Mission Failed Successfully (A Yoru x Phoenix)

Fourteen

They're on another mission when Yoru notices. It's been a week since Phoenix's incident, and he seemed determined to keep Yoru away from any actual fighting.

This led to more desk jobs and more arguments, but Phoenix refused to budge, no matter how much Yoru complained. They were stuck together as partners, and at the end of each passing day there was more of a strain on their friendship.

Yoru had no idea how to verbalize this, however. Whenever he bit back too harshly, he'd flinch at Phoenix's blank response. The trust they had built was slowly ripped seam by seam because of whatever secret Phoenix hid.

And Yoru figured this secret lie somewhere with himself, if being a little too overprotective had anything relation at all.

In a meeting, Brimstone finally deemed Phoenix well enough to work again, and no matter what excuse he came up with, Brimstone wouldn't have it.

Neither would Viper, who wouldn't stop throwing weird looks at Yoru. He just shrugged in her direction and she raised her brows, pulling another glare at Phoenix's final retort.

"No more of this crap, Phoenix," she said, frustrated, "You will be on the field again, and you will be fighting. I don't know what your problem is, and quite frankly I don't care. Just do as you're told."

Yoru, on the other hand, cared very much for what the problem was, but decided to voice his concerns at a later date.

Brimstone nodded in agreement, folding his arms over his broad chest, "If there is something you want to say, I suggest you say it now."

"Nothing, sir," Phoenix sighed, slumping in defeat. Yoru relaxed, excited to finally be doing things instead of filling graphs and signing forms. Yet Phoenix still looked like he wanted to protest.

Before he could, however, Yoru rose from his seat with a small bow, thanking the others for their time and headed straight for the door. Another chair scraped across the carpet and hurried footsteps followed him out until they were alone.

For once, Yoru found himself lost for words.

Any conversation was ruined by the nagging in the back of his mind, and as he turned to face Phoenix, he grimaced.

"What's your problem?"

"Oh, not this again, bruv."

"Yes, this again. If there's an issue, then just talk. No one has ever had to tell you to open your stupid mouth."

Phoenix grumbled, and he leaned in to hear him better, to no avail. He refused to meet Yoru's eyes, scratching the back of his head.

Yoru squinted at his face, looking for any sign he could pick up on. At this point, any information was useful.

Upon closer inspection, there was a dusting of something dark red splattered on Phoenix's cheeks, eyes unable to meet his own and lips pressed tight. Yoru groaned in exasperation.

"Why is your face red? Are you embarrassed by something?"

Phoenix squawked, flailing his arms as he shook his head.

"Me? Hell no. Never. Not in a million years."

"Says the man who's definitely not embarrassed. You got shot. What even is there to be embarrassed about? Are you being serious right now? Please tell me you're not."

He laughed, and it was stilted, "Of course not, mate, you're being delusional."

Yoru huffed, "I've just about had it with your shit. Tell me now."

"Aw, man, come on."

"Now."

"Nope."

"So it is something embarrassing."