Chapter Text
Age: 28
Ellie bit her pen as she waited for the teacher to show. "So Miss England," A cocky voice spoke. She raised an eyebrow and turned. "Why the call sign?" She feigned boredom. "Why the interest?" She replied. The guy frowned slightly. "Well, because they all have meaning," She raised her eyebrows. "Yeah? And what exactly does hangman mean?"
He clenched his jaw and sat back in his chair. She smiled slightly. "To answer your question, I assume it's because I'm from England," She answered. The guy scoffed. "How are you here then? You can't join the forces unless your an American citizen," A new voice said.
She glanced over. "Bob," He smiled. She smiled back. "I'm a military baby. My mom was stationed over in the UK when she had me. I was born on American soil," She answered. "Why do you have an accent then?" Hangman quizzed. Ellie sighed. "Because I lived with my mother until she died, which was in England. I've only recently moved here,"
"Why?"
Ellie scoffed. "Is this 20 questions or some shit?" She glared at Hangman. "I... I think we're just curious," Pheonix diffused the situation. "I mean, we've all been through the academy with at least one person here, and you haven't," She continued. "Fine," Ellie sighed. "I was married, but when we divorced, I had no legal right to live there anymore. So as soon as I could, I moved here."
"Do you have any kids?" Bob asked. Ellie blinked. "Uh... yeah, two." The questions piled in again. "Aw, how old?"
"They American too?"
"Why are you called London?"
"Have you been through the academy?"
Ellie threw her hands out. "Woah! Time out!" She snapped. The group quietened down. "Jesus. First up: my kids are my private life. They will not be spoken about unless I speak about them. It's hard enough being away from them." She narrowed her eyes at the moustached who asked. "And they're 9 and 7. Both Americans and in school, but they live with my mother's parents in New York."
"Second! Yes, I have been through the academy." She shrugged. "And finally, I dunno why I'm called London. I was born at RAF Croughton in Brackley." She began biting her pen again. "But I s'pose London's easier to remember than Croughton, so..."
Satisfied, the group began talking amongst themselves while they still waited for their teacher to turn up. Talking about her kids made Ellie's heart hurt. It was a good job she knew her maternal grandparents, otherwise, she would've had no other choice but to quit to raise her kids. Her dad didn't have any living family aside from her anyway, and therein lay the problem.
Speaking of, Ellie repressed a groan as the teacher was introduced. She chose to scowl at her desk instead. "Captain Mitchell. Whenever you're ready," She finally looked up when her dad coughed pointedly. "Thank you, Sarge," She knew what the first bit was about, having helped him go through his "speech" in the early hours of the morning. She wondered how long it would take for the group to connect the dots.
"Let's play a bonding game!" Her dad sarcastically grinned, clapping his hands. "You're gonna say a hobby, a dislike and your full name," Ellie glared when he grinned in her direction.
Oh. Not long apparently.
"Bob! You start," Ellie sighed softly when Sarge's eyes narrowed. He clearly didn't like the plan, but as much as she didn't like it either, she knew it was the best way to get the team close enough to trust one another.
"Yes, Cap'n. Robert Floyd. Callsign Bob! I like Pool and dislike spiders," Ellie scratched her eyebrow as he sat and Pheonix stood. "Natasha Trace. Callsign Pheonix. I like swimming and dislike summer,"
"Jake Seresin. Callsign Hangman. I dislike cities and like women," Ellie rolled her eyes at his cocky grin thrown her way. She felt the corners of her mouth twitch at her dad's sour face. She zoned out after somebody called Javy began and chose to think about her daughters instead. She glanced at her watch. They'd be having lunch right now. Maybe Nana packed some chocolate for them...
Seeing the looks of the team, Ellie gave a quiet sigh and stood up. "Ellie Mitchell. Callsign London. I don't like summer either, and I like my kids," She narrowed her eyes at Hangman's chuckle. "As lame as that sounds, yes, I like my kids. Problem?" He smirked as he raised his hands. "Nope,"
She took a seat and waited for the penny to drop. Clearly, her dad too, as he stood silently. "Holy shit!" Pheonix exclaimed. Ellie shut her eyes. "London's Maverick's kid!" She turned with a grin. "Took ya long enough,"
Part 2?