Sweetwater II: The Resurrection Chronicles
three
BREEP BREEP BREEP BREEP... The alarm clock wailed and screamed until Hilde finally slammed her hand down over its brow. Her room was quaint, plain if not stripped bare, but the bed was soft enough. Regulation military covers were on it so far, but she'd seen Nathan's silken down duvet and melted again. He was real ladies' man if there ever was one, without even trying. Chip, on the other hand, was about as repellant as a zap light hanging outside of a camper in the middle of the woods. Instead of a gristly BZZAPT as a sound effect...
was what you heard instead. He belched gurgly and man-like when staggered, bare foot, bare chested, and boxer clad into the foyer, his head appearing to have been yanked around by a drooling grizzly bear all night long.
Hilde laughed at his crudeness and got out of bed. Suddenly wide awake, she got up and pulled on a pair of discarded sweat pants to cover her bare legs. She came out and saw that most everyone else was already getting up as well. George was standing close to the coffee maker, staring it to death.
Chip snapped his fingers. She's wearing clothes.
What, man? Jake scowled at Chip from beneath his mop of hair. You're such an ass. Of course she's wearing clothes.
Chip, being the know it all about women type, put a hand to his bare chest and pointed at Hilde. You mean to tell me that you didn't know that all chicks sleep in the nude?
George groggily glared at Chip in his rawest, most real-to-life state and shook his head. You've got no right to call me a dirty southerner, you jackass.
Oh, I love it when you talk nasty to me, Georgy Porgy. That accent of yours is so sexy! Chip slunk over to him and glomped him. George punched him in the shoulder and dusted himself off.
Pervert, keep your filth away from me and my breakfast.
Nathan grumbled, emerging less than intellectually from his room.
Hilde giggled. So there is a bit of primitive man in him after all.
He patted her on the shoulder.
Not all of us gals can wake up naturally gorgeous like you, Hilde, Chip draped his arms around her. I just love your complexion.
She tried to duck away, accepting his compliment, but got something she wasn't expecting at all. He gripped her harder in his muscle-toned arms and licked the side of her face he was closest to. Shrieking, Hilde jammed her elbow into his gut and jostled him off before he could get another taste. Nathan watched in utter disgust and threw an insulated, hard, plastic coffee mug at Chip. It whacked him right in the head and fell to the floor; his shoulders cringed up with a wail from his pained face.
Dammit, Chip, Nathan growled. For Christ's sake, be a respectable human being for once! At least with Hilde. She's a lot better than you are, that's for sure.
Sorry, sweets, he shrugged and rubbed his throbbing head, but I couldn't resist. It was spontaneity. I meant no harm.
I need to get a shower, Hilde moved off towards to bathroom.
Oh lawd, a girl in the block, guys. She'll be out in three hours.
Hilde stopped at the doorjamb and flipped him, Chip, off. You'll see.
___
Duo slipped out of his room and saw the same scene as he usually did. Chip at some sort of combat with someone, Jake starting to fiddle with the game, and George hovering over the grumbling coffee pot. The door to the bathroom was shut, but he didn't take the time to notice that all of the usual crew was in sight. He'd heard of the new team mate, but hadn't met him personally as of yet. He had too much on his mind already.
Jake bobbed his head at Duo when he sat down close by. You've totally missed the newbie, man.
I haven't missed much, I hope, Duo rubbed his face. Everyone seems to be the same.
He shot a grin at Chip and Nathan, who had started to pour his creamer into his own personalized, shiny black mug. There's a girl in the squad, of course they aren't the same.
A girl?
___
Hilde exited the bathroom ten minutes after she'd entered. George slapped Chip on the back ahead of time, to prevent him from commenting on her lack of being wrapped in a towel. Duo's eyes widened as he finally looked back to see the face of the newbie. He gasped and stood up.
he said, taking a few hesitant steps away from the couch. My God, I've been looking for you everywhere.
She stumbled back a few steps herself.
he said, not sure if he was allowed to come near, I'm so sorry. I never should have doubted you.
Tears began to fill both of their eyes. Nathan smiled and took a sip of his coffee. Now this is some real nice interaction. Chip, don't you dare say anything.
Hilde repeated his name, letting it fall from her lips like honey, and ran over to him, enveloping him in a hug so fierce that it made his back pop. Damn Bill to hell, Duo. I never loved him. I always loved you!
___
That was really sweet, Chip said, but it's not fair that Duo gets a chick and I don't.
You don't deserve one, George piped.
Hilde and Duo sat in the office, talking, while Nathan kept domestic peace. Jake was the only one that really didn't think it was a surprise. They fit, so why the hell not have them be together? You don't make a puzzle to leave the pieces in the box, do you? No one in their right mind would leave a fuzzy kitten puzzle sitting on the top shelf just to look pretty on the cover.
It was a storybook ending to a less than storybook tale. Duo and Hilde resumed their lives where they had left them on L2, and live moved on as it always had, and always would. Even if there wasn't coffee brewing, or the smell of men in the air, the sun would rise and set. And there would always be love between them, no matter if they admitted to it or not. At least on M03400 there was no McMillen and no Bill to kick the ass of.
The End.