("I was broken from a young age
Taking my sulking to the masses
Writing my poems for the few
That look at me, took to me, shook me, feeling me
Singing from heartache, from the pain
Taking my message from the veins
Speaking my lesson from the brain
Seeing the beauty through the
Pain.")

- Imagine Dragons, "Believer"

May 2015

2nd Year, age 14

"So, how many times have you gotten hurt this year?" Maya asked accusingly, as Riley made her way towards her with her arm in a sling.

"I'm fine," Riley dismissed.

"That's what you get for training with that nutjob," Maya muttered.

"And you train with my brother, so who's the real nutjob?" Riley pointed out, pulling out her notebook.

"I don't train with your brother," Maya corrected. "In fact, I do my absolute best to stay away from your brother."

"If you were really trying to avoid him, you wouldn't go to the gym at the same time as him," Riley stated. "You don't fool me, Hart. I see right through your shell; I'd have to after knowing you for over a year."

Maya shut her mouth and looked down at her own notebook as the teacher walked into the room. She knew that Riley was partially right; she had, after weeks of being followed around, gotten used to Riley and taken advantage of her being there. Riley talked to her, Maya listened. Riley spotted her, counted jumps, prepped for evals with her. Riley was the one person that had consistently been in Maya's life for the longest time of everyone she had known.

Which said a lot about her, now that she thought about it.

It wasn't that Maya had immediately opened up to the girl; it was more that she was just always there, and she was so chatty that it was hard not to talk to her. Riley seemed to know everything too, and she was so good at knowing the exact right thing to say and the right thing to use to get others to open up. Maya, for all her experience, had a difficult time just trying to handle Riley.

Then there was the other thing.

Maya's CO had been (regrettably) right. Riley pushed her way under Maya's skin like a nagging splinter that she had no way of removing. Riley knew her now, could anticipate her words and her actions, and so they could work together. Work like partners, like she had been assigned to do.

"You need to understand that there are other people, people you work with."

Maya grimaced as her CO's words from last year wormed their way into her head again.

She hated to admit it, but working with Riley did make it easier.

Maya received a message from administrations on her birthday, just before lunch hour. She made her way across the campus to the administrations building, anticipation bursting in her chest. What could they possibly want with her? Had she done something wrong? Was she being kicked out, sent back to military school?

She checked in with the secretary and stood waiting, unable to sit down. She turned around and glanced out at the campus; the glass doors viewed the training grounds for operations, and several older students were running a mock.

"Ms. Hart," a voice came from behind her, "thank you for meeting me."

Maya turned and startled to see Director Topanga Matthews for the first time in person. She had known that Josh and Riley's mom was the director, but she had never met the woman. Riley didn't talk about her at all, and Josh didn't talk, period.

"If you'll follow me," Director Matthews ordered, turning on the ball of her feet to head back to her office, not bothering to check if Maya was actually following.

The woman was actually fairly short, but her long flat hair and black outfit made her appear taller, especially in combination with her tall heels. It was her posture that really made her appear in control; she was so straight that Maya was sure she had a pole against her back or something. It made Maya straighten a little too, unconsciously.

"Sit," Director Matthews ordered, and Maya obediently sat in the chair in front of her desk, her knee bouncing in jittery nerves.

She didn't speak; she didn't know if she should. This was the woman who ran the entire academy. All of it. She had the power to kick Maya out if she chose to. She had the power to do anything, and Maya was terrified, for the first time, of this woman.

"You train with my daughter, and have sparred with my son Josh, is that correct?" Director Matthews confirmed, in a voice that made clear she wasn't really asking. What really interested Maya, however, was how she said 'daughter' and 'son' differently, and didn't even actually say Riley's name. No wonder Riley didn't talk about her mom; she had been right when she said her mother hated her.

"Yes, Ma'am," Maya replied, folding her hands in her lap. "Although I don't spar with him anymore."

"And why is that?" Director Matthews asked, looking down on her nose.

"I beat him and he wasn't happy about it," Maya informed her bluntly, and immediately wondered if she had made a mistake with her honesty as the woman frowned.

"You beat my son?" She questioned, her expression unreadable as Maya felt sweat begin to break out under her hair.

"It was just one time," Maya backtracked.

"I assume that this fight wasn't cleared nor supervised." She moved over to her desk, but stayed standing as she looked over the file on her desk.

Maya had never been good at reading upside down, but she knew the file was about her. There was a photo of her from when she first was admitted into the category, and she could see several numbers that she assumed were her identification numbers, as well as what looked like Katy Hart's signature.

"It was early, we didn't have a teacher in the gym," Maya began to justify, as the woman looked up from the file and straight into her eyes. "I'm sorry, I know it was wrong, but no one got hurt."

"You beat a boy two years and several weight classes above you," Director Matthews said, seeming to not care about Maya's excuses. "We've put you through several mid-year evals and they show that you are far above the top of the class. Your combat teacher recommended you skip year three, but your academic teachers disagree."

Maya's heart lept in her throat with pride, and she controlled a smile from showing on her face. Her teachers had praised her, and recommended she skip a grade? She had known she did well, but not that well.

"In Operations, we select students who excel in certain areas and evaluate if we believe they would succeed on an elite team."

Two words focused in Maya's mind: 'elite' and 'team'. She was being considered for an elite position, something she never would have expected a few years ago. But she was also being considered for a team, something she certainly didn't think she would succeed in. Even her CO had told her she was a terrible teammate.

"This is not a common occurrence, and it is a very high honor that the administrative panel has selected you as a member of this potential team. We've seen your success and your progress with my daughter and we have agreed to put you on this assignment." Director Matthews raised her eyebrows. "This assignment will require you to attend exclusive training sessions with your teammates and instructors, and have mock missions in team settings, similar to fifth and sixth year students. It is a huge responsibility and we have never chosen a second year student for a team, before this year."

"I understand, Ma'am," Maya assured her. "I'd like to thank you for this opportunity."

"I expect you'll succeed, and that's all the thanks I will need," Director Matthews returned. "Report to the gym at 8pm. You'll have clearance for extended dorm check in." She handed Maya a piece of paper, and Maya barely had time to glance down at it before Director Matthews said, "You're dismissed."

Maya walked into the gym ten minutes before 8pm, and set her bag down as she flicked her wrist to see her heart rate. 124 bpm. She was nervous.

"Now you're here at night too?"

Maya turned, startled, to see Josh Matthews entering the gym with his own bag and an annoyed expression on his face.

"Don't you train in the morning?" Maya asked.

"Don't you?" Josh shot back.

Maya bristled. "I'm here for-"

"Alright, I get it," another voice joined the group, and both Maya and Josh turned to see Lucas Friar coming towards them. He glanced between the two teens. "So who's our fourth?"

"Mr. Matthews, Ms. Hart, Mr. Friar," a teacher that none of them had met before addressed them, raising his eyebrows. "Meet your teammates."

"Teammates?!" Maya and Josh asked at the same time, shooting a glare to each other.

"Why else did you think we were here?" Lucas asked. He directed his attention at the teacher. "Who's our fourth?"

"I'm here," Riley called, out of breath as she hurried into the room. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"Matthews?" Lucas looked stunned. He glanced over at his roommate, who was still glaring at Maya.

"Riley, what the hell are you doing here?" Josh broke Maya's gaze to groan at the sight of his little sister.

"I was picked to be on this assignment too," Riley said, frowning. "You're not the only capable one in the family."

"Wait a minute," Lucas's eyebrows furrowed and he looked betrayed. "Assignment?"

Riley opened her mouth, but before she could speak the teacher cut in.

"Now that we are all here, let's get started."

Riley avoided both Lucas's and her brother's gazes, but met eyes with Maya. She came around to stand next to her, her arm still held up in the sling. How and why she was on this team while she couldn't even train was beyond Maya, but she guessed it had something to do with her mother.

"You have all been chosen for this team because your strengths have been evaluated to complement each other. I'm going to be your trainer, evaluator, instructor, teacher, and advisor from here until you graduate the program," the man informed the four. He met eyes with each of them. "Basically, you're being pulled from several of your classes to do the same coursework in this private group with me. You can call me Eric; we'll be working closely together for the next several years and I believe first names build trust."

Maya snuck a glance to Lucas, who was staring intently at Eric. Josh was looking at the ground.

"I believe this team will succeed and I'm here to make it happen. I report directly to Director Matthews and her administrative board, and if I believe a member is failing to work with the team, that member will be reported to the board and they will run evaluations to decide if they should be removed." Eric picked up a tablet sitting on the table in front of him. "I assume you all know each other."

"Yeah," Lucas was the only one who agreed.

Maya figured that this had been put into place from the moment they all arrived at the academy - or at least, from the moment her CO paired her and Riley as training partners. This had been the underlying reason for several events that she was now adding up in her head.

Josh was the one outlying factor. What was he doing here? He wasn't even in their year.

"You'll be expected to report to me in the training grounds for several classes each day," Eric said, looking down at his tablet. "We'll be training together to encourage teamwork and help the four of you learn how to work together and use each of your strengths to overcome your weaknesses. This assignment will require you to become very close and build trust, and I know that several of you will struggle with that. However, if you want to succeed, you will learn to see each other as extensions of yourselves." He glanced up. "Any questions?"

"Yeah," Maya crossed her arms. "Why us?"

Eric smiled. "I'm glad you asked, but I won't answer your question. In the coming years you will see why each of you were chosen for this team, and how you all match. It may not seem like it right now," he leaned forwards, "but you have potential."

"What comes after graduation?" Josh asked, narrowing his eyes.

"You'll be sent into the field on specialized missions as an elite team, to accomplish goals that would be unlikely to succeed with individual agents. Growing up together and training together will give you the bond that agents paired together for single missions would not otherwise have."

"How many teams have there been before us?" Riley asked.

"Three," Eric stated. "The first included Agents James, Jennings, Yu, and Travis, who completed the Somalia job."

Maya noticed Riley's eyes widen, and she wondered what the hell the Somalia job had been.

"Agent Jennings instructed the second team after her retirement, which included myself, Director Matthews, and Agent Moore. Three years ago, six students were selected into an elite team, but only four were able to work together and graduate. Those were Agents Ross, Wilson, Greene, and Miller. The most recent team was the only all female team in history. They are still in the field."

Riley and Josh glanced at each other, but Riley was the one to ask, "Our mother was on an elite team with you?"

"I'm surprised she didn't tell you," Eric said, glancing between Riley and Josh. "She retired the team when she became pregnant after eight years of field work. We were the longest running elite team and completed the highest number of missions."

"Is that why we were chosen?" Josh asked.

'Probably,' Maya thought smugly.

"You four were recommended by your instructors. The administrative board confirmed the nominees." Eric raised his eyebrows. "Any more questions?"

The four looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Good," Eric clapped his hands, "then you are dismissed. You'll find your new schedules in your emails. I'll see you tomorrow."

Eric left the gym as Maya picked up her bag, glancing down at her watch. She would still be able to make her bed check if she wanted to.

"So this was your 'assignment'?" Lucas asked, and Maya glanced up to see him staring at Riley, who had stopped a few feet from the door.

She turned slowly, meeting his eyes. "Yes."

"Did you even need a training partner?" Lucas asked in disbelief.

"You can't tell me you didn't improve with my help," Riley stated.

"That wasn't an answer to my question," Lucas pointed out lowly.

Something about Lucas's tone didn't sit well with Maya, and, apparently, with Josh either.

He stepped between Lucas and Riley, turning his glare on his roommate. "Watch yourself. She had an assignment and she did it."

"She lied to me and tried to gain my trust by it," Lucas stated.

"And you broke her arm, so I think you might be even," Josh countered. He glanced at Riley, who was looking down at the floor.

"She was fighting on an injury and didn't bother to tell me," Lucas said. "So much for trust."

"Wait," Maya cut in. She glanced at Lucas, and then Riley. "You broke her arm?"

"I'm fine," Riley said.

"I don't care," Josh said, now fully facing Lucas. "You broke my little sister's arm."

There was a flash in Josh's eyes that Maya recognized from that morning last year. Her stomach began to grow cold as she realized how this might play out.

"She made the choice to-" Lucas began, but Josh began his stalk forward, balling his fists, and Maya's eyes widened, recognizing the fear in Lucas's eyes.

"Matthews," she darted forward as Lucas moved back, trying to get in between them.

"Stay out of this Hart," Josh growled. "Get out of my way."

"Do you want to get kicked off the team?" Maya challenged, but Josh wasn't listening.

"I said stay out of it!" Josh barked, shoving her hard to the side, and Maya stumbled back, nearly falling over.

"Josh, don't!" Riley ordered from behind them, and Josh's steps hesitated, his body tight and wavering. "Don't make me report you."

"He," Josh repeated in a low, cold voice. "Broke. Your. Arm. Riley."

"It was a fair fight and I didn't tell him I had fractured it before," Riley declared.

Maya could hear the traces of fear in Riley's voice too, and her eyes flicked between Riley and Josh. She knew Riley couldn't see her brother's face, but Maya could. The pure anger in his expression made the hair on the back of Maya's neck rise.

"It's not his fault," Maya added, jumping back when Josh turned to her.

"I said stay out of this, Hart!" He flamed.

"Josh, get out," Riley ordered, her voice shaking just a tiny bit.

"I don't answer to you," Josh shot back, not turning away from Lucas.

"No, but you'll answer to Mom, and you're only angry at him because you're protective of me," Riley observed. "So get out before you do something that will get you kicked out."

Josh wavered, and Maya watched the expression on his face flicker before he groaned. "You're damn lucky she's here," he warned Lucas before grabbing his bag and stalking out of the gym.

"So he'll listen to you," Maya noticed after Josh had left.

"If there's one thing he gives a damn about," Riley shrugged, bending over and letting her breath out, "it's actually my safety, believe it or not."

"For the record," Lucas began, and both girls looked to him, "I am sorry I broke your arm."

"I know," Riley assured him. She gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry I lied to you. And Maya," Riley turned to her, "I'd never let him hurt you."

"What makes you think I need you to-" Maya began, but Riley cut her off.

"That day in the gym," she recalled, "he was going to hurt you. I'm glad I got there."

Maya closed her mouth, clenching her jaw. She was a little embarrassed to admit she had been afraid of him that day, and didn't know what she would have done if Riley hadn't shown up.

It was actually one of the things that made her trust her.

"What is it about you?" Lucas asked as he picked up his bag and followed the two girls out of the gym.

"What do you mean?" Riley asked.

"The power you have," Lucas suggested.

"I'm trustworthy. It's not the kind of power I want," Riley sighed. "But it is the power I have."

"You manipulate us," Maya realized.

"Call it what you want, but I am to people what they need me to be," Riley explained. "You needed a friend. Lucas needed a tutor. Josh needs someone to hold him back." She smiled a small smile. "It's what I do."

And for the first time in her life, Maya started to depend on someone.

A/N: Holy shit that was a long chapter. I was excited about getting them all together for the first time and then it spiraled into Josh's anger again. Don't worry, his caring about Riley will evolve into the same thing with Maya.

I wrote something that will be put into a future chapter and then realized that I really had to get this story going. I have no idea how I'm going to get through their training phases so I'll probably just skip over them/explain vaguely. I'm terrible at writing fighting scenes, in case you haven't noticed. But the fighting isn't what this story is about really; it's about Rucas and Joshaya.

I'm super excited for those plotlines, so I'm going to move through their school parts fairly quickly. I don't really want to rush the romance/angst though, so I'm working on a balance. It will all work out. If anyone has tips, review/PM me! I always respond to PMs by the way, I love friends!

Please review! I need me some feedback :)

Kisses,

C