Eight

Beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks as she dodged a fist that threatened to slam into her face. A group of Cadets stood near the sparring mat to watch as she and Kirk circled each other in a threatening pose. They had been watching the scene unfold for what felt like hours. Kirk kept trying to feint an attack in, but she seemed to read his every move as if she'd anticipated what he would do next.

Emily could tell he was getting frustrated with his lack of blows, especially when he realized it didn't look as if she'd taken a hit. Natasha had taught her how to take advantage of an opponent when they allowed their emotions to dictate their decisions. And Kirk was doing just that.

She watched him closely, inspecting him for signs of weaknesses. She saw several openings, but she didn't strike when the opportunity presented itself. Instead, she gave Kirk the chance to entertain himself a few times. Emily easily moved from side to side, avoiding his blows and giving him a few strikes here and there.

She had to admit, it was amusing to watch his face quickly morph into a look of confusion and frustration. She'd sparred with enough agents at SHIELD to know exactly what kind of person she was dealing with. He was good at a bar-brawl, but that was about it. He had a lot to learn before he could become an actual security officer, if that was his intention.

Finally, Kirk tried aiming at her shoulder when he thought he saw an opening. One movement was all it took for him to sprawl out on the floor next to her. Emily rolled her eyes when she suddenly grabbed hold of his arms, pinning them behind his back seconds later. He barely had time to register what was happening when she had him pinned to the floor with a smirk of amusement. She hovered over him for a few seconds, not missing the way other Cadets had gathered around to watch them. Or more importantly, her.

The Cadets who had been watching them shook their heads in disappointment. Apparently, a few of them had taken bets to see who would win the sparring match. Emily nearly rolled her eyes once again as she wondered why they always assumed the male species was stronger. Time and time again, women had proven themselves to be stronger for multiple reasons.

She'd already sent McCoy a warning message about her sparring session with Kirk. They'd reached an agreement to stay in touch at least twice a day, whether it be through com or through the mental link she'd recently discovered. Barely a couple of days had gone by since her introduction to Steve, and she had since then been keeping herself busier than ever.

"Where'd you learn how to fight like that?" Kirk asked when she finally let him up.

"I was taught self-defense at a young age," she explained with a shrug. Amusement swept through her when she noticed how exhausted he looked. Whereas he was exhausted, that had just been a warmup to her. "Papa always made sure I knew how to defend myself in case anything happened while he wasn't around."

That wasn't exactly the whole truth. While Coulson did teach her a few moves to protect herself from invaders, he never wanted her to know the moves she now knew. Maria was really the one who taught her everything she knew until joining SHIELD. The brunette was determined to make sure she could defend herself in a firefight, and those training efforts had paid off. Plus, Maria was also the one who encouraged her to follow her dreams, regardless of what Coulson told her.

"Pretty impressive, all things considered," he remarked thoughtfully. "I could definitely see you becoming a top security officer if you accepted the offer."

Emily rose an eyebrow at his last remark. He had no idea just how close he was to guessing what her job entailed. She hadn't had the heart to tell him that she worked for SHIELD. Part of her dreaded the moment when Kirk found out the truth. He was so carefree and such a risk-taker; he reminded her a lot of Clint when he was younger. But she also knew that Kirk was bound by loyalty. The moment he found out she worked for SHIELD, she had a feeling that would end in disaster and sever the friendship they were slowly building.

"Well, I'll be working in security if all goes according to plan," she said as they left the gym. Kirk eyed her thoughtfully when he tried guessing what she meant by that. "And other fields depending on what station will need me the most."

"Is that even possible?" Kirk asked in surprise.

It amazed him that anyone could tolerate so much work being thrown on their shoulders. But she seemed to thrive on that kind of environment. Emily found herself wondering how much longer she would last until she burned out from the mental strain these classes were putting on her shoulders. Captain Pike had warned her that these classes wouldn't be easy. She was always determined to prove everyone wrong – something that McCoy had always found irritating when they worked together.

"Well, they aren't exactly common on Starships, but there is a field of study known as a 'Liaison'," she explained with another shrug. "I hate sitting still for any period of time – working was something that always kept my mind off of where I really am, and I hate thinking about being on a ship. So, this was the best option to take."

Kirk looked thoroughly impressed with the fact that she was willing to take those kind of risks. It was difficult and tedious work, but she knew the rewards would be worth it in the end. Besides, she didn't plan on actually working on a Starship in the end. The only reason she enlisted was because Director Fury had forced her to. She and McCoy had already discussed what they would do if she was assigned to another mission, and whether or not he would stick around with Starfleet after all was said and done. She wasn't in any hurry to experience what it was like to suddenly be thrown into that situation, but she knew it was a possibility.

After everything we've been through together, I don't want to leave so suddenly, she reminded herself silently.

She wanted things between them to work out. Not just because McCoy had and always would be her best friend, but because she couldn't picture herself with anyone else. Though if it came to protecting him and his family, she would make whatever decisions she could to keep them safe, even if it meant leaving him again.

"You mentioned hating the fact that you're on a ship," he said after a moment of silence followed. Emily grimaced when she realized he caught on to that. "I'm guessing you're not overly fond of them, are you?"

"No, I'm not," she admitted. She let out a heavy sigh as she thought of everything that happened during the first four years of her life. "My parents worked on Starships for four years… then something happened to change our lives forever. I never wanted to go back on a ship after that… Papa adopted me shortly after that incident."

She wondered if Kirk knew what she was talking about. Judging from the look written across his face, he didn't. Fortunately, Kirk didn't bother asking more questions revolving around her past. The two of them headed off to the library shortly after, where she found herself studying for an upcoming weapon's test.

Maria had given her the afternoon off when she saw how much progress she made with Steve the other day, and Emily was suddenly grateful for that. The time off gave her a chance to spend more time at the campus and see what the other students were like. She was pleasantly surprised with Kirk's attitude and the way he handled situations. While she was annoyed over the fact that Sarah would sometimes join them (usually neither of them said a word, ignoring each other's presence), she couldn't exactly stop her sister.

Sarah had been doing her best to act as if everything was normal. But Emily could see the curiosity in her eyes whenever they sat together. The younger blond didn't seem to realize just how connected they were, though she never bothered to ask in the first place.

They sat in comfortable silence at the library until a familiar face joined them. Emily glanced at McCoy with a sheepish smirk when she noticed his brow raise in surprise. He knew how persistent Kirk was. And judging from the look written across his face, he could only guess what they had been up to earlier. After seeing how determined she was to prove herself at the agency, he was well aware of her desire to show just how strong she was.

"My God, woman, does that brain of yours ever stop working?" McCoy asked when he sat down beside her.

He ignored the shrewd look Kirk was giving him. All the while Emily was struggling not to laugh as she noticed the looks Kirk kept giving them. Even he seemed all-too-aware of how they continued dancing around each other. She knew they couldn't keep denying their affection forever. Especially after everything that happened between them.

"I'm not going to get anywhere by sitting around doing nothing," she reminded him with a pointed look. McCoy just arched an eyebrow as he looked at her incredulously. "And besides, I'll need to know this stuff if I want to work in every field possible."

McCoy rolled his eyes at that, though he didn't bother arguing with her logic. Once that was established, Kirk suddenly got up and gathered his things, offering them a sheepish grin once again. He was well aware of the fact that she and McCoy would sometimes share a room together whenever their room was occupied. So of course he took full advantage of that.

"You two kids enjoy yourselves," he said while ignoring the scowl that followed from McCoy. "I've got a hot date tonight with an Andorian chick."

"Typical," McCoy rolled his eyes once more after Kirk left them there.

"Guess that means you're spending the night at my place," she quipped with a hum of amusement. McCoy just threw her an incredulous look, though he didn't bother arguing when he followed her out of the library. "Steve knows about your father's history with the agency… he was pretty impressed given the circumstances."

He rose an eyebrow in surprise as they walked side-by-side together across campus. Emily struggled to hide the knowing smirk that followed when she felt the curiosity running through his mind. He'd heard enough stories about Captain America to know what the man was like through them. But he'd never had the chance to meet him personally. Emily suspected that would all change if Steve was given clearance to leave the base on his own.

"Can't say that I blame him for being impressed," he remarked with a thoughtful look. "Pa loved his work both in the hospital and at the agency… despite what he would have people believe."

Emily couldn't hide the smirk that followed when she realized what he was implying. His father had always been a proud man, regardless of what people said. She knew he was proud of what McCoy had accomplished, more so when she thought of everything he had been through to get to this point.

'You know you could have followed his legacy,' she reminded him through their link. McCoy let out a huff at the thought of joining the agency. His father had only worked part-time within the agency. It was an arrangement he'd made with Coulson a few years before she was cast out to Earth. 'I'm sure the agency would've appreciated having someone with your skill-set among their ranks.'

'The last thing I need is a bunch of smart asses telling me what I can and can't do,' he retorted with a snort of laughter. Emily merely smirked in amusement. 'Besides, something tells me this Academy will be just as terrible.'

She silently agreed with him on that notion. After everything they had been through, enlisting in the Academy was like a kick in the teeth. But she knew what needed to be done. Director Fury's orders had been clear, as much as she hated to admit it. She couldn't help but wonder though what her life would be like once all was said and done. The thought sent a shiver of unease through her.

"I'm still surprised you agreed to go with me when I told you," she admitted when they finally reached her apartment.

They'd already made an agreement for him to keep some of his clothing along with a fresh change in uniform at her apartment. McCoy had been reluctant to do so at first, but after reaching the same conclusion she had about sharing a room together, he finally seemed to reach the same agreement. It was also with said agreement that Kirk had begun questioning his motives for staying at her apartment. Emily almost smirked as she recalled the grin written across his face when she and McCoy arrived together in the mess hall one morning.

She shook her head at that memory as she reached for the counter and grabbed a couple of empty glasses. After nearly two weeks of classes, drinks were desperately needed. She'd already purchased a bottle of bourbon to celebrate the fact that they hadn't killed each other within those two weeks – more like the fact that Clint hadn't killed McCoy – and that McCoy hadn't killed Kirk.

"Like I said before, it wasn't as if I had anywhere else to go," he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Emily rose an eyebrow in amusement as she poured herself a glass, ignoring the shrewd look that followed as she did so. She was never above breaking the rules, especially when it came to pissing people off. McCoy had learned this the hard way whenever she and Tony hung out together. It was also one of the many reasons they had gotten along so well in the past.

"Is that the only reason you agreed to go with me?" she quipped.

McCoy's brows furrowed together when he realized what she was implying. Or what she was doing. He suddenly grabbed himself an empty glass and poured the bourbon into it, taking a long, almost painful swig. Emily watched the whole thing in amusement, not missing how easy it was to read his emotions. A mixture of annoyance, regret and guilt suddenly came rushing back.

She frowned at that. She knew full-well where the guilt came from. McCoy had constantly kicked himself mentally whenever he thought of how their relationship had ended in miserable failure. She'd tried reasoning with him that they were both at fault for what happened between them. She didn't want him going down the same path she went… she'd hurt herself more times than she cared to count, and the last thing she wanted was for anyone else she cared about to follow that path.

"Well, if I was being honest with myself, going with you did have it's perks," he admitted once he cleared his throat.

"Like?"

"Like spending more time with you." Her heart nearly skipped a beat when he suddenly kissed her without hesitation. "Going with you made me realize what an idiot I've been… the only regret I have is not realizing it sooner."

By now, her heart was racing for a whole different reason as she found herself in his arms. Their time apart had been gut-wrenching for her. Not only because she had to constantly work her ass off just to appease the agency, but because of what he had been through with the divorce. She let out a quiet sigh as she leaned into his broad chest, allowing his warmth to spread around her like a protective blanket.

"For all that it's worth, I am grateful you agreed to go with me," she said quietly. McCoy wasn't surprised by that notion. Nor was he surprised when she led the way up the stairs, glasses of bourbon left behind. Though he had been well into his third glass by the time they headed upstairs. "Classes would've been far too boring without someone to hang out with afterwards."

"I'm sure Kirk would've found some way of weeding his way into your heart," he reminded her with a pointed look. "Kid apparently already has."

She couldn't help but laugh at the way he looked at her when he brought that up.

"Relax, cowboy," she swatted him playfully across the chest as they reached the bedroom, "Kirk can't hold a candle up to you. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only pain in the ass who's been stubborn enough to put up with me for all of these years."

It was his turn to let out a laugh as he realized what she was implying. He would have gladly put up with her time and time again if it meant spending more time with her. McCoy wasted no time in pulling her shirt off, soon followed by her pants. Emily was hardly surprised by how quickly things had turned that night. Her undergarments were quick to follow, along with the suit.

"I really hate this thing," McCoy grumbled after noting the suit sitting on the floor beside her clothing. Emily just smirked in amusement. "I don't know how you can stand wearing it."

"I think we can safely say I've gotten used to wearing it," she replied with a shrug before guiding him to the bed. It wasn't long before his clothing soon followed. She worked him off slowly, not missing the tent forming in his pants when she reached his lower half. "Too many people kept asking where the scars came from, and it was getting more difficult for me to explain without giving myself away."

"I doubt that's the worst they'd ask," he quipped.

Emily just rolled her eyes as she finally pried off his pants, along with his boxers. She smirked in amusement when she saw how hard his cock was already.

'Someone is excited to see me tonight,' she chimed through their mental link.

'Can hardly blame me, can ya? I get to spend the night with one of the most beautiful women I know,' he replied without missing a beat.

'Flattery will get you everywhere, Doctor,' she snorted in amusement.

Yet the moment she said that was when McCoy kissed her without hesitation. Her heart swooned over the way his lips trailed along hers. She was still atop of him, a position he wasn't overly comfortable with. But the more he tried to fight her off, the harder it was for him to regain control. Her smirk widened as she allowed his tongue entrance, fighting it for dominance seconds later.

'I mean it, Emily.' It seemed strange to be able to hear his voice without his mouth moving. Yet the more she listened to him through their mental link, the more she began to appreciate what they had. 'Not gonna lie, I wanna fuck you hard.'

'You're not the one pulling off all the work this time, Leonard,' she reminded him with a knowing grin.

McCoy was already well aware of where she was headed with that bit. Before he had the chance to make sense of what she was doing, her lips left his and started trailing down his chest. The feeling of soft, tender lips brushing along his skin was enough to send shivers of pleasure through him. She paused every now and then to leave a deeper mark, claiming him as hers and for her eyes only.

His hands raked through her hair as she trailed lower and lower. It wasn't until feeling the scars along her scalp that McCoy paused in his movements. She hadn't stopped but she could feel the guilt and anger rolling off of him in waves. He hadn't been able to protect her that day she was taken. And when she was finally returned, it felt as though she had lost everything.

'I should've been there for you.' His thoughts were loud and clear.

She held back a sigh of frustration when she realized what he meant by that. When he suddenly turned his back on her that day after she was released from the ICU, she'd wanted nothing to do with him. It took months for her to recover on an emotional scale. And even after that it took another year for her to trust him again. She knew she would have to make a point of talking to him about it. For now though, she wanted to make that night fun. Or as fun as one could get when they were filled with such thoughts.

She finally reached the base of his cock, not missing the way his hands had finally begun massaging her. She relished the way they felt against her skin. As strange as it sounded, she knew it was his way of apologizing for not being there when she needed him the most. She tried pushing those thoughts aside as she gently massaged his balls while licking the side of his shaft. That brought out some rather pleasant vocalizations from him. Emily smirked in amusement as she continued trailing her tongue along the side of his shaft, not missing how his cock twitched in anticipation. She relished the way he tasted… no other man could ever live up to him.

"Fucking hell, Em!" he barked when she finally reached his tip.

Emily smirked in amusement when she noticed the precum coating it. She hadn't realized he was that far ahead. She wasted no time in taking him in fully, knowing he was close to exploding at that point. She allowed him full access as his hands roughly reached for her breasts, squeezing them and making sure her nipples were hard pecks as she worked him off.

By now most of his speech was incoherent, but his thoughts were loud and clear. She made quick work of him by finishing him off. Her amusement never faded when he finally came into her mouth. Judging from the slew of curses that followed, she'd achieved her goal.

"I hope you don't kiss your mother with that mouth of yours," she quipped once she swallowed it all.

McCoy just returned her amused look with a smirk of his own. Though it helped when she leaned forward and kissed him firmly on the lips. She never got tired of the connection they'd formed. It was moments like these that made her relish their time together.

"Lord knows Ma would use all the soap in the world to wash it out," he snorted in amusement.

She struggled not to laugh at the mental image that followed. He was playing with her breasts now, massaging them as she had with him seconds ago. For a few seconds, neither of them moved from that spot. Though he could feel how moist her entrance was just from resting atop of him.

She knew a shower in the morning was desperately needed. She pushed those thoughts aside as she finally leaned against him, using her arms for support as she aligned herself with him. His cock was still hard from their previous interactions, much to her surprise and relief. She wanted that sweet release almost as much as he did.

He made no move to push her forward. He was never forceful or too quick… something of which Emily appreciated. She'd spent far too many nights where the men she was with had either been too forceful or too quick. Being on the receiving end of their wrath hadn't helped matters. She supposed that was why McCoy would always be her favorite.

The moment she thrust herself against him was the moment she captured his lips with hers. She forced back a groan of anticipation as her walls clamped around him. Pleasure rolled off of her in waves, sending shivers through her. It felt as though everything was on fire, from the feeling of his hands brushing against her waist as she slammed into him from the way his lips felt against hers. She could taste the bourbon in his breath, relishing the way he claimed her as his.

'I love you, Leonard,' she said through their mental link.

She knew what was on his mind before he replied. Those feelings ran deeper than either of them realized. As his tongue sought entrance, she obliged willingly. McCoy finally let out a groan of his own, loud and embarrassing as he thrust upward in time to meet her thrusts. She could tell he was getting close from how swollen his cock was. He was practically throbbing within her, so close to his release.

'Love you too, Em,' he replied without hesitation.

Her heart swelled with joy at those words. One final thrust was all it took for her to finally reach her climax. She buried her face into the crook of his neck as she let out a shuddering breath, groaning from the intense wave of pleasure that followed. McCoy came moments later, filling her with his warm seed.

Emily let out a sigh of relief as she laid atop of him, relishing the warmth he provided. Eventually she climbed off and smirked in amusement when she saw the purple mark her teeth left on his chest. She knew he wouldn't be thanking her anytime soon for leaving him a hickey, though after the many nights she'd spent trying to clean hers off, revenge felt that much sweeter.

"You are amazing," he let out a sigh of relief after wrapping his arms around her torso.

Emily snuggled further into his chest, feeling his warmth and affection wrap around her like a protective blanket. As his kisses lulled her into a deep, fitful sleep, she knew that the feelings would always be mutual. And nothing was ever going to change that.