His Soulmate | Bucky Barnes ✔

Chapter Thirty Three

The silence was almost deafening; the only sound I could hear was the loud thumping of my heart sending the rushing blood around my ears. And even though I was scared (terrified, really) I felt an overwhelming surge of anger. I ripped the paper up, leaving it around my feet like confetti before spinning back to face Nat. "Come on then."

"What?" Her eyebrows were furrowed as I marched back to the centre of the room.

"Fight me."

"Amelie, I don't think-"

"Fight. Me."

She nodded slowly, then stood opposite me, raising her arms. But before she could get a single punch in, I'd already moved. I swung my arm around, pushing my weight forward on my feet to send a strong punch. But the contact of my fist on her didn't bring me any satisfaction - I needed to win.

We sparred for a while, and even though I was beginning to feel out of breath, I let the adrenaline of the second threatening letter push me forwards. I didn't see Nat's worried glances to the others, nor did I see her slowly back towards them, but I did see her swap with Bucky.

I didn't hesitate my pace, and Bucky didn't ask me to. Instead, he began to push on the attacks, making me step back into defence. He wasn't going to go easy on me - he knew how much I needed this.

So he swung repeatedly, not using his left arm as much as his right, but when I grumbled at him he began to alternate more. I could see how he would use the vibranium in a real fight - even though he only softly tapped me with it I could see how powerful it could really be.

"Doll, you need a break." He took two steps back, letting me leap forward, swinging my leg up to hit his chest.

"No I don't." I panted back at him, forcing myself further. I saw a hint of frustration in his eyes, but I ignored it, throwing myself at his knees before pulling us both to the ground.

And as my side hit the floor, pushing the air out of my lungs, I knew I was finished. I rolled onto my back, feeling the sharp sting of tears fighting to roll freely down my cheeks. Bucky's deep breaths next to me told me he was finished too, and I pulled myself so I was sitting, and looked at him.

He lay on his back, his arm outstretched to gently tug on my fingers. There wasn't pity in his eyes, but I could see the fuelling of anger that he was trying to hide. For a moment I thought he was angry at me, and I felt guilt course through my body.

But then he pushed himself up, and wrapped his huge arms around me. I was dragged across the small section of floor separating us, and his hand guided my head to rest near his collar bone. I felt a wave of tiredness hit - and not just from the few hours I'd spent sparring with Nat. I felt exhausted from the worry and fear that HYDRA were going to kill my family.

We sat for a few moments, and I cried freely into his shoulder. Like always, I felt safe with Bucky wrapped around me, but I knew as soon as he pulled away I would be feeling anxious and alone again.

He managed to pull us onto our feet, and gently moved me in the direction of the lifts. I leant against one of the walls, resting my head against the metal of the box as Bucky settled himself on the wall opposite.

I felt dirty, the sweat now cold against my skin as I tugged my hair from its falling apart ponytail. The huge kink from where the bobble had sat made my hair stick out, and I caught the hint of a smile tugging at Bucky's lips as I retied it.

"I want you to meet mum." It was a whisper, but the confined space of the lift meant he heard me properly.

His eyes flooded with an emotion I couldn't figure out - a whirlwind of fear and love. "I'd like to meet her."