Work Text:
Approximately 368 days post Geonosis:
Location: ARCA Barracks
Approximately twenty hundred hours
“We shouldn’t in any way do this have I told you all that? That we shouldn't do this? I mean it."
“You said it seven times in the past four minutes.” Fixer grunted to their bomb technician, stewing in his annoyance. They've barely bother other squadrons, though in light of Omega squad Kal'buir, his advisor approach suggest they need too.
“We attempt an effort unless we want Skirata Null boy-o skipping over.” Boss quipped, eyes dead-set at their barracks blast door leading out the hallway. No one among the four could forget Fi smackdown to the floor in kind to one Null's agitated cheer.
That was enough to make any commando run home with their tail low between their legs, least how Sev saw it.
Sev shook his head from the back of the group, eyes on three red fatigues sets, boots included. The simplistic house white lights atop their cluttered oya’la yamika felt more familiar than their acquired new work friends. “Maybe we’ll be back sooner than never?”
“Last chance to bombard another squad?” Scorch asked, this time with tuned desperation, pulling his hub key out form his pockets only to drop it right in front of their barracks front entrance. “Whoopsie.” He fumbled on the grey tile floors for it and Fixer gave the loudest sigh staring at the blaster doors.
“Another day another hour.” Fixer uttered kicking the back of Scorch ankle making him jerk in turn. “Come on.”
“Maybe we can crash with Theta, they’re always down for good times?”
“Nope should’ve caught them earlier, I spotted them leaving.” Fixer tensed irate to his slipup much like Boss was not reacting. “Nice try though.”
“Yeah well if we don’t get this over with I’m leaving, I'm not hanging with crybabies all night.” Sev muttered darkly in some mood, clenching and unclenching his fists at nothing. Just walking to meet the other squad made the hitch in his shoulders tense, tense to Scorch slapping them made him minutely twitchy.
"You will if it means our shebs aren't flamed." Boss spoke eyebrow raised. "Buck up, deal with it."
Before long Delta squad found themselves afront of Omega squad’s own blaster door, four brooding thoughts pulling into a single fine line.
Objective?
Survive their first night encounter beyond their trainers, without the Nulls, without any weaponry, and most importantly.
Compromise mind numbing entertainment with Skirata favorite crybabies.
“You got it?”
“No.”
“Do you want help, do you need me to recheck the disks for light damage or?”
“Darman.” Atin leaning on his haunches looked over his left shoulder scowling. “Am I getting this done or you want to do this.”
These two members of Omega squad were sitting together in their own barracks, working about their destined workspace of the hour- one gifted device console. They were beyond too many silver metal disks hazardously toss about their ankles.
Earlier Fi tried managing some benign sorting system but ten minutes into it he gave up, utterly defeated. He stuck to doing what he knew, the best additional side commentator.
“You two keep at your RAM folders and zips files but some of us have actual work to do.”
“Yeah Fi.” Atin snarked. “Organizing suture sculptures and getting your pec pumps in is so important.”
“Kal’buir always say find your gold in the muck so why can’t I have my slice?”
“Making googly eyes at Ordo came with that slice?” Atin scoffed sitting on his shebs now to focus on the loading holo-screen, optimizing the best option. “That’s suicidal.”
“Ordo sees what he wants.” Fi carefully got out, smiling like he couldn’t place how to not smile. “I just see my chance to look while he’s beats to his own rhythm.” He swung himself in a pivot circle unable to say more. “He’s so cool.”
“Oh you’re that type of stupid.” Atin mouth to Darman, ducking away from Fi friendly fire gesture.
“Fi don’t be weird about your tooka crushes.” Darman chide pulling his head atop his kneecaps. Flecks of warmth pressed to his face reminded him of someone. Someone tiny and inescapable not to notice, like Etain.
He turned his ear to that closed muscle under his black sweats, listening to the two squabbles on whatever. Miniscule warmth always wraps in his bloodstream akin how chlorophyll does, thinking of the sandy hair jetti he spotted this morning at the barracks. The last time they spoke she was off discussing matters with Kal’buir around Quibba Hut.
For what was vaguely given but he knows Etain like he knows Kal'buir. Surely they’ll find something to bond over. Yes that must be it..
Speaking of yes men.
“Is Niner awake?” Darman asked, right on time for the man to walk into the room visibly exhausted. “Sarge you look like osik.”
“Had trouble sleeping.” Niner yawned loud enough to sound off across the room. He look at him and Atin workplace with familiar confusion, mixing confusion and doubt. “You two were working this hard? What if they don’t come?”
“So?” Atin shadowed popped the question. "It's not like we missed those di’kuts in the first place."
“So,” Niner started evenly looking his way. “Atin I’m going to say this once since I know you’re working things out with Sev.” Niner made for awkward shuffling towards the recliner lounge. “Don’t let them step on your toes but don’t step on theirs.”
Atin brows raised unimpressed at their Sergeant attempt at advice. “Okay?”
“Do not.” Niner raised a hand vaguely his way even with his face planted in the sofa fabric. He lifted his face off the sofa fabric to stare over to the three afront the holo screen.
“Look they’re coming to our place on our shore leave, ours.” He spoke slowly, slow how someone sleep deprived would running off winding fumes. “You want to duke it out? Swing it off your chest? Shame.”
“Nines!” Atin turned around ready to defend himself at the expense of Fi unwanted snickering.
“Shut it down I don’t want to hear it.” Niner yawn again. “The second Sev bother you I mean to the second!” raising his hand up with upmost importance. “I’ll kick them out on their shebs and then! Go back to sleep after we get some food as compensation and let Delta spit and bitch somewhere else.”
“Oh he big mad.” Darman snickered into his shirt over Atin shoving him one good time. “Who set you off Sarge?”
“Don’t make me give you a list.” Niner sighed back into the couch cushion seemingly drained. He was acting unlike himself this morning in a way that almost made Atin wonder for his well-being.
“Vabir not kebbur bic ti ni ibi’tuur.”
“Okay ruug’la jag.” Atin concluded to Niner thumbs up taking his attention back to the screen. He looked at the down swoop curls drooping Niner's forehead and secondly wonder was he growing it out.
“Yoooooo its working finally!” Darman voice pop from his study and like so he was back to the matter at hand. The door of recreational opportunities has opened. “Dar dar what’s the weaponry game scope?”
“Amnesia, Biohazard, Madame Alice, Omori, Tiny night terrors, Home insidious, oh wait Here lies Anais Rose. I can’t finish that one.” Darman lips smacked together tossing the controller back to him. “It’s sad.”
“That the mystery’s one with the narrator solving her brother’s death in the factory?” Fi asked.
“Yeah she’s got it rough.”
“She’s not real Fi, we don’t even see the lady's face.” Atin tugged on Darman pants leg. “I’ll make sure everything plays out, you grab some extra pelhoyes just in case.”
"Case? Case for what some sleep over with Delta?" Fi wrinkled his nose at the idea walking over to join Niner on the couch. This was suppose to be just plain reconnaissance with Delta. They’re firing empty blanks in the dark here, whose to say Delta won’t offer a bad time?
"Ni ni what if they're boring?" Fi asked right on the cup of whining while Niner laid face down still. Niner mumbled something too soft for him to hear and Fi leaned over closer. "Come again?"
"What if they're not?" Niner stated again and Fi stilled in place. "Fixer levelheaded so he'd probably help keep them in place if anything. Scorch is,"
"Gett'se." Fi spoke triumphant and Niner hummed.
"That's not Sev?" Niner asked even quieter from the last question. "You don't seem to like him much."
"I like the guy enough." Fi evenly vented, smacking the couch back. "He just needs to learn something about shutting up."
"Kettle meets kettle." Niner internally puffed. "You think that though Scorch is," Niner pulled a covered knee up to his stomach, reveling secondly in the couch's dented down surface. Ka'ra he's sleepy. "Good natured. He's fun."
"So one nutcase, his cool and aloof buddy buddy and one energetic mastiff. Where does that leave Delta fixer rouser?"
Niner didn't answer, eyes closing again much to Fi's chagrin. The muffled yawn he did into his shirt didn't skip on unnoticed, even with Fi palm hit to his forehead. "Ni ni."
"I don't know." Niner gave so Fi relented, caught up with grey thoughts over the smart aleck scoping targets and civvies culture in the district mall. His hand left Niner forehead in favor of leaning back against the couch surface, dipping his head uncaringly.
"He's lying." Fi aggrievedly prick his thoughts. "He knows exactly what to think, come on Nines."
The electric magnetic ding of their barrack bell rack Fi thoughts and at once Omega squad was on high alert.
Darman stared around to his squad; Nines abruptly jerking awake, Fi scowl mocking his usual cheer and Atin ignoring them all in favor of the holo-screen.
Delta squad approaching them on their shore leave? Acting too mighty and pristine how they do?
It wasn’t happening.
“Alright men tengaanar ca’nara.” Niner said rolling off the couch. He stood briefly amid their oya’la yamika and turn without adieu to the kurshok resting past their kai’yam tra. Walking in that direction he’s never been more grateful they manage one quick clean-up, even half-ass at their expense. Cautiously approaching the doors Niner took to the entryway, making to keep his cool, rubbing the last flecks of sleep from his eyes. The other’s background commentary wasn’t helping his nerves, but something of Fi obscure joke pulled a smile from his lips.
“Olarom.” He greeted Delta squad right there at the entryway.
“Nothing to it.” Boss stood afront his own assuredly calmly. They reached for a handshake business like shaking on the matter firm.
“Likewise.” Niner said on the backhand of the shake stepping backwards. “Come on in.” offering his hand past the kai’yam right into the heart of Omega squad barracks. “Try not to be shy.”
“I’ll try my hardest since you asked so nicely.” Scorch looked over Boss shoulder to the awaited floor made of three other commandos. “Hey there!”
“Before you all go any further let’s get something down.” Niner caught Delta attention making the four snap to attention in his direction, utterly blank. He swiped away the precise chill running up his arms from the quarter stare off and held firm. “You’re not stepping in here like that, shoes off from this point on.”
Delta squad fumbled.
“Stripping for team exercise got me thinking I should’ve prep with extra bacta tubes.” Scorch evenly said motioning to pick at his boots, the others following in turn seconds later save Boss, the slowest one of them. “And here I had my hopes up.”
“What’s our objective?” Boss stationed his shoes one half inch from the wall, heels knocked together. Sev, Fixer, and Scorch fell in line next to his, eight boots aligning the wall done up and polished.
Niner didn’t answer at first, standing along the hallway unbothered while Delta squad looked uncertain. The way all four of them took in account Atin plain dismissial by his evident ignoring them made Niner stomach churn.
"Not one of us here should nick blood tonight, but it wouldn’t be unlikely." Niner thought and conciously picked at his pants string.
“Hey don’t stand there the waters fine!” Fi called out approaching the room with several blankets at hand, tossing them on the back end of the table shoved aside.
“Just make yourself comfortable how you see fit.” Niner leaned out his musings, pushing off the wall to distance himself out the way to give Delta four space. “We’re all cheek to cheek here, no point in formalities.”
“Well look at that, Sarge if you don’t mind me one bit!” Scorch cheered, jostling past Fixer to walk over to the open spot on the sofa Fi was on. His bravado made for a good motivator at times, like it did his friendship on triple zero. “Nice place you guys have, feeling very homey.”
“Vod you know how hard it was just to resettle on a color theme to get this place decent?” Fi said crossing his arms. “Men you know?”
Scorch blinked. “Tell me about it.”
Fi scoffed more at himself then the question turning on his side to look at the bomb tech. “Don’t tell me you four can’t manage fixing up home sweet home?”
“Shut up we did, Fixer we did!” Scorch said snapping his fingers over his way, by now distracted to the game consoles with Atin and Darman.
“Not my conversation.” Fixer said distracted to Scorch huff of indignation. His face was fully immersed in the console game loading screen settings page.
“I want to play Amnesia but we got this demo sample game that’s we’re trying?” Darman asked, hopeful to reach the quiet man. “It’s this dumb little horror game you might know it?” The specialist commando dull stare his way made Darman hope bobble down the drain.
"The guy never budges!" Filtered Darman mind before he shoved that. He's going to try to make this unwanted scramble game matter, only if only for Kal’buir. “The dolls in this game are mad scary man, I tired dealing with them.”
“You trying to be humble?” Fixer finally said, his low tone setting chills up Darman arms. His hands rub at his back studying the screen front graphics. “What you say Atin?”
Atin didn’t answer right away keeping a close eye on his former vod in arms. “Whose to say Darman won’t get bored and find something else.”
“Kark that just show me.” Fixer announced turning his sole attention to Darman’s own questioning eyes. “I’ll guide you.”
Boss stared in disbelief to the conversation, vying from where he opted for the second recliner closest to the doorway. They've only been there for a matter of ten minutes, what was happening? Did Omega squad prepared the none conflict route? Boss glance at their sergeant, mind tumbling. "Is he behind this?"
Sev being the last to join made way to join Fi on the couch where he chatted with Scorch relatively quietly.
Fi looked at him with eyes holding more tact than presumed first glance and shrugged. “How’s the shoulder?”
“My skin isn’t on Wau wall for decoration so.” Sev shrugged keeping close to Scorch, the latter making way to sit afront him on the ground crisscross style, his widen shoulders expounding the space around Sev kneecaps. It looked uncomfortable but Scorch seemed unbothered. “You pushed me out a spot.” Sev looked over without disdain for once and back. “Thanks.”
Mouth dry, unable to say more Fi smiled up a two-finger salute wave. “Anytime from yours truly but hey next time boat rides for two can work. Bard’ika can row us off into a waterfall.”
Sev dropped his head to his chest amused and Scorch, having made himself useful winked back.
“How long do you want us over.” Boss asked Niner sitting on the opposite sofa seemingly overwhelmed from sleepiness. “You seem exhausted.”
Niner just yawned away the question and shook his head, making to grab one discarded tablet kept on the table. “I just stay up late last night distracted.
“Distracted from what?” Scorch called over from the floor. “Don’t tell me you were up thinking about those pretty girls we saw. The curly orange hair one I saw was pretty.”
“She had the purple hair things in her head right?” Atin looked over, surprisingly patient. Fi wondered secondly if he was going lash out someway.
“Yeah her, she was friends with those chiss girls.” Scorch blinked slowly gauging his reaction. Sev hands on the back of his neck dropped most of the tension from his shoulders. “The one with the long loop braids that looked sewn into her neck?” He popped his shoulders and Sev long fingers spin in his hair, frowning. “It looked painful but I wanna try it.”
“No one asked.” Fixer muttered eyes trained to the holo screen afront of him, Darman and Atin. “Darman get the key in the office, go around the other way. No the other way.”
“I’m trying!” Darman chewed his on his lip holding the controller in a vice grip. The pixelated darken hallway on screen was making him skittish. Much like the nervous character on screen Fixer’s staring wasn’t helping. “This part always gets me.”
“We can’t progress until you finish this level.” Atin looked his way seemingly bored tapping his fingers on his pants leg. “She’s not that hard to sneak around just crouch behind the table and go no wait! Look look look stop!” Atin grabbed at his leg again eyes glued to the screen. “She’s right there!”
“What where!” Darman screeched flying the perspective scope in a blurry circle. “I haven’t left the room I just got in?!”
“Dude she’s looking, stop moving the controller listen!” Atin snapped, pointing to the screen. “Wait, wait move back one. See? She’s right there.”
“Shab she was there the whole time!” Darman voice pitched up cracking, shuddering at the static silhouette of the game antagonist on screen. As she was distracted by a plant in the room that didn’t stop the shudder of unease from Darman seeing the unnatural curl of her spine. Nor her black hair frazzled and unkept concealing a face that terrifies him each time he saw it.
“You got this.” Fi encouraged stretching his legs afront him on the couch. “It’s like the stimulations.”
“For demons?!”
Niner sighed to the noise, looking briefly up from the holo-pad to look over Boss way. “You want kaff or something?”
Boss side eyed him just enough.
“Kaff? Cereal? Nadala chocolate? Fi brought some pelhoyes earlier if that helps.”
“You think you can trick us with shiny snacks how Sergeant Skirata does.”
“I think the least I can do to keep your crew happy is for you to ease up.” Niner gazed at the other Delta members. “You three want anything?”
“Toss me one of them quilt things?” Scorch asked Fi and he sprang to action finally pleased to do something helpful.
“One order of blankets coming up nice and toasty.” Fi said swooping all the additional quilts up to carry back to the others. From the two’s staring he merely shook his head, dropping it all near Sev closest leg. “Have at it.”
“Ooooo options!” Scorch piped up standing to examine the materials with Sev, his knees hitting Sev own. “Let’s see if they hold up to ours.”
Sev was unusually silent with the jabs today, keeping his mouth shut staring at the holo screen. Only three quilts topping up weight on his lap did Sev shifted, seemingly sink down to where his out stretch legs forced Scorch to shuffle out from his persistent press all atop his kneecaps.
“I thought you’d be ready to shoot off the mouth, what’s up?" Fi couldn't help saying, ready to throw a jab if need be to their finicky sniper. "You didn’t even give me some snarky nickname.”
Bundled knee up in blankets swallowing the sniper vastly muscular frame frame Fi couldn’t help his staring. Sev looked ridiculous, someone that gritty staring off demure and withdrawn like a scolded shiny.
“Vau had a conversation with me earlier.” Sev said so quietly Fi had to cut off his minds voice-box to hear better. The noise in the room seemingly kicks off into this invisible muteness at the sound of Sev gravelly voice barely scrapping off the floorboards. “It’s tiring.”
Fi chest squeezed at Sev statement and ashamed he looked down to his lap, mulling what to say to that heavy confession.
“Good thing we got plenty to keep you warm if you get all sleepy huh.” Eyeing the blanket mound between the two of them both, he nudged its black covers over one inch closer to his arm. “Do some cocoon barricade that beats Atin while you’re at it.”
A ghost smile pulled over Sev moody face, unmoving pulling his hands through Scorch nape curls. “I’ll let my guard dog see to that.”
Boss swallowed at his two men barely audible over Darman excessive mini shrieks and shouts to Atin laughter. Fixer has yet to say anything since they began but his lack of movement told Delta enough. It seems they’ve found themselves propped just enough in the crybabies alcove.
He quietly stood up, un-daunted to the causal lull choking the airways. In seconds he made it to the kai’yam just across the room, freezing at the sight of Niner closing the conservator with his leg. Boss cleared his throat. “Hey.”
“Hi. You came.”
Boss shrugged crossing his arms. “You offered.”
“Only if you want something not to prove my point.” Niner looked to the conservator handle reopening it. “I just want you four to feel welcome.”
“I caught on.” Boss said unmoving whereas Niner moved his way holding something. Something in his eyes, amber brown, curious amber brown tiding in focus from insomnia pinned Boss in place.
“Fruits good, I’ll give you a bowl.” Niner dropped his tidings Boss palm, so lie one blackberry. “Give you something to tide over. Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries. I'm not a mango eater but Fi likes them."
Boss wiggled his nose at the gift not certain whether to eat it or not0. “You some health nut?”
Niner lips curl up involuntarily. “Not at all.” Tutting to grab two ceramic bowls. They didn’t look GAR issued. “Spotted or speckled?” waving in hand. “I made sure they’re washed beforehand, those boys don’t wash them properly.”
“Let me guess, fast rinse and blow?” Boss said. “Speckled.”
“Blow? I would lose my mind don’t ever say that again.” Niner shivered putting the bowls right back down. “Go back with the others I’ll bring our stuff out. And hey?” Still standing in place Niner glanced past him to smile at Darman and Atin commentary screaming.
“What I said back on the Fearless, I didn’t mean it.” Niner said opening the conservator door again. He seemed distracted.
“I did.” Boss brought his hand up knocking the walls solidity. “I admit you make it seem easy.”
Niner halted, studying Boss own default neutral expression to his concerned one and held back responding.
Boss lips pulled together tight. “Being expressive, that thing you do. Did you forget that?”
“No?” Niner paused to move to the faucet, lifting the stem up to rinse off the variety fruit trays at hand. “I remember.”
“Feelings are easy to exploit and pick on, they’re liabilities. You’ve proven me wrong.” Boss said interested in the floor now. Niner was staring at him unreadable save his hand gripping a half cluster of darken color fruit in his hand, staining his palm in a blur of clotted colors.
“Otherwise we would’ve left you all really acting like crybabies.”
Niner looked at Boss just a bit longer and for the first time that evening, laughed. He laugh as if it were meant to be secret. “Go Boss.” His hand tipped trays into the sink, facet filtered water running strong. “I’ll be out soon.”
Something about Niner too relaxed mannerisms meticulously sorting arrayed fruit left Boss confused. He moved to open his mouth again but rather turned back around.
“Shab shab shab shab shab!” Darman yelped high pitched in fear over Atin own yelling. He was going to die right then and now.
“Bro the port cable you passed how many times now, grab the card for the access drive it’s right there!”
“Stop screaming!” Darman yelped trying to reach out for the keycard before the rotoscope onscreen shook as the monster caught his character. His yelp morph into screaming, shaken by the grotesque pixelated face ramming the screen. Scorch and Fi mock laughter weren’t helping his case, it just rifled his mortification. “I told you she scares me!”
He made to turn back to the reset screen until hands pressed at his arm, confusing him. "What?" he thought, staring not the ground but right at Delta handy specialist neck. Imagine that, him one of the best of the best, dying not from glory but shame in another mans arms. Kal'buir wouldn't make it past the ceremonial remembrance call.
Utterly mortified leaning back from Fixer face, Darman eyes accidentally caught vibrant green and black ink lines near his chin and jerk back exclaiming. “Osik vod I’m sorry!”
“You don’t say.” Fixer shallowly breathed, clearing his throat to gain his footing. The empty look in his eyes from before seemed to have lifted somewhat. “Get off.”
“My bad.” Darman mumbled sheepishly leaning to give him leeway right before Fixer arm cut in front of him motioning to Atin.
“Pass it.” Fixer demanded, eyes flashing to the screen angry.
“Let me get out the way first.”
“Don’t.” Fixer eyes pierced him in place grabbing the controller like it hadn’t brought him ire.” Hunker down, stick with me.”
“You can’t cheat for me.” Darman snapped, still rankled at his mis-slip. “You don’t have too, I wuss out over this level every time I told you that.”
“Like how you swung your controller at Atin like one for the past hour.” Fixer voice dropped to Darman eardrums. “You suck at this.”
“Again do I need the reminder?”
Fixer tilted his head to scowl back at Scorch encouraging wolf whistles. “No but you get nothing done as is, can you? Let me help. If you think you’re gonna get scared look away.”
“So what do I look at?” Darman demanded, “I give you my mission load just to stare at you?”
Fixer didn’t answer, eyes attentive to the reloaded hallway scene hands occupied by the controller. “Sure.”
Stumped, Darman crossed his legs together watching the screen reload at the infamous beginner cut of that hallway. Nowhere to go Darman accepted defeat, tapping Fixer unmoved shoulder to his own. He tried not to think over it too much, save ducking close for tactical hiding in Fixer quiet zone.
The audible sound of a thunk pulled Boss attention enough to hear the planted ceramic bowl. Niner was already seated again, reading lost in his own thoughts.
Side eyeing him Boss couldn’t place what Niner thoughts were, eyes scanning vertically back and forth to the blue light bloomed across his face.
He wouldn’t call it boring, that would make things strange from simple observation. Still, if Niner were obscuring something on his end, he's fooled them all.
Although, Fixer likely by now pointed something out given Sev occupation with his blanket mound. Was the little di'kut asleep?
There was nothing he could say regarding Vau. Sev said plenty when he stormed into their barracks earlier and dipped back out. Scorch tried as he might couldn’t even get to him, but Boss understands. Explaining that is another story altogether. Trying to make coherent sense of it felt equivalent of needles would sound like rattling in a thermos. Abrasive, hollow knocking around his brain that’ll likely draw blood.
“Nines what are you reading?” Scorch called over, distracting Boss from his thoughts. “Don’t tell me its boring info news headlines.”
Boss expected some dismissiveness from Omega squadron leader; not everyone can take Scorch playful pomp at face value.
Niner looked up like he was awaking from some mirage, still curled so to his data tablet. “I got pulled into a story sorry, and the news is boring. All they do is prat unimportant nonsense.”
Scorch hummed. “Tell me its that horror book we saw from that store front?”
Niner coughed in his arm distractedly pulling his tablet to his shirt tunic. “About the home invader yeah, I think its the narrator. She's haunting her own house."
“Boss that’s up your alley isn’t it with all the mind stuff and stuff.” Scorch joked, waving his hand around.
“Yeah?” Niner looked to Boss this time with renewed interest, head tilted. “Is horror your thing?”
Boss merely ate his offered snacks, feeling rinsed fruit skins burst in his mouth. “What kicks it for you mister manuals and flight codes.”
“I like learning how to read people better.” Niner admitted quipping a half smile. “Emotions are hard, stories aren’t.”
“Even fiction?” Boss ears caught to the surrounding white noise taking up the room, from Fixer snapping lines to Atin own jeering words, Scorch counter praises half tie to his convo with Fi and Sev obvious sleeping state.
“Especially fiction.” Niner said eyes soften from sleepiness. “Gives me a cheat code to help my people.”
Boss stared long enough and finally nodded. “I’ll leave you too it then.
Niner gave a non-committal noise from the back of his throat, burgundy stained fingers slighting the tablet before hiding them away. Before Boss could make too much of it, he was lost again in the world of fiction.
His own left hand clanked against the bowl scooping up what were this supposed favorite snack of Niner and stared at his palm.
Huh, the dark colors blend cradled in his palm suited him. One easy toss back and so it was, him carefully chewing on what were the sweetest snacks he’s tried all week. He’ll ask for more in an hour, after Sev wakes up.