Alfinians Rise

Devils Advocate

"Come on, it's time to get up," a birdsong voice flutters in my ear. I groan and swat in the direction of the voice lazily before rolling onto my stomach and burying my face in the scratchy pillow surface. 

"Go oh ahead hatchling, I'll get her moving." A deep voice grumbles. Who is that? I'm much too groggy to recognize the voice. My muscles feel like lead and my arms and back ache with pain. I don't know how much more of this I can take. 

I count the footsteps approaching just as I would count sheep, allowing them to pull me deeper into my slumber. I wiggle my body, snuggling into the itchy cotton blanket encasing me in warmth. 

The footsteps stop. Static flickers across my body as my warmth is suddenly stripped away from me. Cold morning air hits my skin and I instinctly curl up into a ball as goosebumps raise across my bare legs, a shiver racing down my spine. 

"Get up Tushinosa." A low voice growls. My eyes fly open and I sit up in bed, my head whipping to meet the piercing violet eyes that now watch me with intrigue. 

"Wh- what are you doing here?" I scramble, my thoughts struggling to form from the drowsiness and the realization that I'm not wearing any pants. A smirk brushes across his lips and I scowl, desperately wanting nothing more than to slap that blasted smirk off his face before ravishing him relentlessly. 

"You're late. The trial starts in 10 minutes. If you don't show up then you're gone. Now get your ass out of bed and get dressed before I do it for you," he glares, his eyes finally meeting my own again once they've finished scanning 9ver my exposed body, obviously satisfied with the view. But I don't have time to come back with a snarky remark as panic floods my veins. I'm late.

"Shit." I waste no time, jumping off my top bunk, whipping the black oversized tee that I slept in over my head and frantically pulling my uniform off the floor from where I left them the night before. 

Xayben clears his throat, as I yank up my military issued pants, buckling them quickly. I don't turn around until I'm pulling on the shirt and realize that he's still watching me, his stance much stiffer than it was mere moments ago. His chest rising and falling at a slightly enhanced rate. It's not until he realizes I'm looking at him that he turns to look away, his face red. 

"What, never seen a woman before?" I smirk, tucking in my shirt hastily. 

"Of course I have. In fact, I've probably seen more than you," He snips, his face still flushed as he stares at the side of the tent. 

"Sure," I snort, yanking on my boots, not even bothering to tie them before I walk right out the tent. I smile faintly at the sound of his boots following me out the tent, but I don't turn around, I simply keep walking forwards in the direction of the warehouse. 

"You're going the wrong way." I freeze, whirling on my heels to see his head tilted in amusement once again. A single, arrogant eyebrow arched as he stands there, his hands in his pocket. The early grey sunlight radiates across his skin, illuminating him in an abnormal way. I can't help but think that sunlight doesn't suit him. Darkness. Lies. Deceit. That's where he should be more comfortable. And yet, I'm not afraid of the darkness lurking within his gaze. Something makes me want to drink it up, bathe in it, become it. Become his. 

I roll my eyes and grumble soft profanity under my breath before walking back towards him. He grins the same Cheshire charming smile and turns to walk, leaving me to follow him half a pace behind. 

"So, what will it be today? More fighting? Weapons? Intelligence test? Or maybe a strip tease assessment?" I ask, watching his face to see if I can provoke any response. But he's too good, he maintains his poker face and simply replies back calmly.