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Shaw leaned back the worn wooden chair creaking slightly as two of its legs were forced to do the work of four. She glared at the haphazard stacks of books in front of her with distaste. Harolds recommendation to “read a book if you require entertainment” when she had complained about their lack of numbers rang in her ears and her scowl deepened.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you that swinging on chairs is dangerous Shaw?”
Root leant against the wide door frame between the section of the library best described as Harolds office with a satisfied smirk on her face.
“Clearly this is the only danger I’m going to get as the machine is clearly not looking hard enough for people to shoot”.
“Shooting people isn’t the only way to get an adrenaline rush Sameen” Root teased her smirk transfiguring into a small smug grin.
Shaw plonked the chair back onto four legs and reached for a random book in the pile, flicked it open and pretended to read. A shuffle to her left told her that Root was on the move, she glared down at the page feigning interest. The chair next to her scraped on the concreate floor and Root sat down leaning on the table, head in hands.
“Rage and what to do about it I didn’t know you were on a self-improvement journey Sameen”
Shaws eyes snapped up despite herself, she snapped the book shut and stared at the cover, cursing herself for not paying attention to her choice of fake distraction.
Root lowered her voice “I’m sure I can help you find somewhere to direct your rage in a productive way. Besides what else are friends for?”
“Root-“Shaw growled “we are not friends”. Shaw usually didn’t mind that the only emotion she had that she understood was anger but today even the presence of anger was bothering her.
“No” Root said quietly the smile still dancing on her lips “we aren’t friends”.
Shaw sighed and was about to retort with that is not what I meant, and you damn well know it. When Root pulled back from the table and somewhat restrained the smile back to a smug smirk.
“Why don’t we go and spar, you clearly cannot sit still, and I wouldn’t want you to get rusty”.
Root stood and walked off not waiting for Shaws response.
The foyer of the library was mostly void of purpose, while the rest of the team’s base was a rabbit warren of weapons, books, computer parts and takeout wrappers (much to Harolds distaste). Just before the stairs the entrance way to the building was a more open space with ageing cream and black tiles, adorned with loose pages incrementally.
Shaw slowly headed in the direction Root had gone and found her taping her knuckles on the bottom step of the stairs. She grinned up at Shaw offering her the tape, Shaw raised her eyebrows before violently hitting it out of her hand.
Root sprang up backing away into the open space as Shaw stalked down the stairs slowly, her lips quirking slightly as Root got into a defensive stance bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet.
Shaw side stepped slowly around Root watching attentively. Root clearly wanted her to make the first move, and she was not going to give her the satisfaction.
Root scowled, Shaws brown eyes were fixed intently on her, but she was clearly feeling stubborn today. Root gritted her teeth and swung what she knew would be a doomed punch against an ex-government assassin.
Shaw effortlessly caught her wrist, grinning. Root aimed a kick at Shaw’s legs. She braced for impact that never came as Shaw somehow dodged it despite their close quarters. Sending Root into an awkward yet violent pirouette.
Pain blossomed across her back as she was slammed into the tile floor. She raised her legs and kicked as Shaw sprung towards her again exhaling as she caught her square in the stomach, with a satisfying oomph from Shaw. Root sprang to her feet and aimed another punch that was effortlessly dodged, another one at her stomach and one at her chest all of which were effortlessly and infuriatingly sidestepped with indifference. Root growled, Shaw was grinning.
“Feeling better Sameen?”
“If I can’t shoot people, I suppose kicking your ass isn’t the worst way to spend a Tuesday”
“You haven’t actually touched my ass yet shaw, it unfortunately remains un-kicked”
Shaw launched forward grabbing the front of Roots ridiculous graphic t-shirt, slamming her into a pillar.
“Are you going to hit me or hit on me Root? make up your damn mind” She slammed Root back into the pillar harder as she spoke.
“I can multitask sweetie don’t you worry”.