Clearing the table after the debacle of a dinner Kosi watched as Rue stayed sitting at the table with her head on the table. "Babe? You doing alright there?" he asked as he walked to the kitchen. "Physically yes, mentally I'm fucked" she replied solemnly as she kept her head on the table.
"I'm lucky you think I'm pretty" she said with a chuckle. "I mean yeah you're gorgeous but that's not why I'm with you" Kosi replied coming up behind her and pouring a few drops of water down her back.
Bolting up to her feet at the cold sensation Rue swiveled around with a shocked expression on her face. "Okay that didn't help" she said through a growing smile. "You're up and smiling I say it did" Kosi replied. Forcing the smile off her face Rue rolled her eyes and walked away.
That same night Willow was out for answers. Taking matters into her own hands she approached a door and knocked aggressively. "Who the fuck is trying to break my door down!" Belal yelled belligerently as he swung the door open to face Willow.
"Oh it's the little vice captain, isn't it past your bedtime? Does Eric even know you're here" he said with a derisory sneer. A momentary break in eye contact from Willow answered his question for him.
Seeing the much taller man stand over her Willow balled up her fists. "The fuck is your problem with me? That I'm a girl? That you're way older than me? The fuck is your problem?!" she barked. "Go home kid it's getting late out" he said with a slight smirk.
Rolling his eyes he turned to shut the door. "Don't you walk away from me" Willow said to deaf ears as he shut the door in her face and locked as she was left standing there incredulously. Frustration and resentment bubbling within her she grit her teeth as her fingernails dug into her palm. "Gah fuck that hurt" she muttered to herself as she walked away.
The following morning the Exploration Team all reported for duty. With everyone present Thomas stood in front of them all. Not waiting for his command they all stepped forward and stood at attention. "So I don't get to say fall in? Fuck you all" he said with a gruff chuckle.
"Fiziev, why the fuck were you not at the demonstration yesterday?!" he shouted directly at Belal. Taken aback by the sudden question Belal composed himself and replied. "An exercise in leadership sir" he replied.
"I'll humor you this one time, explain your stupid argument" he said looking on skeptically at Belal. "Well sir it's quite simple. Neither the captain nor vice captain of my team are fit to lead" he said as everyone's head turned to face him as they looked on.
"And how do you come to that conclusion?" Thomas asked with a raised eyebrow. "Here I'll demonstrate. Eric when did you find out about me no showing the demonstration?" he said looking towards a stoic Eric. "Yesterday" Eric replied stoicly.
"Wait no you found out today right" Belal said pointedly. "No I found out yesterday, Willow reported it to me as soon as she could. I was going to discuss it with you privately I wasn't expecting you to make a spectacle of yourself like this" Eric replied sharply without looking at Belal.
Guilt riddled Willows mind as she watched this happen but she chose to say nothing. "See I don't get why you're taking this as your hill to die on Eric why stand up for some kid you just met. Cause we both know she didn't tell you because if she did why did she storm over to my house yesterday to try yelling at me" Belal asked with a smug look on his face when he saw Willow squirm.
"Again. I was going to talk to you myself and I told her that but I guess she thought maybe you could be reasoned with which clearly isn't the case" Eric said to Belal in a condescending tone. Noticing Willow still nervously squirming behind them Thomas turned his attention to her.
"Ms Ridley, seems like you need to get something off your chest. Care to share what it is with the room?" he said to a visibly flustered Willow. "Ugh yes, yeah I do have something I need to say" she replied running her hands through her hair.
"Finally a bit of honesty" Belal said rolling his eyes. "I feel a bit embarrassed I couldn't get through to Belal yesterday and I know you told me not to do anything without your go ahead first so I'm sorry Eric" Willow said to the chagrin of Belal.
"Alright, your infighting and drama is none of my business. I don't care if you dislike each other I don't care if beat each other senseless outside of here but do not let your melodramatic bullshit interfere with my mission. Got it!" Thomas barked. "Sir yes sir!" everyone said in unison.