★ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞 : 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ★

                                    

                                          
𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐎𝐕:
I turned the corner and came face to face with a robot that stood on some metal crates. Rapidly, I brandished my Sheriff, aiming at its head and, before it even had the time to do anything about it, I shot it down. Oil splattered all over my clothes, its head demolished from the brutal force of the bullet. I ran to the spike and crouched down, taking the device that sat in my belt. While I defused the spike, I caught a glimpse of Sage observing me from the sidelines. The bomb stopped, I got up onto my two feet. I turned to face my mentor, staring at her. 
"Was this one better than the last?" I asked sarcastically after a small, but tense silence.
She looked at me and, without her usual smile, she said:
"Yes, but you know you lacked speed. Plus, you should be less straightforward with the enemies. It could put you in danger if the one you're facing is stronger than you."
I stared at her silently, scoffing to myself, before I picked up my gun from the ground and put it back in its place in my belt. I jumped through the gaping hole in the wall, down the platform the fake spike had been on. 
I glanced at Sage who just silently watched my every move. There was strong tension in the air and I felt like it was about to snap at any moment. I started walking away, rolling my eyes. 
"Where are you going Y/N," I heard Sage say with a bossy tone. To me, it sounded more like an indirect order than a question. 
I snapped my head back towards her and glared at her. 
"I'm going to take a break, we've been on this since 6 am and it's currently - I looked at the time on my phone that I took from my back pocket - 1:28 PM. I'm starving and exhausted, so leave me the fuck alone," I retorted sharply.
I watched as Sage frowned, hearing my words. She crossed her arms and huffed. Her eyes shifted to meet mine and she opened her mouth to say something.  In that moment, I instantly knew that I would get scolded.
"Watch your language young lady," she spat. "What's the matter with you today? You're acting all enraged."
She paused for a second, but before I could talk back to her, she continued on. 
"If your attitude isn't improving, I might just go and tell Brimstone that you're not fit to be trained."
For some reason, what she said absolutely pissed me off. I scrunched my eyebrows, and felt my body temperature rise in pure anger. I clenched my hands into fists and glared at Sage. My mind went blank and I couldn't think straight as I gritted my teeth.
"Maybe I'm acting like this because you're being an absolute bitch, unlike you usually are," I retorted defiantly, staring straight into Sage's eyes. I swear I could've seen a small look of guilt flash in her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came. 
"Y/N, you do know that Brimstone actually told me to be more strict with you to try and quicken your training," she answered, this time uncrossing her arms. She had a slightly saddened expression on her face and she spoke in a feeble voice.
I unclenched my fists and quickly clenched them back, digging my nails into my palm as I fully turned towards Sage. 
"Well, I'm sorry to say, but it's not working," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. 
Sage closed her eyes and sighed. I watched her reopen her eyes and take small steps towards me. I instinctively stepped back and looked away as she closed the distance, only to stand before me. 
"I never wanted this in the beginning." Her voice was soft and reassuring. I risked a glance at her and saw that she had a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Y/N, both Brimstone and I only want your well-being, and that's why your training is harsher; so that when you actually join the battlefield, you won't get killed or badly injured in the first minutes."
I stayed silent as I pondered on her words. I slumped a little, my previously tense body now getting slightly relaxed. I loosened my fist and flinched at the pain where my nails had dug into my hand. My eyes turned glossy as I avoided Sage's piercing gaze.
"I'm... sorry," I muttered out, my voice slightly shaking. "I was just... mad at the fact that I would still have to train for a few months before I could actually join the team. I didn't react like I should've and in turn, that probably hurt you, and I'm really sorry."
Tears threated to fall from my eyes as I kept looking down at my feet, my vision rapidly blurring. I flinched when I suddenly felt Sage's hand on my shoulder. I turned my gaze to her hand and then to the woman in front of me. She looked at me with a soft expression on her face, clearly trying to comfort me.
"Don't be sorry," she said, "I know it must be hard on you and I totally understand that. I also want to apologize for how roughly I treated you and that I should've been more delicate with how I started."
At this point, tears were silently dripping down my cheeks as I sniffled. I brought a hand to my face and wiped the tears away in vain as more rolled down my face.
We both stayed silent for a little while. The only noise that regularly broke the silence were my small sobs and my sniffling. 
When I finally calmed down, I felt like I was lighter, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was more relaxed, more willing to work hard to finish my training and get into the team. I glanced at Sage with my, I assume were red and puffy, eyes and I flashed her a little smile, thanking her.
"If you ever, ever again feel like this, I want you to, please, tell me next time so that I can adjust how I act, alright?" said the older agent. 
I nodded my head and answered her:
"I promise."
She smiled and instantly went back to her usual happy self. She took my hand and pulled me towards the exit of the building.
"Now, let's get you something to eat!"
★---------------★
A/N: Im sooo sorry that this chapter was late, more than half of the chapter just disappeared and I had to start it all overrrr 😭🤚
Anyways, it's kind of a small chapter, but at least we aint on bad terms with mommy Sage anymore 😋