"Guys, I'm booooored." Bandit complained as he strode around the GSG9's quarters while Blitz sat at his desk reading, Jager slept in his bed and IQ sat on the floor, leaning up against the wall and listened to music, each of them dressed in their own unique civilian clothes: Elias in a plain white muscle shirt and jeans, IQ in a yellow t-shirt with sweatpants to match, Bandit in a brown hoodie, yellow tank top and jeans while Jager was still in his pajamas which consisted of a pair of brown and white plaid pants with a green t-shirt.
"I don't think Monika even cares, Dom. I know I don't." Blitz said with a scoff.
"Oh I care, Elias. I care about the fact that his constant bitching is annoying the hell out of me!" IQ shouted at her teammate over her music.
Blitz shook his head and chuckled and his teammate's attitude. "Well then, give me something to do!" Bandit declared.
"Go see what the SAS, GIGN, FBI and Spetsnaz are up doing today."
"Fine." Bandit said as he walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him, waking up Jager.
"Huh, wha?" He said, looking around at his surroundings before yawning and stretching. "Oh. That's right. A whole three days with nothing to do."
"Hey, Monika. Sleeping beauty's awake." Blitz said, pointing a thumb at their tired teammate, which elicited a light laugh from the blonde woman.
"Yeah, keep talking Elias. I'm going to go down to the mess hall, grab some coffee. You guys want anything?"
Blitz shook his head. "Nein, I'm good, thanks Marius." IQ replied. Jager then nodded and left his two remaining teammates by themselves.
They both sat in silence before something occurred to IQ. "Elias?" She asked as she took out her ear buds.
"Ja?" He replied, not taking his eyes off his book.
"Why do you wear your balaclava so often?" She inquired. The only time she'd seen him without it was either when he was sleeping or eating. But whenever they were on mission, training or just lying around like they were now, he always wore it.
"I just like having it with me is all." He replied simply.
"Then keep it in your pocket."
"Monika, I-I just prefer to wear it, okay?" Blitz stated, his voice taking on a slightly aggressive tone.
"Okay." IQ replied, dropping the subject.
Blitz sighed and closed his book. "I'm going to see how the new recruits are doing. Want to come with?"
IQ shrugged back. "Sure, why not?" Blitz then offered her a hand and helped her stand before they made their way to the training floor where at least a dozen new recruits lined up single file, being lectured by Thatcher and Montagne.
"Trust is the main key to victory on the battlefield. Without trust, you die." Montagne explained as Blitz and IQ stepped in front of each of the recruits, studying them intently.
"That's right. Even if someone is from a different country than you, even if their political views differ from yours, even if you don't generally like each other, you have to trust one another or die." Thatcher interjected as IQ finished studying the recruits and Blitz was about to join his three teammates when he heard one of the rookies whisper something that lit a fire in his chest.
"Nice ass."
Blitz turned around and looked at the recruit who spoke. "You mind telling me who that was directed at, soldier?" He said menacingly.
"What was directed at who, sir?" The recruit feigned speaking.
Blitz smirked underneath his balaclava and turned to his three teammates. "This guy's real funny." He said with a chuckle. "Just give me one second, there's something I want to show you." Blitz then left the room, his three teammates utterly confused.
"What did you say, soldier?" Montagne asked the recruit.
The man shrugged and shook his head. "I'm afraid I didn't say anything, sir. He must've thought I said something."
The French shield-bearer chuckled and turned to Thatcher. "I don't believe that. What about you, Thatcher? You believe him?"
The SAS veteran shook his head. "Can't say that I do. IQ, your thoughts?"
"I believe Elias." She said with crossed arms.
"She believes Blitz. And do you know why she believes Blitz, soldier?" The recruit shook his head. "Because we trust him."
Just as Thatcher finished his sentence, Blitz walked in with his shield and IQ had to place a hand over her lip to conceal her laughter.
Blitz walked over to the soldier and gestured for him to step forward. The man complied and Montagne just shook his head. "Blitz, are we going to need Gustave?"
The German man shook his head. "No, Doc's services won't be needed. All right soldier, I want you to try and take my shield from me on Thatcher's go order. Got it?" The recruit nodded and put up his hands in a classic boxing stance.
"Okay, 3,2,1, go." Thatcher said calmly, already knowing exactly what was coming. The recruit sprinted forward, and Blitz blinded the man with his shield, punched him in the stomach and kicked him in the chest, leaving him winded on the ground.
"You know, your first mistake was saying what you did and the second was denying it. Maybe next time you'll show respect to others. Right Thatcher? That's how it goes? I respect you, you respect me and no one has any problems?" Blitz asked.
Thatcher nodded as Montagne stepped over to the recruit and shoved him back in line, the man still trying to comprehend what in the hell just happened in the span of those two seconds.
Blitz stood beside IQ with his flash-shield in his left hand as Montagne and Thatcher continued to train the new guys.
"What did he say?" IQ inquired with her teammate.
"Just something he shouldn't have." He replied vaguely.
Must've been bad if it got Elias angry. IQ thought to herself. When noon rolled around, Blitz and IQ headed off to lunch in the mess hall with the other two members of the GSG9 and the FBI SWAT.
They both grabbed a tray of food and sat across from the American team and beside their own, Blitz at the end of the table on the right with IQ to his left.
"Hey guys." Thermite greeted them. "You hear what happened this morning?"
Bandit shook his head before taking a bite of his sandwich. "Wha happen?" He asked with his mouth full.
"Sounds like one of the new recruits mouthed off and Blitz kicked his ass for it." Ash answered with a chuckle.
Jager's eyebrows shot up. "What could he have said to get you of all people mad?"
Blitz shrugged. "Who ever said that I got mad?"
"Uh, Montagne and Thatcher." Pulse interjected.
Blitz sighed. "Okay, yeah I might've gotten a little irritated. But in my defence, it was something that he really shouldn't have said."
"What was it?" Castle inquired.
"Something bad! Can't we leave it at that?" Blitz shouted.
This was unusual for Blitz to be this angry. Or angry at all for that matter. Usually, he was full of sarcastic jokes and joy but today was something totally different.
"Okay, we'll leave it alone." Pulse said calmly. "Right guys?" The American team nodded in agreement and they all ate in silence.
For the rest of the afternoon, Blitz went to the base library and tried to read as much as he could but couldn't concentrate from the day's earlier events.
That recruit could've worded that phrase any other way, but he chose not to. It's not your fault the guy's a dick. You were just defending your teammate. No different from when your shield takes a bullet meant for one of them. He thought to himself. Yeah, just defending a teammate.
Six o clock rolled around and the German man decided to head back to his team quarters. When he got there, Jager, Bandit and IQ were all in their pajamas and looked to be going somewhere.
"Hey guys." He greeted them. "You uh, you heading out or what?"
"Yeah, the SAS guys invited us over to their quarters for a movie night. Figured it might be a good way to unwind. You want to come with?" IQ answered.
"What kind of movie is it?" Blitz asked.
"Apparently it's a comedy. Very successful in the United States, although considering their type of humor, I'm not a hundred percent sure I'll like it." Jager interjected.
"I'm just going 'cause I got nothing better to do." Bandit said as he took off towards the SAS room.
Jager followed close behind, leaving IQ and Blitz alone again. "Yeah, I don't know, I'm just thinking about turning in early." He stated.
"Okay, nothing wrong with that. I guess we'll see you in the morning then. Goodnight, Elias." IQ replied.
He nodded back. "Monika." They passed by each other in the doorway and IQ closed it behind her, leaving Blitz to change into his pajamas, but he only swapped out the pants and went shirtless due to the summer heat of July.
Just defending a teammate. Blitz repeated in his mind.
The next morning, IQ was awoken by Bandit loudly asking a question. "Do you think Blitz be up to making a stollen?"
"For breakfast?" Jager asked in disbelief.
"The hell's a 'stollen'?" Thatcher asked.
"A unique German delicacy, straight from the Fatherland. You Brits wouldn't like it." Bandit answered.
"Wait, was that what he made for you when I played that prank on Fuze a couple weeks ago?" Mute asked.
"Can we please have this conversation after I've had my coffee?!" Smoke shouted.
"Seconded." IQ piled on.
The GSG9 moved to leave, but Bandit stopped and looked back at Sledge, who was still sleeping in his bed. The German electrician looked at Thatcher. "How the hell is he not awake?"
"He smashes shit with a hammer all day, so whenever he's not meant to be aware of his surroundings, he's basically in a coma." The SAS veteran explained as he pushed past Bandit towards the cafeteria, the rest of them following suit.
"Huh." Bandit said to himself. Wonder what would happen if hooked up the CED to him? He thought.
"Bandit! You coming or what?" IQ yelled back at her teammate. He shook himself out of his stupor and regrouped with his team and the GSG9 in the cafeteria.
"So, remind me again how Fuze didn't kill all your asses." IQ said as she took a bite of her scrambled eggs.
"Just to fast for him I guess. I ducked inside a maintenance closet, I think Kapkan might've just stayed away from the Spetsnaz room until Fuze cooled off, Sledge ran out to the road and I have no idea what Bandit did."
"Ran as fast as I godamn could, that's what I did. Really wishing I didn't rewire those charges right about now." Bandit replied. "Been trying to get back on his good side ever since."
"But you did it anyway, Dom. And that's why you're looking over your shoulder every five minutes." Blitz said as he grabbed a handful of tater tots and several fried eggs.
"Yeah, you made a good call not getting directly involved in that, Elias." IQ stated.
"The only reason Fuze didn't come after me is because he knew that if he killed me, he'd have to put up with Bandit's bitching about the shitty cooking on base for the rest of his time here." Blitz declared with a smirk as he took off his balaclava.
Smoke nodded in agreement as he took a swig of his coffee. "And there's that, yeah. So, you guys have any plans for the day or what?" He asked everyone.
"Training the new guys with Montagne." Thatcher stated with a raised hand.
"Trying to avoid being mauled to bits by a Russian man-bear." Mute declared.
"Reading." Blitz said.
"Nothing." IQ added.
"Waterpark!" Bandit and Jager shouted in unison. The rest of their team gave them confused looks while the SAS continued to eat and wait for their Scottish team member to awake.
"Waterpark?" IQ asked, to which Bandit nodded ecstatically. "But it's summer. It's going to be insanely crowded." She stated.
Jager shook his head. "Not this waterpark. This one is specifically for men and women who have served or are currently in the armed forces. It's also got a bar by the pool."
IQ then began to share in their enthusiasm. "Okay, that actually does sound pretty good. Elias, you coming?"
The German shield-bearer shook his head with a grimace. "Thanks, but I think I'd rather read."
"Come on, Elias! Get out, have some fun!" IQ egged him on.
Blitz gave his female teammate a look of exhaustion before breaking into a smirk. "All right, I guess… I guess one day of fun won't destroy my mind." He said resignedly, making the rest of the GSG9 cheer.
"How about you guys, you comin'?" Bandit asked the SAS team.
"Gotta keep the newbies in line and I don't really want to leave Montagne having to train them by himself." Thatcher stated.
"Not a fan of waterparks." Mute declared.
"And I've just got better things to do with my time." Smoke replied.
Blitz looked up from his meal. "Aw come on, smoke. We'll put you in a tube and then we can start singing 'smoke on the water'!" He said with a grin, making everyone besides the chemical master in question laugh.
The four members of the GSG9 grabbed a bag and placed inside it, a towel, their military ID, and an extra change of clothes in case their current one got soaked even though they all wore their swimsuits underneath. With Jager driving, they made their way to the military personnel waterpark and drove into an empty parking stall.
"No, I'm telling you, something is not right with that jeep. The transmission must be acting up." The engineer said to Bandit.
"Remind me again why we let him drive." IQ whispered to Blitz.
"Because he thinks that just because he's an engineer, that automatically gives him full right over any form of transportation." He replied back, making her laugh.
The team then showed the man guarding the place their military ID's and split off into the gender-separated changing rooms.
When they emerged, Bandit clearly saw that each member of the GSG9 could be qualified as a swimsuit model had they not been accepted into the German Counter-terrorism-unit.
Blitz's large frame hosted a six pack, a set of massive pecs, biceps, forearms and a toned back with large shoulders wearing a pair of white swim trunks while Jager, who was not as large, still had quite a bit of muscle on him, the engineer's fit frame displaying his muscular arms, legs and back sporting a set of dark orange swim shorts while Bandit himself had a six pack and a pair of shoulders that he was quite proud of wearing a pair of custom made blue swim shorts with a high voltage symbol on the lower left leg.
Then there was IQ, the only female of the GSG9, who in her yellow two-piece bikini, showed thinly veiled abs, well-toned arms, smooth legs and a strong back. Thin, but not too thin.
"We gonna hit the bar or the pool first?" Bandit asked.
"How about we go swimming sober first, then get hammered?" Blitz asked with a smirk.
"Sounds like a plan." IQ declared as they made for the large pool where a few people were splashing around in.
They waded into the water, Blitz first in, then IQ, Jager and Bandit.
"Aw, what's the matter? Is the electrician afraid of water?" IQ asked with a smug look on her face.
"At least I'm not like Mr. 'First one in, last one out' over here!" Bandit said, gesturing over to Blitz.
The large German man shrugged back as he fell backwards and floated on the surface of the water "Just who I am, Dom, just who I am."
"What you are, my freund, is fish-food!" IQ said as she pushed down on the shield-bearer's chest, submersing him completely before he came up sputtering.
Blitz grinned back and pushed IQ backwards, putting her in the same position he was a moment ago.
"Chicken fights it is then!" Jager declared as he motioned for Bandit to get on his shoulders. IQ climbed on Blitz and the four members of the GSG9 just let any thoughts about the white mask threat leave their minds as they playfully fought with each other. After IQ had successfully pushed Bandit off Jager, the team hit the bar and began conversing about random things from what their favorite animals were to what their ideal vacation destination was.
As Bandit and Jager sat in the hot tub letting themselves mellow out, IQ and Blitz floated next to each other, hanging onto the edge of the pool for support.
"So are you ever going to tell me what that recruit said?" She asked him.
Blitz shook his head, the short brown hair waving everywhere as he did so. "No matter how drunk I get, that's something that's staying with me to the grave." He replied simply.
"Okay then, will you at least tell me why you wear your balaclava all the time?"
Blitz sighed and turned so that his right side was facing her and on his cheek, she saw it. A large, deep burn mark, from a mission a long time ago. "You remember what this is from, ja?"
She shook her head. "Nein. What happened?"
Blitz turned back around and took a drink of beer. "It was the first mission you and I were assigned to together. Something went wrong and there was an explosion. I used my shield to protect you from most of the blast, and my body to ensure that you wouldn't be hurt. I wear my mask all the time because I don't want you to think every day like you owe me something. You are my freund, Monika, and I don't want to lose you. I would take a bullet for you like I would anyone else on Team Rainbow. The only difference between them and you is that… I don't know, you mean something special to me." Blitz confessed.
IQ was in shock. She had completely forgotten about that first mission with Blitz and how he literally put himself in harms way for her. "Elias… I-I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I meant that much to you."
All right, since I'm on the path of confession anyway, I might as well get this out of the way now. She's going to find out one way or the other. Blitz thought to himself.
"You have a nice ass." He said.
IQ blushed profusely and lowered her head. "U-umm… Thank you?" she said, not sure how to respond.
Blitz tilted his head and realization dawned on him as he'd discovered what he had just spoken. "N-no! I mean, yes… I mean umm agh, schiesse." Blitz wished that he could just sink into the water and drown instantaneously. "What I meant to say is that is what the recruit said yesterday. He said you had a nice ass and I just lost it on him." Blitz admitted.
IQ looked up at her ashamed teammate. "Oh. But why? Why did that make you so mad?" She asked.
"You mean besides the fact that you mean a lot to me? I don't know. Just the way he said it, it sounded like he was disrespecting you and your body, and I just couldn't let that slide. IQ put her hand on Blitz's "Elias, thank you. You mean a lot to me as well. To tell you the truth, I think that we're more than just friends." She admitted.
"R-really?" Blitz asked, to which IQ nodded. "Then what are we?"
To answer his question, IQ leaned in, pursed her lips and kissed Blitz on the lips. He was hesitant at first to return the kiss, but after a moment, it just felt… natural to him. He put down his beer and cupped her cheek with his free hand, the other holding her own on the edge of the pool. She separated and smiled at him.
"Does that answer your question?" She asked.
Blitz nodded. "So… do you want to go to dinner tomorrow night? Just the two of us?" He shyly asked.
"I would love nothing more." She replied.
"And we don't have to tell anyone else about this, right?" He asked, gesturing over to Bandit and Jager, completely relaxed in the hot tub.
"Not yet. Let's wait until we're certain it's going to work out between us, then we'll tell them."
"Right. Well, we should probably be getting back to base, the others are going to be wondering where we are."
The two of them then clambered out of the pool, retrieved their teammates, changed into their regular civilian clothes and as they walked behind a sober Bandit, who ranted on and on about how he could swear something was wrong with their jeep, smiled at each other and laced their fingers together.