"Now this right here is a bummer. The food court is closed.", Elliott commented as he and shook his head in disappointment.
"That's odd. It's like that thing we learned in history. What was it called Covid? That closed out a lot of business's.", Ajay commented as she read the sign Infront of the food court.
The sign read, "Please eat at one of our official restaurants while the food court renovated."
"Bloody hell. What kind of food court needs renovations in the first place.", Walter sighed out as he shook his head.
"Pfffft, I don't know amigo. Didn't you see that dude who broke the bench at one of tables in half?", Octavio pointed out as he laughed profusely.
"Oh yeah that did happen. But that was dude was like 500 pounds to be fair.", Walter pointed out to get a shrug from Octavio.
"Well, brahs what should we do?", Gibby asked as he rubbed his stomach a lil bit.
"Oh, there is a lovely French bakery right on the corner we could go to.", Natalie suggested only to get a look of disgust from Gibby.
"What's wrong with that Makoa?", Anita asked the large man who just shook his head.
"Nothing I just have some not so fond memories there... is all. Great food though.", Makoa mumbled out with a sigh.
"Oh yeah your ex works there, doesn't he? Nick, right?", Loba guessed as Makoa spat out his water he was taking a sip of.
Elliott, Fuze, and Octavio then bent over from laughter from what they heard. Ramya though put a hand on his shoulder in understanding.
"Pfffffft... what happened? Now I know why you are in the gym 24/7", Elliott cackled as he gave his friend a light smack on the back.
"I really messed up is all... but it's alright now though. We are still friends.", Makoa stated as he cleared up his throat.
"Alright let's stop prying the big guy and move on mates.", Ramya commented getting an alright from the boys.
"So, what should we do instead? Any ideas chica?", Octane questioned as he nudged Ajay.
"Why don't we just go get Auntie Anne's? If none of ya are too hungry.", Che suggested with a shrug.
The group looked at each other and just nodded to one another. As they were walking down to the pretzel restaurant the mall speakers blared off talking about how the Militia was making bigger moves in IMC territories and that everyone should volunteer for the military.
"Tch. Those pigs keep encroaching Solace city more and more every day. Just yesterday some martyr's blew up a Starbucks a couple of blocks down.", Anita complained burying her head in her hands with a mighty sigh.
"I thought you wanted Starbucks gone anyways.", Loba joked as she wrapped her arm around Anita's back with a smile.
"Ok maybe it wasn't entirely a huge loss but still innocent still died all because, some people don't like how the IMC is handling the government.", Anita replied with a smile of her own.
Meanwhile Kairi was glaring holes into the back of Anita's head which only the ever so observant Renee had noticed. She also saw that Witt was in deep thought.
"What is on your mind Eli?", Renee asked ripping the young man out of his thoughts and honestly kind of startled him too.
"Oh, uhhh nothing much just thinking about my brothers. A lil nervous about them is all. With all of this stuff happening close by they are most likely going to get deployed.", Elliott in a melancholy sort of way explained to the young woman with not much expression his face.
Renee grabbed his hand and held it in a totally "platonic" way… for sure and Elliott himself actually closed his hands tight.
Ramya was practically fuming at what she is watching but she had an idea of how to get revenge later.
You are being watched.
Renee grinned knowing who it was.
The gang soon then arrived at the Auntie Anne's and the started to make their orders.
"Hey Witt.", Ramya started making Witt let go of Renee's hand.
"Yeah? What's up Ramps?", Elliott asked as he flipped his attention to the mechanic.
"Would you like to share a blue raspberry lemonade and a pretzel with me?", Ramya asked as she watched Elliott's face light up with excitement.
"Yeah definitely… plus splitting one will allow me to make sure I am cutting my weight well still.", Elliott agreed as the mechanic went up to order for the two of them. Renee just sat down because she wanted to be the one who shared with Witt.
Eventually everyone sat down at the table Renee was at and started eating. Walter and Blood had one of those pizza pretzels they both were munching on. Octane was being a crack head and ingesting Pretzel bites drowned in Nacho cheese. Che just stared at him in pure bewilderment like how can she like this living breathing crack fiend. Tae and Nat were sharing a slushie with two straws as Tae was constantly complained about brain freezes making the French woman cackle. Nox and Mia just decided to have a coffee. As everyone was wrapping up their meals Alexander wanted to propose an argument.
"How do you all feel about this IMC blemish?", Alexander asked the table trying to get a rise out of everyone.
"Mate to be perfectly honest I don't really know… my homeland was annexed by the IMC to "protect" us from the Militia. My let's say "sister" Margret and I got separated due to them colonizing our planet and making random borders everywhere on me planet. Quite honestly, I couldn't care less with what happens with the IMC.", Walter spatted out and turned his attention to Anita who looked somewhat upset but just nodded as she couldn't really defend these actions.
"I mean when you think about it where we are the IMC is honestly not that bad comparatively to other planets and systems. Like we have clean water, and the economy isn't terrible unlike Typhon.", Pathy pointed out as he took sip of his drink.
Renee seethed at the mention of Typhon and tightening her fist. Recalling some of the things the screams of her "mother".
"True… I mean bloody hell talk about a setback. The IMC just really swept up the best scientists and sent that planet back to the stone ages. Honestly if it were me in the situation I would just blow me bloody head off.", Walter added as he was taking a sip as he noticed the deadly glare coming from the edge baroness herself Renee.
Witt picked up on her glare as well and said, "Alright let's chill on Typhon guys… some of us are lil sensitive to the subject."
Elliott also put his hand on Renee shoulder trying his darndest to deescalate the situation.
Cool it… no need to make a scene. I know it was hard to say goodbye…
Renee took a deep breath and went back to her unacknowledging look she would always run. And for a moment it was calm till Anita wanted to discuss more.
"Pffft… those cowards deserved it with the fact that they were with holding the information about human void experiments. We could have ended this damn war al- ", before Anita could even finish her thought Renee threw Witts lemonade at the "soldier".
"What the-", Anita questioned as she thrown to the ground by the small woman.
"Shut up. Those scientists were trying to save those kids… from those IMC dogs.", Renee told Anita with a slight tear in her eye.
"Oh, like you would- ", Anita started before getting her collar grabbed by Renee being only inches away from her face.
Renee don't tell her. Do not. Do not. She is a whistler.
"Fuck it I don't care.", Renee replied to the voices.
"Yeah, like I would know because I was there. You want to know how it feels to have your family marched outside their own home, line up, and put their heads against a wall all because of the fact that you were a testable subject for the void experiments? Well let me tell you since apparently the lesbian can't seem to get the IMC's cock out their mouth it was not fun… so maybe when Elliot gives you a hint take it. We the children of Typhon who they wanted to indoctrinate into their bull shit military were the information being withheld.", Renee coldly explained to the soldier rat as her eyes twitched between blue and white almost like a wraith.
You need to get out now and cool off. Even the lady behind the counter is staring at this debacle.
Renee realizing, she just dropped a very important bombshell in her life walked a way with stream streaking across her once angered face. Anita was baffled for a number of reasons. But mainly for how close minded she was especially when she calls out Octavio for the same shit.
After Renee started to get some distance Elliott loudly sighed and turned to Anita, "Now I am not going to grill you for what happen because I trust that Gibby and Loba got me covered but for real though read a fucking room. Nat come with me she might need someone less male to talk to as well."
Nat who got what Elliott was planning followed in suit of Renee.
"C'mon chica lets get on out of here. Hey, Nox and Tae, do you gringos need a ride as well?", Octavio as he swirled his keys in the air trying his best to run away from the dense tension he feels in the room.
"That would be appreciated but we also need to bring Mia as well.", Alexander answered genuinely thankful to have an opportunity to escape from there as well.
Octavio just nodded as the group plus Mia headed off.
"Welp… houndy it's our time to exit as well. I gotta do some history homework anyways.", Walter ushered as he left with the hunter's hand in his as well.
"Ramya we should go as well.", Obi suggested while giving a concerned look to Anita.
"Definitely… I don't say this often but I hope Renee is ok. I will give dad a call let's go Obi.", Ramya replied in a defeated tone.
"You two can have a ride with me and we will be talking about what happened 'Nita.", Gibby didn't give Loba and Anita much of choice but quite frankly Anita couldn't care cause all she felt was regret for her training partner. But she will be ok in Witt's and Nat's company.
"Ok…", Anita grimaced and just went along with the plan.
Loba at least was glad that Bangalore didn't argue she was right afterwards and just nodded to the Samoan man.
*Back with Witt and Co.*
"Hey Nat Imma have you come back with us and stay the night so she can talk to you more. You can have my bed I am going to sleep on the comforter (Couch).", Elliot explained making Nat puzzled.
"But why she has you right?", Nat asked making the young man stop in his tracks and grimace.
"To be honest with you I don't know if she feels like she believes that. She refuses to break down in front of me and cry… doesn't want to look weal in front of me or something like that. Which is total bullshit by the way. Cause I told her everything there is to know about me… I just wish she was more open. I want to feel like I really know her… but enough about what I want. What I know what she can do is talk to you. Cause for whatever reason there is something that meshes with you and her that don't have. Which is why I ask for your help Nat. I will grab your stuff from your pop's just text him whatever you need… and let me try to get to her before you handle it.", Elliot pleaded with a tear in his eye and was rubbing his chest from the pain in his metaphorical heart.
"Why of course Elliot. And I will try to how you explain as well.", Nat agreed making Eli cringe.
"Please no. Don't focus on that all just her please.", Elliott clarified as he got a text from Renee to meet her at the car.
When they arrived to the car Renee had her earbuds in and had that do not fuck with me face on as well. Elliott not to be the one to disturb the peace just unlocked the car doors. Renee jumped in and slammed the doors.
Elliott and Natalie got inside themselves both with a sigh. Elliott then got out his "Renee's in her feelings" playlist which had classic old rappers like Juice WRLD and XXTetacion. Renee now noting the beats through her headphones decided to take them off and just sink into the music.
A few minutes of quite went by as Witt started to feel out how negotiable Renee was today.
"You know that dick joke you made was pretty spot on. Kiari would have been rolling at that.", Elliott regaled not getting much of an response from the Ice queen.
A couple more minutes go by.
"You know Ren… we can talk about it if you want.", Elliott started off before being cut off.
"And discuss what? You already saw how I felt. And how I do now.", Renee barked out,
"Abrasive as usual. Like a cactus. Well, Imma hug this hate cactus.", Elliott thought.
"No, I meant what you went through… I may not be able to understand how you feel but I will be able to hear you out. Cause I care.", Elliott furthered his lil therapy session.
No. Please anybody but him…. He will think you and we are a bunch of lab rats. Plus, it puts him into danger.
"No. I don't. I haven't ever yet. So will you for once do as ask and shut the fuck up and drive.", cried out in a harsh demanding tone.
"Urgh… No… yes Renee. If it makes you happy.", Witt complied as he doesn't want to push her out of her comfort zone. But he would be lying if he said he didn't want to just cry into the wheel for yet again for getting shut down by Ren yet again.
Renee's heart as she saw the look of both betrayal and pain.
"Wait Eli, I am sor-", Only to be cut off by the smile of Witt.
"Nah it's ok I overstepped my place. I just need to check is all. I am sorry.", Witt reassured with his eyes telling her other wise before they went back to his usual poker face whenever he was upset about something.
"Damn him and his people pleasing. It's not his fault I don't want him to fall on the sword like that…", Renee thought to herself in a solemn silence.
Author: Hey y'all I know I fell off the face of the earth again… but here's an update. I am going to upload a follow up this week or next week. Stacked to ass with assignments and work. Have a good day y'all.