The Replacements- 8
It was strange sitting down to a formal dinner with Anderson and the team. I looked around, trying to read everyone's expressions.
Jason was smug, casting his eyes over to Princess every now and then. I could tell he really wanted to start taunting her, but the Chief's presence made it impossible.
Tiny ignored everyone at the table. Instead, he focused on the food that was spread out in front of us. There was no question as to what took precedence in his mind.
The Chief regarded all of us, taking note of some fresh bruises on two of us.
"So, Mark, have you and Jason had a recent sparring match?" He gazed at me with raised eyebrows, simultaneously pouring himself a glass of tea.
"Uh…yeah…" I looked around at my comrades, daring one of them to spill the beans. "You could say that."
After placing the pitcher onto the table, Anderson's eyes flickered suspiciously between Jason and me. He didn't believe me.
Thankfully, he didn't pursue the subject any further. He changed the subject.
"So, Princess, did you rest well?"
Princess nodded as she passed the garlic bread to Tiny. "Yes, Sir."
She picked up her fork, slid it into her spaghetti, and smiled impishly to herself. "I was even able to slip in a quick shower before dinner."
Jason gulped. He stared at Princess with pleading eyes. I could see he was afraid that she was going to enlighten the Chief about his latest antics.
She flashed the Condor a sly smile. I think I'm going to like this girl!
"Oh, that reminds me," the Chief heaped some spaghetti onto his plate, "I've arranged for you to have your own private bathroom. Construction should start tomorrow."
"Thank you, Chief Anderson." She blushed slightly as she looked across the table at me. I could feel my face getting warmer, too. I quickly turned my attention to my food.
Anderson took a quick bite of spaghetti, and then turned to me again. "Mark, I'd like to put you in charge of Princess' training from here on out. She's doing well, but there are still some maneuvers that she has yet to learn. I'll fill you in after dinner."
"Oh yeah, Princess, I'll be glad to take you on a tour of the Phoenix…" Tiny added proudly.
Jason elbowed him under the table. "I'm sure you would." He mumbled.
"Excuse me?" Anderson's attention was drawn to the Condor.
"Uh…nothing, Sir…" Jason grinned.
The kitchen door abruptly opened, and a young man wearing a lab coat walked up to the Chief.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner, Sir, but you are needed immediately in the lab."
Anderson wiped his face with his napkin, and got up from the table. "Excuse me, team, this is important. Go ahead and enjoy the meal. No need to wait for me to return, and if I don't return, have a good night and get plenty of rest. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
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As soon as Anderson left the room, Jason let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Whew! I thought you were going to be a complete little girl and do the tattling thing! Daddy! Jason walked into the bathroom while I was showering!" He mocked her in a whiny voice.
Princess smiled a most unnatural looking smile. "Oh, no, Jason. I'm just one of the boys. Would you care for some more spaghetti?" She said, in a sickeningly sweet tone.
"Why, yes, Princess, I believe I would like some more…" Jason puffed out his chest proudly, giving a false air of aristocracy.
Instantly, a forkful of spaghetti flew across the table, smacking Jason right across the bruise she had given him earlier. His forehead was now a virtual rainbow of colors... black, blue, a hint of yellow noodles, and a massive splotch of red sauce.
We all erupted into giggling fits. The Condor had it coming.
Jason laughed with us, and then displayed his evil grin. "You know, this means war, don't you?"
He chucked a meatball back at her. She ducked out of the way, and it hit Tiny in the side of the head.
The Owl put down his fork and brushed the meat and sauce out of his ear.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? You're wasting perfectly good food!" Tiny looked irritated. Nothing got his feathers ruffled faster than food going to waste.
Then, just to get his goat even more, Jason pitched two meatballs. One smacked Tiny's cheek, leaving a bright, red smear across his face and landed in his lap.
The Owl stood up, allowing the glob of meat to splatter onto the floor. "Hey, Jase! I just washed these pants!" He howled.
The other hit Princess in the neck,and then slid own her shirt, causing her to squeal insults back at the Condor as she stood up and hopped up and down.
I could see the tomato sauce bleeding through her shirt. I was hoping maybe she'd take it off...
To my dismay, she shook the meatball out of her shirt and onto the floor.
Before she could retaliate, Tiny grabbed a handful of spaghetti, and splattered it toward Jason, missing the intended target, and hitting me instead.
My hair became matted with noodles and sauce. I think I even got some sauce in my nose, because all I could smell was tomato sauce for the remainder of the evening.
I'm not sure what exactly happened after that point. It all became a blur. I just know that, in the end, we were wearing more spaghetti than we had eaten…and we were all laughing so hard that we collapsed on the floor, unable to move.
We soon realized that we needed to get things cleaned up. Fast.