Chapter 5- Training

My alarm blared, waking me up with a jolt. I rolled out of my bed, stretching my arms out above me with a yawn. Training day. Let's fucking do this.

I grabbed a pair of athletic fitted joggers and a longline sports bra out of my dresser. I picked up my toiletries caddy and headed to the bathroom, making sure it was empty before heading in. I locked the door behind me, last thing I wanted was any of the team walking in. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and got ready. I didn't wash my hair because I knew I was going to get sweaty and need to wash it again later anyway. I opened the door, dropping my caddy back off in my room before grabbing a pair of socks and running shoes and heading to the training room.

I was the first in the room and took a moment to look around at the equipment. They had a sparing area with padded floors and a free weight area with a few machines in between. I jogged for a few minutes on the treadmill then went and sat down on the padded mats, stretching my whole body out. I was laying on my stomach in the middle splits when Ghost walked in.

I looked up at him but didn't address him at all, just continued stretching. I stayed like that for another two minutes before switching to laying over my left leg, my right behind me. "Damn, impressive." Soap said as he walked in, spotting me on the floor.

I glanced at him and at Ghost, I was surprised to see Ghost look at me. I switched to my right leg in front, laying back down, taking a deep breath. I was focused on stretching my body out, I would not let them distract me right now. I had a routine and I would stick to it.

Slowly, the other guys trickled in, I had finished my warmup and stretch. I was sitting cross legged, watching, waiting. I was locked in, nothing could break my focus now.

Price finally joined the team, clapping his hands together once. "We're working hand to hand today," he said. "Gaz, Roach, you boys are up first."

The two men squared up, they seemed to be an even match. They want back and forth until Gaz got the upper hand on Roach, flipping him on his back quickly. Roach groaned and coughed, tapping out. "Dude, where did that come from?" He looked up at Gaz, rubbing his back, no doubt sore already.

"Gotta do better than that to survive, man." Gaz grinned, holding a hand out to help the other up. Roach took it and grinned, yanking Gaz to the ground next to him. Gaz groaned and punched the other man in the shoulder. "Low blow man, low blow."

"Siren," Price called for me, I glanced up at him. "Time to not let me down."

A small smile came across my face, I pushed myself up off the floor and stretched my neck. I moved to the middle of the mat. I could feel their eyes on me. "I'm ready," I set my eyes on Price.

"Good, because it's me you're taking on." He moved to the middle, standing ready. I nodded at him, signaling that I was ready to start. He nodded back. We both circled around the mat a little, feeling each other out.

"Don't worry old man, you can hit a girl," I teased, egging him on. He took a sloppy swing at me that I dogged, taking a step back. I could feel the other men watching on, their eyes burning, but it only made me want to fight harder and show them I'm not their weak link.

Price lunged at me, I kicked at his stomach. He grabbed my leg, flipping me onto the ground. I rolled quickly over my shoulder and got back to my feet. We went back and forth like this for minutes. He got a few good hits on me, I would have a couple bruises in the morning. I got a few good hits on him as well and I could tell he was starting to get tired, our sparring much longer than Gaz and Roach's. I was going to seize the opportunity that was blossoming. I had seen an amazing takedown in a superhero movie and spent countless hours, bruises, and a concussion to learn it. Poor Lukas was my punching bag for days.

I charged at him, jumping and wrapping my legs quickly around his neck, using my body weight and momentum to swing around and bring him to the ground. I get him into a headlock and squeeze, he taps out. I let go and roll off of him.

"Oh that was bloody brilliant!" Soap exclaimed, hooting and hollering. He clapped his hands together. It brought a smile to my face.

I lifted a hand to push some stray hair out of my face, offering the other to Price, "Better not pull me down like Roach, old man."

He grinned but took my hand and I leaned back to use my whole body weight to help haul him up. "Continue calling me old man and I absolutely will pull low blows on you, L/N."

I laughed and nodded. "Heard, sir."

"That was impressive, you did better than I expected."

"Thank you, sir."

Soap came over a clapped a strong hand on my back, congratulating me. "Any chance you could teach me that?"

I laughed in his face, "Absolutely the fuck not, I got a concussion trying to learn it."

———

Ghost watched Y/N and Price spar. She moved with grace but he could tell from Price's reactions that her attacks had strength behind them. He was curious where she had learned to fight like that, she certainly didn't learn it in the military. She was quick on her feet, her reaction time was impeccable. He was impressed but that made him all the more suspicious of her.

When she threw herself at Price, swinging her body around to bring him down, Ghost was thankful he was wearing a mask. He was shocked.

He watched as the guys praised her, her voice filling the space as she laughed. It was light and melodic.

"Ghost, you and Soap are up." Price interrupted him from his thoughts.

"Give me your worst MacTavish" he said as he sauntered to the mat. He bumped into Y/N's left shoulder as he passed her, she scoffed and glared at him, grabbing her shoulder.

"What the actual fuck, Ghost?" She rubbed where he'd bumped into her.

"You're weak on your left side. Work on it." Was all he replied.

———

I surprised myself when I kept my cool. Ghost and Soap had started sparring, the pair evenly matched. I sat down on the ground, knees bent and my elbows resting across them. I wanted this to be over quickly, I wanted Price to dismiss us. I wanted out of here now. Ghost had pissed me off and I didn't want to be here any longer.

I watched them both intently, trying to find patterns in their movement. They both moved with skill in different ways. Soap was more sporadic, unpredictable whereas Ghost was brute force and strength.

I winced when Soap hit the mat for the final time. It sounded like it hurt. Price dismissed us after, they offered to let me hit the showers first but I declined, partially because I didn't want anyone accidentally walking in and partially because the guys stunk bad and I didn't want it lingering around the common room.

I grabbed an apple from the fridge, grabbing a knife and cutting it up. Eating while I waited. I cleaned up my mess and went to grab a gatorade as Soap walked in. "Ay lass, give it 10 minutes and the bathroom is yours. Mind tossing me one?"

I pulled a second bottle from the fridge, tossing it to him. "Catch!"

"Thanks," he said, cracking it open and chugging it down. He threw it into the recycling bin when he was finished. "Were you a dancer when you were younger? You're flexible."

"Nope," I said popping the P as I hopped up to sit on the counter. "I was a gymnast."

"Where'd you learn that take down?" He asked, he was still curious about it from earlier. He leaned against the counter across from me.

I grinned, "Saw it in a superhero movie, had to learn it! Like I said, I got a concussion learning and my friend and I had more bruises than I could count from trying. Mats or not, that takedown can fucking hurt."

"Well it was bloody awesome, keep it up. I'd love to have a go at sparring with you next week."

"Give me your worst!" I checked the clock on the stove, hopping off the counter. "I should go grab my stuff and then hit the showers, I'll see you at lunch."

I headed to my room to grab my towels and my caddy then to the bathroom. I couldn't hear the showers running but I knocked and cracked the door open to confirm no one was in there. "Any one in there?"

"You're good, I was the last one out," Ghost's voice came from behind me, this time, it didn't surprise me.

"Last one huh? Got a luscious mane of locks under that mask?" I ask teasingly, turning to him. He scoffs, staring at me, the look in eyes felt like they were screaming 'the audacity'. He didn't respond though, simply turning after a moment and walking away.

I roll my eyes and push open the bathroom door, leaving my stuff on the shower bench outside the shower stall. I turned the handle of one of the showers, letting it warm up. I undressed and stepped into the steaming water, closing the curtain and humming as I reveled in the hot water. It eased some of the tensions and aches already building from the sparring earlier. Before long I found myself quietly sung the chorus of Jaws by Sleep Token.

I washed up, clipping my hair up while the conditioner sat. When time was up, I washed it out, turning the water off, just as I finished the song. I heard someone run down the hallway, followed by a second set of footsteps, just picturing one of the guys chasing another one made me laugh. I wrapped up my hair in a towel, shaking my head. I wrapped my body in another, grabbing my stuff and heading back to my room.

——————

Soap had been walking past the bathroom on the way to his room when he overheard her singing. He understood where she got her nickname from, her voice was haunting but beautiful, especially as it echoed around with the acoustics. Roach had come out of his room, wet hair dripping onto his shirt. Soap beckoned him over, his ear now pressed against the door.

"What are- " he asked but Soap raised a finger to his lips in a shushing motion. As Roach got closer he could hear Y/N's voice over the sound of the water. His eyes widened.

"Siren is fitting," Soap whispered as Ghost came out of his room.

Ghost eyed the two men with their ears pressed up on the bathroom door. He was curious and moved closer. "Johnny what the hell-" he stopped short, listening to the female voice beyond the door.

Her voice fit her perfectly in Ghost's opinion. She has a sultriness to her voice that carried well into her singing. He understood the nickname now. They all did.

Ghost knew about the lure of sirens. Their songs would lure sailors to their watery graves. It made him uneasy. Y/N wasn't exactly secretive but he could tell she was hiding something, the skills she had were not from military training. Why would they call a medic a siren? Sure, she had a beautiful voice, but wasn't her job to save lives? He turned and headed to the common room to ponder his new epiphany.

Soap and Roach brushed him off, continued to listen to her singing. Suddenly, the water shut off, both men scrambling to run down the hall as to not get caught.

——————————A/N - König will be introduced in the next few chapters, I promise ❤️ as always, I hope you enjoyed!