My fist connected with my sparring partner's gut. He folded over in pain. I swiftly kicked his shins, knocking him down on the mat. Taking advantage of my partner's pained state, I straddled his waist and placed an arm on his neck to hold him down. My other arm raised above me, fist ready to deliver what would be a fatal blow.
"Finish him, Y/N." My mother's cold voice commanded me.
I hesitated. Even though this was just practice, I couldn't bring myself to hurt someone. My partner took my hesitation as an opening to flip us over and pin me to the ground. I wriggled underneath his hold and tried to kick him off me but failed.
"Stop." My mother said. The man got off me and I pushed myself off the floor. "I don't appreciate weakness, Y/N."
"I'm sorry." I wiped the sweat off my brow.
"You need to learn to let go of whatever's holding you back. Hydra is almost ready to rise from the ashes and it needs us, needs you, to be prepared."
My parents were both very strong supporters of Hydra and did everything they could to get me on their side as well. But I just didn't see things the same way they did. Ever since the failure of Project Insight a few years back, my parents and I have been training for a battle that I did not want to participate in.
While my parents hated the Avengers, I secretly looked up to them. They were everything I wanted to be. Brave, Just, and Good.
"I know that, mom. I'm just a little distracted. I have a big test later and I really want to do well." My jaw clenched as I lied. "Can I go? I don't want to be late."
"Alright but I expect you to do better next practice. I want nothing but perfection from my little girl." She walked up to me and embraced me in an awkward hug. My family was not one for affection. She brought her lips to my ear. "Hail Hydra."
She pushed back and gave me a cold smile and sent me off.
Walking up the steps of Midtown Tech was a harder task than expected. My muscles were still sore which made each step painful. I released a sigh of relief when I made it to the landing. I quickly made my way to my locker, avoiding flying drones and other people walking in different directions.
The minute I arrived at my locker I rested my head against the cool metal. Practice this morning really took a lot out of me and I didn't know how I was going to survive this day without some coffee. I closed my eyes and tried to get a few minutes of sleep in when someone cleared their throat beside me. I turned my head to the side and saw a smirking Peter Parker standing beside me, coffee cup in hand.
"Long night?"
"Yeah."
"Here." He handed me his coffee.
"You're not going to drink it?"
"Nah, you need it more than I do." I smiled and to the cup from him. I took a small sip and sighed. That's the stuff.
"Thank you. I feel so much better."
"You're welcome." Peter cocked his head, telling me to follow him. I walked in step with him as we made our way to our first class. "So, I noticed you've been tired a lot. Everything okay?"
Peter was a close friend or maybe more than a close friend but I couldn't exactly tell him about my family's other business. Secrecy was a big thing for Hydra members.
"Uh, yeah, everything's good. My parents are just very...encouraging?" I made a face and Peter laughed. "They want me to be the best and they'll do anything to help me achieve that."
"Ah, the overbearing parents never gets old. But they raised a pretty amazing daughter, so they can't be all that bad." Peter bumped his shoulder against mine. I smiled and rubbed the top of my coffee cup.
"You don't know my parents." I said, shaking my head. The lighthearted mood between us disappeared.
"Hey," Peter put his hands on my shoulders and turned me to face him. "You can tell me anything okay?" Peter was so kind, so innocent. How I wished I could to be like that.
"I know. Thanks Pete." My hand went up to hold his hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Parker. Let's get to class." I pulled him along and weaved through the waves of students.
"I can't believe you said that to Flash!" Peter exclaimed.
'Well, he had it coming." I shrugged.
"You, Y/N L/N, are amazing."
"I know." I gave him a smirk. Peter smiled and scratched the back of his neck. He peered at me and I sighed, getting lost in his eyes. Suddenly both our phones rang. I pulled out my phone and saw it was my dad. "Sorry, I'm just gonna take this it's my dad."
"Oh sure, go ahead. Mr. Stark's calling me too so I can't keep him waiting." Peter held out his phone. I clicked answer and placed the phone on my ear.
"Dad?"
"Y/N, you need to come down to the facility. Your mother and I believe that you need extra training and not just with your trainer at home. You need to be trained by professionals." Straight to it then.
"But dad, I have to do a paper tonight." I tried to argue.
"No arguments, Y/N. This is not negotiable." My dad said in a stern voice. I ran my hand down my face in frustration.
"Dad..."
"I will see you later." With that he hung up on me. Sighing, I turned back to Peter who was hanging up his phone as well. "My dad actually needs me so I have to go."
"I-I do too. Mr. Stark's expecting me." Peter gestured over his shoulder.
"How's that internship going by the way?" I liked hearing about his internship and seeing Peter's eyes light up as he spoke about how much he idolized Tony.
"It's great, really great actually. I've learned a lot and it's the best part of my day, if I'm going to be honest." Peter had a big, happy grin on his face.
"That sounds amazing. I'm happy for you." I reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. Peter twisted his hand and entwined our fingers. He looked straight into my eyes and my heart fluttered. "I think I need to go. My dad hates me being late."
"R-right." We let go of each other. "I'll see you tomorrow." Peter started walking backwards and accidentally bumped into a bunch of people. His eyes went wide and his face went red. He started apologizing profusely while the group looked at him weirdly and walked off. Peter looked back at me, resembling a deer caught in headlights. I laughed and walked up to him. Tiptoeing, I placed a kiss on his warm cheek. Peter turned even redder, if that was even humanly possible.
"Take care, Pete."
