Winter's Sunshine

24. Touch of Death

Jen won the round and was up for the finals. Bucky was smiling the whole time watching her fight clean and precise. Just the way he he had taught her. He knew she had in her. She was indeed a fast learner.

"She played clean", he remarked. But why is she pulling back her punches? he noticed.

"And Naomi doesn't mind dirty. Can use her for other missions.", Hill responded marking their score in her tab.

"What's next?", Bucky asked

"What do you mean?"

"What would be their jobs? On-field? Off-field? I mean all these girls do have normal jobs."

"Depends on their abilities. All of these are of different use to us. There is no winner as such. Some will be used as secret agents and some will be on the field."

Bucky nodded as he wondered where Jen's fate would lead her. He never liked the idea of her being an agent in the first place. Why risk your life, on purpose? But if that's what she wanted, so be it.

"How desperate dude. Give her a break.", Sam said entering the enclosure.

Bucky rolled his eyes at Sam as he sat down on the chair, beside him. "Agent Hill", he said greeting her.

"Sam", she responded nodding at him. "So whose your love interest here?", she asked teasing Bucky.

"Oh, not mine. Just his.", he replied pointing at Bucky.

"Shut up Sam."

"He is so whipped you know"

"Dude why the hell are you here?", Bucky asked irritated by Sam's laughter.

"For the same reason as you. To watch Jen kick some ass."

"Stay quite then", Bucky ordered him.

Sam just huffed at him but then shifted his gaze to the ring. Both Bucky and Sam watched the final fight. It was between Jen and Tasha. Sam enjoyed watching two women fight while Bucky sat there stressed.

But why is she holding back her punches?, Bucky thought. What is she trying to do? he wondered.

"Wow, that was one amazing kick! I didn't know she could do that. You go girl!", Sam said cheering Jen on from the glass-enclosed room.

How can she kick like that? It takes years of practice to achieve such prowess. Bucky looked over to Hill, wondering if she had noticed. But her face was blank, as usual.

"Sam", Agent Hill warned him to keep his voice low, or to an absolute silence if possible.

Sam obliged mimicking Bucky who sat there like a ghost as he focused his undivided attention on the fight, Jen to be specific. He watched her win the fight, knocking her opponent with the infamous Dim Mak's Death Touch technique. Sam cheered for her and ran down towards the ring to congratulate her.

Bucky bit his lip still staring at Jen who was now hugging Sam as he had lifted her. He was tense and eyed her in suspicion, panic rising in his body.

Hill grabbed her stuff and made her way to the ring leaving Bucky alone in the enclosure. Jen had fought well, that she knew and had to congratulate her. "Dim Mak's Death Touch", Hill noted. "Taught her well Bucky.", she said before leaving.

No.. I didn't. But how did she? he wondered but kept mum.

He saw Jen talking to Sam and then look up in his direction. "Sam..", he gritted his teeth. He knew she would now come up to him. He sat on the chair facing the door, waiting for Jen barge in. Who taught her that? I know I didn't. Should I ask her or maybe look deeper in it?

Seconds later, Jen knocked on the door and opened it swiftly. "Bucky", she called softly and smiled at him. She looked at him, his face was cold and distant, but his eyes spoke another story. He was hurt and she could feel it. She felt guilty to hurt him like this but chose to play her plan.

"Bucky, I won!", she said in the hopes of cheering him up.

"Congrats", he replied, coldly.

"All thanks to you! You taught me well", she said excitedly.

"Oh did I Jen?", He asked narrowing his eyes at her.

"Yes! So thank you so much", Jen said going in for a hug. Bucky stiff at first, gave in, feeling safe in her arms. She pulled back after hugging him tight and stood in front of him, rubbing her hands nervously. Bucky warmed by her hug switched back to his cold self and simply stared at her. He knew it was bothering her and chose to do it deliberately.

"Do you want to say something?", he asked noticing her awkwardness. He calmed his intense gaze which made her look weaker. He realized it would be hard if he chooses to hate her.

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you.", she said, guilt all written on her face. He plan to act cool and casual failed. She no longer wanted to act in front of him.

"About what?"

"The other night."

"What about it?"

"I know you-"

"There is nothing to talk about it", Bucky said interrupting her and stood up ready to leave the room.

"But I-"

"I said there is nothing to talk about it. I may have expected something more for us, but you made it clear it was just a one nightstand.", Bucky said bitterly. "I mean I get it. Who would want to be with this deadly assassin", he said letting out a wry chuckle. "Also I should have never kissed you in the first place." 

Jen's face fell on hearing him say, "Not that I intend to take advantage of you. But what I did, actually let you do it was wrong. Should have known that was just your alcohol speaking."

Jen looked at him with guilt in her eyes, feeling a desperate need to explain everything to him.

"I assure you that I take full responsibility of what I did. Alcohol or not, I should know what I was doing"

Bucky nodded at her wondering if she remembered anything. What if she doesn't remember anything and that's the reason she doesn't think it's a big deal? Maybe there was still a hope. But he didn't wanted to act on it.

"So are we good?", Jen asked Bucky.

"Yes. We are good."

"Great.", she faked a laugh, to lighten the tension between them. "And thank you again for your help.", she added.

Bucky gave her a tight smile and walked past her leaving her alone in the room. Jen watched him leave and a year rolled down her cheek.

She brushed it away quickly and took out her phone to inform her win.