One Boring Person

I can feel the moment my heart drops to my ass, a heavy, creeping dread following in its wake, followed undeniably but quietly by excitement. The major's steely gaze remains on me, pinning me down like a predator with its prey. Around me, the other recruits seem to shrink back and out of the way, collective relief palpable as several pairs of eyes turn to me. Silence falls on the training hall.

'I haven't got all day, Recruit,' Krauser barks as the quiet drags, snapping me harshly to reality, 'On the mat. Now.'

'Yes, Sir,' I hasten to follow his command, scrambling out of the ranks to stand across from him.

He tracks my every move, the hair on the back of my neck prickling under the heavy weight of his gaze. It fixes me where I am as I finally come to stand before him, swallowing tightly at the bulk of the man staring down at me. This close, it's hard to miss the way each muscle ripples in his arms as he uncrosses them, twitching as he flexes his hands. My own gaze trails up towards his biceps, mouth watering at the sight of his shirt stretched tight over his broad shoulders and chest.

I look up to his face, barely noticing the smirk pulling at his scarred lip before he's lunging, lightning fast, at me. Completely instinctively, I whip my arms up into a protective stance, flinching back onto my back leg to avoid the swing. It still hits, skating harshly off of my forearms, knocking my arms back into my face.

This time as I look up at the major, an unimpressed growl is etched into his features, disdain written into the way his eyes rake up and down my form.

'Get it together, boy. I'm not going easy on ya,' He snaps, launching into another attack.

He goes for my stomach, his fist flying towards me. I twist, dodging out of the way, barely avoiding it. Of course, Krauser has foreseen this, his other arm easily swiping up to land a sharp jab to my side. I grunt and fuck, sweeping a leg out with the intention of kicking his ankle out. Somehow recovered from his swings, the major just barks out a laugh and kicks harder, driving his leg upwards in the same motion to drive his knee into my stomach.

I gasp as the breath is punched out of me, stumbling back. Krauser snarls this time, instantly on my tail again as he moves in to grip my arm. He pulls me in close, his chest suddenly inches from my face; my eyes widen, mouth watering again at the sight of his muscular pecs mere centimetres from my nose. An image of being pinned underneath them flashes through my head before I can stop it, my hand coming up uselessly to push at the larger man - though I'm unsure if I'm really pushing or using it as an excuse to touch.

Above me, the major grunts, moving smoothly to grip my arm and twist it behind me, sweeping my feet out from underneath me before I can shake the dirty images in my head away. Pain erupts in my torso as I'm thrown to the floor, the major pinning me easily with my twisted arm, dwarfing me with his sheer bulk.

'Pathetic, boy. You're an embarrassment,' Krauser spits down at me, giving me a shove for good measure before standing from me, 'Get up, we're going again.'

Hastily, I climb to my feet, ignoring the burning ache spreading through me. Sweat beads on my forehead, as it does on his, some strands of blonde hair sticking to it as he rolls his shoulders and neck. My eyes fix on the languid movement, catching the way he shifts his weight evenly despite his size.

I ignore the way the rookies watching murmur amongst themselves, their attention staunchly on Krauser and I. Shaking my head, I try to clear my mind, trying to derail the train of thought already hurtling full speed through my brain. I sink into a ready position, keeping my own weight spread across my body.

The major clicks his tongue, 'Better, Recruit. Now keep up.'

Pride fizzles through me, warmth burning deep in my chest at the comment. Before I can rein myself in, my lips start fighting to smile, my cheeks heating.

It's short-lived pride. Krauser uses the moment to step in close, raining blows down on me. I duck and dodge as much as possible, scrambling to get out of the firing line. A particularly fast swing leaves Krauser overshooting his weight, exposing his midriff. I duck in fast, landing jabs until his elbow slams down on my back, his knee connecting once more with my abdomen as I buckle over. This time, he doesn't leave it there, using the same foot to twist and kick me hard in the chest.

It's like being hit by a truck. My body is flung backwards, the air punched from my gut, sending me smashing into the floor. I roll a few times, using the momentum to get back up on my feet, only to find Krauser's boot slamming against my chest once more. My ribs scream in pain, the blow harder this time as I crash to the mat once more.

Exhausted and aching all over, I try again.

This time, I get almost upright before his arm is sling around my neck, yanking me up and backwards. His chest hits my back, arm tightening mercilessly around my throat. The taste of iron and copper drips onto my tongue as my vision starts to fade slightly and I realise I've broken my lip in all this, clinging to that ounce of reality as I fight back the images flooding my head of other situations where he might have his arm choking me out like this. Heat burns through me, my mouth falling open to pant, my hands clutching and clawing at his arms. He just growls and holds me tighter, using his height to his advantage as he starts lifting me from the floor, choking me out harder.

The major's face appears by my ear, his breath fanning out over my neck as he speaks.

'Got a long way to go with you, boy,' He growls, voice gravelly and rough, close enough that his scent washes over me.

All I can manage is a whimper, my face burning as the sound escapes me.

Snarling, Krauser throws me down on the floor, standing over me. As I turn, ready to try fighting back again, he just lifts a foot, resting the heavy sole of his boot over my neck. Gradually, he applies pressure until I stop writhing, my hands clawing at his leg. He towers over me, lip curled to bare teeth, eyes burning. A pulse of heat shoots through me at the realisation that I am well and truly powerless beneath him, trapped and at his mercy.

Then his gaze flickers, something new flashing in those icy blue depths. His lips quirk into a brief smirk before returning to their scowl of disapproval.

He looks back to the others.

'If you don't learn to be better at hand to hand combat, you will all end up as useless as this one,' He jerks his head in my direction, 'You will spar for the rest of the training session. All of you.'

A chorus of 'yes sir's fill the air as the recruits shuffle off to find partners and mats, leaving me alone with the major, still immobile under his boot. Krauser turns back to look at me, finally removing his foot as he crouches down to my level. I gulp as he leans into my personal space, a knowing smirk on his face.

'I think you'll need some extra training. Meet me after training and we'll see if I can find some more use for you,' He drawls, winking as he gives me an obvious once-over.