The Opposition

Sparring

A week had passed since they'd relocated to the safe house, and things were slowly settling into a rhythm. The tension of the move and the chaos of the attack were starting to ease, but there was still an underlying current of unease throughout the base. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the next storm to break.

Alexa was restless. Her leg, encased in a supportive boot, had mended faster than expected, thanks to Enzo's relentless care and her own determination to get back on her feet. She couldn't stand being idle for much longer; she needed to feel useful, to feel like she could still fight and lead. Today, she was finally getting cleared to walk without restrictions.

"Alright, Lexa, you're almost fully healed," Enzo said, examining her leg one last time in the small infirmary room. "But don't push it too hard. You can walk without the boot now, but ease back into training, alright?"

Alexa nodded, impatience evident in her eyes. "Got it. I'm not planning on sitting around any longer."

Enzo gave her a look, one eyebrow raised. "I mean it, Lexa. The last thing we need is you overdoing it and ending up back in here."

She rolled her eyes but smiled at him. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Enzo. You're a lifesaver."

"You're damn right I am," he replied, smirking. "Now, go burn off some of that pent-up energy before you drive the rest of us insane."

Alexa chuckled as she left the infirmary, feeling the lightness in her step. She flexed her leg cautiously with each stride, feeling the newfound strength returning to her muscles. She made her way through the winding corridors of the base, the sound of her boots echoing off the walls, until she reached the training room.

Inside, the space was relatively empty, save for a couple of recruits sparring in a corner. She headed to the equipment rack and picked up a staff, testing its weight in her hands. It was a familiar, comforting feeling—the cool wood against her palms, the balance of it as she twirled it in a quick arc. She needed this, needed to remind herself that she was still capable, still strong.

She took her position in the center of the training room and began running through a series of drills. The staff moved with fluid precision, an extension of her body as she spun and struck with controlled power. The rhythmic movement was grounding, allowing her to focus and clear her mind of the chaos that had plagued them recently.

As she practised, she didn't notice when Aiden entered the room. He leaned against the wall, watching her with an unreadable expression. His gaze was sharp, taking in the way she moved, the determined set of her jaw, the intensity in her eyes. He'd seen her fight countless times before, but there was something different now—a fierceness that hadn't been there before, or maybe he just hadn't noticed it.

Finally, he pushed off the wall and stepped forward. "You're getting sloppy with your footwork."

Alexa spun around, her staff held at the ready, eyes narrowing when she saw him. "And who asked for your opinion?"

Aiden smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just an observation. You're favouring your good leg too much. You'll throw yourself off balance."

"I'm doing fine," she snapped back, though she couldn't help but glance down at her stance, adjusting slightly. "What do you want, Aiden?"

"Thought I'd see how you're doing now that you're back on your feet," he replied, his tone casual but his eyes assessing. "And maybe see if you're up for a little sparring."

Alexa's eyes narrowed further, her grip tightening on the staff. "You want to spar with me?"

Aiden shrugged. "Why not? Unless you're afraid you can't keep up."

A surge of irritation shot through her, mingling with a flicker of excitement. She knew he was baiting her, but damn if it wasn't working. "Fine," she said, her voice cool. "But don't come crying to Enzo when I break something."

Aiden's smirk widened as he moved to grab a staff of his own. "We'll see who's breaking what."

They squared off in the center of the room, a charged silence settling between them. Alexa felt her heart quicken, but not just from anticipation. There was something electric in the air—a tension that was both familiar and unnervingly new. She watched Aiden's stance, his focus, the way his muscles tensed under his shirt, and hated herself a little for noticing.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes locking onto hers.

She nodded, her grip firm. "Always."

They moved simultaneously, staffs clashing in a sharp, resonant crack that echoed through the room. Alexa's muscles strained as she parried his strikes, her body remembering the rhythm of combat. She spun low, aiming for his legs, but Aiden anticipated her move and jumped back, countering with a swift overhead strike. She blocked it just in time, gritting her teeth against the force.

"Getting slow, Lexa," he taunted, his breath coming out in controlled bursts.

She growled under her breath, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Shut up, Aiden."

The dance continued, a whirlwind of strikes, blocks, and dodges. Their movements were fast and fierce, almost a language of their own. Alexa could feel the tension rising with every clash of wood, every near-miss. She was acutely aware of Aiden's presence—his focused gaze, the way he moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. She wanted to knock that look right off his face.

Their breaths came heavier, and their footwork became more intricate, a combination of skill and raw emotion driving them. Alexa spun her staff around, managing to land a glancing blow against Aiden's side. He grunted but retaliated with a sweeping strike that knocked her staff out of her hands, sending it clattering to the floor.

In an instant, he was on her, his staff held just inches from her throat. They stood there, breaths mingling in the close space between them. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of them, the intensity of their proximity, the way his eyes bore into hers. Alexa's chest heaved, her lips parted, and she hated the way her body responded to the closeness, to the heat radiating off him.

"Got you," Aiden murmured, his voice low and rough.

But instead of pulling away, Alexa's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and twisting it with a quick, practiced movement. Aiden's grip faltered just enough for her to push him back, spinning him around and pinning him against the wall, his staff now in her hands, the end pressing lightly against his neck.

"Think again," she said, her voice laced with both triumph and something deeper.

Aiden's eyes were blazing, his breaths coming in shallow, rapid bursts. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air around them crackling with tension. Alexa could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and she wondered if he could hear it too.

"Are you going to let me go, or are we going to stand here all day?" Aiden finally asked, his voice tight, a flicker of a grin tugging at his lips despite the tension.

Alexa's gaze didn't waver. "Maybe I like having you here," she shot back, her own lips curling into a challenging smile.

The atmosphere between them thickened, a strange mix of anger, challenge, and something else—something neither of them was ready to name. For a split second, Alexa thought about closing the distance, just to see what would happen.

But she quickly pushed the thought away and stepped back, letting him go. "Consider this round mine," she said, tossing his staff to the ground.

Aiden's eyes followed her every move, his lips curving into a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "We'll see about that, Lexa."

As they both turned away, Alexa's mind was already spinning with the implications of this encounter. She wasn't sure where this was going, but one thing was certain: things were far from over between them.