Jada frowned as she felt something wet on her face. She opened one eye and chuckled as she picked up Chi-Chi, who pawed the air. Sitting up with a yawn, she scooped the dog in her arms. "Good morning, fella," She giggled.
Getting up, she set it down and opened her bathroom door only to be met with a high-pitched scream as the the door opened.
"Ciema? What are you—"
"I opened the door and that thing was outside! Ciema pointed dramatically at the dog, who let out a confused whine. "Keep it away from me, Guytan, and we're cool!"
Jada blinked, half awake. "Okay. Okay. Get outta my bathroom, Ciema."
Ciema squeezed past Jada before retreating to the safety of her room. "That girl's got some history with small dogs," Jada giggled, shaking her head in amusement. "What did ya friends do to her, huh?"
Chi-Chi stared up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Come on, let's get ready," Jada said, heading into the bathroom, the Pomchi trotting behind.
Dressed in a long-sleeved blue shirt and blue shorts, she joins the others in the recreational space. The smell of sea water emanated the place, giving it sense of familiarity. Jada went over and opened the sliding door, letting the sea breeze.
"Hmmm, that's better," she grinned as she went into the pit. Plopping on the couch, she lets Chi-Chi join her. "Maybe we should go to the beach today," Jada said.
"Maybe," Laila groaned as she sat down. "What happened?" Jada asked, concerned "I was having probably the best sleep of my life," Laila said, setting down her coffee. "When I was rudely awakened at 4:00 in the morning by screaming."
She glared at the glasses girl.
Ciema adjusts her specs. "That dumb dog scared me," she protested. "I don't wanna hear you're getting scared by the dumb dog," Laila said, her tone laced with mockery.
"The dumb dog's right here," Jada hugging Chi-Chi protectively
"Oh really?" T.I.F.F.A.N.Y chimed in, popping up above. "Oh it is."
Chi-Chi, nestled in her arms, barked at the holographic AI then paused. Her nose twitched as she sniffed the air, then leapt off down. Her tail wagged furiously, and she let out a series of excited barks as she headed for the door.
"Oh no. Where's she goin'?" Jada asked, concern in her voice.
"Don't worry, she acts like that when Jaiden's around," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y explained.
The Pomchi sat at the door, whining.
"Her nose probably got a whiff of him miles away," Laila said dryly, biting into her tuna sandwich.
"He's not—" Ciema began.
The main door suddenly inward with a sudden click and Chi-Chi trotted out, without hesitation.
The women shot to their feet, muttering curses and abandoning their breakfast. "Get him!" Laila shouted, already moving to the door.
Jada yanked the door open and they peeked outside—
—but he was already gone. A collective groan of frustration escapes their lips as they retreat back into the recreational space.
"Who taught him stealth? The freaking League of Assassins?" Laila rubbed her forehead in exasperation.
T.I.F.F.A.N.Y let out a short, robotic laugh.
"No," she replied as they settled back into the pit. "A family friend in Japan taught him. He's the best at it."
"He's already a billionaire," Jada muttered, flopping back onto the ouch in the pit. "He doesn't need to be stealthy too."
Ciema stared at the door, her analytical mind already piecing together the strangeness of the situation—his unnatural stealth, the information of him being trained by a family friend brought more intrigue to their mysterious boss. Her mind wandered to the reason why had woken up at the ungodly hour: find Jaiden Maximoff.
Chi-Chi's enthusiastic, tail wagging greeting that morning had been an unexpected jolt. She won't tell Jada and Laila that. Their teasing of her would never end. A small smile tugged at her lips.
Friends.....
The concept was new...foreign but surprisingly welcome.
Exiting their room, they went downstairs into the living room, and stood right next to the kitchen. The faint smell of tobacco lingered in the room, a subtle reminder of their hidden host. Other than that, it was quiet.
Too quiet.
Suddenly, Laila gasped as something cold coiled around her neck. Jada and Ciema spun around to see Laila yanked backward, bent in an unnatural angle.
Her brown eyes met kindly grey ones. "You're already dead, Ms. Edwards," Mr. Mace said. He removed the nunchaku chain from her neck. Catching her breath, she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Are you outta your mind!" She snapped. "Apologizes," he bowed slightly. "But Mr. Maximoff said to start training immediately."
Jada groaned. "So much for relaxing."
Ciema narrowed her gaze. "What are we training for?"
"The sooner you catch onto the lessons, the sooner you'll be in the field," Mr. Mace avoided the question. The other two cracked their necks and shoulders while Ciema's analytical mind went to work, trying to deduce their sudden start to their training.
"Let's go, unc," Laila clapped her hands before rubbing them in anticipation. "It's about time I get my get-back."
Growls from Chi-Chi broke the tension. Mr. Mace looked down, a flicker of surprise on his face, to see the small dog gnawing and pulling at the leg of his sleek, black bodysuit. Jada broke in loud laughter as Laila rubbed her forehead, clearly mortified. Ciema couldn't help the amused smile that appeared on her face.
A sudden whistle pierced the air, making Chi-Chi pause her attack and released her hold on Mr. Mace. She scurried off barking and wagging her tail, oblivious to the chaos she briefly caused.
"On the battlefield, Ms. Edwards," Mr. Mace said, twirling his nunchaku. "There won't be cute, small dogs to save you."
Jada leaned and whispered in Ciema's ear. "Was that Jaiden?"
Ciema shrugged. "Maybe."
Laila hopped on her toes, her fists curled. She exhaled before scouting forward for a jab but Mr. Mace expertly dodges. He wraps the chain around her wrist and pulls her to the ground.
Grunting as she lands on her back, he moves to Jada and Ciema. Ciema runs off and Jada leans away from the stick which he used like a whip.
Mr. Mace pursues Jada who cartwheels to escape. In mid cartwheel, he wraps his chain around her ankle. He pulls her into the air, a curse escapes her mouth as he tosses her. She lands on a couch which evoked a groan.
"No fair," Laila hissed through the pain, sitting up. "You get comfy couch while I get pain and misery?"
"It's not what it looks like, sugar," Jada gritted out, rolling on her side. "Landing on a soft surface still hurts!"
Chi-Chi whined, wanting to comfort the brunette but a whistle from somewhere unseen made her freeze and stay put.
Ciema opened a closet and fished out a broom stick. She unscrewed the top and twirled the stick.
Closing it, she turned around and blocks the nunchaku with her stick. "Excellent," Mr. Mace praised. "You got yourself a weapon to even the playing ground."
"Your teammates are down, my dear," a devious grin came to his face. "How will you proceed?"
He whipped the nunchaku at her but she extended her stick, letting it coil around it. She pulls, freeing the weapon of his grasp. "Now, you're disarmed," she said, smugly. She aimed the stick at his throat.
His shocked expression gives way to pride. "Beautifully done."
Ciema's eyes widened behind her glasses. They became foggy and her eyes welled with tears. She dropped the stick and lifted her glasses to rub her eyes.
"Uh...thank you, Mr. Mace," she said, letting a relieved sigh. Mr. Mace closed the distance and patted her shoulder. "No problem, my dear," he smiled kindly.
Chi-Chi turned, and spotting his shadow, followed her departing master.
"Hurray..." Jada groaned as Laila shrugged to get up. "What about...my consolation prize?"
"I don't...." Laila gasped as she stood. "There aren't any, Jada."
Sitting on the couch, both girls oohed as the cold, chilling icepacks soothed their back pain.
"Do you know what you did wrong?" Mr. Mace asked, sitting on a stool before them. "Swinging at you?" Laila groaned. "Doing a cartwheel?" Jada hissed.
"No," Mr. Mace chuckled. "Although they are good points—no. Your problem is you two have the physical advantage but you didn't use it to your fullest potential."
He turns to Laila. "My dear, you could've dodged the weapon with your footwork," he explained. "Dance around me and wait for an opening, hit my liver here," he jabbed his side.
He turned to Jada. "Jada, you could've done a leg sweep. Set me off balance..."
"I was gonna do that!" Jada face palmed. "But I second-guessed myself, but the cartwheel seemed like a better idea—"
"No!" He pointed at her, his brows furrowed in anger. "Never second-guess."
Jada nodded quickly, her eyes wide at the action.
"And of course, Ciema. Excellent strategy and execution," he praised. Ciema adjusted her glasses.
Standing to his feet, he adds, "That's it for today."
"Good, time for me to lie down," Laila groaned. "My back!"
"Broken bones come with the territory," he smiled.
"My back is broken," she hissed as she stood up. "It's just...in pain."
Ciema helped Jada and Laila hobble back to their room while he headed for his boss's office.
Entering the office, he noticed the chair's back was turned to him. He heard the clink of the lighter and fizzing of a cigar butt being lit. Smoke floated up, slowly filling the room.
"I saw the women today," Jaiden Maximoff's voice, a distinct and refined King's English accent, filled the quiet room. "Two of them failed the exercise. One succeeded. Ciema Fredrick's her name?"
"Yes sir," Mr. Mace bowed.
"She seems interested in knowing me," Jaiden said, taking a puff. "Even more so than the others."
"Indeed sir," Mr. Mace said, setting down the nunchakus. "They'll get it in time. I assure you, sir."
"I know," Jaiden sighed. "They always do."
Mr. Mace bowed and exited the room. Jaiden turned around, his brow furrowed. Ciema, pokes her head out from behind the corner, smirking smugly.
So that's where he office is.