The women's changing room inside of Lilith's armory-spaceship was a mess of straps, leather, and ribbon strewn about the black velvet upholstery and metallic flooring.

"Here, try this one." Lilith offered a lump of black mesh to Ava.

Ava picked it up and let it unravel from her hands. Fishnets?! Hell to the nah. Ava was already wearing more space age spandex than she'd ever imagined herself capable of. Wasn't that enough torture for one day?

Lilith said reassuringly, "It's not as weird as it seems. Besides, today's all about trying different styles to find what works best for both of you. And what looks the most you. Can't find that if we don't," she winked, "experiment."

Ava pursed her lips down at Lilith in disapproval. "Alright then. Here goes my last shred of dignity." Ava took the fishnets and extra leg padding, then disappeared behind a curtain to change.

Lilith called into the curtained stall next to it, "How's that bodysuit coming along?"

Shae's muffled voice answered, "I think it's trying to shrink wrap me.... I feel like I'm suffocating."

"Oh, if it were suffocating you, you would know."

A small band on Lilith's left wrist flashed pink and made a sound like chimes being struck.

The armorer muttered to herself, "It looks like they're here." Then she said loud enough for Shae and Ava to hear, "You ladies keep changing into that gear. I've got to check something in the shop, but I'll be back in a jiffy."

Once Lilith was gone from the changing room, Shae poked her head out from behind her curtain.

"Pssst! How's it going over there?"

"It's going about as well as my last relationship," Ava answered sourly.

"Need any help?"

"No, I've got it. At least, I think I've got it. This net business is...interesting." Ava strolled out of her changing room, her lips tight in mild disapproval. "Honestly, who decided thick-ass butt guards were a good idea?" She walked over to a full-length mirror and began to look at herself, front to back.

The top was normal looking enough: maroon leather laced up the sides with a baggy high collar under which her black necklace-cloaking device was tucked and hidden away. The matching maroon leather shorts were longer than she expected, and the black fishnets she noticed had tiny bits of silver scattered along the mesh. The short boots and arm bracers weren't so bad, she thought.

Shae gasped at the sight of her friend. "You look so cool."

Ava frowned, not as convinced. "Okay, now you."

Shae walked out in what appeared to be a combination of two different suits. The bodice and knee length boots were a soft mint, while the arm and leg guards, and the underlying body suit, were a kind of pastel banana cream that made Shae look like she'd fully transitioned into a badass space cadet princess: which was far from how she felt, to be sure.

Ava rolled her eyes in mild annoyance. "Of course like none of your skin is showing. It's hiding under all that spandex. Meanwhile, here I am: just a ho, ready to go."

Shae shrugged her shoulders uncertainly. "Maybe it has something to do with fighting styles?"

"Maybe."

Shae gave herself a good, long look in one of the standing mirrors. The sight of herself in a space age combat suit made her feel...strange. "I feel like this wedgie I have right now will haunt me for the rest of my life."

The blonde escort poked her head into Ava's mirror, where her sassy friend was continuing to frown at herself--though Shae couldn't see why. She thought that Ava looked fierce.

Shae said coyly, "I bet Tae would like your stockings."

Ava's eyes turned to slits. "You really want to play this game? Because I'll win."

Shae only giggled.

"Girl, let me tell you ALL the reasons why your shady homeboy—"

Whatever Ava was about to say about the shady homeboy that was Kim Namjoon faded at the sound of Lilith coming back into the room.

"Now this is what I'm talking about." Lilith grinned with warm approval at them both. She proceeded to circle Ava and Shae, and to ask them questions related to comfort and fit while making notes on a small clipboard.

Once Lilith was finished making her notes, she put her clipboard under her arm and said, cool as a cucumber, "So, I've recruited a couple of friends to help us out today. You two needed sparring partners who actually know what they're doing, and I need to observe your gear in action."

Lilith stepped forward and tucked Shae's cloaking device necklace securely into her suit, the black band disappearing beneath banana cream spandex.

"And I'm gonna need you two to act chill. They're here to help you learn. Got it?"

Ava and Shae exchanged uncertain looks.

"Oh, and for the rest of our session," Lilith pointed to Shae, "your name is Sky," then to Ava, "and your name is Ivy. Only use those names with each other. Are we clear?"

"But why...?"

"Just go with it." Lilith started pushing the two of them by the shoulders out of the changing rooms. "This is gonna be fun."

____

Jung Hoseok was down on the massive black mat that stretched across the full length of the sparring room. He was leaning into and stretching out his leg muscles, his shaggy red hair falling into his eyes. He wore a grey T-shirt and not-so-loose shorts with green fern patterns on them.

"You need to stretch, Yoongi."

"I'm saving my energy." The figure of Min Yoongi was laying down on his back with one arm propped under his head and the other laying across his stomach. "Besides, these girls are fresh as a couple of spring daisies, it sounds like. This'll be cake." Yoongi was in an all-black ensemble of joggers, a slimming T-shirt, and a face mask that was pulled down around his chin. He had crimped black hair to match, making his bright white skin stand out.

"Suit yourself." Hoseok got to his feet and started stretching out his arms.

Yoongi grumbled in a raspy, harsh voice, "Remind me why we're here again?"

"We're here because Lilith is our friend and she asked us for a favor."

"Mmm. This is why I don't have many friends."

Hoseok chuckled. Then he nudged Yoongi in the side with his foot, making the pale man in quiet repose twitch and swear under his breath.

"They're here. Get up."

"Aish...." Yoongi crawled lazily to his feet and dusted himself off. When he saw Lilith walking across the bright room with the domed white ceiling, Ava and Shae in tow behind her, Yoongi growled low, "Fishnet girl is mine."

Hoseok looked from Ava to Yoongi's small, dark eyes. "That's all it took, huh?"

Yoongi slapped a hand heavily on one of Hobi's shoulders, gave it a firm squeeze, then let his hand fall away. "When I'm interested, I'm interested. When I'm not, I'm not."

"Ah, the complex emotions of Min Yoongi."

"Shut up."

____

Oh God, it's the talker. Kill me now. Ava was hit with a wave of annoyance as she remembered, I still need to kick red head's ass for threatening Shae at the gala. Perhaps this is my chance....

Meanwhile, Shae was doing her best not to hyperventilate at the sight of Jung Hoseok. But he stood with his arms folded casually, a gentle smile on his face, and nothing the least bit threatening in his features. These cloaking devices must really work, because he obviously doesn't recognize us. But... why would Lilith ask them here, of all people?

"This is Hoseok and Yoongi," Lilith said, once the three ladies had come to a stop in the middle of the mat floor.

"Hello!" Hoseok gave an unshielded, goofy grin and a wave.

"Hey." Yoongi folded his arms, unsmiling.

"Fellas, this is Ivy...and Sky."

Ava kept giving Hoseok a scrutinizing look.

The edge of Yoongi's lip curled as he noticed the direction of Ava's eyes. Damn. Maybe she's into red heads.

Shae gave a small nod, suddenly very interested in fiddling with her arm guard instead of looking up at everyone else.

Lilith went on, "Just to review, you fellas are going to go over with Sky and Ivy some basic combat moves today--while I observe, take some notes, and maybe even ask the ladies to change and try different sets of gear out. Sound good?"

Everyone nodded.

"Great, now why don't--"

"I'll work with Ivy." Yoongi's raspy, harsh voice interrupted Lilith before she could even finish. His small, sharp eyes bore into Ava without revealing a trace of a smile as she turned and looked his way for the first time.

Ava felt her mouth fall open slightly. Well hello, sir. For the moment, Ava forgot that she still needed to murder Jung Hoseok. Yoongi, was it? You want to throw down with me? Well then, God. Bless. Me.

Then Hoseok beamed his goofy grin at Shae. "Guess this means you and I are partners!"

Shae finally looked up at Hoseok and gave a nervous smile. "Guess so."

"Uhhh...." Lilith looked from Yoongi and Hoseok, to Ava and Shae, then shrugged. "Sure, why not? Square up then, and let's get started."