File ID TR08755 - June 28, 2012 5pm
Trainer: Cameron Stacks ID TR374
Trainee: Stella Moon ID T453
Reason for requesting training: Miss Moon doesn't feel safe enough in her current work environment
Training plan: Learning basic self defence mechanisms and building stamina
I don't want to do this. I really don't. But at 4:45pm I walk down to the gym and change into grey sweatpants, an uncomfortable sports bra and a white tank top.
The trainer waits for me at the entrance of the huge training room and stretches his arm towards me. "Stella Moon? I'm Cameron Stacks. I'll be your coach."
The man is from another world. He has the thickest arms I've ever seen (except for Thor's), long black hair that he tied up in a pony tail and a well kept beard.
"I am still not sure about all of this, Mr Stacks," I admit as I shake his hand.
"Call me Cameron. It'll be alright I'm sure," he says with a kind smile. I wonder why Tony never mentioned this guy when he took up the boyfriend-for-Stella project.
He leads me to a mat at the back of the room and I drop my bag on the bench nearby.
"We start easy, Stella, okay?" Cameron smiles. "Just some basic tricks."
"If you say so," I nod.
After a quick warmup he steps in front of me and raises his arms with open palms. "Now give me a punch."
I raise my eyebrow. He nods in encouragement. Well, I really don't need Fury or Hill to come and check if I take the training seriously enough so I pull my right hand back and punch into his right palm. He is polite enough not to remark on the fact that the momentum had me stumble forward and I have to grab his shoulder to gain back my balance.
Cameron waits until I step back into position. "Not bad," he says with a kind smile. He gives me more and more instructions and I spend the next half an hour punching his palms and blocking his punches.
"See, I told you it'd be a piece of cake," he says as I stop to catch my breath.
"Yeah, I just need a moment," I pant slightly and turn to go back to the bench where my water bottle is. But someone occupies my bench. Two people, to be precise.
"Not bad, Stella," Clint remarks. He wears his training clothes and has the bow in his hand.
"You lean forward too much when you hit with the left," Natasha adds. She wears a red tank top and black shorts. Her legs are so masterfully sculpted they almost distract me for a moment. I can even see the scar on her thigh that Clint had told me about.
"How long have you two been watching me?" I ask. They both shrug at the same time. "Right," I huff as I open my bottle and gulp half of the water.
"You know it is really not fair that you get to train with Cam. We should be able to have a session with you in exchange for yours with us," Natasha says. Clint chuckles. It's interesting to see how much more at ease they are when together. The brooding assassins are having a laugh at the gym at their therapist's expense. Hilarious.
"You are welcome to take over, Romanoff," Cameron calls.
"No she is not," I counter.
"Are you afraid of me, Miss Moon?" Natasha smirks.
"In the training room? Definitely. I've heard you can kill like sixty ways without using any tools."
"More like eighty-two," Clint remarks.
"Thanks, that helps a lot," I growl. "Now excuse me, but someone has to get to work."
In less than five minutes my training is interrupted again. This time it is by Tony's rather upset yelling. "Moon!"
The whole room goes silent as Tony Stark barges in followed by a silently boiling Steve Rogers. They are not together because they managed to resolve the conflict over the dead Russian guard. They are together because when Coulson asked me about the possible solution to said conflict, I might have panicked a little. So now Tony's right wrist is attached to Steve's left wrist with a pair of thin and, may I add, elegant Vibranium handcuffs. That's what happens when the therapist can't work at her own pace.
They march past the boxing ring towards my mat. I glance at Cameron who shrugs slightly. I can't decipher if it means he'll take a bullet for me or that I am on my own. Clint and Natasha stand up and step closer but it's still not clear what their objective is. Probably just wanting the best seats for the drama.
"I am not proud of it," I quickly clarify. Tony and Steve arrive at the mat. "I'm really not. But since you didn't seem to be on talking terms—"
"And we have a bloody good reason for that!" Tony shouts. There is absolutely no need for it because there are at least twenty-five people in the training area and they are all silent. His voice echoes on the walls. It makes me shiver a little.
"Then you should start working on having it taken off," I advise quietly.
Tony steps forward making Clint and Natasha move between us which I appreciate. I wonder if Clint made it a project to protect me after the Loki incident. I will ask at our next session although I doubt he would admit it if that's the case.
But their protection is not needed because Steve simply pulls back his left hand and Tony with it. "I think Stark is trying to say that we don't really appreciate the course of events, especially given the list we have to complete before we can take this thing off."
"The list?" Natasha asks. She's truly amused. At least one person enjoys the cuffs.
Tony pulls out his phone. "Jarvis." The email appears in the air through the phone's projection and the AI assistant starts to read it all aloud.
From: Phillip Coulson
To: Steven Rogers, Anthony Stark
Cc.: Nicholas Fury, Maria Hill
Date: June 27, 2012
Subject: Handcuffs
Dear Mr Rogers and Mr Stark,
We received your complaints regarding our solution for getting the Avengers team back together, but I assure you it was a decision in agreement with your therapist and we have every reason to believe it will turn out effective.
Regarding the process of the removal, please take a look at the list provided below. If you complete every entry on this list, we will be happy to take the handcuffs off.
Complete the special training in the training area (with the practice robots)
Conclude a negotiation with the mayor of Arkala, a little village in India (In short, SHIELD used to have a warehouse here with weapons and equipment we wanted to keep in secret. A Japanese group tried to destroy it and the whole village with it. The leaders say they don't have any of SHIELD's possessions but we have good reasons to think they do. Get them back.)
Cook dinner for the Avengers team (the kitchens in the tower are fully equipped but rather used)
If you have questions, please contact me or Agent Hill.
Best regards,
Phil Coulson
P.S.: The handcuffs are made of Vibranium and the lock requires three different fingerprints and a key. I do not advise you to hit it with the shield as the vibration caused by the contact from such a proximity might harm you two.
I stare at the pair in dumb shock after Jarvis stops talking. There is no way in hell they will get those handcuffs off.
"I understand you are upset, but I swear that list is not my doing. I am only responsible for the basic idea."
"You've done enough," Tony hisses. He steps forward again and this time Steve follows him. "Do something."
"Perhaps I could schedule a training session for you. To get it over with," I offer. Tony growls.
Natasha looks over the two Avengers. "Does Pepper know?"
Tony shakes his head. "She's on a business trip. Gets back in two weeks."
"There's your deadline then," Natasha suggests. "Knowing how stubborn Fury and Coulson tend to be, I'd start with the training."
"And I can't wait for that dinner," Clint adds with a mischievous grin. Tony moves towards him and he raises the bow in his hand but it is not truly threatening as it doesn't have an arrow in it. It's just an instinctive move.
As the two try to stare each other down I decide it is time for me to intervene. I step out from behind the spies and in front of Tony and Steve. "I apologise for the inconvenience. I did suggest therapy together for a couple of months but your boss wasn't having it. They say you have to be on alert constantly and don't have time to resolve conflicts at a normal pace." They both glare at me so I clear my throat and go on. "On the other hand we've seen before that when you work together you can get amazing results. So if any agents cuffed together are able to complete that list, it's you two."
"We would get out of that shit by afternoon," Natasha whispers to Barton behind my back.
"It goes without saying," Clint whispers back. I hope Tony and Steve couldn't hear it, but obviously the supersoldier has enhanced hearing. He smirks and shakes his head to himself. Well, at least one of the two can take this debacle a little lighter.
"I hope that means we are exempt from the therapy for the next weeks," Tony finally responds.
"Of course you are. The cuffs are your therapist now. You can give me a review later on which one of us you preferred," I add.
"There is no doubt about that," Tony nods with a cold smile.
Well, if I gained anything from the argument it is that Cameron lets me go early. That's something.
From: Phillip Coulson
To: Stella Moon
Date: June 29, 2012
Subject: Handcuffs
Dear Miss Moon,
I hope you find no problem with monitoring the handcuff-project and write the reports on it for us. I know it will be a lot of plus work but you will get a two-week vacation (paid, of course) in exchange after the handcuffs are removed.
Thank you for your help in advance.
Best regards,
Phil