It was a night much like this one when she noticed his broad figure from the second floor, illuminated by the moon. Her steps could have been equaled to that of a cat. Steady and swift, yet very meek. As she hurried down, her first instinct was to flick on the outside lamp. Not open the door. She peeked out the small glass frame to confirm it was indeed Chadwick. She’d hope many people choose to do it that way. Anyone could have been lurking on the steps.
He hurried in, with the same old box he always held, “You’re supposed to be in bed.” He grunted in Turkish.
She repeated what he said underneath her breath, still new to the language. “Yes,” he watched her lips try to find the right words. “I could not sleep,”
Her Russian accent was still strong. “Don’t turn on those lights after they go off,” his hands came down on the switch. “The district will notice, and they will take it to the Burghal.” She could smell his leathered jacket as he passed her, moving towards the front room.
Nikki followed him, carefully watching him remove firearms one by one.
“It was supposed to be a surprise,” The very last thing he pulled was a bag of peaches. Not sorry looking ones. Actual juicy peaches. She counted four.
“They’re beautiful,” she pressed both her hands to her chest.
Chadwick fished for the prettiest one. His eyes met hers, “Tomorrow, you train hard, yes?”
“I will,” she promised.
__
Three Months Later…
She matched his steps. His leg. Her leg. His arm. Her arm.
They were dressed in red. His coat was long. Her veil was covered.
She took a breath. It was something she did before attacking. Chadwick didn’t like it. He told her never to hesitate. Never to show a sign of progress. She ignored him and did it anyway.
This was her last lesson. He never attacked her. “I want to see you attack,”
Those words used to scare her. Not anymore.
Nikki took the first strike, arm jabbing him on his right side. He was weak on that side. She’d studied her opponent. That was her first lesson. Still, Chadwick scoffed, “You’re becoming predictable,” he taught, blocking her with a forceful blow backwards.
Her veil slid back. Nikki rolled her eyes. “I want you to keep that thing over your head the entire fight. It better not fall off again,” She yanked it up, completely back in combat mode.
Then, she breathed calmly once more before slamming her left leg in to his right thigh. He grabbed it, hiking it high up so that she couldn’t walk. Yet, Nikki used this to her advantage. She wrapped her arms around his neck, propelling her other leg to squeeze the small of his back.
“I can smack you down now,” she heard his voice in her ear. “Don’t ever get this close to anyone.” But with the quickness of a snake, her elbow jutted the back of his neck. Her entire body rotated with his. He stepped forward and let go of her leg. She squeezed his forearm and held it at an unnatural angle. “Your strength is flexibility. Nice job. Now what?”
Whomever fell to there feet was the first to lose. It was a high standard. But were talking about Aldemir. The smartest man at combat. Or was he?
She wouldn’t break his arm. Instead, she’d use it as leverage. She spun, behind him now, watching his body adjust. “You can’t force me down without breaking it,” he murmured.
“Chadwick get on you’re knees,” her Turkish had improved a lot. “I’m not breaking your arm.”
He obeyed, his red cloak spread across the greenery. Nikki dropped his arm. That’s when she felt the absence of her veil brushing against her cheek.
“Again,” he stated, angrily. “Secrecy is your leverage. If they figure out who you are, they’ll fight harder.”
“Yeah? Then why don’t you have one?” Chadwick backed away, now on the opposite side of the cube. His hands drew together.
“My reputation is that of being a soldier, yours, a figure head.” He couldn’t see her face but could sense the rising fumes. “Who would you fear?”
She took a breath. “Let me work through this.Don’t hold back.” Now was her time to prove herself. Chadwick attacked, full throttle and bone. This was going to hurt.