Thaw

Familiarizing.

"I C-CANT!" I wheezed, arms about to give out.

"One more, c'mon." Steve urged me on.

"Oof." I fell to the ground and landed in a heap on the floor.

"Ok, I must've broken a record." I groaned not moving from my place on the ground. Who knew pull-ups could be so draining.

"You only did 9. Now sit-ups, 50 at least." Steve during training was a whole different person, no jokes, no playing around.

"Aye, aye captain." I slowly got up and walked towards the mats, I got into position besides Wanda who already had started.

"So when do we get to learn how to use firearms?" I asked putting down my water bottle.

"Your first line of defense is hand to hand combat, once you get good at that, we'll start." Steve said watching us.

"I can put up a good fight," I said lowly.

"Alright, get up here." Shit. I didn't think he'd hear that.

"I uh, sprained my ankle." I lied.

"What, you worried I'm gonna beat you?" He teased. WELL YEA YOU'RE A GODDAMN SUPER SOLDIER, I wanted to say but didn't.

"No, b-"

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"I'll have a go with Sam." I nodded at him sitting across the room.

"I'm not gonna fight you." He laughed.

"What, you worried I'm gonna beat you?" I imitated Steve and stood up.

"Fine. Let's go princess." He stood and followed me to the ring. I wasn't as worried about fighting him, I knew he was good, but so was I, my trainer was the niece of one of the most known and respected shield agents, and she was as brutal if not more, then Steve at training. Although to be fair, Sam had trained for years, and me a few months. I had a few tricks up my sleeve I was counting on.

"I'll go easy on you," He smirked as we circled each other in the ring.

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes.

"We're not getting any younger here!" Nat joked after 30 seconds of nothing. I was waiting for him to make the first move. I knew he was waiting for an opening where I was off guard so I deliberately turned my head.

"Especially Steve, the 100 ye-" I said and turned back at just the right moment, I ducked so Sam stumbled forward, fist out. I darted behind him and kicked the back of his knee, making him buckle, he caught himself before hitting the ground and didn't take another second to throw a punch at me, it was such a dumb move I knew it was just to distract me from something else, I looked down and sure enough his leg was coming towards me to take my legs out from under me, I managed to get out of the way for the most part and only tripped slightly on his foot, he took that and grabbed my arm twisting it sharply, I grit my teeth and pulled my leg back to hit him with my heel, he blocked that with his other hand which is what I needed, I dropped my weight and twisted around, him still holding my arm, I hooked my now free leg on his and pulled, he fell to his knees and with my free arm, I elbowed the back of his neck as hard as I could. He groaned and let go of my arm. In an instant I had him face first on the mat, I rested my whole weight on him, my knees between his shoulder blades and my arms hooked in his armpits from behind. I pulled till he tapped out.

Everyone clapped as I stood and dusted myself off, Sam groaned, still not moving.

"Sorry.." I said sheepishly and offered him my hand.

"You're better than I expected." He took my hand and I pulled him to his feet.

"Thanks?" I laughed and exited the ring high fiving Wanda as I sat back down next to her.