"This is Jones. Jones this is Nora."
The redhead sent a polite smile to the younger cadet. "Hi." What was Bellamy's plan? Was this a set up? Was he trying his hand at matchmaking or something? She spared the tall cadet a brief look before looking at the younger cadet.
"He's gonna be your punching bag for today."
Her hazel eyes went wide and her head snapped to meet his gaze. "What?"
"His dad is a guard, he's very experienced, despite being a goofball child sometimes." Bellamy quipped, getting shoved by Jones.
"No, seriously, what's going on?"
"You're too comfortable training with me. I needed someone different for you to try your new skills on."
Squirming on the spot, Nora shared a look with Jones. He seemed friendly, polite and pleasant enough. But what was she meant to do, start attacking him? Nora and Bellamy had upped their training since her run in with Xavier and since had asked Gwen to collect the rations. She didn't want to risk another situation like that happening again, especially without Bellamy to get her out.
So this was his big plan. To get her to fight his friend.
She had to admit, it was a solid plan. She was comfortable with Bellamy, they joked and laughed while training. There were only small moments on seriousness and even then they never lasted for long. She felt confident around him, so sure of each punch and strike she threw at him.
But this was new, this was different. A new person, one she had never met before.
Bellamy was once like that, but it was hard to remember that time. He had slipped into her life so easily, like a missing piece to the puzzle. She couldn't remember what she did in her spare time before him, it was just empty. Nothing.
"So we're gonna do combinations first. Then move on to defence. Okay?" Bellamy checked with her. She nodded in confirmation, tightening her ponytail.
Jones took a step towards her and on instinct, she took one back. Trying to forget about Bellamy lingering presence, she put on a brave face. She wanted to prove to him that she was a good student and that he was a good teacher. The blonde cadet went through the series of strikes. Nora had hesitated with the first few before getting her confidence back and throwing them with an added strength she had never used on Bellamy before.
She could feel a thin sheen of sweat cover her forehead and back as they moved through the different combinations, introducing leg kicks eventually. Jones was a good sport, silent and focussed. She could see why the pair of them were good friends. They were similar in character, with Bellamy being a bit more of a recluse sometimes.
"Good, good, now move on to defence." Pausing, he handed them some water before dropping down to rest on one of the disused pipes near the doors to Farm station. Nora copied his smile before lifting the bottom of her shirt to wipe at the sweat on her forehead.
Shirt back in place, she looked up to catch Bellamy's gaze on her body.
Her body had always been slim, the effects on not eating enough in the children's centre. But with their training sessions, she could feel herself filling out with muscles she never had before. It didn't hurt that her new toned body was being appreciated by Bellamy. She wouldn't embarrass him now though.
She would leave that to Jones, as the blonde cadet through his own sweaty spare t-shirt at him. "Eyes up top, cadet." Bellamy glared at him but the rosy cheeks gave him away.
Clearing his throat, he turned to them both. "Defence. It's gotta be unpredictable to be realistic. Go for it, Jones."
Nora's brain was wiped clean, eyes opened wide as Jones turned to her, chuckling to himself.
Her hazel eyes were trained on his movements, watching closely as he took one step towards her. Then another. She took one back, glancing at Bellamy quickly with her eyes wide.
Bellamy gave her a short nod, as if to say 'go on'. But inside, her heart was hammering against her chest and when she looked back, it wasn't Jones stood before her, it was Xavier.
"Come on." Their voices mingled together as her back hit the wall. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to rid the blonde man's face and focus on defending herself. Fight, fight, fight.
Opening her timid hazel eyes, she took in Jones' trepidation, his hesitant movements as he placed his hands either side of her head and caged her in.
'Fight your fears...' Bellamy's voice came over her thoughts, fighting through her fears. Before she could allow her thoughts to take control, she knocked his arm from beside her head. While still gripping his arm, she twisted underneath and pressed the limb into his back, forcing his face into the wall.
With a grunt, Jones' cheek met the cold metal wall.
"Yep, that was good." He wheezed.
Blinking, she released his arm and stepped back as she heard Bellamy clap. "Again?"
"You ever thought about a career in the guard?" Jones joked, flexing his arm
Chuckling, she shook her head. "No thanks, not really my style."
They set up again, except this time Nora didn't let her thoughts to take over. She ignored Xavier, the way his cold hands felt on her skin and the way his beady eyes scanned her body. Instead, she repeated 'fight your fears' over and over in her brain until she had the advantage.
There were times were she felt like Jones' grip on her was too strong and she was gonner, but in those times, Bellamy coached her, advising her on how to escape the hold.
With each strike she felt more confident. Each time she managed to wiggle out and reverse the hold, she felt braver. She felt that fear slipping away into some deep dark place that she couldn't reach.
She never wanted to feel scared again. Never wanted to feel cornered like prey. She was a fighter. Her father had instilled that in her and she wasn't about to let that small piece she had left of him disappear.
Xavier would never get the best of her. She wouldn't let him take control. Especially not if Bellamy was there again. She remembered the look in his eyes, it was almost feral. His eyes were hard and cold as he stared at Xavier. He had gripped the shock-lash so tight she was so sure he was going to use it on the canteen worker. Never had she seen him so riled up or angry before.
"Okay, let's call it quits for today." Bellamy called out, seeing the sweat drip from both of them.
Hazel eyes met his dark ones, watching as Jones bumped his fist before nodding to her and patting her arm. "Keep it up and we'll make a cadet out of you yet." He joked before slipping away.
Chuckling, Nora dropped down to the floor. "I'm officially exhausted. But that was good and fun too."
"Thought it'd be something different to try. Don't want you getting too comfortable training with me."
She smiled. "You're a good teacher though. I can see why you're in the guard."
He made a gruff sound in the back of his throat as he dropped down beside her. "You're a good student. You feel more confident?"
"Y-Yeah. I mean, I think I could do some damage."
Bellamy raised a brow at her, "You wanna bet?" He copied her smirk. "Come on, hot shot. Time to show me what you've learnt from all these weeks of training."
"But I'm tried." She whined, "We've been here for hours and my arms are dead and—" Catching him off guard, mid-scoff, she grabbed his arm, twisting it round his back and forcing him to the floor. Struggling beneath her on his front, the cadet squirmed as she laughed.
Nora had successfully pinned him underneath her, with his arm locked behind his back as she sat on his back.
"I could easily get out this y'know?"
"Sure you can. Don't worry, I won't go telling people you got taken down by a girl again."
As she laughed her hold weakened and he yanked his arms free before rising up in a plank. Nora's eyes widened before standing up, to get out of his way. In one quick motion, Bellamy rose to his feet and spun round to grab her wrist, locking her arms tightly behind her. "Caught."
Ducking out from the hold, she spun and knocked his hands out the way. Grunting, with every strike she aimed, Bellamy dodged each one perfectly. "Come on, rookie."
Nora frowned and manoeuvred around him, trying to get a grip of him but also fight off his advances at the same time. It was like he was in her head, predicting every single strike she aimed.
Growling low in her chest, she grabbed his arm instead of blocking the strike and pulled it around his back. Pressing her knee into his back, she knocked him down to his knees and wrapped her other arm around his neck in a choke hold.
"How's that?"
"Go-ood." He wheezed. She quickly released her hold and dropped down next to him. "Student becomes the master."
Her laugh rang out through the building as she slumped down against the wall opposite him. But it didn't last long, a flash of light caught their gaze. "Who's there?! This area is closed off for a reason!"
"Oh shit." Bellamy grabbed his pack and swung it over his shoulders, as Nora looked wildly at him and around them. "Get up, we gotta go!" Reaching for her hand, he pulled her up and she had enough time to collect her things before bolting over the small deck, to the door that waited on the other side.
"I thought you said no one came here!" She hissed at him, he placed a hand on her back, urging her forward.
"It's waiting for repairs and it's closed off, why would they?"
"Closed off for a reason, dumbass." She chuckled as Bellamy shut the door behind them. They ducked behind the door and he flipped the lock on it to stop the guard coming through. Nora looked up at him, to see the cadet looking half scared to death about being caught. "Didn't take you for a trespasser, Blake."
"I wasn't until I met you."
A/N: Oh you guys and your lovely reviews make me all so giddy. Glad you're loving this story. Yes it is a slow burn and no I can't wait until they get down to earth, cos I got big plans ;) Just curious, was there anything on the Ark you wanted to read more about? I'm all ears!
I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter it a review :)
