Chapter 4: Shit Hits The Fan

Ark awoke to the sound of his door hissing open, admitting in a slender silhouette. Keeping his breathing regular, he glanced at his digital clock. It read 3:43am. Ark reached under his pillow and gripped the handle of his knife, prepared to defend himself against the intruder. Or he was, until the shadowy figure sprawled out on top of him and began to use him as a pillow. He barely held in a grunt of surprise, letting go of his knife, knowing he was safe. "Hey there sleepy head…" Ark whispered a small smile on his face.

A small sniffle, then "Hey babe…" came 'Zona's shaky reply. Ark immediately caught on, propping himself up on his elbows with concern written across his face. Zona never cries, ever… He thought, worriedly.

"Are you alright?" He questioned, looking her in the eyes. Ark could see her eyes had a glassy look to them, barely holding back tears. She stared back only for a few moments before burying her face in his chest.

"No, I'm not" Came Zona's muffled reply, before he felt her give in and begin to sob.

Ark was at a lost, they had been dating for three months, but not once had he seen her cry. "Shh… It's alright…" He attempted to reassure her, holding her tightly in his arms.

'Zona didn't give any response, but the tears slowed down slightly. "It's… It's fine" She choked out finally, lying.

He kissed her forehead, then brushed stray strands of hair off her face. "I've known you for a year 'Zona, dated for three months of that… I know when you're lying."

She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Sorry… I just don't want you to worry."

"I'm always worried about you, 'Zona." Ark smiled at her.

'Zona couldn't help the smile that came to her face upon hearing his confession. "Oh shut up…" She spoke playfully, cheering up.

Ark smirked, recognizing their familiar banter. "Not a chance"

Blushing slightly, 'Zona leaned forwards and brushed her lips against his lightly. Then, she kissed him.

Ark was stunned, but quickly recovered and returned the kiss. After a minute or so, they broke for air with faces flushed.

'Zona smiled a little, "That certainly shut you up."

He just laughed, and they both wore stupid grins on their faces. Tears now far gone, she curled up on his chest and let out a sigh. With Ark's arms around her and her worries temporarily forgotten, they fell into a peaceful sleep.

Hours later, they stood in line with the other freelancers at the mess hall. Ark's eyes scanned the room, leading them away from where North and his twin sister, South Dakota sat. 'Zona and South glared at each other a moment, before South chuckled and 'Zona shook her head, following Arkansas. They finally decided to sit down with Wash, CT, and Florida.

The three freelancers silenced as soon as Ark and 'Zona sat down, eating quietly. After a minute or two of this, Ark began tapping a beat of four repeatedly on the side of his tray. Arizona chuckled to herself, recognizing what his plan was.

He continued tapping, fast and louder each time. Florida seemed to be the only one unaffected, calmly eating his food. On the other hand, Wash was scowling into his cereal bowl, angrily scooping up cheerios. CT was the worst off, glaring at Arkansas while tightly gripping a plastic knife.

After about five long, agonizing moments of this, CT finally snapped. "What do you want?!" she hissed. Florida laid a hand on her shoulder to calm her, but she shrugged it off. He simply sighed in response, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Ark smirked, "I just wanted to know why everyone seems to be on edge this morning. I know its Monday, but it seems bit overkill."

In a fit of rage, CT lunged across the table with her plastic knife outstretched. Ark calmly knocked it aside, and then shoved her back down into her seat. "You're the so called 'clever one', you figure it out." She all but spat in his face, Florida attempting to calm the pissed off freelancer.

"What's your problem, CT?" 'Zona questioned, just as confused as Ark currently was.

Before she could reply, South's arrogant voice spoke from right behind 'Zona. "I don't know what her deal is, but I can answer the rest." She smirked at Ark. It was widely known throughout Project Freelancer that she had been trying to get together with Arkansas before, and even after he began dating Arizona. "York's still in the infirmary and Carolina hasn't left his side yet. Everyone blames you for his injury."

Ark waved off Arizona, knowing that she was getting close to shoving her sniper rifle up South's ass. "Wasn't my fault." He spoke calmly, with a slight edge to his voice. "If not for me, he wouldn't have made it back at all."

"Oh I know that, but they don't believe you." South replied, edging closer and closer to him.

'Zona could see North staring over at their table with a peculiar expression, one she hadn't seen before. "What? Don't you have to go say hi to Maryland or something?" She couldn't help the jealous edge her voice added, and a glance to her side showed that Ark had noticed it. 'Later' she mouthed at him, and he nodded in response before turning his attention back to South.

South, noticing North and Arizona's exchange, snapped her fingers. "That's what I was forgetting! 'Zona's jealous as hell of North's new girlfriend." She smirked, noticing how Ark gripped his tray all the tighter, determined not to show his emotions. "Especially since I caught Maryland and North fucking in his bed the other day, she's been bitchier than normal, and wouldn't you agree?"

The entire room had hushed down, watching the exchange between the Freelancers. Ark simply glared at South futilely, knowing she wouldn't stop. He stood up to go return his tray, and she trapped him against the table, getting between his legs. "Of course, if you're looking to vent or do… other things with, I'm your girl." She winked at him.

He simply pushed her off him and walked over, setting his tray down and trying not to let on how angry he was.

South muttered under her breath, "No idea what you see in that whore anyways…"

Even Carolina would have been impressed with how quickly he lunged across the room, shoving South across the table and knocking over multiple seats on top of her. The resounding crash echoed around the room, startling even Maine.

North stood up, "What's your problem Ark? She's just telling you the truth, not her fault if you don't like it!"

Pure rage was written across Arkansas' face, and he prepared to lunge at North as well before the Director walked in.

"Agents!" He barked, looking out of place in the mess hall, although no less formidable. All the Agents in the room lined up, snapping to attention.

"Sir!" They called out.

"Need I remind you that Project Freelancer has no interest in children? We expect you all to act like civilized adults, and if you have a score to settle Agent Arkansas," he drawled, glaring at Ark, "Then I demand you take it to the training room to settle. Not in the mess hall!" He ended, turning on point and stalking out of the mess while the Agents looked around at each other.

"C'mon you two…" Ark growled, gripping North and South's shoulders tightly and pulling them along towards the training room. "I would say we have something to settle, don't you?"

'Zona stared at them, torn between Arkansas and North. "Please, don't…" she whispered, to the sky or them she wasn't sure.

For once in his life, Arkansas was too wrapped up in his own troubles to bother with even a response to her, walking out the doors with North and South. Immediately as they exited, everyone inside the mess hall ran in a full on sprint to the viewing section above the training room, awaiting their arrival.

They had moved faster than expected, reaching the training room before the audience had a chance to gather. By the time 'Zona reached the balcony, they were in a full blown fight. Ark appeared to be wielding his pudgel stick with deadly efficiency, no mercy. South had been disarmed it seemed, and was attempting to stand back up when Ark swept past with a clean sweep, knocking her legs out from under her before he was forced to counter a strike from North.

The male twin had been more cautious than South, explaining why his pudgel stick remained in his hands. Although not as skilled with the weapon, he was trained in defense. That along with his quick reflexes made him a fair match for Ark's training and blend of tactics.

Ark swung his pudgel stick straight at North's face, which he easily batted aside and returned the favor. That was exactly what Ark was planning on, as he ducked to the ground and rolled forward, slamming upwards into North and then smacking him out of the air with the pudgel stick for good measure.

'Zona winced from her position, viewing two of her friends beating the shit out of each other.