Sorry that took so long! I've been working on this story quite a bit, plus I posted another Nordic idea "Deadly Truth" I'd appreciate it if you'd go check it out!
Outside Mr. Baldwin's office.
Mr. Baldwin was a shrewd appearing man that reminded Yao strongly of someone very disturbing.
He was a mirror image of Rooke Morgan, just shorter, balder, and with a temper hotter then the sun.
Yao had just barely scraped through his meeting with the man, taking the small I.D card that showed him to be a member of the organization.
Yao recalled the man grumbling, almost to himself.
"Some random contact I was told to trust sent me nothing but a wimpy kid?"
Yao had strongly wanted to protest his being called wimpy, but he knew better then to speak out against his new boss on his very first day.
Now that that was, thankfully, all over with, Yao found himself met with Bella outside the door.
"Hey, Yao! How'd it go with old Baldy?"
Yao stiffened visibly.
"B-Baldy?" He hissed.
Bella snickered as they walked away down the hall, Yao prayed they were out of firing range, he'd seen the racks of pistols on that mans wall, after all.
"Yeah, everyone around here calls him that. It's a wonder he hasn't been overthrown yet, everyone around here seems to hate him."
Yao shuddered yet again at the similarities in appearance between his new superior and his former archenemy.
At least Morgan was dead and gone, Yao didn't have to worry about him.
Bella smiled at him.
"Wanna go over to the dojo? I'll bet you'll like it."
Yao brightened up at the prospect.
"Sure, aru!"
The OEE dojo.
Yao felt more then at home now, a soft smile on his face as he looked around at the mats laid out neatly, the punching bags hung up. The place was mostly empty, save for a single hulking brute of a man who seemed to have a personal vendetta against the punching bag he was attacking.
Yao stared at him for several moments before turning and whispering to Bella.
"Who's the meathead, aru?"
Bella snickered at the comment.
"That's Warren, he's the big tough guy around here. No ones ever beaten him in hand-to-hand."
Yao raised an eyebrow, then glanced back over at the massive man.
"Hmm..." He hummed appraisingly without saying anything.
Without being cocky, and relying solely on his analytical observation, the new agent was fairly certain he could defeat such a man with relative ease.
Either way, Yao got the feeling he shouldn't aggravate him by asking for a fight, so he simply turned to Bella.
"What's your major?" He asked.
Yet again he internally berated himself, no one called their specialities their major around here!
Bella seemed to get what he was asking though.
Hopefully she'll just assume my english isn't very good.
Yao thought as Bella spoke.
"Well, I'm pretty good with tech stuff, but I'm a good shot and my hand-to-hand is nothing to laugh at." She said proudly.
Yao nodded.
"All around, hmm? I'm more suited for the field then the office. I was never very good in any of my academics anyway."
Bella seemed surprised.
"You act very mature and really educated, I can't believe that you'd be bad with school."
Yao shrugged.
"It's not like I was bad. I never failed a class or anything like that...no, actually, I did fail a couple. Anyway, it's just that I wasn't all that good either. Just average."
Bella smiled cheekily.
"That's better then failing, right?"
Yao let out a sigh.
"Certainly is, aru. Where to now?"
Bella glanced at the clock.
"I suppose we can hit the mess hall for dinner, it's almost eight."
Yao hurriedly checked his watch, then winced.
"Forgot to change my time." He mumbled as he fiddled with the watch, returning it to proper time.
Bella looked interested.
"Where did you come from? Were you in the U.S when you flew out here, or did you come from China?"
"China."
Yao passed off the lie easily as he finished adjusting his watch.
"Alright, let's go, aru."
The next morning.
Yao had enjoyed a pleasurable enough dinner with Bella and her brother Grant, who'd joined them. So far Yao's duties consisted of getting to know the facility, apparently doing some combat training thing in the dojo after breakfast, and then a meeting on some strategy what-nots later on in the afternoon.
Perhaps he'd not been paying close enough attention, but he certainly knew all these official terms and codes were something that would take getting used too.
For Yao, who was used to days packed with classes, training, and club activities, it seemed to be a rather lax schedule.
Not that he was complaining.
He was awoken by the buzzing of his cell phone at around 8:00 o'clock.
The Chinese groaned and sat up, picking up the phone and putting it to his ear.
"Ni hao?"
He groaned sleepily.
"YAO BRO HOW'S NEW YORK IS IT COOL I SO WANNA GO THERE ONE DAY I..."
"Aii-yah!"
Yao dropped the phone onto the bed when a voice started screaming out of it.
Yao shook his head, fully awake now.
"Alfred, calm down, aru!" He ordered.
Alfred took a deep breath to recover from his rant.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right, sorry. Anyway, just calling to check in on ya before we head to class. How's things up there?"
Yao frowned as he laid back on his bed, tucking a hand behind his head.
"It's alright. I got a new partner, she seems nice, though her older brother is very protective, aru."
"Says you." Alfred shot back.
"Shut up, aru! You have no right to talk, you are an only child! All five of them are my little ones that I need to make sure are safe!" He cried.
Yao continued on after this.
"Anyway, I'm supposed to do this combat exam thing, they gauge your abilities or something like that."
"So you get to kick some serious ass?"
Yao chuckled.
"Thats the plan."
"Cool, dude, gimme a play-by-play of how you whooped everyone into next week later, kay? I gotta go...oh, wait! Ivan wants to say hi."
"Ok, aru."
Yao responded, and he hear the phone being passed along before another recognizable voice passed through it.
"Greetings, comrade Yao!" Came the cheerful voice.
"Hello, Ivan." Yao responded.
"Are things being the ok there? You have arrived undamaged?"
"I'm not a package, Ivan. Yes, I'm fine, aru."
"That is being the good to be hearing. I was just wanting to say hello, will you be the calling later?"
Yao smiled, that round about way of speech had always perked him up.
"Yes, I'll call. Goodbye, aru."
"Da, goodbye."
This time the phone was hung up and Yao set it on his bedside table before dragging himself up and getting dressed in his new uniform. It was fairly plain, tan slacks, a tan button up, a black tie.
What, am I going on a safari later? Or am I that Jones guy from those movies Alfred made us watch?
Yao thought, humoring himself with the idea of an imaginary cowboy hat and whip.
After getting dressed, yanking on his black boots, he headed out the door.
"Good morning!"
Bella was already awake, a smile on her face.
"Good morning to you too, aru." Yao responded before stretching an arm over his head.
"So, when is this whole fight thing going to happen, aru?"
Bella giggled as she stood up from the couch and walked over to Yao, the two of them heading out the door and making for the cafeteria.
"You mean the combat evaluation? It's at nine thirty, so we ought to hurry, make a good show of getting there on time."
Yao yawned tiredly, already his mind was drifting away to whatever far off corner he escaped to when bored.
"Whatever you say, aru."
Combat Evaluation 9:30.
Yao stifled a yawn for the fourth time since they'd arrived in the dojo.
He was standing next to Bella in the dojo, with all the tan and boots everyone was wearing he felt like they were going to be charged by elephants at any moment. Of course, this was an unlikely event, as this stupid cocky instructor droned on and on.
Seriously...how many times as he said 'as I already know'?
At long last, things appeared to be getting started, for the instructor, an older man with sandy brown hair and an ego to match his ridiculous tan half cape draped over one shoulder, spoke.
"Alright, I want a volunteer."
No one raised their hand.
Save the new guy.
Yao's hand had shot up at the prospect of a fight. He was eager to show his abilities to ward off the stares he was receiving from more seasoned operatives of the OEE. The ponytailed teen also believed it would be fun to attempt to split from the norm.
From the look of horror on Bella's face, Yao wasn't quite sure why everyone was so scared of volunteering.
"Oh...well...alright then." The instructor nodded his assent.
"New guy, what is it?" He was asking of Yao's name.
"Wang Yao. Westerner's would refer to me as Yao Wang, aru."
"Well you're in the west, talk like it."
Ok, that was not called for.
Yao gritted his teeth but said nothing, showing no sign of outward anger.
"Ok, Yao, I want you to take on Warren here."
There was the hulking brute from the night before.
The beast of a man stepped forward and cracked his knuckles, not appearing to be taking this seriously.
Yao raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Whatever, aru."
He mumbled nonchalantly.
"Whatever? This is a regimented facility, I won't have you going around speaking so improperly!"
The instructor scowled.
Yao snickered as he stepped onto the mat.
"Oh, right, sorry. Whatever, sir."
Yao could practically hear Bella chewing her nails, she was sure he was going to get his rear end handed to him. Either by Warren, or the now enraged instructor, she wasn't sure.
"Excuse me?"
The instructor was daring Yao to repeat himself.
Yao was never one to shy away from a challenge. Especially to someone who had insulted him as this man had.
"Well, you told me that the way I spoke was not good. So I added sir. Unless, that is also not good, aru? English is not my first language."
Yao replied with ease, shrugging his shoulders and lifting his hands, palms to the ceiling in an uncaring gesture.
"Hmm..."
The instructor didn't seem to know how to react to Yao's response. Normally everyone shrank before a threat from him. This young recruit was rather different.
"So am I going to fight that one or what, aru? I hear things up here move slow, but this getting very silly."
Bella was no murmuring prayers under his breath and Yao rolled his eyes in her direction.
Why is she freaking out?
He thought.
The instructor smirked.
"Fine then, you two, begin!"
Warren roared in effort as he threw a fist forward.
Yao dodged cooly, doing a back handspring and then diving through the mans legs, coming to his feet a few yards away behind him.
The larger operative blinked stupidly as the sudden disappearance of his foe, before he spun and saw Yao waving cheekily.
"Sorry, was that to fast for you, aru?" He asked sarcastically.
Warren's face twisted.
"I'll crush you!"
He shouted, charging at Yao again.
Yao jumped and planted both hands firmly on either of Warren's broad shoulders, pushing upward he flipped and came back down hard. With a crack that echoed through the space, his heel kicked Warren across the face.
The former Hetalia Academy student landed on his other foot and spun, sweeping the same leg he'd used to kick Warren in the face to knock the mans legs out from under him.
With a choked shout, Warren slammed to the ground.
Yao rolled across the mat and planted his knees firmly on either side of the larger mans chest, bringing back his fist.
"This is the part where I have a knife, right? Or a gun? Or I could just strangle him if you'd like me too?"
Yao asked the instructor, golden eyes alight with amusement. The entire group of agents was gawking, and Bella looked to be the most amazed.
I told you I was made for the field.
Yao thought, directing this towards his partner.
The instructor's mouth was agape.
Yao swung himself up and offered Warren a hand.
The brute didn't take it, he stood of his own power and growled, muscles rippling.
"What? Want a rematch, aru?"
Yao taunted, taking a few steps back to give himself room to move.
The instructor took a breath to protest but before he could Warren let out a monstrous roar and charged Yao again.
Yao widened his base slightly.
Alright, Professor Gojosen, this one is for you!
The fist of the behemoth of a man swung forward with bone crushing strength.
Yao caught it around the wrist, his feet easily turned on the ground to face towards the wall.
He pulled and released.
Warren was lifted clear off the ground, momentarily resting on Yao's back, before he was hurled the length of the room, his momentum used against him, and slammed upside down into the wall.
He slid to the ground, his head hitting the mat with a dull thud.
Yao brushed his hands off.
"Well, that was pretty straightforward." He commented as if he'd just completed the simplest of tasks.
"So, who's the best around here, aru?"
He asked then, turning on the instructor.
The man flicked irritatedly at his half cape, but Yao could easily read the disbelief in his eyes.
He hadn't been expecting the short, new kid who wasn't yet twenty to toy around with his most impressive asset.
Yao looked from Warren, who was lying semi-conscious on the ground, back to the egotistical instructor.
He snickered.
"Wait, don't tell me he was the best combat fighter here, aru!"
Yao covered his mouth with his hand.
"No, wait, that's not right either."
Yao narrowed his eyes wolfishly at the instructor, a silent challenge.
"You are the best, right?"
The instructor's scowl deepened.
"Huh! Guess not, aru!"
Yao chortled again, as if without a care in the world.
This is just too much fun! I can't believe it was this easy to get him angry!
The instructor crossed his arms.
"Return to the line." He ordered, on eye twitching.
Yao shrugged.
"Whatever, sir."
He returned to Bella's side, and watched appraisingly as the rest of the evaluations were carried out.
As he watched, he felt increasingly stupid.
Sure, it was a laugh, but why would I purposely piss off the guy who's going to pass or fail me!? I need to apologize...
Yao's golden eyes darkened at the prospect.
I really do hate apologizing. He deserved it after strutting around like some sort of glorified peacock.
Nevertheless, when the combat evaluations ended, Yao told Bella to go ahead without him and approached the instructor.
He took a breath, honestly intending to apologize for being so disrespectful, when the man gave him an appraising look, much different then any of the other looks Yao had received from the man, and spoke.
"Where were you trained?"
Yao was taken aback by the forwardness.
He didn't know just how similar his technique while throwing Warren was to the way his teacher would hurl about anyone who accepted his dangerous handshake.
"A training camp in China, aru. I was selected to be recommended to a place in this country."
No hesitation.
The man nodded slowly.
"I see...that sounds about right..."
He fixed Yao with a serious gaze.
"Do you know anyone by the name Chang Zhao?"
Yao placed a befuddled look upon his face.
"As a matter of fact, I know four." He lied easily.
The man sighed.
"Yes, yes, I suppose the name is common enough." He mumbled before waving Yao off.
"I don't need to be bothered with you at the moment."
Yao was yet again urged to spit out a retort to his superior, but thought better of it.
More like he denied it in favor of an internal freak out.
How does this peacock know Professor Gojosen? More importantly, how does he know my teachers real name?
Yao demanded the answers within his mind, but of course, none came to him, for he had no knowledge of this instructor.
Scowling, Yao turned and stalked from the dojo, not caring anymore if he was showing any disrespect.
Amethyst: Sheesh! That took forever!
Mathias: Hey! I thought you said that you had plenty of pre typed material!
Amethyst: Shut up, I do! I've just been busy is all! Just because I passed those dumb classes from my last catastrophe of a story doesn't mean I'm done with school! You'll be running in circles between all of the Nordic stories I have planned soon enough!
Mathias *Fugitive*: Yeah! Just wait until you get a load of my universe! I'm half magic! I can summon stuff! *Summons massive axe*
Mathias: AHHHHH! Where did that come from!?
Mathias *Fugitive*: Magic!
Mathias *Where Loyalties lie*: Er...I'm a pirate. An airship pirate. I have an axe too but it's not magic. Hey, where's Captain Kirkland?
Arthur: Pardon?
Mathias *Where Loyalties lie*: Wrong one! No! Multiple Captains! I'm sorry I didn't finish repairing the cannons! I will soon as I get back!
Mathias *Safe and Sound*: In this one I'm actually the country Denmark. Like, literally Denmark. It's not an AU for once!
Amethyst: Out of all of you the Mathias from Fugitive is really the only confirmed one.
Mathias *Fugitive*: YES! *Waves axe around*
Mathias *Deadly Truth part 2*: WHAT!? But I wanna appear!
Lukas: This is my nightmare.
All Mathias's: NORGEY!
Lukas: HELP
Amethyst: So sorry, Lukas. Do the sign off and I'll make everyone not from this story go away.
Lukas: Favorite! Follow! And please review! Also keep a look out for all of these other...Mathias's...that Amethyst is planning.
All Mathias's: BYE!
