Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider.
AWOL 04
Lion was evidently not pleased as he stalked out of the language classrooms to meet up with the rest of J-Unit. Lynx followed, frowning at the other man's back. He had a feeling that his time at the SAS would be exactly like the last time he was there.
"Lion!" Lynx could identify Panther's voice from anywhere. He always sounded so damn excited, "Lynx! How was Spanish?"
Lion just shot a dirty glare at the man and stomped away to meet Tiger, who had emerged out of a classroom.
Immature. Lynx felt older than his unit-mates.
"Was it that bad?" Panther turned to Lynx, his voice faltering at the unit leader's rudeness.
Lynx shrugged, not bothering to reply to the other man's words. Instead, he changed the topic, "What's next?"
The other two soldiers had fallen back to join the younger members of the unit. Lion still looked cross, but he still replied with a short, "Shooting."
"Then we've got the Killing House," Tiger supplied helpfully, "And a hike. We don't have any night exercises for tonight, but I'm pretty sure we're getting a surprise RTI sometime this week."
Lynx raised his eyebrows in surprise, "How do you know?"
After all, what was the point of a "surprise RTI" if it wasn't a surprise?
Tiger shrugged carefully, "The schedule always lightens up a bit when an RTI is coming."
He was observant, Lynx noted, nodding. The whole bloody unit was so observant. He'd have to be careful around them.
"Are you any good?" Panther shoved his hands in his pockets, "'Cause, no offence mate, but you look like you can't handle a gun."
Lynx inwardly bristled at the insult, but he forced the irritation away, "I suppose I'm alright."
Lion was suddenly in his face, stopping the whole unit in their tracks, "You embarrass this unit," he growled lowly, "and I will go through with my threat. A dishonorable discharge with no future ahead of him."
Lynx stared defiantly into the man's eyes, not wavering at the fury in Lion's eyes, "Like I said: I'm sure you will."
Lion glared a bit more before drawing back and swaggering off.
"What the hell did you do to get him so angry?" Tiger frowned. It summed up what everyone was thinking.
"No clue," Lynx answered, though he did had a feeling it had something to do with his age.
Panther flung his arms over the two men's shoulders, forcing them to walk as he talked, "Don't worry, Lynx-a-doo! He was like this when I was put into J-Unit – all grumpy and nasty and stuff. You just have to let the guy have some time."
Lynx had the distinct feeling that Panther was lying to him. It helped that Tiger was giving him a look that clearly stated that it wasn't the case.
"Thanks, Pan," Lynx said tiredly, "But I don't think that'll happen."
Panther retracted his arms, managing to shrug at the same time. There was a small pause.
"You called me Pan!" Panther sounded delighted as he threw himself at Lynx, giving him a tight hug, "That means we're friends!"
Lynx stumbled, casting Tiger a pleading look.
The man flashed Lynx a smile, catching him off guard.
'You're on your own,' he mouthed and darted away.
A*W*O*L
When Lynx finally got Panther to let go of him, they were slightly late to the shooting range. It wasn't a good thing for Lynx. Lion was going to kill him – literally.
"Don't worry," Panther was panting as they ran, "I'll tell him it was my fault. He knows how I get when I give people hugs."
Lynx didn't answer, too focused on getting to the shooting range, which was half a kilometer away.
"It was my fault!" Panther shouted as soon as they were within earshot of the awaiting unit, "I wanted to hug him! It was my fault!"
Lynx hid a grin as Panther rocketed to Lion, grabbing ahold of him and doing his best pouty-face impression.
"Stop," Lion staggered backwards, awkwardly holding up Panther's weight, "Okay, okay, it was your fault. Geroff me, you little-"
Tiger calmly strode over, prying the two apart. He called over his shoulder, "Take your pick. We're starting off with the sniper rifles."
Lynx nodded turning to the armory, where he could see rows upon rows of guns neatly resting on racks. He spotted the sniper rifle immediately and snatched one up.
"You done yet?" Lion sounded impatient.
Lynx emerged a moment later, carrying the gun to a nearby table. He began disassembling it, checking for jams, "Shouldn't there be a Drill Sergeant here or something?"
"We're evaluating you," Lion said, tone brusque, "He already knows your skill level."
Lynx cocked his head in curiosity, but didn't reply. He finished assembling it in a blink of an eye, looking at Lion expectantly.
"We're going to go out there," Lion pointed at an empty grass field, "and we're going to wait for the target - or targets – to pop up."
"And what are the targets?" Lynx asked, grabbing a pack of ammunition.
"Cardboard people," Lion said casually, "Some are friendly civilians, others aren't."
Lynx tensed, his fingers curling around the gun tightly. He knew that the SAS didn't use pictures on their targets, but it still didn't help to be reminded of his time at…
"Come on," the unit leader walked off, leaving Lynx to follow.
They settled on top of a patch of flattened grass. Lynx loaded the rifle, laying down on his stomach as he peered through the scope.
The unit beside him became silent as they gazed at the field.
"This is boring," Lynx could hear Panther whispering to the others.
"Shush," Lynx felt that Tiger was some sort of fussy mother, "Just wait."
Ten minutes passed, with still nothing in sight.
"Can't I go shooting? You know I need work with handguns!" Panther muttered quite loudly to Lion.
"Handguns can wait until evaluations are over," Lion replied, not bothering to talk quietly.
"But you're the one who said-"
Something flickered. Lynx had his rifle trained on it in a second, shooting after noting the painted gun in the cartoonish figure's hands.
The shell of the bullet popped out. Lynx was quick to place another cartridge in.
Lock 'n load.
He had two bullets to use.
The next four pop-up targets were civilians, obviously meant to trick Lynx.
"He's good," he heard Tiger say as he shot another cartoon guy, "Let's get on with it, yeah?"
"Finally!" Panther sounded relieved as Lion called out for Lynx to stop, "Do we have time to actually go shooting?"
Lynx caught Lion's begrudging nod of approval directed at him.
"Just a few rounds," Tiger announced, "You can go shooting while we," he gestured at Lion and himself, "evaluate Lynx, which you," he pointed at Panther, "should be a part of."
Panther let out a groan, "Fine. No need to get snappy, Tigger."
Lynx grinned, hearing Tiger's annoyed sigh.
They were a sort of dysfunctional family, Lynx realized as he put away his rifle and picked up his preferred handgun. He was forced on their little family, and as cooperative as Tiger and Panther were, Lion wasn't going to accept him. Not yet at least.
A/N: Well. That was a filler... Not much really happened... I'm actually a little disappointed.
Like my use of "swaggered"? Hehe, I learned that word when I first read the Harry Potter Series. Of course that's how J.K. Rowling would describe Draco (I love him so much...)
Hmm, I'm beginning to think that work best at 2-3 AM because that's literally the only time I write. And I'm not sure why I'm dragging out Lynx's evaluation out in different chapters... It might have something to do with the fact that without it, I'd be updating once a month with a 10,000 word chapter. Meh.
A big thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed. It means the world to me that you guys like this!
And a shout out to True Colours: Your review made me smile like a crazy... llama? I've always struggled with maintaining a consistent voice and a consistent character with a consistent style. It means so much to hear someone say that in a review! (I'm not sure if anyone has noticed that in my stories). Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Oooh, and while I'm doing this, to Guest: haha, sorry, but I'm not telling! Ben will make his own... spectacular... entrance...
Of course, everyone's reviews have made me so happy! I feel like one of those little digital pets for kids that become happy when you feed them... the food being reviews, haha.
Don't forget to feed me on the way out! I love you guysssss!
-A xx