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Unlike his teammates, Blitz wasn’t surprised by IQ’s decision to join Nighthaven. He had known, because despite not being the most observant person in the world, Blitz liked to believe he knew IQ better than anyone else in the team.
Ever since she came back from Singapore, from visiting Nighthaven’s base, their labs and technology were all she would talk about. Harry said she was enamored of new technology and progress, which made her an ideal candidate for being Rainbow’s ambassador with Kali’s group. As a show of goodwill, and prove there was no animosity between both teams after the fiasco that was last year’s invitational. However, in Blitz’s opinion, all Harry accomplished was to speed up the impending fracture of Rainbow and Nighthaven, and managed to lose some important operators to them along the way.
She arrived bright eyed and full of energy from her trip, despite the long flight and huge timezone change. Blitz greeted her with the rest of the team, listening to her concise reports, then greeted her again later that night, in his bed. She was enthusiastic and, dare he say it, affectionate too. Yet their pillow talk was full of ‘Kali this’ and ‘Osa that’ and gushing about the projects she’d been allowed to see in their workshop. Back then, Blitz chalked it up to her natural enthusiasm for engineering prowess, and how she had no stakes in either Ash nor Kali’s vendetta against each other. In hindsight, he realised that was the first sign of IQ’s shifting loyalties.
Then Nighthaven started gifting gear to different operators, saying it was to show goodwill too, as if they were reciprocating Rainbow’s earlier gesture. Blitz thought it was more of a gesture to show off their touted superiority, although he also knew that some -like Ash and Mira- thought of it like a brazen attempt at bribery and sowing discord. They ended up being right, much to everyone’s consternation.
He would like to say he noticed a change in IQ’s behaviour, in the weeks leading to that fateful day, but that would be a lie. True, she seemed a little worried, but also excited, and he chalked it up to the competition itself. They both know how stressful yet exhilarating it was to step out into the stadium, with the spotlight being literally on you. Not to mention that both Ash and Kali were leading teams, so the fear of another all out brawl breaking out was also present. That’s what Blitz blamed too for the odd feeling of tension in his gut, the one telling him something big was brewing. He should have listened to his instincts more closely.
The night when IQ told him of her impending departure was seared into his mind. She had been waiting for him on the bed, clad only in her underwear. The sex had been passionate, although it caught him off guard how IQ told him to be rougher and do whatever he wanted with her - as long as he satisfied her too, obviously. It was a stark contrast to how she would always take control and receive Blitz’s attention and adoration. However, he’d been too blissed out after that experience to notice how tense she was in his embrace. Not that IQ was usually the type to snuggle, but she didn’t seem to mind these moments of post-coital bliss, when Blitz rested his head on her chest and hugged her waist. At least for a little while.
“Elias, I’m leaving,” she eventually said, breaking the comfortable silence that enveloped them.
“To your room?” Blitz asked, knowing she sometimes complained his shorter beard was unpleasantly scratchy on her bare breast if he nuzzled her like he was doing.
“No, Rainbow.”
Blitz sat up to look at her, while opening and closing his mouth without managing to say a single word. She was serious, he could see it on her face. That realisation felt like someone poured a bucket of ice cold water over his head.
"You can't begin to imagine the tech and resources Nighthaven has. If I want to become the best version of myself, I have to accept their offer. The advances we could make in a few years are astounding, Elias!" It hurt how vibrant and excited she was. He hadn't seen IQ being this enthused in a long time. "Besides, most of what we do is train. The White Masks are defeated and obsolete. We need to think of the future now."
Blitz had the sinking feeling that their definitions of becoming the best version of themselves was quite different, same as their priorities and plans for the future. He had the sudden urge to get out of the bed to kneel in front of her and beg, 'please don't leave me' . However, even if he was more than willing to swallow his dignity for those he loved, such gesture would accomplish nothing. IQ hated clinginess, and they were only friends with benefits, not a proper couple.
"I am going to miss you, Moni," Blitz said after a short silence, heartfelt and heartbroken behind his tight half smile.
IQ reached out to touch his arm. "You could come with me."
The hopeful lilt of her voice made his heart soar for a moment. Oh Gott, she really wanted him by her side, his feelings were not one sided! Nevertheless, Blitz's convictions and sense of duty wouldn't allow him to do as IQ did.
“And leave Bandit with total control of the kitchen? Without supervision except for Jäger?” Blitz chuckled half-heartedly. “The Stadium wouldn’t last a day.”
IQ nodded as if she had known that would be his answer. “I expect they won’t understand my decision, but… give them my regard, will you?”
She was right. Bandit would probably comment how he never expected IQ to be capable of that kind of betrayal, or pretend he didn't care one bit about what she did. As if they hadn't worked together for years, or saved each other's lives. And Jäger had a hard time adjusting to important changes, not to mention he often called the team his family, he would not like IQ leaving at all.
"You could stay," Blitz suggested innocently. IQ stared wordlessly at him, so he added. "For the night, I mean. You could sleep here, if you want."
"I can do that," she agreed, laying her head down on the pillow. "And I hope you're not tired yet."
If tonight was all the time Blitz had left with her, he wanted every second of it. He was capable of not sleeping just to have the memories of that one night she slept by his side. Eventually, the sun would rise and IQ would leave his bed. His side. Rainbow. But for a few hours, they could pretend to be just Elias and Monika, rather than Blitz and IQ, with no duties or divided loyalties. Just them.