"Soul's Bonds", Chapter 14
More fluff, then next chapter we get into the meat of the story and delve into the mystery of just who kidnapped Bridge. Exciting stuff. Sky's back to narrating.
I also forgot to mention, I claimed Bridge over at icons100 and will be posting the icons there in batches, and will put the whole set up here when I'm done. I also forgot to finish the Z moodtheme. Oops. Will do that when I have time.
Chapter 14 (Sky)
When I woke up the next morning, I almost let out a gasp when I realized someone was in bed with me, before remembering that Bridge and I had fallen asleep together at my request. Though I was still fighting a battle with the fact that I was in love with another guy deep inside myself, I'd enjoyed our "date" and our little snuggle and wanted to do more, perhaps even that night when we went to bed... I found myself smiling fondly at Bridge as I watched him; he looked pretty cute, even though he was drooling onto my pillow. Then, there was a soft knock on our door, so I got up to answer it, putting a finger to my lips as soon as I saw that it was Z and jerking my thumb back at Bridge.
"Did you guys cuddle last night? Awww..." she whispered, and I felt my face going hot.
"Not that it's really any of your business, but yes," I said.
"So cute. You guys are going to have to get up, though," Z replied. "I came to let you know that Cruger's on his way to talk to you, and also, Tessie wants you guys up anyway because she's insisting on making breakfast for us." I nodded, and she looked at Bridge over my shoulder. "Look at him... our Bridgey. He's truly back where he belongs. I almost don't want you to have to wake him because he looks so comfortable. You're a hell of a lucky guy, Sky, you know that?" I blinked hard, my still-half asleep brain taking its time considering this, and the fact that Z almost sounded jealous.
"Yeah... yeah, I guess I am," I said slowly, also looking over at my boyfriend.
"Anyway, Tessie wants us in the rec room in half an hour or so," Z said as she turned to go, for some reason with a smirk on her face, "so I'll leave you guys to get ready, eh?"
"Alright, thanks," I said, letting out the yawn I'd been suppressing. When she'd left, I went up to Bridge and shook him. "Hey, Bridge, it's time to get up," I said. "Come on..." He muttered something thickly, but didn't stir, so I shook him again.
"Five... more minutes... please," he said, turning over on his other side. "Preferably... with you... next to me."
"I'd like to, but we can't, the Commander's on his way here," I said, turning him back over, so he begrudgingly got up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. We both stood at attention at the door when Cruger appeared in it, saluting him.
"At ease, gentlemen," he said. "Bridge, I didn't get a chance see you when you came in yesterday, so I came to say welcome back. I am very happy to see you." This last statement was said with such sincerity that Bridge looked surprised; the Commander usually wasn't so overtly friendly. "And... I know it's been a while, but I owe you an apology for what happened the day you disappeared. I'm ashamed of the way I treated you, and feel like I should apologize to you for being out-of-line. I had unreasonable expectations of you and punished you unjustly."
"Accepted... and thank you... for it, sir," said Bridge, touched. "It's... no big deal... now, especially after... all that happened... right?"
"You still can't talk very well?" the Commander asked with concern, gently running a finger along the scar on Bridge's neck, and he nodded.
"It's... painful... sometimes. Not as hard... as it was... for a while."
"At least you're still with us," Cruger said quietly. "You seem fit and healthy otherwise. I hope you're ready to return to duty; your skills have been missed these past weeks."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, if that's all, I'll see you two in Delta Command when you are up and about, as there is important work to do. Dr. Manx and I have conducted some more analysis of the captured assassin recently, and now that you're all together again, you Rangers need to be briefed on our findings." We saluted him again as he walked away, and Bridge and I began getting ready for the day. Bridge got half-dressed then stood staring at himself in a mirror, rubbing the scraggly growth of beard on his chin.
"I'm thinking... about growing... a goatee. It'd make me... look more... sophisticated. What... do you think?" he asked, making funny faces at himself.
"While I do think it'd make you even hotter," I said, pulling his head back and kissing him upside-down, "you know it's against regulations to have facial hair. Section 2-c under dress and grooming: all human male cadets must remain clean-shaven."
"You know... you really have... a way of... sucking the fun... out of everything," he informed me grumpily, but winked at me nonetheless as he picked up his shaving kit and left the room. I went over to my closet then paused, a little bemused by the fact that I'd just called him hot. I knew that he was my boyfriend, I had no doubt that I thought of him that way, we'd even spent the night in the same bed together, but hearing those kinds of words coming out of my own mouth was still a little strange. But every time I do something like this, it gets easier, I thought. And... it feels really good. I'm glad I went with my gut in spite of my misgivings and got involved in this. Bridge came back in when he was done shaving, a silly little grin on his face telling me that my comment hadn't gone unnoticed. The two of us said nothing more as we went to breakfast, holding hands, and I felt completely content as we came into the rec room, no longer very self-conscious about showing affection around others. The girls were already there, and Tessie was standing at a portable stove she'd erected in the corner, cooking something and whistling.
"Aww, look at the lovebirds," she said delightedly, smiling at us. "Don't you go over to that synthesizer, I'm fixin' a nice, home-cooked breakfast for you all."
"Thanks, Tess. So, ladies, how are you both this morning?" I asked Z and Syd as we sat down next to them.
"Tired," Syd replied. "But in a good way this time. We were up pretty late last night, and of course, Tessie had to come barging in to Z's and my room at an ungodly hour this morning and babble something about making breakfast for all of us since her nice dinner got ruined. I'm going to have dark circles under my eyes now..."
"Oh, poor little old you," Z said, sticking her tongue out at her. "I'm sure we'll all be much the worse for it. Tessie, can't you make that thing go any faster? I'm hungry!"
"Oh yes, poor you, too," Syd mocked. "Having to wait 15 minutes for your food is going to kill you, I'm sure." She winked at Z to show she was only kidding, then looked at me. "Uh, by the way, Sky, there's something on your neck... is that a hickey? Oh, you lucky dog!"
"Wha-?" I gasped before I jumped up, went over to a mirror on the wall, and examined myself, somehow having missed a large red spot right below my Adam's apple. "Bridge!"
"In my defense... it was... our first time... making out. You're really one... to talk, anyway," said Bridge as he tilted his head to the side, pointing to his own neck. "You gave me three."
"Oh, dear Lord," said Tessie. "These guys are our first and second in command, need I remind you, girls. Are you sure you trust 'em with your lives when Bridge is barely out of the hospital and already they're all over one another and givin' each other love bites? Anyway, I can't understand how y'all can stand to eat nothing but that synthesized stuff, day in and day out," she continued, hands on her hips. "It's just not the same as makin' things yourself. Did you never learn how to cook or something?" The four of us answered her with blank stares. "I guess that's a resounding 'yes', you damn city slickers. Alright then, who wants some chocolate chip pancakes?"
"Meee! Meeee!" said Bridge excitedly, running over to her and accepting the offered plate. "Thanks, Tess, you didn't... have to go... to all this trouble. Mmm... they smell... really good. Come on, guys... let's not let these... go to waste!" And with that, he dug in using only his hands.
"Mind your manners, Bridge, you're like a pig at a trough," I said, rolling my eyes at him.
"Sorry. Feeding tube... then hospital food... not good... mmmph. Ohh, man."
"I swear, one of these days I'm gonna take all y'all city slickers to visit my sister's farm in Indiana so you can rough it for a few days," Tessie threatened, waving her pancake turner at us. "Limited computer access, no synthesizers, or anything like that. SPD training is a breeze compared to running one, from what I've experienced."
"I'll just take your word for it," I laughed, taking a plate. "I'm happy right where I am, thanks."'
"Aww... you scared... she's right, puddin'?" Bridge asked sweetly.
"Well, no, I- ... ... did you just call me puddin'?"
"Yes, I did," said Bridge as the girls snorted back laughter. "I mean... the term 'buddy'... doesn't apply to us... any more, right? Especially since... we have... love bites now."
"I don't like the cutesy nicknames," I said, tapping my foot. "If you insist on calling me something, you could always, y'know, call me Sky, or Heaven forbid, Schuyler if you're so inclined. Or just... call me anything but 'puddin'."
"Alright then... snugglebuns," said Bridge, ducking as I threw half a pancake at him.
"Teddy bear?" Syd suggested.
"Snookums," said Z.
"Wuv-bunny," Tessie choked out, and all three girls dissolved into a fit of giggles.
"Puddin' will be fine," I grumbled. "But if you're going to give me a cute nickname, I get to choose one for you, too."
"I'm fine... with that," said Bridge. "But. No cheatin'... and callin' me... puddin', too."
"Aww, man." I thought for a moment. "OK, then. Since you gave me the puss so many times when you were in the hospital, I'll call you 'pussycat'."
"Fair enough," said Bridge, kissing me on the nose. "I kinda... like it, actually."
"I hope we haven't created a monster," said Tessie.
Extract from the journal of Sky Tate
"Don't it always seem to go, That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?" I heard those words in a song once, and they really resonate with me now. Bridge came so close to dying, and now that he's back amongst us, reality has smacked me hard. Were it not for a stroke of luck (and his own fierce determination to live) he'd be gone forever, and I'd have realized too late what he really means to me. I've been regretting more and more lately how much I take the rest of my friends for granted, too, because in the blink of an eye, they can be taken away from me. It's why I dropped my "perfect cadet" attitude yesterday and let myself go to celebrate with my friends, and why I've also decided to move forward and keep taking new steps in my relationship with Bridge.
I only wish moments like yesterday and this morning could last forever- being able to be loose and careless after his brush with death and all the random attacks was nice, and I'm really, really starting to enjoy and feel comfortable being Bridge's boyfriend instead of just his friend. The fact that everyone around us has been so open-minded and supportive has helped a lot, because it makes me feel much better about being in love.
Unfortunately, however, times like this must always come to an end. Now is the time to figure out the secrets of the assassin we captured, then defeat the remaining ones and end this nightmare. I know the rest of them are going to be just as tough as, if not tougher, than the first- but I firmly believe the bond between our team is too strong to be broken now.
Author's note: There's a convoluted story as to why I decided to have Bridge call Sky "puddin'". It stems from the episode "Recognition", where whenever Sky smiles, he bears a startlingly creepy resemblance to the Joker (as in the Batman villain). In Batman: The Animated Series (the canon I'm most familiar with), the Joker's sidekick/love interest Harley Quinn calls him "puddin'". Thus Sky, with his Joker smile, is Bridge's wittle puddin'. SHUT UP IT'S CUTE TO ME.
I also forgot to mention, I claimed Bridge over at icons100 and will be posting the icons there in batches, and will put the whole set up here when I'm done. I also forgot to finish the Z moodtheme. Oops. Will do that when I have time.
Chapter 14 (Sky)
When I woke up the next morning, I almost let out a gasp when I realized someone was in bed with me, before remembering that Bridge and I had fallen asleep together at my request. Though I was still fighting a battle with the fact that I was in love with another guy deep inside myself, I'd enjoyed our "date" and our little snuggle and wanted to do more, perhaps even that night when we went to bed... I found myself smiling fondly at Bridge as I watched him; he looked pretty cute, even though he was drooling onto my pillow. Then, there was a soft knock on our door, so I got up to answer it, putting a finger to my lips as soon as I saw that it was Z and jerking my thumb back at Bridge.
"Did you guys cuddle last night? Awww..." she whispered, and I felt my face going hot.
"Not that it's really any of your business, but yes," I said.
"So cute. You guys are going to have to get up, though," Z replied. "I came to let you know that Cruger's on his way to talk to you, and also, Tessie wants you guys up anyway because she's insisting on making breakfast for us." I nodded, and she looked at Bridge over my shoulder. "Look at him... our Bridgey. He's truly back where he belongs. I almost don't want you to have to wake him because he looks so comfortable. You're a hell of a lucky guy, Sky, you know that?" I blinked hard, my still-half asleep brain taking its time considering this, and the fact that Z almost sounded jealous.
"Yeah... yeah, I guess I am," I said slowly, also looking over at my boyfriend.
"Anyway, Tessie wants us in the rec room in half an hour or so," Z said as she turned to go, for some reason with a smirk on her face, "so I'll leave you guys to get ready, eh?"
"Alright, thanks," I said, letting out the yawn I'd been suppressing. When she'd left, I went up to Bridge and shook him. "Hey, Bridge, it's time to get up," I said. "Come on..." He muttered something thickly, but didn't stir, so I shook him again.
"Five... more minutes... please," he said, turning over on his other side. "Preferably... with you... next to me."
"I'd like to, but we can't, the Commander's on his way here," I said, turning him back over, so he begrudgingly got up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. We both stood at attention at the door when Cruger appeared in it, saluting him.
"At ease, gentlemen," he said. "Bridge, I didn't get a chance see you when you came in yesterday, so I came to say welcome back. I am very happy to see you." This last statement was said with such sincerity that Bridge looked surprised; the Commander usually wasn't so overtly friendly. "And... I know it's been a while, but I owe you an apology for what happened the day you disappeared. I'm ashamed of the way I treated you, and feel like I should apologize to you for being out-of-line. I had unreasonable expectations of you and punished you unjustly."
"Accepted... and thank you... for it, sir," said Bridge, touched. "It's... no big deal... now, especially after... all that happened... right?"
"You still can't talk very well?" the Commander asked with concern, gently running a finger along the scar on Bridge's neck, and he nodded.
"It's... painful... sometimes. Not as hard... as it was... for a while."
"At least you're still with us," Cruger said quietly. "You seem fit and healthy otherwise. I hope you're ready to return to duty; your skills have been missed these past weeks."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, if that's all, I'll see you two in Delta Command when you are up and about, as there is important work to do. Dr. Manx and I have conducted some more analysis of the captured assassin recently, and now that you're all together again, you Rangers need to be briefed on our findings." We saluted him again as he walked away, and Bridge and I began getting ready for the day. Bridge got half-dressed then stood staring at himself in a mirror, rubbing the scraggly growth of beard on his chin.
"I'm thinking... about growing... a goatee. It'd make me... look more... sophisticated. What... do you think?" he asked, making funny faces at himself.
"While I do think it'd make you even hotter," I said, pulling his head back and kissing him upside-down, "you know it's against regulations to have facial hair. Section 2-c under dress and grooming: all human male cadets must remain clean-shaven."
"You know... you really have... a way of... sucking the fun... out of everything," he informed me grumpily, but winked at me nonetheless as he picked up his shaving kit and left the room. I went over to my closet then paused, a little bemused by the fact that I'd just called him hot. I knew that he was my boyfriend, I had no doubt that I thought of him that way, we'd even spent the night in the same bed together, but hearing those kinds of words coming out of my own mouth was still a little strange. But every time I do something like this, it gets easier, I thought. And... it feels really good. I'm glad I went with my gut in spite of my misgivings and got involved in this. Bridge came back in when he was done shaving, a silly little grin on his face telling me that my comment hadn't gone unnoticed. The two of us said nothing more as we went to breakfast, holding hands, and I felt completely content as we came into the rec room, no longer very self-conscious about showing affection around others. The girls were already there, and Tessie was standing at a portable stove she'd erected in the corner, cooking something and whistling.
"Aww, look at the lovebirds," she said delightedly, smiling at us. "Don't you go over to that synthesizer, I'm fixin' a nice, home-cooked breakfast for you all."
"Thanks, Tess. So, ladies, how are you both this morning?" I asked Z and Syd as we sat down next to them.
"Tired," Syd replied. "But in a good way this time. We were up pretty late last night, and of course, Tessie had to come barging in to Z's and my room at an ungodly hour this morning and babble something about making breakfast for all of us since her nice dinner got ruined. I'm going to have dark circles under my eyes now..."
"Oh, poor little old you," Z said, sticking her tongue out at her. "I'm sure we'll all be much the worse for it. Tessie, can't you make that thing go any faster? I'm hungry!"
"Oh yes, poor you, too," Syd mocked. "Having to wait 15 minutes for your food is going to kill you, I'm sure." She winked at Z to show she was only kidding, then looked at me. "Uh, by the way, Sky, there's something on your neck... is that a hickey? Oh, you lucky dog!"
"Wha-?" I gasped before I jumped up, went over to a mirror on the wall, and examined myself, somehow having missed a large red spot right below my Adam's apple. "Bridge!"
"In my defense... it was... our first time... making out. You're really one... to talk, anyway," said Bridge as he tilted his head to the side, pointing to his own neck. "You gave me three."
"Oh, dear Lord," said Tessie. "These guys are our first and second in command, need I remind you, girls. Are you sure you trust 'em with your lives when Bridge is barely out of the hospital and already they're all over one another and givin' each other love bites? Anyway, I can't understand how y'all can stand to eat nothing but that synthesized stuff, day in and day out," she continued, hands on her hips. "It's just not the same as makin' things yourself. Did you never learn how to cook or something?" The four of us answered her with blank stares. "I guess that's a resounding 'yes', you damn city slickers. Alright then, who wants some chocolate chip pancakes?"
"Meee! Meeee!" said Bridge excitedly, running over to her and accepting the offered plate. "Thanks, Tess, you didn't... have to go... to all this trouble. Mmm... they smell... really good. Come on, guys... let's not let these... go to waste!" And with that, he dug in using only his hands.
"Mind your manners, Bridge, you're like a pig at a trough," I said, rolling my eyes at him.
"Sorry. Feeding tube... then hospital food... not good... mmmph. Ohh, man."
"I swear, one of these days I'm gonna take all y'all city slickers to visit my sister's farm in Indiana so you can rough it for a few days," Tessie threatened, waving her pancake turner at us. "Limited computer access, no synthesizers, or anything like that. SPD training is a breeze compared to running one, from what I've experienced."
"I'll just take your word for it," I laughed, taking a plate. "I'm happy right where I am, thanks."'
"Aww... you scared... she's right, puddin'?" Bridge asked sweetly.
"Well, no, I- ... ... did you just call me puddin'?"
"Yes, I did," said Bridge as the girls snorted back laughter. "I mean... the term 'buddy'... doesn't apply to us... any more, right? Especially since... we have... love bites now."
"I don't like the cutesy nicknames," I said, tapping my foot. "If you insist on calling me something, you could always, y'know, call me Sky, or Heaven forbid, Schuyler if you're so inclined. Or just... call me anything but 'puddin'."
"Alright then... snugglebuns," said Bridge, ducking as I threw half a pancake at him.
"Teddy bear?" Syd suggested.
"Snookums," said Z.
"Wuv-bunny," Tessie choked out, and all three girls dissolved into a fit of giggles.
"Puddin' will be fine," I grumbled. "But if you're going to give me a cute nickname, I get to choose one for you, too."
"I'm fine... with that," said Bridge. "But. No cheatin'... and callin' me... puddin', too."
"Aww, man." I thought for a moment. "OK, then. Since you gave me the puss so many times when you were in the hospital, I'll call you 'pussycat'."
"Fair enough," said Bridge, kissing me on the nose. "I kinda... like it, actually."
"I hope we haven't created a monster," said Tessie.
Extract from the journal of Sky Tate
"Don't it always seem to go, That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?" I heard those words in a song once, and they really resonate with me now. Bridge came so close to dying, and now that he's back amongst us, reality has smacked me hard. Were it not for a stroke of luck (and his own fierce determination to live) he'd be gone forever, and I'd have realized too late what he really means to me. I've been regretting more and more lately how much I take the rest of my friends for granted, too, because in the blink of an eye, they can be taken away from me. It's why I dropped my "perfect cadet" attitude yesterday and let myself go to celebrate with my friends, and why I've also decided to move forward and keep taking new steps in my relationship with Bridge.
I only wish moments like yesterday and this morning could last forever- being able to be loose and careless after his brush with death and all the random attacks was nice, and I'm really, really starting to enjoy and feel comfortable being Bridge's boyfriend instead of just his friend. The fact that everyone around us has been so open-minded and supportive has helped a lot, because it makes me feel much better about being in love.
Unfortunately, however, times like this must always come to an end. Now is the time to figure out the secrets of the assassin we captured, then defeat the remaining ones and end this nightmare. I know the rest of them are going to be just as tough as, if not tougher, than the first- but I firmly believe the bond between our team is too strong to be broken now.
Author's note: There's a convoluted story as to why I decided to have Bridge call Sky "puddin'". It stems from the episode "Recognition", where whenever Sky smiles, he bears a startlingly creepy resemblance to the Joker (as in the Batman villain). In Batman: The Animated Series (the canon I'm most familiar with), the Joker's sidekick/love interest Harley Quinn calls him "puddin'". Thus Sky, with his Joker smile, is Bridge's wittle puddin'. SHUT UP IT'S CUTE TO ME.