Note: Chris Crush main story was scripted in 2013, before Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. So, there will be no Hydra Infiltration in the Chris Crush Universe.

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The Specimen

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, New York.

Following the Director's secretary to the top small auditorium on the observation deck, agent 19 Barbara Morse-Barton, found Deputy Director Maria Hill at its control table. Old friends from the Academy of Operations, the blonde sat by the brunette's side, saying, "I thought we were going to debrief."

While checking the files brought by her assistant, the Deputy Director replied calmly, "Nope. I canceled it."

"Why?" the Mockingbird asked, but the brunette only raised her hand, gesturing to the blonde to wait.

Looking around, Bobbi realized that there were other people there – all women – gathered in small groups. She recognized some faces: hot-shot Victoria Hand, responsible for the Hub, Anne Weaver, head of the Academy of Science and Technology, Melinda May, the legendary agent known as 'The Cavalry', and fellow agent 13 Sharon Carter. Also, there were some newbies like Coulson's new protegee, Skye, among administrative personnel. It was a strangely heterogeneous crowd, and she became beyond suspicious.

After getting her boss' signature, Teresa asked anxiously, "That's the last one, Director Hill. All your afternoon appointments were rescheduled. Can I stay?" Maria nodded silently, and the secretary sat down on one of the back rows, before starting to chat with another woman.

Sitting at the control table, the two friends were far apart from the larger group, so Bobbi spoke quietly, "Why is Victoria Hand staring at me?"

"What happens here stays here, agreed?" the brunette asked casually.

"What are you talking about?"

The Deputy Director inquired firmly, "Agreed?"

"Yes, okay!" the Mockingbird caved in, "Now, can you tell me what's going on?

After nodding to Victoria, Maria replied impassibly, "Group therapy."

Tilting her head with narrowed eyes, Bobbi remained skeptical, "Are you kidding me?"

To make things even more confusing, Jemma Simmons arrived in a hurry and collapsed in an empty chair next to Skye, in the front row. Surprised by the scientist's presence, the Mockingbird inquired, "What are you doing here?"

The British genius had finished her second Ph.D at only seventeen, when she had met Bobbi in a scientific symposium. Both Ph.D's in Biochemistry, once they were recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D., they rekindled their friendship. "I'm depressed," Jemma replied blatantly.

Nothing was making any sense, until Maria announced, "He's here."

An instant silence fell upon the feminine audience who looked down attentively. From the large front window of the auditorium, they had a privileged view above the training room. Wearing his stealth uniform, Captain Rogers entered the center position. Watching his flexible, athletic body doing basic stretching exercises, it gave Bobbi the exact idea about what to expect.

The blonde whispered to her friend, "Therapy, huh?"

"Best kind ever," the brunette replied shamelessly.

Without delay, the super-soldier put a blindfold mask on, and the training room got completely dark. Through the control table, Maria dimmed the auditorium's lights and changed the glass window for infrared view, zooming in on Steve. The show started.

Between gasps and exclamations of approval, the women were delighted by the Captain's unparalleled physicality and spectacular performance. Despite the violence of the attacks, in groups or individually, the opponents were totally subdued by the super-soldier's exceptional technique. With the agility of an Olympic gymnast, he dodged enemies' blows, and counter-attacked with the highest degree of proficiency. His powerful punches could throw any of them to the other side of the arena, totally unconscious. His precise kicks would be enough to break bones, if he had chosen to do so, disabling any adversary completely. Systematically, Steve knocked them all down, while in complete darkness.

The commentaries were beyond excited.

"He barely gets hit."

"It's like watching the Daredevil!"

"How does he do that?"

"The super-serum enhanced his senses and reflexes."

"Too fast!"

"So perfect!" Jemma was geeking out with the chance to analyze the Captain's vitals during the fight. "Look at this! Heart rate, blood pressure, biochems, the change is minimum! I've never imagined readings like his! He isn't even close to reaching his limits!" Having worked with Mike Peterson before, who was just another frail attempt to recreate the super-soldier, the biochemist was beyond thrilled with the chance to see the real one, so up close and personal.

Also a scientist by origin, Bobbi could understand the young woman's enthusiasm, and smiled, "I guess Cap reaches his limit sparring with the Hulk."

"My God! Does he do that?" the British genius was in complete awe.

When the lights were turned on, a dozen of sparring robots were lying on the floor. Built to simulate different sets of adversaries, the high-tech machines included displays to show the results of each confrontation, as if in a real human body, even internal damage. Set as high-level special ops, each one of them had been incapacitated by a single hit. The super-soldier achieved 100% efficiency, without a single death.

Maria said proudly, "Captain Rogers doesn't take a life, unless there's no other option," and the feminine crowd agreed with nods and words of admiration.

At that moment, they saw Clint Barton walking towards the Captain, and Skye exclaimed, "That's Hawkeye!"

Sitting by the young agent's side, Jemma turned to Bobbi's direction, "You're so lucky!"

Proud of her husband, the Mockingbird smiled widely, and nodded silently to the young groupies.

Through the speakers, the women could hear everything they were saying on the training floor.

The archer greeted the soldier. "Practicing night-fighting, are you?"

Taking the mask off, Steve replied calmly, "Wasn't quite dark enough."

There were some sighs and small laughs after the Captain's almost cocky reply, and Bobbi questioned in a low voice, "Does Cap know we're here?"

Maria replied in a murmur, "Not exactly."

"Someone's gonna get in trouble," the Mockingbird teased.

"Nah. It's for educational purposes. Don't you remember his training sessions before?"

A little time ago, attending to a request from Director Nick Fury, the Captain had used to spar with some of the agents. But since Natasha's jealous outburst, he had canceled the individual monthly sessions, wisely.

"That's what he does now," the Deputy Director continued to explain, "Once in awhile, he appears without previous notice. It's not a closed set, so people are welcome to watch. There are other agents down there. Besides, everybody here has S.H.I.E.L.D. clearance."

Downstairs, the arena started to reconfigure itself for the next session, while the Captain drank his bottles of water. A few agents were gathered around him re-watching the fight on the center monitor, and asking questions.

In the auditorium, the feminine crowd remained captivated, and the Mockingbird couldn't help but ask, "What's the deal with the girls club here?"

"Privacy," the brunette winked.

"Yeah, got it," the blonde pondered, "And you didn't invite me before, because…?"

"You're married. To an Avenger."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

But Maria didn't even bother to answer, as Clint's voice came through the speakers.

"Ready for a real challenge?" invited the archer.

The soldier replied promptly, "Always."

Partners and friends, the two Avengers were definitely on a whole new level. First, they gave an incredible demonstration of skill and dexterity, while executing coordinated maneuvers for team work. After that, they started the actual confrontation, where they were able to avoid each other's attacks, anticipating each movement with millimetric precision. An expert acrobat himself, and the Captain's best apprentice, Hawkeye showed the advantages of his intensive training, being almost on par with his mentor, as much as possible. It was beyond exhilarating. With the lights on, and close ups on the right angles, the feminine audience couldn't take their eyes from the mouthwatering spectacle, since their tight uniforms left little to their imagination.

It was the Deputy Director's turn to tease her friend, "Not bad, Birdie, for a powerless guy."

The Mockingbird winked mischievously, "The Hawk has many talents!"

"So I've heard…" the brunette raised an eyebrow.

Before they had got married, Clint had been a notorious ladies man and, undoubtedly, Maria was a very attractive woman. Bobbi asked before thinking, "You two… Have you ever…?"

"Nope. Not him…"

The blonde couldn't resist to pry, "Really? Who?" and noticing her friend's hesitation, she insisted, "Don't tell me that you and… Cap?!"

Maria sighed, "No… I wish, but he was always too much of a gentleman!" then, looking around, she confessed almost inaudibly, "Stark."

"You?" the Mockingbird covered her mouth with her hand, in complete shock, "I can't believe it!"

The brunette lifted her chin, "Why? Tell me who didn't fall into the billionaire's bed."

"I didn't!"

"Well, you didn't meet him before… the playboy."

"But you two hate each other," the blonde said in disbelief.

Shaking her head, Maria frowned, "What does that have to do with anything?"

Bobbi was still processing the information, when the Captain intercepted one of Hawkeye's arrows with his hand, and threw it back, slicing the top of Clint's uniform. The feminine audience gasped, worried, but with a confident smile, the archer took off his shirt, exposing his well toned chest, totally unharmed – the super-soldier's precision was indeed, outstanding.

The women cheered in unison, but muted at once, when the Mockingbird turned around, glaring at them.

"Don't be mean, please," Jemma whined, "Have mercy on boyfriendless girls like me," and they all couldn't help but chuckle, even Bobbi.

Maria spoke in her friend's ear, "Relax, they're not here to ogle your man."

"So I've noticed," the blonde whispered, quite uneasily, "Don't they know that Cap is taken? By whom?"

"Yep. Why do you think we're hiding here?"

"You should be ashamed of yourselves," the Mockingbird was almost giggling.

"Why?" the brunette raised an eyebrow in a challenging way, "Team bonding exercise is good for morale. Look how happy they are."

Bobbi gasped, "Morale? Romanoff is gonna kill you all. Painfully!"

"Say anything, and you'll be reassigned to the night shift guarding Blonsky's cryo-cell, in Barrow, Alaska," the Deputy Director warned playfully.

"That's Colson's line!"

Tilting her head, Maria admitted it, "It works."

Chuckling quietly, the blonde shook her head, "I can't make any promises! She's my husband's best friend!"

Surprised, the brunette narrowed her penetrating blue eyes, "Don't tell me you two are pals now."

Shrugging her shoulders, Bobbi pointed to Steve, "I can't be jealous of her, can I?"

Maria sighed, "I can!" and the two friends laughed quietly.

As expected, the super-soldier ended the show, immobilizing the archer by using a different maneuver. One of the finest hand-to-hand combatants on Earth, the Captain was skilled in an extensive number of fighting styles, being able to switch among them, without even thinking. His arsenal was simply too big.

"Unpredictability," Steve explained, while helping Clint to stand up.

Breathless, Hawkeye asked, "You have to teach me that one."

"Any time, my friend," said the soldier.

As the men were gathered around the monitor analyzing the fights, another male agent approached the super-soldier, asking, "Are you up for black-belts today, Captain?"

"Sure," Steve wasn't even panting as he walked to the locker room.

Upstairs in the auditorium, Victoria sneered, "Your call, May. You do have more black-belts than Romanoff, don't you?"

They all got quiet. Only a director-level agent would be bold enough to joke with 'The Cavalry'. Twisting her lips, May replied, as sarcastic as disappointed, "Well, I don't have that one."

Among small-laughs, all eyes fell upon the center room. Instantly, mouths opened, jaws fell, as the feminine audience gasped and gulped at the sight of Steve Rogers wearing a training kimono, running his hand through his messy hair. His broad shoulders and sculpted arms were protruding under the white fabric. The black-belt firmly tied upon his center accentuated the V-shape of his muscular, strong back. The small amount of skin exposed through the opening in his collar gave a glimpse of his chiseled chest, igniting the women's imagination. Although his uniform had always been quite revealing, with the kimono, they couldn't help but dream about… well, unwrapping him, of course.

As if to feed the collective daydream, the fight started. Facing the top five specialists at once, the Captain exuded expertise, disarming each attack using only classical martial arts maneuvers, acknowledging and respecting each agents' skills.

"He's flawless."

"Oh, God, yes!" Jemma couldn't contain herself.

Skye gasped, "Forget what I said before. Cap is dreamy!"

Mesmerized, May praised, "It's like a living textbook of martial arts."

"Because he's a super-soldier?" someone contested.

"No," May pointed to the screen, "It's high-level training and extensive practice. It demands mental, physical and emotional discipline."

Bobbi couldn't agree more, and added with pride, "Back at the tower, Clint trains with him every single day. Cap keeps us all in shape."

"I trained with him once," an agent exclaimed proudly.

"Me too!"

"I took a selfie!"

The women continued to gush over the Captain, while gasping at each kimono grip, hoping that it would expose more of his dreamy thorax. But the super-soldier ended this fight too, unbeaten and, to the feminine audience's dismay, still fully dressed.

There was only one last fight for the day.

"Ah! Finally! There he is," Maria spoke with eagerness.

In the center place, Steve shook the newcomer's hand, "Shang Chi, good to see you here."

The Chinese man replied, pleased, "My honour, Captain."

A woman asked, "Who's that guy? He's hot."

"Shang Chi is one of the greatest martial artists on Earth," May answered.

Frowning, Bobbi whispered to Maria, "I didn't know you were into Asians."

"I'm into the sparring wardrobe," the brunette replied, waggling her eyebrows.

That was the catch. After complimenting each other, the two men stripped down to their speedos and all the women swooned. The Chinese fighter was indeed hot. Defined muscles, lean figure, very charming. But the super-soldier… wow! Steve's body proportions were like one of those Greek classic sculptures – godly.

"Oh… My… Thor!"

"Yeah, Cap gives the demigod a run for his money."

"The reality is far better than any dream!"

"What kind of fight is that? That's my favorite!"

"Hot guys sparring!"

Despite the incredible technique and outstanding presentation of the great warriors, in the top auditorium, trained agents or not, no one was paying attention to any fight whatsoever.

"His chest is so large, inviting…"

"He's the definition of eight-pack!"

"So well formed and symmetrical… I wish I could do a manual measurement…" blushing, Jemma covered her mouth, "Did I say it out loud?" and the girls laugh with her.

"I wouldn't mind touching, kissing, licking…"

"Get in line, sister!"

"Can you imagine being lifted by those arms?!"

"Dammit, look at his butt!"

"This is torture!" Grabbing Jemma's arm, Skye was definitely begging, "Aren't you a bio-genius? Can't you recreate the magic serum? To make more guys like him for us?"

That was the million-dollar question.

While the feminine audience kept their eyes on Steve's hot body on the center screen, the genius biochemist got lost in her own thoughts and her greater passion for science. Jemma couldn't help but talk about it. "All these past years, scientists everywhere have been trying to recreate it without success. I studied Dr. Erskine's notes very carefully. He said, 'The serum amplifies everything that is inside, so good becomes great,' and I think that's the key. To achieve this level of perfection, the Captain must have had the perfect mind and body structure since he was born. Sickness kept him skinny and frail, but the moment that the super-serum healed his cells and enhanced them to their peak, he achieved his full potential… It turned him into the hero he had always been born to be."

Keeping herself aside from the collective drooling, instead, Bobbi was paying attention to her fellow scientist's words. That was something that the Mockingbird hadn't thought about, but now, she couldn't agree more, "You're saying that even if we could replicate the serum, we couldn't make another Captain America."

"Not like him. I'm afraid no," Jemma replied quite disappointed but with the most sincere admiration, "Steve Rogers was, originally, the perfect specimen."

And that was the simple answer.

In the training floor, the Captain was living up to his fame. With a precise elbow maneuver, Steve dropped Shang Chi on the floor and the fight ended. The two fighters talked to each other for a brief moment, when Natasha Romanoff walked elegantly towards them, drawing everyone's attention – effectively throwing a bucket of cold water on the feminine crowd. Greeting Shang Chi politely, she gave them towels and bottles of water, before standing by Steve's side, in his personal space.

"It's the… that's the…" Jemma stuttered.

"The Black Widow."

"Marking territory."

"Can you blame her?"

"Envy kills."

"Tell me about it."

After helping Steve collect his things, Natasha grabbed his black-belt and placed it around her shoulders, holding it possessively, as she watched him enter the locker room for a well deserved shower.

One of the women asked, "What's she doing with the black-belt?"

As if on cue, the red haired super-spy looked directly to the camera, and smirked intently.

The feminine crowd started to panic. "She's looking at us?!"

"Why?"

"How?"

Without taking her eyes off the camera, the Black Widow pressed a button on her left gauntlet. Instantly, the women saw their own images reflected on the front screen, as if they were looking into a giant mirror, with perfect visual and sound of the entire auditorium… of each one of them.

Victoria yelled, "Hill, what the hell are you doing?"

Maria was trying to access the controls, but they were locked. "This isn't me!"

Looking at the monitors, Skye shouted, "Someone's hacking us!"

Jemma got up in a jump, "We're so dead!"

At that exact moment, Natasha's face appeared enlarged on the screen, and her hypnotizing green eyes were absolutely emotionless, beyond intimidating. Slowly, she raised her right hand and made the shot gun gesture towards them. In a flash, the women fled the room in skyrocketing.

Stupefied, Bobbi turned to Maria, "You got me in trouble! What am I gonna do now?"

On the monitor of the control table in front of them, red letters started to appear, calling their attention.

"Relax. I know. Everything. By the way, I didn't sleep with the billionaire, either."

The two friends looked at each other, laughing nervously. They should've known better than try to hide from the best hacker in the entire world!

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Author's notes: I hope you had as much fun reading it as I had writing it!

Ref: Fanfic: Chris Crush (main) #8 'What's Your Number?' – Captain America's training session.

Ref: TV Series: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2014) – characters and backgrounds.

1x08 The Well – [Skye] Wouldn't mind getting my human hands on Thor. He's so dreamy. (…) [May] He's dreamy.

1x10 The Bridge – [Jemma to Mike Peterson] Hard body. (…) so well formed and symmetrical. (…) [Fitz to Jemma] You do know we have equipment that can take measurements. No need to do it manually.

1x13 T.R.A.C.K.S. – [Coulson] I'll reassign you to Barrow, Alaska, and you'll spend the rest of your years pulling the night shift guarding Blonsky's cryo-cell.

Ref: Comics:

Daredevil & Captain America: Dead on Arrival Vol 1 #1 (2008) – [Fury] Practicing night-fighting, are you? [Steve] Wasn't quite dark enough.

Invincible Iron Man Vol 1 #10 (2009) – Tony & Maria slept together.

Marvels Project Vol 1 #5 (2010) – A black belt himself, Steve fought against five black-belts at the same time.

Secret Avengers Vol 1 #9 (2011) – Steve and Shang Chi sparred.