Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

The training hall was quiet except for Mia's grunts.

Reed stood behind the bench where Mia lay flat, her shadow wrapped around the steel bar above her chest. The bar trembled as it lowered, then jerked back up in uneven rhythm.

"Slow down," Reed said firmly. "You're rushing the lift. Match your breathing and inhale when you lower, exhale when you push."

Mia sucked in a sharp breath and forced the bar upward. The movement smoothed out a little.

"Better," Reed said. He crouched lower, ready to catch the weight if her shadow slipped. "Never let your nerves control the shadow. Don't even think it's possible that you will fail, as a Shadowhunter pure arrogance in your ability will help you much more than you think."

Her jaw tightened. She forced another rep.

"Good," he said again, voice steady but never praising too much. "That's clean, don't fight the shadow like it's separate from you. It's yours. Treat it like a limb, like a muscle that will keep on growing the more you use it."

The bar dipped and rose a few more times, steadier now. Reed noted her effort but also the strain etched across her face.

"You're at one fifty," he said, glancing at the plates. "That's already very decent for your level. Keep this pace until you finish. Do not overdo it."

But Mia shook her head, her lips pulling into a grin. "I can handle more. It feels lighter now. I want to try two hundred."

Reed hesitated. Normally, he would have shut her down immediately. But her form had tightened up, and she was breathing in rhythm, not flailing. He weighed the risk, then gave a small nod.

"Fine. But one attempt only. No ego lifting. If you fail, we drop back down to 100."

He pulled the bar free with his own shadow, swapped the weights, and eased the new bar into place above her chest.

"Focus," Reed said. "Same rhythm as before. Do not close your eyes. Do not hold your breath. Control it."

Mia nodded quickly. She lowered it, inhaled, then pushed it back up in a clean motion.

Reed raised his brows. That was better than he expected actually.

The bar rose again. And again. Faster and faster, like her strength suddenly surged..

"Mia." His voice sharpened. "Check yourself. You're pushing harder than you need."

She didn't answer. Her eyes fluttered shut, her chest rising in short gasps. Her lips parted slightly, and Reed realized she wasn't focusing on the weight anymore.

She was inhaling his scent.

The shadows snapped like broken strings.

The bar dropped.

Reed's shadow shot upwards catching the full weight just before it crushed her chest. The clang rang out as he forced it into the rack.

The girl didn't even notice

"Mia!" His voice cracked with anger.

Her eyes flew open. She flinched at the tone. "I'm sorry—I lost focus—"

"You lost focus with two hundred kilos above your chest?!" Reed cut in, crouching over her. "That is not something you get to brush off. What were you thinking?"

Her cheeks burned. She shook her head quickly. "Nothing, I swear. I just slipped."

Reed studied her closely. Sweat rolled down her temples, soaking her shirt, he ignored the stirring in his groin area and focused on other things, her skin looked pale, paler than it was when he saw her yesterday.

"You're sweating too much, and you look pale" he said, voice calmer now. "Answer me honestly. Are you sick? Did you eat today?"

Her throat bobbed. "I wasn't hungry. I… haven't eaten anything."

Reed's frown deepened. "Not hungry, yet you had the energy to lift more weight than you ever had? That doesn't add up."

Her eyes darted away from his, her voice dropping. "I'm fine. Just tired. That's all."

He leaned down until his shadow stretched over her, forcing her to meet his eyes. "No, you are not fine. Something is happening with you, and if you keep lying about it, it will affect your performance and I won't give you the go ahead for your first mission. Is that what you want?"

She shook her head quickly, panic flashing in her face. "No please, of course not. I just… I don't know what's wrong. Maybe I'm coming down with something."

Reed held her gaze for a long moment, then let out a slow breath. He wasn't buying it, but pushing harder now would only make her retreat further into herself.

"Okay that's enough for today," he said finally. His voice softened again. "Rest. Eat something. We'll try again tomorrow."

Mia bit her lip like she wanted to argue but then she sighed and nodded.

"Okay."

The door creaked open before more could be said. A Hunter stepped in.

"Good morning Hunter Reed. Commander Hale requests your presence in the interrogation room."

Reed straightened, his expression unreadable. "Tell him I'm on my way."

The Hunter nodded and left.

Reed turned back to Mia. "Go get food in you. That is not a suggestion."

She gave a small nod, her eyes dropping to the floor. Reed lingered a moment longer, watching the way her shoulders slumped, before heading for the door.