"So you just went to bed with some random guy you didn't know just like that? Do you know how dangerous that is Sang Baby?" North hollered. I winced at his nickname for me but chose to ignore his comment and continued on with my story.
I woke up the next morning with an arm circled around my waist. For a brief moment I forgot the events that happened the previous day but as I began to come out of my sleepy haze the room around me was unfamiliar and the scent of whoever I was laying next to was different as well. I jolted up and surveyed the room. I began to recall the events that had occurred. I was too tired to look around the room before I went to sleep. Marc's room was dark blue and all the things he kept seemed to match his personality. A snowboard hanged on the wall near is desk and seashells littered the adjacent bookshelf. Other than that his room was fairly blank. There weren't many pictures besides the ones on his night table. One of what looks like him on his snowboard and an older photo of the Toma Team. The photo had 6 people in it instead of 5. I scooted to the edge of the bed to get a closer look.
"That's Kevin." A voice behind me said. I gasp, I could usually tell if someone was moving around me.
"You scared me." I whispered. "Did you just wake up?"
"No, I woke up just after you did. That was one hell of a jump. Forgot where you were for a moment?" I nodded and my gaze went back to the photo.
"What happened to him, Kevin I mean." Realizing I was invading their privacy I quickly backtracked. "Sorry, I didn't-- you don't have to tell me."
"It's no big deal. He got a girlfriend and working with the Academy and our team was interfering with that. He left to start a family and we understood. We still keep in contact."
"That's good." A moment of silence.
"You hungry? I'm not much of a cook but I was manage quite well on my own. Corey usually cooks when you have the down time."
"I can cook. I feel like I should repay you guys for all you're doing for me. It's the least I could do." I quickly got out of the bed and began to make my way out of his room leaving no room for debate. Marc trailed behind me. I opened the refrigerator and saw that they had a few ingredients to make omelets.
"Do you think that you can help me out? I don't know where everything is and I don't want to go storming through your cabinets." I asked.
"Of course, just tell me where you need me and I'll be there."
We began set a rhythm as we began cooking. Marc had grabbed the things I needed and I cooked whatever came to mind with the ingredients that were available. After some time I was aquatinted with the kitchen enough that he left me alone to go wake up the others. My habit of waking up early hasn't stopped yet and I sometimes forget that others don't run on the same clock as I do. Brandon and Corey came in when I was nearly done and Axel came out from his room just about the same time. I greeted them from my spot in the kitchen and they came shuffling in to set of the table.
I watched them set up and my heartached. They moved like the Blackborne team, never getting in each others way. A quick glance and they knew exactly what the other's next moved was going to be. I finished up breakfast and started to move the food to the table before I was quickly stopped by Corey, who took the plates of food from my hands. Soon enough everything was set but Raven was still missing.
"Where's Raven? Did no one wake him up?" I asked.
"He's not much of a morning person. I went in to wake him but he didn't move and inch." Marc shrugged. "His fault for missing on some good home cooking."
"I'll go wake him up then. I'd feel bad for letting him miss breakfast. Besides you guys said that you would help set up the furniture in my apartment and he can't do that on an empty stomach." I began to make my way to his room. Before they could stop me I entered. His room was plain with black walls. He had a table on one end with what looked like gun pieces laid out. Other than the table, guns and his bed there wasn't much else. I moved across to his side where I could see him stretched across the bed.
"Raven, it's time to wake up. I made breakfast." I softly shook his shoulder. The next thing I knew I was lying flat on my back with Raven on top of me and a gun pointed to my head. I was frozen for a moment, terrified before I saw the sleepy haze that was still glossed over his eyes. But more than that I could see the fear that lined them, he had gone through something that made him this way. Pulling out of my daze I went to talk him down.
"Raven, it's just me. Sang? We met last night after Axel and Marc picked me up from the airport. You remember them right? Your brothers?" I spoke softly, not making any attempt to get out of his unyielding grasp. And with that he broke out from whatever he was under and just in time for the rest to barge through the door.
"Raven! Get off of her!" barked Axel.
"No it's not his fault. I shouldn't have rushed in here without thinking it through." I said pushing myself up to an upright position. "The Blackborne, or rather North has mentioned Raven being a professional Russian? I'm not quite sure what that means but I never thought to bring it up."
"So West and his team have mentioned us before?"
"Not really. Just in passing, and it wasn't all of you. Until yesterday the only ones I've heard about was Marc and Raven and it was just the one time." I explained.
"Did Raven hurt you or scare you in anyway? I think all of us have been a victim of Raven's sleep habit." asked Axel.
"Not really. I was shocked at first but realized vaguely what was happening."
"Da, It's a good thing I changed her name to malen'kiy voin instead. She didn't even flinch when I held the gun."
"You held a gun up to her?" exclaimed Corey.
"Da."
"Ray, you've talked about this."
I watched as Corey scolded the big bad Russian like a mom would in fascination. That was until I noticed the amount of clothing that was on said Russian. Or the lack of.
"Oh my god." I blushed scarlet and made a mad dash out of the room. The rest were confused for a moment before also noticing Raven's current situation. There was more yelling and scolding before they came out sans Raven but he joined us at the table quickly after.
"You made all of this Sang?" asked Brandon.
"Yeah. I wanted to repay all of you some how and I didn't know what you all liked so I made a bit of everything and I assumed that you ate as much as the rest of them. But clearly you're a smaller team so I didn't make as much. And I'm rambling so I should shut up now."
"It's fine. We aren't that picky when it comes to food. And you were right about the amount we eat." I nodded my head and began to eat with them. Everything was put away and clean around 10. They didn't let me touch a single dish while they cleaned up. I guessed the same rule applied to this team, if you cook then you don't have to clean up.
The delivery wasn't coming until later in the day according to the message that Phil sent me that morning. They didn't have anything scheduled for the day so we opted to lounge around the apartment playing video games. It wasn't until 12:45 that I got a message that the shipment was being sent up to my room. The six of us made our way down the hall to my pod to retrieve the shipments. Everything was put into their respective rooms and we broke up into groups tackling different rooms to get the job done quicker. Brandon and Raven were setting up the living room while Axel and Marc were in the bedroom. Corey and I worked on the varies electronic appliances and kitchen things before going the rest to set up the furniture.
It was around 3 when we were all finished. They left me alone after that to get used to the new environment and just to spent sometime alone clearing my head of the events that have occurred. I decided to take a bath to delve into my thoughts and process what I'm going to do now that I am truly on my own. Thankfully Phil had thought of getting me a speaker since I love listening to music, so as I drew my bath I played some nice soothing instrumentals. I quickly got out of my clothes and into the bath and when the hot warm touched my skin I sunk into it.
I knew that I was going to have to go job hunting at some point. Phil has already done so much for me and I want to repay him as quickly as possible. I saw a board of job hirings in the main lobby and decided to check that out tomorrow. A part time job was a good place to start and it would help build up my resume before I got a full time one. I hugged my stomach. I would have to find a nanny or a day care as well if I were to work full time. I was on my own and didn't really know anyone here so I had no one to ask look after him or her. The Toma team said that they would help whenever I needed it but they have their own lives to deal with. And they'll probably leave me as well since that seemed like what everyone did around me.
Before I knew it the water had gone cold and I was shivering. I got out and wrapped a towel around me before unplugging the drain. I changed into some comfy clothes and sat down in my living room to read. Before long my stomach began to rumble but I had no food to make anything. I didn't know the area very well so I chose not to go out on my own and walked across the hall to Brandon and Corey's apartment to see if they were home. I knocked three times before the door opened.
"Brandon."
"Sang. What's going on sweetie?" asked Brandon startled.
"I was getting hungry and I realized that I didn't have any food in my apartment. And I don't know the area so if it isn't too much, I was wondering if you could take me grocery shopping." I asked. "Or tell me the nearest one so I could go on my own if you're too busy."
"No I can go with you. We wouldn't want you to do out all on your own. Corey is with the others working out some details for a mission so it'll just be us if that's alright."
"No that's fine. We shouldn't take too long I'll just grab whatever I need for the next week or so and I can go again some other time if I need anything else." I stepped aside so that Brandon could lock his door and we made our way down to the main floor. We made small talk on the way to Target and I learned a little bit more about the Toma team.
They all had jobs outside of the Academy and the rang that they did was extensive. Brandon owned a auto shop that he spent most of his time at and Corey was designing a video game. Axel worked at marine institute, Raven did some stuff at a gun range and Marc worked at a race track. They also all work in construction building homes that was Academy operated.
I bought some different items to make a various range a meals and stocked up on some hygiene products. My face heated up when I went to pick up pads and other feminine things but Brandon didn't even bat and eye when I did. But I still blushed the rest of the way back. He helped me bring everything inside and before I walked him out. He unlocked the door but stopped the the entrance.
"I was meaning to ask this but how did you know it was me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Corey and I are identical. Most people would get us confused even if they knew us for awhile."
"I don't know how to put it. At first glance it would be hard to tell you apart. But your eyes are different when you look at them closely."
"How so."
"Corey's are full of light. They have this shine to them that instantly make you feel like you can trust him."
"And mine?"
"Yours... Yours hold some kind of darkness in them. Not like and evil, malicious darkness but they look like you're carrying the weight of the world in them." Silence. Neither of us said anything for a minute.
"Yours do too." And with that he closed the door.
Hey guys! I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I had a hard time figuring out what I want to include in this chapter and that's why it took so long for me to update. I changed the font of the text so it would be easier for me format the chapters. So the present day text will be in italics and the flashback will be in regular font. The flashbacks are going to continue on for at least the next 3/4 chapters depending on how much I want to skip around in the backstory timeline. At this point I'm just coming up with things as I go but have a few events that I have in mind.
Some people have commented on what Sang's relationship with the Blackborne team is going to be. At this current moment what will happen with the 10 of them is not exact. I'm still juggling the logistics of how everything is going to pan out. My initial idea would have made this story too short so I need to work out the kinks.
But comment what you guys think should happen. Should Sang take them back? Should she stick with just the Toma team? What do you guys think, your input is greatly appreciated.
~lilit