Prompt provided by nightrae on tumblr: "Kick in the Head, Wyoming and Maine."
Maine doesn't like Wyoming. He's sneaky. Conniving. Pretentious. Cruel.
Worst of all, he's jovial. He cracks inane jokes that slide in smooth and unnoticed, only to fester as they settle beneath the skin. He takes people apart calmly and smoothly from a distance. There's something dishonest about that distance, about the illusion of clean hands, and everything about Maine's life has conditioned him to hate dishonesty.
So when Wyoming strides up beside him on the training field and says, "I'm with you on this one, old chap," Maine takes a moment to focus on his breathing and manages, with an effort, not to punch him across the room. "Just heard Agent York's with us too," Wyoming says, which gives Maine pause. "Three-on-one, awfully peculiar, I know. Rough welcome for a rookie."
Maine grunts noncommittal agreement as he checks the chamber of his pistol, to be used after the pugil stick and hand-to-hand components of the match. More fighting at a distance. Great.
"Lockdown paint," Wyoming says with a sigh. "How unutterably dull." He's playing with something in one hand, running it over his knuckles in a show of casual dexterity. It takes Maine a moment to recognize it as a pistol magazine. Live ammo.
Wyoming catches him looking. The grin is obvious in his voice. "Don't look so shocked, my boy," he says. "Just a little something to spice up the match." He elbows Maine, who stiffens. "I know, I know, it's against regulations. But I know you have a temper. And I know you hate to be beaten. And, quite frankly, the fact that the Director has pitted all three of us against a raw recruit makes me seriously doubt our ability to win by any other means."
He's lying, Maine thinks, but he can't figure out how or why. Wyoming holds out the magazine for a moment, then shrugs when Maine doesn't take it. "Fair enough," he says. "But trust me, you'll take it next time I offer. There's change on our doorstep, my boy. This is no place for hesitation." He rolls his shoulders, then points to the entrance, where a figure in black armor is stalking into the arena with a purpose. "Knock-knock, Agent Maine."