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Chapter 3: Small Talk
When he wrote it was never anything major, usually his thoughts about the day or small doodles. This time it was a doodle of Morgan and his robotic arm. Kokobiel sat the journal down on the nightstand before he covered himself in the bunk's blanket as he tried to fall asleep. He was restless for half an hour at least, the image of Berums and Olga's body still fresh in his mind. He finally fell asleep as his body gave out to exhaustion, his body still in pain as he gripped his side in his sleep. Shrapnel from a grenade had hit him the day before, it wasn't deep and didn't hit anything vital but it still hurt as the stitches healed. He woke up hours later as he set up in the bunk to look over to see Tom still asleep, wrapped in his blanket as his tail dropped off the side of the bed.
Kokobiel let out a sigh as he got up stretching out before holding his side with the bandages, he looked under his shirt on the side of the wound to find the wound had started to bleed again during his sleep.
He let down his shirt as he left the room to find out where the medical was, he walked the hallway as he found several storage rooms and sleeping rooms. Finding a large opening as he looked in to find what seemed like a cafeteria almost, the dark didn't help his vision of what it was. Even in the little light he could make out a silhouette of a person before a light struck him in the face before it turned off.
"Sorry, I just had to check who it was. There's a light right there to your left," Morgan said as the light turned off and Kokobiel could see again. He reached over to the left as he flipped a switch. The lights in the room turned on as the room was fully visible now.
"Do you know where any bandages are? And probably some disinfectant as well," Kokobiel asked as he walked towards the table Morgan was sitting at.
"I think we have a few gauze left and some high proof booze somewhere," Morgan said as he got up, walking to the back as he looked for the medical supplies. Kokobiel could see him hop over the counter of the cafeteria before he disappeared around a corner. Kokobiel sat on the table as he waited for him to return. He soon came back before he hopped back over the counter, a medkit and bottle of booze in hand. Morgan set the med kit on the table as he opened up the bag, he then opened the bottle of booze as he grabbed a cloth from the medkit.
"I guess I should ask if you require help for this?" Morgan asked before he continued.
"The help would be nice of you to do," Kokobiel replied back as he rolled up his shirt and lifted up his arm. Morgan put booze onto the cloth as he cleaned the wound. The alcohol burned as it made contact with Kokobiel's wound. Kokobiel gritted his teeth as the wound was cleaned before the pain subsided. Morgan ran his good hand across one of Kokobiel's scars before he went to get the gauze, he stretched out the gauze as he began to wrap around Kokobiel's wound. Kokobiel lifted up his shirt to allow Morgan to wrap it better.
"How'd you get this?" Morgan asked as he finished wrapping the wound.
"Grenade. Some fucker took it from us in the middle of the night and well, here we are." Kokobiel let down his shirt and got off the table before sitting in the chair. Morgan sat down in the chair as he leaned back.
"That sucks. Did anyone die?" Morgan asked an almost morbid curiosity in his tone.
"...No, I was the only one who really got hit," Kokobiel was put off by his tone. Morgan shrugged as he inspected his metal arm.
"Just figured to ask. Grenades do some bad damage when close enough. Hate the tinnitus they give," Morgan said. He was very casual about this. It reminded Kokobiel about Tom, but different in the way he set his body and the way he spoke. They were brothers so it only made sense to him.
"I have to ask out of curiosity: what's with the other scars?" Morgan was blunt with how he asked.
"You know, you can be very blunt at times. But I got them from fights, usually with knives," Kokobiel replied back letting out a huff.
"I'm still partly tired, so please excuse my bluntness. What's the saying? Don't talk to me until Ive had my coffee, correct?" Morgan said back to Kokobiel as he sat up in his chair.
"Yes, that would be correct. Since we're on the topic of injuries, how'd you lose the arm?" Kokobiel asked, his fingers tapping the table out of habit.
"Some from the fire. It left nerve damage up to the forearm. The rest was being shot a few times, leaving my arm useless and became infected. Medic had to cut it off and cauterize the wound, and I built the arm myself," Morgan replied back, he continued to stir in his seat unable to settle.
"Sorry to hear that, the arm looks cool," Kokobiel replied back, trying to cushion the blow. He knew about the fire, he knew how Tom and Morgan lost their parents that day.
"It's fine, it's been I think three years at this point. The phantom pains still happen but the arm helps," Morgan said as he lifted up the arm closing the hand. The hand was painted with a brown color similar to Morgan's fur, past the wrist was a fully covered metal arm, stray wires on one side, a flashlight on the left side. There was a metal square cut out with a hinge at one end that seemed to open. Morgan undid his folded up sleeve as he rolled it down to his wrist before he laid his arm down.
"What's it made out of?" Kokobiel asked, he could feel that tone change in the room, Morgan's eyes didn't look at him now.
"Mostly carbon steel, due to its durability and how easy it is to obtain. The finger tips are a solid steel though. The steel tips make it easy to open cans," Morgan replied back as he looked back up to Kokobiel.
"You have a funny face, you know that?" Morgan asked, it was definitely rhetorical but Kokobiel stuck out his tongue.
"And you hide yours," Kokobiel shot back, Morgan chuckled as he let down his mask. His face had a few scars across it, but the most interesting part was a bar piercing hat connected to each nostril with small metal rings.
"There, now we're on even playing fields, but your face is still funny," Morgan replied back as he grinned.
"Glad you like looking at it," Kokobiel said as he gave a sly smirk and a wink. Morgan rolled his eyes as he went to lean back on his chair.
"So how did you meet my brother? He's not the type to drag along strangers, let alone talk to them," Morgan asked, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow waiting in response.
"Special forces. Apparently your brother makes a good foot soldier for someone," Kokobiel said.
"I'd almost say it's surprising, but he was a good egg to our parents. I bet he likes taking orders from men," Morgan said as he laughed to himself before sighing. Kokobiel shook his head as he gave a small laugh.
"So, how'd you end up in a position like this? Doesn't exactly scream the Greinger family business," Kokobiel asked, adding a sarcastic remark to his tone.
"I would like to say a chain of poor decisions, but that would imply I hate this and regret my decisions, which I don't. It hasn't been the best, but I enjoy it. I got here because I believe this war was stupid and only led to the death of more people than necessary. Some people don't even get a choice in this," Morgan said as his robotic arm tightened, his steel tips digging into the table. Then for a moment Kokobiel could see Morgan was in his thoughts. Morgan let out a sigh as his grip loosened on the table.
"It just infuriates me. I just want what's good for the people, the freedom of it all. I sound like a mad man, don't I?" Morgan said as he ran his arm through his hair.
"You slightly do, but you're coming from a good place. I think so at least," Kokobiel replied as he leaned on the table.
"Maybe I just need to tone it down. I'm sure HQ will bring us some work so I'm not just sitting here with my thoughts," Morgan said.
"I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to," Kokobiel said as he sat up in his chair.
"Thanks, I'll be sure to come to you when I need to," Morgan replied back. As they sat and talked for a little while Tom had appeared at the entrance of the room and had walked in, joining the two. Kokobiel was the first to notice him.
"Suprised you're awake. You normally sleep in, even when you have to wake up early," Kokobiel said.
"I've slept enough recently, plus I think I stretched a muscle in my back on that bunk. Feels weird and hurts to move," Tom replied back as he sat at the table.
"So what are y'all talking about?" Tom continued after sitting.
"Just life and why we're here. Y'know, basic late day things, though I can't tell what the light outside is. Do you guys not have a clock?" Kokobiel asked Morgan.
"Yeah, but no one knows how to read it. It's one of those, uuh, analog clocks, I think that's the name," Morgan replied back. Kokobiel nodded at Morgan's answer before looking back to Tom.
"I have to ask, do you really think the freelancers will come looking for us?" Kokobiel asked.
"I don't know, probably, they don't have our bodies but they also could just be hunting us if they think we deserted." Tom said.
"I say they most likely will. They are very persistent when they want something or if they care enough. Luckily I don't think they'll find you here," Morgan said as he relaxed back in the chair.
"I think we should be fine then. Do you guys have a coffee maker?" Kokobiel asked.
"Somewhere in the back of the kitchen. Just don't use the fancy stuff. Dingo hates when someone touches her things," Morgan said as he pointed to where the coffee maker was. Kokobiel got up as he walked to the machine taking the carafe and filling it with water as he went to heat it. He filled the carafe with water before he filled the machine with it, he laid a filter into the machine as he scooped in already ground bits of coffee beans. He shut the lid on the machine as he pushed a button on the machine as he waited. Soon the carafe filled, he picked it up filling his cup before returning to the table.
"What, none for me?" Morgan asked as he smirked to Kokobiel.
"You have two legs and they seem to work perfectly fine, plus you just have to pour it in a mug. It's not like I took the entire thing," Kokobiel said as he pointed back towards the machine which still had a decent amount of coffee in the carafe.
"I'm just fucking with you. I don't think we have milk or creamer, and I won't drink my coffee without it," Morgan said as he leaned back in his chair looking up to the ceiling.
"Just sounds like you're a wussy, so privileged and high up, needing sugar and cream for his coffee," Kokobiel said a sly smile forming as he went to sip the coffee.
"Oh shut up, my preference in coffee does not reflect my stature. Help me out here Tom," Morgan spat back, looking to Tom for support.
"I like tea better," Tom said as he shrugged, they both looked at him and squinted their eyes.
"Weirdo," the two said in unison. Tom flipped them both off as he got up to go to the kitchen. The two chuckled as he walked away. Hopping the canteen counter, he searched through the cabinets and fridge before taking some crackers and what looked to be peanut butter, or something close to it. He hopped back over the counter to the two as he sat back down.
"You guys have nothing here. I mean you guys don't even have spices. We are going out to the nearest town and getting supplies," Tom said as he opened the jar and began to eat.
"No shit sherlock, we currently have a team out to get groceries. Usually takes a few days, mostly because we don't have many vehicles and very little credits on hand," Morgan said as he sat up, stretching out his arms as he yawned.
"I think I'm going to go back to bed. Dingo will kick my ass if I don't get enough sleep. She likes her team ‘well rested,' bleh," Morgan said as he finally got up and walked into the hall.
"So, why are you awake? We both know you sleep like a dead horse, so something is going on." Tom said, his tone changed to a mixture of demanding and curious.
"I couldn't sleep, we've had a rough couple of days, and this wound on my side still hurts to lay on. My mind is just full, too many thoughts and not enough time," Kokobiel gave back as he positioned himself in his chair to be more defensive.
"Then why talk to Morgan about it and not me?" Tom said, his brow raising.
"I came in here, he was already in here. I can't help that he's nice to talk to," Kokobiel said back, his voice raised but not a yell.
"That's kinda gay dude," Tom replied back, giving a sly smile.
"You're kinda gay, but he just helped me get my thoughts out. I don't see you trying to do the same!" Kokobiel said back, his voice raising more.
"I guess that is fair. What is on your mind?" Tom said. His tone became serious and concerned for his friend.
"I just keep replaying that moment in my head. Did I really have to shoot them? Surely not, they were just concerned and scared, and now we're here, a rebel base, the thing they were concerned about!" Kokobiel's voice cracked as he spoke, his voice almost to a yell now as his eyes filled with tears.
"I can't blame you for saying that. It's hard to accept the fact of what you did, what we had to do," Tom replied, his voice calm and serious.
"We? You mean me, what I did, what I had to do, I have killed before but never a friend, never a teammate, it was always someone I didn't know and what I had to do to live!" Kokobiel yelled out as he got up from his seat, his face stern, angry, but his eyes filled with sadness and pain. Tom shriveled back into his chair as Kokobiel yelled out, but he continued to listen to him.
"It's just hard to keep up with everything. It feels like everything is constantly changing: new sights, new sounds, new everything, but it is still the same me, nothing to change, nothing to fix! I j-just want- I just want to have time to myself, to do my thing," Kokobiel yelled before dying down as he sat back in his chair. He stared at the table, his face in unease as he tried to rack through his brain. Tom sat up in the chair as he scooted it closer to Kokobiel's side.
"Then why not find a place to settle, find yourself or maybe find someone? You have been running so long, you forgot what it's like to sit and think," Tom said as he rested a hand on Kokobiel's shoulder, giving a smile.
"What's the point? Something is going to change eventually. What then?" Kokobiel asked as he looked at Tom.
"Everything changes. You can't expect it to stay the same forever, so live in the moment and don't worry about the future," Tom said. Kokobiel sat in silence before he got up, picking up Tom and hugging him tightly.
"Thanks for trying," Kokobiel said as he squeezed Tom's small frame compared to his.
"D-don't mention it," Tom squeezed out as he tried to give himself some breathing room. Kokobiel soon let him go before taking his coffee and walking down the hallway. He sipped on the coffee as he tried to rest his mind. The coffee was bitter and didn't help his mind. Returning to the room, he set down his coffee onto the night stand as he sat down onto his bunk. He looked over to the night stand to see his journal. He picked it up and began to write. This account was more towards Morgan then anything else. Talking to him reminded him of someone he had met before. It had been forever since he thought of them: sweet, kind, a great listener... but Morgan was different. There was a weird charm to him. Kokobiel stopped writing as he thought about it. Just how much did he enjoy Morgan's company? Kokobiel shook his head as Tom came into the room. He went through his own bag, getting out clothes. Kokobiel finished his entry as Tom walked out. Kokobiel finished the coffee and laid down in bed as he tried to go back to bed.
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