Who: Natasha and Amy Where: Shooting range When: Thursday afternoon What: Practice time Warnings: Low/None Status: Closed | Completed gdoc
It had been a while since Natasha had been to the shooting range, at least for a proper practice, so since she had a free afternoon she decided she’d head over and make sure her skills weren’t turning rusty. She also missed the serenity that came with shooting, before arriving in Madison she’d needed her skills a lot more often. Not that it was a bad thing she didn’t here of course.
Entering the main building she moved to the front desk to sign in, completing the form that registered she was practising with her own weapons.
***
Amy was used to seeing the same people over and over at the range, so she recognized the redhead who entered and filled out the forms. It was just about time for her to take a break and she’d actually planned on getting in some practice herself.
“Haven’t seen you in a while,” she said. “How’s everything going?”
They weren’t really friends or anything, but Amy felt like she knew most of the regulars, at least enough to notice when they hadn’t been in.
***
“Not too bad thanks. I’ve just been neglecting my firearms” Natasha said with a wry smile, “How are you? Everybody else attending more regularly than I am?”
It was nice to see the same people around and Natasha knew she really did need to get back to a more regular practice schedule. Maybe even start bringing Cassie, if she was interested.
***
When you didn’t see someone for a while, you always had to wonder if they’d been sent home or had something really bizarre happen. Anything was possible in this town, something that still managed to catch Amy by surprise on a regular basis. She liked having a neat and orderly life. That was not possible in Madison Valley.
“Not really,” Amy said. “I’m glad you’re doing well though.”
She glanced at the clock. “Care for some company while you shoot?” she asked. “I was just about to take my break.” And she had a feeling that going up against Natasha would really put her skills to use.
*** Being sent home was definitely one of the biggest wonders when you didn’t see someone for a while, though generally people put a notice on the network if it happened. It was still disconcerting when someone did disappear though, especially when it was one of Natasha’s group as they never quite knew what they’d be going back to.
“Sure, you’d be more than welcome” Natasha told her, it had been a while since she’d shot with anybody. And it would add that little competitive edge which she liked.
***
“Great,” Amy said, flashing her a grin. “I try to practice at least once a week. Sometimes I don’t though.” And really, there was no excuse since she was here all the time and it would be really easy to do so on her breaks or before or after her shifts.
She got her weapon out of the lockbox under the counter and grabbed some targets for both of them.
***
“Strange isn’t it how here we find old habits slipping. Back home I’d practice most days when not on a mission” Natasha said, “I have more time here but I still don’t do as much training as I would have there” Sure she had a job here, and her gym workouts weren’t slipping but there was so much she’d do regularly that she didn’t here. She should really start to fix that.
***
Amy understood that. “I was a detective at home,” she said. “So range time was scarce, but necessary.” When they weren’t actively investigating a case, they did what they could to keep up all of their skills.
“What kind of missions did you go on?” she asked. They’d never really discussed their lives before coming here. Or much else except exchanging pleasantries.
***
“Ah then you understand better than most” Natasha said, glad her instincts had been right, she’d suspected a job along those lines. There was just something about how the woman held herself.
“Infiltration mostly. I was an intelligence operative” she told her, leaving out the assassination details. The fact she was a trained killer wasn’t something she wanted to bring up in general conversation.
***
Intelligence operative probably meant government which Amy assumed meant confidential, so she simply nodded and didn’t ask any further questions about it. “It’s frustrating not being able to use those skills here,” she said. “I am definitely not used to having so much down time.”
She figured that they could probably relate on that front as well. “I probably shouldn’t complain though, given that I frequently wished I could have a vacation.” Somehow, the fact that it was forced made it different, but she wasn’t sure if she could completely articulate why.
***
Natasha appreciated the lack of questions, explaining SHIELD and Hydra was more than anybody wanted to hear really. “I’m definitely the same, the number of times I wished for a normal ordinary life and yet when I first got here especially I was so bored” she smiled, “I appreciate the chances I’ve been given here but it takes some adjusting. And I don’t want to completely lose my edge. There are people whose asses I still need to kick after all”
***
“There are always people who need to have their asses kicked,” Amy said. It might not be the best attitude for a cop to have, but it was true. She had seen the worst of humanity in the course of her career and some people were simply unable to be rehabilitated.
She got them set up in one of the practice lanes and then stepped back. “I’m Amy, by the way. I don’t know if we’ve ever been officially introduced.”
***
“So very true” Natasha agreed, cop or not it was a truth that shouldn’t be denied. For some people an ass kicking was the only thing they would understand.
“Natasha” she replied, “Good to officially meet you Amy. Now let’s shoot some practice bad guys” she grinned.