Man Enough

Aiden didn't ask any further question. It wasn't necessary. He had heard Claire call some people pups more than once. Cameron was an example of that. Not that he understood the real meaning behind the name, but he got the jiffs of it. To her, they were something along the lines of what a new recruit is. And although he found it rather peculiar, he had never asked about it.

But at the moment, even if Aiden were to be tempted to ask, he couldn't. He was too busy trying to figure out how Claire had managed to make, and hide, such an elaborate and extensive underground structure. The ingenious entrance alone was unexpected, but the secret passageway was currently making his mind shift into his analysis and deciphering mode.

Aiden was no stranger to bases with similar designs. In fact he had a few of his own. The biggest one being almost completely underground too. But Claire's was in the heart of the city under some of the busiest streets you could find. Having been taught from a young age about the city's history and layout, he was more than sure that there were no tunnels, sewage pipeline systems or ancient escape routes where he was currently following Anna through. Meaning it was built during his lifetime and in such strict secrecy that even he didn't know about it.

'My my.' He thought to himself. 'The little fallen Angel has done it again hasn't she?' The fact that she managed to surprise him so consistently was a surprise in itself for him.

While the very impressed Aiden was in deep thought, Anna finished completing the security door's protocol and opened it. Stepping through, his mind was blown away yet again. He had assumed that the place the hallway they walked through would lead to a simple hideout, but in reality what he walked into was another world.

The interior of the room Anna had opened the door to was like a scene taken out of a spy movie. It was a very well lit tube structure. There was a small cat walk positioned from their end of the room towards the other end. What made it so interesting was that it imitated a glass chamber in which you could see everything around it. As they walked through it, Aiden could see what seemed to be hundreds of lit up screens on the outside with about a dozen people monitoring them. Among them, there were also those who walked around with tablets in their hands as they conversed. It felt like strolling through the middle of a high-tech command center through a hamster's playing tube.

They reached the other end of the see through chamber, but this time, Anna didn't open the opaque glass door. Instead, she touched it like she had done to the mirror which granted them access to the hidden underground passage. When she did, it became see through. A man stood on the other side with a mischievous grin on his face. He did so silently which apparently irritated Anna.

"We're not doing this Evan." Anna said in an irritated tone.

"Unless you're planning to stay in there all day, I believe we are." The young man replied.

"The answer is no and that's final. Open the door." She responded in a strict manner like one would do when scolding a misbehaving child.

"Really? Then it's a good thing you brought somebody to keep you company in there huh?" He cheekily answered.

"He has clearance and I'm through with your jokes for the day. Now open the door. That's an order." Her voice was sharper as she was obviously reaching the limits of her patience with him.

Evan looked obviously irritated by the fact that she had used the word "order". But believing he had the upper hand, he simply stood there and smirked. What he didn't notice was that his insubordination bothered somebody immensely. And it wasn't Anna.

"I believe your superior gave you an order boy." Aiden's threatening voice boomed inside the bullet proof tunnel, instantly sending involuntary tremors down both Anna's and Evan's backs.

Not a second after he said it, a tall woman appeared next to Evan and slapped the back of his head with force.

"Move you idiot." She told him as she pressed her hand in the middle of her side of the door making it open. "My apologies. These new pups are a handful." She said as she lowered her head towards both Aiden and Anna as soon as they stepped out. Turning to face Evan, her tone turned stricter. "Two days of system updating starting now. Go!"

Evan's face scrunched up in dissatisfaction as he bowed his head towards them all and left. Mumbling under his breath, he disappeared from their sight.

"Where's the Boss?" Anna asked the woman.

"Having fun while inflicting hell." The woman answered while she chuckled and walked away.

Anna grinned at her response before turning around and gesturing Aiden to follow her. "Sorry about that. The new techs are always the hardest to train around here."

Aiden simply hummed in reply as they made their way through the base. After seeing more of the underground hideout, Aiden was convinced that he needed to look into redoing his own bases. There was no way his competitive self would let his little lady be unimpressed by his own hidden locations.

Anna guided him through the hallways until she stopped in front of large black iron double doors. They didn't have a security access system like a lot of the other doors, but getting there required a few more security checks. Stepping inside, Aiden took in every detail of what he saw.

The room was made up of thick glass walls which exposed the soil behind them. The floor had no visible tiles since it was covered in dirt and the large space would've been completely empty if it weren't for a few metal benches lined up against the walls. Besides that, there were many people currently inside.

As soon as Anna had pushed the doors open, loud grunts and string of curses were heard. They both strolled inside as Aiden's lips curved into a smirk. They stood next to each other while silently enjoying the show before them.

Claire was barefoot wearing nothing but black lycra shorts and a matching black sports bra. Her fiery hair was styled into two french braids as she stared at the men before her. Facing her were Cameron and the man Claire had beaten in her villa a few nights earlier. They both sported tight black lycra shorts similar to hers. The only difference was that theirs were somewhat longer. Nonetheless, the three of them, including some of the people in the room, were bare of weapons, clothing and anything that could hinder their movements. Shoes included.

Aiden formed part of the partial circle composed of other spectators which surrounded the three. It was quiet around them, making their panting seem even louder. Although Claire had some sweat on her forehead and specks of dirt here and there, she seemed practically untouched. Unlike both of the men that accompanied her inside the man made circle who looked especially tired. They were sweaty and dirty all over. Bruises were starting to appear on different parts of their skill, their hair was everywhere but in place and their faces hid no emotion. Frustration. Anger. Irritation. Everything they were feeling at the moment could be clearly seen in their expressions.

"Now pups, as much as I'd enjoy going on until sunrise, I'm expecting company." Claire said in a sweet and innocent manner. She hadn't noticed Anna had already escorted Aiden to where she was. "That means I'm gonna have to finish up here." Her tone suddenly turned sarcastic. "Not that I need to shower or anything. I mean, I've barely worked up a sweat. But you two surely have." Her eyes shifted from sickeningly sweet ones, to mocking ones. "But I'd like to wash my hands. You've dirtied them."

Both's men's eyes turned cold. They were definitely riled up even if they attempted to avoid it. It was as clear as day that Claire's words were cutting deep into their egos and certainly their pride as trained fighters. And on top of that, the woman cockily standing a few feet from them was simply looking at her nails as if she hadn't challenged their very manhood.

"So pups." Claire's voice cut through the tense atmosphere once again. "Who's man enough to come at me first?"