The transport descended from the landing pad above, lowering slowly into the space next to the armory. The Avenger's crew gathered around, waiting excitedly for the ship's ramp to open and reveal its passengers. Today was a special occasion for XCOM; the Commander had announced the arrival of a squad, declared MIA twenty years ago, that had miraculously survived this long. Under his guidance, the original project had sought out humanity's finest warriors, so this team was bound to be packed with talent.
Leonidas stood with the Spartans near the back of the small crowd, waiting silently for what he was sure would be a unit of elite soldiers and experienced survivors. To his right was Ghost, who wore a far more grave expression. As a survivor of the first XCOM project himself, it was understandable that the sniper wouldn't be eager to be reminded that his past was catching up with him. After so many years with only Central and the Commander as his fellow veterans, he was suddenly reuniting with an entire squad that would doubtlessly bear the same scars. It was a lot to process, no doubt.
"Remind me who these guys are again?" Leonidas whispered to his godfather, hoping that he might give some insight as to why he seemed so reluctant to meet them.
"No idea," Ghost muttered back, "The Commander's being very tight-lipped about it. But there aren't many possibilities; I was there when the aliens took the base. I saw at least three of our seven teams get wiped out, and I'm sure that there were more. I confirmed that the Valkyries, Wolfpack, and Phantoms were all killed by the attackers. The Wraiths- my team- scattered after we got everyone out. I'm the only one left of that team. The Talons had been deployed on a mission, and were declared MIA. I've been in contact with one of them, but the others are still missing. The Centurions and Samurai stayed behind to buy us time to escape, and while they're presumed dead, it's possible that they made it out, too."
The Spartan leader nodded thoughtfully, "So… these are probably the Talons, then? It sounds like the others are… well, pretty dead."
Ghost grimaced, "Yes, that's the most likely option. But one way or another, if the Commander is actively seeking out veteran XCOM operatives, then he must think that things are getting dodgy. Otherwise, it would've been best to save our resources for our existing units and let these survivors fight on a separate front. In my opinion, at least."
That thought didn't sit well with Leonidas. The reason was obvious: he was the leader of XCOM's best field-ops team. So if there was a threat that his squad couldn't already handle, it almost felt like he was... inadequate. At the same time, he felt some relief; there was a lot of pressure on the young super-soldier, first with the Chosen, and now the alien "rulers," as they had been nicknamed. The Spartan King was just about unanimously hailed as the single person capable of taking on these threats and reliably coming out on top. And the other Spartans were viewed as the only ones who could adequately protect him in such situations, putting them in the spotlight right alongside their leader. It felt wrong; the Spartans looked out for one another, not just their leader. And he was only able to go toe-to-toe with these foes because the others had his back. Without them, he would be little more than an extremely overqualified martyr.
"I don't like it," Ghost muttered, "I only survived because I worked alone; harder to track down one man than a whole team. And even then, I stared death in the eye at least a dozen times. I don't see how an entire six-man team could fly under the radar for two decades without our knowledge."
Leonidas nodded silently, turning it over in his head. The operatives couldn't have been hiding with a resistance pocket; XCOM knew where all of those were, and even if there was one, it wouldn't have lasted this long. They could have blended into society as normal civilians, but then it would be nearly impossible to maintain contact with one another without drawing suspicion. Even if they had simply stuck together and kept to the act 24/7, ADVENT would have found them eventually; according to Central, the aliens had hunted down such survivors in the years following the invasion. But there had to be a way, right? After all, this squad was here now, ready to rejoin the project that they fought for twenty years ago. This also explained why Ghost seemed so grim about it; he was particularly suspicious whenever things didn't add up.
After what felt like an eternity, the transport's ramp opened, and the new team came marching out. The small crowd cheered as six soldiers emerged, laden with twenty-year-old weapons and armor. Their kevlar looked like it had never been touched by enemy fire, though it showed clear signs of extended usage. On the other hand, their weapons had been kept in excellent condition minus the numerous scratches and abrasions.
The man in front- the apparent leader- bore a shotgun and makeshift sword. Behind him, a young woman who looked far more relaxed than the others carried an old marksman rifle. Another two, a man and a woman, were armed with assault rifles. A third man towered over the others, hauling an LMG and rocket launcher on top of his heavy armor. Finally, the third woman carried no visible weapons, but her eyes physically glowed a bright purple hue.
"The Centurions…" Ghost whispered through gritted teeth. Leonidas could feel the sniper tense up when he saw the six warriors emerge from the dropship. Before he could ask what the significance was, the Commander appeared and dismissed the crowd so that only field operatives remained- including the Centurions. The only exception was the guard near the armory, who explicitly been motioned to stay.
The leader nodded to his superior, "Commander. It's good to see you back in the fight again."
"Likewise," XCOM's leader responded crisply, "I've already briefed you on the situation. These are the other teams; get to know them, find your quarters, and then we'll take care of your weapons and armor- that sword of yours will need to be replaced." With that, he turned and left. It was odd that the Commander didn't stay for introductions, but Leonidas assumed that his father simply had other matters to attend to. Presumably, these newcomers had received the mentioned briefing during their flight and were trusted to figure out the details themselves. It made sense to a degree; these were experienced veterans, not new recruits.
On his other side, Alia- who had remained silent the whole time- began to squirm ever so slightly as the Centurions made their way over to the Spartans first. Ghost stepped forward stiffly, looking the leader in the eyes. The Centurion had the chiseled features of an action film protagonist, complete with dark brown eyes and hair to match. "Ghost," he greeted, "Long time no see."
"Not long enough, Titus," the sniper replied coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Titus shrugged, "The Commander wants me here, so here I am. Things must be pretty bad if he's seeking us out after all these years."
"We're doing just fine, thanks." - the Spartan King intervened.
The Centurion leader turned to him, unfazed, "And you must be Leonidas. Is this who you're answering to now, Ghost? A kid?" He looked back at the sniper, "You could always join us again. It's not the same without you behind the scope."
"Seems to me you've found a replacement," the sharpshooter pointed at the woman with the marksman rifle, cutting off Leonidas before he could say anything about his age, "And with that, no room for me."
The Centurion marksman stepped forward. "I'm Haze," she introduced herself with a notable French accent, "And I could never fill your shoes, monsieur Ghost. I would happily trade places with you." As Haze said this, she quickly looked Leonidas up and down, then winked at him. The message was clear, and the Spartan King had to make a conscious effort to mask his frustration at being flirted with by the woman who was trying to take his godfather away from him.
"I'm fine, thanks," Ghost replied, stepping back, "And for the record: I'm just fine taking orders from someone younger than me. This 'kid' in particular is extremely good at leading."
Titus nodded in response, visibly disappointed. This only lasted for a second, though, before he moved on to Alia. The Centurion placed a hand gently under her chin, making the viper look up at him as he examined her face with a fascination that made Leonidas uncomfortable. "And you must be Alia, I take it?" Titus said to the serpent, "Such a wonderful thing, to have such a beautiful creature fighting for the Resistance."
With a quick glance, Leonidas could tell that Alia had no idea what to do. She clearly liked the apparent affection, but she had just met Titus, and his mannerisms were unsettling. He was treating her like some kind of pet- talking as though the viper was a harmless piece of eye-candy. The Centurions hadn't even been on the Avenger for five minutes, and Leonidas already hated them. It was time to show these newcomers why it was a bad idea to get on his nerves.
He pushed Titus away with one arm, stepping forward to block him from getting to Alia again. "Do yourself a favor, buddy," he snarled, "and keep your fucking hands off my people."
"Oh?" The Centurion growled, dropping his dignified mannerisms and grabbing Leonidas by the wrist in an act of dominance. "Listen here, boy-" he was cut off abruptly as Leonidas yanked his arm back, pulling him in for a headbutt. Upon impact, Titus released him and stumbled backward, holding a hand over his now-bloody nose. He quickly recovered, looking at Leonidas with a mixture of fury and appraisal. Nearby, the armory guard got ready to intervene; he didn't raise his weapon, but was visibly prepared to.
"You think I'm scared of you?" The Spartan leader spat. His opponent has a slight height advantage, but Leonidas remained undeterred as he looked up at him. "You should be scared of me. If you think I'd hesitate to wipe scum like you from the face of the Earth, you're crazier than I am. Hands off my people, got it? Hands. Off."
"Threatening a superior officer?" Titus sneered, "I'll have you in lockup faster than you can have regrets!"
"I haven't had to act on it lately, but I'm still technically Alia's guard dog. So I'm authorized to bite, rank be damned."
"I highly doubt that you're authorized to go so far as to attack me."
"Wanna find out, tough guy?"
The Centurion leader blinked for a moment, then smiled. Without a word, he turned and headed to where the Rhinos were gathered, motioning for his team to follow. They didn't bother meeting the other half of Spartan Squad, and frankly, Leonidas was just fine with that. As he watched them leave, Ghost grabbed his shoulder and turned him so that the ranger was facing the sniper.
"Do you have a deathwish!?" He demanded in a harsh whisper, "Do you realize who you just threatened!? The Centurions were the Spartans of their day: the best of the best! Titus was recruited for being the deadliest man on the planet! Do you understand me? Deadliest on the planet! He was known for beating a muton to death with a brick!"
Leonidas shrugged off his grip. "And if he tries a stunt like that again, he'll be known for holding the world record for how far I can shove my foot up his ass."
Eagle came up behind him warily. "Maybe it's best if we don't challenge the team of hand-picked killers, yeah? I'm already gonna have nightmares about having to patch you up."
"Did you see that guy?" Defcon added, "The really big one with the two massive guns? He looks like he could win a fistfight with Sparky, then eat his parts to get his daily iron!"
"What about that lady in the back," Robin piped up, "The one with the eyes? I don't know for sure, but that looked like psionics to me. I don't wanna have to fight that. Or be made to fight you guys when she uses her mind-control."
"That woman- Haze- she dresses for maximum flexibility," Alia finally spoke, "I take it that she must be very agile to merit such a uniform." She was right: Haze looked like she was wearing a wetsuit with the arms removed. The Centurion marksman still had a kevlar vest over it, but to forego that much armor meant extreme confidence in her ability to avoid getting shot. It also showed off her form, which Leonidas assumed was intentional as well. He made a mental note: either she was a very talented gymnast or, like him, she was genetically modified. One way or another, she had made potentially the worst possible first impression with him.
"Enough!" The Spartan King barked, "I get it: we aren't having a deathmatch with the Centurions. We'll see how well they compare when they go through the tests, just like everyone else." He looked around sternly at his friends, "And know this: I could crush each and every one of them like a tin can. So while I'm still able to fight, you have nothing to be intimidated by."
The Spartans exchanged glances with each other silently. They knew that Leonidas was right- or, at the very least, rightfully confident- and that he wouldn't hesitate to stay true to his word and maim Titus or any of his squadmates if they tried to intimidate or objectify a member of their team again. The Centurions would surely be tested in a simulated battle against Spartan Squad, and it was up to the Commander to determine who was the best. Leonidas and Ghost would surely prevail in their respective roles, but the others didn't have such favorable odds.
…
The Avenger sat in a small forest nestled into a mountain range, away from prying eyes and isolated enough that no one could possibly hear them. As stars quickly populated the night sky, the sounds of laughter and music emanated from the area around the ship. In light of Spartan Squad's recent victory over the Viper King, and the arrival of the Centurions that morning to reinforce their ranks, the members of XCOM saw fit to celebrate. This place was perfect. For one night, everyone could set their worries aside and forget about the war to enjoy themselves. Everyone, that is, except for one man.
Sitting on the edge of the Avenger's upper deck, Leonidas glared down at the festivities below. He understood that this would help keep morale high, but he couldn't bring himself to celebrate when there was still so much work that needed to be done. Not that the Spartan leader was making things any easier for himself; that afternoon, Tygan and Shen had finished crafting a suit of armor from the Viper King's body- yet another excuse for this celebration- and he was currently wearing the unique outfit in order to get a feel for it. This ended up just serving as a reminder that while they were here partying, there were multiple powerful aliens threatening the Resistance. It had been three days since Subject Gamma's defeat, and in those three days, the Spartans hadn't seen any action. Due to this, Leonidas had spent nearly every waking hour growing more and more restless.
Attempting to distract himself from this grim reality, the Spartan King focused on appraising his new armor. Normally, combat gear wasn't allowed outside the armory or shooting range, but the Commander had made an exception. In light of the night's festivities, he saw fit to avoid a potential argument and keep everyone's spirits as high as possible. Leo's own mood was beyond saving either way, but at least this way he had something that he wanted. Otherwise, he would have had to wait for the next live-action training session to get a proper feel for his new armor.
Nicknamed the "Serpent Suit," the utilization of the Viper King's actual hide made the outfit much lighter than the Predator armor without compromising durability or protection, allowing for much faster running speed in the field. The arm-mounted grappling hook would open up new possibilities for movement and positioning, further increasing his maneuverability. With the grapple came a delivery mechanism for a synthesized version of the Viper King's venom, flash-freezing targets and pulling smaller enemies out of cover. It served a similar role to Defcon's frost bombs, but could only affect single targets and held a single charge that was nearly impossible to replace in the field, meaning that Leonidas was effectively limited to one "frost-bite," as he had nicknamed it, per mission. How a target could be instantly encased in a layer of ice was beyond him; it worked, and that was all he needed to know. Finally, he had a theory that wearing a dead male would be an effective fear tactic against enemy vipers. He had no idea if this was actually true, but it made sense in his mind.
Having changed the Serpent Suit's color from blue to his signature black, Leonidas found that wearing the armor felt strangely natural. It had been built to fit him specifically, but it was more than simple comfort. It was like he had regained a limb that he had never known he had lost. Perhaps it was because the armor's features aligned so well with his preference for speed and maneuverability. One way or another, the Spartan leader was just glad that he was able to adapt so quickly to the Serpent Suit instead of needing more time-consuming practice and acclimation. He had removed the helmet for the time being, though, since the ranger was more comfortable without it and didn't need the protection while not deployed on a mission.
Leonidas sighed exasperatedly; no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts always returned to wondering about his next mission. He was glad that nobody had any qualms about him staying up here while they had fun down there. This way, the disgruntled ranger didn't ruin the mood, and no one bothered him. It was a win-win situation, but only if the Spartan King didn't spare a thought for his own mental well-being, which he never did. He would rather silently let his restlessness eat away at him than try talking to someone who wouldn't understand.
The sound of soft footsteps approaching from behind told him that his solitude was about to be disturbed. The Spartan leader suppressed a growl as he wondered why he could never seem to have things go his way. Even when the ranger was already agitated, someone just had to come and make it worse. Knowing that most people coming from the party would be at least partially drunk, he started brainstorming how he might convince them to leave him alone.
"Monsieur Leonidas," Haze greeted him, sounding mercifully sober, "I saw you alone up here, and wondered if you wanted company. Do you mind if I sit with you?"
"I do, actually," the Spartan asserted, careful to keep the annoyance from his voice, "I came up here for the express purpose of being alone. So I'd really appreciate it if you could go bother someone else." Internally, he cursed himself for not using his new grappling hook to reach some otherwise inaccessible place. He wasn't used to having such an option; he had chosen this spot out of habit.
The Centurion nodded, promptly leaving the way she had come. As she opened the door, Leonidas heard her say: "He wants to be left alone." Someone else was back by the doorway, and based on how Haze spoke, they also wanted to talk to him. He growled quietly, cursing himself for jinxing his isolation. He considered using his grapple now, while he had the chance, but as far as he knew, this new person could be his father, coming to tell him something important. It was unlikely, but the possibility kept him anchored to his spot on the floor. If his frustration became too much to bear, he could always hurl himself off the edge and use his grapple to catch himself. That would certainly show whoever it was that he wanted to be left alone, if nothing else.
There was a moment of silence, then the Spartan King heard the almost inaudible yet very familiar sound of someone slithering up behind him slowly. He enjoyed a moment of relief; Alia had a habit of being near him without irritating him, no matter how foul his mood was. "Leonidas?" The viper asked cautiously, "May join you? I wish to escape the noise of the celebrations."
The ranger paused for a moment, then gestured to the spot on his right. There was a chance that Alia would end up annoying him- Leonidas was particularly irritable at the moment- but if the serpent was just trying to get away from the party, then she might not do anything that would warrant his frustration. It also helped that he actually liked Alia, as opposed to Haze. If having the viper around had the potential to keep the others away, then the young officer was all for it.
"I can remain silent," she said, coiling up beside him, "We do not need to talk."
"Good," The Spartan King grunted, "I'm not in the mood for chatting anyway."
The duo sat there in silence for several minutes, watching the other members of XCOM enjoy the night below. It was rare that the crew was allowed to drink in large quantities, and tonight was one of those occasions. People drank, ate, laughed and danced even though there was no music. With how bleak things looked for the Resistance, people had to cling onto even the smallest victories as though they were serious triumphs. They were really celebrating their survival, but more than anything, they were just taking the opportunity to forget why survival was something to be celebrated.
"I just don't get it," Leonidas shook his head frustratedly. Alia turned attentively, prepared to listen. "I've been trying to rationalize it this whole time, and I know why we're doing this, but just partying because we have a reason doesn't make it right, especially when we finally have something that resembles a foothold in this war. While we're here celebrating some minor achievements, my mom is still out there somewhere, her other two mutant aliens are on the loose, and the Chosen are actively hunting us down and picking apart the Resistance. We don't even know how to kill the Chosen, but instead of trying to figure it out, we start drinking." As he ranted, the viper leaned in and hugged him gently, resting her head on his shoulder.
Leonidas didn't notice, subconsciously slipping one arm around the serpent's back so that his hand was resting on her side as he continued, "The more time we spend here, the less time we spend actually fighting our enemy. We could be out searching for my mom, or finding a way to kill the Chosen, or something useful! Taking out a damn patrol would at least have an effect! We're up against an enemy that never sleeps, and…" he trailed off as he realized the position they were in. He looked at Alia, who met his gaze. The Spartan leader was shocked how cute she looked, peering up at him from his shoulder like that- and he rarely found anything cute.
"What is the saying?" The viper yawned, "'No rest for the wicked' if memory serves? I have heard Ghost say that sometimes when he is tired while working. I think that is our curse as Spartans: we cannot rest until we are victorious, but we are only able to fight when the Commander allows us. We are limited by the needs and desires of our fellow operatives."
"Not that I'm complaining, Alia," Leonidas raised an eyebrow, "But what's with the hugging? You've never done this before. Are you cold out here?"
Alia shrugged. "Your new armor makes you smell like a male," she said plainly, "And I am very tired."
He couldn't help but grin slightly at that. The young officer should have realized sooner that the Serpent Suit would smell like the Viper King, since it was partially made from his corpse. Though it did strike him as odd that Alia would be so exhausted after a relatively inactive day. He dismissed the thought; she had probably been drinking for what he assumed was the first time in her life. "So you acted on impulse, since you didn't have the energy to fight it?"
The serpent nodded, "And you are correct: I am cold. And you are very warm."
It was strangely funny that Alia was able to make her squad leader feel so much better just by being tired. She was right: the Spartans were cursed to operate below their full potential, and there was nothing they could do about it. Leonidas hadn't expected anyone to understand his frustration, yet the viper had not only described it, but actually solved his problem by offering a new perspective. If she could live with it, then so could he. So long as the squad met every mission with nothing less than their best, the only thing left to do was be ready for the next.
Leonidas chuckled softly, appreciating how hard it was to be stubborn when Alia unintentionally gave him the tools to change his mindset on his own. In fact, that was probably why she was able to get through to him after only knowing him for a matter of months while Ghost and Central had taken years to figure it out- and they had raised him. The Commander had his psionic connection, and though it didn't solve every problem, it still made such communication easier. But the serpentine Spartan didn't have to learn; her outsider's perspective and way of openly speaking her mind just naturally clicked with Leonidas. There was a certain innocence to her mannerisms that made it hard to be upset with her.
The fact that she was currently behaving oddly was no problem, either. Leonidas was as strange as they come; if Alia wanted to act on such harmless impulses, who was he to stop her? It was actually quite pleasant, knowing that she felt comfortable enough around him to put herself in situations that would normally be considered awkward or unusual.
"Leonidas," Alia said sleepily, breaking his train of thought, "Might I ask why you allow me to behave like this around you, and not anybody else?"
"I was just thinking about that," he replied thoughtfully, "Might I ask why you want to know?"
"Curiosity."
"I make exceptions for the exceptional, Alia," Leonidas explained, looking up at the stars, "And I think that unusual people can behave unusually. You and I aren't like anyone from our own respective species, so I don't think anyone gets to tell us how we should behave. We're all speaking English, but you're the one person who can understand my language, if that makes sense. Everyone else understands me, but you can read like a book without even trying. I can talk to you, and you don't just hear; you listen. Ghost, Central, the other Spartans; they all care about me, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But in just a few months, I think it's safe to say you've become my best friend. And I think that deserves some special treatment in return."
Alia shifted, pulling herself closer to him; hearing her leader say that had made her even happier than before. "You were my first friend," she said, "And if not for you, I know that I would have no one else in XCOM or the Resistance who sees me as anything other than a monster. Humans are so… hard to please. I cannot seem to satisfy them no matter what I do. But not you; I make you happy without even knowing how."
"It's because you let me solve my own problems," the Spartan King explained, "Earlier, when I was brooding, someone else might have tried to force-feed me solutions that would work for them, not taking into account that I'm genetically designed to function differently. You, on the other hand, turned the problem around and gave it back to me, not as something to solve, but as just a fact. Instead of getting hung up on my inability to do something, I thought about what else I could do. If I can't be fighting all the time, then I can make sure that when I do fight, I'm making the most out of it. Of course, I'm still not ecstatic that we're doing this instead of working," he gestured to the party below, "But at least I'm not the only one who feels that way."
"The Centurions are meant to make our duty easier," Alia muttered, glaring down at the crowd below where the members of the veteran squad mingled with the rest of the crew, "But I find myself questioning the Commander's judgement. I feel that they will only complicate matters."
"Same here. That's part of the reason I told Haze to leave me alone."
The viper gave an affirmative hiss. "She behaves far too flamboyantly near you. And Titus frightens me."
"I don't like the way he looks at you. Smug-ass piece of shit thinks he can just do whatever the Hell he wants. If he tries anything with you, or any of the Spartans for that matter, I'll castrate him with as much care and precision as implied by the words 'incendiary shotgun'. No one treats a Spartan that way. Not while I have a pulse and a trigger finger."
For a long moment, the duo sat in silence as they both glared down at the Centurions, who seemed to be acquainting themselves with most of the crew. Leonidas had never understood the idea of charisma; most people who were considered "charismatic" made him sick. If nothing else, this was probably due to his unique mentality. The Spartan King liked Alia because of her personality, and hated the Centurions for theirs. If they were as good as Ghost had said, he could learn to tolerate them, but if not, he would show them no mercy.
After a short while, Alia spoke again. "I have heard that humanity has something called 'constellations' which are meant to be patterns in the stars that resemble human figures and other animals. I never learned any of them, since modern technology made the knowledge of such patterns... unnecessary within the realm of astronomy. Do you know any constellations that you could show me?" She was looking up at the sky. The viper must have really been tired to lose focus and change topics like that.
"Sure," Leonidas looked around, mentally marking the different visible constellations, "But it's easier to spot them all if you're lying down; you don't have to turn around so much that way. Normally, we'd go lie down on the ground since it's more comfortable than the deck," he tapped the metal surface of the landing pad, "But seeing as we'd have to go pretty far to get away from the celebration, that's not going to happen."
"Alright," Alia said, moving behind and pushing her tail underneath him, "Then you can lie on me."
The Spartan leader looked at her in surprise. "That's your plan?" He laughed, "Is this another impulsive thing, or are you just trying to make sure I don't have an excuse to not show you the constellations?"
"Does it matter?" The viper asked, "You already know that my body is able to comfortably support your weight. This way, you will not need to lie on the landing pad, and I will stay warm while you teach me about the stars."
Leonidas shrugged, deciding that this was just another unusual thing that the two of them could do. "Definitely impulsive," he joked as he laid back.
"I learned such impulsiveness from you," Alia retorted playfully, wrapping her tail loosely around the ranger for maximum warmth. The coils were deliberately loose enough that her friend could easily escape if he wanted to, since he might react reflexively if they were too tight. Leonidas had been bound by his share of enemy vipers in the past, and although he probably wouldn't mind, Alia didn't want to run the risk.
"Wow!" The Spartan King laughed heartily, "I didn't think that I was such a bad influence!" It was rare that something made him laugh this hard. Perhaps he was getting tired, but he hadn't expected such a comeback from the normally reserved viper. Calming down, Leonidas rested his head below the serpent's collarbone and decided which constellation to start with. He started simple with Ursa Major, then continued up through the more complex patterns.
The duo made it to Hercules before they had to stop. Alia had shown great interest in the constellations, but with the warmth and safety of Leonidas's presence, the viper eventually started to doze off, so the Spartan leader suggested that they turn in for the day, and she agreed. On the way to the squad's quarters, the serpent looked so exhausted that Leonidas began working out in his head how a human might comfortably carry a viper without her tail dragging on the ground. The ranger was confident that he had the strength to lift her, but unsure if he could pull off the mechanics of such a carry.
Luckily, the Spartan officer didn't have to find out. Alia, true to her Spartan status, endured her fatigue and made her way to their quarters with minimal assistance. Climbing down the ladder to reach the correct level was the only thing she needed help with. Normally, Leonidas might have wondered if there were any other reasons why Alia was so exhausted, but after staying up much later than usual and spending well over an hour on the landing pad, this wasn't much of a question. She had been ready to fall asleep for most of that time thanks to him keeping her warm.
It was interesting to the Spartan leader that his presence caused the viper to fall asleep. This obviously wasn't the case if Alia was well-rested, but recently, when she was tired like this, it almost seemed like the Spartan serpent instinctively started dozing off. Of course, Leonidas knew why: she felt safe around him. Working with Alia had proven to be quite the learning experience, and one of the major lessons was that vipers have many strong instincts that drive certain actions and habits. One such habit was sleeping whenever they were tired and in a safe place.
ADVENT vipers were largely exempt from this thanks to their psi-chips. But Alia experienced these instincts unabated, and therefore acted very differently than her sisters when it came to such things- another reason that the rebel viper was unlike the rest of her kind. To her subconscious, Alia was in a "safe place" whenever she was around Leonidas. He theorized that this was due to a lack of stationary spots where she could safely relax, and since the serpent was consistently comfortable around him, she had come to instinctively treat her leader's presence identically to a "safe place." It probably helped that Leonidas had killed the Viper King, which would make her identify him as a superior male.
Having deduced why the scaly operative acted this way around him, the Spartan officer saw nothing wrong with it; in the field, even his company didn't make it safe for the purpose of sleeping. Intelligence and intention overruled instinct, and Alia was more than smart enough to know that a firefight never meant nap time. In non-combat situations, though, the viper's senses told her that it was okay to lower her guard and rest around her leader, since he would keep her safe should danger suddenly arise. Leonidas didn't mind, and that was because Alia's instincts were absolutely correct: he would do everything in his power to keep her secure if something happened. Spartans always looked out for each other, and the Spartan King looked after his friends.
"I'm gonna go change out of this armor," Leonidas told her.
"Thank you."
"Does this suit bother you?"
"No. I just do not like feeling so impulsive."
The Spartan leader chuckled, realizing that he was more tired than he had thought; normally, that wouldn't have been funny to him. On his way to the armory, Leonidas found a partially-drunk Ghost making his way to the Spartans' quarters. The sniper had never been this inebriated before; something must have gotten to him that he desperately wanted to escape from. Based on his reaction to the Centurions' appearance that morning, this "something" was probably connected to them.
"Leonidas," Ghost said, slurring his words slightly. It was odd seeing the sniper in such a condition; it was unlike him. "I talked to Titus. About you. The bastard asked if you wanted to be a Centurion. Said he liked your spirit... or something."
The younger Spartan raised an eyebrow, "And what did you tell the sleazeball?"
The sniper's eyes narrowed. "I told him: 'If you touch my godson, I'll peg one right between your eyes.'"
"Good," Leonidas nodded approvingly, "Now get some rest; you're drunk."
…
After Leonidas left, Alia took a moment to enjoy the pleasantly light sensation in her heart. She hadn't been entirely honest when she had told him that her actions were based on impulse. In truth, her "impulse" was to take the kingslayer someplace private and copulate. But of course, the scaly Spartan suppressed this primitive instinct. It hadn't helped that the Serpent Suit made him smell more like a male of her species, but Alia was determined to be more than just a viper driven by primal urges; she was a Spartan, and that meant being better than any of her sisters could hope to be.
Actually, the human tradition of monogamy excited the serpent. She had observed it regularly during her time as an ADVENT soldier, having often been stationed in populated areas. It was more than just mating for life; it signified a much deeper connection between individuals that set them apart from less intelligent beings. And the process of developing a relationship with someone before making such a lifelong commitment was just as exhilarating to Alia. The idea that such a bond was forged with time and care was completely foreign to the viper race. For them, males were so few in number that they were allowed to simply choose as many mates as they saw fit. But Alia much preferred the concept of mutual love.
Love. That word had never meant much to her until recently. The serpent hadn't thought much about it until Leonidas started making her heart flutter. She adored the feeling of having a unique connection with someone. Because with every step toward building this bond came the risk of failure and heartbreak, and every success made her feel special. It meant something, and Alia loved that.
That was the reasoning behind her actions that night. She had wanted to comfort Leonidas about XCOM's inaction, but had agreed not to speak. So the viper took a gamble and silently showed her affection. She hadn't lied to him when the ranger asked about her reasoning, though. Had Alia been more well-rested, and had Leonidas not smelled like a male viper, she probably wouldn't have acted so boldly. At the point when she offered to let him lie on top of her, the serpent was partially living in her own head, and just wanted to be close to him. This was one of the reasons why she was lucky to have fallen in love with the Spartan leader: he wasn't bothered by such strange behavior. The downside was that he also missed the romantic implications of her actions.
One way or another, Alia had never been happier than when she had herself wrapped around her friend, staring up at the stars. It was admittedly a viper's instinct to seek constant proximity to their chosen mate- or in her case, love interest- but so long as Leonidas didn't have any qualms about her staying close, she could indulge herself in such primitive desires. The path to love was strange and complex, and the scaly operative had almost no idea where she was going, but she was determined to get there.
"Alia," the voice of Ghost shook her from her thoughts, "I saw Leonidas wearing that armor, I saw the two of you on the landing pad. I know you've fallen for him."
The viper went stiff. Had he read her mind somehow? "I-I… um…" she stammered, "Ghost, I… I can explain-"
"And I want you to know," the sniper interrupted her, "that you have my full support. I can't think of a single way that I could help you, but I will not stop you. Alright?"
"O-oh. Thank you, Ghost. But… how did you know?"
"I watch that kid like a hawk. I'm very perceptive, and I know more about vipers than anyone else on this ship. Maybe more than you. But anyway, everyone else might think you two are just odd friends, but I know better."
Alia didn't know if she should be relieved or not. Ghost would most definitely keep his mouth shut about the matter, but it didn't change the fact that he knew. On the other hand, if what the sniper said was true, she shouldn't have to worry about anyone revealing her secret. The viper was excited by the smaller risks, but telling Leonidas outright was a risk she was unwilling to take.
"And one more thing," Ghost added, "I think we both see what Haze is trying to pull with our boy. I want you to keep that bitch away from him, you got that? I don't want her corrupting him with her sexy shenanigans. If she gets too handsy, put some venom in her drink or something. I don't care. Just make sure she knows that Leonidas is off-limits. You're good for him. I don't want to think about what she'll do."
"I have the feeling that I would do this anyway," Alia said affirmatively. The sniper was probably too drunk to describe it, but Haze's behavior boiled down to lust. She knew next to nothing about Leonidas; she only saw him for his body. Of course, poisoning the Centurion as Ghost had suggested would be far too extreme of a response, but the viper was more than capable of designing her own solutions.
Ghost nodded, climbing into his bunk and quickly passing out. Alia followed suit, coiling up under her covers and rested easy knowing that the sniper had her six. The other Spartans soon joined them, silently climbing into their beds and getting some much-needed sleep. Leonidas was the last by almost a minute, and Alia balanced herself on the edge of consciousness until she heard him enter. The ranger was humming a tune to himself softly, telling the viper that he was in a good mood. She was glad; she was the reason for his positive attitude.
As Alia finally let herself fall asleep, a thought struck her: she could get used to her leader smelling like a male viper. It suited him.
A/N: Took me long enough to finish this chapter... I guess quarantine might be impacting my psyche more than I realized. But I've recently found a few ways to help remedy this, so hopefully, I'll be picking up the pace a bit now? I don't like being this slow to produce chapters...
But, that aside, I'm glad to finally be regaining my motivation to write. And I'm sure that you're all glad that I'm not giving up on this, despite how my long absence made it look. The next chapter may take a while still, but for a different reason: I want to focus on revamping chapters 1-8 and making any necessary changes to any other chapters to accommodate for that (some chapters underwent some larger renovations, especially chapter 7, which will be rewritten entirely, meaning that any other chapters that reference it will probably need to be edited accordingly). This, in turn, is because there are important details in these re-done chapters that don't exist in their current state, and are needed for the coming chapters.
I wanted to make some sort of Christmas-themed chapter in the spirit of the season, but... well... it's already 2021. So I guess this is my belated gift to you all: a new chapter, and the knowledge that Tipping the Scales (and its author) isn't dead.
(Also, for those of you who didn't know: this chapter's title is a rough translation of "Centurions" from Latin to English. Emphasis on rough.)
Let's meet 2021 with vim and vigor! Have fun and stay safe out there! -VV