Operation: sound resolution

The training ends

Derek's pov
I looked at Aria as she explained what Adriano wanted me to do "So he wants me to knock out one of our teammates as quickly as I can?" She nodded as I asked "why?" She replied "I'm guessing it's to see how far you've come since we started training" I cocked my head to the side "but he's been keeping track of that since we started training" she shrugged "I don't know, but get changed and out to the ring as soon as you can" I have a thumbs up as I pulled off my shirt and traded my pants for my training shorts before taking off my shoes and socks and sitting down to wrap my hands. I took it slow, meticulously placing the compression wrap around my hand. I grabbed my gloves when I finished as pulled them on, I made sure they were strapped in before turning and walking out to the ring. I looked at Adriano "so why do you want me to try to knock them out as fast as I can?" He turned "I want to know that if you encounter Scorpion and we can't get to you to help that you can knock him out fast" I looked at him "I'm not trying to knock him out, I'm tryi-" he cut me off "I know, I know, you're trying to destroy him but do it to give me some peace of mind" I sighed "fine, I'll do it. Who am I fighting?" He didn't reply until I heard a voice behind me "me" I turned and saw Aria "no fucking way" she nodded "I'm gonna destroy you" I looked to Adriano incredulously "are you serious? This is what you're doing? You just want us to fight to see who's gotten better with the training don't you?" He chuckled nervously "the other reason is true too... kinda" I shook my head "so I'm to fight you? You agreed? Why?" She nodded "Yeah, I agreed. I agreed because you keep drawing on my fucking face!" I sighed "alright, let's get this over with" she grew an evil smile as I climbed into my corner "so I have to knock her out as quickly as possible right?" He nodded "yes, that's your objective" I looked over at Doc "be ready, she's going down quick" he nodded as Ari spoke "what are you going to Sparta kick me and choke me out?" I nodded "something like that" she got her fists as I took a stance. I heard Mike(thatcher) blow a whistle signaling that we start as I walked forward, she rushed forward throwing a right jab that I sidestepped to the left of and fired off a kick into her stomach she stumbled as I fired a left cross into her cheek, she spun and threw a high kick that I lifted both of my arms to block before she spun back to the right and quickly punched me in the ribs. I threw a right hook that she ducked under before hitting my ribs with 3 quick precise hits, she threw another high kick that I caught lifting high above my head before I kicked my left knee into her stomach as I released her leg and spun kicking her leg out fun under her causing her to drop to the ground. She stood quickly and got her guard up blocking her face since I had run and jumped kicking one of her hands out of the way before firing my right foot into the center of her chest sending her stumbling. She regained her balance and rushed forward and throwing several quick jabs and crosses making me dodge or block until she cracked me across the nose making me stumble as I grabbed my nose feeling the blood pouring down my face. I locked up as she came flying through the air landing a strong kick onto my throat causing me to drop holding my throat coughing, I struggled to get air into my lungs as I felt her try getting me into a headlock. I threw my elbow back hitting the same spot repeatedly causing her to release the chokehold as I rolled to my left and sucked in as much air as I could before standing and looking at Ari as she stood again. I wiped some blood from my nose as Ari came forward I grew tired of the fight so I ran forward and jumped delivering my knee to her head as we both dropped to the ground. I rolled over as Doc quickly climbed into the ring and started checking Ari for any damage as I coughed still struggling to get air into my lungs, I scooted over to the corner and leaned against the pillar just bleeding and trying to breathe. Adriano climbed in and crouched next to me "you really just Superman kneed her?" I nodded not being able to speak as he chuckled "you did good but it wasn't as fast as I expected" I flipped him off as my lungs finally got air, I coughed out "fuck she kicks hard" he nodded chuckling softly "I know, I'm the one who trains both of you. I get kicked all the time by her" I tried to stand as Adriano helped me stabilize before we walked over to where doc had Ari sitting "how're you feeling Ari?" She looked over groggily "your knee is way too fucking hard" I wiggled my eyebrows "Not the only thing that's hard, giggity" she chuckled "not the time" I sat next to her as Adriano asked "how is she gus(doc)?" He looked over "she'll be fine she just needs rest and to keep the ice on her head, Derek can you take care of her for the rest of the day?" I saluted "ja Doktor(yes doctor)" he smiled "wunderbar(wonderful), alright then you're done for the day" I tapped her legs "you ready to get back to the room?" She nodded causing Adriano to ask "can you walk?" She tried to stand after I got to my feet almost falling before I caught her "hey, you asked me to share some of my burdens with you share some of yours with me" she sighed "sì(yes), you're right" I quoted her "I'm always right, you should listen more" Adriano laughed causing me to look at him before turning back to Ari "how do you want to get back to the Dorm, bridal or piggyback?" She looked confused as I spoke "you can't walk and I want to get back to the dorm so you can get all relax and fixed up" she looked down and mumbled "piggyback" I crouched infront of her "come on, climb on" I felt her legs lock around my waist and her arms wrapped around my neck "sorry about your throat" I nodded as I rubbed it "it's okay, how's your face?" She replied "well I'm still ugly so no big deal" I looked over my shoulder back at her "you're anything but ugly" I felt her face in my back as Adriano laughed "is that flirting I hear?" I looked over "you've gotta get a hearing aid" he shook his head as Aria spoke "why do you say things like that?" I looked back for a second "like what?" She spoke "like randomly calling me beautiful or complimenting me, why do you do it?" I stared forward looking at the empty hallways "because I know what it's like to constantly wonder how I look, or if I did something well. I know what it's like to never get recognized or complimented by people who matter to me, I don't like the idea of my friends going through it" she didn't reply instead just resting her head on my shoulder until a minute later when she randomly spoke "thank you for the compliment" I nodded as Adriano spoke "so what did you two think of the fight?" I looked over "it was fun, I wouldn't want to fight her every day but it was fun for the amount she made me work" she shifted and replied "it was definitely a challenge, I wasn't expecting the acrobatics. Like seriously? You hid the fact that you can throw two kicks mid air from us for almost a year?" I nodded "I told you guys, I like the air of mystery" they chuckled before Adriano asked "what else can you do?" I replied "I can do a split, a standing front flip, I can also springboard from laying down to being on my feet" Aria spoke "you're gonna have to show me" I shrugged "I'll show you at the dorm" just as I said that we turned the corner and our door came into view. I mused "huh, it feels like that took longer than normal" Adriano chuckled "you're going crazy" I hopped slightly so Aria shifted up and I got a better grip on her legs causing her to squeak, "Ari..... I must be going crazy but...... did you just squeak?" She replied embarrassment present in her voice "Sì(yes)..." I chuckled for the first time in months causing Adriano to freeze mid-step as I felt Ari seize up against my back, I stopped and looked back "Was?(what?)" Adriano stammered "yo-you... you just... Dio mio(oh my god)..... you actually just laughed...." I nodded slowly clearly confused "Ja? What about it?" Aria spoke "you haven't laughed since we lost Alice, I was beginning to think I'd never hear it again..." I looked down before we started walking again "I never realized I wasn't laughing" aria rested her chin on my shoulder, letting her facades drop for a bit "you're coming back to us, it's nice to have my bestfriend back even for a second" I asked "why do you keep up the facade around us? We know the real you" she sighed "it's just a comfort thing, I feel exposed when I don't have it" I nodded as Adriano spoke "you're okay Aria, we aren't making you drop it" she nodded "Grazie(thanks)." Adriano got the door, I spoke as I passed "danke(thank you)" I walked through the spotless dorm before arriving next to Aria's bed when suddenly I released my hold on her and her a shriek as she dropped a foot to the bed below "you're an asshole!" I nodded "maybe so, but you would've done the same thing if you could lift me" she scowled as Adriano sat on my bed "well I think it's time we see you do these acrobatics" I sighed as I walked into the open area between our beds and the wall that has the TV. I lifted my left foot balancing on my right leg, I kicked back and tucked into my knees tightly grabbing the back of my legs as I rotated before extending my legs and releasing my grip on the back of my legs, feeling the impact on the ground crouching to absorb some of the shock before I stood and looked at the two "is that all now?" Aria shook her head no "what about the kick up into standing?" I sighed and laid down, I quickly moved my arms to be on both sides of my head palms down as I lifted my legs above my head swinging them down as I shoved down with my arms rotating forward as my feet impacted the ground and I pushed bring myself to my full height. "Can I sit down now?" Adriano spoke "the split, you said you could do a split" I sighed and dropped into a split causing Adriano to grimace before I stood again "I'm done" they nodded as I sat down on one of the beanbag chair, Aria spoke "where you learn to do those?" I looked over "the split and the kick up was from Judo lessons when I was young, the front flip was on base in Iraq. I was bored and one of the privates was doing them so she taught me" she nodded as Adriano asked "you mentioned you knew a lot of MMA, what ones do you know?" I replied "kick boxing, must Thai and Taekwondo" he mused "pretty kick heavy" I nodded "do you see how much I use my legs and knees to attack and defend? It's because of my history with MMA" aria spoke "wanna watch some TV?" I nodded "Vikings!" She chuckled as Adriano spoke "Vikings, I need to see it after that outburst" she pulled it up and hit play as it started playing Season 5 episode 3 as Ivar the boneless is raiding York. I remember watching this the first time, we've been rewatching the series since it ended, we watched as he was hit off his chariot before murdering the Englishman who did it and crawling over to the destroyed war cart.

I spoke along with him having memorized the old norse, Adriano looked at me confused "how do you know that?" I replied not taking my eyes off the tv "I've watched this seen a lot, like a worrying amount" aria commented "yea, and I'm the one who has to deal with the random old Norse and German comments" I waved her off "you speak Italian all the time, I don't wanna hear it squeaker" She scowled as we set in to watch for the day, we don't have training since that was yesterday and we haven't heard anything about scorpion, there's been some activity by the masks but nothing major so the base was pretty fucking boring.