What are friends for?

"Have you seen Disko around?" 

Sasha knew something was amiss the second he heard his lover's voice, small and devoid of any usual chipper. He shuts his eyes as he tries to remember his path throughout the HQ that day, realising that no, he hadn't seen nor heard the rambunctious lady. With an ongoing mission happening in Ascent, Italy, and himself and his comrades recovering from their previous one on Haven, it didn't exactly feel out of the ordinary to have the entire building sound so quiet. Aside from the occasional hum of radianite buzzing through the walls, Sova didn't question the lack of boisterous laughter or loud music blasting through the walls. And quite frankly, he had little reason to care. After surviving a building collapse on Haven, he could honestly care less about any other teammate that wasn't Ruby, who he had snug in his aching arms. Until now, at least.

"Will you be okay while I go look for her?" His face contorted into an unmanly pout, but he reluctantly nodded in the end. Ruby gave the blond locks above his head a little ruffle, treating him so much like a small child it made his cheeks burn. He huffs when she pulls up a pair of pants, insistent on going on her search. "Come back quickly, yes?" 

The smile of affirmation she shoots him makes him feel far too weak, and he shoos her out of their dorm before he gets a second thought at letting her go.

-

 

"Sorry to disturb you, Miss Ling Ying, but have you seen Dolores anywhere?" 

Sage looks up from the stack of paperwork she's doing, a custom after each mission, success or otherwise. She puts her pen down to give Ruby her undivided attention, taking the chance to massage her wrist and add a little radiant touch to soothe it. 

"How many times must I remind you to just call me Sage?" She starts, though the smile tugging at her lips told Ruby she wasn't offended in the slightest. Ruby smiles sheepishly, watching the older woman tap the pen to her chin, deep in thought from her enquiry.

"I saw her having lunch with Phoenix. Perhaps she's still with him, or he knows where she went after?" Sage notices Ruby's eyes crinkling from the lead she's given, and she smiles again, nodding in her own instructions. It can be difficult keeping track of the whereabouts of all - what was it now... twenty five? twenty six? - agents of the protocol. And despite Sabine's insistence, Sage is stubborn in that we absolutely should NOT have tracking devices planted on each agent we recruit. After all, if anyone were to hack into our database, it'd be putting everybody at risk.

Instead, she shakes her head out of her thoughts and wishes Birdie luck on her search. She greets Birdie a farewell, but does not fail to miss her kind "try not to overwork yourself, okay Miss Sage?" What a sweetheart, Ling Ying thinks to herself, resuming her responsibilities with renewed vigor.

-

"Jams, you in here?" Ruby ducks her head into the room, knocking only out of courtesy. She blinks when she doesn't see Phoenix at first, instead hearing his disembodied voice coming from the walk in closet.

"Ey Birdie! Figured you'd be snoggin it up with Sova after what happened, him gettin' a tad injured and all."

"He wasn't a tad injured, he was crushed under a collapsed building..."

"Same thing! Big guy, he can handle a little scufflin'."

Ruby shakes her head, shooting her friend a very poignant look. As much as she loves Phoenix out of the field, she knows first hand how reckless and dismissive the duelist can be. Especially when it comes to his own teammates. And she frankly wasn't in the mood to argue.

"Did Dol happen to tell you where she was going after lunch? I haven't seen her today." 

It was only at the mention of Disko did Phoenix put down the sneaker he was reorganising in his collection.

"Yeah nah, she seemed a lil knackered, said somethin' about letting off some steam? I figure from what she said there was some cock up in her mission, but we weren't around for it so, can't say for sure."

Ruby nods at his every word, unsure of what conclusion to make of it, as well as trying to decipher half of the things he says.

"If I were you I'd check out the range. But let me know if you find her, and if I learn anythin' i'll ring you a bell."

And then he's back to rearranging his sneakers. Ruby only sticks around long enough for Jamie to realise she has no idea what his funny words mean, making him chuckle and make a phonecall sign with his thumb and pinky finger, waving it around until Ruby got the message. Her face lights up when she finally understands, audibly letting out an "Ooooh, okay!" before leaving. When Jamie hears the door shuts behind her, he can't help but laugh again.

-

Leaving the common dormitories of the HQ and making her way to the practice range wasn't particularly eventful, unless Ruby were to count the sight of Vincent looking for his spectacles in the garden. Not only was the sight hilarious, it was also hard to imagine how poor the marksman's vision must be without his glasses. No wonder his sniper was specially altered, from the way he was (frankly) pathetically searching the shrubbery, Ruby deduces that the man could not see a thing. 

The amusement from witnessing Chamber's spectacle (pun intended) only lasted for so long, until a loud operator shot broke her train of thought and reminding Birdie of her destination. 

"Dooooolly! Dolly, you hereeeee?" Ruby called out, though she kept in mind that anyone could be using the range, Jett especially well known for practicing her operator rifle and knives late into the night. She thinks she may have caught a glimpse of Dolores, a skirt of purple and red, but realises quickly that it was Lyrus, whose eyes were trained on the glass between themselves and the range itself. The popstar nods a greeting to Birdie as she steps up next to her, following the gaze over the bulletproof glass and to the woman inside the range. Indeed, Disko was switching between an operator and a marshall, both dropped on the floor for easy retrieval, alongside a rifle and a shotgun. Despite her sweat proof make up, Birdie quickly took notice of the burden on her brows, each shot fired being fueled by something far more than just an aim training session.

"Uhh, what's up with her?" Ruby asked, itching to have her questions answered. Lyrus shrugged, despite obviously knowing much more than she let on, and Ruby's mouth straightened into a thin line, now determined to find the root cause of her girl friend's demeanor. Lyrus doesn't try to stop her when she enters the range, instinctively holding her ears up to cover the incredibly loud operator shot now fired within a few feet from her. They really need to find some way to disperse sound from this place, this is ear shattering. Or maybe Disko was just somehow shooting very hard. Lyrus follows behind her, clearly just as concerned, or intrigued by what Disko was going through.

"Dolores," Lyrus' voice chirped up first, and Birdie was actually a little relieved for it. Though it took until Lyrus tapped on Disko's shoulder for her to finally give them both her attention, she did finally lower her gun, her eyes softening when she sees her closest friends. 

"Hey! I didn't realise you'd both came. I didn't forget any kind of slumber party right?" Whether an excuse or a genuine concern, Disko proceeds to pull out her mobile, catching a glimpse at the time on her lock screen and sighing in relief. If she had planned some slumber party, she was thankfully not late for it. 

"Cut the crap, Dol, what's up with you?" Lyrus' narrow eyes helped with her piercing tone, an arm landing on her hip as she stares down the duelist. Birdie dumbly follows Lyrus' pose, placing both hands on her waist and giving her best "you better start talking!" glare.

"Yeah Dolly! What's up with you!" She repeats, and grins sheepishly when she hears herself, her own tone lacking the sass and assertiveness of her initiator friend. 

Dolores looks left and right, looking at her two friends, and if she weren't so stressed out right now, she would totally be bursting out laughing from Ruby's act. The sweet sentinel could not act scary if she tried. Not to her, at least.

"I mean, it's kinda a long story. If you two reaaaally want to know, we can go get chimichangas from that place Mateo was raving about? After I take a shower, of course."

Birdie and Lyrus look at eachother, assessing the offer. Tempting. Very tempting. Gekko had not shut up about the new food truck down the road, and was trying to make sure everyone tried it at least once before the truck eventually leaves for it's next stop. And all this searching around had left her hungry. Lyrus seems to share the same idea, a smirk finally forming on her lips. 

"Are you paying?"

"You're richer than me, cheapskate!"

"Okay but, free food."

Birdie grins when Disko playfully smacks Lyrus's arm, letting her tied up bun fall back down into a ponytail after her work out. They both help her put the guns back in place, locking them up safely and cleaning up any stray remains of the poor innocent bots she utterly demolished. When they finally finish, Ruby feels herself breaking out into a sweat, comically wiping it away and going "phew!" which only draws out an amused stare from both Lyrus and Disko. 

-

"THAT'S what this is about?!" Ruby exclaims between mouthfuls of the best chimichanga she has ever had in her entire life. Not that the kiwi had that many in her life, to be fair. Her friends shush her as she notices the stares she's getting from the other patrons, and she chews up the food and swallows quickly before repeating herself, far quieter, but with just as much gusto. 

"You should drop him." Lyrus chimes in, just as she gives the middle finger to yet another paparazzi who tried to take her picture. If it were any other celebrity, they'd probably just take the photo anyway. But with her fingers also sizzling with radiance, she knows it's a big enough threat to fend off the tabloids. Plus, there is absolutely nothing worth reporting here. Let a woman enjoy her chimichanga for god's sake. 

Disko grumbles at both their responses, her head leaning down onto the fold up table, causing her large poofy hair to fall in front of her face. She uses a pinkie finger to push the hair away, but somehow still manages to get hair in her mouth, complaining the entire time as she pulls out a long strand of her own hair that she almost accidentally ingested.

"And the worst part is that Brim keeps listening to him! I don't know what he's bribing him with, but Brim literally doesnt let me go on field missions anymore, even the ones Amir aren't going. If I do go suddenly I'm supposed to stay in the helicoptor with Klara. I'm a duelist for Christ's sake!"

There's an awfully long silence after Dolores finishes her rant, eating her food angrily while obviously enjoying every bite of savoury deliciousness. Her face is scrunched up and Birdie can't tell if it's frustration from her woes or pleasure from the wrap in her hands.

"I think he's being blackmailed."

"Yeah... I can see that. The only reason Brim would just listen to Cypher like that is if he's blackmailing him, lmfao."

Dolores stares at her friends, her face already saying "gee, thanks guys, you're wonderful help" before her voice can. It's obviously not what she wants to hear, but she stays quiet, waiting to see what else they'll say.

"I mean, sometimes Sasha doesn't even let me pilot the helicopter even though I renew my license on time every year. And I have both working eyes! So I kinda get it. He's just worried, y'know?"

"He's just stupid." Lyrus interrupts, and this time, it's Dolores who's inclined to agree. "I'd trust your piloting over his, no offence Sova." He did miss those operator shots that lead him to get crushed beneath the building...

"Plus, Amir doesn't think I'm incapable or anything, he just gets so damn paranoid it's annoying."

"Sasha doesn't think I'm incapable!"

Birdie almost regrets it the second she says it, with the way both her friends at now blinking at her. 

"I can't tell if you're that hopeless or just as stupid as he is."

"Don't be mean, Lyr."

"It's not mean, it's facts, girl."

Ruby clears her throat, suddenly not wanting to continue this conversation any more. This was about Dolly, not her!

"Okay look, the next time we have to go anywhere we'll tell Brim we refuse unless you can come along. How about that?"

If there's one thing Ruby can be smug about, it's her quick thinking and compromising. Lyrus seems keen on the idea as well, with Disko being one of the only few around she can even stand being on a mission with. 

"Please. If I have to spend another week cooped up in the HQ i'll grow insane." There's genuine gratuity in Dolores' voice, and Ruby can't help but feel proud that she's come up with a good solution. 

"I'll, I dunno, be extra mean to him when he comes back from this mission." Lyrus shrugs, ignoring the way Disko's eyes narrow at her.

"Don't do that to my honey boo."

"He's a shit honey boo if he won't even let you out of the house."

"That's cause he cares."

"Then I hope you stay missionless."

"What- hey! Why would you say that!"

Lyrus can't help but crack a grin herself, successfully getting under Disko's skin, and in her own way, lifting the other's spirits. Especially when her infectious smile makes both Dolores and Ruby burst out in laughter as well. They finish their food in far better moods, even enjoying a bowl of shaved ice together as a shared treat.

"Are you guys ready to go?"

"Wait, I gotta pack something back for Sasha."

Lyrus and Disko look at one another as Birdie runs back to the register, both holding back on witty quips about a certain injured Russian. They've been doing that a lot lately, probably thinking they should at least be nice to him for now after what he went through. Once he recovers though, it's all over, they're making sure of it. 

While waiting, Lyrus silently hands Disko a new lipgloss, pointing at her own lips to make her point.

"Since you ran out, it keeps drying up and it's driving me insane."

Now, if Disko were any less intelligent she'd go "Awww... you do care!" But because Disko is a smart woman, she just inspects the flavour and brand Lyrus has chosen, and pockets the gift, sighing in relief. 

"Thank god, you're a saviour." Is what she ends up with, not making it a bigger deal than it is. Because it's not a big deal. And Disko will freak out over the fact that THE Lyrus just gifted her another product that she knows she likes later when she's alone. It does not matter how long they've been friends and colleagues, she was a fangirl first. They wait in comfortable silence after, watching Ruby skip her way back to them.

"I actually don't know what burrito Sasha would like, so I bought three of them for him to choose. If he doesn't want any of them can you guys take them?"

"I'm not taking your boy toy's leftovers." 

"Hell yeah, free food!"

The difference in responses has Ruby doubling over in laughter, almost dropping the plastic bag with the food still warm inside if it weren't for both her friends' quick reflexes, one grabbing her shoulders and the other grabbing the plastic bag before it lands on the ground.

"Let's- oh my god- let's just get back," Ruby wheezes, and for once, all three of them can agree with that, making their way back to their shared home at the headquarters.

-

Sabine and Lyrus both try (and fail) to not roll their eyes at Cypher when the team returns, perfectly safe and sound. From the way Sunwoo and Ryo were grumbling as they reunited with Jamie, it was a rather uneventful mission, with little enemies and even less action. 

"My darling Dolores, how I've missed you!" Amir exclaims, taking Disko's hand and giving her a dramatic twirl. Disko only beams at him briefly, before wriggling out of his embrace to greet her duelist friends. A little bewildered, Cypher turns to Lyrus and Birdie, who was somehow supporting her initiator boyfriend who was twice her size, using her sort of as a crutch. 

"Did I do something wrong?" The sentinel inquires, not missing the way the two look at eachother.

"It's not our place to say." 

"You fucked up big time, brother."

Birdie and Lyrus speak at the exact same time, bursting out in laughter at the contrast of their responses. The only comfort Cypher gets afterwards is the small thumbs up from Sova, something the two of them have started sending each other when the girls are being as cryptic as they are. Something that can mean anything from "nothing's wrong at all" to "eh you'll be fine". It's only ever been a thumbs down once, from Cypher to Sova, when he accidentally implied that Birdie could not scale Mount Everest alone, and Birdie started tearing up at the accusation. So if Sova was giving him a thumbs up, it can't be all that bad... right?

"Wait, where's Tala?" Disko asks, making Jett updraft before them in surprise. "Oh, she fell asleep from boredom." Sunwoo tells her, leaving the small duelist clique to go fetch her girlfriend, only to be beaten by Reyna already carrying her piggy back style. Dolores watches as Sunwoo fusses over Tala's comfort, following Reyna out of the main lobby after yelling a farewell to her friends.

Ryo is the next one to leave, pulling Jamie's sleeve along with him. "C'mon Phoenix, you and I have some unfinished business to attend to." 

Oh they are so banging. Everyone in the protocol shared the exact same thought.

"Tell me again why you brought four duelists with you?" Fade asks Sabine, pointing and counting to ensure that indeed, it was four out of the seven duelists. "They wanted to come along." Viper remarks, already stripping off her skin tight suit for something far comfier. Fade sighs, seeing as their obligatory "meet the squad who just came back from their mission" time has ended, and makes her move as well, Viper in tow.

"Sasha and I are gonna go back too, he shouldn't be out of bed for so long, he's still very fragile!" Birdie exclaims, completely ignoring Sova's pleas and claims that he was doing better. As if to unintentionally prove her point, she tries to stand him up for him to walk alone, only to catch him again before he tumbles forward.

"You were saying?" Ruby scolds, yammering on like an overworked housewife as they start to leave as well. Before long, everyone had departed, and Disko was left once again with Cypher, who had yet to take his eyes off of her.

-

"Is the temperature too warm or too cold? Are the blankets snug enough? Have you taken the pain meds? Do you need whale noises?"

"Whale wh- Birdie..." Sasha had no choice but to watch her scramble, fussing over every little detail as if he were her helpless child. He was currently handicapped, and at her mercy, and ever since his accident, she's really starting to feel more like his mother...

"Birdie... Ruby... Can I just have you?" He asks, earnest and bashful. Birdie's eyes soften at the request, and she puts down the thermostat she was tinkering with to take her place by his side, being extra careful not to press on his injured side, or his still recovering limbs. 

"Does it hurt when I do this?" Ruby asks, snaking an arm under his head and cuddling him in a position that she thinks might ache when she wakes up, but she doesn't care enough to change it. She's inclined to find a way to snuggle her boyfriend no matter how uncomfortable, as long as she doesn't hurt him. Sasha shakes his head, burying his face deeper into her collar. 

"...Missed you. You said you wouldn't take long." The russian whined. This was the third time he'd mentioned now how Ruby only returned after dinner. And though he appreciated her bringing back food for him, it still doesn't change the fact that she left him alone and he doesn't like being alone without her. He's sick and injured and he definitely needs her holding his hand at every moment to recover, after all.

"I'm here now, aren't I?" Ruby giggled, craning her neck to press a kiss to the top of his head. Sasha sighed at the feeling, closing his eyes and embracing Ruby despite the ache in his bones. "Stay, don't go anywhere." He responds in kind, his strong hold tightening, which only brings out another melodious laugh from the adorable sentinel holding him. 

"I'm not going to. Goodnight, little owl."

-

"Goodnight Kirra!" Dolores can be heard finishing up her rounds of goodnights, greeting the last of her friends now that the dust had settled. She had yet to come greet Amir however, and he was starting to think this wasn't as "thumbs up" as Sasha had implied after all. He continues leaning his back against the wall, observing as his partner excitedly chat up their coworkers.

"What's got you so worried, chale? We both know she's 'down bad' for you!" Astra looks to Cypher with a twinkle in her eye, her hair wrapped up in a large towel indicative of the shower she must've just had. Amir knows how obvious his lie would be if he were to say he wasn't worried, so he just stays quiet, instead letting Astra spill her wisdom until her wait is over, Harbor's appearance into the common room making it as such.

Observing the pair of controllers leave the common room, shoulders touching, deep in their own conversation, has Amir gritting his teeth. He doesn't want to admit that he's frustrated, but one glance at the clock shows that he's been here for a good half an hour since everyone else retreated to their own rooms, or with their own partners, and Dolores still showed no signs of returning to his side.

When the clock strikes twelve in the morning, and an automatic announcement system reminds all agents to be in their rooms and lowering their noise level by 1am, Amir decides he's had enough of Dolores' games, and makes his way back to his own quarters. 

"Troubled, aren't you?" Omen's deep voice comes from the other door, having just made his way back to his own room, ready to turn in for the night. Cypher almost snaps at his friend and dorm neighbour, for this is the third time one of his teammates has called him out on his obvious distress now, and it's really starting to not reflect the whole masked secretive mysterious thing he's trying to do. He sighs, giving Omen a nod of defeat and admission, and turns the knob on his door. If his closest friend wanted to hear of his woes today, he wasn't going to let that happen.

"Yo sweetheart, I was starting to think you weren't ever coming to bed." 

Amir almost jumps at the familiar voice, head whipping over his shoulder faster than he'd like. He scans his eyes quickly over Dolores' comfortable frame, her usual poofy hair being tamed ever so slightly by the shower she just had. 

"Were you not with Lyrus just a moment ago...?" The sentinel couldn't help but question, feeling himself burn in shame when she quirked her eyebrow to contest his words. "You mean like, twenty five minutes ago?" Huh. Cypher shook his head as he tries to shake off his uncertainty. Was he really that reckless in his observation? Perhaps conversing with Astra had distracted him? Though deep down, he knew it was his own fault for letting Dolores out of his sight. 

"My apologies then." Dolores doesn't respond, instead patting the space next to her on the bed, inviting him back to her side. He gingerly makes his way over, taking the time to replace his usual hat and mask with just a regular one that covered only the bottom half of his face. Now that Dolores could see his eyes, she saw the way his brows furrowed, concern written all over them.

"If I can ask, are you by any chance upset with me?"

Dolores takes her time to let the question marinate in the air, patting her side once more until Amir relaxes enough to sit down next to her. He melts into her touch when she leans her head on his shoulder, ignoring the feeling of her damp hair soaking through his shirt. He almost falls asleep right then and there, feeling her warmth pressed to his side as they make themselves comfortable in the queen sized. It's only just as he's about to fall asleep that Dolores finally responds, quick and briefly, before letting sleep take over. Amir's eyes widen in shock.

"Not anymore. I love you too much to stay mad at you. By the way, I have six main duelist missions lined up for the next week. Goodnight!"