alphanetwork | DC 132 | Encrypted to Specials

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DC 132 | Encrypted to Specials

Would any of you be interested in self defense classes? If you're interested in teaching, please let me know, and if you're interested in learning, this can be like a sign up sheet. Or we can sign up for sparring, too. I'm just trying to get a headcount and figure out who's interested in what. Considering this place, being prepared for anything is a must.

Once we figure out who wants to do what, we can decide on a location.

For those I haven't met yet, hi, I'm Allison. I can teach self defense, and would be up for sparring, too.

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If you want to learn how to strangle a man with your thighs, I probably have a lesson or two in me.

Or dental floss. I can teach you how to do that too.

Okay, I know self defense but I don't know that. Sign me up.

Honey, if you don't know how to kill a man with dental hygiene, then you don't know real self defense. Don't worry, Natasha is here.

Those that trained me clearly failed, so I'm glad that's getting rectified.

We'll start off small, I'll need to get a feel for what you're really capable of and then we can build from there. Bring whoever you want.

I'm a firm believer that a lady needs to know how to take down someone who's standing in her way, especially in a place like this.

Sounds perfect. I'll be ready.

Agreed. I come from a place that already prepared me for taking down anything that endangers myself or others, but while my training fit that town, it doesn't quite fit this place entirely. I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible, for anything.

Smart girl.

Here's a secret that you're going to want to keep in mind: you're never going to be prepared. No matter how good you are or what you learn, things are going to happen that you can't possibly prepare yourself for and expecting yourself to be prepared for anything is the first step toward getting your ass handed to you. Or worse.

If you're serious, then I'm not going to be teaching you how to be prepared. I wasn't prepared for this place, but that's alright, because that was never the goal. Knowing the motions of defending yourself is useless if you don't know when and how to implement them in unexpected situations, and you don't prepare for that.

I'm going to teach you how to adapt.

[ Allison knows that she's right, although that part of her that wants to have complete control of whatever it is that she's handling is ugly and still tries to resurface.

But, no. Natasha is right. Isn't adapting what ultimately helped her grow back in Beacon Hills? ]

Fair enough. You're right; when you lose control of a car, you turn into the skid, right? Guess I still have to keep that part in mind.

I'd like that, if you could teach me how to adapt. I just don't want this place to take me by some sort of ugly surprise, you know?

I'm usually right. Don't worry, you're not the only one who hates it.

Another piece of advice, and this one is something I've learned a little too recently. You can lessen the ugly surprises but you can't stop them, and it sure as hell helps to have somebody on your side when they do happen. You were smart to reach out, if you surround yourself with people who are willing to fight with you, and for you when you need it, you're going to be alright in the end.

At least, I think. I'm still figuring this part out myself.

I'll keep that in mind.

Yeah, that's true. And I can attest to that last part, though - it really does help to have people on your side. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but ultimately you can't do everything alone. I definitely had to learn that one back home.

[ There's a lot going on in Steve's life right now. In all of their lives. And it feels like a some kind of funny cheat for him to get a message like this from Allison. Back home, he would have never seen a message like this, because no one has his contact information.

Plus, it's not like back in the day, agents liked to include S.Rogers on all their all-office emails.

He hasn't forgotten about her, or the rest of his team in VSF, even if he hasn't contacted him. Frankly, he thought it would be for their benefit. But this is over the Specials network, and it's about time he checked in. ]

Does this mean you've finally hit 11 minutes?

[ For 1.5 miles. That's just over a 7-minute mile. ]

[ It's a nice surprise, to see his message on her PDC. It's somewhat unexpected, considering she had figured that he's still laying low while his investigation continues, but still. It's good to hear from him. She almost teases that he won't get to find out he times her himself, but it's not like he's choosing not to be in VSF. ]

Yeah, actually. I accomplished it two days ago. Guess all that training really paid off.

How are you doing, Steve?

[ There hasn't been a lot for Steve to smile about for awhile now, especially given the fact that someone is trying to kill one of his teammates and his boyfriend isn't exactly talking to him. Not really.

But when he sees that message comes back, Steve smiles. ]

Two days ago? I'm not surprised. Good job, Allison.

[ If they'd actually worked together for more than a few days before his suspension, he might have even said he was proud of her. But that will just have to wait. He doesn't ask any more about VSF though, because the less she says to him about it the better.

As for him though. How in the world is he going to answer that question. ]

Trying to get to the bottom of a few things.

[ But of course, when Steve doesn't want to talk about something, he always deflects. ]

Oh and Natasha's a great teacher. Just don't let her convince you that self-defense needs to be fatal.

Thanks. I'll show you, when you come back to work.

[ Still when. Never 'if.' It still annoys her to no end, that he of all people is being investigated, but she keeps that part to herself, too, although she has a strong inkling that she's not the only one that feels that way. ]

If there's anything I can help you with, just say the word.

[ Yes, she knows she doesn't have the clearance for it, and she is only assuming that he's talking about what's happening in VSF that is keeping him out rather than a part of his team. But, still, her offer stands. ]

Don't worry, she won't. Although, to be fair, I already know a few fatal self-defense moves, anyway. Probably not nearly as many as hers, because I still don't know how to kill someone with dental floss, but those that trained me liked to be thorough.

I'll time you myself.

[ An implied promise that yes, he has every intention of coming back. When she offers to help ... Steve is tempted. But he can't involve her too directly, especially when his suspension is already proof that it's dangerous there inside Armed Forces, so he settles on one thing. ]

Stay alert. Make note of anyone who comes around who normally would have no reason to.

[ There is something that she could do, that would be incredibly helpful. But Steve would never ask. It's too dangerous. If Allison had the idea on her own however, he wouldn't be able to stop her. When he was first suspended, everything in his office was taken, scanned, and sorted. What Steve would like to know, is how where they're keeping his files, and who has been able to look at them. But again, he'd never ask. ]

Good.[ And he means that. ]To be fair, I don't know how to kill a man with dental floss either. Not sure I ever plan on knowing. But Natasha ... she's the best of the best.

Good, I'm holding you to that.

[ She pauses at what he says, because that doesn't feel like enough. It's what actually makes her to push, even if the first time she offered she hadn't let herself do that just yet. Right now, though, considering how long it has been since he was suspended... There has to be something they can try, right? ]

I'm already doing that. Give me something that will actually make a difference, Steve. I can do more than look around at those that come into VSF on a daily basis.

[ Because, to her, there are other things she really could be doing to help him. Like snooping on those that are investigating him. She has already scoped out the vents that are hidden from the cameras, where she can make her way into and find a way to figure something out. ]

I've gotta admit, I am curious about that, though. I mean, seriously. Dental floss? That's pretty damn cool.

Did you guys work together?

[ He sighs, because he doesn't blame her for wanting to do more. She's already proved to him that she's capable. ]

Allison, have you been to the Specials Headquarters?

[ Steve on the other hand, is not curious. In his mind, dental floss is probably used to obstruct the airway. That's never felt like an honorable way to go. Suffocation is slow, and merciless. ]

She and I used to train new recruits together, back home.

Yeah, I have.

[ She doesn't remember who took her there, because the only memories of Lydia are the ones from back home now that she's gone, but she knows the place. Honestly, right now she's just taking consolation on the fact that he didn't flat out say 'no, I don't need you to help in anything else.' ]

Oh yeah? That's awesome. I bet your recruits were in top shape, then, if you both trained them.

[ He's still weighing his options here. On the one hand, he doesn't want to get Allison tangled up in this mess. On the other hand, that's why she'd decided to join VSF in the first place, right? To get on the front lines?

And he'd promised her that if she met the training requirements she could go on missions. ]

Meet me there at 16:00.

I'd like to think they found the training valuable. Though, it's usually clear from the beginning if a recruit wanted to fight like me, or fight like her.

[ Or fight like neither of them because he could fly and had a weapon in the form of a stone embedded into his head. Or because she didn't need to fight when she could just move your body for you. The things recruits could do these days. ]

Will do.

Well, variety is always a good thing, right? You both seem to have different styles, but I'm excited to work with both of you.

[ He chuckles, unexpectedly, at how perfectly diplomatic her response is. Allison's a good kid. ]

Yes, variety can be good.

And I can't believe I never asked at the beginning, but

How are you doing, Allison?

[ Being diplomatic is almost second nature - it's another thing that was part of her 'training' back home, considering the spot she had to take as the leader of her family after Kate died.

It's really not a lie, though; she really is super stoked to be trained by both him and Natasha.

At his question, she smiles. ]

It's okay, Steve.

I'm good. Just training, really.

[ It feels like there's a hole in her heart that she can't quite explain, especially because she doesn't remember that Lydia was here and now she's gone, and that that's why she has her backpack and her extra green jumpsuit, but it just feels like her heart has been broken for days now and she has no idea how to fix it.

Still, she can't explain it, so she doesn't say that. It sounds crazy to her, after all. The last thing she wants is for him to think that, too. ]

Good.

[ It might feel a little too simple, to say one word in response, but Steve talks that way too. And he believes her, which, is probably the fault of the medium. If she has been training, he might try sparring with her a bit when she arrives at HQ later that evening, just to see what her reflexes are like now. ]

Then I'll see you tonight.

[ He nearly has the PDC in his pocket already when he pulls it back out again. ]

If for some reason I'm not there by 16:10. Leave HQ. Just a precaution.

[ She doesn't fault him for the one word response; after all, it's not like she gave him much to answer to. And, really, the last thing she wants to do is start explaining now not 'good' she is, considering it's hard to even think about it, let alone explain. ]

See you tonight.

And okay, will do.

[ As a precaution? Huh. She'll have to ask him about that later. ]

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DC 132 | Encrypted to Specials

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