imaginesteverogerss:

Steve’s been practising, is the thing. Because what’s happened so far in sparring sessions is that he goes barrelling at someone crotch first and knocks them over, sends the both of them sprawling to the ground. It’s really not very graceful. Or effective, like at all. Nat, Clint, Sam – they’ve all nearly broken ribs being crushed under his weight.

So he’s been practising. It’s not a straightforward move – Nat’s shown him there’s a twist to it, so you can take someone down and still land on your feet.

He’s almost got it. If Sam stands still, he can land it six out of ten times.

It seems like the kind of thing to test on Bucky. Bucky, who’s experienced it at Natasha’s hand (well. Natasha’s thighs). So he’ll know what’s coming when Steve comes at him starting with his groin.

(Even if he doesn’t, neither of them has ever objected to any face-groin meetings between them.)

They’re sparring, the fourth day since their last mission, trying to work out their antsiness. Bucky throws Steve into the wall, and Steve, bounding off it, swings his thigh around Bucky’s neck and pulls.

A drop. The moment drags. Steve hangs from one crooked leg around Bucky’s shoulders, looking upside down at the opposite wall.

“Uh,” Bucky says, one hand coming to rest on Steve’s thigh, “Steve? What – uh, what are you doing?”

“You’re supposed to go down when I do that,” Steve replies. The blood is rushing to his head. “How come you go down when Nat does it?”

“I always go down when a lady wants me to.” Bucky was good at sarcasm before, but his delivery these days is so dry it’s almost like he doesn’t think it’s funny.

“Ain’t I your lady?” Steve asks. “You’re always callin’ me that.”

“Oh,” says Bucky, “you’re right. My mistake.” And, without warning, he topples, dropping Steve on his head as he does.