cryptid
/cryp·tid/
noun
an animal that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist
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The investigation of cryptid creatures from the general public sparked interest within SHIELD's Enh...
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"Deprived of all that we're blessed with."
Grand Forks, North Dakota November, 1995
AGENT 17 stood in front of the Asset, its–her– arms balled into fists and held in front of its–her–in a defensive position. It– she–steadied her breathing. The Asset watched her with calculative eyes as he widened his stance, shifting slightly. The wind whistled in their ears, traveling back and forth through the windows of the room.
Carefully, she lunged at the Asset. The Asset side-stepped but Agent 17 wasn't going to punch him. Her leg shot out, slamming into his side. He caught her ankle, grip painfully tight as the bone under her skin strained to remain intact. Agent 17 slammed her fist into his throat but he blocked it with his other hand. Agent 17 tilted her head as the Asset and her remained facing each other.
Then the Asset's fist closed and Agent 17 felt her bone shatter.
Agent 17 jumped upward with the help of her wings and other foot, twisting her broken bone fully and slamming her foot into the Asset's face. He released her and she jumped back, landing on the ground and collapsing to one knee. She hummed a tune and her bones snapped back into place, just as the Asset sent a punch to her face.
Agent 17 ducked.
"Easy, Asset." Commander Rumlow warned.
He was leaning against the wall to the abandoned warehouse, watching the pair fight with eyes narrowed. He looked disappointed but Agent 17 couldn't figure out why. Agent 17 gracefully spun as the Asset through two more punches. She dipped down, dodging each one and blocking a kick from the side.
He swung his arm then moved to elbow her with the other.
She tanked the punch while hooking her fingers around the crook of his elbow before bringing him down and slamming her knee into his face. He blocked it with his other hand and Agent 17 slammed her head into his throat.
Asset choked, releasing her for a moment before lifting his leg up to kick her.
Agent 17 jumped back.
"Alright, stop this shit." Commander Rumlow clapped his hands together.
Agent 17 and the Asset both straightened, turning to face the Commander, who was looking at her with crossed arms and a frown on his face.
"Why are you so–" Commander Rumlow paused, "you're movements aren't sharp and you sure seem to be giving more of a fuck with dodging when I know you are capable of getting hit. The fuck happened to you in the– well, when I wasn't there?"
