“Yeah, has to be Benny’s, right?” Jayce asks.
I glance over at him and nod as I drop to the ground, groaning. My body is aching from training. It was intense but fucking good.
“It sure does,” I agree.
“This is just like old times, huh?” Ares mutters, glancing at the sky as he takes a bite of his slice.
“It is,” Renji says, his eyes softening, clearly reminiscing as he thinks about the past.
“And maybe not here, but we’ll always have our little rendezvous,” Jayce adds.
“I’m going to hold you all to that,” Carter says firmly.
“Yeah, me too,” I agree, as I crack open a can of beer. It’s nice and cold. “Damn Jaycey boy, when did you learn to be such a good host?”
“Shut it, dickhead,” Jayce throws back as the others snicker.
“So, what is your plan, now that you’re leaving?” Ares asks Jayce.
“I’ll be joining the fight, and I think I can definitely do more out there than here,” Jayce says quietly.
“Think that really we all need to be out there…” Renji adds grimly.
Jayce nods. “The Indomitable’s attacks are getting more frequent. Leo’s already talked to the MI6 and the CIA, we’re being given further clearance, and there’ll be connections to work with to make sure the humans are also protected. Without having to worry too much about being caught, it’ll make things a lot easier. With their help and getting to them before the Indomitable, it’s definitely a win. Leo getting there first and building trust really has helped.”
“Yeah, that’s for sure,” I agree, taking a bite of pizza. “I know each squadron will have a human agent they work with, init?”
“Yeah,” Jayce confirms.
“And with the wraiths taking on identities, it’s getting hard to figure out who is a wraith and who isn’t, and humans are also targeted. What we do know is there’s far more wraithsthan initially thought, and the Indomitable are using this,” Jayce adds.
“And we’re just sitting here, training… but yeah, it’s like we’re closed off from it.” Carter sighs.
“If the need arises, the 6th years will be called to arms. But if it comes to that, it means the war’s getting worse, so let’s hope it doesn’t,” Jayce murmurs.
“Yeah, I can’t wait for us to move to offence rather than staying in defence,” Carter says, gulping down some beer.
“One thing that worries me… about going on the offence, it means there are chances – high chances that we will end up killing children and those who are not warriors… and taking prisoners,” Renji says quietly as he stares at his barely eaten pizza slice.
I eat mine, remaining silent. From all of us, he is the most kind-hearted, and war will leave its mark on him. Heck, it’ll leave its mark on all of us.
But his nature is the reason why I don’t know what to think about him not appearing on camera. I’m putting it down to his girl having some trick up her sleeve.
Can one of my brothers really turn on us? Our bond is more than that. Right?
“That’s why war is better avoided,” Carter says. “What happens will always stay with you.”
We’re going to witness a lot, lose friends…
“That’s war, and war isn’t pretty,” Ares says grimly.
“It isn’t, but we go in with as much compassion as is possible,” Jayce agrees as he opens a can of Coca-Cola.
I can’t say shit. I’ve taken kids’ lives… Leave them alive, and you breed hate.
“I know this topic has been broached before, but what about Sienna’s heat?” Carter asks quietly. “She is your woman regardless. You’ve marked her, knowing your mark can never be replaced by another.”
I lean back and look at Jayce. He’s insane to leave her in a school full of hormonal bastards. The picture of Heaven in her outfit today returns, and I internally groan, pushing it away.
