Eyes That See All
The sun outside began to set, hidden behind the tall buildings in the distance. Aureolo and Coope entered the room, and Doxie followed right behind them.
I sat on the dark green L-shaped couch, leaning against the backrest.
The last recon mission went smoothly, for the most part.
"Look who we have."
Coven said, entering shortly behind Doxie.
I ignored his comment. He walked over and dropped down beside me. Too close.
…As always.
Ignored that as well.
"Aureolo, can you make tea?"
I asked before he could sit down.
"Sure," he said, heading over to the counter. He turned on the faucet and put the kettle underneath, filling it up.
"How was your mission?"
Coven asked, stretching his arm along the backrest behind me. I let out a sigh, completely ignoring his behaviour. I was too tired to snap at him.
Travelling through space and time had its own kind of jet lag.
"So what mission did you two go on?"
Doxie asked.
"We went to BBB-TI 713."
"BBB-TI 713?! That planet with hot, muscular people?"
Doxie yelled. I winced.
"Yes. Yes."
"Why did Hornet send you two there? He knows I love that planet."
"What you love is the men there. Not the planet itself," Aureolo said, handing me the hot cup of cinnamon tea.
"Thank you," I took hold of the hot tea and brought it to my lips. I liked sipping on it while it was burning hot. It was my preferred way of drinking it.
"I want to date a man, not the planet."
"Speaking of dates, I heard that the conflict was settled with marriage," Coven said.
"Yes."
"Marriage? Between whom?" Doxie asked.
"Well, the eldest children of the two tribe leaders were engaged and set to marry, but we left before the ceremony took place."
"Were they both hot?"
"Doxie—"
"What? It's important."
I rolled my eyes, analysing the room. Aureolo was making himself coffee while Tigeralla was sitting on the edge with her legs pulled up against her chest. On the other side, Coope was playing with the seams of his suit.
Both of them were always so quiet, as if in their own world.
At this rate, we would never hold a proper conversation.
Before Tigeralla, I used to scold Coven for not getting Coope fully involved in their banter, and now I had the same problem with Tigeralla in my team.
I looked next to me, Coven not even bothering to do anything except entertain himself by teasing Doxie.
I let out a deep sigh. Someone had to keep things moving.
"Coope, how was your day?"
No answer.
"Coope?"
His head snapped toward me.
"How was your day?" I repeated.
"Just another day."
He was so hard to communicate with. There was always something he was hiding, and he refused to open up to me. I looked over towards Tigeralla.
"Tigeralla, tell Coope how the mission went."
No answer. Again.
What was going on with both of them?
"Tig."
"Tig."
"Tigeralla!"
She snapped out of whatever was going on inside her head. I cleared my throat.
"Tigeralla, tell Coope how the mission went."
She looked over towards Coope who was flustered for some reason. It was so clear. Even the mask could not hide it.
"It was fine," she said, as if that explained everything.
Communication remained optional, apparently.
"Fine, how? Tell him the details."
My eye twitched when I felt Coven leaning his entire weight on me, trying to fight Doxie off as she went feral wild-cat on him.
"We left the arena and got into the ship and Agile drove us to the planet. And then Agile spent most of the time in the fabric hut, talking and talking. And then at the end she made peace between them by marriage."
I stared at her, listening to the whole story.
She was… not the best storyteller.
Aureolo does it better. He added some pizzazz to the story. And exaggeration. A lot of exaggeration.
I could use him right now to lighten the mood between the three of us.
"Aureolo, if you're done, join us."
He made his way towards us with a coffee mug in his hand, sitting beside Coope.
"What is going on?"
He said, nudging his chin towards Doxie and Coven, who were still throwing hands at each other. Now they were on the ground, behind the couch. Grumbles and groans echoed throughout the room.
What was I supposed to do with them?
Coven, predictably, was no help. He was the same rank as me, yet he still couldn't control a single team member of Rapid Engagement, much less communicate with his teammates.
"Ignore them," I took a sip of the tea, which was already starting to cool down.
"It is hard to ignore them when they are being this loud," Coope said. Finally, he said something.
Aureolo was eyeing them behind the couch, twitching, clearly wanting to join them. I was familiar with his nerves — trying to join in the mischief Coven and Doxie created. If it wasn't for me, he would be just like them. A complete gremlin.
I cleared my throat before taking a sip of the tea. The scent of the drink in my hand wasn't enough to calm me down, not with those two fools around and now a third one wanting to join.
An idea popped in my head.
I set my tea down, leaning back against the backrest once again.
"How was your day, Aureolo?"
"It was fine. Did training like you said," he grumbled. "I worked on my knife skills and also learned how to defuse a bomb. Earth bo-"
"Mr. Hornet—"
I yelped, immediately standing up.
The others followed. Doxie and Coven also stood up behind (how do I add she had sharp hearing).
Everyone's eyes turned to the door, which was empty.
"Wher-"
Coven started before lunging at me.
I stepped out of the way as he fell on the couch and rolled down onto the ground with a heavy thud.
I looked down at him.
…That worked.
Schooling my face into not smirking.
"Ow-"
Aureolo was quick to help him up while all he did was glare at me.
"Perhaps I should call Hornet over."
"He left," Coope said, unfazed.
"Left for where?"
Coven asked.
I gave him a look. He was in the arena, yet he didn't know where our leader was.
"I overheard Stella telling Ava."
I hummed, nodding my head.
Where did Hornet go?
Perhaps I should ask Stella.
Behind me, Coven and Doxie had already started again.
I reached for my tea.
Ignoring the mess all around me.
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