Hidden

The expression on my face would have been more than enough to give us away, but Archer, of course, feels the need to vocalize it. "I did, but he didn't. It was a close call though." His voice is laced with distaste, and I feel my face heat up at his words. Nuri blows out a big breath, rakes her eyes over Ryan, and bumps her shoulder into mine, forcing me closer into Ryan's body than I was before.

"Atta girl," she says before looking back across the table at Archer, who scowls at her. "Next time you'll have to make sure the Mountain is preoccupied, so Ryan can finish the job."

"Don't encourage them." Archer growls at her, but Nuri only grins at him in response.

Linc drops into a seat next to my brother and notes Ryan's arm around me, "So you're the one to blame for Ethan's demise, huh?"

"He did that all on his own." Ryan's words have my skin feeling itchy and tight. I have no clue what I'm doing here, and it feels like this is being decided for me. I pull myself out from under his arm. One of Ryan's eyebrows lifts as he looks down at me with questions in his eyes.

"Enough about whatever that is," Archer complains, waving a hand in between Ryan and me, "Linc, where was your ass the last time I was detached? What's the use in having friends in high places if you can't use them for favors?"

Linc snorts loudly, "I'm doing one now by not asking Ryan about that black eye. If I called in a favor for you every time you got in trouble, Stanhope would replace me in a heartbeat. The paperwork alone is bad enough as it is."

Nuri's eyes sparkle at this information. I forget she hasn't been around to know the full extent of Archer's depravity. "Is there a file I can look at?"

Archer tenses when Linc leans across the table towards her with nothing but mischief in his green eyes, "Sweetheart, there's an entire filing cabinet."

When he winks at her, Archer pulls him back roughly, "Keep your cabinet to yourself, Julian."

Linc clutches a hand to his chest, "Not my given name, man. Now my mystique is gone!"

I pat Linc's other hand in mock sympathy and laugh along with everyone else, but I can feel a storm brewing beside me. Ryan and I really need to have that talk. Pulling my hand back, I lean back over to him and whisper in his ear, "Do you want to talk before or after my training tonight?"

"After," he whispers back and laces his fingers with mine, "You lost enough time today without me stealing any more of it."

My chest warms from the feeling of his breath in my ear as well as the thought of him putting me first. Being doubted and treated like what I want doesn't matter makes his words even sweeter. A goofy smile blooms on my face before I can stop it. Nuri pulls me away to head back, saving me from making a bigger fool of myself. Which is good because I wanted to pull his arm back around me then and there and wrap myself up in him. I feel the impression of his hand in mine all the way back to the training area.

Despite wanting to focus on the maze, I stomp over to the mission command station and select a new guide. I can't let this morning throw me off schedule here. A male voice sounds in my ears, and I try to ignore the way my stomach clenches because it isn't Ryan. Thankfully, this one is marginally better than the woman from yesterday, but, then again, it'd be hard to be worse than she was. He's still not as detailed as Ryan was on the first day. Maybe I'll get lucky on the day and have a guide that's at least decent. I can hope anyway.

Once again, the guide gets me through with time to spare. Something that some of the others around me still haven't managed. On my way out of the station, a hand on my shoulder stops me. Another candidate stands in front of me rocking on his heels and avoiding eye contact. I recognize him from the education program. Michael. He's got to be nineteen now, but it doesn't look like he's gotten any taller since the last time I saw him.

His face is bright red and his mouth opens but closes sharply as if he can't find the words now that he has my attention. It's a surprise to see him here. I would have thought he'd be picking something far less dangerous than missions. "It's good to see you." I tell him because it's true. He was always kind to me. Kind to everyone actually.

Michael looks at me quickly before his eyes dart away again, "You too, Sam. Would you..."

He rocks on his heels again when his mouth clamps shut, looking so nervous that I can't help but snap at him, "Stop looking at me like I'm going to take a bite out of you."

It works because he laughs and color comes back into his face. "I wasn't sure. You're like a different person when you walk in here. Cold even."

"I prefer focused, but okay." I start to walk to the gun range, so he falls into step with me.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

Michael waves his hand at the mission command station, "Finish the tasks. I haven't been able to finish one yet, and my trial is the day after tomorrow."

For a second I think that it's a good thing. If Michael can't pass his trials, he'll be safe, but something burning in his gaze makes me change my mind. I tell him to go back and select the code that will make Ryan his guide. This way if Michael still can't get through it, it won't be because he didn't have all the help he could get. He thanks me profusely before almost running back to try again. As he leaves, I hesitate. Maybe I should have talked to Ryan first.

Will he give the same help to everyone that he gave to me? I can't decide what kind of answer I want to that question. Aggravation burns low throughout my body at the thought of him talking to any of the other candidates the way he talked to me. I've got to snap out of this. There's no time to dwell on what Ryan does or doesn't do when I don't even have a claim on him. I'm not even sure I want one.

Close to an hour later, my arms are trembling from trying to hit the target exactly right. Placing the firearm on the table in front of me, I shake out my arms and think about moving on to knives to try a few techniques Nuri shared with me. When I turn around, I about jump out of my skin. Michael stands close with a serious expression on his face. "You're letting the recoil throw you off. Unload the chamber."

"What-"

Michael with renewed confidence walks up to the table and unloads the gun efficiently. "Come on. You helped me. Let me help you."

"Does that mean you got through it?" Michael nods and allows himself a grin before motioning me over to him again. He places the empty gun in my hands and adjusts my stance while instructing me to tighten my grip.

"Now, fire." My shoulders tense, and I feel muscles tense and, ultimately, flinch as I pull the trigger. Michael huffs, "See what I mean? You need to keep firing until that flinch goes away."

I try again and attempt to keep myself from flinching, but I still react. "I didn't realize it was this bad."

Michael hears my whispered words, "You hide it well. Is it the noise that bothers you more, or the actual recoil?"

"I...I don't know. Any other tips?" Michael shares enough that I feel like the scales are tipped in his favor. I tell him as much, and he asks if he can go through the maze with me tomorrow. "Nuri and I are doing that tomorrow morning. You okay with a plus one?"

He nods emphatically before moving on to the stations meant to help with the maze in general. On my first day the instructor had said we needed to be able to work as a team. Outside of Nuri, I really hadn't tried to make connections, but they both have stepped up to help me this week. With just one day left of training for the pair of them, I'm going to make sure to repay their kindness.