Bucky Barnes' Daughter

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Yuri spent several hours working with me.  I managed to remember some of the training from the Red Room but most of my muscle memory was gone after so many years of not practicing.  Winter wouldn't have allowed me to keep slipping up like Yuri did.  I probably would have a couple broken bones by now if Winter was my teacher right now.  Instead I was perfectly fine, besides my PTSD acting up.

I dodged his current attack and quickly moved so I could throw him onto the mat.  Instead I managed to get dragged down with him, causing my body to scream in protest.  My stitches ached from all the physical activity.

"Are you okay?"  Ryan asks as I lay unmoving for several minutes.

"I think so."  I respond before trying to sit up again.  Black dots dance across my vision, making me decide it was a better idea to remain where I was.

"Did you let your head bounce?"  Yuri asks as he kneels next to me.

"When you attacked the first time it did.  But I think it's just exhaustion right now."  I assure him as I take deep breaths before rolling onto my feet again. "Winter always..."  I caught myself realizing I had slipped up.

"Seri, I was CIA with Ryan.  I can assume you were about to say something about the Winter Soldier doing worse?"  He asks and I open my mouth to respond but no words come out.

"What were you about to say about me?"  Bucky's voice made me quickly turn to ensure he really was here.

The sudden movement made the world spin violently and I feel myself losing consciousness. I force myself to remain conscious so I could fall in a way that wouldn't hurt me.  I landed awkwardly from a lack of practice, causing more pain to shoot through my body.

"Serenity are you okay?"  Bucky was by my side within seconds.

"I'm fine.  Just a little dizzy."  I put my arm over my eyes hoping the darkness would help the spinning stop.

The height was making me dizzy as I attempted to copy Winter's every movements as he ran over the rooftops.  My movements were similar to that of a new born animal trying to learn to walk for the first time.  But I wasn't trying to learn to walk then eventually run.  Instead, I'm trying to sprint first.

The shingles slipped beneath my feet and I feel myself sliding down the roof.  I frantically attempt to find a finger hold so I wouldn't plummet to my death.  I managed to grab onto the edge of the building before I actually started free falling.

I remove my arm from my face before sitting up again.  A lack of practice over the past couple months is making me revert to the weak person Winter tried to train.

"I'm fine."  I assure everyone as I get to my feet again.  I take a deep breath hoping to keep the dizziness at bay as I waited for them to start my lessons again.

"When you started her training, how did you drill her?"  Yuri asks Bucky as Ryan starts sparring with me.  He wasn't going full out with me but I was thankful for that.

"I don't remember."  Bucky watches me and I see the guilt in his eyes, which causes me to become distracted from my current battle I was fighting. Ryan took this as a great time to get me onto the mat.  He pins me for a few seconds before I manage to escape.

"He does remember he just doesn't want to admit he would beat me until I learned to fight back.  Once I started fighting back and was serious about what I was learning, then he taught me the basics."

"And that worked?"  Yuri asks me.

"Pain and fear are very good teachers."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I talked to Jason while you were at training."  Bucky informs me as he drives me home.

"What were you talking about?"  I ask trying to keep my voice even.

"He wants to learn to protect you."  I smile knowing he would want to do something like that.  "And he wants my permission to start dating you."  That part did catch me off guard. 

"He wants to date me?"  I ask thinking about all the ways I would end up hurting him.  I'm too damaged to be worth his time. Anyways I'm always going to be alive and I couldn't stand the heartache of watching him die.

"Why do you sound surprised?"  Bucky asks as he glances over at me from the corner of his eye.  Tears were falling down my cheeks as I thought about what this meant.

"After all I've been through, It's just hard to believe someone would love me."  I inform him as we turn up the driveway. 

Nat was standing on the porch with Dima. She smiles as we pull up and Dima races to greet us.  I got out and my dog quickly checks me over for any new injuries before covering me with dog kisses.

"He's worried you're going to disappear again."  Nat informs me as she waits for me to follow her inside.

"Did Bucky tell you about Jason?"  I ask hoping she would also give me permission to date him.

"Jason asked me first for permission then went to Bucky.  If he breaks your heart, we'll be hiding a body."  She offers me an encouraging smile and I knew she wasn't kidding when she threatened to kill Jason.

"He's taking you to winter formal next weekend.  We'll need to buy you a dress in the mean time and start discussing the charity gala Tony is planning."

"That's when I'll be announced as your daughter?"  I ask my parents wondering if this was really happening.

"Yes, and we're going to make sure the world loves you before the CIA can try and destroy your reputation." Bucky promises.