A/N: I kind of forgot about updating again, haha...
Lion didn't like Lynx. It was a simple matter, and all the members of J-Unit knew it too. Maybe technically, there was nothing wrong with the younger soldier, but there was something off about him. Lion couldn't place the feeling, but he had a strong suspicion that the younger man was up to something.
Maybe it was how he seemed to be perfect at everything. 'Everything' wasn't an exaggeration. Lynx excelled at shooting, with languages, with strategies, and even somehow outclassed Lion in stamina and agility. Besides that, Lynx was always so careful. No one else seemed to notice it, but Lion (who studied Lynx from his peripheral vision) did. Lynx was always looking, observing his surroundings like he was afraid of something or someone. He kept his comments lighthearted and tried to deflect any attention directed at him. All in all, Lynx was suspicious, even more so, now that he was called in by the Sergeant, and hadn't returned.
"Do you think he's okay?"
Lion and Panther had known each other for years, and despite the common opinion that the younger man was an immature jokester, Panther was—somewhere deep, deep, down inside him—a mature, sensitive soldier, that any unit leader would be proud of. That's why, despite his intense dislike of his new unit-mate, Lion furrowed his brow in concern, sharing Panther's worry.
"The Sergeant wouldn't do anything to hurt his soldiers," Lion said firmly. The man might have been a hard-ass, but he was a good person.
"I know," Panther rolled his eyes. "Lynx was acting oddly, that's all. I wonder if it has something to do with what the Sergeant called him in for."
Lion couldn't suppress the flare of curiosity fast enough.
"Don't look at me like that," Panther said, crossly. "He hasn't gotten into any trouble, and you're treating him like he killed someone."
Lion scowled, "I'm treating him the way I see him. He's suspicious."
"And right now, he is on a mission," Tiger cut in, smoothly intercepting the two bickering couple, who were standing a mere foot away from each other, terse. "I went to the Sergeant."
Lion switched his gaze onto the other soldier, ignoring the gentle scolding, "When will he be back?"
Tiger shrugged, "The Sergeant didn't say. A few days, maybe longer."
"It's a solo mission?" Panther frowned at the other two. "SAS never does things solo."
"Your guess is as good as mine," Tiger sighed, using the tip of his boot to scuff the damp ground in front of him.
They were quiet for a moment, as if unsure of what to say. Lion hadn't noticed it at first, but without Lynx, it seemed like there was something missing in the unit. It was an important piece—one they could not function without. He didn't like that.
"No use in worrying about him now," Lion leaned down and hoisted his pack onto his shoulders. "We still have a training mission to complete, and we won't be treated kindly if we fail." He stopped for a moment to place a reassuring hand on Panther's shoulder. The soldier looked back at him, a frown tugging his lips downwards.
"There's nothing we can do for him," Lion insisted. "Let's move out."
