The Defiant

Not a Test

Ezra

Tall and Short had apparently made it a goal to get along with me. 

It was not beneficial to my plan to stay distant. 

All day they had been visiting me, asking if I wanted to do things: Go to breakfast, watch a movie, make sandwiches, go to the pool, go on a walk, go to dinner, etc.

I had said no, and that I was busy every time. Yet, they still prevailed. 

I was now lying in bed, just waiting for the next time they came into the room so I could tell them the exact same thing. 

I had taken a quick nap today, figuring the General would probably be too busy during daylight hours to bother trapping me. Plus, I wasn't sure I could stay awake any longer. 

"Oof, gotta work on that," someone said behind me. I tensed, then realized it was probably Short or Tall. 

How did I not notice the door open?

"Are you Ezra?" 

"You already know my name," I grumbled, turning to face the guys. 

No. 

...

Guy?

"Who are you? What do you want?" I asked, scanning his features: Tall, brown eyes, black hair, toffee-colored skin, and nervous expression. 

"Uh... I'm Saya," he said, looking around him. Once he had confirmed whatever he was looking for, he turned to me with an excited look. "I'm here to get you out."

"I already told the other two I wasn't interested in doing shit," I huffed. This guy must be friends with Tall and Short. 

He blinked, then grimaced awkwardly. "Uh, sorry... I mean, your boyfriends let me come here to get you out."

My body jolted. "Is this a joke? Who are you? Did the General tell you to say that?"

He waved his hands in a panic. "No! No, really- Sparrow said—"

"Did he tell you their names too?" I asked with a scoff. This was obviously too good to be true. It was most definitely the General testing to see if I would behave. "Tell that bastard that if I was plotting anything, an obvious test like this wouldn't trick me."

The guy sighed, and I realized that he had some bags under his eyes and looked like he wanted to pass out. "I'll be right back," he mumbled. Then, more to himself said, "A couple more shouldn't hurt."

He vanished before my eyes. 

"W-what?" I asked the empty room. 

I checked the walls for some device that would have made the illusion of that man possible... but there was nothing there. I sat back on the bed with a sigh. 

Sometimes, the General's motives were unclear and hard to decipher... what did he want with this? I laid back and looked at the ceiling, focusing on the possibilities. 

I was getting nowhere with my train of thought when something heavy fell onto me. 

"Oof," he said. 

My eyes widened as I recognized the voice. "Levi?" 

"Hey, bones, you do not make a comfy landing pad," he grunted. 

"Holy shit," I breathed, running my hands down his arms and looking down slowly to find him gazing up at me. 

He used his arms to push himself off me and gave me a gentle smile. "Hey, Ez."