?"

"Of course." I say with a sarcastic eye roll. "Tony said he would cut me from the team if I don't. Empty threats, but I'll be there none the less."

"Okay. See you then?"

"Yeah." I nod in affirmation. "See you tomorrow."

With that I sprint out of the room, out of the building and into the busy streets of New York City.

*time lapse of half an hour*

It took me half an hour on foot, but I was finally able to make it to the apartment in a halfway decent amount of time. My hope was that Josh had forgotten what time I was supposed to be home. Sadly, that was not the case.

As soon as I walk through the door, he's there. He's got a malicious look on his face, and his hands appear to be twitching. I brace myself for whatever is about to come.

"You're late." He says, his voice low.

"I know. I'm really sorry." I hang my keys on the hook at let my bag fall to the floor. "Training went over the allotted time, and foot traffic was absolutely insa-"

My words were cut short by a solid smack to my cheek. The blood immediately rises to the surface of my skin and it begins to sting.

"That's a horrible excuse" He growls. "You were hanging out with that freak weren't you?"

"He's not a freak. He's my trainer. We were sparring and lost track of ti-"

Another slap echoes through the entrance of the apartment. This time I can feel tears welling up in my eyes.

"Quit LYING to me." He grabs my ponytail, wraps it around his hand once and yanks on it hard before dragging me into the living room by my hair. I scratch at his hands in a sad attempt at trying to loose myself from his grasp. At this he knees me in the ribs, earning a hoarse "oomf" from me.

"I'm going to teach you not to lie to me, you good for nothing whore." He throws me down onto the hardwood floor of the loft and I land with a loud, painful and resounding slap. He pulls his foot back and kicks, sinking his foot into my stomach. He pulls his foot back again for another blow, and I close my eyes and brace for impact, but it never comes. I hear glass shattering and then a dull thud. Opening my eyes I find Bucky, crouched down next to me, eyes full of worry. I look to the side to see a broken vase and an unconscious josh. Upon seeing my eyes open Bucky scoops me up in his arms and carries me bridal style out of the place I once called my home. Before exiting he picks up my duffel and then slams the door.