Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Southern Hospitality. Enjoy the 6100-word chapter. I don't own Red vs Blue; Rooster Teeth and a few others do.
The Pelican carried both South and Tenn back to the ship. They along with Wyoming were the only ones who had been wounded… South slammed a hand next to her, angry more and more that she had been the only one to get screwed over by it all… That she had been the one to suffer and they were all going to be moved down the leaderboard.
She turned to Tenn who had been far too silent to be conscious. He had drooped over in his seat and his helmet rested next to him, revealing his face which had been all too well banged up from fighting the rest of the enemy.
She was well aware of herself, well aware of the fact he had suffered just like she, and part of herself just couldn't bear to look at him.
Not because he was hurt, no, she had seen enough garbage not to give a damn about such things.
She realized he like her was finally able to relax and he was as wounded as her. He groaned and opened a pair of ocean-blue eyes as he rubbed at his head.
"How's the leg?" South heard as she hummed and looked to the side.
"Hurts like a b****, how's the arm?" South snarked as she removed her helmet.
"Fine if it's supposed to be spaghetti." Tenn snarked as she smirked. "There's a lot of things I want to talk about but I'll assume we're probably grounded until further notice," Tenn said to which South nodded.
"Fair enough… But it isn't exactly like we're in the deep end that badly. We don't have a choice." South said before she shook her head and looked to the side with annoyance written all over her face.
"To be entirely fair? I don't think we were ever going to get a second chance. We should be lucky we aren't dead." Tenn said as South rolled her eyes.
"What? So, the Director's other agents get all the credit? Oh, sure… Agent South Dakota is the only agent who can't even handle a single mission herself. That's something that they're going to slam all over the damn place and I don't even think I'll get a chance to make up for it." Tenn stated before he seemed to be able to relax once more as he seemed to be able to relax once again.
Tenn finally guessed what was going on and what she was doing. It was clear she had been cutting off herself over and over and saw every single little loss she had as something else upon which she had to deal with.
She was blaming herself once more as he seemed to be once more and relax once more. She didn't at all know what to try and relax upon what to say before now as he relaxed once more.
She knew more and more he wasn't trying to screw with her. There was no real malice, no hatred, no lambasting of her when it came down to it, there was nothing but relaxing when it came down to it.
She for her point was angry. She didn't mean to screw up the last mission but it didn't mean they cared, nobody seemed to care once more what to try and figure out what to do.
"Wasn't your fault," Tenn said before South frowned. "Listen, I get it, screw everyone who isn't on your side… But I ain't someone who's against you. I have two siblings if you forgot." Tenn said as South felt herself sigh.
"Family sucks," South said to which Tenn shrugged.
"Sometimes it does and sometimes it just feels like crap you got to deal with. Trust me, I'm damn well used to that crap," Tenn said as he hummed.
"Then you know what it's like constantly dealing with crap like this, constantly being seen as the spare," South said as Tenn shrugged and looked down at the ground.
All of it the amusement made her thrown off, unsure of herself and him, she looked at him as he crossed his arms and looked at her, dried blood on his face as the two looked at each other, unsure and uncertain for now of what to do. They had a lot more upon his mind when push came to shove.
"Easy, your pride is showing." Tenn joked as she slugged him in the arm with amusement evident on his face.
"There's a lot more you don't know what the hell you are talking about," South stated before she looked out the door and onto the buildings below.
There was something to which she didn't get, she didn't get his pride in battle but she did understand that she was understanding herself a bit more.
She sighed only for a moment, unsure of what to tell him or anyone. She didn't at all know what to try and figure out, for now, all of it became harder and harder to swallow like a pill.
"You don't care about being the top of the leaderboard when it comes down to it… Do you?" South asked to which Tenn was silent.
"Nope, because I'm not interested in it when it comes down to it…. Which means I don't need to worry about the top-tier stuff." Tenn said before he seemed to relax once more.
He was all too unsure of himself before he seemed to be able to relax once more. He was unsure and able to relax once more and tired himself once more as of now.
All of it made him more and more amused, uncertain of his ideas and her importance to anyone besides herself or anyone else as of now, it needed to be handled sooner or later for now and for the end of the day.
She sighed and ran her hands over the bloody parts of her face as she looked down at the moment, uncertain of her next move, she sighed to herself once more, cracking her fingers before she sighed and leaned back against the chair.
"You're a damn softy, Tenn," South said before Tenn shrugged. "Screw it… I'm sorry for putting you through my crap. I get that it's a lot harder to deal with than you're probably used to, ain't it." Tenn heard before he sighed.
There was a measure of mercy as she brushed some of the caked blood off his face. He glanced at her, unsure of what to tell her for a moment of mercy. There were a few seconds of silence as they went up into space.
"You think they're going to talk crap about us when we get back?" South asked as she looked at her bum leg.
"Yeah, because they're always going to do it. Always, getting equipment doesn't make you a badass, it's what you do with it." Tenn said as he wiped a speck of blood off her face.
There was a moment as he looked down at the ground and then at her as if he knew damn well what was going on and what he'd be getting into with it all, what he could fathom for now.
South said nothing and rolled her eyes. she was well aware of the fact she'd take flak for it all and part of her wanted to snap someone like a match stick… But she knew damn well she did the best she could. Even if she got kicked off the leaderboard? Didn't lower the fact she was still a badass.
"You should see a damn doctor for your leg… We're going to be in the hospital. There's a lot more involved while she looked downwards at the ground before now." Tenn looked upon the ground before South looked down at the ground.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," South said before she looked down at the ground before she seemed to sigh. "Damn it, my leg is broken and they're going to stitch the damn thing up wrong," South stated as Tenn shrugged.
"Hey, mine are broken too… Ugh, damn the grenade, if I had known it'd break the whole damn floor, I'd have never thrown it, to begin with." Tenn said as South shrugged.
"Yeah, you would have. Your kinda a dumbass in general considering you sparred with me." South said, cracking a smile as Tenn shrugged.
"Like the smartass woman who decided to try and take on the biggest freelancer besides Maine? Because I'm starting to think you just lost a bet." Tenn said as South cackled.
The two were finally left alone as the ship approached the Mother of Invention. The massive frigate always amazed Tenn considering it was a warship in itself. He had been all too curious as to what to say next, what to do next at any real rate would continue to happen anytime soon.
She looked down at the ground before trying to push herself from the seat for a few seconds and towards the door.
Then there was a crack, a crunch as her leg gave out under her weight. There was another crunch before she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist before another arm leaned on the wall.
Tenn grunted, his face contorting and snarling as he forced his limp leg and arm to make him climb up to his feet. The freelancer balanced on his bad foot, feeling the pain dance up and down it like fire as the ramp opened and he helped her out, her using her good arm to grab their helmets.
"Damn it…" South hissed before Tenn nodded.
"I'm going to kill SO many of them when we get back there," Tenn said before he looked downwards at the ground. "Are you good? Your leg…" Tenn said before he looked down at the ground.
The two slowly shrugged towards the door as the freelancer staff only paused to think for a moment, the idea of what could happen if they weren't able to relax anytime soon, yet could be done.
Tenn was all too annoyed, annoyed more and more than the others weren't doing anything important, and yet? He was, helping another soldier off the battlefield like this. North should be here helping his sister and yet he couldn't fault the man for dealing with the business he had with someone else.
"Can I get a damn hand here?" Tenn asked before another crack slowly went through his body and he fell to his other leg. "Son of a b****! My damn leg!" Tenn said before he cracked his fingers and looked down at the ground.
He forced himself and her up, forcing the two towards the stretcher before slamming down, his body crashing onto the material like a slab of raw meat. He heard South curse as the two were whisked away to the medical bay, unsure of what the hell upon his mind was going on for now.
South said nothing as she felt the pain come down her and she seemed to be able to relax as she pulled her leg up to her chest, unsure of it.
"Dumbass," South muttered before the pain caused her to curl up into a ball a few seconds later.
"Shut up and pass out…" Tenn muttered, looking at his bad leg. "Damn it, I'm going to be in there for a long time," Tenn muttered as he looked at his bad leg with annoyance.
All of it hurt, all the damn way to hell and back when it came down to it. The pain when it came down to it, there's a lot upon his mind before now and yet he didn't at all know for now what to even say.
He was annoyed only that it hurt like hell and he wasn't in the mood to consider it. The pain had a good way of blocking out the sense of what to do next as he looked downwards at the moment.
(10 minutes later)
There was a lot more pain in his mind… And blood. He slowly faded in and out of consciousness. All he could feel was his legs once again although in a lot worse shape than before.
No, never mind. That was painful, a LOT of pain even with dozens of painkillers dumped into his body, and yet he was unable to relax once more and he seemed to think of what else to do next.
Tenn grunted and looked around, trying to pull himself upwards only to feel a cast around his two damaged limbs. He was unable to pull himself to his feet and yet he was tired of now.
"Wake up, sleepy beauty." He heard as he looked upwards and let himself turn to view South.
"Ah, so your legs aren't made out of stone." South heard as she used her good arm to flip him off. "Your brother message you back yet?" Tenn said before he looked downwards at the ground, unable to relax.
Whatever he did next was… Tiring, tiring, and tiresome at the same time, and yet he could not for the life of him find joy in it all and he knew it more and more as of now, an idea that bugged him to no damn end and would continue to do so… Would always do so. The ideas spinning in his mind would always be so and would never change for now.
He felt pain course all over him as he forced himself to his feet. All the pain in his body didn't stop him from simply looking at her and realizing he was in the same way for now. The idea in his mind was going to be bugging him the entire time when it came to shove.
All of it hurt more and more upon further inspection as of now. South smirked through gritted teeth once more as Tenn only rolled his eyes before he rolled his eyes, unsure and unable to think for more.
She looked downwards before forcing herself to her feet as best she could. The idea in her head once again seemed to be able to relax.
"How's yours?" South asked as she sighed and looked down at her wounds. "Doctors said we're out in a few days but we don't aren't hitting the field for at least a week," South said before she sighed.
"Well, a vacation sounds nice." Tenn joked as he looked down at the ground, pain lancing over his body as he did so.
They had a lot more to try and deal with every single time, and every single time he considered it to be an issue for now he would keep going. This was painful, a lot more painful than he could deal with it all of it fell through in the end, it always fell through when he considered it to be the end of it all.
Every single little drop of exhaustion in his body seemed to ebb down to his legs if for no other reason than he felt too tired to feel hurt more and more.
"You aren't used to military options, are you?" Tenn asked before he looked down at the ground.
"Not ones that don't involve killing people, no." Tenn heard as he sighed, realizing his leg and arm weren't set. "Why? Have you been in the military long? That was some skilled shooting." Tenn heard as he shrugged.
"UNSC Army, Kentucky was marines… Served 2 tours before one of the damn LTs decided to send us into an ambush he knew about, wanted us to be bait for the other units so we could kill a big group… It'd be a bloodbath; all he'd be doing is setting us up for an airstrike that had killed us all." Tenn said before he sighed.
"So, I shot him, put a bullet through his face then ended up taking a warthog, loading it with enough grades to blow up a frigate… And rammed the first tank I could… Barely survived but blacked out. When I woke up? I had a letter from you guys asking if I and my siblings were all going to join." Tenn said before he seemed to relax.
"Marines… I and North used to be part of some special unit, he'd pop people's heads off like it was a videogame…" South said before she sighed.
"That's why you have a scar on your face?" Tenn asked as South hummed and brought her good hand to her face.
The scar. The same damn one she got the day she had signed up for this crap. She knew the one which made blood boil in her head and yet? She bit it down, far too tired to care for now
She was a piece of crap at times, she constantly put others less important and always buttled heads. Not surprisingly most people treated her like crap. She'd have yelled at Tenn for the grenade crap if he hadn't brought them back and she knew more and more the Director valued his little pet soldiers over her.
"Piece of crap got what he deserved for that," South said a few seconds later as Tenn hummed.
"How's your arm? I know your leg is screwed up, mine feels like someone ran knives through it." Tenn said before he sighed and looked down at the ground.
"Dandy." South snarked as he chuckled. "I should have kicked your ass back in training, I'll kick it when my leg heals," South added with a sigh as she realized just how crappy her leg felt upon it all.
The nightmare on her mind would not rest anyway. It wasn't going to end anytime soon, nor would it need to end anytime soon. The idea that she could and would be able to relax would not help, not when it was hurting a lot more.
All it did was remind her she was stuck recovering for a week and her role would go into the crapper once again.
She didn't even know what was going on when it came down to it, he didn't know anything either but it was clear that could and would need to deal with it all over and over. She wanted nothing more than to try and relax, to see the end of the day when they could and would be able to relax. She didn't know what she didn't at all know, she'd probably understand when it came down to it over and over when it was all.
She didn't even want to know what to say and do, for now, a lot more she didn't even know for now was when it came down to it.
"You're a jackass, aren't you?" South asked to which she got a shrug from him.
"I don't know what I am when it came down to it, but I do know that I'm going to be able to relax even if I'm in bed," Tenn stated before he looked down at the ground, unable to relax for more than a few seconds before she managed to relax once more.
South felt herself before she sighed and cracked her fingers once more before she felt her body give out in some sort of way. She didn't at all know what the hell to say anyway as the freelancer simply slumped backward and into her bed as she did so.
"Are you going to be, ok?" South questioned as Tenn nodded before he looked downwards at the ground.
"Yeah… And you know that there's plenty of chances to try and fix things." Tenn stated before he looked downwards at the ground once more.
South felt, annoyed, over and over again. She didn't know if the director even cared about it all when it was said and done. She didn't even know what the hell was going on.
She didn't even care for now as she cracked her fingers and looked downwards at the ground, pondering if she could and would jump out of bed, landing on her feet. This slammed down on the poor woman like a weight.
This was going to be a lot odder mission than before. She didn't even know what the hell they wanted from the rebels at the time as she watched Tenn relax and slowly sit upwards.
"I wonder what the hell the others are doing, Carolina has probably blown up half the base by now and the others are probably busy getting killed off," South stated before she looked at him, rubbing at the scar on her face. "Maybe their blame stealth on me. It's what they usually do." Tenn heard from South as the woman only looked outwards once more.
Tenn was silent before he cracked his smile at her, unsure if she was silent after that out of pain or fear and embarrassment. The idea on her mind more than anything bothered her as she knew they didn't like her, not even for a few seconds.
South was utterly silent as was he because he knew more and more that if he was able to relax? Well, it'd end sooner or later, hopefully soon as she looked downwards at the ground now.
Something terrible that could and would need to relax, an idea that didn't go anywhere for now. The idea once more had some meaning as she looked down.
"Agent South Dakota and Tennessee, the director will speak to you in 5 minutes, please, stay where you are." South and Tenn heard before they sighed.
"F.I.L.S.S has a sense of humor," Tenn stated with a smirk on his face. "Ow. I'm going to take a nap when he's done with it." Tenn stated before he looked around the room.
The door opened as the two slowly started to sit up. The painkillers numbed their legs enough for them to cross them under them which both did as both of them seemed to relax once more.
He was silent, feeling the medicine as he cracked his neck. He looked downwards at the ground, unsure and uncertain of himself before he seemed to find the energy to smile at her. South only smiled once more, rolling her eyes at him as she knew more and more the idiot was simply trying to help her and had no real desire to be her enemy.
They had a lot more upon which to deal with, a lot more that didn't involve anything but fighting. She was good at fighting, less so for anything outside of that considering how good she was for it to the end.
Yet? She had a feeling that wouldn't end it, not a drop of it, not now. The ideas running rampant in her head were disturbing as they were to anyone else and she looked upon Tenn who was utterly silent.
He was probably utterly unable to kill anyone or anything without feeling depressed, she didn't at all get it.
Well? She did. North, Tenn, Wash? Most of them were willing to just kill and get it over with. South was fine beating someone down to learn their intel and then killing them, call her a sadist but killing someone never gave you what you wanted.
And it didn't help that she knew more and more the others in line were within possible reason to outdo her.
"Why the hell do you care so much about the leaderboard anyway? Everyone on it fights over it and it isn't at all like being on it helps anyone. It's just a reminder of who's the best and who isn't." Tenn said as South felt herself sigh and glanced at him.
She knew he was aware because it was obvious why that mattered, obvious why it all mattered, and was something to treasure for the moment, and yet she did.
They had a lot more upon line but it was clear to her that he didn't exactly care about being the center of attention over and over again for now.
She didn't respond, not at all understanding her options for now. They had a lot more upon her mind to deal with and it wasn't going to help if they were to be in another fight.
South and Tenn were thrown off by the rest of the doors closing, only for a single one to open and the director to enter. The man in front of them was still someone unbecoming of the director of their group.
Still? Someone who had been off the battlefield was probably better suited to run a group of soldiers like them rather than someone who had known their quirks and tricks. All of them were without a doubt the best group within it all for now.
"Agents… I assume you both know that you've failed your mission… Or at least, failed to continue it." The director said as they looked at one another.
Both of them shared a look of disbelief, South more than Tenn. They had gotten their mission done and it was possible he didn't know because he was only driving them further down a road than before.
"However? You both accomplished your mission. While the other agents are preparing for another mission of vital importance? I had a mission that require a 4-man team… Both of you will be part of it." The director stated as had gotten a blank pair of stares from them.
Both of them stared at the man, unsure and unable to do something about it all rubbed them the wrong way, truly the wrong way. How badly would one consider it for now that would all too easily end?
He looked at South, guessing there wasn't a choice, for now, an option that he guessed meant there was only one choice. They had a lot more upon his mind when it came down to it.
He and she looked downwards before he found the ability to speak a few moments later, uncertain of the choices to be made anyway.
"You said 4, sir, we are only two people." He said which was obvious in a way only he could truly deal with.
It was not a lie, both of them were only one agent each. They were each one soldier and that limited their options down to almost nothing. If for no other reason than understanding when it came down to it.
"You, Agent South, Agent Wyoming, and Agent North." The director said.
South was instantly up on her feet, teeth bared like a feral animal. Of all such things to be said and done? She had to be dealing with her god-forsaken brother? The golden boy? The one who had constantly gotten what he wanted? No, no! She'd hate it, she'd snap in half and rip someone apart for it all even if it was now.
Tenn on the other hand, simply sighed as he knew damn well there was nothing else besides trying and dealing with the measure of mercy then he was within now.
He'd do so for no other reason than the madness on his mind as he looked downwards again and again.
He wasn't mad like South, it was a mission. He'd manage to relax once again as he thought it was something else. The madness upon his brain wasn't yet over if he was able to? He'd have screamed into the vapid void.
"How long until we get there? I assume we're going up against the rebels again, sir?" Tenn asked before the director sighed.
"The rebels have managed to convince a small squad of our training troopers and hired a small band of mercenaries for backup… They're moving a valuable cargo through a captured corvette…" The director stated before he looked down at the ground.
"3 days, the doctors informed me your injuries will be decent enough for fieldwork in 3 days. When this is over? We send you both to the UNSC medical station Angel on my Shoulder… Councilor? Take over, I have a project to deal with." The director said before he turned and left.
"The director has decided to see if it is possible for each Freelancer… Or at least the ones occupying the top of the leaderboard. He and I have agreed on something of a prize should be given for this mission considering the war effort." The counselor said before he hummed.
"The one who performs the best between you both will be awarded an AI. Both of you will perhaps gain one, but for now? Only one will be awarded for completing this mission." The counselor said as he looked downwards. "I will leave you both to dwell on that, I'll continue to think of the details of this sort of mission, agents… Good day." The man said before he turned and left, unable to say or do something about it for now.
A desire within his mind told him more and more that he was able to relax as of now… He didn't think of anything bad happening.
South's eyes dilated, rotating and making her look upwards at the ceiling in shock. She hadn't been able to try and say something about it all. South looked at Tenn who had been complacent about this sort of thing
"I told you they're just using the board to try and make the best of us fight each other. The mission isn't anything big and they're acting like it's the biggest event possible." Tenn said as South blinked.
"We're getting an AI… Finally, I don't have to put up with North getting EVERYTHING." South said as she looked down at the ground, completely unsure and uncertain of it all.
She'd see it all end before something else happened, that much was obvious, and they'd all understand it more and more.
He didn't, not even for a second. He wanted it to end over and over until it all came to a head once more, South looking livelier than she had been able to find good news for now.
The more insanity he found? He was unable to try and deal with certain things when it came down to it. South looked at him once more as he cracked a smile, looking down at the ground.
He seemed to be certain of his actions and she was able to relax once more while she managed to think of her next move.
"Rest, South Dakota. It isn't like we're going anywhere anytime soon." South heard before Tenn hummed and leaned on the wall next to him.
He was unable to try and figure it all out for now. Well, not once did he manage to relax around South, he knew more and more that this woman was terrible, scary even when it came down to it.
He cracked his fingers, he was a soldier, a good one and he wasn't damn well going to suffer for even a single minute if he didn't have to.
They had a larger mercy, a soldier to which could fight. They both had their path to walk and if he was smart enough to try and fight? Well? He'd not stop fighting until he had won.
"One of us can get a damn AI and you don't give a damn? Your crazy or stupid." South said as Tenn looked downwards at the ground and hummed once more.
What else could he tell her? Seriously, what? It was too odd… Too odd for now, a measure of things to come that bugged him again and again, making him ponder what the Freelancer project would be around again and again.
Tenn could not hope to know what was coming, he could not relent on his lack of experience nor could he atone for hers.
"We still do what we do and go on the same mission we always do," Tenn said before he looked downwards at the ground.
Tenn frowned, looking at him as if he had gone feral, only pausing to think of something for but a second.
She sighed and looked downwards, crossing her legs under her as the woman only sighed, cracking a smile as she knew more and more of what was going to arrive. She was getting a damn AI, even if she had to fight tooth and nail to get it.
Tenn paused to look at South once more as he leaned downwards, allowing the chemicals and drugs to take their toll on him. If he was going to pass out today? It might as well be before he managed to get some sleep, anything else and he'd be too groggy to focus.
He was going to be exhausted no matter what he was going to do for now. South looked at him as he fell silent, slowly curling upwards and into a ball for now.
She sighed and decided it was her best option for now. She wanted her best option to be her first one, sleep was just as important as anything else.
"You going to wake up and tell me this reason you don't give a damn about Ais?" South stated before she looked downwards at the ground before she looked onward again and again.
Whatever she could and would do was irrelevant anyway. She knew more and more that he was going to be messed around…. All of it seemed to be unsure and uncertain for now as she looked downwards once more.
She was quiet, as did he. They had a lot more to try and figure out for now as she seemed to be able to think.
What else had come to mind? Whom else would she have to fight to claw her way to the top? Who would dare stand in her path for now? She'd scream if she was allowed to do it for now.
Tenn didn't seem to care. Why? It was a sign that he didn't want to get stronger and grow further and further with each passing second like a powerful engine of war.
They had a lot more to deal with, so much more than usual. It wasn't going to be ok for now… No, not at all. This ended sooner or later.
What the hell was her brother dealing with? How many rebels had he taken out for now as she hummed to herself?
South cracked her fingers, looking at her damaged limbs before she finally sat backward, sitting down and running her fingers through her short blonde hair for now.
"If we all get an AI? Then what the hell is his goal?" South asked before she looked into the rest of the ship.
What the hell were the others again and again? She had been able to relax once more and more and more again. They had a larger and larger role in things before now as she looked at Tenn.
Tenn was silent, curled up and into a ball as if he'd fall off the table. It was damn clear if something worse happened, he'd probably not be willing to do something to help her if she knew what her AI would be like and what she wanted.
South sighed, she didn't want to be that hated b**** that every damn agent kicked around as soon as they got bored. She didn't want to care again and again.
If they all hated her? Fine, she had a damn part to play in it as she closed her eyes, pondering what the hell of the war would be like. She had plans, dreams, and goals once more, she had to be willing to fight for what she wanted, or else it would end terribly, again and again.
"I hate this damn crap so damn much," South muttered, slowly yet surely starting to go off to sleep.
She was entirely too undecided for now, entirely too focused on a measure of power she didn't even know about for now, and would not relax until she managed to relax or so.
It bothered her a lot more, a lot more than it was possible to try and figure out for now what to do next.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show more of South and Tenn bonding and recovering as well as setting up their arc. The next chapter will be 900-6500 words and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!