Don’t Do Anything Stupid

  Silence filled the room. The air smelled musty from months of disuse. Axiom was only used for long-distance missions or when the entire crew travelled together. We had not done that in a long time.

  The room was almost dark, lit only by the small night lights along the walls. The training hall was empty except for Agile and me.

  The ventilation hummed softly in the background.

  I plopped down on the empty bench. I rolled my shoulders, already feeling the lecture coming.

  “Do we really have to do this?”

  “Yes,” she replied curtly.

  I let out a sigh.

  She called over a hovering seat and placed it in front of me before sitting down. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees.

  “Aureolo, look at me.”

  I rolled my eyes before locking eyes with her.

  “It has been some time since Nianzui left us. I know you and Coope were buddies,” she said.

  My fingers fiddled with the fabric of my suit. Why was she talking about this right now? I wanted to forget about that bastard Nianzui. Agile didn’t know what he had done. Only Coope and Coven knew.

  Nianzui, the piece of shit. I took a deep breath controlling myself. Even the slightest reaction would be caught by Agile’s sharp eyes.

  “You had a unique sense of humor with him,” she added. I did, but that backfired. “But Tigeralla, she is different. She won’t understand your overly affectionate personality.”

  I tilted my head to the side as Agile continued.

  “Hey, Aureolo, look at me.”

  She snapped her gloved fingers.

  “I get it, Agileeee.”

  I stretched my arms, having enough of her lecture. And enough of his reminders.

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  “You are not going to behave?”

  “I am.”

  “You are not.”

  Thud. My boots landed firmly on the ground.

  “I am–”

  “Aureolo, we both know how excited you get seeing things from other cultures. Remember when you saw the winged warriors of Qrairowk**? You were so fascinated by their wings that you begged Hornet to add wings to your suit.”

  “I was only a year in the team. I was just stupid. Just forget about it already.”

  “I have–”

  “No, you haven’t. If you had, then you wouldn’t bring it up,” I whined, pushing myself to my feet.

  I wanted to hurry back to Coope or Coven. And away from talking about him. Talking about my previous behavior.

  Coven will take Agile’s attention and she will not even notice me once we return back to the command room.

  “Aureolo, are you going to run straight into Coven’s arms?”

  My steps came to a halt as I slowly turned around. My eyes widening at her comment — which was true.

  “No.”

  She let out a sigh, having had enough of me already.

  “Just don’t do anything stupid while she is here.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I bet you would.”

  “Have some trust in me, Agile. I know when to shut my mouth.”

  Sometimes.

  She crossed her arms and stared at me as if she already knew what devious plans were going on inside my head.

  Lucky for her, the talk about Nianzui had already ruined my mood.

  ???