Day two of the partnership scheme did not go any better than day one. In fact, it might even have gone a little bit worse. Given that Aero's partner didn’t even show up.
Aero was sure that he had spotted Jago at breakfast being all...growly. But then after that they'd had more sparring practice and there were definitely not enough Ferals to go around.
"Looks like you'll just be playing with yourself today!" the fight trainer had shouted at Aero, clapping him on the back with a slightly manic look.
"I'm used to it," Aero had smirked back, but he couldn't help the slightly uncomfortable feeling settling in his gut when he glanced around and saw everybody else actually progressing with their partnerships.
Ignoring each other childishly might be working fine for Jago and Aero whilst on Earth, but what about when they got shipped off to a potential combat zone in the Sierra Zulu Galaxy?
"This is bullshit," Aero had muttered to Cody as they exited the sparring hall three hours later. His friend had given him a sympathetic look but hadn't replied.
At least they had a bed each now, Aero had felt somewhat guilty when he had spotted the dark bags under Cody's eyes that morning.
They were given free study time the next day, in order to better 'bond' with their partners and brush up on any areas of tactical combat they deemed might be necessary.
Aero listened to ten minutes of the trainer describing the numerous horrific sounding aliens and space hazards that they might encounter and all the grisly ways they could die before he stood up and marched off determinedly in search of Jago.
That morning Aero had argued with Cody and Sienna about the 'necessity' of Jago.
"We know you're capable enough on your own Aero," Sienna had insisted, "but everyone else is going to be having a Feral to at least back them up - you should want that too."
"Deadly killing machines don't need guard dogs," Aero had grunted, swallowing down all the actual doubts he'd had earlier about the situation.
"Aero please..." Cody had begun, "being at odds with your Feral won't do you any favours on the mission."
Aero had shot him a dark look as if to say 'Et tu Brutus?'
Cody shrugged and reached out to squeeze Aero’s shoulder, "Please? For mine, Sienna and Tyron's sakes? Just try to make it right with Jago?"
Aero knew that Hannah and Thomas shared a dorm room with Jago, as he had heard them complaining about the other Feral's mood swings.
So, ignoring the trainer still droning on in the background, Aero approached Hannah with the petulant look of a child made to apologize to someone by his mother.
"CanyoutakemetoJago'sdormroomplease?" Aero rushed out, whilst looking at the floor.
"What?" Hannah replied bluntly, Aero noticed that she had the same way of speaking as Jago did.
Aero sighed deeply, "Can you take me to Jago's dorm room?" He skipped the 'please' this time, she was only getting one of those.
Hannah raised her eyebrows and looked over to Thomas, who had evidently been listening in. Thomas nodded in response with a smile that made Aero want to roll his eyes and call quits on the whole stupid endeavour.
Hannah shrugged then turned to Sienna, "I'll be back in a minute if you want to wait before assembling the laser."
"I think I'll manage sweetheart," Sienna replied breezily whilst slotting some threatening looking mechanical part into place.
Hannah huffed then snatched at Aero's wrist, dragging him out through the automated doors and down a long corridor.
"What are you going to say to him?" Hannah asked as Aero wriggled away from her overly tight grip.
"Think that's best between me and him," Aero muttered.
Hannah barked a humourless laugh, "You really don't understand Ferals do you? We're a pack - whatever you say to Jago, he'll tell us."
"No he won't," a low voice grumbled from somewhere ahead of them. Aero jerked his head up to see Jago rounding the corner.
"Jago...you were coming to join us?" Hannah asked uncertainly.
The other Feral raised an eyebrow, "No. I just had a medical check."
"With Dr. Itagawa?" she questioned. "That must have been fun for you."
Jago winced slightly, "He did have a few choice words he wanted to share with me."
"Yeah? Well I've got some more," Aero murmured under his breath, causing Jago to flash his eyes at him.
"I'll be going then, don't want to keep her majesty waiting," Hannah said slowly before shrugging her shoulders at Jago in a 'Your court, your ball!' gesture.
There were a few moments of awkward silence whilst Jago stared at the wall and Aero stared at the floor. Eventually, Aero cleared his throat and coughed, "So, um - is there anywhere private we could go to talk?"
Jago pointedly looked around at the very empty and silent corridor. Aero threw his hands up and sighed hopelessly.
"I knew this was a bad idea." He began to turn around before a hand came down heavily on his shoulder. Jago's palm felt impossibly hot through Aero's meant-to-be-heat-resistant uniform.
"Follow me," Jago instructed, turning away and walking down the hallway without looking back to check Aero was actually following him.
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