NO / COMBAT

you sit in tense silence, barely moving, barely breathing. you glare at the opposite wall and the mirror you know they’re watching you through. though you say nothing, internally, you berate yourself. a rookie mistake cost you your target and resulted in your own apprehension. coulson would find this hilarious. you don’t. when the door opens and the detective from earlier strides in, you follow her movements with your eyes, but otherwise remain completely still. the only perceptible move you make is the clench of your jaw. if she wants you to talk, she’ll have to work for it. you’re trained to keep secrets.

stoic expression breaking momentarily with the narrow of your eyes and the barest rise of your left brow. you stand completely still, legs shoulder-width apart and one hand grasping the wrist of the other. you don’t like being this exposed, especially with hydra out there taking your people down one at a time. you aren’t all that concerned about your own safety, but rather the agents that tend to follow you wherever you go. you gave them the slip earlier, because phil asked you to track down a dealer that’s been selling to the other side. you didn’t need to babysit as well. but it didn’t matter, in the end. someone else beat you to him.     ‘     --     who are you     ?     ‘     you ask, a slight growl to your tone. coulson didn’t say she would have competition.

two word starters    ➝     stella gibson➝     @asperad     !

                     it’s instinctual. without thought or hesitation, you drop to the floor and swing out your leg, a perfect pirouette with your chest horizontal to the ground and your palms pressed hard in to the concrete beneath you. it’s fluid, it’s quick, and most importantly, it’s effective. your foot points as your ankle makes contact with the officer chasing you down a back alley, and though she is armed, you are not. you use your own momentum to elevate your legs, twisting yourself in to a standing position, hands curled in to fists and raised in your own defence. the only thing you hear now are the cars from the main road. peak hour traffic in an otherwise small irish town that haven’t seen traffic the likes of los angeles, or new york. otherwise, silence. 

                                   you are barely breathing as you straighten your back, hands falling to your hips where they remain but continue to hold their tension, prepared just in case the detective facing you decides to act.      ‘     –     i don’t have time for this,     ‘     you drawl listlessly, words passing between you quietly, but decidedly firm. this is why s.h.i.e.l.d operates outside of public law enforcement, outside of federal bureaus. because they don’t know what it takes to keep the planet safe, and they waste their energy on tracking down the people who do.