Blue's expression softened. "You know you need more than two people for that."
She wasn't lying. With as many dead as Kira and Raider had between them, they needed an entire squad. Even then, they'd likely end up regretting it in the morning.
"That has become very clear." Kira aimed a significant look at where Raider swayed.
Blue hooked her foot on a chair at the next table and pulled it over. She snatched a glass from the table and downed it in a single gulp. "Who is next?"
Raider raised his arms and cheered.
Kira sighed. "Bayside, right?"
Raider’s nod was careful, as if the copious amounts of alcohol he'd consumed might escape if he moved too quickly.
A sound of surprise left Blue, her glass lowering as she shot the two of them a disconcerted look. "How long have you been here?"
Raider and Kira shared a look, saying at the same time. "Long enough."
Shaking her head, Blue threw the shot back, grimacing at the taste. "The thing I remember most about Bayside was that he hated peppers. Used to complain anytime he got them in an MRE. Said they were an offense to food everywhere."
"Oh yeah, didn't he also have a habit of trading them for the cheese?" Raider asked.
Kira nodded. "Used to drive me crazy because he always came after mine first and then would pout if I didn't give them to him."
Blue’s laugh was bright. "He didn't even like the cheese in the MREs."
Kira scowled. "Yes, he did. Used to get them from everyone."
Blue shook her head. "He always gave them to me because he knew they were my favorite. He said that if he couldn't have what he wanted, he didn't plan on letting you lot have it either."
Kira gaped. "That asshole."
Blue burst out laughing. “How did he even get that name anyway? Bayside? He never would tell me.”
Raider was the one who answered. “He showed up wanting to be called the Butcher. Thought it was badass. Elise found out he was from a coastal city and started calling him Bayside. It stuck.”
Kira snorted. “Like we were ever going to call him the Butcher.”
Blue’s face sobered. "We had a good family."
Raider clinked his glass against hers. "That we did."
"I miss them," Blue confessed.
Raider's eyes met Kira's, sadness there.
"We all do," Kira said, ignoring the prickling at the back of her eyes.
Finn's gaze caught hers from where he still sat at the bar. Kira ignored the understanding reflected there as she focused on her friends.
Shaking off the sadness, Raider reached for another glass only to have his hand knocked away as Blue got there first. She held up a hand at his protest. "Stow it, old man. I have some catching up to do."
With a harrumph, Raider sat and folded his arms.
Kira's response was forestalled as newcomers entered the bar. They lingered in the entrance as they looked around with cool, almost derisive glances. Only one of those present wore synth armor, fiery flames of orange emblazoned on his chest, accents of the color woven throughout.
The rest wore simpler versions of the synth armor, declaring them as initiates from well-to-do families, much like Rheya and Devon.
The group headed toward the bar as Talon moved to meet them, the same surliness she'd seen on their first meeting present. His movements were rough and abrupt as he served them, something in his manner saying the newcomers weren't exactly welcome. A fact Kira had picked up on when the rest of the patrons quieted, the looks being cast at the newcomers not exactly hostile, but definitely not friendly either.
