Hi! How's everyone this week? Been a long one, really.

Shoutout to ClintandNatasha, BookwormBudgie, and Sanctuaria for following!


5 A.M

The alarm went off with a blaring noise that drilled itself into Bobbi and Maria's ears, rousing them out of a peaceful slumber. Bobbi flopped one arm out, seeking her alarm clock to shut it off. Finally, after several long seconds of fumbling, she slapped it off, nearly knocking it to the floor. Maria could be heard mumbling a few choice epithets before turning over and going back to sleep; Bobbi chose to do the same.

It was futile.

"Morse, Hill, up and at 'em!" May pounded on the door, startling both girls out of their attempt to squeeze out five more minutes of sleep. "We've got an event to win today, and you two sure ain't going to win it by sleeping!"

"Five more minutes, May," Bobbi complained, tugging her blanket over her head.

"Morse, in five minutes, you'd better be awake and dressed. The same goes for you, Hill. Or I'll put in thirteen more laps on the track."

"Fuck you, May," Maria groaned at the door as she stumbled out of bed, brushing her bangs out of her face. "I don't care if you're my SO, I still want to kick your ass." She reached out blindly to the bathroom door, sighing when she smacked her hand against the doorknob. "Morse, if I ever become director or something, no agent's waking up at 5AM."

Bobbi said nothing, just rolled out of bed and plopped straight onto the floor, where she remained, her arms and legs splayed out. "I'm never getting off this floor."


"So today we're going to run a few laps before we scope out the competition," May told them at breakfast later, Bobbi and Maria scarfing down their usual pancakes, fruit, bacon and numerous cups of coffee. "I want you two to get a good idea of how the competition looks before you have to race against them."

"And that required getting us up at five in the morning?" Bobbi asked, sipping her fifth cup of coffee. It'd wear off during practice, she knew, but by then, she'd be sufficiently awake enough to function. "I swear, it's like you like torturing us, May."

"And we've already seen the competition," Maria added, trying to defend her friend. "The only way we'd have missed Red Room activity is if one of the other Americans was Red Room." She sighed and downed a bite of her pancakes. "Or if they've spread into China."

"Fourteen laps," May sighed finally, putting down her coffee. "And then we go scope out the competition. I managed to find out that we're running against the Germans. And they had to get a last-minute substitute, so you have no idea what you're running against." When Bobbi and Maria groaned, she handed them another cup of coffee each. "Good luck. You're going to need it."


"Oh, look, there go the South Koreans," Bobbi remarked casually as they crossed the campus. "One of them gave me a jar of kimchi last week. I'm saving it for Coulson." She grinned. "He'll never know what hit him."

"Are you friends with everyone in this competition?" Maria joked, only slightly protesting. "It's like when everyone's around you, they forget they're in the running to get a medal or something." Bobbi shrugged lightly, flicking a strand of blonde hair off of her jersey.

"People like me," she answered humbly. "And for the record, not everyone likes me." She nudged Maria. "That Greek guy in the pool the other day seemed to have an eye for you. It's true!" she exclaimed as Maria turned bright red. "He's a catch, too. I can get you his number if you want."

"Barbara Morse, you are insufferable," Maria rolled her eyes as Bobbi smirked. "Although I wouldn't be protesting if you did get me his number..." she singsonged, and the other girl waved a hand at her in affirmation. "You know who really needs a lay, though? May."

"I know," Bobbi said wistfully, looking over at her coach, trainer and SO. "How long d'you think it's been since she's had male company? Hell, how long d'you think it's been since she's had company that wasn't us?"

"Too long," Maria answered, shaking her head. "Too damn long." She brightened. "Hey, is Coulson single?" This time, it was Bobbi who burst into laughter at the thought. "Look, you haven't seen them together," she protested. "They're honestly the chummiest people around. I'm surprised she hasn't gotten with him yet."

"Morse, Hill, less talking, more moving," May called ahead of them. "And stop gossiping about me. I'm cranky, not deaf." Bobbi and Maria looked at each other in shock before hurrying to catch up with May, chagrin on their expressions.


"So do we have popcorn to go with this?" Bobbi joked as the three of them took their seats, the Germans beginning to warm up many rows below them. "After all, if it's going to be a show, gotta have some entertainment."

"They don't know we're here," May said tersely, her eyes focused on the figures down on the track. "I had to bribe the man to get in. It was either that or knock him out, and I wasn't about to cause a global incident."

"Oh," Maria said suddenly as one of the German runners stretched out, her ponytail falling over her shoulder and hitting the track. "She's flexible." A man (presumably the coach) blew his whistle, and the woman burst around the track, nearly a blur as she completed the turn in less time than thought possible. "And damn, she's fast."

As the coach blew his whistle again, another man broke into an all-out sprint around the track, this time leaping over hurdles as if they were nothing. By the time he'd crossed the first one, the woman had already completed a lap, not looking out of breath at all.

"Holy shit," Bobbi said in awe. "We gotta make our conditioning programs like that, May. They're fast. Would come in handy for extraction some day." She squinted as the man cleared the hurdle by almost a foot. "That man had better be tall as fuck. It's the only excuse I'll accept." She was tall, for God's sake, and she could only clear a hurdle by six inches, much less a foot.

"Aren't you two glad I made you two come along today?" May asked, looking at her two proteges knowingly. "You wouldn't have known what you were up against if you hadn't."

"Fine, May, you were right," Maria acknowledged, clapping sarcastically. "Do imbue us with your other knowledge, O Great One."

"Well, I don't want to sound egotistical, but I know that Greek's got his eye on you. I saw him in practice," May was grinning cheekily as Maria's jaw dropped open, working furiously to find a response. Bobbi burst into laughter.

"What - how even - May!"


"Let's get it done," Bobbi called to Maria later that night, as they roars of the crowd filled the stadium. "I want to go home and have a cheeseburger. No more of this fruit and shit, I want real food." She touched her swinging ponytail one more time to check that it was in place - it wouldn't do well to have her hair tumbling out while she was dashing through the lap.

"Damn right," Maria answered, lacing up her neon orange sneakers. Both of them wore identical black tanks, a small American flag stitched onto each shoulder. "These pancakes here are just awful. Once we get home, I want IHOP. ASAP. Screw debriefing."

"Morse, Hill, you two ready?" May asked as she came into the locker room. Instantly, both girls straightened up, striding over to their coach. "This is the moment we've been preparing for," she began softly, sombering the mood. "You two have stretched, run and jumped for this race, and now that we're right where we want to be, we're going to grab this win with both hands and take it back home. It's more than just about SHIELD right now. Right now, it's about doing something for our country. And you are going to run remembering that. But, no matter what happens, I want you to know this." May's eyes glimmered with determination, a hard look set on her face. "No matter whether you win or lose, whether you win a gold medal or you win nothing, whether the Germans kick your asses or not, I. Am. Proud of you both."

"May," Bobbi muttered emotionally, sweeping her coach into a hug. Maria joined, and soon the three of them were crushing each other in an embrace.

"Now, go out there and kick their asses," May vowed as they broke apart. "I believe in you."

"And now, for Team USA, Barbara Morse. Maria Hill." A loud roar could be heard after the announcement of their names - apparently Bobbi and Maria had gained quite the fanbase. Both girls strode out onto the track, squinting at the bright lights that lit the artificial turf. As they strode up to the Germans, their expressions hardened, shaking their opponents' hands with determination. "Runners, to your starting lines."

The referee handed Maria a bold, blue baton as she took her place at the starting line, and Maria grinned, holding it out for Bobbi to see. Blue had always been their lucky color.

"Marks," the referee barked, and Maria crouched down, her foot poised on the starting block. The referee blew their whistle, and she was off like a shot, leaning forwards to gain the most momentum. The roar of the crowd faded to a dull roar as her feet pounded the track, the only sounds her breath in her ears. As she grew closer to the line, she saw Bobbi ready, her hand out to receive the baton. The baton spun counterclockwise in the air as Maria threw it, landing squarely in Bobbi's palm as she raised her hand and began to sprint.

Bobbi threw everything she had into her lap, barely looking up once as she rounded the curve. Her eyes flickered upward, catching a flicker of red, and she slowed a bit, if only to catch it once more. Was that...? No. It couldn't be. As if proving her point, the pants of the German runner sounded behind her, and, cursing to herself, Bobbi sped up once more, throwing her feet further into the ground. An overthrow handoff to Maria, and her teammate was off once more, leaving Bobbi to reflect on what she might have just seen.

It couldn't have been. After all, it's not like she's...no. That's not her. Bobbi's eyes inexplicably drifted back up to the crowd, however, searching for the telltale glint of red that had caught her eye earlier. Where was it...?

"Bobbi!"

Maria's voice didn't register immediately in her head at first, she was so distracted. "BOBBI!"

It was at that point she realized that the German runner had indeed passed her, was starting on their final lap. "THOR IT!" Bobbi shouted, immediately crouching into position, holding her hand out. The baton flew into her hand just like it had in practice, and she took off, the wind rushing in her ears. The cheers of the crowd intensified as she streaked by, willing her feet to go faster.

She hadn't realized she'd crossed the finish line until she was already halfway around another lap, the crowd laughing good-naturedly as she came to a stop. Maria came racing up to her, screaming about a gold medal and first place, but it barely registered as Bobbi swept the crowd once more for the glimpse of red that had caused her so much trouble.

There she was, her bright red hair hidden behind her hood, but there nonetheless. She shot Bobbi a wan smile when Bobbi's eyes caught hers, managing a small wave before melting away into the crowd. Bobbi kept staring at the spot where she'd been long after she left, only tearing her eyes away when Maria asked her what she was looking at.

"I think she was here," Bobbi answered quietly, her voice muted.

"Who?"

"Natalia," Bobbi's heart swelled a tiny bit at the thought of her friend having shown up, braving the consequences despite the trouble she would have to face if she was caught. "She was here, Maria. I swear."

May pursed her lips, looking worried for her young protege. "Don't get too attached to her, Bobbi," she warned her softly.

"Remember, the raid's in three hours."


How was your week? I want to know - y'all are just really great...even though it's a small number of you...so let me know in your reviews! :)