Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider. I've wished on every falling star I've seen, but the flaming pieces of rock hurtling across the sky don't seem to be listening.
A/N: This story is set when Alex is 16. He has been on several more missions since Snakehead, but I won't write about those. This is my first try at an Alex Rider fanfic, so this is sorta like my baby. Please be nice
'That all you got, Cub!' Wolf taunted. Alex grunted as he blocked Wolf; he had never seen the point of engaging in verbal sparring during fights. His silence often unnerved the opposition and besides, talking was a waste of energy and concentration.
Wolf and Alex circled each other, neither taking their eyes off the other. Alex struck out with his foot. Had it connected, it would have sent the man flying, but Wolf dodged to the side at the last minute, grabbed Alex's ankle and pulled. Alex seemed to lose his balance and his eyes widened as he went down.
Wolf released the boy's ankle, not realizing until too late that Alex hadn't fallen at all, but had dropped to the ground and kicked Wolf's legs out from under him. In a move that seemed almost too quick to be possible, Alex was straddling his chest, his knees pinning Wolf's arms down, a knife Wolf hadn't known he was carrying at his throat.
'I win.' He said quietly. Then he was standing, the knife once more hidden. Fox approached him.
'Well done, Alex.' Alex was silent for a second, before he nodded.
'Thanks, Ben.'
'I call first shower!' Eagle called over his shoulder as he pelted out the door and headed for the changing rooms.
**In the changing rooms**
'I'll win next time, just you wait!' Wolf yelled to him from where he was standing with Eagle and Snake who were laughing, teasing him, probably about losing to Alex again. Alex grinned and turned to the wall to put on his shirt.
After two years of spending every school holiday training with K-Unit, he still hadn't told them he'd been shot. He never let them see him shirtless. The men teased him about being 'uncomfortable with his body' and the like, but he laughed it off and by now, they'd accepted it as 'just another weird thing about Cub'.
'Not a chance, Wolverine-wannabe.' Wolf mock growled.
'Told you not to call me that Cub-board.'
'Cub-board? That's a new one. Moved on from 'six-inch-Cub' have you?' Alex snorted. Eagle and Snake were laughing. Fox shook his head sorrowfully,
'I'm sorry Wolf, but 'Cub-board'? That redefines 'pathetic'. You should've stuck with 'six-inch-Cub'.' Eagle butted in at this point, deciding that he had been quiet long enough,
'I still think "Cubbles" was better. Everyone loved that!'
'I didn't.' Alex said dryly. 'And you were the only one who called me that.'
'That's 'cause I copyrighted it!' Eagle was beaming.
'That's 'cause it sucked.' Snake said gently, with the air of a man telling a child that Father Christmas doesn't really exist.
'You're just jealous.' Eagle pouted. The sergeant entered.
'K-Unit, you have shooting practice! Now! You're late!' He yelled. Then he smirked, 'Kitchen duty. For all of you. Tonight.' They all groaned.
'Aww, c'mon sarge…' Eagle whined pitifully. The sergeant didn't dignify that with a response, choosing instead to march out of the room.
'Suck it up, princess.' Alex said, his voice flat. Eagle glared at him, muttering about 'stupid teenagers' and 'bloody, stuck-up spies'.
'I object to that.' Fox said grinning.
'Build a bridge and get over it.' Eagle retorted. Alex smiled. He hadn't smiled in a long time and it felt strange to let go of the mask he wore so often now.
'Come on, you lot. You heard the sergeant. We got shooting practice.' Wolf growled over his shoulder as he began to make his way to the shooting gallery.
So, what did you think? Love it, hate it, not enough writing to be sure? Please review. Thanks! I promise to update soon!