Chapter Thirteen

The number of people around her was making her feel queasy, even though she'd still managed to slide into the booth last, to avoid being blocked in by the others. It wasn't particularly common practice for Mirage to join the three of them, but they seemed comfortable enough in each other's company by now. They made easy conversation about nothing, a strange politeness to Wraith, until Lifeline chuckled at something Mirage had said and threw a look Wraith's way.

"What about you, Wraith? Don' feel like joinin' us on Monday?"

She looked up from her disappointingly still-full plate, and dredged up a weak smile as she shook her head.

"Thanks," she murmured, "but I'll be okay solo-queuing this time."

Lifeline rolled her eyes with an amiable chuckle.

"Suitcha self."

"You know, Ajay and I do better together, after this long." Bangalore commented, "You find a rhythm."

"I can vouch for that." Mirage agreed, taking a bite of his own breakfast - a combination of far too many foods crushed between two slices of bread - and talking with his mouth full, "Me and Pathfinder have a killer rhythm."

Bangalore leaned away from him as he sprayed crumbs over the table, and Lifeline wrinkled her nose in a brand of disgusted amusement.

Wraith gave a subtle shrug, looking back at her own plate and considering her clearly inferior appetite.

"I enjoy not knowing. It's part of the challenge." she said, which was only partially true, and forced herself to lift a triangle of toast and take a bite.

"You've teamed before." Mirage pointed out helpfully, still-full mouth making Bangalore and Lifeline make disapproving noises.

"Sometimes."

"Well, what about teaming this time? With me and Path?"

"I'm fine, thanks." she repeated, stirring her eggs - cold by now - around the plate again as though for inspiration.

"I don't blame ya." the soldier chuckled, knocking Mirage playfully with an elbow, "It's like babysitting."

Lifeline laughed, and Mirage spluttered in such outrage that he coughed up crumbs all over the table, making Bangalore laugh in disgust and scoot away from him while she did. Their laughter hurt Wraith's head. She wished she'd been earlier getting lunch, or they'd been later. She wished for the peace and quiet of her room. The others were bickering, Bangalore and Mirage mostly, while Lifeline only looked on, amused.

Wraith sipped from her coffee - thankfully safe from the spray of Mirage's breakfast sandwich - and willed away the tickling ache in the back of her skull. An oncoming migraine was just what she needed right now.

"Hey Bloodhound!"

Wraith winced, wishing she too could shuffle further away from him as he hollered. She looked over to find the recipient of his eager wave, raising a hand of their own in acknowledgment after having just stepped into the room.

"What's wrong with us?" he asked, raising his eyebrows for added dramatic effect.

Wraith didn't have the energy for his antics today, not that it stopped him. He leaned towards her conspiratorially, glancing around as though to check they weren't being overheard.

"Is it Path? It's Path isn't it?" he slumped in his seat and threw an arm over his eyes in a bad imitation of an actress from an ancient movie, "Oh woe, that robot scares away all the ladies."

Lifeline snorted.

"Cause ya havin' such bad luck witha ladies." she chuckled, and Mirage lifted the arm from his face a few inches to wink at her.

"Thank you, thank you, It's a gift, what can I say?" he grinned, and seemed not to hear the collective groan from both soldier and medic.

"Hiya, Bloodhound!"

It was hard to believe he could be as quiet as she'd seem him be, recently. Bangalore was right. He was like a kid.

"It's not about you or Pathfinder." she answered Mirage, glancing up to nod a welcome to the Elite joining them at the table.

"Well, then prove it." Mirage shrugged with a wicked grin.

Wraith rolled her eyes tiredly.

"I don't think that's the attitude to have, picking a squad." she said, her patience wearing thin.

She just wanted to go back to bed already. She wanted the darkness, the soothing calm of the shadows of the familiar room.

"You need to lighten up a little." Mirage chuckled, his face bright and his eyes glinting, "Path and me could show you how to have some fun."

"What? What?" he feigned confusion when the three women groaned again.

"You should choose vit yor instincts." Bloodhound hummed quietly, having watched the exchange in silence, and looking up from their food, "Yor spirit vill tell if someone is a good pick."

The table fell quiet at their words, and Wraith drank her coffee in the quiet, grateful. The canteen was getting busier, the lunch rush wouldn't be long in coming and Wraith wanted to be gone by then, at least. It was only several minutes of thoughtfulness before it was inevitably broken. Mirage reached for his own mug, raising one shoulder up to his ear, palm face up between them.

"All I'm saying," he took a sip, "is give us a try. Couldn't hurt."

Wraith huffed gently through her nose, fingers curled round her own mug at her lips as though holding a shield. When she glanced at him, he raised an eyebrow, and Wraith found she didn't have a comeback properly formed.

Bangalore gave a short, teasing laugh.

"Couldn't hurt." she repeated, "Now that's a good one."

Lifeline laughed as Mirage scowled and Bangalore grinned. Bloodhound smiled faintly, eating quietly with nothing more to input as the bickering began again. Wraith drained her mug, eager to leave. For all the air was welcoming and relaxed between them all, her head was starting to throb and she'd used up all her patience for close proximity.

As she stood to leave, Mirage's head swung her way, his expression almost startled for a second.

"Hey, wait-" he said, before realising how he'd sounded and leaning back against the back of the booth seat, "At least think about it?"

Maybe if she gave in for this one game, he'd leave her alone after? came a quiet, wistful thought. Wraith paused, deliberating. His eyes were watching her, his grin wide and eager, but his self-assured confidence was missing, she realised.

Maybe it was that, that caved her, the notion that he was taking the idea seriously. Maybe it really was just the faint hope that he'd leave her alone afterwards. He'd been a close opponent for several Games by now, so it wasn't as though he and Pathfinder weren't capable.

Whatever it was, Wraith found herself hesitantly agreeing, not quite believing it as she walked away.