Headquarters
December 2009
The first time Tadashi receives their
files, he opens them after Eri’s left. The first thing he reads are their
surnames: black and in bold, spelled out in caps, with the first reading MAXWELL and the second reading PETERS.
He opens the one on top first, flips to the first or second page, and then sees
the 2x2 picture of a female staring at the camera with a completely neutral
expression.
Her picture haunts him slightly. She
couldn’t be older than seventeen, eighteen. Dark hair, a slim face, piercing
green eyes. No trace of a smile on her face, instead just a face staring into
the camera with a blank, calm expression. Tadashi found himself wondering if
she knew what she had gotten herself into and secretly willed for this young
lady to stay back in England, find another job where she could keep herself
safe.
Looking at the next file wasn’t any better.
It bore the picture of a male this time, a few years younger than the female
but still young nonetheless. He was remarkably handsome, the slightest trace of
a smirk catching his attention. Brown hair, blue eyes. He looked strong,
confident, like he could conquer the world on his own. He wished the same for
him; wanted him to stay in New York and work alongside his father. It was much
safer there—
But for some reason, they were both coming
there—to HQ, to Atlanta—with in the span of a few months. He swallowed
nervously, flipped through their files and read through the information
presented. Two completely different people. Two completely different pasts. His
heart ached for the female and felt a certain flutter of pride for the male.
He didn’t know how they even ended up
there, presented to him within a couple of papers and stuffed into plain black
folders. He didn’t know if they’d even survive.
His grip on the files tightens slightly and
he prays to any listening gods that they’d be safe. That they’d stay safe.
ii.
Headquarters
November 2014
The first time they meet each other
properly, Peters isn’t quite sure how to react about the rest of them. They’re
in HQ, gathered in one of the spare offices reserved for ‘team building’ or
whatever they call it. He’s there early—Tadashi soon enters with a female by
his side and he flashes that warm smile at Peters.
“This is it,” he announces after a split
second. Peters stays silent as does the female. He’s met Tadashi before; after
all, he was the one who brought him back to his apartment. They’ve had coffee a
few times, shared a few break times—he thought the guy was a good person. “So.
Welcome to the team.”
The shorter female breaks the silence
first, speaks in a quiet but firm voice. “Is this our teammate?” Before Tadashi
can reply, Peters approaches and extends his hand. The other stares for a few
seconds before extending her hand hesitantly, and they shake.
“Peters,” he introduces himself. “Samuel
Peters, but I’d like to go by my surname.”
“Aether Maxwell.” She lets go eventually
and lets her hand fall to her side, “Call me Aether or A.”
They’re looking at each other for a long
time from that point on and Tadashi barely interrupts. Peters knows what she’s
doing—he feels her green eyes scan him from head to toe, attempt to scrutinize
this newcomer who she hadn’t even met before. And he’s doing the same. He tries
to get a read on her, tries to decipher something behind the lack of smile, the
seemingly rehearsed introduction.
And the realization is a simple one: she’s
nervous. She’s nervous and he can tell and he’s about to start talking but
Tadashi’s voice floods the room and they snap to attention immediately. She
straightens up and Peters leans against the wall. Her eyes are intently on him
and his casually glance around. She seems stiff and formal and rigid; he just
lets his limbs hang loose, shoulders more relaxed.
Peters is suddenly more aware that these
were the people he was supposed to be working with, that this was the reason
why he flew all the way from New York, away from his family and away from
living under a shadow.
He isn’t quite sure if it was what he
expected.
iii.
Headquarters
September 2015
Upon meeting Squad A for the first time,
Mack wasn’t quite sure if he would belong at all. It felt weird—he was already
informed that there were three members who had known each other for some time.
Somehow, he felt like he’d be one weird-shaped piece who would try to fit in,
and it was enough to make him cringe.
But then again, Eri had assured him that
they were good people, as did someone named Sol. There was no backing out, he
gave eventually. No more backing out, as he had already chosen to work closely
with HQ and associate himself with a stable company for once.
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting.
He was in an office; it was one that
somehow blended the right amount of professionalism and hominess. The walls
were the standard shade of grey which the other walls of the building held, but
there were also pictures, certificates, framed portraits. There were a few
houseplants, one by the window and one on the table. It seemed more like a
comfortable den than anything else—
“Macmillan, right? Mack Thomas?” a voice
asked. He nearly jumped. Someone had just come into the office and he spun
quickly, almost tripping over himself. He heard a mutter from behind the person
but chose to ignore, instead looking this new person in the eye. She was easily
the shortest of the team, he guessed, but somehow looked the most mature. She
shot him a warm smile. Her name flashed in his mind and he found himself saying
it, testing it out.
“Ms. Maxwell.”
“Aether. Come, sit.” She gestured to a seat
by the table and he sat, with her taking the seat across instead of the one
behind the table. She was younger than he expected, he realized. “Do you rather
we call you Mack or Macmillan, maybe Thomas?”
It seemed like such a normal question. He
honestly expected them to ask about skills, talents, or any of his accomplishments.
It threw him off. “Mack,” he managed. “Mack is okay. My name is a mouthful—”
“Not like Aether’s,” a strong voice rings
out. Aether’s head turns immediately and Mack sees the polite lady shoot the
driest glare at the source of the voice and immediately there’s a peal of
laughter. “Nice to meet you, hope she isn’t boring you to death with the
getting to know you session.”
“Peters, shut the fuck up.” To his
bewilderment, the two start to engage in (seemingly light) banter and all he
can do is watch, watch, watch.
A light hand presses onto his shoulder.
“Don’t worry,” an exasperated voice tells him. He turns his head and sees an
older Korean fellow, “This is completely normal. Welcome to Squad
A.”
iv.
Aether’s Apartment
June 2017
Aether wakes from their first night out as
an official and complete squad with a splitting headache. She hears Peters moan
for a painkiller and the sound of Mack’s grumbling through the apartment’s thin
walls. Somehow, she manages to pick up a robe and wears it, eventually exiting the
room and squinting at the sight.
The sight amuses her, brightens her mood
slightly. Peters lies on the couch moaning about his head, Mack grumbles and
stays wrapped in one of Aether’s spare blankets. In the kitchen, Tadashi
prepares breakfast. She smells eggs and bacon and rushes to meet him, the male
smiling upon seeing her.
“Good morning to you,” he greets. She’s
amazed. He’s barely hungover—
“How are you managing to cook a proper
breakfast?”
“I can manage my alcohol very well.” Peters
somehow manages to hear this and he yells out a fucking witchcraft before Mack snaps at him to shut the fuck up. Tadashi can’t help but laugh, urging for her to
sit down, and hands her a cup of warm coffee. “How are you holding up?”
“I feel like shit and honestly regret last
night’s alcohol consumption.” She drinks and eventually shoots him a smile
back, “but I enjoyed. I really found myself enjoying for once instead of
working non-stop at HQ.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” They hear the
argument between Peters and Mack intensify until Mack yells something along the
lines of shut the fuck up and I can’t hear the reality TV. This makes
her snort and Tadashi laughs himself, listening to the ongoing bickering
between the two males stuck in the living room.
Eventually the food is ready and they eat
breakfast, Mack still wrapped in the blanket and Peters stuffing his face with
the greasiest bacon Tadashi had whipped up. They tease and laugh and poke fun,
bring up inside jokes from the night before and have to stop Tadashi from
choking with laughter.
She watches them, watches her teammates and
can’t help but feel a flutter of something in her chest, feel a tender emotion
and a certain attachment she hadn’t felt for a long time—
Aether felt home.
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