We sit for a time beside one another and while leaning on him I get lulled to sleep for a short time by just the sound of his breathing and heart beating. Until I hear my cousin coo quietly to someone else, obviously smiling by his tone.
"Aww... That's so cute." he coos and I hear my mother snicker. Uncle Fred speak's just as both Dad and I jump waking up, blinking at them confused when we both hear the sound of a camera's shutter.
"Got it." he states and I spot the camera in his hands as they stare at us smiling.
"You were both fast asleep. Couldn't resist." uncle Fred shrugs, grinning as I blink, half glancing at my father before we reorient ourselves, him slipping his arm from around my shoulders as I situp properly, covering my mouth as I yawn tiredly.
"I'm surprised you can still be so adorable cuz." Arthur teases me and I suddenly grin at him devilishly.
"Oh so that's why you and Maria are a-" I begin but he jumps, covering my mouth as we both tumble backwards onto the bed and I grunt sourly.
"Maria...?" My mother perks interestedly as he looks back at his parents like a caught dog, especially when my dad picks him up off me by his belt and sets him back on his feet very gently.
"Who's Maria?" his mother inquires interestedly as I situp and grins brightly. "Oh a girl on my team. They really like one another. Not sure if he's asked her out or vice versa yet. But its pretty obvious there's something fishy going on." I pipe up laughing slightly as he blushes, gulping nervously as his parents look at him interestedly.
"You mean that girl on your team who has black hair with the blue undertone?" my father inquires a bit thoughtfully and I nod.
"Yup." I nod, noting the sudden interest in this topic as I step down to the floor calmly.
"But the interrogation will have to wait. I have a second in command to train." I state before looking at him with my now 'normal' hold of commanding seriousness that makes his eyes widen in surprise as our parents look at one another.
"This sounds interesting. Care for spectators?" My mother muses interestedly and I smile calmly.
"Only if dad won't get into trouble being out of bed so soon." I smirk before I look at Arthur smoothly.
"Well. Get moving. You've a lot of work to do ahead of you today. If you think you can handle it." I look at him with a slight smirk of challenge and he jumps straighter.
"You bet I can!" He snaps in proper fashion before I nod politely to our parents then Arthur and I leave, going to the gym where the rest of our schoolmates are.
But as we walk into the room, they are not waiting idle as we had expected but a group of them are nose to toes with a group of ODST's, seeming like we just walked in right at the moment the snarling match was going to escalate into fists.
"Get everyone to fall in and start stretches." I half look at Arthur who gives a curt nod before stepping forward and barks to our schoolmates, snapping many, but the five from the 'fight' as I walk over to the main antagonist of our group and with my good hand, pulls him off his feet and shoves him into the arms of a couple of our classmates.
"Your hearing off too? He said fall in!" I growl at my stunned classmates, having distracted the group enough that they stop their previous fight and turn their attention to me.
"But they-" one of my schoolmates begins but I look at them directly, frowning deeply.
"I don't care. Move!" I order sternly, causing a couple of them to glance back at the soldiers before begrudgingly going over to where Arthur has gathered the rest of the students and is beginning to lay out the rules for the sparring exercises.
"And you five. I suggest the next time, think about who the real enemy is. Because its certainly not them." I state icily as I look directly at the soldiers then turns to walk over and join my group.
"Or what? You'll finish what they started?" the leader of the five snorts and I exhale tiredly, stopping mid-step.
"Or perhaps your Lieutenant will be happy to talk with you about expected conduct of professional soldiers like yourselves." I turn back to them, holding my commanding posture.
"And who do you think you are to give us orders?" the woman beside the leader states, crossing her arms grouchily and I raise an eyebrow at her unimpressed, far from intimidated by this lot.
"I don't recall giving you orders. Only advice. But if you like, the officer about to walk into here, may be all too happy to give you some orders." I state knowingly as they shift, looking at one another confidently, obviously thinking this 'kid' in front of them is just bull shitting them. But their smiles and smirking fade very quickly when the door opens and an officer walks into the room. I smile slightly before nodding to the five politely before turning about on my heel and continues over to my group that Arthur has organized into formations to go over the stretches, which I look over quietly while he goes through the group, adjusting people's stances and otherwise coaching them before continuing through the group in that manor while I walk over and sit down on the nearby bench silently.
The officer half pauses when they see the goings on but continues their own thing as the ODST's snort to one another and slip back over to the weight lifting equipment to continue their own routines.
The rest of the next hour of stretches and warm up routine goes quite smoothly while I stay on the sidelines silently watching how Arthur handles things as well as certain others of our group's behaviour through the warmup. Arthur has everyone organize into pairs to begin the warmup sparring which he walks through quietly like he had the previous exercises while I watch silently for a short time before I perch myself on a piece of unused equipment, observing the going's on silently. Once in awhile I rise to my feet and goes in amongst them, having those paired begin doing something else then what Arthur directed them to, before walking back around and through the organization of the students and resumes sitting. But not always on the same piece of equipment, making sure I've different viewing angles to the group. I very carefully watch how Arthur handles the changes I've made, making his job more difficult but he seems to handle it well externally. But I can tell he's getting slightly irritated how I keep interfering with his orders and authority within the group. Until on one of my passes, I slip past him and suddenly attacks with my good arm, causing him to block it surprised before I continue the barrage while he's still off his footing and confused, causing the others sparring near us to stop and quickly get out of the way as I force my cousin back many feet then stops, catching his first offensive kick.
"You are too tense." I state simply and that's when his frustration explodes into anger as he begins attacking. I let him express it, blocking his moves with my one hand or my feet calmly as I allow him to work the anger out before I close the gap, sweeping his feet out from under him without so much as a shred of emotion shown.
"Why did you lose?" I ask him as he lays on his back, my boot holding his chest securely to the floor as he pants hard, looking up at me.
At first he's looking up at me with anger but it fades as he gleans some understanding of why I did what I did.
"I let my emotions get the better of me and effect my ability to do my job." he answers, letting his head drop to the decking with a dull thud just as our parents walk into the gym silently, unnoticed by anyone of our group. All eyes fixed surely on Arthur and I.
"Good." I state, removing my boot from his chest and looks at the others to let him getup on his own.
"Never forget. Emotions are a double edged sword. They can just as easily wound us as they can our enemy. If you can wield them to your benefit and your enemy's detriment, you will be far more effective in combat then your average person. Again." I speak smoothly and with emotionless command as I look my schoolmates over seriously. Their expressions are mixed, some with distracted awe, others defiant determination, others disgust and few, admiration.
Some shift to go back to sparring but stop when they find out abruptly I've given the command to Arthur who immediately springs into action from behind me, following me as I duck and dodge his attacks, having to block him far more. As he keeps me on the defence. He uses my injuries to his advantage, seeming like an entirely different person as he backs me up with his attacks. He continues his attack until its obvious he has me then he stops, panting far less harder then he had during the first match as I hold his ankle, having just narrowly stopped it from hitting my head.
"Good. Continue." I state, letting his ankle go before he brings it down to the floor and nods, still obviously irritated but follows my direction having the others continue their warmups as I leave the circle and stands off to the side of them silently, ignoring the throbbing from my irritated injuries caused by the sparring with Arthur. I continue testing his patience and pushing his tolerance limits as he continues the exercise over the next hour until he gets pairs of people to begin sparring in the ring, then comes over to me out of earshot of the others.
"What the hell Ciel!? Why do you keep interfering I have everything under control!" He growls at me quietly and I look at him calmly.
"You need to be less touchy if you want to enlist. What I've been doing is exactly what TI's and commanders do and exactly what you will have no other choice then put up with when you enlist. So by learning now how to find methods of dealing with your temper and emotions before they could cause you problems in the future will give you better chances of advancement in that career." I relax and explain sympathetically, but otherwise doesn't show physically my emotions or any hints of what I'm saying so anyone watching will have a hard time reading our conversation. He pauses a moment, looking at me surprised.
"I know you well enough to know your weak points cousin and I'll do all I can to help you be better prepared for the military career you so dream of having." I state, looking at him and smiles gently.
"Because I know you'd make one fine soldier and look very good in a uniform for Maria. After all, she did say to you, when you wore one, how well it fitted you." I smile at him amused, watching him shift and cough a bit embarrassed as a slight blush rises on his cheeks.
"Yeah well..." he trails off, looking away from my gaze as I resume my previous serious expression.
"I've no doubts in you. And only encouragement for you. I'm going to hit your weak spots and give you a slight taste of what it is going to be like. They may be harder on you because who your parents are. Speaking of which, have you even run this by them?" I explain, half glancing at him calmly as he barks out orders for the two of our classmates sparring to switch out for the next team before relaxing slightly.
"No." he states seriously, giving me the distinct feeling he may not tell them till after he's enlisted.
"Do it before. We have a support base in our family few have and should take full advantage of it. Because if you don't I will. Your parents have the right to know what your thinking about doing with your life and what careers you want to pursue so they can be better equipped to support you on whatever path it may be." I explain, slightly relaxing my shoulders before I take my right hand and places it on his shoulder encouragingly.
"Our parents may have their reservations about us enlisting because of what they experienced and how many people they saw die. They don't want us to get hurt or killed because they love us. But I know full well they will support us no matter what we decide. So maybe later, go talk with them." I look at him, relaxing totally as he has his head hung somewhat for some silent minutes.
Eventually looks up at me puzzled then relaxes and exhales, placing his hand gently over mine looking at me with a softness in his eyes that tells me he's still worried but that I've given him the right push he needed.
"Thank's Ciel... I really don't know where I'd be if you weren't always there for me." He says thankfully and I smile, looking at him gently.
"That is what family is for. Now get back to work. Before all this mushiness makes me sick." I say jokingly getting an amused laugh from him as he gently takes my hand off his shoulder then bows moving to kiss my hand.
"Yes M'lady." he teases as I pull my hand away and grumbles at him. He snickers to himself before turning around and jogs back to the ring and begins giving the two sparring directions after calling a time out.
"He really knows how to push it..." I think to myself as I raise an eyebrow watching him before I exhale slightly, smiling to myself as I lower my head and shakes it slowly before I resume my serious demeanour and walks over calmly.
"Arthur. Why don't we demonstrate." I suggest as I walk over to him, the others giving me a clear path and he looks at me with a raised eyebrow, obviously concerned.
"Are you sure?" he looks at me obviously pointing out my injuries.
"I'll do it." Solomon strides forward to us then stops calmly beside me. I look at him then bows my head respectfully, knowing he's able to keep up with Arthur and also, it having been my plan all along to see who would step forward.
"Okay." Arthur shrugs, giving me a sideways glance because he knows I wouldn't give up easy like that unless I had an alterior motive. But he says nothing as the other two slip out and let Solomon and him enter the ring as I slip out from the group and over to the benches by the wall near our parents before I sit down calmly.
"Okay. What're you up to?" My uncle beats the others to the obvious question and I can't help the wry smirk escape my hold for a slight moment before wiping it away.
"Testing for my second in command and my cousin. Arthur is already the team leader on another team that works excellently with him there. I wont mess with something that works just to replace the two my team lost." I explain calmly, not taking my eyes off Solomon and Arthur as they spar slowly so the others can take in every movement they make.
"That sounds pretty cold to talk about your team mates and cousin like that." My mother adds quietly almost surprised and I look at her calmly.
"I can't make decisions on just emotion alone, Mom. Any one of them who follows me down the path I've found myself on, may die. I will not lead them down it unless I am entirely sure they can handle it or will not be of best service elsewhere to the upcoming battles. I don't look forward going with Green's team leader to the home of Green 2's parents when we arrive at Earth to tell them their son was killed under our leadership. I don't want to have to do that again if the steps I take here and now can prevent it." I explain, hardness entering my tone as I obviously shut my emotions off behind a wall as I watch Arthur and Solomon step from the ring and let the others continue as they have demonstrated.
"I'm not saying I don't realize that death is apart of combat. I have a feeling though, this go around with the rebels is not going to be like any of what you faced. I only have the distinct feeling its going to be bad. And If we're going to be the next generation to fight them. I want them as well trained as possible, whether they go into combat or not." I state smoothly as Arthur continues directing things in and around the boxing ring as I look things over.
"Sounds reasonable." My uncle Kurt states as he joins us smiling slightly at us. I reach my hand up and catches a boot coming in at us and exhales wearily.
"Less boot. More kick." I order and flips it back to one of my close classmates as the owner blinks embarrassed while the others laugh as the boot is passed forward to the owner.
"Hello, Kurt." my mother nods to him politely but doesn't take her attention off me as I rise to my feet.
"Ciel. Don't talk like that. Its cold and harsh!" she states as I look at her with my eyebrows raised slightly.
"I realize it. It's hard not to be pissed seeing whats left of my teams and family. The bruises and injuries on their bodies caused by those people who upto 6 years ago we had no idea of their existence. But they quite obviously knew of the Spartans even before they graduated to field work." I point out grimly as I stare into her eyes as I continue grimly.
"Their resources, information and tactics are frightening. And this mystery group has a technology we've never heard of before, that can take control of a person's very body while they're stuck watching helplessly. I haven't the faintest clue how to fight an enemy who can turn those I love against me like some twisted puppet show or creating clones of my family like they're building some kind of army. It's incredibly irritating and frustrating. So being cold and harsh is my way of not punching a hole in the wall. And trust me, I probably could right now." I state quick, but honest that indeed all of this has me upset.
"Sounds like you've thought this over quite a bit." My uncle Fred muses thoughtfully and I look up at him with a slight nod.
"What doesn't wake me in a cold sweat. I spend my waking moments mulling over. The mission was a success and needs no further beating myself up over now that I've dealt with the guilt and position I've found myself in. Now I need to do what I can to bring those bastards down before they can get to whatever point it is they've been cultivating their resources for. Or help fight them and how. If it means I'd be better to not enlist to not get bogged down with the problems that plagued the UNSC with the last rebel factions, I'll find another way to fight. There's more then one way to play chess." I state looking at him as I smirk slightly before exhaling a bit and runs my hand over my hair tiredly.
"Though I'd really like to not be doing it blindfolded." I exhale before ducking another boot, but both my Aunt and I catch it before it hits the mark at the end of it's trajectory, that my father has pulled to himself protectively - My mother. I hold the laces in my hand as my aunt lets the boot go as we all look over and I hold it up.
"What'd I say about less boot more kick? Arthur! I want everyone on their team to take their boots off and you can show them how to retie them properly!" I snap hearing a whisper from some and groans from others.
"Aw come on!" one of our group who'd spoken about enlisting, whines loudly.
"Excuse me." I nod politely to my elders before I stride over, tossing the boot to Arthur as I pass him and strides right up to the student, putting my face right to his so fast he has to take a step back to stop from falling.
"So you think you can enlist with that kind of back talk!? TI's would eat you for breakfast." I snap commandingly, in my best imitation of a TI mixed with Mendez that I can muster before I turn and look at every one of them seriously.
"The TI's are going to be twice as harsh and twice as mean as I am! They are going to do their very best to break you down to nothing just to rebuild you into what they are trained to: Soldiers. I'm only trying to prepare you for what may lay in wait for every one of us off this ship. That group which held us prisoner in that school, some for near a decade, did it all for some reason we have yet to understand. I'd be one piss poor person to not at least try and give every one of you good people some tools to protect yourselves and your loved ones no matter what happens the moment we reach Earth and if you decide to leave to go protect them, you'll at least have something to do it with." I explain seriously as Arthur looks to them honestly after handing the owner of the boot, it back.
"No one is safe with those bastards still breathing and running free in our society. I know from experience my cousin shares my intent of not letting them keep doing either for very long." Arthur states with my shared grimness but now I'm not the only respected person of our group speaking but he is as well.
"We grew up beating on one another and playing games that gave us a jump on this kind of life. Ciel couldn't get enough of our parents recounts of their lives. Never could train hard enough. Be fast enough. Strong enough. Or smart enough to her own opinion of what the Master Chief and Cortana's first born child should be. I just tried to keep up until she took my hand and helped me become stronger, faster, and somewhat smarter too." he explains and I shoot him a flat look like he really shouldn't bring that up because it's embarrassing, especially with our parents watching let alone in earshot. But it brings into perspective things for the others as they look at one another and I exhale defeatedly.
"I hated the idea of being told I would be just as strong, fast or intelligent as my parents. I wanted to be better. Go to the limit and break it. I was dumb because I got exactly what I wanted and I haven't the faintest clue what to do next. My strength, speed, and intelligence are meaningless against a well prepared enemy like the one that just revealed itself. So I just have my 'fuck you' attitude to fall back on with my parents 'never give up' drive to push me forward until I find my next target. Oh and Arthur's butt to kick across the room every time he smacks my new injuries causing me pain..." I explain, looking at each of them honestly, hearing some snickers in the group as Maria walks over and with a resounding smack causes him to yowl sorely and cover his butt once he comes back down to the floor after a nearly two and a half foot leap into the air causing almost everyone to crack up laughing and some to drop into hysterics as he turns around without thinking cries out loudly.
"MARIAAAA!" He cries loudly then realizes his mistake as he sees his parents look at one another and smirk, this making me laugh.
"Yanno though you really should be nicer to him." I chuckle at her, as she looks at me smirking as she puts a hand on her hip.
"I'd hate for you to beat such a fine man up too much. Especially when I'm perfectly capable of doing it for you. Just, in far more embarrassing ways." she purrs teasingly with a wide grin on her face as we chuckle.
"Mariaaaaa!" he complains, beginning to turn bright red as we laugh more.
"So, Ciel. Why didn't you just say something to us?" Solomon asks curiously as we calm down and the group moves in closer like we do when talking like this, a habit from our time at the school which allowed us to plot and plan easier.
"I had plenty on my mind and my plate. I wanted to give you all time and myself time to digest what happened before we got to Earth. Then I hoped by then I'd have some idea of my next steps, asides from heal up and give everyone something to do as a group so we wouldn't spend our time moping and letting what happened at the insurrection against the insurrectionists gnaw away at everyone. Oh and of course give those wishing to enlist a taste of what boot will be like as well as those on the fence about it. Whether its secretly or openly." I explain, half sitting on the edge of the boxing ring.
"Have you decided if your going to enlist?" One of those who'd been sparring inquire and I shake my head.
"I have considered it. But if its Innies we're dealing with. I am rethinking the idea because of how effectively they had the UNSC and ONI chasing their tails before the Covenant hit. Now, this group's far more organized and honed. They are not crude and as unrefined as the rebels before. Making them extremely dangerous so military dogma and tactics will be a disadvantage in some aspects." I explain honestly as many look to one another musing understanding and agreement with my points.
"But because it may not be my cup of tea does not mean those of you considering enlistment would not do very well or even excel in that environment and be just as much of a problem to those criminals as my boot was to my darling, little cousin's rump." I smile gently hearing him yelp and flail, squealing indignantly from near the back of the crowd.
"And such a nice one it is." I hear Maria purr as we all look to find him extremely red and very embarrassed, glaring down at her as she holds her hands clasped behind her back as she rocks back and forth on her heels, smiling innocently. The self satisfied, but tasteful smile on her face tells all, she just rubbed his ass and what I know of her.. It was after sliding her hand down the back of his pants!
"Maria... Should we uh give you two some alone time in the barracks tonight or something?" One of our group asks, trying very hard not to let the laughter threatening to slip out of their lips go.
"Or just tie him up and leave him there?" Jackson throws in, nearly half doubled over from trying desperately not to break down, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Oh fuck you guys too!" Arthur grumbles, folding his arms with a very embarrassed huff and I gently rise onto my feet then walks over and with a fluid, unpredicted motion takes him by the ear and without my knowing Solomon has followed and I hear him throw Maria over his shoulder without breaking stride as he follows me over to Arthur's and my parents, and our silent but intrigued uncle before depositing her beside Arthur in front of his parents.
"He's your son." I shrug, looking at my aunt and uncle before I turn around and returns back to the snickering group with Solomon following me quite happily.
"Sooo. Blue team. Yellow. Why aren't those boots off and being retied?" I ask putting my hand on my hip with a coy smile, quickly turning the groups snickers to laughing moans and groans as we go back to the training as Arthur, Maria, and his parents discreetly take a leave of absence to go talk privately.
