1.1 | louder than bombs

- 9 -

"Fuck," Troy sighed, dreamily leaning into his palms, elbows resting on the red surface of his table, "What are they so hot for?"

"Blue, we are supposed to set up the Medi Cube. Not ogle at the soldiers."

It was a misty day, leaves weighing down because of the morning dew collecting on them. The oncoming winter made the Base look foggy, almost making the grounds look like a set for filming a horror movie.

"We made it," a soldier huffed, leading his comrades on a light trail.

The morning drill had begun. Soldiers forming rows of three, all shirtless with a dog chain bouncing on their chest every time they took a step. The men carried a couple of rifles each in their arms, their elbows at a 90˚ as sweat trickled down their sculpted torsos.

It was a...stimulating sight for the medics.

It was nothing that they weren't used to, being stationed multiple times a year to different Bases, but a welcoming sight nonetheless.

"We made it!" the young men chorused.

"Motivated."

"Motivated!"

"Move, Cai. I can't see," Troy whined as he waved his hand agitatedly, gesturing his best friend to move, bouncing on his seat to peek over the brunette's shoulder.

"Nix told both of us to do the work, Blue," Cairo sighed, walking towards the cardboard box to pick up a pair of IV bags.

"Well, I have a best friend who is considerate enough to do it all to let me do something more important, right?"

"You're saying that you would rather make me do all the labour work while you just sit there drooling over them?" Cairo asked with wide eyes, pointing at the jogging soldiers.

"Any day!"

"What did I expect?" Cairo muttered under his breath, picking up a box filled with vials of vitamins.

"Why is Cai doing all the work?" Phoenix asked upon entering the Medi Cube, sitting down next to Troy to take a break from her patrol duty.

She sighed in relief as her small figure lowered onto the plastic chair, already feeling tired from all the reprimanding she had to give to her distracted medics

"Because I'm busy," the grey-head answered, not taking his eyes off the young, sweaty men.

"Busy doing what?" Phoenix asked incredulously, giving the drooling man a long side-look.

"Appreciating God's creations. Beauty not admired is a sin, you know?"

The Chief scoffed, kicking Troy's shin under the table who snapped his eyes to the dark-haired woman, looking at her with a savage expression.

"Move your ass, now. Go help Cairo with setting up the Cube."

Troy slowly got up, still giving Phoenix a deadly glare before finally turning around to help the working brunette.

Phoenix rolled her eyes.

🏔

The two boys slumped on their bed with huff, stretching their arms which were tense from all the weightlifting and arranging, just laying down in silence.

"Something going on between you and the Captain?" Troy asked after a few moments, closing his eyes as his body sagged in relief on the mattress.

"What?"

"I'm talking about Jeon, Cai. You like him?"

It's been quite a few days since the general check-up, the medic and the Captain meeting up every nightfall. Cairo still stayed awake late at night, not because he couldn't sleep but because he didn't want to.

The two of them spent magical nights together, just talking about anything and everything, reading each other like books that were hidden from this world, exclusively for their eyes.

Cairo sighed. He might as well tell Troy.

"I think so," he answered in a small voice, looking straight up at the tent's dome.

"Think so?" Troy scoffed, turning his head to look at his best friend, "I've never seen you so flustered in front of anyone before, Cai. Especially because of a man."

"I don't know, Blue. He is different from the others. I just feel something when he is around, you know?"

"Let yourself lose, Cai. Don't overthink it. Just be you and see where it goes, yeah?"

The brunette nodded before getting up with a sigh.

"How does a penguin build its house?" Troy asked out of nowhere, knowing that Cairo would open up completely in his own time but content that he knows the cause at least.

Cairo groaned.

Not again.

"How?"

"Igloos it together!" Troy looked at Cairo with eager eyes, a child-like excitement swirling in his bright blue orbs.

One could say that the Great Dane was Troy's spirit animal. Despite its intimidating front, it's a complete sweetheart. If the animal kingdom was a school, the doggo would be the most popular student in every class. This gentle giant is so loving and loyal that it wouldn't mind putting up a fight when his human was in danger without thinking twice about the attacker's strength.

Troy was a gentle soul, except when it comes to those who mean harm to his loved ones. The Russian man was a force to be reckoned with in a fight, him walking away only with a black eye or a split lip while the other is left groaning on the floor as a bloodied mess. But in front of his friends and family, he was a puppy, craving attention and love, finding happiness in the smallest of things from them.

Cairo looked at his friend lovingly, laughing at his joke which made Troy perk up, happy that he made his Cairo laugh.

"Nix told us that the extra supplies will be coming to the City today. We have to go and get them. You coming with me?" Cairo asked after a moment, pulling on his boots and tightening them against the loose flare of his cargo pants.

The City was situated at the foot of the hills, a small area of civilisation that was isolated from the modern lifestyle. Usually, all the supplies and needed ammunition is delivered to the City, where the soldiers could come and collect by themselves.

"Sure, let's go," Troy nodded, heading towards his locker to dress himself in order to look decent enough for the trip. Satisfied with their looks, the best friends walked out of their tent, heading towards the Lieutenant's office.

"Lieutenant Park," Troy called out open entering the office, sized comfortably enough to accommodate a wide mahogany table with chairs on either side, a small bonsai proudly placed on a small pedestal of its own.

"Permission to go to the City to get the remaining medical supplies," Troy continued, Cairo standing close behind his friend.

"Granted," Dohyun said as he raised his dark eyes from the papers in his hand, giving Troy a slight nod before a smile took over his lips upon noticing Cairo.

"Cairo, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Hyun. Thank you for that night, it really did work like magic," Cairo replied with a smile of his own, the boxy-smile making an appearance.

The Lieutenant nodded. "Off you go, then," he said as he handed the grey-head the keys for a jeep.

So the two friends made their way to the jeep, getting in and driving off to the City.

🏔

god, I love troy

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