This chapter is dedicated to sasha_evans2015 for all the amazing comments and support!! Thank you!!! *hugs*

Chapter Eleven

Steve didn't mean to make it awkward. When he knocked on Malone's door and didn't receive an answer, he panicked. After busting into Bucky's room and seeing them curled up together... Well, he had yelped. Loudly.

James was up in a flash, pointing a gun at him. Malone looked blearily up at the two men, wondering vaguely where James had kept the gun.

The awkward tension in the room was at a whole new level. Malone had never been good in awkward situations, and now was certainly the time to prove it. She started laughing. Clutching her sides and howling with laugher, she collapsed back on the bed. Steve's face was hilarious, mouth opened in a comical 'O' with a slight blush on his cheeks.

James's was not as funny, seeing to the fact that he had almost shot Captain America in the head. His eyes were squinted suspiciously, his stance wide. James slowly lowered the gun, tossing it back onto the bed.

Malone had tears streaming down her face, gasping for air and clutching at the stitch in her side. "Your face, Steve!" she giggled. He had reacted to it like he had walked in to see something else, not just two people asleep and cuddling.

The Captain cleared his throat, "Y-yeah, well... We need to get a move on. Tasha and I have a safe house planned out, once we find the mole we'll pick you guys up and track down Hydra."

Malone nodded, "Awesome! So can I wear a catsuit?"

Steve and James looked at her like she had dropped from Mars. "You know? Tight, leather? Like Black Widow wears?"

They both still looked confused, but Steve nodded slowly, "I'll, uh, see what I can do."

"Yes!" Mal yelled. she had always wanted to wear one of those things. What a dork, James thought fondly.

Two hours later Malone was dressed in a black catsuit. She had Steve take her to the armory, where she picked up quite a few weapons.

Two guns on either hip, throwing knives strapped to her thighs, boot knives tucked safely away. She even convinced Steve to let her take two Widow Bite cuffs and a package of Black Widow's taser disks.

Mal went back to James' room, finding him sitting on the bed. He was writing in a small journal, and Malone assumed it was his dreams. She knocked on the door frame, noticing that he also had on his battle gear. He looked almost the same as when she met him, only with short hair and no mask.

He glanced up at her, shutting the notebook with a final sounding snap. James' eyes looked over her, and she blushed. "You look," he stopped. "Like I could kick some Hydra butt?" she supplied. James nodded, not voicing the fact he was going to say 'beautiful'.

Mal walked over to him, taking his hand, "Steve said we should land in ten minutes. We've got to go find him and Natasha."

The two found Tasha and Steve exactly ten minutes later. The Hovercraft was slowly descending, and Steve turned to James and Malone.

"I didn't have them drop us off by the safe house. We're still quite a while away, so we'll need to drive for a bit," Steve explained.

Mal nodded, "Alright. I just hope you brought snacks."

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Unfortunately for Malone, Steve did not pack snacks. She realized that if you ever wanted true awkwardness, just stick two ex-assassins and a superhero in the car.

For five hours it was completely silent, Malone was just working up the courage to break the silence with, "Can we stop? 'Cause I really got to pee." But she luckily didn't have to, seeing as they had just pulled into the driveway of a large farmhouse.

She hopped out of the car, watching James and Steve stretch. "Come on, you old farts!" Steve glared at her, "What did you say?" Mal looked him straight in the eyes, "You heard me, Grandpa."

They both stopped short when they heard a deep laugh. Malone's eyes widened when she saw James laughing. Actually laughing. Not just a a smirk or a chuckle, but actual laughter. Steve looked like he was ready to jump off a bridge, but Natasha only rolled her eyes.

James stopped laughing just as suddenly as he started. "What?" he asked defensively. Malone shrugged, "Nothin'." They all walked into the house.

The house was a three bedroom, two bath. Natasha immediately went to the master bedroom and claimed it. Steve said he'd sleep on the couch, but Malone protested. "It's alright, James and I can share."

She didn't say that she would've wound up in there anyway, drawn into his room by his frantic muttering and choked screams.

Steve agreed, and they all went their separate ways. Malone went into the kitchen, which smelled faintly of paint and sawdust. She looked around for something to eat, finally making two sandwiches.

Mal got back to the room, and sat the sandwiches on the bed. Bucky stood silently, staring at the full length mirror in front of him. Malone stood beside him, looking at him through the mirror. "What're you doing, James?" she whispered.

His eyes met hers through the mirror, "I had forgotten what I looked like." Malone's throat tightened, her eyes threatening to produce tears. Who didn't know that? She hugged him tightly, and he stood awkwardly in her embrace. After a few seconds he wrapped his arms carefully around her, resting his chin on her head. Her blonde hair smelled faintly of cinnamon.

They stood like that till someone knocked on their door. James opened the door, seeing Steve leaning against the door frame, "I figured you might want to train Malone. There's equipment in the basement you can use." James nodded, signaling Malone to follow him.

They walked down into the basement. The floor was padded, and equipment was scattered around. James led Malone to a punching bag, "Go ahead."

Mal punched the punching bag hard, then winced. She knew she must be doing something wrong, there was no way it was supposed to hurt that much. James watched her for a second before talking, "Here. Don't tuck your thumb, that's a good way to get it broken. Straighten your wrist out, there you go." He fixed her fighting stance, teaching her how to block punches.

Then he began to work on footwork, dodging, and flipping. She was a quick learner. Once he demonstrated she picked it up fairly easily. He was just explaining how to flip someone when Natasha walked in.

"Don't you think a girl should be teaching her flips?" Natasha said. He shrugged, "Why not?"

Malone watched Natasha demonstrate how to flip someone considerably larger than yourself. After another grueling three hours, Malone's muscles felt like jelly. She had bent and twisted and punched in ways she would have never imagined she could.

Steve, Natasha, James, and Malone all sat at the dinner table. It was all Mal could do to even raise her fork to her mouth. After they finished eating, she stumbled to her and James's room. She quickly hopped in the shower, washed, and blow dried her hair.

When she walked out of the bathroom, James was already asleep on the bed. Malone smiled, for once he actually looked peaceful. She curled up beside him, drifting off to sleep almost at once.

For the first night in years, James didn't have nightmares.

A/N Okay I know I promised action but I really really wanted a fluffy chapter. Sooooorrrry! I'm done putting it off, the action will actually happen next chapter.

Okay so is Mal/James's relationship going too fast? Too slow? Should they kiss yet? I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE.

AM I PORTRAYING JAMES OKAY? ITS SO HARD KEEPING HIM IN CHARACTER AND I THINK I'M FAILING MISERABLY

Well then, I'll see you next chapter!