04:24 AM
My body ached in so many places that I couldn't count, the sparing session with Ghost left me bruised in ways I didn't even expect. I shuddered at the thought that I would have to fight him again today, I changed into my training clothes and I was ready to leave and get some breakfast from the cafeteria.
It was still early so I knew I would be one of the only people there, or so I thought as I kept my eyes on the giant figure sitting further away from the entrance, I thought of all the squads he could belong to but my mind was sure that I had never seen him before.
The kitchen lady whispered to me with a smile as she passed my food.
"It's KorTac, Darling. Remember the announcement from last week?"
My eyes went wide as I remembered, KorTac's unit was staying on our grounds for a while, most likely on some mission but we weren't allowed to know, nodding fast I smiled at the lady.
"Oh right, how could I have forgotten. Thank you for the meal."
I quickly took a seat further away from the man and began eating, I could feel someone watching me, a chill running down my spine. A few other people entered the cafeteria but I had already finished eating.
I went over to put down my tray, before I could put it down someone was already placing another one on top of mine, I felt as their gloved hand brushed against mine.
I looked behind me but was met with a sturdy chest, my eyes then moved up as the KorTac soldier towered over me, I must have looked comical as I stood next to him, not even reaching his shoulders in height.
His eyes looked dark and cold, as if any wrong move would have me dead on the spot, the sniper hood making him look even scarier, it reminded me of Ghost in a sense. A shiver went through me as I thought how bruised up I would be if I had to fight him instead of Ghost, I was quickly ripped out of my thoughts by his voice.
"Umm... Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
I blinked a couple of times, his thick accent sounded so sweetly, his eyes suddenly looked like ones of a puppy, much different to his first impression.
"Ah! No, sorry, I just got lost in thoughts. I didn't know there was someone behind me."
I tried to laugh it off to not make it awkward, I said my Goodbye walking out and towards the gym sector to get a light work out in hope of easing some of my strains from yesterday.
We both continued to walk in the same direction, that was it for trying not to make it awkward, the giant man walked behind me, people looking our way as we passed through corridors. I realized I don't even know what to call him, I glanced behind me to see his eyes wandering everywhere except at me. It made me think whether I really want to bother him but fuck it.
"I don't think I caught your name before, I'm Shade by the way."
"König. You can call me König."
"Kónig, huh? Sounds nice."
Thanks to my accent I was able to get the name right the first time. He didn't say anything else so we walked in silence the rest of the way, I could feel his gaze on my back.
The gym was empty as I had thought it would be, so it was just the two of us, we both went our separate ways from there. I could feel his eyes on me as I stretched my sore limbs, I only hoped I didn't get under his skin, I wouldn't want to have problems with KorTac as well, Ghost was already enough.
But I had to admit. The way his muscles flexed was worth stealing a glance.
-------
Sarah walked over to me as we got in a line, her smile not wavering instead becoming even brighter then before.
"Shade, you good? I haven't seen you since yesterday, I got worried hun."
"Sorry, there is a lot of going on lately. You know how it is."
I didn't want to worry her more, so I decided to keep everything to myself. Let's be honest though, talking about my sparing with Ghost wasn't the best thing to do. It would be better if I kept that a secret.
"You didn't even get breakfast with me. Again. But fine, I won't press you about it."
She always had a hunch if something was wrong with me no matter how well I covered my feelings, but she wasn't always the most reliable, I didn't blame her, she was still young after all. We watched as the 141 team made their way over to our unit, however there was something I had not expected, nor could ever guess to happen.
I saw the distinct mask. The mask of the man I met this morning.
König.
Why was he here? And who where these soldiers with him?
"Today KorTac's Colonel and his soldiers will join us. Don't shit yourselves."
Ghosts voice was cold and rough, but I had a feeling he was enjoying the fear that appeared in peoples eyes as soon as they saw him and König. Wait.
Colonel?
Which one? Was it...? No. No way.
My mind was trying to catch every single word that left their mouths.
Horangi. Stiletto. Roze.
The highest rank is always first, he went last, so he must have done this just to taunt me.
König. The Colonel.
I watched as König made eye contact with Ghost, he nodded his way, thanking him after the introduction. My body screaming as my flight or fight rang in my head, my stomach crunching in discomfort.
"Alright! Everyone! Today we will be ---"
I tuned out as the sergeant started to explain today's sparing session, I couldn't believe in what I heard. König was a Colonel. I didn't address him properly even once, was he acting awkward because I didn't act accordingly? God, I was so mad at myself! Why was I getting myself in those situations? I hoped I wouldn't have to switch from this unit as I did before, Persha wouldn't be happy. Thinking about Major Persha, I haven't heard from her in a while.
I watched nervously as they all took turns to chose who they will fight with, I swallowed hard as with each person it moved closer to Ghost. I was mentally preparing for another dose of pain that he would cause me.
"Shade."
It only hit me now that König stood right before Ghost, I noticed he send the huge man a death stare as he called me by my code name. My eyes landing on König, my heart falling to my stomach.
I am dead. No way I can best him, not by brute strength alone, I am not sure if even Ghost could take him on. I saw how he dead lifted in the gym, I don't weigh half of what he was able to pull up.
It's okay. They won't kill me. This is just a sparing session. Might be painful but nothing more. My emotions have been getting the better of me as of late. That needed to change and it needed to happen as soon as possible.
I walked over to him, standing behind him, my head low, of course I was the first one he chose. Ghost was no longer paying attention to me or that's what I thought at least. He did look pissed, but on the other hand when did he not?
I was even more surprised when I heard Ghost speak.
"Micheal Thera."
Some people didn't have code names yet, so they were called by their real names.
Why did he pick Micheal though? He probably took more interest in him, he was the strongest in our unit after all.
Except from me.
I could break his neck so easily.
But I have to hold back for my own sake. For Persha. I did promise her I would be able to survive undetected until the basic training is done. However, it would be interesting to see someone realize I am not the soldier that's written in the documents after all.
I just hope that the 141 nor KorTac will be interested enough to reach into my background, although I am sure Major would take care of it as soon as possible.
The man child stood behind Ghost, he checked me out and then looking over at König making sure I saw it. He chuckled under his nose and I had the urge to break his jaw. When I am done here, I will make sure no one ever looks down on me. No matter how high their rank. Just a few months. That's all I need.
I calmed myself down and soon found myself with a group of other people, before us stood the horrifying Colonel. I wasn't planing on fighting as I did with Ghost yesterday. This would put me low in ranking but I needed to lose, no person on my spot would win. I doubt anyone from the group he chose could. I prepared myself but he didn't call me first, he took the last person he picked.
Fuck.
He was going to leave me for last.
Like a desert after a not so fulfilling dinner.
Word count: 1533