Chapter Ten: On the Helicarrier
"A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself- and especially to feel, or not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at any moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to- letting a person be what he really is." -Jim Morrison
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"This is unbelievable, oh my goodness," Alex has a huge grin as he pulls his suitcase into my house, "I'm so excited I can't believe you thought of me and asked if I could stay with you."
"You think I would survive alone in the malicious ring of S.H.I.E.L.D. facing Tony?" I force out a dry chuckle, "I need some type reinforcer on my side up there."
"It's not only a new environment or job for you, you're having to adapt to a new parent with a bit of bad blood," Alex adds on as we enter my room.
"As cheesy as it may sound, I just need someone, in particularly you, with me through this," I attempt to think of a sarcastic joke to tack on to the end of that to lighten the mood; however, Alex begins talking before I can think of one.
"Well, I am honored to stick by your side through this new adventure," Alex responds earnestly, "Besides, who could ever feel safe on a ship with Captain America on board with them?"
I laugh and nod, agreeing with my friend. I most definitely would feel more comfortable with Alex with me. I trust him with my life, he keeps me grounded. I'm not too worried about leaving my grandparents. Same with my mother; who I was lucky to see once every other month.
"You're not done packing?" Alex asks as I shove my makeup into a bag.
"Nope, my mom gave me like an hour and a half lecture about somewhat living on my own," I suck in a pained breath.
"Ooh, mine only lasted almost an hour," Alex sits on my bed.
"Lucky," I gripe as I toss my bag into my suitcase.
I continue packing miscellaneous things for I have already packed my clothes. I pack my pillow along with my favorite blanket. It takes a bit of squeezing and sitting on the bag to zip it. Eventually I end up standing on the luggage as Alex yanks the zipper around the flap. After jumping down from the bag, I slip my laptop into its case as I finish packing. I hear rockets outside before I my mom shouts, "Monica, it's time to go!"
Alex is a gentleman and carries my duffel bag downstairs as I carry my suitcase. Tony stands in his full suit we come down the stairs. I meet my entire family gathered in the open dining room by the living room. My grandparents stand together with my grandpa's arm wrapped tightly around my grandma. Tony stands in full armor with only his face mask open despite being in my home. My mom leaves Tony's side when Alex and I come down the stairs.
"Monica," My mom throws her arms around me, "Please stay safe."
"I will; it's just training," She hugs me tighter.
"I'm just going to miss you!" Mom's voice breaks.
"I'm only going to be gone three weeks! You've gone much longer without seeing me."
"But then you'll be getting called in for missions and then you'll be in danger!"
"I'll be fine," I pull away before being swept away in goodbyes from my grandparents.
"You better take care of her. You'll be the first person I blame if anything happens to her," My mom pushes a finger against Tony's chest.
"Mon, we're happy for you," My grandma embraces me, disabling me from hearing Tony's response.
"I feel bad for the poor fellow who has to train with you; you'll knock him on his butt!" My grandpa laughs.
"Hey!" My grandma scolds him. I laugh as my grandpa rolls his eyes.
My family bids farewell to Alex too before Tony says it's time to go. I call over my suit from where it was stored in my suit. After a bone-crushing hug from my grandma, my suit lands gently on the back patio. I step into my suit and allow it to close over me. Lucis recognizes me and launches my personal interface.
"So, how are we going to do this here..?" Alex looks skeptical as there are only two people to carry four bags and another person up to the helicarrier.
"I'll take you up and Tony you can get the bags?" I suggest. Tony starts to object before biting his tongue and nodding. He scoops up the three bags before I stop him from getting the fourth, "I'll get this bag."
"You have precious cargo there?" Tony jokes humorlessly as we walk outside.
"Just my laptop," I shrug as I throw the strap across my body.
Tony's boosters fire up just as mine do. Alex holds onto me a bit tighter as we propel up off of the ground. We part ways by a grand farewell of waves goodbye from my mom and grandparents. We fly cautiously up, not wanting to lose any luggage at thousands of feet in the air. Before too long my home is nothing but a speck dotted on the earth. The three of us pass through a cloud that blocks our view of below. Looking up, the helicarrier comes into view. Alex's eyes widen at the size of the massive aircraft. The roaring hum of the repulsors keeping it up become audible as we pass over the edge of the ship.
We land with a clunk and discard our luggage or passengers. Alex enthusiastically scans the incredibly large and unfamiliar airstrip that we are standing on. Each agent is busied by the tasks given to them. Crew members are runing about out here, but no militia stands by meeting us by the door like the last time I arrived here. No sooner than Alex and I can grab our luggage a man walks briskly up to us with anything but wasting time on his mind.
"You must be Monica and Alex," The agent in a suit acknowledges us politely, "I've been told to show you to your rooms."
"Thank you," I nod appreciatively as begin to follow him to the door leading down into the helicarrier.
"I'll, uh, I need to go," Tony leaves us in an anxious hurry.
As much as I want to begin getting to know my father, I know Tony needs his space more than anything. He just found out he has a daughter; I doubt anyone would be perfectly okay and welcoming. I am not expecting anything from him anytime soon. I'll give him time to come to middle ground and work through what he is facing.
The agent leads us through the helicarrier to the same hallway where all of the rooms are. "Monica, this is your room," The agent motions to the same room I stayed in last time, "Captain Rogers is in the room to your right and Tony Stark is on your left."
"Ha," I laugh as I toss my bags onto my bed.
"And Alex your room is down the hall a bit, you're next to Doctor Banner."
"Oh crap, remind me not to blast music late at night or anything to make him mad," Alex poorly jokes.
"Monica, you are to be in the training center at fifteen hundred hours," The agent informs me before placing a clear case onto the nightstand. I open it up to find a little black earpiece sitting in the center of the box. "You are to wear this at all times. It is so Director Fury and other Avengers can contact you at any time."
"Will do," I slide the earpiece in my right ear, taking out my own.
"Why don't I get one?" Alex raises an eyebrow.
"Truthfully, Director Fury does not care about making sure you are okay," The agent replies, "You are not at all important to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations."
I burst out laughing as the agent leaves my room. Alex's mouth is open wide in offense. "Well, I see they show favorites here," Alex scoffs with a sly grin, pushing his tongue against his cheek.
"Maybe considering I was actually recruited and you're here as a guest."
"Touché."
"I'm going to unpack, you should too," I look at the stuffed luggage sitting on the floor.
"I'll meet up with you after your training," Alex gives me a thumbs up as he leaves my room.
I nod as I unzip my suitcase. I observe the room that is now mine. It has a simple twin bed, a dresser, a mirror, and a desk. There's a door on the back wall leading to my own small bathroom. The walls are painted a light greyish-blue and my bed spread is plain white.
I start transferring my clothes from my suitcase to the dresser. I was told to pack and extra week's wardrobe to keep in my room even after my training is over - in case of an emergency and I was called back up to the helicarrier I would already have some clothes here. I have four drawers for my clothes: one for shirts, bottoms, pajamas/sweatshirts, and undergarments.
I toss my own blanket and pillow onto my bed. I take out my makeup and toiletries to put them in their place in my new room. I make note that next time I have a chance to bring a few posters up here. The walls are boringly bare with no splash of color to break up the dull greyish walls.
I check the time on my phone. Noticing it's nearing 3:00, I change into basketball shorts and a tight cotton tank top. I pull my hair into a ponytail and slide on my pair of tennis shoes. I decide to leave for the gym a little bit early considering I have no idea where it is at.
I wander down the hallway away from all of the rooms. I take a left which leads to another hallway. The rooms are labeled with little plaques; however, none of them say 'Gym'.
"Lucis, where's the gym?" I whisper to my earpiece. "Dang it," I mutter when I realize it's not my own earpiece.
I ramble through different hangars and hallways, some multiple times. I want to ask someone but everyone I have passed has been preoccupied or busy. Since I am only a rookie, I would hate to interrupt the vital business operations of S.H.I.E.L.D. Why did they not give me a map of this place? It should be common courtesy to provide a new agent with a directory and layout of the aircraft. I am about to step onto an elevator when I see an agent who does not seem to be occupied.
"Hey," I get their attention, "Where is the gym?"
"Oh, keep going straight down this hallway and there's a door that should say 'Athletics' and go in there. The gym is on your right," She answers by pointing down the correct passageway.
"Thank you!" I abandon the elevator and continue down the hallway.
True to the agent's words I find the hallway and the gym door. I push open the heavy door to see a room full of various exercise equipment: weights and weight machines, boxing ring, punching bags, yoga mats, exercise balls, treadmills, and more.
"You're late," A muscular man states.
"I got lost," I do not apologize.
"You know how to get here now right?"
"Yes."
"Good, don't be late again," He uncrosses his arms, "Let's get started. You need to warm up first."
My warm up was more vigorous than any warm up I've ever done in my life. It first began with stretching then I ran three miles on the treadmill. After 100 crunches and pushups, according to Rian, I'm finally warmed up. I have a feeling I may have just gotten myself a one-way ticket to hell.
"Let's start out with practicing your fighting skills," Rian ducks into the boxing ring. He tosses me two rolls of stretchy material, "Strap up."
I dress my hands in the wraps, protecting my fists and wrists. I am instructed to kick off my shoes before stepping into the ring. Rian spends ten minutes explaining the different kinds of punches and kicks before finally holding up two pads, "Jab left."
I feel my left fist hit the padding.
"Jab right."
Punch.
"Again, jab left."
Punch.
"Jab right. C'mon, keep your hands up."
Beads of sweat roll off of my forehead as I repeat the set. I feel my punches become more powerful and accurate after each jab. I have never been professionally trained to fight, but I sure do love to beat the crap out of my punching bag in my garage back home. Not to mention how building an Iron Man suit required a bit of heavy lifting. Iam far from a weakling but at the same distance from being as physically fit as an agent should be.
"Alright, let's work on your kicks," Rian ditches the two small hand pads for one much larger, "You need to kick using mostly your shin. Normally with typical combat fighters I would go into more explanation. I'll just say really when you're in your Iron Man suit if you accidentally kick with your ankle it won't really matter. I just wouldn't use it if you're not wearing it because it'll hurt like hell."
I nod as I take mental note of what he is saying for one day it could be the difference between winning or losing in a mission. Rian has me practice my kicks for over half of an hour. As my last exercise I am taught how to properly dodge punches. My reflexes must quickly adapt to the ability for Rian's fist makes contact with my shoulder multiple times. When I am deemed as understanding in how to dodge, Rian and I fight each other with a bit of hand-to-hand combat to show what I have learned in more realistic scenarios.
"I'm not going to actually hit you back," Rian informs me as he straps a padded helmet on, "But if I see a weak spot I'll point it out to you."
I nod as I put on my own boxing gloves. Rian gives me the signal to come at him. I jab at his chest but he blocks it with his padding. I jab again and again before kicking him on his thigh, causing him to stumble a step.
"Good, always locate the weak spot. For men, you can almost always hit them in the groin and it'll take them down. But don't do it on me," Rian tells me, "Come on, stay light on your toes. Keep your hands up."
I punch a few more times at him before I land my kick to the back of Rian's knees. "Good job," Rian pants as I rest my fist on his forehead.
"Looks like you got your ass handed to you," A voice says from behind me.
"Oh, shut up, Tony," Rian jeers jestingly, "Potts, go practice on the punching bag and stretch for another half hour to cool down. You're free to go once you've completed that."
I step out of the ring just as Tony slides in. I unstrap my gloves and toss them aside. I can hear Tony and Rian training as I pummel the hanging bag. The tones from both Tony and Rian's voices become drowned out in the sound of my fists slapping the canvas. Once my knuckles become sore and my arms burn as if the muscles have be wrung out in every which way, I take the time to cool down. I hear the sound of gloves on padding behind me as I stretch. When my muscles feel like they can at least carry me back to my room, I gather my things to leave. Unfortunately, S.H.I.E.L.D. has other plans for my time.
"Monica Potts," I recognize Agent Coulson as he enters the gym as I'm hunting down my water bottle. Tony stops training and looks at us, nearly earning a blow from Rian. "Director Fury wishes to speak with you. I tried to get a hold of you but you didn't pick up."
"I took my earpiece out for training, but thanks," I grab my shoes and sweat towel as I follow Agent Coulson. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, not at all," Agent Coulson shakes his head, "He just wants to go over a few do's and don'ts while you're working for S.H.I.E.L.D."
"So making sure I don't do anything wrong," I cock my head.
"Yeah, I guess like that."
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x JLG