Most AOD staff members only showed up when professionally needed by the soldiers, but Tiny wasn't most faculty. Of course she was gonna congratulate them when they got back from their first huge outing! Or at least, that was the plan...

They were to return in her wonderful creations, not get dropped off in helicopters and swept off to the med bay! She tried to get in, but those mean old doctors rebuffed her. Then she lurked around, where she could hear shouting after a bit.

She wanted to stay, she really did, but soon they ordered her to fix up the sad scraps of the jeeps. So here she was, left welding metal and tightening bolts while her mind raced a million miles per minute.

The silence in this section of the base felt deafening compared to the noise in her head, so the moment footsteps finally approached she threw her neck up alertly. Was command checking up on her? Had the doctors arrived to tell her the worst?

No it was-

"Ray-Ray!"

She quite literally jumped on top of him in a rib-crushing hug.

"I'm-happy-to-see-you-too-but-I'm-in-a-lot-of-pain-so," he choked out.

"Oh, sorry sorry!," she pulled away and looked him up and down as he regained air in his lungs. He definitely looked worse for wear, with armor ripped away and an array of bandages applied in its place.

He noticed her observation and sighed out, "I feel like I got hit by a truck."

She gasped, then whispered conspiratorially, "Were you?"

He walked past her to his workbench, collapsed in exhaustion, and groaned out, "Nearly. Rocket, actually."

She slunk down beside him as he pressed his face into the table, "And the others?"

He shrugged defeatedly before turning his head sideways to look at her, "Managing. West is critical."

Her eyes widened like saucer plates, "Is that...what the yelling was about?"

His full body sigh caused him to wince, "I don't want to talk about it."

"That bad?"

He shut his eyes tightly, but didn't respond. She wondered if he was even officially released, or if they ordered him to bed rest in his room. But..he came to her. That means it's her job as a VIF (very important friend) to make him feel better.

"What fish makes the best mechanic?"

He opened his eyes, looking up at her in confusion, "What?"

"A tuner fish!"

She smiled proudly, but after a few seconds of silence nerves took over. Sure it's a bad joke but-

"Did you hear about the fire at the circus?"

Wait what-

"It was in-tents!," he gave a small smile at his own corny joke and she nearly squealed in delight.

That was, until he attempted to stand back up. She quickly pushed him back down with a light touch to his chest, "Woah woah, where do you think you're going? You gotta rest!"

"They dropped off the 'upgrades' back in the main entrance. Or at least, what's left of them. I should grab them if I'm staying in here…"

She sounded a disapproving raspberry. "Nu-uh, no way. Cheesy puns and a full night's sleep only. We can tinker around with it tomorrow."

"I can't relax until I know West will make it. Everything's such a mess already, with East and everything-"

"What about her?"

"I...no it's stupid and it'll lead to more arguing with everyone..."

"It's not stupid! You're the resident smart guy, it's probably super genius."

He shook his head but hesitantly explained anyway, "During the battle, West he...he defended Phase. Like she was…"

"Like?"

"Like she was East. And I had this theory, but it's…," and he almost said dumb again before glancing up at her expression, "outlandish."

"Outlandish theories are fun!"

"I guess...in East's file it mentioned the tests she experienced. Past the redactions, it mentioned a supposed failure. Holo-echos."

"Omigosh they tried to turn her into a bat! Or a dolphin! Land dolphin."

Ray-Ray's utterly bewildered expression was a sight to behold. And he thought he was the only super genius. Then in case he wasn't an animal person, "A human submarine! Ping!"

"...Are you talking about echolocation?"

"Yes! And holo means holographic aka a science ghost. Very spooky."

He nodded slowly as his brain absorbed her words of wisdom. "...Yeah. Well I started wondering, what if the reason she flickers-"

"Is because she is the ghost bat! And Phase is the human!"

"...Yes."

She leaned in close to him, speaking softly in case East flew nearby without them hearing, "And did you confront her? What did she say?"

"No, everything's already shit and-"

She startled him out of talking as she determinedly gripped his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes, "Ray-Ray, as your VIF-"

"My what-"

"I cannot and will not let you commit the heinous trope you're daring to fall into."

"The underdog?"

"No! Miscommunication! The laziest comedic plot device!"

"Tiny-"

"Nope! You can, must, and will speak to your teammates face to face no matter the consequences! I will lock you in a room with them if I have to!"

"Please don't."

"Then~"

"...Then I'll talk to my teammates about my concerns. I'll start with West if- when he wakes up."

She leaned back satisfied, "That's the spirit! Now, back to those jokes-"

"Oh c'mon Tiny, no need to pun-ish me. I'm already a Ray of sunshine after all!"


Un-fucking-believable. The whole lot of them. They had them cornered! One didn't lose, wouldn't have lost without all their bullshit. Now that traitor West is potentially dying and the others all think she's a bitch for stating her justified opinions.

She stomped down the hall, not giving a damn what pain signals her feet shot back. East harmed more than she helped, Raymond got their vehicle crushed, and those Freelancers let Viper escape. If everyone focused on their duty as an elite squad member, those criminals would be dead or in jail already.

And Axe…

She hesitated outside her door, looking back towards her father's room. Ever since he booked it out of the shooting gallery, their relationship is a little..off? He still acted fatherly and everything, but anytime she brought up the topic he found a way to disengage. But after today's clusterfuck, could they keep pretending everything was fine?

Despite the pleas of her aching body, she walked away from the entrance to her warm bed and instead knocked a few doors down. She nearly gave up after a minute of silence, thinking he was somewhere else, when a quiet shaky voice asked, "Who is it?"

Oh boy, maybe this isn't the day to talk. But fuck it, she'd already made up her mind the moment she came over here, and One never quit. Hoping to lighten the mood she answered, "Best girl obviously."

She heard a light breathy laugh followed by the sound of the door unlocking. A second later, he opened the door, a strained smile on his face.

"We look like something the cat dragged in," she snarked as she let herself in. That didn't earn a laugh, and looking up as she sunk into the nearest chair left her feeling guilty. All her thoughts that they should have pushed themselves harder, meanwhile her disheveled dad was looking at her in lingering worry as if he wasn't fully certain she survived getting hit.

But One didn't know what to do about that, so instead she noted, "Crazy fight huh? Did you hear what Zero was rambling about while we all fought? Called himself my shadow, said I was a failed attempt to recreate him. Dude's nuts amirite?"

Apparently this was a terrible opening, as the cocktail of emotions crossing his face were anything but positive. He looked towards the door and hell no, not this time. She jumped up, and as he flinched in surprise she blocked the way.

His exit blocked, he pitifully backed towards his bed like a cornered animal. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally spitting out, "Jamie...I can't. I'm sorry."

"You can't what? What is going on?"

He shook his head furiously and collapsed onto the bed, burying his face in his hands with uneven breaths.

Yeah...okay. Maybe the others were right and she was a bitch. The determination for answers draining out of her, she gave a sincere, "I'm sorry. I'll just…"

"Jamie...it's nothing to do with you, I'm the one whose messed up. I love you so much, and I'd tell you if I could, but I can't . And I don't want to shout at or scare you but…"

She hesitantly approached and stood over him until he looked through his hands at her. She offered an arm and he nodded once. She sat next to him and looped it around him in a loose hug.

"It's okay...when I was a kid and my parents died...none of you rushed me to get over it. So whatever this is, I mean, I'm here y'know? You're not fucked up or whatever. We can talk about stuff you enjoy like, uh, lawnmowers?"

He didn't respond verbally, but rather shot her an affectionate look before leaning over and placing a kiss on her temple. Normally she'd complain about something this cheesy but for tonight, she buried her face in his chest and let him stroke her hair like she was a little kid again.