A/N

Hiya, everybody! Sorry that it's been a bit since I've updated. I went on vacation last week and started band camp as soon as I got home (AKA yesterday) and then today I just got a job, so expect the updates to come even slower than normal. Luckily for the both of us, I brought a journal on vacation with me and chugged out like three chapters to keep y'all occupied. I'm gonna write those and edit them as I see fit and then upload them. Anyway, if y'all don't know who PoorMansPosion is, you should really listen to their songs. Anyway, enough from me, I'll let y'all read, though, fair warning, this is a lil short, kinda more like a tide over till next chapter. :)

Six

The refugees' time on the ship went by as normal. Those who were inclined to, went to one of the gyms they had on the multiple levels of the frigate. Those who weren't, kept to themselves and the others of their family. Tai could often be found on the Star Deck, staring into the black abyss, or in the lesser used gyms.

The gym is where she resided now, her headphones that she scavenged plugged into her cracked and old phone. Music by a band named PoorMansPosion blasted through her ears, keeping her in check with her workout. Currently, she had her legs thrown over a high bar, curling up against gravity. Which is why she neither heard nor saw the Spartans entering the gym, looking on in surprise at the smaller girl in their known gym.

When she slowly came back down, she met the upside down stares of the four Spartans, kitted out in full MJOLNIR armor. Shocked, her legs let go of the bar and she fell down onto the unforgiving floor. Hard. She groaned, her injuries spiking back in pain and the sudden unexpected contact with the floor. Her eyes closed in pain, hissing as she rolled onto her front to stand.

A large and warm hand grabbed onto her bicep and easily hauled her to her feet. Wincing at the strong grip, she took her headphones from her ears, automatically pausing their music, and hung them around her neck. Looking up, her blue eyes met the golden visor of a Spartan in teal armor. She sheepishly smiles and rubs the back of her neck when they release her hand.

"Sorry for startling you. You okay? That was a nasty fall." Tai took note of his deep and silky voice.

"Yeah, no problem. 'S not the worst fall I've had." She states, looking at the ground.

It was strange having these giant warriors just staring at her, the only one to have spoken thus far being the man who'd helped her.

"Well, sorry if we disturbed you, we weren't expecting anyone in here." Tai lifts her head, tilting it slightly at the wording of the teal Spartan. "This gym is on the Spartan level of the ship, so most of the civilians or other soldiers don't come here often."

Tai's eyes widened slightly, just now realizing why the gym was empty when she'd come in early that morning. She felt like she could slap herself. How did she not realize that both the floor and gym were empty for a damned reason?

She let out a self-deprecating laugh, rubbing her face with the hand not wrapped in bandages. "Oh, gods. I'm so sorry. I hadn't even realized that there was a reason that the gym was empty. I thought it was just that early. I can leave if y'all want."

The Spartans gave each other a look and then glanced back at her. The other three turned and left, following the Chief over to the sparring mats. The teal Spartan lingered slightly to say she was more than welcome to stay.

"You're the first one not actually scared to shit by us, so it's more than a welcome change."

Tai's eyes hardened at that as she watched the tall Spartan walk away. Was it so hard to believe these soldiers were more than their augmentations? It shouldn't have been. It was easy enough for her and her campers, but apparently, even the Spartans own Marines were scared of them. Sure, their past was shrouded in more lies and darkness than even her own, but that didn't make them any less human than anyone on this frigate.

Letting out a rough sigh, Tai walked over to the punching bags on the other side of the room, the hanging bags standing close to the sparring mats. She grabbed some tape that was next to the bags and tied her hands up, making sure to make it slightly thicker on her fractured wrist. No need in tempting the medics' fury so soon after being treated.

Putting her hands into a defensive position, she stabilizes her stance and takes a swing at the bag, continuing this pattern until the bag starts swinging back. When the chance arises, she dodges the swinging bag and pretends to parry against an actual opponent. It carries on like this for maybe an hour more before Tai notices the blood slowly staining the wrapping on her one good hand.

Grunting, she grabs onto the bag and stops it, skidding back a little when the thing's weight crashes into her. Tai hisses as she unwraps the tape from around her palms, noting with little interest the slight irritation coming from her skin. Underneath the wraps, her knuckles were bruised and the skin had been broken. She didn't think she'd been hitting the bags that hard, but apparently she was swinging faster than she meant to.

Tai lowers the volume of her headphones as she cleans off the broken skin of her knuckles, which is the only reason she heard the clanking of armored feet coming her way. Looking up, her blue eyes caught sight of the Master Chief's dark green armor and golden visor. The tallest Spartan was looking in the direction of her hands sitting in her lap, the blood dried and cracking.

Cocking her head, she watches as the behemoth of a man squats down to her level, gently taking her hands in his. Slowly, he looks towards her, pausing in his movements, like he was wanting to ask a question. Before he could say anything however, the teal Spartan from before comes over as well, the rest of his team following behind him.

"Geez. What'd the bags do to you?" He asks, sarcasm lacing his deep voice.

Tai rolled her eyes. "They spoke badly of my non-existent parents. Duh." She replied, shrugging her shoulders gently so as to not disturb the Chief still examining her hands.

"Ah. Makes sense. Should I beat 'em up too? I could use letting off some steam." This Spartan was the most outgoing one she'd met. Granted, Tai had only technically met the Chief. Speaking of the giant man, John was shaking his head, silently standing once again, dragging her onto her feet as a result.

Tai huffs, amused. "Y'know. I don't think you could take them. I mean, look at ya, you're scrawny." The sarcasm dripping from her tone could be used to fill a large glass.

The teal Spartan puts a hand to his chin, pretending to think something over. Suddenly, he hums to himself and starts laughing. "I like you, kid. Just the right amount of bullshit and conviction. Color me impressed."

"Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week." She stated, bowing low.

As she rose, she caught the golden visor of the Master Chief. He ever so slightly tilted his head, studying her. It was nerve racking that she couldn't tell what he was thinking. It unsettled her.

"Well, considering it's," Tai glanced at a black watch that had managed to come out of the earlier months unscaved (somehow), "almost nine in the morning. I'm gonna leave and try and catch breakfast. Unless, y'all wanna join me? It gets awfully lonely when you have no one to talk to."

Even as she said this and started walking towards the doors of the gym, the Spartans started to follow in her wake, saying nothing as to what was on their mind. As she turned back to face the front, she couldn't help but let a small smile form on her face. Even if these guys didn't show their faces, or eat for that matter, she was happy to have the company.