Loving The Captain

Chapter 22

"Come on!" Bucky shouted, clearly irritated. "You call that a hit? That was pathetic. Steve could hit better than that when he weighed less than a hundred pounds wet!"

Cora slammed her fists against the mat where she had landed on her rump. They had been at it for three hours and she was getting sick and tired of Bucky and his mouth. "This is stupid! I've been doing everything you tell me to do, exactly the way you tell me. And yet whenever I do it, you yell at me about how terrible I am." Pulling herself to her feet, she put her hands on her hips. "I'm done. I promised Steve I would try, and I did. For three hours."

Cora turned her back on Bucky, walked past Sam and made her way towards the bench where her bottle of water sat with her duffle bag. Using her teeth she pulled off her right boxing glove, then the left. As she stuffed them into the bag, Bucky came over and leaned against the wall.

"I was right." He said crossing his arms over his chest.

"About what?" Cora asked, venom dripping from her voice.

"That you're not good enough for him."

"Bucky, that's not-" Sam spoke up but Cora interrupted him.

"No, Sam. It's okay. I'm a big girl. Go on Bucky. Let's hear it." Cora crossed her arms.

Shrugging Bucky said "I just don't see what Steve is doing with a dame like you. Never getting your hands dirty. A perfect little princess who has never had to defend herself in a fight. You sit there talking big but when it comes down to it, you're just like everyone else. You're only with him because of him being Captain America."

Cora swallowed her anger and shook her head. "You're just trying to piss me off."

Bucky gave a short bark of laughter. "I mean, come on. You know you're not good enough. You're just a damsel in distress. You're nothing like Peggy. You could never amount to what she does in Steve's heart. At least she could defend herself in a fight. First time Punk saw her she knocked a man on his ass for mouthing off. Now that's a dame. But you? He'll never love you the way he loved her. You'll never be good enough for him."

Cora dropped her gym bag on the floor and turned to face Bucky, her anger getting the better of her. "Steve loves me for me. I'm not a replacement for Peggy and I don't want to be."

"Whatever you say, Princess. You're too prissy for Steve. He deserves better. He deserves a woman who can protect herself. Someone who can stand by his side, not cower behind him in fear. And besides, he'll never love you as much as he loves Peggy. Why do you think he still has her picture on the mantle? Hell, I bet he even imagines that you are Peggy. Wishes it was her in his bed rather than you. Tell me, has Steve ever accidentally called you Peggy? I bet he has. Right in the middle of you two fucking."

Sam's eyes grew big at the look on Cora's face. Instinctively he took several steps back.

Without thinking Cora took a step towards Bucky and her fist connected with his jaw. He lost his balance and tripped, falling to the floor.

Without saying a word to either one of them, Cora grabbed her bag from the floor and left the gym.

Bucky smiled as he got to his feet. "Now that was a punch."

***

After stepping out of the shower Cora towel dried her hair and got dressed. Just as she was rummaging for something to eat, her phone beeped, indicating she had a text.

Opening the message, Cora saw that it was from Darcy. She was inviting Cora to a girls night in with Pepper and Jane.

Cora thought for a moment. Maybe some girls' time would do her good. Sending Darcy a reply that she would meet them in the common at six, Cora set her phone down.