Training

Dante stood in the training room, the air heavy with his fear. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he squared his shoulders and focused on the targets in front of him. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, a fiery energy threatening to burst forth at any moment.

Beside him, Kara stood with unwavering composure, her eyes keen but kind. "Just take a breath, Dante. You're getting there," she reassured him.

Dante nodded, trying to steady his trembling hands. Small sparks of electricity crackled at his fingertips. "I'm doing my best," he muttered under his breath, his voice strained. He couldn't afford to falter, especially not in front of her.

Sensing his struggle, Kara gave him some space. "Let's give it another shot. This time, try to unleash the fire."

Taking a deep breath, Dante concentrated, feeling the heat welling up inside him. But as he attempted to harness it, the flames erupted uncontrollably, striking the wall instead of the target.

"Dammit!" Dante exclaimed, clenching his fists in frustration. "I can't rein it in."

The room fell silent until Major Reynolds entered, his expression stern. "You need to focus, Martinez. If you can't control it here, you're a liability out there."

"I'm trying," Dante insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. He stole a glance at Kara, hoping for some semblance of reassurance. However, her gaze remained inscrutable, fixed on him with unwavering intensity.

"You're pushing too hard," Kara advised, stepping closer to him. "Let it flow to you. Don't force it."

Dante let out a weary sigh, feeling the weight of his own inadequacy. His powers seemed too erratic, slipping through his grasp every time he thought he had a handle on them. And to make matters worse, Kara was watching. He couldn't bear the thought of appearing incompetent in her eyes.

Taking a moment to collect himself, he raised his hand once more. This time, he focused on summoning water. With narrowed eyes, he willed the liquid to materialize in the air. A slender stream of water materialized, swirling gracefully before abruptly exploding, drenching the floor and sending forth small electrical discharges.

"Damn it!" Dante exclaimed, taking a step back and almost losing his footing on the slick surface.

Kara let out a soft chuckle and extended a hand to help him up. "Well, at least you didn't set anything on fire this time."

Dante's heart pounded as he took her hand, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks with embarrassment. Her touch sent a jolt through him, but he quickly withdrew, trying to play it off. Why does she have to be so composed? He watched as she turned her attention to the training panel, adjusting the settings.

"You're overthinking it," Kara said without glancing at him. "You need to trust yourself more."

"I don't know how," Dante admitted, wiping his damp hands on his shirt. "Every time I think I've got it, something goes wrong."

Kara finally turned to face him, her expression softening. "You will. It takes time. None of us mastered our skills right away."

Dante felt his stomach flip at the way she looked at him. He had been watching her from the moment they met—her confidence, her intelligence, the way she seemed to have everything under control. She's incredible. But she'll never see me like that. He swallowed the thought and gave a half-hearted smile. "I hope you're right."

"You'll get there," Kara said, her voice firm with belief. "You're part of this team for a reason."

Before Dante could respond, the doors to the training room slid open again, and Akiro Nakamura walked in, his arms crossed over his chest. His face, as usual, was unreadable, his dark eyes scanning the room.

"You're late," Akiro said, his tone sharp.

Dante blinked, confused. "Late for what?"

"Training starts at 0800," Akiro replied. "You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago."

"I… I didn't realize," Dante muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You need to pay attention to the schedule," Akiro said, his voice low but intense. "This is a team, and if you're not ready, you put us all at risk."

Dante felt the weight of Akiro's words hit him hard. He wasn't just failing in his training—he was letting the team down. He glanced at Kara again, feeling her eyes on him. I'm messing everything up.

"I'll do better," Dante promised, his voice almost a whisper.

"You'd better," Akiro replied before turning on his heel and walking out of the room.

Kara sighed, shaking her head. "Don't let Akiro get to you. He's tough, but it's because he takes this seriously. We all do."

"I know," Dante said, feeling the pressure mounting. I don't belong here. He tried to push the thought away, but it lingered.

Kara stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've got potential, Dante. We all see it. You just need to believe it too."

He looked at her, his heart racing. How can I tell her? She'd laugh if she knew I liked her.

Before Dante could respond, Isaac Evans entered, his usual calm demeanor in place. "You ready for the next round, Dante?" he asked with a raised brow.

Dante straightened up, trying to look confident. "Yeah. Let's do it."

Isaac glanced at the puddle on the floor and the scorched marks on the wall. "I take it things have been... eventful?"

Kara laughed, stepping back. "Just a little."

Dante chuckled nervously. "I'm still learning."

"Well, don't worry," Isaac said with a smirk. "You're not the first to make a mess in here. Trust me."

Dante smiled weakly, but his mind was elsewhere. Why do I keep messing up? He stole another glance at Kara, who was now busy adjusting the control panel. His chest tightened. How can I impress her if I can't even control my own powers?

Isaac clapped him on the back. "Ready?"

"Yeah," Dante said, squaring his shoulders. I have to get this right.

Isaac set up the next target and nodded toward Dante. "This time, just focus on one thing. Don't try to control all the elements at once. Start simple."

Dante took a deep breath, raising his hand. He concentrated on the electricity this time, feeling the energy gather in his fingertips. Slowly, carefully, he released it. A small bolt shot from his hand, hitting the target directly.

"Nice!" Isaac said, impressed.

Dante exhaled, relieved. "Finally."

Kara turned back toward him, a smile spreading across her face. "See? You've got it."

Dante felt his heart skip a beat. That smile... He forced himself to focus. "Thanks."

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Think you can do it again?"

Dante nodded, feeling a bit more confident now. "Yeah. I think I can."

Isaac set up another target, and Dante prepared himself. I won't mess up this time.

But just as he was about to fire another bolt, his powers surged. Electricity, water, and fire all mixed together, shooting wildly across the room. The targets exploded, and sparks flew everywhere.

"Dante!" Kara shouted, ducking for cover.

"I'm sorry!" Dante yelled, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

The training room fell silent as the smoke cleared. Isaac stood up, brushing off his jacket. "Well... that was interesting."

Dante's face flushed with embarrassment. "I... I didn't mean to..."

Kara walked over, her eyes softening. "It's okay, Dante. It happens."

But Dante shook his head, his frustration building. I can't keep doing this.

"I'll get better," he muttered. But inside, all he could think about was how much further he had to go.