Gifted Children

Chapter 23

Isabelle woke up with Nick's face right in hers. She lightly kissed him to wake him up. 

His eyes fluttered open, then he said, "Good morning," with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning," Isabelle said as she got out of bed. She then realized something. "Oh my God, I don't have any clothes on," she said as she used a towel to cover up.

"Well, it's nothing I haven't seen before," he said with a smirk as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"Shut up and get dressed," Isabelle said with a laugh. She then got a text from Stark.

Stark: There are plain black shorts and tank-tops in all of your middle drawers in all of your closets. Put those on. Get to the training room in 15 minutes.

Isabelle and Nick both rushed to get dressed. Isabelle went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and Nick followed suit. Isabelle put her hair up, and the two both rushed down to the training room. Everyone else got there, with Jake running two minutes late.

"Alright," Thor boomed across the room, "We will all be training together today. You will all fight in hand-to-hand combat, using what you learned yesterday. Peter, Steve, and I will watch you all fight, and give pointers along the way."

Steve continued, "Zack and Colin, Nick and Markus, Isabelle and Jake, Stella and Jack. These are the groups that will be fighting."

"Markus and Nick, you will go first. Jack and Stella will go second. Colin and Zack, you guys are going to go third. Last but not least, Isabelle and Jake will fight," Peter finished.

"Markus. Nick. Head to the middle of the circle," Thor told the two.

They both walked to the circle.

"Go," Steve ordered them.

Markus swung at Nick and hit him right in the chest. Nick got him right back in the jaw. Markus tried to charge at him, but Nick jumped over him. Nick then turned to him and kicked him right in the chest. Markus recovered from the hit and hooked him right in the jaw. Nick looked him right in the eyes as he swung his leg and tripped Markus. Nick turned away from Markus and looked at the rest of the group, especially Isabelle, with a satisfied smirk on his face.

"The first rule of combat," Thor looked at Nick, "is to never turn your back on your opponent."

Just as he said that Markus jumped back up and kicked Nick in the back, sending him to the floor. Nick jumped back up, ready to punch Markus again. Isabelle could tell Nick got a bit angrier after Markus hit him. Before Nick could hit Markus, Thor caught his fist. 

"Alright, you two are done."

Nick dropped his arms and walked from the circle over to Isabelle. 

"Calm down," Isabelle whispered to Nick as she squeezed his hand. Nick nodded his head and took a deep breath.

"Jack and Stella, go to the circle," Steve told the pair.

They went towards the circle.

Jack then said, "Don't worry Stella. I'll go easy on you."

"Rule number two. Never underestimate the enemy," Steve told Jack.

Just as Jack went to look back at Stella she got him right in the face and sent him flying. Jack quickly got up from the ground and went to hit her but stopped.

"What?" Peter asked Jack. 

"Well, I can't hit her! It feels awkward," Jack said.

"Well, rule number three. Never stop fighting on account of someone's race, age, or gender," Steve told him.