That afternoon, Alex was reading in the living room whilst Eagle and Wolf were debating dinner.
"We can't have take-away. We're not really making an effort there and he may notice that," Eagle argued and Wolf rolled his eyes.
"Well if you feel like making a three course meal then go on ahead."
"…I can't cook. You know that."
Wolf nodded. "Exactly, none of us can. Take-outs the only option."
Alex had noticed that their meals had mainly consisted of either ready meals, take-out or meals a five year old could cook. He supposed they were used to their meals either being for convenience or made for them, thus meaning they had never learnt to cook properly. Alex, who was finding this conversation painful to listen to, decided he should put them out of their misery.
"You know, I can cook," he said conversationally.
Wolf jerked his head towards Alex. "Wait, seriously?"
"Is that so hard to believe?" Alex asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, a bit. I don't know, you just don't seem the cooking type."
Alex shrugged. "Jack taught me, said it was a valuable life skill and I was not going to live on junk food when I was older." The unspoken 'like you' was obvious but Wolf didn't call it out. Cub rarely spoke of his dead guardian.
"Good reason. So, do you think you could cook a meal for tonight?"
"Yeah sure. As long as you have some decent food."
If there was one thing Alex knew that night, it was that he had no idea how these men had managed to survive for so long alone. He idly wondered if they had gone into army to escape everyday life. There was barely any food in the fridge that Alex could make a meal out of so Eagle was forced to call Ben, who was out getting some beer, and ask him to pick up some ingredients as well. Alex listed to Eagle what he wanted who recited it to Ben. With every item Eagle looked more and more confused and once he'd hung up he asked "Why do you need so much? And why do you need all those weird named stuff?"
"You mean stuff like coriander?" Eagle nodded and Alex barely refrained from sighing.
"If you want it to actually taste good then you need stuff like herbs and spices."
"Oh…" Eagle became quiet, looking thoughtful. "Do you think I could watch you cook? I never had a chance to learn but it sounds pretty useful."
"Yeah, feeding your body is generally considered useful," Alex said dryly. "But sure. I can give you some easy stuff to do."
Eagle grinned. "Great!
Half an hour later, Ben returned with a bag full of the stuff Alex requested. He began working on the meal, roast chicken with new potatoes and vegetables. For such a simplistic meal, the adults in the room were strangely fascinated as watched him cook. He gave Eagle easy tasks like chopping the vegetables but by the look on his face, you would have thought he was making the whole meal. While the chicken was roasting, Alex asked if they wanted him to make dessert as well.
"Yes!" Ben said enthusiastically. At the stares he was given, he rubbed the back of his neck and said, "What? You guys know I have a sweet tooth."
Alex hadn't thought of telling Ben to get any food for dessert, but he was able to use the ice in the fridge and the fruit in the fruit bowl to make a sorbet. Now that there was nothing more he could do, he asked the others if they knew anything about their new Unit member.
"His codename's Puma," Snake said. "Apparently he was in a previous Unit but they didn't connect very well and he asked to be transferred. The Sergeant didn't want to put him in a new Unit that was just learning the basics and so decided to put him in ours. I don't know anything personal about him, but I know someone from the Unit he was in previously. They said he's alright but has a bit of a temper. Part of the reason they didn't get on was that one of them made a comment about his ability on the assault course, nothing too critical, but he flew off the rails. Got quite a few punches in before they pulled him away."
Alex pulled a face. "Are you sure you want someone like that in the Unit?"
"We don't really have much choice in the matter," Snake explained patiently. "Our Unit is already under a lot of scrutiny, we can't really afford to be picky."
Alex saw Wolf turn and frown in the corner of his eye. "Why's that?"
Wolf stared at Snake warningly and Snake twitched his head down in acknowledgement that this was not his story to tell. "Just a mishap in our last mission that caused us to be sent back. Anyway, that's part of the reason it's best to make a good impression to our new Unit member, who knows when they'll find another one if he doesn't want to be part of our Unit."
Alex was now full of burning curiosity, yet he held it at bay. It would be hypocritical for him to pry when he'd argued with them countless times for trying to do the same with him. So instead, he asked, "Does that mean you want me to hide out in my room tonight?"
Funnily enough, they actually looked offended at the idea that Alex would ask such a thing.
"No way Cub," Wolf said, "You're kind of like the package deal. If they want to be part of the Unit then they have to be able to accept you."
Alex was now confused. "But Snake just said that you need to make a good impression and I doubt they'll be impressed with me being here. Doesn't make it sense for me to not make it any harder than it needs to be?"
Wolf actually had the gall to glare at him when Alex was being perfectly logical.
"No Cub. Sure, we want to make a good impression but if it's clear he has an issue with you then we won't have him in the Unit."
Alex huffed. "I don't see why it matters so much when I'll be gone once I'm better." It was something he'd been thinking about often lately. He was healing, in fact, if this were anything like the previous times he'd be back at school with no problems. He didn't want to raise this point too much thought because he definitely did not want to be left in Blunt's hands.
Wolf shrugged. "Maybe you will be, maybe we'll be able to sort something else out. But I stand by what I say, he has a problem, he's out." He said it nonchalantly, but Alex didn't miss the fact Wolf spoke about another option for him, as if there were one.
"Fine, you're just stupid if you think it's worth it."
Wolf looked close to physically growling, but Ben placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Alex wouldn't want to hear anything placating. He wouldn't truly believe it.
"Well, now that that's sorted out…" Snake began but he was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. "…I was going to say we should probably set things up but it's too late now. I'll just get the door."
"Wait, let Cub do it." Wolf stopped Snake.
"Me? Why?" Alex asked. It was almost as if Wolf wanted the new Unit member to hate him or something.
"Think of it as his first test. If he doesn't outright dismiss you then he's free to come in."
Alex shook his head in exasperation but did as Wolf said. The others began setting out cutlery as Alex opened the door.
Alex's first impression of Puma was that he was big; taller than all of the others and his arm muscles looked as big as Alex's head. He had tan skin and his bald head revealed a patch of skin that looked like it had been badly burnt. The skin was still red and it flaked slightly. His brown eyes were cold, but he regarded Alex with curiosity. He folded his arms over his chest and Alex glimpsed a tattoo of a blood red eye poking from under his sleeve.
"I haven't got the wrong house, have I?" His voice was deep and grumbly and Alex shook his head, unsure what to make of Puma.
"No, this is K-Unit's place." He answered and Puma looked even more inquisitive.
"I was not aware they had a child living with them."
"I'm fourteen actually." Alex replied coldly, and the man just lifted a shoulder disinterestedly.
"You're younger than eighteen, so you're a child."
Alex scowled and Wolf felt this was the time to intervene. "Hello Puma. This is Cub, I don't know if you remember him or not…"
Puma's eyebrows rose. "I entered training soon after he left. I have heard the stories; people still talk about the infamous Cub."
Alex couldn't help but be pleased his little stint there was still remembered.
"I've got to say though, I imagined you differently."
"Oh yeah?" Alex challenged, narrowing his eyes at the large man.
"I thought you would be…taller, less…" He trailed off and Wolf took that as his cue to usher Puma in before Alex could retort angrily. The man hadn't properly insulted Alex, so he couldn't find a real reason to turn him out; however he would still keep an eye on him.
"We have roast chicken for dinner, I hope you don't mind," Ben said as he gestured to the chairs. "Cub made it."
"Smells alright," Puma said indifferently as he sat down in the chair Snake had pulled back for himself. Snake frowned slightly but didn't say anything.
"Why do you still refer to the boy as Cub? He isn't a part of the SAS," Puma said as they had all settled in their seats. His tone was light, but it rubbed Alex the wrong way. Ben answered for him, however.
"Just because he is a part of the SAS anymore doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the nickname. I don't see it as a problem, do you?" Ben challenged and Puma shrugged.
"I was merely curious, just as I'm curious why you are here. You left for MI6 didn't you?"
Ben looked like he was barely holding back a scowl. He pasted on a fake smile. "I live here and I thought I would quite like to know who was replacing me."
"Fair enough," Puma conceded. An awkward silent fell over the group as food was dished out. Though Puma hadn't been outright rude, everything he said seemed to be a thinly veiled insult and it felt like they were moments from breaking out into a fight with every sentence. Wolf knew this wasn't a good start, but hoped that maybe it was just nerves that was causing Puma to act this way.
Whilst eating, K-Unit and Ben tried to find out more about Puma, much in the same way Eagle had done with Alex initially.
"Have you always wanted to be in the army?" Eagle asked when the conversation had trailed of for the third time. This man could give Alex a run for his money when it came to giving stilted, short answers.
"Not really. A friend decided I should join and considering I had nothing better to do and it suited my skills, I thought I might as well."
Eagle's lips turned down slightly. "That's an…odd reason to join. You do realise it's a really dangerous job and stuff right? You need to be really committed."
Puma appeared amused. "I don't fear death, if that's what you're wondering. I may lack the patriotism but as long as I get the job done, that's all that matters, right?"
"…Right." Eagle looked a bit disturbed and to save himself from talking more, shoved a large forkful of food in his mouth.
They finished the meal and Snake brought out desert which Puma declined. "I'm not a fan of sweet things," he responded uncaringly. That left the other's to eat without him and Puma leant back.
"You know, I've been wondering if you're at all like the rumours said you were," he said, directing his question to Alex.
Alex stared back. "I wouldn't know; I haven't heard these rumours."
Puma grinned. "Fancy a spar? I promise to go easy on you."
Snake frowned. "I really don't think that's appropriate. Cub is injured you see and we've just had dinner. This was supposed to be just a chance to get to know each other, not fight."
"No, it's fine. I'll do it," Alex said, rising to the challenge. He wanted to prove to Puma that he was not some weak little kid, as he had been implying. He would show him, injuries be damned.
"Cub," Wolf said warningly. "It's fine. You shouldn't, you know this."
"Let the boy decide for himself Wolf," Puma admonished with a small, wicked, smile. "I won't be too rough on him. It would just be a sight to see."
All of the men except Puma were very annoyed and worried for Alex who looked very determined. Both Alex and Puma stood and moved to the centre of the room where there was the least furniture. Alex bent his knees slightly and braced himself. He wasn't fighting to win; he knew that his physical health and Puma's stature meant that there was a very slim chance he could win. No, he was fighting to prove himself and show Puma that those rumours were true.
"I'll let you have the first move," Puma said.
Clenching his hands slightly, Alex shot forward, hoping his speed would throw the man. It didn't, and Puma dodged Alex's kick with more grace than Alex thought he would have been capable of. Puma grabbed Alex by the heel and threw him back and Alex only managed to stay upright by doing a strange little hop. Alex again aimed a kick, but lower this time to try and throw Puma off balance, but Puma jumped over his leg aimed a kick of his own that did what Alex's failed to do. Alex fell to the floor but quickly got back up again, even though his injuries were beginning to protest.
"I expected more," Puma said tauntingly, and adrenaline surged through Alex, causing him to forget his wounds.
He leapt toward Puma and tried to get an elbow into the man, knowing that that was the only shot he had at hurting the man. Before it made contact, Puma caught Alex's elbow and pushed the boy away with a palm of his chest.
Immediately, Alex's bullet wound and ribs screamed. His breath was coming in short gasps and he fell to the floor. His vision was going blurry from the pain and he just heard Wolf shout at Puma to get out before someone was lifting him and he blacked out.
Unfortunately, due to the fact I am getting closer to the end of my pre-written chapters and a lack of time because of very important exams, I may end up changing updates to every two weeks. Thanks again for all reviews, favourites and follows!