Without You I'm Nothing

Chapter 4

It's been a few months since my dad gave me permission to train. Everyone each has taught me different skills. Natasha helps with my acrobatics and balance. While Clint helps with my aim. They're both brutal teachers and don't back. Even Steve has got involved, he supervises when I have trained with Bucky. Bucky helps with my strength and stamina. We've become a lot closer recently. The connection between us has changed.

We stand sparing, Bucky starts with a roundhouse kick but I soon react and jump back, grabbing his leg as it swings. He stumbles and looks at his leg in my hand as I flip him to the floor. He lands with a hard thud and groans. "Good catch" he mutters, I laugh. My reflexes have gotten so much faster. While I was thinking about my improvements, Bucky trips me up as I land with a grunt, to which he pins my arms down and hovers above me. Our faces are close, my heart races as my cheeks flush. "Never. Let your guard down." He whispers. I bit my lip softly and look straight into his eyes. His face nears mine, I can feel his breath. Just as our lips almost touch we're interrupted by a loud cough. We both jump up, Steve walks over and clips the back of Bucky's head. "What was that for?" Bucky asks, rubbing the back of his head. My heart is still racing as I hide my face. "Be glad it was me and not Tony that caught you. That's enough for today." Steve walks over to me and lifts my head by my chin. He runs his thumb over the bruise forming on my cheek. I wince and shy away "Natasha?" He asks, I not slightly. "She's a little rough. But nothing I can't handle." I say weakly. "You're stronger now, more skilled. But you're far from perfect." He adds, frowning and obviously worried. "Your birthday is in 3 weeks, Callie.." I frown and look up at him. "Which means I cannot stop training. I need to show him I can be out on the field. Like the others." He sighs, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Neither Tony or I want our kids on the field. Jess and Elijah are dif-" I stop him and sigh "different I know. You don't have to tell me." I turn away and pick up a towel. I head towards the door and mutter "I'm taking a shower." I can feel both their eyes on me as I leave to my room.

"Stupid powers. Why did I get any." I mutter, walking down the corridor. My eyes sadden, I haven't seen Elijah in a month as he's on a mission with Jess and a few others. It hurts. I'm alone. I walk into my room and throw the towel on my bed, I'm just glad that I get some me time. I take off my gym kit and throw them in the wash bin. Slowly getting into the shower as the water temperature changes, I stand under the stream and smile as the warm water runs off my skin. I lather soap into my hair and body too make sure I'm clean then just stand there and think about the day. We almost kissed, the scene plays over in my head, I could almost feel his lips on mine. His breath was warm, just a few seconds later and I would've got what I wanted.

Grabbing a towel I step out the shower, after a few minutes I'm dry and dressed. I'm not ready to face Bucky after that but I cannot avoid him forever. My thoughts are stopped by a knock on the door. "It's open," I say, the door opens and in walks my dad. He frowns and hurries over. "Look at you.." He mumbles, looking at my rainbow skin that's changed from a pale white to multiple colours of blues, blacks and purples.  "I'm fine, Dad.. honestly I'm fine" he sighs, I'm not fine. I ache and I'm sore and I want to sleep for days. But I cannot show him that. "Wasup?" I ask, giving him a soft reassuring smile. "I came to see if you knew what you wanted for your birthday yet. It's three weeks away and you haven't said too anyone what you wanted." I frown and look down, knowing exactly what I want. "I want my brother to come home.." My voice is soft and quiet as I speak. Tony pulls me into a hug and rests his head on mine. "So do I kiddo, we'll have to see what happens hay baby. C'mon, dinners ready" he smiles and takes my hand, guiding me out too the dining room. "Who cooked?" I asked, looking up at him. His eyebrows crease into a slight frown "Steve did." I groan and look at him. "So it'll be bland and simple." He laughs as we walk into the dining room. "Be nice." The others look over "nice isn't something Starks are." Clint says with a grin. "Only too people that deserve it." I return, taking my seat across from Bucky. He smiles softly at me as my cheeks flush again. Clint looks between us both and grins "So what's going on here." We both look at him and reply with "nothing!" Straight away. Eyebrows raised around the room as we both look down at the table. Only Steve knows about us, and that's only because Bucky tells him everything. I'm hoping that he doesn't tell my dad otherwise Bucky would be kicked from the mansion. My dad already has speculations but we keep informing them it's not true. Steve walks in with the food and places it between us all "please, dig in." He says, taking his seat next to Bucky. I look at the food and swallow hard. "Yum.," I say with uncertainty. My mom nudges me softly and mouths for me to behave. I sigh. This is going to be a long 3 weeks.