Catching Bucky was only the start of the scuffle, though Steve was able to briefly pin him before he wriggled free. “That’s the difference between us,” he grunted. “I learned a lot about all sorts of things by stepping on your toes!” He found himself with both shoulders on the ground a moment later and jumped back up to his toes, arcing his entire body to break the hold.

They were fairly evenly matched, and though Bucky had the discipline of a boxer, he was tempered by the freedom to use whatever was at his grasp. Steve fought a little more honorably, but he didn’t have a style. He’d learned early on to let his muscles move the way that they wanted to and that meant a lot of twisting and quick jabs.

That said, he knew Bucky’s signature move and, having used it a lot in the war, didn’t even think about it as he whirled and attempted to lay two punches to Bucky’s ribs. He felt fantastic doing this, on his toes, actually training again. He’d grown rusty in that cell.