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Back at the beginning of training, Fitz said that Court—no, Fitz said that Six would be able to fight with one hand tied behind his back.
He hadn’t realized Fitz meant that quite so literally.
Six ducked under one punch and followed it up with a quick jab of his own, but it didn’t carry the same power as normal since he wasn’t able to throw his full body into it. His other hand was tied behind his back, a length of rope connecting his wrist to his belt loops. It wasn’t the most secure restraint, and he’d been drilled enough times on how to escape from similar situations that he could get out if he tried, but he was pretty sure that was part of the test—to see how well he followed instructions.
Six kneed his opponent in the crotch, drawing back to get an actually good punch in when someone else grabbed him from behind, wrapping an arm around his neck. Shit, he’d forgotten to watch his six—ha.
The second guy was bigger and stronger, and with one hand restrained Six didn’t have much to work with. He threw his elbow backwards, but even though he made contact it didn’t seem to matter to the guy, who barely grunted. It got harder to breathe with every passing second, so Six stuck his foot behind his attacker’s ankle and threw himself backwards, successfully sending them both to the ground with Six landing on top.
Six rolled off of the guy just in time to catch a knee to the face, his head snapping backwards as he felt his lip split at the impact, the iron tang of blood flooding his mouth. Six staggered, and barely managed to avoid the next punch. He danced out of the way of a few more blows before catching the man’s fist and using that to yank him into a chokehold.
Or, an attempt at a chokehold, because with his other arm restrained he couldn’t get the leverage to keep the guy in place. He was still getting used to only fighting with one hand, but he had to be better than that if he wanted to prove his worth as a Sierra agent. Six took an elbow to the side and a punch to his sternum as the guy broke free, stumbling in place as he lost the ability to breathe.
His attackers took the opportunity to jump on him. One of them yanked his free arm behind his back and wrapped an arm around his neck while the other one started whaling on him.
Six caught a glimpse of Fitz standing on the sidelines, watching them, evaluating Six, and his stomach dropped. He couldn’t let Fitz down. He had to prove he was a valuable asset.
Six dropped all of his weight down, pulling the guy behind him off balance and conveniently making him take a punch for Six. Six spun around as he lifted from a crouch, detangling his arm and landing a roundhouse kick to the side of the man’s face, sending him to the ground.
The other lunged forward to grab at Six, who turned, letting the guy’s arm slip right between his restrained arm and his side. Six squeezed that arm down, effectively pinning the guy in place. Six landed a sharp blow to the guy’s shoulder and heard a satisfying pop as the joint slid out of place, accompanied by an aborted shout. The second man joined the first on the ground, both groaning in pain, and Six waited for a count of five to make sure they wouldn’t try to get up before he smiled and turned to the sidelines, his head held high.
It was a good fight, and he knew it. The trick he’d pulled to trap the guy’s arm was enough to make him feel smug, but he still wanted to hear Fitz congratulate him on the move.
Except Fitz wasn’t looking at them. Wasn’t paying attention to the fight at all. He was half turned away, his phone held to his ear.
Six’s excitement fizzled as he realized that Fitz hadn’t seen any of that.
Fitz stayed on the phone for a few moments longer before hanging up and turning to the mat, his smile falling to confusion when he saw the other two men on the ground. Six wondered at what point Fitz had turned away—once Six broke free? When the two guys had Six pinned? Even before that?
“Oh,” Fitz said. “Right, don’t mind me, I just learned that my sister-in-law is pregnant.” Fitz smiled then, a real smile, and Court was suddenly reminded of the way his mom looked when she learned she was having twins.
“Congratulations, sir,” Court said.
“Yes, they’ve been trying for so long, so it’s good that it’s finally happened for them.” Fitz sounded proud, and Court desperately wanted that praise turned towards him.
“You’re going to be a great uncle,” Court said, because he knew it to be true. Fitz nodded once, then his expression fell back into a blank mask as he eyed the two men who were slowly being helped off the mat.
“Next round, then?” Fitz said, and Six remembered that he was there for a reason—he was an asset, nothing more. He would never be an uncle, or a father. He wasn’t even a brother anymore.
Six turned back to the mat as two new opponents took their places—a man and a woman this time. His shoulder ached from his arm being restrained for so long, the rope had started to chafe his wrist, and he still tasted blood from a split lip, but none of that mattered. Sierra agents had to learn to fight through the pain, so that no amount of injuries or enemies they faced would take them down.
Six settled into a fighting stance, clearing his mind of all thoughts and distractions until he wasn’t even human anymore.
“Begin,” Fitz called.