Relentless

Zara put her arms into her jacket, zipping it up as she looked across the classroom at the other students. They'd done their first week with Lance which had basically been an introduction, a few evasive manoeuvres and a few punch drills. This had all been well and good until Zara had attracted some unwanted attention when extra punches came out in combinations they hadn't learned yet. She hadn't been trying, it was as if her muscles just knew what to do, and as usual her mind had no idea what was going on.
She'd overheard a few of the rookies calling her a 'freak' and a 'show off' when they thought she wasn't listening. If only they knew... Something deep down inside her wanted to show them how much of a freak she really was... She swallowed the anger down and ignored them. Only three more weeks after this one and they'd be a distant memory.
She had started stuffing up moves on purpose to hide any real talent she had for any of the fight maneuvers. Part of her was ecstatic that a lot of it had come back, and the other part of her felt completely ostracized because of it.
Jess had stuck up for her, telling the other rookies off unabashedly when she'd overheard them, and it had pushed her further from the group as well. Jess hadn't been an overly popular girl, she was incredibly smart and said exactly what was on her mind. Her lack of a filter had frightened people off, whereas Zara appreciated it. Honesty was hard to come by these days.

Zara wasn't 100% sure how to take Jess's openness sometimes. She didn't know the girl from a bar of soap, but there she was, a friend who wanted nothing in return. She wished she wasn't so untrusting of others... The two girls got along great, she'd just have to learn to let her guard down... But not too far.
Then there was the boy who kept giving her flirty smiles and seemed to be looking at her all the time. He'd wordlessly put himself protectively between Zara and the nasty, judgmental members of the class when they'd said things about her. He was yet to say anything to her, but was always right there in the wings and always on her side. Every class Zara tried to figure him out. He was either a complete creep, or just a shy guy who had a good heart. It was hard to tell, and Zara wasn't in the right head-space to be trying to work people out right now.

It was all too much to take for an anxious amnesiac who was putting her boyfriend through hell. Bucky never complained about the nights where Zara woke up kicking and screaming, sometimes both. If there was one thing she didn't get, it was how someone could be so goddamned supportive, kind, protective and understanding... Sure, he knew what it was like recovering from the Hydra memory wipes, he still had nightmares occasionally, but Zara always felt like she was being a pain in the ass. Bucky was very well known for not being very tolerant, getting angry at little things and even acting out aggressively, but with her it was different. He was a whole other person. Maybe they balanced each other out? Maybe he was a ticking time bomb? Surely there was a limit to how many sleepless nights he could take?



"Good class, huh!" Jess beamed at Zara. Where the girl got her energy from, she'd never know.
"You kicked ass today" Zara smiled.
"ME? You need to teach me some of those moves, you're like, crazy talented" Jess giggled, giving Zara a pat on the shoulder.
The girls picked their bags up and left the room, thanking Lance on their way out as they headed for the cafeteria like they had done the last three days in a row. They both ordered a strong coffee and just for kicks, a thick slice of chocolate mud cake to share. The two of them had become fast friends, Jess was always chatty and had a story to tell, which was great because it meant that Zara didn't have to do much talking.
They sat at their usual table and took the lids from their cups, a waft of steam escaping, both girls breathing in the amazing scent. There wasn't many things in the world that Zara loved more than coffee.

"So miss, why were you so tired this morning?" Jess said.

Oh god, a question... She doesn't usually ask those...

"Not sleeping too well" Came Zara's honest reply. At least it was the truth, she'd been able to dodge questions and lie to the others, but her growing friendship with Jess posed a threat to her secrets.
"Oh, really? Why not?" Jess asked, genuine concern in her expression as she sipped her coffee. Zara drew a deep breath, she didn't know what the hell to say, she didn't want to lie, but then again she wasn't sure if she could trust this girl or not yet. She wanted to, she needed a friend, that much was certain.
"I don't know..." She said, looking down at her steaming cup. She heard Jess sigh in frustration.
"You CAN talk to me, you know" Jess said, cocking her head. Zara nodded, not looking up at her while she worked out what to say.
"Just stressed, I guess. I can't talk about it, sorry" She said, looking up at Jess.
"You can't as in it's difficult, or you can't because it's classified?"
"Classified"
"To what level?"
"Seven" Zara said, pulling a number out of thin air.

Seven was high level, right?

"You're a level seven!?" Jess exclaimed, keeping her voice barely above an enthusiastic whisper.
"Hell no! I'm nothing special around here. The classified thing is level seven. I'm not saying another word about it, I'm sure I can get in trouble for even talking about a classified thing" Zara said, her palms getting clammy. Jess nodded in agreeance before looking over her shoulder.
"Well, you just got a whole lot more interesting" Jess grinned. Zara was sure she felt the color drain out of her face.
"Here, have some cake before I eat it all" Jess chuckled, handing Zara a fork.

"So what are we going to do about Kyle?" Jess asked as the two girls left the cafeteria. Zara shot her a look, not wanting to think of Mr intense-flirty-eyes for a second longer. She let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head. She didn't want to talk about boys, all she wanted was a hot shower, and possibly a nap if she could shut her brain off long enough for sleep to kick in.
"What on Earth do you mean?" Zara said, unable to think of something to steer the conversation away.
"Zeejay Morgan, it doesn't take an IQ of 140 to see that the guy is sweet on you"
"Um, last I checked this wasn't high school, and stop bragging about your IQ" She chuckled. "I'm NOT interested in him, and I hope he finds someone ELSE to latch onto."
"What would it hurt? He's cute!" Jess insisted.
"Well why don't YOU go out with him then?" Zara quipped, arching a brow. Jess looked at her dumb foundered.
"Me? Me go out with him? I don't think so" Jess said, looking utterly offended at the thought as she shook her head. Zara laughed heartily and wiped her eyes.
"Okay, so no Kyle for either of us..." Zara said, trying to stifle her laughter. Jess joined in and they continued giggling as they walked down the hall, coming to a T junction.
"You going home for the weekend?" Zara asked.
"Yeah, aren't you?" Jess questioned, raising a brow.
"I have to help out with a few things before I get to go home. The busy life of an assistant..." Zara shrugged.
"You never told me who's assistant you were"
"That's because that's classified" she said, giving a wink.
"You sure have a lot of secrets for someone who answers phones for a living..." Jess said, with an 'I'm not buying this' look on her face. Zara shrugged and smiled nonchalantly.
"It is what it is, I guess!" She said, not sure how to counter her. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door, I don't have to be anywhere for a half hour."

The two girls chatted as they walked down the corridor, Jess getting a little more brazen with her question-asking. She really was like a dog with a bone. Zara chuckled when she noticed and just answered most of them with the usual 'nope, nup and nuh-uh' responses. The joys of having a smart friend. The subject was changed to what their plans were for the weekend, Jess was due back at the building for a meeting on Saturday.
"What meeting?" Zara asked, making a mental note to make herself scarce that day.
"THAT, my dear friend is classified" Jess said, rubbing it in. The two of them burst out laughing loudly, earning annoyed looks from workers in the corridor. They hushed themselves, a small giggle escaping now and then.
"You seriously have a meeting on Saturday?" Zara asked again.
"Yeah, I actually do. I can't talk about it though, until I know more. Work related, but if it goes ahead, I'll fill you in" She smiled.
"Well good luck with whatever it is" Zara said, giving a genuine smile back. The moment was dashed when she heard someone yelling her name from down the hall.

"Zeejay! What are you doing down this end of the building?" Came the voice of Tony Stark as he approached them, shoving his Smartphone into his pocket. Zara looked over at Jess who was completely and utterly star struck and flabbergasted. Zara grinned.
"Hey Stark" She smiled. "Oh, sorry... Tony, this is my friend Jess Middleton. Jess, Tony Stark" She said, gesturing back and forth. Jess put her hand out to shake his, and had to tell herself to shut her shocked, gaping mouth.
"HUGE fan, Mr Stark" She gushed.
"Thank you" He smiled, before turning his head back to Zara and raising his brows. He was still waiting for an answer.
"I'm just walking Jess out" She said, taking the hint.

Zara out the front of the building was not a good idea just yet, not without someone with her, someone who had their wits about them. Not with the new threats they'd been given. Tony sighed, Barnes would never let him hear the end of it if he let her go. Hell, he was quite fond of the kid, and he wasn't about to let her walk into any possibility of danger...

It would take her 5 minutes to get to the foyer, and another 5 to get back, even if she was quick.
"You can walk her to the foyer entrance, but I need you in the lab in exactly 6 minutes" He said with a nod. She'd only get as far as the elevator door if his calculations were correct, and Jarvis could keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't go farther than that. "Don't be a SECOND late" He called over his shoulder as he continued up the hallway. Zara rolled her eyes.

"YOU know TONY STARK!?" Jess said, her face in shock and awe.
"Yeah, I know Stark, alright" She said, tugging at Jess's arm as they headed to the foyer.
"So that's who you work for? Holy shit..."
"I do NOT work for Stark" Zara said, hurrying towards the elevator and pressing the button.
"Well then why does he need you in exactly 6 minutes?"
"Because he's a demanding little... Never mind..." She said as the doors opened. "We're good friends, he's done a lot for me while I've been here, so if he asks for a favour, I help out. Sometimes it's errands, helping him in the lab, pass him things, that sort of stuff" She said with a shrug.
"Are you guys... Seeing each other?"
"NO!"
"Is that why you're not interested in Kyle?" Jess teased, enjoying getting a rise out of her.
"NO! I have a boyfri-" Zara started...
"Ha! I knew it!" Jess grinned. "Anyone I know?"
Zara let out a breath of exasperation and closed her eyes. She wasn't sure whether Jess has backed her into a corner, or she'd just been careless... Definitely careless... Well, at least she didn't give away who it was.
"No. It's nobody you would know..." She said, a little annoyed.
"Sorry, Zee... Was just teasing you" Jess said, Zara's expression softening.
"It's fine, It's not you" Zara said, warmth back in her face again, much to Jess's relief.
"You really are a closed book aren't you?" Jess said after a pause. "Sorry... Psyche major talking."
Zara smiled and waved her hand, gesturing that it was fine.
"I just can't talk about... A few things right now." Zara explained, stumbling over her words as she tried to clear things up without giving anything important away. Jess nodded, she was really quite understanding, all things considered.
"I wish I could, but you can't be too careful... Everything is a bit complicated at the moment. It's hard."
"You don't trust anybody do you?" Jess said, finally. Zara shook her head.
"No, I can't afford to." She said, giving a shrug. "But for a select few, I'm working on it" She said, giving a smile.
"What on Earth happened to you, Zeejay Morgan?" Jess pondered aloud after a sigh. It was a rhetorical question, she knew Zara wouldn't give anything away. Wouldn't or couldn't.
Zara gave a chuckle under her breath. "I might tell you one day. It's no big deal, really." She said, playing it down.

Sure, Jess! I grew up working for Hydra before I blew the base up and was rescued by Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, who I then started dating. I ran away, blew up a Hydra base, started a war, and then eventually 'died' in battle, becoming a Hydra assassin with a wiped memory. I was rescued once again by our dynamic duo and am now living with and seeing Bucky Barnes - the guy you have the world's most epic crush on. Don't even ask what we were doing this morning... Shut up, brain!

Zara giggled, thankful that Jess couldn't read minds. When she played it out, it really was quite a story...

"You don't have to do that. I suppose it's classified after all, isn't it?" Jess said, interrupting Zara's internal monologue.
"For the moment? ...Yes" Zara said, picking her words.
"You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to" Jess said, pulling Zara in for a big hug. "It's nice to have a friend here at Shield. In case you haven't noticed, they are in short supply around here" She said, gesturing at the straight laced types whizzing past in business suits. Zara chuckled and nodded, Jess was right.
"Well you DID buy me cake..." Zara said, making them both laugh. She looked at her watch and there was a moment of panic when she realized how long they'd been talking.
"Shit, gotta go. See you Monday?"
"Yep, we're in with Grant Ward, will see you then" Jess said. "Don't forget, they've put us in AFTER Barnes' class, so we don't start till 12. Lets get there early and enjoy the view" She suggested, raising her brows suggestively. Zara giggled, oh if only she knew...

Zara's phone beeped

Stark 4.05pm
If you're not here in 3 minutes, I tell Barnes that you were out the front. Tick tock, Jones.

She rolled her eyes.
"Oh for fucks sake... Sorry Jess, my treat for cake next time. See you Monday!" She called as she turned and dashed down the hallway.
"Cya Monday, Zee!"

Zara slowed to a jog as she approached the lab doors and made it through them with all of 15 seconds to spare. She looked up to see Tony casually strutting around his lab, pressing buttons on a holographic screen.
"You needed me?" She asked, breathless and stressed from the rush.
"Yeah, pass me that tablet" He said, pointing across the room to the table.
"You needed me to pass you a tablet?"
"No, but while you're here, you may as well make yourself useful"
"Tony, did you need me or not?" She asked, brow raised and a steely look of frustration on her face. Tony just smiled like the kid who got caught with the cookie jar. Zara groaned.
"Then why make me rush down here from the foyer?"
"You know why, Jones..." He said darkly, a brow raised.
"Seriously, Stark!?"
"Zara, you know the rules. You go out that door unaccompanied, unarmed and untrained, you're asking for trouble. Begging for it." He said, putting whatever device was in his hand down on the table as he turned to her.
"Yeah, because the WHOLE WORLD wants me dead or captured, right?"
"You obviously don't remember what happened last time you went out those doors, and that was WITH Robocop."
Zara rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, her face sullen.
"So what am I supposed to do? Sit up in my tower and wait to be rescued?" She said dramatically.
"Was that a Rapunzel reference?"
"Maybe..."
Tony paused, looking her up and down.
"Your hair's not long enough" He said, before turning away from her.

Zara grit her teeth, seething as she turned to leave. She gave the lab doors a hard shove, making them slam against the walls, loudly. She stomped down the hallway, her finger just about going through the elevator button. The doors were taking too long to open so she tapped it until she heard a ding.

Empty... Thank god.

She rode it to her floor, her mind running a million miles an hour. She knew Stark was only looking out for her, he had really stepped into that big brother role since Steve had been away. He didn't have to be such a smart-ass about it though... She let out a breath, her head feeling clearer already by the time the doors opened on her floor. She stepped out, adjusting her gym bag shoulder strap with a shrug as she went.
She made it all the way to Bucky's room without being hassled by anyone. A hot shower was practically calling out to her. She fumbled with the key card and dropped the damn thing, swearing loudly as she suppressed the urge to kick the door down.
"Drop something?" Came a voice beside her. Bucky bent to pick the card up, swiping it and unlocking the door. Zara strode in and dropped her gym bag in its spot in front of the wardrobe. When she turned, he was there in front of her, blocking her path.
"What's got you all riled up?" He asked, stepping towards her. She let out a breath, hardly in the mood to talk.
"Nothing, really. I'm just in a mood" She said, taking off her combat boots, one hand leaning against the wall for support.

She stood and looked up at him, the obvious height difference making them both chuckle. She reached up and put her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. Bucky put his arms around her and held her tight, glad to see a smile back on her face,
"And what exactly has put you in this bad mood?" He asked, cocking his head.
"Lots of things. Tired, sick of keeping secrets, sick of being stuck in this goddamned building. Sick of feeling like every move I make is being watched... And my shoulders hurt." She pouted. Bucky smiled his sideways smile, understanding her frustrations. He slipped an arm under her legs and scooped her up and walked her into the bathroom, setting her down on the counter as he reached to turn the shower on.
"Well I can help fix a couple of those things" He said.
"I almost let it slip to Jess that we were together, today." She said, looking up at him as he tested the water with the back of his flesh hand.
"I guess it won't matter in a few weeks" He said after a few moments. "Just gotta keep it quiet while you're training, or you won't blend in anymore..."
"Well I already don't blend in. I'm picking it up too fast, and combinations I didn't even know I had keep coming out. I have to purposely fuck it up, and then other things I can't even get my head around. I'm half way between complete screw-up and prodigy. It's really frustrating!" She said, clenching her jaw.
"Arms up" He said, pulling her top off over her head as she obeyed.
"Think we could have some gym time this weekend? I really need your help getting my head around a few things" She asked, locking eyes with him.
"Absolutely" He grinned.
"Probably better to practice on a super soldier than a lab assistant." She chuckled. "Arms up" She pulled Bucky's shirt off over his head, tossing it into the corner with hers.
"So you wanna take on a super soldier?" He said dangerously as he leaned in, cocking his head and narrowing his eyes. Zara bit her lip as her breathing quickened. She pushed his hair back off his face and let her lips crash into his. Her back hit the wall roughly as he leaned hungrily over her, deepening the kiss as his flesh hand grasped her waist. He pulled away, giving her a cheeky grin.
"What's got YOU all riled up?" She asked between heaving breaths.
"I have a gorgeous girl in my bathroom, in nothing but a sexy black bra and a pair of combat pants... And she's all mine. What do YOU think?" He said arching a brow, "I'm a lucky guy..."
Zara giggled, hardly feeling like HE was the lucky one as her eyes drank in every inch of his body.
"You know, we're wasting a perfectly good hot shower" She said, nodding to the steamy open door.
"You're absolutely right" He agreed as he helped her from the counter and unbuckled his belt, looking up at her through his lashes as he did. Zara sighed and smiled, her bad mood now a thing of the past.
"I think I'M the lucky one..." She said as she unbuttoned her pants.
"Not a chance..."