And that part was on Lee.
The kid had more grit than Lee had ever given him credit for. It took a lot to stand tall and admit that to his face. And Lee didn’t think less of him for it.
“But you were,” Lee said, finally, Jed lifting his gaze once more. That was the part of this that Jed needed to deal with. The part all of them needed to deal with. They still had a great amount of time left with the Academy—Jed and the others even more so. And it was how they handled these next few monthsthat would define their potential as raiders. They had eyes on their backs now.
Lee swallowed past his own thrashing emotions on the subject. “Take care. Take your space. But know you’re not alone, alright? If you need to talk, or throw shade over someone, you come find me.” Lee would be his scapegoat. He’d have him in his corner. For however much or long as he needed him, he’d be there.
Checking his hyperband, Lee let Jed go before making for the vending machines, his stomach taking the lead. Kat hadn’t said anything yet, so he figured he’d hang out here for a bit killing time andshoot the moon. He wasn’t going to be the one to interrupt her primp and pampering time—and whatever else she was doing while she waited to get her new suit. He still had nightmares from that time she’d chewed him out when he’d interrupted her painting her toenails a tree-fungus green. Although, he did partially blame Tonya for that one.
He keyed in a selection, barely bothering to look at what he was ordering, as he stole a glance around the Hideaway, ignoring the little prickles that accompanied people’s stares. It was fairly full for the hour, most of the tables semi-filled. He might have done better sneaking into the kitchens instead. But he took up a spot at the railing overlooking the darkened Canteen below.
It wasn’t too long before Zane joined him.
“Hey.” Zane scrutinized the canned cappuccino in Lee’s hands as Lee cracked it open. But he didn’t comment on his choice of drink.
Lee took a sip, not even tasting the unsweetened contents inside as he put his back to the railing. “I ran into Jed just now. He puts up a strong face.”
“Yeah.” Zane scratched at a bit of rust on the railing, leaning on his forearms. “Yeah, he’ll be fine.”
“Good kid,” Lee agreed.
They were mostly quiet as they leaned, side-by-side and not quite companionably, watching the comings and goings of the Hideaway. Lee occasionally took sips from his canned coffee drink, while all around them, pairs and groups of cadets chattered and laughed.
“Do you ever think we aggravated this by not being more upfront with everyone?” Lee wondered aloud, lowering his voice as the cadets at the table nearest them glanced his way.
“What could we even have said? It’s all buried in security clearances.”
“We could have said something. Started the conversation.” At least then they’d have been able to lead the gossip assault or redirect it or something. Make the raid sound intentional instead of like a cover up.
Lee took another sip of his drink.
Whistler crossed into the Hideaway with no sign of Demi, or any of the usual crowd that tended to swarm him, tonight. Although, he did brush off someone when he saw Lee and Zane.
Whistler came up on Lee’s other side, perching alongside them. “You guys get your assignments yet?”
Lee only had to wonder briefly to what assignments Whistler was referring before Zane spoke.
“Neha and I have our briefing Friday morning,” Zane admitted.
“You’re talking raids. How did you guys get assignments? I didn’t see anything about restrictions being lifted,” Lee said.
“It was in our briefing message from the Commander,” Zane told him. “Although, personally, I think Dad must have made a call to speed things along.”
“Who is your dad again?” Lee exclaimed.
Zane just rolled his eyes, Whistler chuckling darkly.
That certainly complicated things. He’d known Zane’s dad served somewhere in the AMG. But he hadn’t been aware he’dhadthosekinds of connections. It made sense he would want to get his son out in the field again as soon as possible. And if Whistler had also gotten raid approval, that likely meant theirs would be coming, too.
He supposed it made sense. If the reports had gone out, the council had obviously come to some sort of verdict on what to do with all of Segura’s research. The future of dark rays and neutrino energy.
He didn’t know why he still cared. If he should be caring. Or if he really should find a way to let it go and move on. It seemed like everyone else was.
“How’s your co-squadron lead? What does Ciela make of your position in all of this?” Zane asked Whistler bluntly, cutting past all pretenses.
But Whistler was all seriousness when he responded. “Ciela wants the truth. She’s questioning what happened out there, like all of them.” He sighed, waving to the room around them. “She’s not in the wrong. That’s what she’s supposed to do. That’s what any of us would be doing. That’s what…” But he didn’t finish his thought. Whistler instead turned to stare down over the empty Canteen. “Maybe it’s for the best. We can all get back to normal.” Whistler adjusted his position against the railing. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”
He’d meant it to be rhetorical. But the undertones were there. Like Whistler, like he and Zane, they all wanted to unveil that answer. They wanted to find that alternative option for a next step that didn’t exist for them. Raiders would do as raiders do best.
