Well this was certainly unexpected. What can I say – blame the plotbunnies. Short and angsty, just the way I like it. Enjoy ;)


At its best, Breacon Beacons was Hell on Earth. With the rigorous training, screaming sergeants, and annoying comrades, it was hard to see why anyone would want to come here. In fact, the question was so often thought of that it was a popular discussion between unit members.

"Kicked out," Snake said simply when Fox had asked him. "When you have seven younger siblings, your parents don't need an extra mouth to feed."

This was met by frowns and a look of discomfort from Eagle—he had already been thinking about lunch.

Snake, sick of the lime light, quickly asked, "Fox, what about you?" Fox looked at the ceiling.

"I'd always wanted to be a spy," he sighed, "Just figured this would be the easiest way to be recruited."

Wolf snorted from his bunk, "More like the only way."

Fox looked at his leader, a certain fourteen-year-old boy flashing through his head. "You'd be surprised…" he muttered. There was no response.

"I was shipped out by my dad." Everyone turned to look at Eagle. He was on his back staring at the bunk above him. His face was unusually serious. "He'd yell at me to get a job. Then he'd throw something—a vase or a lamp or a photo frame—and then he'd be gone. One day he just walked in the house and pointed to the car saying the coordinates were already programmed in the GPS, and I ended up at the recruiting office. Haven't seen him since."

There was a pregnant pause. Then, Fox spoke.

"If it means anything, I'm pretty glad you joined. You have a mean poker face."

Eagle shot his friend a grateful smile. "But enough about me," his smile grew as he turned to Wolf, "Oh dearest leader of ours, why did you ever decide to join the SAS?" Three head looked expectantly at the scruffy man who was pointedly glaring at the newspaper in his hands. It took a second for him to respond.

"I'm a true patriot," he muttered before turning back to the sports section. England's football team was doing pretty well this season.

Eagles face dropped into one of exasperation. Even Snake and Fox looked annoyed. Wolf looked up, sighed, then added, "It runs in the family; an obligation."

Satisfied, the three men went back to their discussion, glad that the topic was over and done with. Their leader rolled his eyes from behind his paper. As different as they all were, they meshed together well. Sometimes they were tough-as-nails soldiers, and sometimes they were prissy high school gossip girls.

And sometimes, he mused, they were his best friends.


Its okay, I guess. I was actually trying to write a completely different Alex-centered story that was very emotional and angsty and touching, when this thing popped out.

Oh well. A plotbunny bit me. ;)

Anyways, thanks for reading. R&R

`ww