Several Indiana Republicans lost their elections after declining to support President Trump’s redistricting request. One of them speaks out
Several Indiana Republicans lost their elections after declining to support President Trump's redistricting request. One of them speaks out to Laura Coates, telling her it takes "honor and duty and courage" to stand up to the President and if you don't, you "have no business being in a government role."
Makes it sound like there was only one, doesn’t it? One assassin, one soldier, one life stolen and taken over to be used as a tool for evil minds. There was never only one. Hydra’s bloodstained hands, people called them. And once one’s hands have been bathed in blood so many times, it’s near impossible to look at the skin and not see red. Yet, when Hydra has been pushed out into the open by the Avengers there’s the slightest flicker of hope for the asset left behind. You see, I never had a Steve Rogers. No one is looking for me. The only person I’ve ever had is the one I was trapped with, the one that’s now free. The one who, if he finds me, I will surely destroy.
A/N; This took forever, but I hope you all enjoy this series!
I’m down the driveway within five minutes and in the city within thirty. The chill of the open air is welcome on my sweat slicked skin and the familiarity of this city calms me. Nothing in Hydra ever looked like this. Passing the coffee shop Natasha and I were in the other day nearly brings a smile to my face, but soon I feel the sadness catching up to me and I have to run again. With the sun no doubt getting ready to rise, I decide to head back to the facility. My first stop is that gorgeous gym. Luckily, I’m first. Since I still have energy, my fists curl and I start with the punching bags. Bare skin hits the dark navy of the bag and it’s a damn satisfying feeling. When my knuckles are raw I walk away towards the shooting range. All concrete and targets, it’s not exceedingly impressive. At least, not until I see the wall covered in knives and guns. A low whistle slips from my lips and I back up a little to pick my poison.
I choose six knives to start with. Pure black and double edged that comes to a sharp tip. Laying them out in the farthest stall, I smile. This station has foam at the far end and a target already painted into it. I twirl a knife in my hand before tossing them all in quick succession. Two in the heart, two in the head, two in the crotch.
“Not bad.” I spin to face the soft voice and find Natasha waiting there for me. “Rough morning?” My eyes follow hers to my raw fists.
“You could say that.” I allow and slip into the danger zone to retrieve the knives. After I return and place them in their proper place, I walk out with Natasha.
She pauses and I take the moment to notice she’s in workout clothes herself; black yoga pants and a white tank-top. “Actually, I was feeling like a workout. Care to go a round with me?” She moves onto the padded floor and raises an eyebrow as a challenge. The corner of my mouth lifts and I take down my hair, then redo it into a tight ponytail.
“I’m flattered.” I incline my head towards her and step onto the softer floor as well. As she cracks her knuckles I crack my neck and we both grin at the sounds. “Ready?” She hums the affirmative and we both crouch slightly. Right now, I have the advantage. I know what she can do and she only has an idea of what I can do. This can also be a disadvantage if she decides to test me by going all out.
That is exactly what she does.
For a few minutes we throw and dodge punches to feel each other out. Reaction times, where the eyes go, retaliation times. My only warning that Natasha’s about to change things up is a small upturning of the left side of her mouth. I press forward and as I step she hooks my ankle with her foot and tugs forward while shoving my chest back. Midfall I manage to pull my hands back and use them to flip back onto my feet, but Natasha is only just getting started. My foot shoots out to kick and she easily intercepts it, catching it with a hand and tossing it. I use this as leverage to spin and jump, kicking at her with more force. She ducks with a wide grin on her face and slides under me. As soon as both my feet are back on the ground her hands are around my throat. Feeling her body close behind me, I grab her wrists and flip us both. The breath is knocked out of her long enough for me to loose her hands. I elbow her ribs to prolong my advantage before rolling off her and standing. I lift a foot to knock her out, but she once again catches it and extends her arms to throw me off balance. My hands catch myself and I roll before hearing the thud of her fist hitting the pad where I just was.
We both stand and huff at seeing the grin on the other. “So how is this going to go, Natasha? Until one of us is unconscious?” I offer and she barks a laugh.
“How about first blood drawn?” She suggests and I nod, happy to have had the respite. “Unless, of course, you give in.” I snort.
“Unlikely.”
I slide towards her legs and she easily somersaults over me. We spin to face the other and limbs shoot out towards each other’s face. The nose is the easiest target and we both realize we’re aiming for the same body part at the same time. We both smirk. I duck an incoming punch and she snatches a handful of my hair, snapping my head back.
“Cheating, don’t you think?” I groan before flipping and smacking her hand off.
“Staying alive, I call it.” She remarks before taking a gut shot so she can throat punch me. I choke and focus solely on moving out of the way of her punches instead of throwing my own until I’ve regained my breath. Now when she throws her next punch I take her wrist like she did mine earlier and spin around her, holding my arm around her throat and leaning back so she can’t flip.
“Yield?” I question.
“Funny.” She croaks and peels up my pinkies, bending them back until I’m forced to let go or lose them both. My fingers wiggle in relief that the pressure is gone and Nat shrugs at the movement. “Winner makes the loser breakfast?”
I laugh and turn out of the way of her cartwheel of death. “After a shower. Agreed.”
“And what the hell is this?” My eyes look to the door and my entire body stalls when I see James standing there, shirtless. Fire echoes throughout my body before pain shoots through my arm.
“Aw, fucking hell.” I curse and rip my arm away from Natasha’s nails. Too late. The small crescent wounds are already barely bleeding. “Dammit. Jackass cost me the fight!” Natasha’s light laugh calls my eyes back to her just in time to catch a towel.
“Wipe off and meet me at the gathering room in thirty minutes.” She winks at me and heads out, whipping her own towel at Bucky as she passes. I wipe off my face and neck, then leave it to hang off my shoulders.
“Sorry for…distracting you.” James tells me and my eyes lift to meet his smirk. His eyes rove over my body the same time mine scan his. He’s just a tad more exposed than I am in my sports bra and shorts. He’s shirtless and in navy shorts with matching navy tennis shoes to match. As he sashays over to me it’s involuntary to slowly look him up and down. Scars litter every inch of his body, including his thick thighs hidden by cloth at the moment. His sharp V has me biting my lip as well as the few, what I know to be soft, dark, curls leading up to his belly button. White lines decorate his molded stomach all the way up to his pecs and those beautiful shoulders. Mouthwatering doesn’t even begin to describe him. Godlike, maybe. “Wouldn’t mind going a round with you, doll.” He offers before stopping in front of me. I make sure to keep at least five feet between us or else I’m almost positive I’d touch him. And that’s the minimum I’d do. A few stray waves escape his half bun and fall to frame his face. “Or just joining you in the shower.” Bucky continues and sucks his bottom lip between his teeth at the mere thought. Fucking hell.
“Think I can manage on my own. Or I could always enlist someone else’s help.” That shuts him up and I smile softly as I walk to the door. He catches up to me and gently takes my arm. I turn towards him and feel electricity crackle between our nearly naked bodies. Our eyes meet and I just know he’s about to ask me a mushy question.
“You alright?” There it is. Heat dies down only slightly as my mind flashes back to those blank eyes and I hear the memory of my neck snapping. I shrug my arm out of his grip and take a few steps away from him.
“I’m fine.” I cross my arms and face him. “Thank you, though. For last night.” His expression instantly softens.
“You can always come to me, Rosie. In any condition.” He tells me and I can see the honesty shining out of those bright eyes. “I care about your smartass.” Bucky jokes to lighten the mood and I roll my eyes.
“Sure. Shower.”
“Wouldn’t mind joining you!”
I flip him off and savor his laugh as I head to my room and take a shower. Afterwards I toss on a purple kami, white shrug, and jeans. I slip on some socks before heading into the gathering room to find Natasha waiting for me at the bar. She smirks at me.
“I like sausage patties and over easy eggs. And buttered toast.” She tells me and I shoot her a humorous look as I get the things out of the fridge.
“You got it your majesty.” I say sarcastically.
“A bit formal, but I’ll take it.”
My eyes look towards the door to find Tony standing there in red flannel pants and a black tank top. “And a good morning to you too, Tony.” I greet him and he grins at me, walking over and wrapping an arm around my waist to peck my cheek.
“Hey, Red. You’re a lovely sight this morning.” He charms, but I still smile. He’s cute.
“Mm. Hope you like eggs and sausage patties because that’s what I’m making.” I reveal and watch his brown eyes light up.
“I’ll love whatever you give me. Especially if it isn’t burnt.”
“Hey, I’m actually a good cook. Nothing will be burnt.”
Tony laughs and pecks my cheek again. “Then I look forward to it. Natasha.” He inclines his head towards her before turning around and making a cup of coffee. Natasha watches my every move with a small smirk on her face and I’m certain she bought these ingredients as well. She’s making sure she knows everything going into this food. Assassin habits die hard. I get out the pans at Natasha’s instruction and pop up to find a steaming cup of coffee beside the stove. I glance at Tony and he shrugs. “Some milk and a little sugar. You don’t seem the sweet coffee type.” Tony gestures to Nat who also now has her own coffee that is a horrifying toffee color.
“Thank you, Tony.” I tell him, a little surprised. My first sip is delicious and I’m even more surprised he got it right. I hum happily and get back to work. Tony and Natasha start up a quiet conversation as Tony leans back on the counter behind me and the sound is nice to cook to. This is the calmest I’ve been in a while.
“So, we’re getting breakfast because you beat Red in a fight? Damn, I would’ve loved to see that.” I roll my eyes at Natasha. She knows I’ll never admit I lost because Bucky’s fucking bare chest. “Cap.” Over the sizzling in front of me I hear Tony greet Steve and I look up to see Tony handing him a cup of coffee.
“Morning, Steve.” A soft smile is already on his face as he looks over the scene and he looks like he’s already been running.
“Morning.” He gestures his head to everyone before walking over beside me and surveying what I’m cooking. “Heard there was a little bet this morning. Lost?” He asks me and I sigh, knowing Bucky must’ve told him. Natasha’s smirk only grows as she sees me struggle to confirm.
“Barely.” I reply and meet Nat’s green eyes. She hums and shakes her head slightly with mirth. When I look back at Steve I notice he has it in his eyes at well. Must make him happy to see the team mingling without fists being thrown. Yet, anyway.
“Would’ve liked to see you in action, Rosalie.” Steve tells me with interest in his eyes. “I’ve heard it’s something.” A little challenge rises in his eyes and amusement creeps into mine.
“Uh-huh. You trying to pick a fight with me, Steve?” I tease and like the bright smile that settles on his face.
“Wouldn’t do that, punk.” We all turn towards the door when Bucky comes in, tank top now hiding that pretty chest from view. He shoots me a wink and I quickly look back to the food, putting everything on serving plates. “Natasha beating her is one thing, not sure if you could take her.” Despite resisting, a smile makes its way onto my face.
“Guess I’ll stick to kicking your ass then.” Steve acquiesces and dodges a weak punch from Bucky, taking the plates for me and carrying them to the table.
“You’re on your own for toast, everybody!” I announce and hand Natasha hers per our bet before heading to the table. Sitting down closest to the door and facing it, I watch interestedly as the rest sit down. Tony sits next to me first and scoots as close as possible, causing me to shake my head at him. Bucky sits across from me and I can tell this isn’t his normal seat since Steve hesitates only slightly before settling beside him with a little smirk. Natasha remains at the bar lording over us with jade eyes.
“Delicious. Please lose more bets.” Tony teases and Natasha hums in agreement from her tall seat.
“I don’t plan on losing any more bets. Well, unless losing is a better option than winning.” My eyes involuntarily flick to Bucky and he smiles lopsidedly. Well, until Tony puts an arm around my shoulders and bumps our chairs together. Then he has a frown on his face and slightly furrowed brows as he tries to hide his displeasure.
“I’ll start thinking of a few propositions for you then.” Tony winks at me and I purse my lips to keep a smile off my face. Suddenly, my outstretched legs are caged between Bucky’s and I look up to a mischevious look on his face. I lift my legs and he scoots closer, tightening his hold on me irritatingly. Giving up, I finish up my breakfast while listening to Tony.
“Are you working on anything new?” I question, turning to Tony’s melty chocolate eyes. They light up with excitement.
“I’ve actually just started on something new for Nat. I could show you, if you wanted?” He asks and I smile.
“I’d love to see it.” I tell him and he instantly hops up, taking my plate and putting it in the dishwasher as I try to extricate myself from Bucky’s death grip on my legs. “Let go, James.” I hiss and his grin grows.
“Beat me in an arm-wrestling contest and we’ll discuss it.” He proposes and sets his metallic elbow on the table. Rolling my eyes, I kick my legs up and hear the wood of his chair splinter.
“Let go, or it’ll be your balls next.” I threaten and everyone in the room stills, except Bucky. Asshole has the gall to laugh.
“Pretty sure you like my package too much to actually hurt me, doll.” His blue eyes dare me to do it, so I pull a foot back to the edge of his seat and shove it back instead. It slides, then falls backwards with Bucky soundly in it. Smirking, I finally stand and step away from the table and round it to stand over him.
“Don’t test me, James. You already know how that’s worked out for you in the past.” I tell him and he looks up at me with wide eyes, then lets his head rest back against the floor.
“I’m fine if it always ends up with you above me, doll.” A smile endeavors to coerce my lips, but I just shake my head at him and walk out. Tony catches up with me in only a moment.
