Maverick (A G.I. Joe Fanfiction)

Chapter 26: Reaction

When Snake returned, I was sprawled out on my chair, finished with my second helping of scrambled eggs and having a hard time retrieving my glass of water off the coffee table without getting up. Storm and Duke's disgruntled mutters from the kitchen were thankful blotted out by the sound of the morning news. I gave in to the stupidity of my laziness and got up enough to fetch my drink and fall back into my seat only to notice I wasn't alone and the mutters had ceased. After swallowing a few gulps of water, I grabbed the TV remote and turned it off. The reflection in the screen confirmed my thoughts before Storm had time to ask, "Time of departure?"

"Nightfall," I stated, turning in my chair. "They'll be expecting my arrival by a specific path. It will be secure and easy to travel, even though I'm bringing unexpected guests."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it but right now we need to clear the air," Duke declared, moving to another subject. "It's been clarified that all four of us can defend ourselves in more than one way in close range attacks but long-range defense without firearms needs the be resolved. Can you provide us with an alternative for guns?"

"Just give me a second," I requested, slow running though the weapons, gear, and ammunition hidden in my room mentally. "Do you think you could operate a crossbow, it's the closest thing I have to a rifle?"

"I'll take it," Duke accepted.

"Snake," I directed my attention towards him. "One or two?"

Two, Snake mouthed as I raised from my chair then nodded in acknowledgment.

I stood still for several seconds, debating then deciding upon my next actions. I chose to further test their abilities. The best way to do that was to set them loose in the training room. With a sharp turn on my toes, I marched down the adjacent hall with the guys trailing behind me, shooting questioning glances at one another.

" Mav-"

"Shh," I hushed Storm before he could utter my whole name, pressing my back against a plain-looking door. "No questions."

With that said, I smashed down the handle and pressed forcefully back against the door. Once the door was opened, I slipped off my boots before sprinting headlong into the indoor adult playground, if all adults were acrobatic enthusiasts. Tightrope, trampoline, trapeze, matted floors, and uneven bars were only a few toys I had installed at Jane's to prefect my aural techniques. The target for my fleeting feet? That would be the springboard at the end of a balance beam closest to the entrance. After launching myself into the air, I landed, one barefoot before the other on the beam.

"First victim on the beam please," I ordered, lifting my forehead from my knee and straightening my spine.

"I'll take the bait just to see where you're going with this," Duke responded after a stretch of silence.

I honestly tried my hardest not to break into a fit of laughter when Duke's first attempt to mount the beam ended in a painful sounding impact with the floor mats. Storm and Snake were just as courteous and walked over to a basket of Kendos, having a hard time keeping their faces emotionless. Storm looked like he was going to double over any second. As for Snake, it seemed as if he was about to punch out a wall but stayed as far away from any of them so that he couldn't.

"There's no shame in asking for help Duke," I stated my hand braced at my lower back. "I'm never the action, always the reaction."

After a huff of agreement Duke extended his large hand and asked, "Care to help a guy up Maverick?"

I rolled my eyes at him and knocked his hand away, "Pull yourself into a seated position then I start with the whole 'help a guy up' part."