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Prompt #29: Tussle - They both learn something while sparring in the CIA gym.

Words: 674

In his defense, demonstrating the full-body pin to Annie had been less discomforting in his head.

It had been a good plan in theory. They'd had very little time to spend together since her return from Russia. She was still putting the pieces of her shattered life back together. So Auggie invited her to an early-morning sparring session, kind of like the ones they'd used to have before they'd been seperated. He thought the familiarity would be comforting to her.

Now he was more uncomfortable than he'd been in a very long, long time.

Probably because he was pinning her down and there was very little space between them. It was taking all his considerable self-control not to respond to the feeling of her body beneath him.

But she was his best friend, and he was in love with her, and that would have broken her trust seven different ways from Sunday.

So he just smirked and said, "Did you forget everything I've taught you, Walker?"

Those words were slammed back down his throat when she expertly flipped them over, making him the one pinned. Well I'm not complaining, his treacherous mind snickered.

In her defense, flipping Auggie onto his back was more distracting than she'd expected.

When he first posed the idea of an early-morning sparring session, Annie had been all for it. She missed training in hand-to-hand combat with him. When he pinned her down, the idea of besting him - of surprising him - was a very satisfactory thought. After her most recent death-defying escapades, she needed something as normal as trying to best Auggie in the gym.

But this was anything but normal for them.

Probably because she had a starfish hold on him that had her body plastered to his and her face barely inches from his nose. It was taking everything she had not to lean down and kiss him senseless.

But he was her best friend, and she was in love with him, and that would have crossed seven different lines from wrong.

So she just chuckled and retorted, "Not quite everything, Anderson."

Those words were proven when he reversed their positions once more, putting her back on the bottom. Not that this is a bad place to be, her tricky mind chuckled.

Back in their original starting positions, the two agents could tell that something had changed. Or maybe had been changing for some time.

Their faces were still close. Almost too close. Another few inches either way and they'd be having a different type of conversation. Neither of them were quite sure the other was ready to move those extra few inches.

"Be honest," Auggie said as flippantly as he could. "You missed this."

"Getting my ass handed to me? Hardly," Annie said with just as much glib.

The need to salvage the situation hit Auggie just then. Call it his protective instinct, call it a wish to play this all off as another normal day between them. He bent down to shoot off a snarky little one-liner.

The urge to not let this chance go by was too much for Annie. Call it decompression, call it a repressed need to thank him for everythiing he'd ever done to save her. She leaned forward to press her usual kiss to his cheek.

Imagine their surprise when their lips met halfway, making an innocent gesture turn into an unexpected lip-lock. They froze in shock, unsure of what was going to happen next.

Ever the gentleman, Auggie pulled back ever so slightly, putting the barest space between them. "Annie?" he whispered. "I - I - " Nerves made it almost impossible to get the words out of his throat.

Annie reached up and laid a finger on his lips to silence him. "Are you sorry?" she asked. Nerves made her voice almost inaudible.

"No way."

"Then neither am I." Her hand slipped around the back of his head and pulled him back down again.

Hard shot of A2 fluff to make up for the fail on Tuesday. Annie should've gone to Auggie's place, not a hotel and end up at Eyal's D.C. place! WTF, CA writers?

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