It was that time of the week again. Even after several months of being with Interpol, there was always one thing Ash dreaded every week, even more so than training with Petrovic, as much of an ass as he could be: combat training with Anabel. It wasn't even that training with Anabel was a bad time or anything.

She always had a way of answering to his improvements in combat training. Those answers always ended up with him on the mat, pinned, and sore. When he got better with his grapples, she would always be quicker, dodging out of his reach and punishing the commitment. Once he'd improved his blocks and parries. Then, she would -seemingly out of nowhere- get faster; she'd act more aggressively with her own strikes to overwhelm his guard. This resulted in him having more bruises along his sides than he was pretty sure he'd ever gotten while training with Looker; which was saying something, since that man was an absolute menace on the mat.

As Ash got into his workout trunks, he couldn't help the shiver that ran up his spine from the cool air of the locker room. That was nothing compared to the feeling he'd had after his last session with those two monsters, though. It was hard not to vividly remember how thoroughly Looker whooped both his and Anabel's asses; it had left quite the impression, mentally and physically, thanks to all of the bruising.

Shaking his head a few times to dispel the memory, he rolled his shoulders a bit and did some stretches to limber up from his only slightly restful sleep. Having his team snuggle up with him had definitely helped with his nightmares and interruptions to his sleeping pattern; though that hadn't done him any favors when it came to his sore muscles from being buried under a pile of Pokemon every night. And naturally, Anabel always wanted to fight at the absolute crack of dawn, right after waking up.

Once he got some stretches in and limbered up a bit. He taped up his knuckles and ankles, standing up from his locker to turn toward the door. Taking a few breaths, he puffed out an exhale and made his way out onto the mat, where Anabel was already bouncing around. She was wide awake and ready to go just like usual.

"Well, Ash, what do you think? Think you might actually have a chance at getting a pin on me this time around?" He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at her jab. Because of course she's confident that she'll beat him again. Their record was something close to 40-10 in her favor thus far, not that he was keeping track, no siree.

Regardless, he kept quiet. He'd risen to that bait too many times already; he simply got down into a ready stance, guard up.

"Heh, no friendly banter this time around? Shame, I was looking forward to getting you all red in the face before we even started." Her taunting over, she popped her mouth guard in and got into her own stance.

The two agents began slowly and silently circling each other, searching one another's forms for an opportunity. They always started their spars this way. Ash was nearly always the one to crack first, typically with a quick jab to her guard, just to break the tension. This time though, he was determined to hold out; he'd force Anabel to make the first move.

Not that it would give him any edge against her, no. The determination for her to make the first move was merely symbolic. A battle before the battle even began.

As they made their fifth round about the mat, Anabel raised a brow at him, popping her mouth guard off her teeth to speak.

"Still don't wanna break off, eh? Guess you're thinking you might actually be able to get me on my back today." Ash thought that quip was a bit unnecessary, but he knew she was just goading him. So, instead of any verbal response, he just shook his head once and beckoned her with a fist.

Apparently, that was all Anabel had wanted. She stuck her mouth guard back in and winked at him before finally moving in. Ash had seen this all before. The practiced movements of a seasoned pro; he had to bring that facade crashing to the ground. Once within range, she swung a calculated right hook. However, Ash had his own bag of tricks, and sent the fist sliding neatly past with well timed movements that made sure to take advantage of her forward momentum. He raised his knee, intending to send it into her ribcage.

Anabel's reflexes were impressive, though, catching Ash's knee with swift and decisive movements. But Ash was prepared for the counter, his left fist snapping downward with lightning speed. He could feel it, this would plant. That was when she struck, dropping down and dodging his outstretched fist whilst knocking his legs from under him. Anabel had turned it around, just like she always had. He landed flat on his ass, looking quite shocked. But he refused to give up the momentum he had, even if she'd momentarily stalled it. She rushed in, thrusting her fists out to begin bashing his sides. He was quick to roll from beneath her, flinging a leg out to try and catch her ankles before leaping back to his feet.

Anabel leapt, entirely avoiding Ash's little feint. He responded quickly by dashing in and tackling her out of the air, the two of them impacting the mat with a heavy thud, grunting loudly. Before they'd even landed, though, Ash was already continuing his offensive, landing several blows to her sides, even as his head smacked thoroughly against her chest upon their landing.

He refused to let that distract him, as much as a small voice in the back of his mind wanted him to. He stayed his focus, drowning that voice out by focusing on the pain as Anabel responded, pounding away at his back from above. Ash gritted his teeth, feeling each individual blow she delivered with ever growing ferocity. He reared back, slamming his own fist down and cracking in with a direct hit on her jawline. He then proceeded with another jaw rocker, planting the hit cleanly with a left hook. Anabel's head bounced off the mat, but her hits never stopped finding their mark.

Ash knew he had to turn things in his favor, and fast. The both of them could take a hell of a beating, but he couldn't keep trading blows with her like this. He brought up a knee, slamming it into her inner thigh with as much force as he could muster. As quick as he could, he shoved her down to the mat, and wrapped his legs around her torso. Grabbing her arms from above when she continued her assault, he shoved her down again, hoping to stall her efforts, if for but a moment.

Ash made the mistake of catching her gaze, lilac staring up at him through strands of sweat-drenched hair. Both of their chests were heaving with exertion, faces as red as the mats beneath them.

Anabel raised a brow and spoke up between gasping breaths, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she grinned up at him. "Come on, then... Hah!... Choke me."

Ash was still holding her tightly. His thoughts were swirling a thousand miles an hour with adrenaline, until the words she just uttered had registered in his head and his eyes widened.

"Hoo…what…?"

His hold loosened and her grin tightened as did her legs right around his backside. The momentum that fueled their movement in the next second was all the thigh strength Anabel could muster as Ash slammed into the mat. He was now looking up at his oppressor rather than being the oppressor.

She showed off her pearly whites, smiling widely. "Tch, too bad, Ashy boy. Could've had me. Right. Where. You. Want. Me. See what hesitating gets you?" The teasing lilt to her voice was intoxicating to Ash's adrenaline-addled mind as he flushed a deeper shade of crimson.

Ash groaned, feeling the weight of her cushioned thighs pressing against his waist. "That was a- hah! dirty trick…" He said between breaths as Anabel's eyelids lowered.

She decided to play along. "A 'dirty trick' you say?" Shaking her head, she continued, "When you're in a fight for your life, there's no such thing as a dirty trick." Anabel grinded her thighs against him, prompting Ash to shift beneath her in response. He only hoped his body wouldn't betray him as he squirmed.

Ash struggled, trying to break her iron lock. Anabel just played with him, like a beast would mess with its food. Looking up at her, he saw that disheveled look on her face. His body burned and he realized that maybe it was time to call it quits. His pride wasn't worth that sinful movement she kept repeating. Ash wondered if she even realized what it was doing to him?

Feeling an unwanted shift in his pants, he spoke up, tapping her side. "Urgh! Alright! I give!"

Anabel smirked, still moving atop him, almost like she didn't hear him. He'd yelled loud enough. What the hell was she trying to pull!? Biting the inside of his cheek, Ash planted his feet firmly on the mat. Ignoring the growing desire to roll her over and slam her into the mat, he threw his hips upward in a last ditch effort to dislodge her from atop him.

Anabel's eyes widened as she caught onto the problem that her combatant was struggling with beneath her.

"Uh! Wait!"

Thankfully for him, Anabel somehow hadn't been expecting him to attempt to launch her from her place mounting him. One well-timed, powerful thrust later and she went tumbling, landing further up Ash's body, which had been exactly what he was aiming for. What he hadn't accounted for, however, was just how she would land. Namely, on her hands and knees, straddling his face.

Anabel, to her credit, rolled off of him quickly, landing on the mat beside him with a thud. Both the agents' faces were beet red. Their chests heaved as they panted audibly, faces flush from exertion.

"How about… we call it a draw… before things get even more out of hand… How's that sound, eh?" Ash questioned between breaths.

She kept her gaze on the ceiling, trying to gather her thoughts. They both knew she always got carried away in the middle of combat. Processing the events of the last few minutes had made her feel a certain way. The psychic wasn't sure how to approach these feelings, at least not completely upfront. She heaved out a sigh, sweat drenching her form; she couldn't quite let go of these feelings, either. A glance back over at Ash made her face heat up further, the flush making its way down her neck, blooming down her chest to the top of her breasts.

"Hmm… Shame. Wouldn't mind if it did…" She hummed out, making Ash turn his head her way with wide eyes.

"Wait… What?" Ash asked her, wondering if he'd heard Anabel correctly.

"I said that I wouldn't mind if it did happen." She felt even more embarrassed having to say it like that, but Anabel knew how dense he could be. Straightforward was the best way to go.

"Oh… Right."