Runt stared at her lieutenant with a huge grin, trying to understand the gist of her instructions. It seemed simple enough. Make the roughed up area into a flat, but still roughed up area. Since she didn't need to reattach every little pebble together, it would be much easier.
"Okay!"
The idiot grabbed the biggest boulder and, emulating something from a video game or wrestling show, bent over backwards to suplex it over her head. The thing crashed to the ground, sending up dust everywhere as it split into five separate pieces. These were just breadcrumbs to the crazily excited little girl, who proceeded to smash them with punches and a few headbutts here and there (to prove her skull was really tough).
That was the biggest boulder. There were still a couple more, and Runt had started beating up the second biggest when Liv decided it was time to stop. Runt grabbed the trident and tried to stab the non-pointy end into the ground. It worked simply because of her ridiculous strength, making a huge dent in the floor, but it ended up toppling over under the weight of the three prongs. Runt shrugged, raced over, and pulled on Xia's sleeve.
"Come on! Unless you want me to carry you like I picked up that huge boulder!!" Honestly, Runt wished Xia would choose the second option. It would be sooo much fun to carry her around.
* Tags: Liv & Xia
---
Parlando placed the lasagna on the table carefully, not wanting to spill any. The Commander was in a good mood today, according to Anthony, but a good mood by Alder standards might mean 'slightly less murderous than usual but still really murderous'. Alder's temper reminded Pearl of his own mother.
"I'll definitely ask him- when I'm done eating as much as I can." Pearl chuckled. "If I get murdered by the Commander, I'd like to at least have eaten my fill of good lasagna."
He looked over at Alder, who was honest to goodness smiling. Parlando blinked, wondering if he had gone mad. But this was an actually happening thing.
"Great Solara in a pond! You were right." Pearl exclaimed incredulously. As he looked again to confirm his suspicions, he also noticed Lawrence was sitting at a table with Ettore. Perhaps she would make a new friend. Pearl gave his childhood friend an encouraging smile, hoping she saw it. He hoped Lawrence would be on his team for Capture the Flag along with his other friends.
"Now that Wayne's gone, I think it will be a good day for everyone." Parlando twirled his fork in his hand. "And an especially good night for us. Our barracks will smell like heaven!"
No more unappetizing stench. It was a dream come true. Parlando took a big bite out of the lasagna, enjoying the rich warm taste. It reminded of home and his dad's cooking.
* Tags: Lawrence, Ettore, Ant, Kevin
---
Alder raised an eyebrow, dark russet eyes glittering.
"You trying to give me orders, kitten?" He lowered his voice to a mock threatening growl. This was followed by his smile returning, as he had already spent all his anger for today, or so he believed.
He felt like he had carried a boulder for two weeks and finally set it down. Acacia's memories, which had tormented him with grief and fury, now comforted him. Her story was over but his was only beginning.
Alder was starting to believe, too, that maybe he could leave a legacy like hers. He would never replace the Heroine, rather he would be the Hero of Humanity.
But Acacia didn't do it alone. And neither would Alder.
He could feel Faline's heart beating, and with it the rush of pride that swelled through her chest. A lionness's pride. Alder was half expecting her to sprout a mane (he didn't know the differences between male and female lions).
"How about this? If you win this round, you choose the menu for the week. You name it, I cook it."
Alder decided it was appropriate to purposely omit the other option- if Faline lost. The food enough would be "incentive" as she would say.
Liv had not yet entered the cafeteria yet. Neither had several of the other girls. Alder assumed the lieutenant was also giving out an incentive of some sort. Runt would take the bait from any such encouragement. You could tell that kid to eat fried cockroaches for the good of humankind, and she would happily do it with a cherry on top.
But then again, pitting Runt against Faline as captains would be unfair. Being captain was all about wits. It was important to train everybody in every domain, but there were limits. Just like Anthony would never run screaming into battle swinging a greataxe, Runt was not cut out to be a strategist. To Alder, it was more important that his trainees and soldiers did what was best. He refused to force them into a role they weren't ready for.
Day by day, he saw everyone improving in their own ways. Lawrence was an assassin of sorts. She preferred to stay away from her allies, and on the battlefield, she would fight well alone too. Forcing her to fight side-by-side with an ally might actually slow her down. Naevys was a hard worker who never gave up. Alder saw incredible potential in him and his brothers, including the ridiculous Evren. Aerissa's kindness kept up everyone's morale.
To Alder, they were becoming a family. One barrack housed a sisterhood, the other a band of brothers. He could feel the rhythm of their heartbeats weaving closer together. Yes, even now as he stood beside Faline, he could feel his own heart quickening to match hers.
One day, he decided, all their hearts would beat as one. They would leave the barrier and the stifling dark of the underground. Alder could see it now. Piles of ash where the Hellborn used to be. Great rolling hills that extended past the edge of the world. Rising from the horizon, a great golden light brighter than anything they had seen before.
He saw himself and his army. He saw himself carrying this little punk on his shoulders as they climbed one of the hills, as they stood atop the whole world and watched humanity's first sunrise.
... It's so warm. This is...
... I call it "Hope".
Acacia... are you there?
You'll see. But I know you'll be there, pup.
"It's good practice- for when I cook you breakfast on the Surface." Alder stood up, cracking his back slightly. "But don't maul 'em too much, you hear?"
His only worry was that he had given her
too much incentive. Hope could do things to you. Alder would know- he felt a little drunk on it right now.
* Tags: Faline
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