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“I don’t need breakfast. My body is made of steel and runs on pure rage alone.”
A short bark of laughter had Beast turning on her heel. Warrior had a hand over his mouth, trying and failing to hide an amused grin. Behind him, she could see Thief hiding a smirk. A glance around the table revealed Robot raising their brows incredulously, Inventor pointedly staring at the table, and Witch biting her cheek with a poorly hidden half smile. The morning ritual of trying to lure Beast to breakfast was not one that pleased her. Unfortunately, everyone else thought it was funny .
“What?! I don’t need to be Robot to be as strong as titanium!” She shot back.
“I… am not made of either material,” Robot spoke up, mild bafflement gracing their features.
“She meant metaphorically,” Inventor offered, glancing up briefly. A muffled snicker slipped out as she forced her eyes back to the table.
“Well I don’t ,” Beast glowered, crossing her arms. “I’m fine without breakfast!”
“Aaaare you sure?” Witch ventured, risking a grin. Beast shot her a glare. She just shrugged, stifling a giggle as she spoke again. “I mean, you eat enough for five people at dinner…”
“And you’re still rather sporadic on your lunch attendance,” Thief observed.
“Hey! I thought you were on my side!” Beast yelped. Thief raised a brow, meeting her gaze evenly.
“Since when do I pick sides?” He mused.
“Ugh, whatever ,” Beast huffed, “I don’t need breakfast, ok?!”
“Well, you don’t have to need food to go have some anyway,” Warrior pointed out. “A snack would do you some good!”
“I- that’s not- I don’t want to waste food-“ Beast sputtered.
“It’s not wasting! There’s more than enough to go around,” Inventor piped up. She drummed her fingers on the table excitedly as she continued. “I’ve been watching all the food stations- they’ve been providing for everyone here and they’ve never run out even once . I’ve been wondering if they’ve got an automated system set up…”
“Or, perhaps, enough cooks to function as one,” Robot replied. “A well run kitchen can operate much like a machine.”
“Sooo are we gonna sneak into the kitchens later then?” Witch grinned mischievously. She held her phone aloft proudly. “I‘ll record so we can keep track of the best ways in!”
“Oh damn, a snack run??? Count me in! I can distract the stage staff!” Warrior offered eagerly.
“As if the lot of you could make it undetected,” Thief snorted. He rolled his eye, shaking his head. “With all the noise you make you’d be lucky to get two steps into the back halls.”
“Perhaps you could scout ahead, then? Discover a path that would accommodate us all?” Robot suggested. Inventor nodded enthusiastically.
“And once you’ve found a way in, we can follow your footsteps- maybe I can even give you a tracker so we can all watch?”
“Oh my gods this is gonna be fu- hey, Beast, where are you going?”
At Witch’s question, all eyes once again fell on Beast. She froze in place, one foot out in the hall, the other still on the common room floorboards. She slowly turned back to face everyone. Ears flicked back sheepishly, she tried for a casual look. Her stumbling words did not help. “Uhh- nowhere- I mean- I gotta- er- go to the- that thing in the sparring arena?” She sputtered lamely. Everyone exchanged a skeptical look. With a soft sigh, Warrior took a step forward.
“C’mon Beast, it’s nowhere near time for that. I haven’t even done my run yet,” Warrior said gently. Beast mumbled an “I know,” gaze skittering to the floor. She could hear Warrior’s boots against the wood. She saw them a moment later. She risked a glance up, eyes flicking to Warrior’s face and immediately back to the ground. He had that dumb, soft, careful look again. Like he usually did when she was being… difficult. She squirmed a little, face flushing, but didn’t move away. When he spoke again, his voice was soft- or, well, soft er . He only had one setting, and it was loud. But… this was soft for him. “Why not just tag along? If you don’t like what they’re serving, you won’t have to take any,” Warrior assured her.
“… mmh…”
“It’ll be ok, Beast. I promise.”
A movement from the corner of her eye. If it were anything other than a flash of forest green, Beast would have jumped. But she knew that shade well now. Dark boots, edge of a tattered cape. Soon enough, a seafoam glove hovered inquiringly over her shoulder. It set itself down gently at her curt nod.
“He’s right, you know,” Thief admitted. His glove gently tugged at her shoulder until she met his eye. His face didn’t have the same doe eyed ease as Warrior’s, but rather the quiet assuredness of a pack leader. “If the kitchens were dangerous, we’d have fought in them by now.”
Hm. Well, now two of them were right.
“… mmmmmm… ffffffine,” Beast huffed, crossing her arms and hunching her shoulders. Warrior beamed at her, Thief giving a short nod of approval. The remaining contestants grinned as they stood from their seats. “But they better have something good .”
“I am sure they will, their menu has been excellent,” Robot hummed agreeably.
“I’ll grab my tracker!” Inventor bubbled, scrambling off towards her room.
“You’re not gonna regret it!” Witch giggled eagerly.
‘... With you all, maybe I won’t.’