Resurgence

Chapter 4: I Win

The next couple of days consisted of the similar routine: waking up, eating breakfast, training, shower, lunch, hanging out with the team, checking in with Williams, briefing, dinner, and bedtime. Throughout the weekdays when the team was away, I spent most of my time with Williams. He helped me practice Russian as a new language that he'd convinced me to learn. He also taught me the history of HYDRA, and my gosh was it a horrible one. It was basically telling the "good side" of wars. It was justifying the need for war and its casualties to "better the world." How can one enact unnecessary war and genocide then claim it is for peace? I did my best to hide my disgust, and attempted to see it thought their twisted mind. I made sure to audibly agree to some points in hopes it give him hope that I believed in their cause. I still pointed out flaws to through him off of the possibility of me faking my interest. He seemed content that I was quickly learning everything he was teaching me.
The few moments I had alone were used to gain intel on the world I was in and the people that were keeping me. I would sometimes sneak into the team's offices and snoop around to see what they were working on. Other times I'd go into their rooms to try and get an insight of what they were like behind closed doors. I never found much given that this was their temporary residence. Not much expression to go on.
When the team was there, the days would go by quicker with training and all. My training mainly involved sparing with Emma, Derek, and Henry. They taught me new moves here and there and plaid out possible scenarios that could take place out in the field. My fighting was getting better, I could partially thank my new strength for that. Kai always kept his distance but he was always watching me. Every now and then he'd join in for a spar. I could tell he was the strongest of them. He made sure he never went easy on me. It was hard to beat him and his hatred for me didn't help. Other than him always being a pain-in-the-ass, life as my own double agent wasn't so bad. Of corse it helped that I was getting special treatment from the boss in order to gain my trust. It also helped being friends with Emma who seemed to have a good place in the organization. Being the only other woman there helped us become closer quicker, having her trust me more and spill more secrets to me. It also wasn't awful having Derek wrapped around my finger. Nothing was going on between us, but the simple fact that he had feelings for me was a huge advantage. He defended me from Kai when needed, his coaching made training bearable, and he'd get me gifts from the outside world like fast food or movies to watch when I'm bored when they were away. Next thing I knew a month and a half had past since my arrival. At night I would think about my old life and how I desperately wanted an adventure. Boy did I get it. Never did I think it'd be this intense, but I was determined to make it worth it by doing the right thing and taking these people down.

One of the days I was training with the team Williams came in to observe. I had manage to pin down everyone including Kai. Everyone was impressed, including Kai. Williams came in and began sparring with me. We had done it a few times before when the team was away, but this time it was different. He was more intense, more determined to take me down. He may be an older man but he was skillful, even more than Kai. I managed to pin him down which had never happened before. He smiled and said I was ready to soon go on missions. Everyone except Kai cheered for me. We all walked to the dining room for lunch to celebrate. Derek put his arm around me and said "Welcome, officially, to the team Vix." I smiled and rolled my eyes playfully at him. I liked the nickname but was still getting used to being called by a different name than my own.
When we reached the tables we ate and talked like we usually did. I could hear Williams talking on the phone in the kitchen. He spoke to the same voice I heard the night I arrived here. "She's ready. She's good, but I think the asset could teach her more and push her to limits even I can't do. She's ready for his training."
The voice on the other end spoke "Good. I'll send him along with Morozov. He has... experience with enhanced individuals and knows how to use the proper tools on the asset if necessary. A good second handler if needed. But I assume you remember how this works so I'll leave you to it. I'll see you tomorrow when you pick them up."
"Of course. Hail HYDRA." Williams said proudly as he hung up the phone.
"Vix? Vixen? Hey-" Derek placed his hand on the small of my back. Emma was waving her hand in my face. I was too focused on William's call that I didn't realize I was blankly staring at the food on my plate with a fork in my hand.
"What? Oh. Sorry I got lost in thought." I said trying really hard not to sound awkward or suspicious.
"What were you thinking about that made you zone out like that?" asked Henry with genuine curiosity.
"Were you thinking about Derek working out?" Emma teased.
I laughed off her comment, seeing Derek blush at her teasing causing my own cheeks to gain a flush of pink. I tried to brush it off by taking a jab at the jerk himself, "Well I was actually thinking about how fun it was to beat Kai again. How's it feel getting beat by the new girl?" I glanced at him with a taunting smirk.
"Don't get to cocky Vixen. It could be your downfall," Kai responded with a smirk of his own, "Welcome to the team I suppose." He said with slight disappointment but still manages to look me in the eyes, this time with less resentment.
"Thank you, captain. Or whatever they call you." I say back with a proud smile. He chuckles and picks up after himself before walking out. I do the same. I go to my room to shower and think about William's conversation with the mysterious voice. I was a bit on edge not knowing what to expect from this new trainer of mine that they kept referring to as "The Asset". It was difficult enough getting these people to trust me, and now I had to gain another's trust. Not to mention a new Doctor that didn't sound to be like Dr. Russell. I flinched at the thought of him dissecting me like the alien I was and finding out I had abilities I've been keeping secret.
I tossed and turned at yet another set of burning questions. This time my mind wouldn't shut off for the night, so I decided to take out my frustrations on one of the punching bags in the training room.

I wrap my wrists like I was taught and began hitting the hard, sand-filled bag. With each punch I thought about every problem I had to tackle. Trying to hold back some of my strength to avoid breaking it, I kept hitting the bag rhythmically until a voice behind me startled me.
"Couldn't sleep?" The voice I recognized as Derek's approached me.
"No. I guess the excitement got to me." I laughed it off. I tried to advert the conversation being about me by teasing him, "So what's got you awake? The excitement of having me on your team keep you up too?"
He laughed at my taunting and thought for a moment before responding with something I didn't expect, "Let's Spar."
"Okay..." I agreed, a bit confused.
We got in the rink and begin to fight lightly. At first he dodged my punches and kicks as I did his then slowly the fighting got more potent. I got very few punches in where he got none, but the simplicity of trying to get to him tired me out. Out of nowhere he had me pinned down on the matt. His hands on either side of me. I stared into his light eyes that were still focused on the fight. His stance was still tense waiting for me to tap out. Knowing the affect I had on him, I brought my hands to his chest and pointed my gaze from his eyes to his lips then back to his eyes causing him to faintly soften his stance. I slowly slid my hands from his chest to his broad shoulders, to his arms, to his neck, then to his hair. He began to lean towards me, closing his eyes, making his body vulnerable. I took the chance and flipped him over and straddled him.
"I win." I stated and got up from my position leaving him absolutely shocked.
"That's... that's not fair. You cheated." He says still confused.
"How is that cheating? I used my knowledge and skills to outsmart you and beat you at the spar. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do in battle? Use every advantage I can to win." I asked with sass.
He got up and smiled at my witty remark with his eyes following me as I left the room.