Chapter Text
Routine
With everything going on in this world routine was the way to sanity. Being constant kept the shock minimal when things became inconsistent. You wake up every day at 05:00 regardless if you were on duty or not. Lacing up your Nikes by the door of your apartment 10 minutes pass 5. You were always back before or at 05:45.
It was mid-February, so the darkness wasn’t concerning. It was quite calming to be alone in the world for a few moments, even though you knew the universe was filled with frightful things.
You stepped outside into the frigid air. Goosebumps rose from your skin under the thin material of your athletic top. Maybe you should have thrown on a sweatshirt over your long sleeve but most days you came back sweating up a storm. Your pace began to match the beats flowing from your earbuds.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Your pace speeds up till it becomes consistent. You stayed at a steady 4-mile pace today, you didn’t want to overwork yourself when you still had the entire day left to conquer. You pass the same trees every day, it would be another month maybe two if spring was late till they would bloom. Now they were left barren with bark almost black. Maybe it was the dark sky, you would have to pass by during the day to check. Making a mental note you turned the same corner you always did that lead towards the base’s park.
In the summer, when you opted to take your runs in the evening you would enjoy watching the baseball games between commands after or taking the trails by the beach and spending a moment more in an isolated world. Since it was a dark, icy, winter morning you continued on the sidewalk passing empty baseball fields and barren playgrounds that haven’t been touched since before New Year’s Eve. You reach your halfway point before turning back taking in the view with a rising sun in front of you.
You reach the front door of your apartment, turning the handle quietly. You slip your sneakers off and catch the time in the kitchen clock 05:43. ‘Perfect’ you thought. Walking into your bathroom you tied your hair up and stripped before allowing yourself to be taken by the lukewarm water. You never were one to take up all the hot water. You hummed to yourself as you scrubbed the sweat from your skin.
“Adiooos Amoor, Me voy de tiiiiii”
A song from your childhood, your youth, and your present. A song that was always constant everywhere you went, every station you resided at. Every time you visited your family, every time you turned on your speaker Spotify always knew the perfect time to play it. You grew up on the outskirts of Los Angeles and firsthand witness the rise of the Kaijus and Jagers. Your father had become one of the first people to step inside a functional Jager 10 years ago and was a legion in your line of work. Soon enough your younger brother, Aaron, was of eligible age and left for training a month before his 18th birthday. A year later he was piloting Pantone Tide with your father. For the next 3 years, they were the #1 strike team in America and #3 in the Pan Pacific Defense Corps (PPDC).
Wrapping your towel tightly around your body you walked into your bedroom. The clock on the nightstand read 06:01. Turning on the light you heard a light moan from the bed. “5 more minutes” Mei groaned. You rolled your eyes at his child-like request, which you granted every morning while you got dressed. As you tighten the black belt around your waist you heard Mei sit up and yawn.
“Sometimes when I wake up, I forget you’re a civilian now and question why you’re going to work in civvies.” You let out a light chuckle at his comment.
You glanced at his moving figure in the mirror and watched him walk towards you. You felt his arms wrap around your waist and his head rested on your shoulder. “But I do prefer your butt in slacks.” Rolling your eyes, you shook him off and told him to get ready.
“Look presentable we have a new class of recruits coming in.”
“Is that why you're putting on makeup?” He questioned. “Are you trying to get a younger guy?” he teased. “Because (f/n), we both know you’ll never have anyone better than me.” He winked at you through the mirror.
You watched him pull up the dark blue cargo pants towards his hips before tucking in his PPDC regulated uniform thermal shirt. The shirt hugged him in all the right places. A sight you would never get used to, though if you told him you’d never hear the end of it. The size of his ego was already astronomical, you’d refused to contribute to its growth.
“You’re wearing the thermal.” You commented. “Cold or something?”
“They asked me and Miyuki to give the new class a tour of the Shatterdome and it’s always cold as shit in there.”
Walking out of the apartment together the two of you walked towards the mess hall. As you two walked in silence he slipped on his strike team jacket. Banshee written in bold red print on the middle of its back, an outline of Japan underneath the letters. The design was oddly tame regarding his Jager’s name. The banshee, the screaming spirit of death.
He grabbed your hand as the two of you entered the mess hall. The Japan base was one of the largest bases in the PPDC after Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Like most bases, it included a wide range of pan pacific nationalities. Most people were placed on bases based on their skill set and where they were urgently needed rather than where they were trained. Though it came with extra perks such as more availability of international goods, it also had it downfalls. If you arrived at mealtimes too late, or right on time it was a hassle with the base size. On the weekdays you and Mei opted to take breakfast a little earlier than most at 06:45.
You pulled a bowl of oatmeal towards your tray. As you reached for a second bowl to put on Mei’s tray he stops you. “I’m gonna have eggs today.” He said.
Something felt off. It was the second thing he changed today. Mei never got eggs; he hated the ones from the mess hall. He never wore his thermal even if he was going to the Shatterdome, he ran warm and always preferred his jacket regardless. It made you almost nervous. You shook it off, today was not a day to be focusing on the little things.
As you sat down across from Mei more people began filing into the mess hall. From mechanics and scientists to technicians and teachers, every walk of life on this base surrounded you. “Do you know how big the class is?” Mei asked.
“25” You answered. “The defense corps raised its requirements last September for pilot recruits, so it’s expected for class sizes to fall throughout the PPDC.”
“Such a smart girl, how’d you get so lucky Mei?” A blue tray clattered on the steel table beside you. Miyuki shot you a smile before he continued to tease Mei. “Because you’re dumb, dumb as fuck.”
“At least I have a higher kill record.”
“We have the same kill record…”
“At least I’m more photogenic!”
“Uh-huh.” Miyuki sounds off as he begins to eat.
Mei eats a spoonful of eggs before gaging. “(f/n), why’d you let me get eggs?” He whines.
“You’re an adult Mei.”
“Like I said, dumb as fuck.”
“Shut it Kazuya.” Mei frowns.
~
At 8 am you stood in a classroom in front of ’24?’ new faces. Mei and Miyuki stood beside you on your left and Testu and Jun beside them. You stifled a giggle when you thought of their strike team jackets. Testu had meant to design the jackets with shiny lettering but had mistakenly ordered the letters of Phoenix to be covered in bright red and gold glitter. He ended up liking the final product and Jun just hides his discontent badly. On your right stood Ryosuke Kominato. After a bad drift and even worst mission he retired, leaving Siren to find a new co-pilot
Marshal Kataoka stood in front of you guys along with Captain Rei. He began to address the class. “I am Marshal Kataoka and you will refer to me as such. You are recruits in training to pilot Jagers. Someone of you may not drift, some of you will never make it to set foot in a Jager. The lucky few will be placed all around the world where your talents are needed.” Marshal Kataoka kept speaking but something caught your eye right outside the door through the window.
A boy no older than 18 stood anxiously at the doorway. You turned your head slightly and made eye contact with him. The poor, poor boy. Late on his first day. This would not sit well with the Marshal. His energy reminded you of your brothers, so you felt a bit generous. You noticed that there was a desk empty at the end of the second row. You gave him a sign to wait before you pulled Mei’s sleeve.
He gave you a silent ‘what?’
You indicated you head to the boy waiting outside the door.
He nodded his head. The last thing you expected him to do was cough violently and make that big of a scene. “I think I’m going to puke!” Mei groaned. “Ack! Ack! Ack!”
You were in complete disbelief. Your boyfriend was as a matter of fact dumb as fuck. As the Marshal turned to check on Mei. You saw a flash of brown and blue in your peripheral vision. “Do you need to step out?”
Mei shook his head. “I’m okay now.”
As you turned your attention to the front you were relieved to find the brunette boy sitting in an empty seat. 25 fresh faces, 25 unknown futures, 25 lives at stake.