"Game Faces"
July 7, 2008 Training facility, Edison, NJ 0500 hours Her shoulder was much better, still a little tender if she took a direct hit to it, and so her fighting style was adapted to protect it. The new guy had given Bella someone to play with on a regular basis. She had bumped into him one day, shortly after her should had healed enough for her to be back at training, she was there as often as she could be without hurting herself. He had been there training also and they had got to talking. He was a flirtatious lad, but it made her smile for some reason. He had no chance with her but she played a long sometimes, and sometime she shot him down. Weeks had passed and they had become training buddies, meeting for a workout, or a run sometimes they even sparred, as her shoulder got better there was more sparring. They were pretty evenly matched which probably came from the fact he seemed to train as often as her, maybe more. Seems SIA and set Declan up with a dojo downtown and because classes were only run after school/work hours he had plenty of time to train at the safe housed during the day. On top of that, due to the nature of him having to be away so often on SIA business he had others teach most of the classes, and he went in and taught as kind of a special treat to the students when he was in town. She moved around the room easily, keeping an eye on her opponent. He moved calmly, contained motion, but she could see the powerful muscles ripple beneath his skin, he always trained bare chested, perhaps thinking it might distract her. He had even had the grace to look disappointed after their first sparring match when he discovered she wasn't that easily distracted. He was toned, just shy of too muscled, skin was tanned, she imagined from his running, which he informed her he also did with no top on. The tattoos on his right shoulder and upper arm were interesting and she would have loved to have a closer look at them, but she didn't dare ask, Declan may or may not have been serious with his flirting, and she didn't really want to find out, if he wasn't then ok, if he was…well, they had what could be a good friendship developing but shooting a guy down always makes things awkward. She did notice him, that she could not deny, but she wouldn't admit it either, because it didn't matter, this was hand to hand, unarmed combat not the playgirl of the year photo shoot. She was good, but he was bigger, so she gave him no quarter, she matched his movements and they stalked each other like two very unfriendly, cats. They were fighting till the first person was down on the mats, once down there were still fight moves to be done but none safe to do in training. They circled each other slowly, most fights didn't go down this way, but between two martial artists things got slower between blows and faster once blows were exchanged. "You're still nursing that shoulder." He was observant, she had to give him that much. "You holding back because of it?" He smiled at her, "Perhaps, Aye." She grinned at him, "well don't you worry about it, one doing that of us is enough." He laughed and as he did he moved in for the strike. She blocked him easily, stepping back a little then making her own attack, he blocked, took one to the cheek and laughed again. "You laugh every time you get hit?' She asked him, puzzled at his reaction. He shook his head lightly, "No, but it's been awhile." He wasn't being cocky but she guessed, in the dojo with only a room full of students, not many of the would get through his defences. He stepped in and swept her legs out from under her. She landed slapping her arms down to take the brunt of the fall. Her shoulder complained a little and she let out a grunt because of it. He looked down at her, and smiled, offering a hand to help her up. She looked back at him, looked at his hand and stood without help. She watched his eyes for injury or something, but there was none of that, he merely turned from her and moved to get a drink form his water bottle at the side of the room. She followed him to her own stuff. "So coffee?" He didn't sound too hopeful. She sighed, "Got lessons at my tutor's house." "You know you must be getting pretty good with that language now, what happens when you're done there, you rush of to learn another one." "Mmh Hmm. Something like that." "You avoiding me?" "Only when you're swinging for me." He laughed, "Fine get to your Russian class. I'll see you tomorrow." Declan disappeared through the door just as her phone rang. She reached for it, still looking at the door her training companion left through. "Yeah" She had been told her phone manner left much to be desired, but…oh well. "Bella, we have a briefing" "Right." "How's the shoulder?" "Getting better thanks, I'll be right for a mission." "Good." He Hung up. His voice said he had been asking out of concern. Bella shrugged internally, she wasn't used to people actually wanting to known about her health, not and actually caring. Bella had showered and was heading towards the garage when Declan intercepted her. "Going my way?" He asked with a great grin on his face. Bella looked at him for a second then smiled. "Safe house one?" He nodded and just looked at her. She shifted a little, he wasn't offering conversation or even just…well he was staring at her. She didn't shuffle or indicate that he was making her uncomfortable. Raising her eye brows as if to say `well what is it' she said, "Well what is it?" "I got a taxi out here." He offered and continued just looking at her. Was he trying to unnerve her? Well what he had just said made her smile, she had her car here today and she always loved working people up by her driving. She nodded, "Need a lift?" He smiled and nodded, for second she stood and looked at him, her thought now to the trip to the Safe house. This might be fun. Safe House 1 0600 They had arrived at Safe house with some time to spare, disappointingly Declan had not been particularly unnerved by her driving, and in fact he seemed to have enjoyed it. Ah well, he had ridden with her before. She had dumped her bag in the locker room and headed down to the briefing room with her sketch pad. If she kept showing up early to briefings someone might think she had no life. This time though she wasn't first in the room Declan was sitting at the bar reading a book. Reading a book? He didn't seem the type, but then what type did he seem? She had no idea. She sat next to him and looked at the book, it was written in Gaelic and she made a small sound of surprise. "It's rude to read over someone's shoulder." "Yeah? Well it's rude to dump and injured woman on the floor too." He closed his book and looked at her suddenly, laughter in his eyes. He then pushed one of the cups that were in front of him over to her. "Short black the way you like it." He must have bought them up form the bar before she got there. She smiled, if he couldn't get her to go to the coffee he'd bring it to her? He was persistent. But she was grateful for the caffeine so she drank it. "You remembered? That was months ago." "Some things I remember." They drank their coffee, and talked. It was amiable conversation. Others entered the room and joined the general conversation; it was always good to get along with the rest of your team. Bella scribbled in her sketchbook the whole time, joining in but keeping herself busy. The clock ticked over as she glanced at it. "Time's up." She said as Gray entered the room. "Game faces on." She heard Declan mutter. "Let's play." She smiled and closed her pad. God she loved her job. Return