One, two, three. Hit, thud, thwack. There was a calming force that came with the sound and routine of her gloved fists connecting with the unyielding, worn blue punching bag.
Her feet pivoted in time with the blows, long braids shifting on her lower back as her tank top rode up to bare a stripe of skin above her sweatpants. Even if another person had occupied the gym floor with her, she would not have bothered to adjust it; her toned stomach was hard earned.
Her uppercut was accentuated by the door at the top of the ascending stairs on the far wall banging open. The owner of the gym fumbled with his suitcase a moment before tripping over his pudgy feet while coming down the stairs. He removed his uniform hat, waving it before huffing to a stop in front of his most frequent client and employee.
"Heya Mattie. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking over that class for me earlier. I completely forgot I had to pick the misses up from the old train station. Anyway, I know you already work to pay your membership, but I figured you've earned this." He dug a key out from his front pocket that Mattie studied a moment before deciding it was safe to take. It settled as warmly in her palm as the smile on her lips.
"Thanks Mr. Caldwell. This mean I can come and go as I please?"
"It means you get to open the doors in the morning and kick the riffraff out at night. Can I trust you with that?"
"Absolutely sir. Have a good weekend."
"Atta girl. Might be getting lucky what with my ship date so close. If you know what I mean."
"Unfortunately. Thanks for that sir," she grumbled as he waddled to the door.
When he kicked it open, she heard two additional voices. She waited for Caldwell to tell them they were all closed up, but instead he said, "Oh yeah, Barnes. She's right in there. Don't start no trouble. She has power to kick you fellows to the curb now."
"She's always been able to do that, sir," Bucky Barnes replied too damn smooth for his own good.
Mattie sighed, tearing the Velcro free of her right hand with her teeth and tugging the glove off. Her free hand waved to the sergeant as he entered, dragging with him his sparring partner, Steve Rogers.
"Thought we agreed no riffraff, Mr. Caldwell," she called. Her answer was a barking laugh before the metal door slammed shut.
"Easy darling, I can see how you might make that mistake with this slob," Bucky gestured towards Steve who just rolled his eyes. "But you and I know each other a little better."
With both her gloves discarded, she began unwrapping her knuckles and cocked a hip to highlight her unamused expression. There was no falter for Bucky. He shrugged and carried on all light jokes and easy smiles.
"So you know I usually box with Steve. Well, I finally got my recruitment notice and the interview to finalize it is tonight. Would you mind terribly staying to help him out?"
"Oh, come on, Buck. I told you I could manage on my own," Steve input.
"I usually work for a fee," Mattie added.
He ignored the both of them, letting the full force of his blue eyes do the convincing. Brows pulled together and dark lashes batting always lured her in but it was those damn eyes that set the hook. She could take just about any opponent in the ring, but when it came to Bucky Barnes she always managed to get hit right in her weak spot.
"Alright, fine. I'll babysit for you," she conceded.
"I know you're just saying that to mess with him," Steve said. "But it really would be an honor if someone of your skill trained with me."
Bucky swayed forward, pressing an unrequested kiss to Mattie's cheek before tapping his fist against Steve's scrawny shoulder and backing towards the door. "See? It will be great. Wish me luck!"
Steve tossed down his bag and sat on the metal bench beside where she stood and pulled out his own equipment as they were left alone. He was a good two heads shorter than her but with twice the enthusiasm of her usual students. His blonde hair hung down into his eyes and he gave it a shove so he could see properly.
"Buck tells me you practically live here," he said.
Mattie let out a sharp laugh, picking at the drawstrings of her pants as she waited for him to be ready. "I've seen you two work defense a lot. You know how to throw a good punch too. You're incredibly fast, I think I could show you some stuff to get your opponents never picking a fight with you again."
He took a swig of water and nodded, bouncing to his feet. She nodded towards the mat in the center of the boxing ring and together they walked over. A few minutes of stretching had him ready and Mattie cooled down enough from her previous work out to crave the high of another. The gloves stayed on the bench because she sought to just demonstrate body techniques instead of physical attacks.
It was slow going, slower than her youngest age division of first graders. He already had years of self-taught habits under his belt for her to whittle down back to the basics and his head was harder than any dumbbell in the place.
"Come on, Rogers. It's like a dance."
"Never been very good at that either."
"And here I was about to put on music to set the mood." Her jab met air as he jumped aside.
"Good, just watch my body language."
"You've been tense ever since I walked in with Buck. What's that about?"
His quick cut caught her side as the question froze her. She blinked, hardly having felt the pinprick of his strength. That was not what she had meant at all by the instruction.
"He's like that with everyone," she muttered, tightening her fists and throwing a combo at him that he took in good form.
"No. He has a lot of dames, a lot of girlfriends. He doesn't have many friends, much less ones that are, excuse me for saying, as attractive as you."
Her next blow split his lip. He staggered back, touching the blood more out of curiosity than pain. "Guess I'm not excused. Break?"
"Agreed."
"Not from the conversation, of course. You're too easy to read."
She swatted his shoulder as they collapsed together in the corner of the ring. The windows circling the upper half of the building were notched open letting in an easy breeze from the Brooklyn summer outside. She passed Steve her water bottle, wiping a droplet of sweat before it could trek down her face and leaning back against the padded post. They were really only friends through Bucky but she found herself enjoying his quiet and steady nature. She looped her arm around one of the ropes and sighed while Steve licked away the rest of the blood on his lip.
"I mean Bucky is cute and he's a charmer. It's hard not to like him," she allowed finally.
"I don't," Steve grumbled out, making her smile beneath the flickering overhead lights. "I'm only kidding. He's only a pain in my ass most of the time. Other than that he's great. You ever trained with him?"
"Nah, he's either with you or making love to the weights."
Steve laughed and raised his wristwatch to study the time. "He should be done by now. I'm gonna head out."
"You should ditch the Sarg. I think I could make something of you, Rogers."
As if summoned by just the mention of his title, much like the demon spawns that caused mayhem beneath their feet, Bucky barged in the door with takeout bags clutched in either hand and a sideways smile painted above his dimpled chin.
"Don't thank me. I knew you two would be hungry. Who wants my fortune cookie? I've already got my wish."
Bucky ducked between the ropes, formal suit untidying itself just enough to make him more human before he sat across from them. He tossed the white paper bag with the cookies towards Mattie before diving into the noodles and chicken boxed up in the others. Of course he artfully maneuvered a pair of chopsticks while Steve opted for the fork. They managed to devour half the food before Bucky raised his eyebrows and shoved the seasoned noodles towards Mattie.
"Don't be shy. Steve got treated for his cooties just last week. Not contagious anymore. You can finish those off. I'm more of a meat guy myself."
"I'd be careful with that pop, though. Bucky backwashes worse than a gutter," Steve warned while Mattie tentatively pulled the warm noodles into her lap.
She brushed a few strands of loose hair back into her braids before plucking up a noodle with her grimy hand. She glanced up at Bucky, chest tight with anxiety but stomach tighter with want. "I only have a few nickels in my bag but I can get you the rest when I get paid tomorrow."
"You serious, doll? Don't worry about it. Consider it my treat for dealing with this smart ass."
"Jerk," Steve mumbled to his food making Bucky's grin spread like wildfire, lighting up everything in the room and warming parts of her no amount of exercise ever could.
Mattie dipped a nod, tearing into the food with embarrassing eagerness. She finished the noodles and Bucky offered her a piece of the chicken from his chopsticks. She should have hesitated to put her mouth where his had been, but she was so hungry she ate it whole and reached for another. Bucky laughed and allowed her to finish off the meal.
Steve reached for a fortune cookie, nearly losing the hand when Mattie swiped up the other two. Bucky barked out a laugh looping one arm around Steve and the other around her. "Look at you two bonding. You guys about ready to head home? Mattie, you want a ride?" he offered.
"Nah, I've got it covered. You two head out so I can close up shop."
"Alright baby. Let's scoot Steve-o. I've got a bedtime."
"Since when?" Steve retorted.
Bucky jumped to his feet, smoothing back his dark hair and tugging the ends of his sleek grey suit jacket down. Steve rolled his eyes, giving Mattie a friendly nod before following in his wake.
She waited until the door clanged shut and Bucky's dancing voice faded from earshot before pushing up and jogging to go lock the door. She checked the back and for any stragglers hiding out. Once everything was secure, she looped her bag over her shoulders and slipped into the small storage hallway that lead down to the boiler room. Inside, she locked that door too and slung her stuff down to join her little corner of belongings beside her cot.
Home sweet home.
