Old Village

2

Back in the dropship, he turned around. Bloodhound hadn't given him a response and it took him a moment to locate them in all this chaos. They were standing between a few equipment boxes and looked outside one of the windows. On his way over to them, Anita looked like she was trying to come for his head and was only barely held back by Loba, who gave her a quick kiss that seemed to relax her. Anita turned around and ignored him but as Loba looked at him again to show him a thumbs up for his play, he tipped his imaginary hat for her.
There were new legends running around, still trying to get used to the feeling of the simulation. In the games, they felt their wounds, felt bullets ripping through their bodies and breaking bones, and felt the blood running down their faces. Only to get snapped out uninjured and healthy as ever. Fuse remembered his first Apex match and the memory made him shudder.
When he reached Bloodhound, they hadn't heard him come and seemed like they didn't notice anything else around them either.
"Hey, mate", Fuse said again and gently placed a hand on their shoulder. Hound only now noticed him and turned around. They looked kind of high as if they weren't in this world and just deeply in thoughts.
"You alright there, Houndie?", he asked, worried now.
"Hm? Oh, yes, I am alright", Bloodhound responded and looked over his shoulder, scanning the room.
Fuse could feel that something was wrong so he lead Bloodhound to the common room, which was luckily still empty. Everyone seemed too busy with preparations for the next drop. He waited for Bloodhound to say something on their way there, explain what was wrong or if they wanted to be left alone. But they just said nothing, didn't even protest of being brought somewhere. Didn't even seem to notice much.
When they reached the common room Fuse closed the door behind them.
He personally liked the ones on the other drop-ship better. This one only had a few sofas, grouped around a rather small, black table and a vending machine with snacks and drinks in the left corner of the room. The dried-up houseplant that was dying in the other corner summed up the Syndicate's love and care.
"So?", he tried again. "What's wrong, Hound? Ya know you can talk to me."
Bloodhound didn't respond at first and just looked at the ceiling. They were fumbling around with their hands on their pants and then eventually sighed and looked at Fuse. Instead of answering his question though, they pulled a piece of paper out of their jacket and gave it to him.
Fuse looked at them and then the paper and carefully unfolded it.
"What's this? Ya know I can't read Icelandic, mate", he said in a calm tone.
Bloodhound sighed another time and then finally started to explain.
"This is a letter from my village. The village I was born in. They have asked me to pay them a visit, Elskan."
"But that's great, ain't it?" Fuse responded excitedly and boxed Bloodhound's shoulder. He had no idea what that word meant but he hoped it was a good one. Maybe a bit too excited because Bloodhound rubbed it as if it would hurt. But at least they smiled a little bit now.
"Perhaps. I just feel... nervous", Bloodhound explained and looked at the ceiling again. Fuse leaned back on the sofa and studied their face. With them looking up their already sharp jar got contoured even more and Fuse fought the urge to stroke his finger over it.
"How come?"
Bloodhound just shrugged their shoulders.
"Come on now mate. It's me, your Fusey", he half-joked to try and swallowed as he realized he said 'your'.
"The last time I paid visit has been two winters ago. I am simply just nervous about how they will react or if I might have caused them anger."
"Well, friend, easy solution to that; I'll join ya", Fuse exclaimed and clapped his hands on his thighs. He then got up but turned around to them.
"When do ya want to leave?"
Bloodhound seemed a little in shock, mouth opening like a fish on land.
"What? I- no, you cannot come!"
"Why not?", Fuse smiled.
Bloodhound didn't seem to have an answer to that.
"Look, you're nervous and I want to see where you grew up. If you hate me too much on the way or when we arrived you just send me away. Alrighty?", Fuse offered lightheartedly.
Bloodhound rolled their eyes and crossed their arms in front of their chest but ultimately agreed.
"Alrighty then. Pick ya up later!", and with that Fuse was out of the door on easy steps. Bloodhound pretended like they were grumpy and unhappy about it a little longer but were actually a little calmer now. Having Fuse with them would help calm them and make them feel better. And they knew that he also knew that. Helvítis ástin.