Page 25 of Sink With Me

When was the last time I got Moe out on the training grounds? It’s usually a routine for us, but I’ve been distracted. Maybe I can release some pent-up frustration. It’s a win-win.

I pull at the collar of my shirt, making the buttons pop open. My fist thumps his door while I keep pushing past his room, just like clockwork fumbled steps and quiet curses follow behind me, surely struggling to pull his boots on. He’s always been my shadow even more now than ever since it’s just us left with each other. The bulletproof door leading to the outdoor training area opens with my palm.

“What’re we doing today, Cas?”

I grin, hearing the excitement in his voice. I’ve missed it too. He may not be my blood, but he’s always been my little brother.

“Sparring.” It’s a one-word answer followed by the toes of my boots pressing against the mat. He grimaces, lowering his head enough that his unruly flaming hair falls over his brows.

I roll my sleeves slowly and deliberately, catching his attention to the fresh addition of ink lining my arm. I have plenty of tattoos so it's not unusual for more to be added. What is unusual is the one I picked to take place wrapping around my forearm.

“Normal sparring or dad’s version?” He grumbles, tilting his head with furrowed brows as he studies the markings. A wicked grin curls around the corner of my mouth. This was the perfect idea for a distraction.

“I hope you studied.” I purr, earning a jab of an elbow into my ribs. Hopping onto the mat, the cushion dips and he follows suit, raising his fist to his chest.

“Let’s start easy.” I twitch a step, making him jump back and my chest shakes with held-back laughter. “High threat situation, but you notice a member missing.”

“They were captured.”

I throw an elbow with some of my body weight, knocking it into his raised arms blocking his head.

“Ah, ah, let me finish. It was an unexpected situation, you notice their belongings–”

“Either they willingly left and expected to return or they were in a rush.”

I hum in approval, but it spins into a groan when his shoulder knocks into my stomach, making me fall on my arse. I should have planted my feet. The soldiers file off the field into the base. They know this is our time. After their original leader fell, these moments became more important to us. Moe calms my head just like I ease his tension.

We tumble around in silence under the cloudy scenery. The high concrete walls and watch towers block out most of the outside world, but you can still hear the ocean that crashes just a few feet away from the exit.

I wiped the back of my arm to my nose. He’s grown up so fast that it makes me miss the times we were just kids tumbling in the sand while our mother laughed and our father barked innocent orders.

“Okay, last question.” I take a deep breath, raising my brows as I kick his feet apart to correct his stance and step back.

“When your superior gives you an order, what do you do?”

His body stiffens, fist lowering for a moment before rising back.

“Obey it.”

Despite being correct, I tackle him to the ground, relishing in the aggravated growl he lets out. Rolling off his body, I grunt, feeling a punch hit me hard in the side.

“I was just curious, Cas. You can’t protect me from everything forever,” he mumbles under his breath. He’s right and I can’t blame him. She makes me curious too, and I know I can’t always shield him, but I want to try for as long as I can. I was born for my role, he was tossed into it, unable to protest being just a baby left on our base’s doorstep pulling the heart of our mother. I fling a hand to my side, smacking his chest.

“Let’s go to the firing range. Maybe we can work out something to ease your curiosity and give you something to do.”

He pushes onto his side to get up, throwing an ‘accidental’ swing towards my face that I dodge. Pushing to my feet I pause, gripping his shoulder.

“Don't say anything like you did today again. This is your home.” I give him a light squeeze drawing his attention back from where it tried to stray.

He nods with a small shrug.

“Alright,” I grin, “the last one to the targets has to run the exercise course.”

Date: 5-5-2024

Time: unknown

“I’m so sorry Cordi, the ship… your parents didn’t make it.” The words fade in and out as a voice tries to walk me through the information just received.

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