Disclaimer: I don't own Kids Next Door!
Title: An Earful Of Nothing
Summary: The teenagers, fearful of breaking the fragile peace between themselves in the KND by admitting their own lack of numbers, are desperately searching for new members. Numbuh 313, a twelve year old girl whose in danger of being decommissioned early due to an injury that's led to a slight disadvantage on the battlefield, fits the bill.
...
Numbuh 313 quietly watched as the realms of space flew by, weapon hanging somberly in her hands. The ship felt quieter than usual, but that was probably just her.
Numbuh 331, the newest member of the sector, as well as her younger brother, bounced on his heels, weapons jiggling carelessly in his grasp. 313 bit her lip, ignoring the strong urge to rip the tool out of his hands to check the safety; or, better yet, the ammo. She couldn't be the overprotective sister forever.
"Focus." She quietly set a hand on his shoulder. "We have a prisoner on board, after all."
331 sobered immediately, becoming as still as possible. "Sorry."
She scanned his short brown hair and bright brown eyes, face dusted with freckles. He looked both terrified and excited all at once.
This is how missions will always go. She yearned to tell him. You'll understand one day. Or you'll get hurt like me.
313 mentally shook herself. She didn't have a right to complain; the mission had gone well and she'd successfully saved fellow members of the Kids Next Door from danger. She'd done the job she'd set out to do.
"It's okay." She said finally, turning away. "Just be more careful next time."
Her brother gently prodded her elbow sometime later. She looked at him.
"We're landing in ten."
"I know." She nodded at the countdown clock centered in the ship's dashboard. "I can read."
313 nudged him playfully and fell silent.
Their captive, a large teenage boy with short blond hair, lumbered in front of them, but behind the rest of their sector. 313 thought he was being rather quiet, but maybe it was just her angle. She couldn't see his lips from here, and he didn't seem to prefer yelling like some of the other teens they'd fought during her two years as an operative.
I'm not going to be an operative much longer if I keep messing up. She thought with a twinge of fear, glancing at her brother. I wish I could talk to him, but he'd think I'm just being paranoid.
Numbuh 571- the current supreme leader of the KND- walked up to them, looking vaguely impressed. His skin was dark, with short curly hair on his head and a set of sunglasses on his face. He held his hands behind his back and nodded to them in greeting.
"Congratulations, Sector O." He rumbled. "We'll send him to the brig for questioning."
Two guards snatched the teen away from her teammates, stiffly waiting for the chance to be dismissed.
571 turned an eye to 331, who was hovering anxiously by 313's side. "Congratulations, kid. You're an official member of the Kids Next Door now."
His eyes glowed. "Thank you, Boxer." He breathed. "It's an honor."
Boxer, of course, was his first name, but she wasn't personally close enough to him to call him by said name.
The leader eyed her with a look of mild interest. "Good hustle, 313. No reports of getting in anybody's way is a good place to start."
She felt a flash of rage run through her. How would you feel if your ears got messed up? "Thank you, sir." She said through gritted teeth.
313 didn't need to have perfect hearing to know that her teammates exchanged an uncertain glance, and- judging by the look her brother shot over his shoulder- the two guards holding the teen, and maybe even the teen himself, had started snickering.
I've been an operative for two years now. She thought with despair. And this is the thanks I get?
Her brother had mostly brushed off the comment, instead lashing out at their fellow operatives, but 313 knew who the real bully was here.
"You're dismissed." 571 nodded to the guards, taking his place in the front to properly lead the captive away. "You're free to go home."
Sector O saluted and filed towards their ride home in a single line, 313 in the back. Glancing behind her, she caught Boxer saying something involving a 'deaf girl' and 'decommission' to the guards, who chuckled and nodded.
She bristled. I have to be reading his lips wrong. 571 may be a jerk, but he wouldn't say stuff like that when he knows I'm nearby, would he? Operatives aren't supposed to be decommissioned before they turn thirteen!
The teenager glanced at her over his shoulder and nodded. He'd heard it too.
More worried than ever, 313 could barely put one foot in front of the other. Sure, her performance had faltered since the 2X4 weapon that was thrown too close to her had exploded and damaged her hearing, but she was still a loyal KND member! She could still go on missions! It wasn't like her hearing was completely gone; loud shouting and the sounds of weapons still broke through.
The sounds of battle.
331 stopped her with a hand to her arm. "Sis, are you okay?"
She waited until the rest of their sector was out of earshot before slowly kneeling, putting her hands on each of his shoulders to see his answer better. "Brent, have you heard anything about decommissioning?" About my decommissioning?
He tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
She hesitated a long moment before shaking her head and standing up. "Nevermind. It's nothing."
He opened his mouth to ask further, but 313 had walked away, so she wouldn't hear anyway, not unless he wanted to make their talk public. He shook his head and trailed after her.
Author's Note: If it wasn't obvious, 313 has permanent partial deafness. She can hear, but only if it's incredibly loud. She can tell what 571 is saying despite her teammates being unable to because she can read lips.
I have to say, this is my first KND story, so it should be... interesting.
Also, names below;
313- unknown- age 12
331- Brent- age 10
571- Unknown; goes by Boxer.- age unknown
No flames! Don't like don't read! Review!