Equilibrium - #ProjectWomanUp

Seven

At five in the morning I find Kane in the training room. If he had changed his clothes since earlier I couldn't tell – because he only seemed to wear black combat pants and a black shirt. The only two bits of colour in his outfit are his blue '1' and his blue band.

"You're late" he grumbles, as he lay a blue exercise mat on the floor. I look at my watch in confusion. He sees my expressions and glares. "It's a minute past, which makes you late" he snaps.

I sigh heavily. I begin to wonder what I am doing here. Kane obviously hates me, and wants me to fail, so why does he suddenly want to train me? It just doesn't make sense to me. Although, I don't think you can ever make sense of Kane – he's a complicated man, one minutes he's angry with me the next he is checking me out. Odd man, very odd man.

"What are we doing?" I ask, sticking my hip out as I cross my arms across my chest.

"Putting out the training mats".

"Insightful" I grumble sarcastically. "I meant what we are doing here together. You hate me, I'm not your largest fan, and I have had two hours sleep. So, please, enlighten me on why you suddenly interested in training me?"

Maybe it is the lack of sleep I have had recently, or maybe it is just Kane's presence – but something has definitely ticked me off. I am snappy and annoyed, and I can't ever seem to keep that in check around Kane. There is just something about him; it drives me crazy.

Kane's green eyes watch me for a few seconds before he speaks. "I don't hate you. I mean, I don't particularly like you--".

"You really know how to make a girl feel special" I comment, he ignores me.

"--but, you have potential" he shrugs. His words stir up a strong emotion inside me, pride. I like being the best, I am very competitive – even if I don't show it – I like to win. Kane telling me this makes me feel good; because he knows can who survive in war and who can't. And he thinks I can.

"However, you lack discipline and the correct training" he continues. "Half of these morons that are trained nowadays only just about know the difference between the safety and the trigger. But you? You're clever, and despite contrary belief, you need intelligence to be a good solider".

"Solider Barbie, I prefer that to Barbie Girl" I nod, smirking softly. Kane rolls his eyes at me.

"Don't speak, you're annoying" he grunts out.

"Charming, I can see why you're single" I reply. He glares at me, eyes asking me how I know he is single. "You have no wedding ring, and no girl – in their right mind – would be able to put up with you".

"You wear a ring" Kane throws back at me. There is distain in his voice – disgust almost. I stiffen at his words. Daniel is still a sore topic for me.

"So training" I change the subject. Kane nods, before suddenly moving quickly. By the time I work out what he is doing, my back hits the mat. I groan in pain – they are not as soft as they look. In fact, they kill.

"Rule one" Kane begins, looking down at me from where he stands. "Always be prepared". He smirks at me slightly, I glare. I don't like that he flipped me onto the floor before I even realised that he was in front of me. I need to learn more about rule one.

He offers me a hand, I grunt and don't take it. I get up myself, forcing myself not to cringe in pain. I manage, but it's hard. Kane raises his eyes at my stubbornness, but doesn't comment – he would be exactly the same if the roles were reversed, and he knows it.

"You have to assess everything when you walk into a room. Work out the exits, the entrances. Who's with you? Who isn't with you? Are there weapons? If yes, what weapons are they? And who has access to them? This is how you survive in war – you use your head".