AN: Critiques and Reviews are welcome. Fav/Follow. Thank you. :)
Weeks later...
Grace shifted her body and made a sort of hissing noise when she moved. Her muscles ached with every movement she made. After intense training with Romanoff, grace could see why they picked her to do the training. The women was highly skilled, but she also wasn't afraid to hold anything back. Within the first few days of her training, grace had learned how to block a few punches, with some kicks thrown in. Grace was absorbed by each lesson. However, it didn't help when Romanoff felt the need to throw in surprise moves, breaking every piece of confidence she had left. It frustrated her, seeing no reason in it.
Grace would later ask what was the point of each lesson since it was believed that she was only here to use her abilities and nothing more. Romanoff's explanation to her was that there are going to be certain situations where defense would be the best offense against certain enemies so using her powers was not something she should be relying on. After that, Grace was a little relieved to hear the news. In all honesty, grace had hoped that she wouldn't have to use her power at all. She was still hesitant about using them so using the body instead bought her a sense of comfort.
It was an adjustment, however, it was at a slow pace. The first few days were the toughest and the loneliest. There was a time when she couldn't think straight without being reminded of Mark. She went through all these emotions and still didn't know what she was doing. Was she doing the right thing by staying here? Should she have fought her way out? Would mark ever live to see her again? These questions often picked on her as no answer would come to mind. Oddly enough, Fury had somewhat assured her that Mark was very much alive. The only suggestion he offered was to be more patient and wait for something to emerge. Up to now, there was still no sign.
Grace breathed deeply, when ever she had the chance to be alone, which was rarely, it felt nice to have a moment of solace. A moment to be grace and not this weird image everyone has conjured up about her. An image being the woman who uncontrollably murdered her parents and would soon do the same to anyone who got near her. The image did nothing to calm her as the scene replayed over and over, filling her with uncertainty.
Her sentiments died down once she reached the room. This one was different than the others she's been to, the area resembled the likeness of a gym, the difference was that room was empty. The wide space offered a lot of room, walls were covered in black marble, which were shaped into a hexagon. Unsure on what to do, Grace looked around the area but there was not much to see since it was, after all, empty. Her attention was suddenly caught when grace looked up, to her surprise, she got a glimpse of a wide framed glass window.
It was the trio, grace had nicknamed, Fury, Agent Hill and Phil Coulson. All who were standing behind the frame glass, with a few others that couldn't be identified. Their eyes fixed on her and her only. Confused, she too began to stare up at them. In a matter of seconds, a scratchy noise appears from an unknown source. It was the speakers that had turned on.
"Good morning Miss Powers." Greeted Fury.
"Uh...Good morning? I'm confused..." She confesses.
"You have nothing to worry about, there's a reason why you're in there," A slight pause, "After seeing the progress you've made with Romanoff, I figured it was time to see what you can really do."
Nervous, grace couldn't help but ask, "Wh-What do you mean?" Still looking up.
"What I mean is simple. A demonstration, if you will, to help us understand better. That way we can assist you to the best of our abilities. Does that make sense?"
Understanding what he meant, she says, "I suppose..." Nervously playing with her fingers, "But...What if I...you know, burn the place down? O-or hurt someone?"
"Do you want to hurt anyone?" He asks in a calm tone.
Without hesitation, "Of course not!"
"Then you should have nothing to worry about."
Snorting, giving him a less than pleased look, "That's easy for you to say. You're not the one with a problem." Waving her hands in front of the crowd.
"You can't keep living in fear just because you couldn't control it years ago. Things have changed for you, you're no longer a kid. Giving up now because it was hard would be a waste of good potential." He clarified in an emotionless tone.
Grace met his eye, nodding in consideration. Thinking over what he said, she walked further down the gymnasium. While she loathed the idea, he was probably right. Things have changed, it might not of been what she was expecting but if she were honest with herself, she might have felt a sense of pride. Surviving the ordeal has taken a toll as many sleepless nights consumed her, leaving her exhausted and unable to think without the constant reminder of old ghosts. It became a lot harder when Mark had disappeared. Grace couldn't understand why, but the more she thought about it the harder it was to move forward. There were even times when she blamed Fury for everything wrong with her life, but never said it out loud. Regardless, her personal feelings are her own and nothing will change that, not even the Director standing before her.
Fury's eye skimmed at the woman, pleased to have convinced her. It was important for her to hear words of encouragement. The director believed exposing her to a positive environment could help increase her confidence, maybe then she wouldn't have a tough time. Of course the path towards recovery would only grow wider with each step. Yes, she may struggle now, but taking the time to heal would help ensure her emotional capabilities.
Coulson was staring at her, his mind filled with concern, but never showing. Exposed with layers of tiredness, it seems as though grace hadn't slept for a while. His only guess, thoughts of the Doctor must have prevented her from fully resting. Coulson wasn't sure how she would perform in this state, from reading her previous file. It was clear to see that she still had difficulties controlling herself, he could only anticipate for her success. God knows she needed the confidence. The man had to admit, he was rather nervous for her. Considering, it would be the first time seeing her, I mean really see her, with all her talent.
Standing next to Coulson, Agent Hill stood there, her eyebrows shifting together, making her look puzzled. The women rarely had the opportunity to talk to her, when she did, the conversion could barely hold on. Only saying a handful of words, it was clear to her Grace has terrible social skills. The agent felt sorry for her honestly. Since her arrival, Grace was often on her best behavior. Still, regardless of feelings, Hill wished her the best.
Out of nowhere a voice startles the group, "Hey am I late?"
It was Clint, Fury lets out a breathe, "Damnit Barton! Why are you here?"
"What? I just wanted to see for myself." He said eagerly, He was certainly the most enthusiastic amongst the rest, though most of the people in the room felt the same way, but weren't as vocal as him.
Before Fury could respond, Grace shouted to get their attention. Fury glanced at her and nodded to her direction, encouraging her to proceed with the demonstration. Everyone was quiet, focusing their attention to Grace.
Grace stretched her arms above her head and breathed in deeply, "Um...quick question, do I just let loose? Or should I do something more...constructed?"
"Do what you think is best, don't worry so much about the damage, we took the proper precautions should things go south."
Grace took a stance, standing up straight, relaxing her muscles. She drew one last breath, beginning.
Almost immediately, her body reacted to the current. It felt good... Light wrapped around her fingertips in comfort. The current flowed through her veins, feeling every ounce of juice coursing over her body. It feels so weird! She hesitated for a brief moment, unsure on what to do next. Her eyes wandered for answers. There! The walls, she could aim at the walls. It would be a lot safer she thought. Preparing, Grace leveled herself into position, clenching her jaw while gazing into the dark surface. Pushing away the unnecessary fear, she proceeded to attack.
Before she could chicken out, grace clenched her hands together, forming her fists into ball. Launching them, she released a bolt of light. A shock registered on her face, a small smile played on her lips. Feeling a pure sense of happiness, the nervous woman held her ground. She pressed on, directly aiming them so that they were hitting the wall. Carefully, she maneuvered her hands, remembering what Fury said about staying calm.
Back in the observation room, the crew had stopped breathing, their eyes glued to her. They all watched in amazement as bursts of artificial light wrecked the training grounds. A sight to behold, the blue light sparked in the air with the frail woman wielding it. Fury could only stare in surprise, wondering how someone so fragile and small could accomplish this level of aptitude.
A loud violent clanging noise echoed around the enclosed space, causing a chill to travel down her spine. The current showed no sign of stopping, it merely continued to pour out of her body as it was a lifetime of long waiting, only to finally be able to show its existence to the world. Grace ignored its loud cries. Her racing thoughts stole her body as she tries to focus on her balance, noticing the lack of her footwork.
Grace wasn't sure how long it's been but one thing she was sure of, she wanted to stop. As she no longer felt the warmth of the light, instead it felt more aggressive, cold even that it became a little frightening. She remains calm, bundling her panic in her chest. Breathing rapidly, Grace gripped her hands, determined to tame this wild force. Taking a deep breath she focused on closing the gap between her and the rays.
A flash of blue escaped her hands, guiding it into a ball. The voltage collided against the wall, setting it into a blaze. The light ignited around her, leaving her unable to focus. In her frustration, Grace threw one last punch upwards, hitting the walls once more.
With a huff of her breath, she found herself surrounded by darkness. Before she could comment, the lights slowly dimmed open, bringing vision onto the gymnasium.
Glad it was finally over, grace Lowered her arms breathing heavily, struggling to stand up straight.
It felt so bizarre, so anomalistic, at no time had she ever felt like this before. The rush, the power, it made her much more aware of the surroundings. Before, it was almost as if her body was empty, hollow even. But after, it was like fire, igniting for the very first time. She felt free, a light, lurking in a world of dark wonders. Is this what it feels like? Is this what she's been missing? If she could do all that in a matter of seconds, what else was she capable of?
Grace stiffen at the shrill doors, revealing it was Fury, with the others following him behind. They made their way towards her. If she didn't know better, she could've swore Fury was smiling. Grace stood up slowly, curious to hear the verdict. Knowing she'd be walking on thin ice, it was no wonder why she felt so nervous. Also Considering Fury had stripped every ounce of freedom she had left. He deemed her reckless, which she agreed. But grace had decided that she would at least try to appease to the man. To her it was all about survival, anything that could lead her to a better position, she would take.
Despite what they might think, Grace was truly seeking approval by none other than herself. She's been aware of this for quite a while, after weeks of living here, she wanted to cooperate for the sake of her sanity. Speaking of sanity, it also helped her when she thought back to what Mark had said. Mentioning his full confidence and support for her, he always believed she was capable of being more than just grace. A chance to do good, aspire to an idea that very few people get to make. It sounded melodramatic, if she were to say it out loud, but part of her wanted to believe in this ideology.
Grace blinked suddenly before meeting his gaze. She made sure to put up a masquerade, concealing her nervousness.
He began to approach her, while looking at the area where the damage was mostly made, "Congratulations Powers, you did it." Said Fury.
She stared for a few seconds before responding, "I-I don't think I did anything really." She said, looking uncertain.
"You did more than what was expected," Fury said, motioning his hand at the wall that was now covered in ash, "Honestly, I didn't think you'd go that far. You should be proud Powers, what you did was rather...interesting..."
Grace was a little overwhelmed to hear that, trying to sink in the information. Fury expression showed his pleased look rather than his usual one, disappointment. Perhaps Fury had envisioned grace's demonstration to be nothing more than a failed attempt. Cleary, they were all flabbergasted, the look on their faces told her everything. Fury took notice as well, he also didn't want them lingering any further. With a wave of his hand, the group dispersed, leaving him and grace alone in the room.
"S-So now what?" She asked.
"Now, we expand further, see what else you can do. We had a small team come up and study the current numbers you had produced. With that, they had made some observations and theories on what you may or may not do." He replied, hinting in anticipation.
"Wait, What if I can't?" Thinking for a moment, "I mean, I really didn't know what I was doing."
"Relax Powers, We won't start today. But I do want to start sometime this week. The sooner you learn to control it, the better it will be for you. Then you wouldn't have to worry as much as you used to." He said with a light chuckle.
"I understand," Pausing for a second, "Does this mean...I-I've changed your mind about you know...me?" Asking softly, her nervousness was evident.
Walking back, Fury motioned grace to follow. Slowly, the two walked privately down the hallway. Feeling uneasy, grace walked alongside him, fiddling with her fingers, waiting for the man to break this unsettling silence.
"Tell me, where were you born?" Asking all of sudden.
His question was unexpected, lost in thought, she waited a few seconds before answering. "I thought you already knew everything there was to know about me."
"You're right, but I'd like to hear it from you. Files can only say so much about a person. It's better this way."
Taking a second, she answered. "I've been here most of my life. I've traveled around before. But I always ended up moving back here."
"What about your parents?"
"My father was also born here, but my mother was from New York." She said in a calm tone.
"What was your relationship with them like?"
"It-It was pretty good. They... they were good parents." She whispered softly.
"You miss them." He states, noticing her unnerving response.
"Of course I miss them. They didn't deserve...what was done to them..." Looking down, her expression grim.
"This is a sensitive topic I know, but there are other questions I need you to answer that were not on the files."
Grace continued to walk, not uttering a word of response. She didn't want to look at him and his tall intimidating stature sure didn't help as he towered over her, making the conversation more daunting than it needed to be.
"Would you care to explain in detail about what happened in the hospital." He asked purposefully.
She hesitated at the mere mention, causing her stomach to feel empty. It became almost unbearable. "I-I was out just out of a 10 month co-coma. I didn't know at first...not until they told me. I still find it crazy," Pausing for a brief moment, "Th-Then, they showed me the effects it had on me...which should explain why my eyes are weird looking. I was really scared, I didn't know what to do. But then the nurse came... God the nurse. One minute she was fine, the next she's on the floor. I think she spilled water on me, can't remember. I just know that it burned so much, it had to have triggered something. One thing led to another, my pa-parents tried to stop it-stop me. As can you tell...it-it didn't work." Grace sighed hard, still unable to look him in the eye.
"You were found in the power plant correct?" Asking another forward question.
Grace nodded.
"How did you end up in there?" Asking calmly, focusing on her.
Grace shook her head, the tension on her shoulders, the way she hung her head, it was plain to see that she was frustrated. "I-I was being ch-chased..." Swallowing hard, "By these m-men, they wanted to...to do things... So I ran there, looking for my dad." With a heavy sigh, she blinked back tears.
She hated them, she hated them so much. She hated how she was treated. She hated what was done to her. She hated being so weak. She hated the whole thing. Was it even possible to hate someone you knew nothing about? Grace seemed to think so, the thought of seeing them again made her skin crawl in disgust. Even after the years, she never got over the fact that someone, whose only been in her life for a mere few seconds, would leave a long lasting effect.
The causes had brought into unknown territory, seeing things one would never imagine, make her appeal to a crowd that dictates who's a threat or not, and living a lifestyle she had never intended on. Solely on the fact that her body functions differently than any other human beings. Since coming here, suspicious faces follow, waiting for an event to unfold. Her only hope was to remain calm, taking deep breaths, she avoided conflict.
"You need to overcome that fear, letting it bother you would only give them more power against you. I admit, it won't be easy, and you're sure as hell won't forget. But think of it this way, had they not done what they did, you would've never had met Dr. Haisley. You wouldn't have been able to recover from the damage that was done to you." He said finally.
Grace's eyes were sad, yet light, "Y-Yes, I'm well aware. But look at what happened, he's gone. Taken, kidnapped, poof! Just like that. And you, telling me to "get over it." I mean, what kind of motivation is that? It's like you expect me to forget," Pausing for second, "I was never meant for any of this, never asked for it either. I was perfectly fine at home, where no one could tell me what to do or how to feel. Least of all, judge me for something I had no control over."
Fury halted, noticing her features, her eyes were full of emotion, he knew grace feared for those around her. That alone convinced him that she was not ready for any upcoming battles. He had hoped to get her into combat sometime this month, but seeing her now, she wouldn't last long in the field. Her problem continues to be the moral codes she carries, which would make it near impossible for her to strike down enemies, he even doubted she had the mental capacity to make the hard decisions.
"Let's call it a day. I'm sure you'd want to mend yourself after that display." Said fury, he stood in front of the lab room. After several seconds, Fury led Grace into the area, signaling a few agents. They guided her onto the metal table. Laying down, with the same process in play, they placed nodes on her temple. Another two were placed on each side of her neck, two on her up chest and two on her back shoulders.
Fury stared back, "I'll leave you here then. Coulson will arrive in a few minutes, from then on you'll continue your training with Romanoff."
Before he could walk any further, Grace stopped him, "Wait! I need to know. Have you heard anything yet? Ab-About Mark?" She asked, clutching her hands.
He thought about it for a moment. For a long second, he didn't say anything. It was killing her inside. With fury's face, it was unreadable that it made her feel a bit uncomfortable, she even considered retorting her question.
Finally, he said, "No, we were hoping to at least receive a dispatch of information on how to reach him."
"L-Like a ransom note?"
"Yes, but we have yet to hear anything." He confessed.
Grace exhaled a shake breath, fearing what might become of him. She was surely convinced that he was in a nightmare. It was heartbreaking to hear the news. Settling in a fragile state, she felt her heart hammering away on the inside of her chest. To her, it sounded despondent and even inconsolable. Looking away, remorse clouded at her conscience, against all odds, grace knew something had to be done. It was starting to get tedious, having to sit back and wait while she could be out there searching for him. Until then, she will have to prove herself ingenious.
888
Grace laid there, her thoughts wandering in spiral motion. Just then, she faintly registers the room door opening. Her focus however was not diverted, continuing to stare up at the ceiling, it wasn't until someone spoke up that it finally caught her attention.
"Hey, that was pretty cool. What you did back there."
Slightly turning her head, she looked up to see Clint. The man's gaze made her feel uneasy, not in a bad way though. Despite the thought it was almost like he was praising her. But in her opinion there was nothing worth celebrating, it was weird, in a sense. There was much curiosity surrounding her. Her abilities made it near impossible to live with considering the constant jitters she would get. Curiously she wanted to know more about herself. What else could she do? It got her thinking for a while until she noticed that Barton still in the room.
"I-um thanks? I didn't do much really." Obviously stammering.
"Heh keep telling yourself that. You literally lit up the whole room. You even surprised Fury."
"I'm still not sure about any of this. I just want to show them that I can do it, maybe then they'll leave me alone."
He sighed, "You really don't want to be here do you?"
Without hesitation, Grace sat up, answering honestly, "Of course not. No offense to any of you guys, you've all been nice and all...But the fact is, I'm not like any of you. I can't do the whole super secret spy thing. Going on missions, defeating the bad guys, saving the day and what not. I can't. I was raised in a different environment and was taught different things. Talking about it at this very moment is even making me homesick so I'll stop talking before I get even more upset."
Barton stared at the distressed woman, while this was their first time talking in a couple of days, this also happens to be the first time Grace has open up to him, expressing how she truly felt about being here. Most times, during their conversations, they'd often talk about random topics, in a way, she saw it as therapeutic, not having to worry about the consequences of their discussions. Up until now, grace has often pondered what her life would be, if she decides to stay with fury and shield. It seemed endless to think about all the things she would have to do. One might find it exciting, adventurous, but to her, it was frightening. Having to risk your life every minute of everyday seems stressful, just thinking about it made her feel the paranoia bursting out of her head.
Folding his arms, he says, "I understand how you might feel. It can be tough, yes. Brutal, maybe. Hard, most definitely. But in the end, we're the ones who will make the sacrifices so others won't have to. You might blame Fury sure, but he does it to protect others from the potential harm. That's not to say he thinks you're dangerous, careless more like. You're here to better yourself, not keep you hostage. The point is. Try to keep that in mind, might make things a little easier for you."
Grace fell silent, though it didn't decrease the way she felt. She understood what he meant and part of her felt inspired, but still as much as she wanted to help, her terror-stricken behavior prevented her from doing so. Then again, it reminded her of Mark, how he would go through lengths to help others. Mark believed Grace could do the same, even if she didn't feel that way. Though Mark knew she was capable of doing great things with the gift she was given. Ultimately, her thoughts simply ended up being layers upon layers of questions, with no single answers. Instead she disregarded herself from further protests.
Grace nodded, she frowned, "You're probably right. I-I should try and make the best of things, I suppose. If you don't mind Barton, I'd like to be alone now. Need to think for a while." Quietly saying so, returning to her lying position.
Clint stared at her for a long moment, "Sure, but don't overthink it for too long. You might get a brain cramp or something, I don't know."
With a laugh, Grace adjusted herself on the metal board. Soon, Barton bid her goodbye, leaving Grace alone to think. While few people worked in the back of the lab, she was able to have a nice calm moment of peace.
Closing her eyes, she doesn't notice her conscious fading away into a deep slumber.
888
She opens her eyes, only to see a peaceful view of the ocean, resting on the warm sand. Staring up, the sun shines brightly down but not quite as an umbrella was placed, protecting Grace from brightness. Sounds of flying seagulls roaming across the sky can be heard. Strange... She doesn't recall ever going here. Looking around, she feels a sense of confusion. When was the last time she's ever visited a beach?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice she knew all too well, "Penny for your thoughts?"
It was mark, wearing a dark sleeveless tank top and a pair of swimming trunks. Eyeing her in puzzlement, he asked, "Are you alright? You seem lost..."
Handsome as ever, It took her a few seconds to come up with a response, "I-I'm fine...Where are we? I don't really remember much..."
Mark gave a slight laugh, "Of course you don't remember, you were asleep the whole time dimwit. I had to drag you all the way here, literally."
Grace blinked, running her hands through her hair, "Huh...you don't say." She muttered.
He was still smiling about her stargazing and gave her a cool smile. Grace on the other hand looked a little fazed, shifting uncomfortably, she moved her position from where she was sitting.
He frowns, "What's wrong? I thought you'd like it here. I mean I figured you'd want to go for a swim." Expressing his concerns.
Her eyes scanned the area, "But why? You know I can't," Shaking her head, "Can't really...go in..."
"Why not? Is it because you can't swim? If it is, don't worry, I'll let you ride behind my back. That way you don't have to worry about drowning."
Irritated and feeling off-putting, she huffed, "It has nothing to do with me drowning. I mean, I literally can't go in, I could get real hurt, you know that right?"
The man rubbed at the back of his neck, a confused gesture, he wasn't sure what Grace meant, "Grace you're starting to sound kinda...crazy. I thought bringing you here would make-up for a lovely day. Instead, I get complaints. Now come one Gracie, let's just enjoy the day."
Her eyes narrowed, feeling a sense of resentment, "Mark! Listen to me. I. Can't. Go. In! What part aren't you getting? Please, quit playing. It isn't funny anymore." Sounding almost desperate.
Taking a moment, Mark turns his head slowly, staring out into the distance, "I can never please you, can't I?" He says quietly.
Startled from his statement, her eyes widened, a chill ran up her spine, "Mark please...there's something not right about this. I-I need to go."
Mark glared bitterly, clenching his hands into a fist against the sand. "You're not going anywhere," He said seriously, "Last time I checked, you have yet to pay off your debt."
Terrified shock glued her body, leaving her unable to move, "Debt? What debt?"
Reaching towards her, he grabbed her shoulders in rage, forcing her to face him, "Don't play stupid with me Grace, it doesn't suit you. You know what debt I'm talking about. You basically owe me your life, had I not taking you in, you would be dead and forgotten. Instead, your alive and well, while I rot away. Being tortured because of you!"
Mark's voice lowered, sounding threatening, "I want you to suffer as I have suffered. I want you to feel what I feel. Pain Gracie, I want you in pain."
Her eyes were wide on him, feeling helpless and horrified. Hearing Mark suddenly became painful, sick to the core.
At that moment, Grace wanted to runaway. But she couldn't, Mark was hurting and it was all her fault. His confirmation was the hammer hitting the nail. She understood now.
Out of desperation, she stated, "I-I love you so much mark. You mean a lot to me," Choking on a sob, she was unsure if she could finish. Finding strength, she pleds, "Tell me...tell me how do I make things right? Tell me what to do."
His gaze towards her soften, soaking every feature she made. She was so beautiful, it was as if he was trying to remember for when the minute he leaves, he will soon forget.
"Do you really want to know?" He asked.
Nodding her head in sincerity, "Please..." she begged.
Softly, Mark had taken her face in his hands. Kissing her gently, feeling every once of emotion. There was love in that kiss, she felt it, but she could also feel his pain, so much pain it made her heart wrench.
Pulling back, he said, "Find me."
888
Grace's eyes flew open wide as she jolted herself up so that she was on a sitting position. For minutes, she felt as though she could not breath.
Then, the sound of coughing nearby induced awareness. Naturally, Grace looked to see a very awkward Coulson staring right at her.
Grace wasn't sure how long he's been in the room. She could only guess it was sometime during her sleep. Still, it felt odd, one minute her eyes close, the next, she wakes up, only to realise everything she was experiencing was nothing but a mere dream. Thinking back, it made her wonder about mark. Where could he be? There was no explanation nor were there clues that could help her signify his whereabouts.
Turning back to coulson, she greets him nonchalantly, "Hello, I didn't see you there. Um, Ho-How long have you been standing there?"
Coulson looked down on her, noticing jitters in her voice, "A while. Is everything alright? You were stirring in your sleep."
Grace blinked, unsure on how to respond, "I-I'm ok really. A dream that's all." She said with a sad smile.
Skeptical, he doesn't press further, "Alright, I came by to see how you were holding up."
"Heh, I'm doing fine."
They both stayed in silence, breathing in this awkward moment. It wasn't until coulson decided now would be a good time to congratulate her.
"You did good out there. For a second, I thought you would hold back. But you didn't, thought you would like to know."
Doubtful as she was, she decided not to object. There was no room for doubt, not after that encounter with mark and her dream. It still lingered though, the idea of finding him. Believing he wanted to be found, she would do anything to get to him. The only way she could see that happening is to prove she is more than capable of handling it herself.
"I...Um..." She looked at him with sincerity, "Thank you."
Putting a sympathetic expression, he said, "We should get you out of here. It must get tiring, laying there."
"No need to worry really. I had a small setup like this back home. Mark wanted to make sure he was prepared for anything."
"Including raging outbursts?" Before he realised what was said, he immediately apologizes, "Forgive me, that was inappropriate."
Shaking her head, "No, it's fine really. I know that's not what you meant. To answer your question, I'm not sure honestly. He sometimes spoke like he had contingency plans, but never actually told me. Maybe he did, but was afraid to tell, probably didn't want me to feel bad."
A small chuckle, he confesses, "At this point, none of us here think you are. More like disorderly, still, don't let it bother you. We don't expect you to get everything right away."
Grace stays quiet as they take off the little nodes on her body. At the same time, she ponders more about the dream. Haunted, but not quite, she remembers what mark had said. How he wanted her to suffer, how she ruined his life, seeming to blame her for his disappearance. Shoving guilt into her thoughts, grace had been so weak. Too weak to take control.
And she hated herself for it, hated herself for getting too comfortable, too attached with a lifestyle she never dreamed she could have.
Looking away. She asked, "So, where to now? Fury said I get to go train with Romanoff."
"About that, she had to take an urgent leave. Instead you'll be playing shadow again." He said with a tone of humor.
She groaned, having to play this game constantly, it grew very tiresome that she resisted the urge to slap her hand against her forehead. "If-If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to practice a little more instead..."
He frowns with skepticism, "You want to go...practice?"
Nodding, she had nothing more to add. She wanted to train plain and simple.
"Since when?" A smirk from the man was shown.
"I've given it some thought. And your right, I need to take control. What better way than to practice what I'm most afraid of?" Holding her breath, "I-I want to do better. I want to be better. Well? What do you think?"
Coulson smiled in sympathy, feeling rather moved by the sudden change in behavior.
"I think that's a fine idea. But you're still going to need a chaperone."
"Can't you do it?" Asking softly.
"As much as I'd like to, I can't. But we can always get someone else. Wait right here."
He disappears from view, leaving Grace alone in the room. She was sort of disappointed, having accustomed to his presence she had hoped he would remain as her watcher. Clearly, that was not the case, understanding that his work may lead him to different places, it was inevitable that someone else would take his place.
Soon enough, he returned, but not alone. With him was an agent she hasn't spoken to since their introduction. Brock Rumlow enters the room along with Coulson, exchanging a few words before they halt. Standing before her, the two looked at her with agreement.
Clearing her throat, she says, "Wh-what's going on?"
"Agent Rumlow has agreed to watch over while you train. I've already notify Fury so you should be good to go. After you're done, I'll be notified to take you back to your quarters."
Grace nodded in silence.
"Good. I'll stop by later to see how things are going."
He offered one last goodbye before he left the room.
Clearing his throat, Rumlow says, "Well, we should probably get you set up before the days gone don't ya' think?"
Grace gave a comprehensive nod and proceeded to follow him onto the training grounds.
Once they've reached the area, Rumlow stepped behind Grace as to avoid getting hurt while she trained. He settled himself up near the wall to get a better view, he stood there, watching with interest.
Calmly, she walked further down the gym, settling towards the middle, she took a deep breath. Remembering what romanoff had taught her so far, she repeats the following steps. First, she created a series of punches, an uppercut, then an elbow block. She then tries on high and low kicks. She notices her kicks are lacking, so she attempts again, only to fail again. Going for another high kick, she lifts her right leg. Not well balanced, she fails, causing her to trip, falling onto the mat.
Embarrassed, she curses to herself. Clenching her fist in frustration, she gets up. Slowly noticing the intent stare coming from the man. It was a little unsettling, it was clear to her that he was simply observing her movements.
She gave him a small smile, "Is there something wrong?"
He paused, "I hope you don't find it offensive when I say, that is the worst kicks I have ever seen."
Laughing, she agreed with him, "I couldn't agree more. I mean that's why they call this practice, right?"
Smiling right back, "Yeah they sure do...but if you'd like, I could maybe help you. Who knows, I might even be a better teacher than Romanoff."
For a second, she found herself pondering his offer. While she did indeed needed the assistance, a chunk of her brain said a whole bunch of nopes. Even though she has gained a little bit of confidence with her fighting abilities, it wasn't enough for her to start displaying in front of people.
Regardless, she gives in, "S-Sure."
Casually, Rumlow removes his belt so it wouldn't interfere with the demonstration. Setting his belt on the floor, he makes his way to her, not before he made a quick stretch to get into the mood.
"Alright powers, you need to get that body of yours working. First you're going to need to stretch those muscles, need to keep them flexible, maintain range of motion in the joints. Second, your stance is sloppy, you have to keep your balance up for stability. Lastly, try not to build any tension, it'll add unnecessary weight."
Grace watched as he demonstrated, releasing a flurry kick, his body completing the maneuver without difficulty. She could feel its force, which made it all impressive.
"You make it look easy..." She mumbled.
Chuckling, he said, "It can be easy if you just tried. Now watch me again. Remember, movement and balance."
Repeating the same procedure, Grace silently studied his movements. Mimicking, Grace attempts the procedure. Once she gets the hang of her balance, she releases a high kick that it made her gasp in surprise.
"Woah...way to go Powers. You did it."
"I did! Didn't I?" She smiled at him, "Thank you. Really."
"See? What did I tell ya, I'd be a better teacher." He smirked at her enthusiasm, shifting his foot stance. "So, ready to go again?"
888
It has been a couple of hours now since Grace had been left to train. He meant to go sooner, but of course, duty called him onto other matters. Coulson had to admit it, her sudden mood had not been something he was expecting. But why change out of nowhere? It must have happened right after the session had ended.
Did she finally come to terms with the potential Fury had desperately try to instill?
Coulson seemed to be the only one concerned, but Fury seemed to be quite pleased. The director wanted nothing more than to have her achieve to greatness. And in that greatness, he would have her do what others could not. Still, the thought of their recent discussion made it clear to him that Grace had no interest in going further with her training, at least not today.
Coulson thought about asking her, but felt like it would be wrong since he wasn't close enough. He also believed that if he were to ask, she'd make up a lie and avoid further discussion. It was her go-to when she wanted to ignore anything regarding her personal life. He had to admit, it was an improvement from when she started out, reserved and distant.
Coulson approached the gym where Grace was working in. It hadn't been long until he heard a faint sound coming from the other side of the door. It was a female voice, grace. If he heard right, it sounded like Grace was struggling, noises of heatedly grunts and heavy breathing.
Unfazed by the noise, he opens the door. He quickly notices Rumlow, who currently has grace's head underneath his arm.
Rumlow's attention diverted to Coulson, who seemed quite surprised at the sight. But grace could hardly care, instead she uses the distraction to her advantage, hastily, she throws an uppercut punch towards his groan.
Immediately, he releases her as he slumps down onto the floor, grumbling at his discomfort.
She smiles in relief, "Thanks coulson! I really needed that."
"Yeah thanks a lot..." Rumlow groans in pain, still on the floor, cupping his manhood.
Coulson was at a loss for words, he could only stare at energetic woman standing before him. His expression unknown to her. Grace thought Coulson would be pleased like he was before. Still, no words came out. Instead, Grace walked towards him with calmness, looking at him with confident eyes.
She exhales in satisfaction, "Rumlow was helping me get out of a headlock."
"I can tell. You're not hurt are you?"
"No no, I'm fine really. Besides, I asked him to. I wanted to do better and he agreed to help. Speaking of which I should probably help him up."
Slowly, she turned and looked down at Rumlow who was sore but felt slightly better. A pang of guilt ran through her so she decided to make amends by offering him a hand.
"Sorry, I didn't hurt you too badly. Did I?" She asked in a low tone.
"Of course not. Look at me, I'm the perfect picture of health." He chuckles.
Taking her hand, Rumlow gets up and arranges himself. It took him a few seconds to fully compose, "See? Perfectly fine." He said shortly, making sure she understood that there weren't any consequences, "You did good today. Keep practicing what I taught you and remember to stay balanced and grounded, that way it'll be harder for your opponent to take you down."
Grace could barely hold her excitement at what she's learned so far. Brock Rumlow was truly a wonderful teacher at least in her mind. He was a skillful fighter and incredibly patient, she couldn't help but wonder what else she could learn under his mentorship.
"I will! Thank you really. Today was...great! In all honesty I didn't think I would get very far. But you helped so again. Thank you." She smiled. Feeling like a new beginning, she walked pass him, making her way to Coulson.
"By the looks of it, things seemed to have gone well." Said Coulson, looking at her as she smiles.
"It has. I've learned a lot and he's been teaching me well. So yes, things have gone well. He also said if I wanted to, he can still teach me whenever he's free. I agreed, so I hope that won't be too big of a problem." Grace dropped her head down, quietly she says, "I meant what I said about doing better."
Coulson frowned, her sudden shift of motives was both admirable and strange. Nonetheless, he was rather relieved, now that she was able to move past her problems and forget about the past, grace could now concentrate on more important matters. Yet, a question lingered in his mind and that question was, why? Sure grace could of gotten up one day and decided to stop being moody, but these past few weeks Coulson has had the privilege of getting to know her more than anyone here. He noticed the change in her behavior when Fury had her demonstrate to the others about her abilities. Part of him felt he had no right to ask such questions or demand explanations because at the end of the day, it was only a job.
"You've had a long day. Let me escort you to your room."
"Ok. Bye Mr. Rumlow!" She says aloud, waving her hand to him.
"Thought I told you to call me Brock, Powers." He shouts back.
Giggling, "Right! Sorry!"
Coulson felt inwardly uncomfortable, feeling like he walked into unknown territory as the person facing him, Grace, had turn from distant and cold to sociable and warm.
"We can go now." Grace said, her cheery mood now noticeable than it was just a few minutes ago.
The two became quiet as they proceeded to walk through the halls. Silence came in uninvited, feeling a sort of awkwardness when grace followed the man. She might not be a mind reader or an expert of body language but she could tell something was bothering Coulson. If something was bothering him, she would like to know. Grace considered him as friend, her only friend actually, so to know what indeed was wrong would make her feel at ease in hopes of being able to lend a hand.
"Coulson?" She asked, clenching her hands together.
"Yes?"
"Is something wrong?"
"No." He answered, his voice sounding almost distant.
Disappointed in his response, she asks, "Are you sure?"
"Yes." His answer bringing them to the absence of sound.
Coulson's refusal annoyed her, she wanted nothing more than to turn him around and shake him violently until he surrendered.
They reach the door of her room, both halting. Coulson presses a small button on the side of the door, making a soft hissing noise that slides it open.
Coulson was about to dismiss himself until he was stopped by Grace.
"Wait...before you go. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." He said with a slight interest.
"We're friends...right? Or did I make up the whole thing? Wait...are spies even allowed to have friends? But you're not spy...at least I don't think you are...are you a spy?" Grace asked, looking at his surprised reaction.
Noticing, she was about to comment again, Coulson stops her, "You're rambling."
Grace huffed, "Right sorry. I just wanted to let you know that I consider you a friend and like any friend they can usually tell when something is bothering them. So..." she paused, "Is something bothering you?"
Coulson sighed in alleviation, something was bothering him and up until now he wasn't able to discuss it with anyone. Conveniently, Grace was thinking the same thing and it made him feel a little guilty for having to put her through that. He wasn't afraid to admit that he had no friends. His work didn't require him to have any and there wasn't time to divulge into social interactions. Now that he thought about it, Director fury was the closest thing to having a friend really. Grace seemed to have change that because he too considered her a friend. It was weird for him to say aloud but also felt right whenever he would converse with her. He didn't have to talk about work related things, which he didn't. Most of the time it was nonsense chatter and memories about their childhood.
Could he confide in her? Taking a risk he caves in and asks, "Yes there is something bothering me. I'm probably in the wrong here but I can't help but wonder why the sudden change?"
Thrown off guard, she questions, "What do you mean?"
"This morning you were dreading to face fury and wanted nothing to do with the presentation. After you were left in the lab you became a lot more comfortable than usual. You became different."
"You say it like it's a bad thing..."
"It's not a bad thing...not really. Like I said, I'm probably in the wrong. I might be over thinking it." He took a moment, "Forget I said anything." He said as he was about to head out.
"Wait!" She said.
He halted and turned to her, waiting.
Taking the opportunity, she confessed, "I...This may sound weird, but I think you're right...I think..." Shaking her head, she continued, "Something did happen to me and I want to tell you. I just don't want you to think I'm crazy or anything." Another pause, "Back in the lab, I-I had a dream...a bad one. It was about Mark-he was alive. I mean like really alive, I could feel him and everything. He was happy for a while but then he changed...blamed me for his disappearance, wanted me to pay for it. The last thing he told me was to find him a-and I'm going to find him. I've come to terms...the only way to help him is by helping myself. No more of this childish behavior. I can have a normal life. I want to have a normal life. And I won't let anything hold me back, not anymore. I'm ready to move forward." She ended, a face of determination.
Coulson didn't comment, there wasn't anything he could say or do much that could help in any way. But it explained as to why she felt the need to change. Grace has finally accepted the help she was being offered. In return she wanted to be seen as a normal being rather than a threat. It was understandable considering what she's been through and the drastic changes that came with it.
"I admit that I was not prepared for that. But I understand..." Coulson finally stated. He stopped and gathered his thoughts. "You're doing the right thing. I know it hasn't been easy for you but with the work you've put in, I know you can do it and I'm sure Fury would agree with your decision as well."
Grace stared at him, "Thanks for listening. To be honest, I feel better...talking about it with someone. You're probably only listening because it's your job but still, at least I can talk about it now." she admitted.
Coulson felt a little disheartened at grace, while she did see him as a friend she also believed he was only doing it because it was his job and nothing more. In her mind, Grace was just another chore for him to deal with.
Unsure on how to respond, "I don't mind the talks really. We're here to help, if talking helps I'll be glad to listen. While it is my job...I see you more as an acquaintance."
Hearing him say that made Grace immediately smile, "Is that fancy talk for being friends?"
"Don't push it Powers."
Grace held in her laughter.
"Right sorry. But please, no formalities. Least not when were alone."
"Get some rest Pow-Grace." He said as he corrected himself, smoothly departing from the scene.
Leaving Grace, she stood there alone in her room, silence filling up the room. For once, the quietness was welcomed, weight lifted off her shoulders she was able to relax.
Grace turned to a small wooden cabinet wardrobe, she then calmly reached for the pajama set that was given to her. Changing into her night clothing, grace had decided to rest on the bed.
After a few minutes of standing around, the woman finally laid on the mattress.
Relaxed, She had her hands behind her head, pondering about the day. Very progressive, she thought to herself. However grace wanted to do more. Like Coulson mentioned, it all started when she woke up from her sudden dream. In actuality, it started when she actively exhibited some of her capabilities in front of the director and his associates. Right there and then something inside her had built up, something wanting to come out. It felt like a firework that was set to lit, with time, grace was sure that the fireworks would someday set off and explode.
Eyes closed, Grace thought about her dream, her thoughts mostly on Mark. What would he say? Was Mark really angry with Grace for leaving him behind? Did he mean what he said? It was heartbreaking to hear the words coming out of him. One hit after the other was enough to knock into next week. But grace knew she had to stay strong, for him. Believing that Mark wouldn't want her to continue into the state of self-loathing, she refused to be powerless. It has to change... She thought cheerlessly to herself. For now, sleep clouded all thoughts in her head. Knowing she needed the rest, grace surrendered into dormancy.