Chapter 20 – Argument and Setting Boundaries Again

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I do not own anything of Halo besides my own characters.

I woke up with a feeling that I am used to – empty and numb. I rolled out of bed and walked towards the bathroom. I looked into the mirror to see the dead eyes, wrinkles around the mouth, ashy pale skin, and hair that looks like it was grabbed in a battle. This is what I am accustomed to seeing, what I want to see. The only expectation that I knew that I had was to complete the mission or die trying. I turned away, turned the shower on, and stepped in.

Reaching my hand out, I grabbed the towel, and wrapped it around me. I stepped out and went about to complete my morning routine. The various noises that comfort me now are the soft beeping from a message on the data pad, the vents blowing air into the room, and the movement of personnel outside of my room. The place that I still feel uncomfortable to.

"Orion," I heard a slight beep as Orion rogered up. "What is instore for today?"

"On todays agenda," Orion's voice came out. "You have two mission reports to write and some information pertaining to the planet we came from." I nodded and continued with putting my clothes on and shoes. I headed out the door and towards the galley.

I am in line for food with a tray in my hands. That is when I noticed the four individuals in the farthest booth, three are Sangheilians and one was the Spartan. Two of the Sangheilians, I recognized at the Fleet Master and as Arbiter. The other one I am not sure of. I went through the line to gather a mixed bowl of fruit, eggs, toast, and the gray colored sausage that they had on the line. I picked up my tray and walked to the booth that was the farthest away from the four in the back booth.

Eating my breakfast as I thought about the two mission reports that I need to complete. I felt my heart pull as the one person who I did not want near me came closer. I felt the table strain under added weight of arms as the person sat down.

"Val," Fleet Master, Eton's voice had a slight pleading tone to it. "Can we talk privately about yesterday?" I stared at him with a blank look and chuckled.

"Fleet Master," my voice came out monotoned. "We have nothing to discuss about yesterday. Your mate might get the wrong idea if she sees us talking." I whispered the last part and saw his face fall.

"Val," He whispered back. "Please can we talk." He sounded desperate. I shook my head and I got out of the booth.

"No." I spoke sternly. "We cannot talk. Everything was said yesterday." I turned to him. "By the way, the name is Titan to you." I glared at him as I picked up my tray and walked away. I could feel my heart flutter with pain. I did not care due to how everything turned out. I need to head back to my room after heading to the armory.

I left the galley and walked in the direction of the armory. I saw that I kept receiving sad looks from the different species that were in the hallway. I was glad to reach the armory. I walked in and saw the engineers grouped together and talking in whispers. I know what they are talking about. It is apparently about the scene that happened at breakfast. I guess it is the talk of the town.

"Gossip when you have not been there for the scene is a horrible way to pass the time." I called out to the group of gossiping engineers. They all jumped apart and looked over to see who it was. Their faces paled as they realized who it was. "Be more aware of your surroundings."

I headed to the enclave of the black armor and took the data chip out of my helmet. I knew how tiring mission reports can be; especially when there is classified information that cannot be input into the report. I shook my head and walked out of the armory. I let my body go on auto as I walked back to my room.

Unfortunately for me, I ran into the one person that I did not want to talk to. He had he hands on my biceps to keep me steady. I almost purred at the touch. I looked up to see his face set into a stern look. I pulled myself out of his hold and walked around him. I heard his footsteps behind me. I reached my door and I was pushed against it hard. I grunted at the action.

"How dare you!" I shouted at him. He was right in front of me.

"Cortana," He growled out. "Open the door." The door opens behind me and I stumbled backwards. He followed me in. I moved to a far corner of my room.

"What do you want?" I spoke calmly as I glared towards the imposing figure in my room.

"I want to talk to you." He grunted back as he stood there in a defensive posture. "You need to listen to what I have to tell you." He paced around the room.

"I do not have to listen to anything that you say!" I picked up one of my loose shoes and threw it in his direction. "The meeting yesterday was very informative."

"Informative!" He dodged my shoe. "What about that unfortunate meeting with someone that I have not even talked to in a year!" He shouted at me.

"A year?!" I was fuming at this point. "Oh yeah? That is not what it looked like yesterday! You two were so buddy-buddy about everything." He shook his head and gave me a hurtful glare. I had to chuckle at that.

"Yes, a year! We agreed to end it on neutral terms." He threw his arms in the air. "It was not working out for either of us."

"What is a neutral term to you?" I threw another shoe at him in anguish. "Just something for you to run away from! She still has feelings for you!" I could feel the bond in my heart slowly beating.

"Yes, neutral terms! She was alright with it." He dodged again. "She never had feeling for me!"

"You are blind!" I screamed out. He took a step back. "She is in love with you! That is why she said those things!" He sighed as he knew what I saw.

"It does not matter if she loves me!" He shouted back. "I want you and only you!"

"Yeah and how many others will come out of the woodworks?" I shouted back. "I watched you yesterday!"

"There have been a few that I slept with and some that I had past relationships with." He took a step forward. "What did you see yesterday? Huh? That made you run tail like a scared little child?!"

"You leaned towards her when she touched you! You could not even stand up to her. I had to be the polite little human pet and be diplomatic." I saw his face crumble. "I gave you the rules that I played by. Guess what! You do not follow the same rules. I should have guessed!"

"I do not follow the same rules!" He walked over to a wall and punched it. He left a dent in the wall. "You think I do not follow the rules!"

"Isn't that what I just said!" I threw my hands in the air offended.

"I did not even know that she was on the ship!" He threw his head back.

"Oh! So, you keep track of your former sex buddies." I growled out. "How convenient. If you needed to relieve some tension you can. She would be right there."

"I am a fleet master! I need to know where all the warriors are!" He replied. "No! it is not for a sexual release. I have not been with anyone for over four months! Four months!"

"So, I should expect someone else to come after me!" I am not happy about this at all. "Just another way to have your human pet to be a testament to the great Fleet Master!"

"A testament! Stop calling yourself a human pet!" He moved forward as I backed up.

"If I am not a human pet then what am I?!" I looked at him awaiting an answer.

"You are mine!" I scuffed at this. "My soulmate! My everything in this world now!"

"Now I am your soulmate!" I felt a happiness go through me but I my anger overruled that. "Until the next lover comes out of the out."

"There will be no former partner," He exclaimed. "For I will let everyone know that you are my other half."

"So, this never became a thought beforehand?" I sighed as I felt the weight of this argument hit me. I was tired and ready to be done expressing how I felt.

"I am sorry that I did not do it beforehand." He rubbed his hands down his face. "It skipped my mind."

"It skipped your mind?" I slumped against the wall. "It was changed in my record after we said it." He looked at me strangely. "Yes."

"After you left yesterday stating that you needed some time." I waited for him to continue. "I told her that you are my soulmate. She was so horrified at what she did."

"Horrified," I snorted. "More like glad." I shook my head.

"Val," I glared at him. "she wants to apologize publicly to you." He sighed and started pacing again.

"Yeah right. Over my dead body would I talk to her." I pushed myself up from the wall. "I do not want to talk to your other so-called flings. I was degraded for being what – human? I get that enough from the marines and everyone else that I meet. I am a freak to them."

"You are not a freak." He moved until he stood in front of me. "Do not ever call yourself a freak again."

"Or what?" I challenged him. "You will send your past flings on me."

Eton groaned. "There will not be any past flings to worry about! I will have it taken care of and sent out that I am not longer available, and I have a soulmate."

"How do I know that you will follow through with this?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I will have the Arbiter there with me and if it would please you, I will ask the Spartan to join." His shoulders slumped and he looked defeated. "I never thought that this would ever happen."

"Never thought what would happen?" I pressured. I needed to know. This eccentric feeling in my heart is pounding like a bass drum ready to leap out of my chest.

"That we would have one of our huge fights about something insignificant." I reeled back at this.

"Insignificant? So now my feelings are nothing better than a common slave?" I ground out. He grabbed my biceps to keep me close.

"No, your feelings are very much important!" He claimed as he pulled me towards him. "I just meant that I would not have seen you as a jealous type." I stood there staring at him. I am not sure what I felt at this statement. Was I truly jealous or just very hurt. I knew which one I am and that is hurt.

"I am not jealous." I held my hand up to shut him up. "What I actually am is hurt. In the brief meeting with your ex did you stand up for me. I also know that everyone has been talking about it and they will be whispering behind my back. So, am I expected to protect you from the humans while I receive no protect from the Sangheilians?"

"I did not realize that is how you felt." He leaned his head down to my forehead. I backed away from him. "I should have stood up for you. I should do so much better for you."

"Yes, and right now, I need time. I told you that, but you just wanted to barge in here and demand that I talk to you." I snarled. "We have talked. I want to continue with my day without you in it. I do not trust you." I saw his face crumble at my last words. "I do not know when I will be able to trust you. I do not want to be touched by you either." Eton dropped his hands and backed away from me.

"I will respect your request." He was by the door. "How can I gain your trust back?"

"I do not know. I will let you know when you have my trust again." I was glad that he backed away.

"I will let you go about your day. I just have one request." He looked at me pitifully.

"Yes?"

"Can I still be in your presence throughout the day?" He looked away and saw the door open.

"Yes, I still would like to be in your presence." I stated. He nodded and walked out. I waited for the door to close before I moved. I went to my desk and sat down. I started on my reports.

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