Brom's eyes slid open slowly. The room was still dark, as he had turned on the automatic blinders before they had fell asleep. As his eyes attempted to adjust to the darkness that surrounded him, he was careful not to move as his mind recalled the night before.
He and Marzia were doing a team exercise. One that they had been working on for a year, nearly two. This exercise was simple enough. The two of them were to rest, using each other as support for their bodies. Told in a simpler way, their backs pressed against each other for support as they sat in the center of the room, crossed legged with their hands on their knees. They had been working together for companies like theirs since they were kids, and they had always relied on each other to get through the toughest challenges they faced.
They had worked together so long, it had been said that they were two halves of the same whole. Two halves of a seriously devastating killing machine.
Brom didn't move his body, not wanting to disturb his partner as she slept. He instead flicked his eyes to the left side of him, where after his eyes adjusted, he saw a wooden staff. Even if he hadn't seen it, he knew the object was there. He had one placed beside both of them before they had called it lights out.
This was the other half of the exercise. They both needed to rely on each other, but they also needed to remain acutely aware of their surroundings even when they were asleep. To know when either of them were in danger, and to react quickly enough to respond to any outside threat.
But this time, the exercise wasn't another attacker. No. This time, their target, was each other.
He stilled himself, retaining his breathing and composure. He felt her breathing, the rising and falling of her body channeled through her back to his, showing that she was still, in fact, asleep. He smiled to himself, holding back a soft chuckle. He had finally caught her unaware. This time, she wouldn't sweep victory out from under him.
Or at least, he believed so. As he prepared himself mentally, he inadvertently adjusted his back slightly. In doing so, he felt her breathing change, and her back tense up. He fought the urge to curse under his breath. Any chance of a surprise victory was now gone. They were both awake now, and aware of each other.
Which meant he had to act fast.
His hand sped for the staff and tucked his body as he did so, rolling over the staff and reaching his feet in moments. When he looked up, he saw Marzia was doing the same, a small smirk playing on her face. They prepared their staffs for combat, and Brom struck first.
A quick swing came from above Marzia's head, but she hopped back, watching Brom's staff hit the padded floor with a muffled thud. She pulled a spinning kick at Brom's head, and it connected with a loud slap. Brom reeled slightly, and she capitalized with a smack of the staff to his chest. Brom snorted, trying not to lose his focus, despite the pain in his face and chest.
They started swinging again, each one parrying the other's swings, and trying their hardest to find an opening. Brom, trying something new, swung the staff down from above again, but this time, while Marzia was preparing to parry it, Brom shifted and swung his leg for the back of her knees. Unprepared for the sudden change of events, her legs buckled from the sudden kick, and she fell to the floor. Brom pressed a foot on her staff, which she had clutched to her chest, and pointed his staff at her face.
"Check and mate." Brom declared, his words interrupted by his jagged breaths. His face and chest still stung harshly, but he knew the fight was over.
Except it wasn't.
While Brom chuckled, Marzia twisted her legs around his swept his feet out from underneath him. Brom fell on his back with a sickening thud.
Both of them were on the floor, disarmed, and out of breath. Then, from out of nowhere, both began to chuckle loudly, until it was a roar of laughter from both of them, interrupted by sharp coughing. Both of them returned to their feet, and began to get ready for a new day.
---
Soon after, both of them arrived at their office, taking a moment to prepare themselves for whatever adventure was sure to come today. A few moments after they had settled in, both of their monitors pinged with a message. They walked toward their respective machines, opening up the email to discover they were needed for a meeting.
They looked to each other, both wondering what this could mean before they left the office, making their way to Selena, who had called the meeting. They made their way down the green hallway, before entering the room, looking to their fellow agents who had already gathered without them. Brom spoke up, smirking softly. "Sorry we're late. Had a few things to take care of before we arrived." Marzia nodded, agreeing that his response was enough off a summation of their morning. They both took a seat, and looked to Selena, waiting for her to explain why they were here.