Chapter 2: Six Months
It was the middle of the night onboard the Mother of Invention. While most Freelancers' were resting for the next day, others used this as their social catch-up time. 'Zona and CT believed in the latter, lying around inside 'Zona's room, chatting. "Seriously? You're into Florida?!" 'Zona exclaimed, falling backwards onto her bed laughing, while CT turned a lightish red.
"Oh shut up, not so loud!" CT hissed, throwing a pillow from her position on the floor. It managed to land on 'Zona's head, but refused to muffle her laughter. "C'mon, don't make me strangle you with a pillow…" She grumbled, sitting back against the wall with her arms crossed.
A few moments later, 'Zona managed to regain her composure tossing the pillow back as she sat up. "Nah, you could try. Doesn't mean it'll happen!" She mocked, smirking at CT.
The other woman sighed, rolling her eyes. "Well, how about you and North then?" CT asked, changing the subject.
'Zona stiffened slightly, "What do you mean?" She prompted, keeping her voice level despite the panic shooting throughout her system. No fucking way he told…
CT laughed, not noticing 'Zona's wariness with their new topic of conversation. "Oh c'mon, you can tell me. I've heard from South how North is sneaking back into his room at god knows when in the morning, only in under armor… I wonder how that happened." She added, winking at 'Zona before laughing.
"Oh… no, I've got no idea." 'Zona lied, looking away from CT's searching gaze.
Whatever the other Freelancer had been about to say in response was interrupted, as North himself stepped through the unlocked door, freezing as he noticed CT in the room. "Sorry, didn't realize you had company." He apologized to 'Zona, turning to leave and earning a quiet sigh of relief from her.
"No, it's fine!" CT exclaimed, standing up to leave. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone… You know, to do nothing." She smirked at 'Zona's horrified expression, before walking out, cackling down the hall with laughter.
Damn it! 'Zona cursed inwardly, putting on a false smile as North sauntered over to her. "Hey babe, what's up?" She asked, knowing fully what he had come for. In response, he simply unzipped his under armor, throwing it to the side.
"Am I that unpredictable? I just wanted to spend the night with my girl…" He replied huskily, hands flying over to her under armor's zipper. In seconds, both Freelancers' were naked, with North pinning her to the bed and laying between her legs. "What do you think?" He teased.
'Zona simply didn't care anymore, nodding slowly in a resigned manner. "Go crazy…" She sighed, looking away and squeezing her eyes shut as she felt North plunge into her. Son of a bitch! The pain went away after a few moments, and pleasure once again began to wrack her body as she continued to look away, at anything but North.
An hour afterwards, 'Zona once again wandered down to the training room. It had become her tradition in the last month that after North had his way with her; she would leave and train to get her mind off of it. A mission which had slowly been assisted by Ark, once he resigned himself to never knowing what had led her to the training room so late, "Hey 'Zona." Ark nodded towards her, before turning back to the holographic targets running amok on the firing range.
"Hey…" 'Zona mumbled in return, selecting her rifle off the back. Upon loading her clip in, she walked over to stand by the taller Agent. Both armored soldiers fired in silence, not stopping until the entire wave of targets had been demolished.
Ark stopped, turning to face 'Zona in time to see her lean against the wall, sliding to the ground with a pain filled hiss. "Is everything alright?" He attempted to ask nonchalantly, but was unable to keep the worried tone out of his voice.
Unsealing her helmet, 'Zona dropped it to the ground with a clatter. "No… it's not." She admitted, looking up, her teary blue eyes meeting Ark's darkened visor.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly, removing his own helmet and sitting down beside her.
What am I supposed to say? That my boyfriend has been fucking me without consent for the last month? That he was extra rough tonight? 'Zona shook her head, tears leaving tracks down her face as she sobbed silently, eyes downcast.
He nudged her shoulder with his own briefly, "I can't help you if you won't open up to me. You're my friend, let me help…" Ark pleaded, but may as well been speaking to a wall for all the response he gained.
"… I can't…" 'Zona sobbed, pulling her knees up to her chest and huddling into them. "I don't have a choice."
Sighing, Ark stood back up, returning his helmet to its rightful position. "We always have a choice. We may just be too scared to see it sometimes, but it's always there." With those words of wisdom, he returned his rifle to the rack, leaving the room with one last pity filled glance at 'Zona.
Using all of her willpower, 'Zona began to regain control from her breakdown. She gripped the wall, pulling herself up with a grunt. Fuck… 'Zona moaned inwardly, gritting her teeth against the pain. One foot in front of the other, you can do it. She though, following her own instructions and placing her sniper rifle back in its rightful place on the weapons rack. 'Zona then retrieved her helmet from where she had dropped it, dusting it off and placing it on before leaving.
'Zona wandered around the sleeping ship, unsure of where to go from there. As she strolled past, she could hear Carolina and York inside her room. Very briefly she pictured them going at it, before scowling in disgust and throwing the compromising image out of her mind. "I really didn't need to picture that." 'Zona grumbled quietly, walking past a bit quicker now.
As she continued her trek, she heard the rapid clatter of someone running, and her hunch was confirmed as a man in orange and green armor sped past. 'Zona opened her mouth to yell, but was cut off by another armored figure crashing into her, knocking both of them to the ground. She hit the ground with a grunt, "What the fuck?!" 'Zona cried out, blinking in confusion as the armored figure stood up. It was a woman in purple and blue armor; the exact inversion of Ark's color's, causing a brief pause in her speech due to confusion. "Watch where you're going, bitch…" She grumbled, standing up as well.
"Sorry, I got distracted." The other apologized, not sounding sorry in the least. "See you around." She mumbled, before sprinting off in pursuit of the orange one. "Get the fuck back here, Kenny!" She shouted at him.
"Not a chance, Dakota!" Kenny shouted in the distance, continuing his sprint away from the pissed off Dakota. She in turn continued to storm after him, neither of them somehow waking any of the other crew members.
'Zona simply chuckled, shaking her head as she continued her midnight trek about the Mother of Invention. "I like that kid."