Admire (DJ x Commander)

CHAPTER 14 : DJ

"You know what I love, Com?" DJ leaned on the railing next to Commander. "Everyone working together. Like a team. It just feels so nice."

It had been a few hours since the vehicle garage had been discovered. Everyone except the heavily injured and Medic were there, moving things around, finding hidden buttons, figuring out what machines worked and what did not. Everyone seemed- content. 

It was almost like that giant mech had never attacked them in the first place, give or take.

"Hah, yeah." Commander glanced at DJ with deep admiration. "It makes me proud to be the commander in a group as great as you guys."

"Well, you're a part of it too! Not just the big boss." DJ elbowed Commander playfully.

The low, steady, hum of a military engine suddenly lit up the room, and you heard the driver of the group, deemed 'Operator' because of his vast driving experience, yell above the sound.

"YES!!" He screamed. Commander and DJ looked at eachother before laughing. For a moment, everything was good. Great, even. 

DJ grabbed his crutches and leaned back on them, supporting himself on them instead of on the railing. He sighed briefly.

"Wish I could help, but I would be a little useless without being able to go up and down stairs amiright?" DJ joked, trying to make humor out of his injury.

"No!" Commander snapped his head towards him. "You're never useless."

DJ sort of recoiled at the sudden compliments coming from Commander, and blushed a little bit. "Regardless, I still cant walk." 

"I bet if you- we" Commander quickly corrected himself, "could find something to recharge medic's medi-gun, she'd be able to get people back on their feet faster. I think that robo-zombie knocked all of the power out of it, if it's not broken yet."

"You really think there's something like that here?" DJ questioned.

"Pshh, this is an entire military coastline base. They've gotta have something. Maybe her gun runs on batteries." Commander laughed.

Commander's sudden cheerfulness was a little odd, but everyone seemed to be in such good spirits right now. 

Commander leaned over the railing and yelled out "Alright people! Let's take a lunch break! Don't stay here without a buddy if you dont want to eat!". 

The hums of engines died down slowly as Commander started to walk out, towards the entrance of the tunnel. He looked back at DJ. "You coming?"

"Oh- right. Yeah." DJ re-adjusted his crutches and quickly followed after him.

"You doing alright? The ankle?" Commander questioned as they walked.

"I think so. Doesn't hurt much anymore unless I put pressure on it. Medic says I should be in a cast not just bandages."

"Well, we can keep an eye out for that too if her gun can't charge." 

A small silence followed.

"I just want you to be safe." Commander added.

"Well- gee." DJ laughed a little bit. "Thanks for the concern, I suppose."

DJ looked over at Commander, but his eyes seemed glued to his shoes, and his hand was covering his face.

"Oh!" DJ exclaimed, suprised at his sudden change in mood. "You alright there..?" 

"Ah, erm, yeah." Commander cleared his throat. "Of course, yes..." 

They walked for a small while until they reached the end of the tunnel. The air was sparse and chilly compared to the stuffiness of the garage. DJ sighed as the sun's rays barely met his skin, hidden behind clouds passing by. 

The only sounds were the gentle whistle of the wind and a lone seagull sitting on a chunk of metal in the bay. 

DJ clutched his crutches and stumbled down the gravel that formed the roads in the cove. He walked down to the concrete walls that guarded the land from the water and sat on top of it, swinging his legs slowly over the cement so he could face the water.

"Peaceful, isn't it?" DJ said, knowing Commander was right behind him, probably watching. "I'm glad we're here."

"It sure is." Commander whispered apprehensively. 

Silence passed between them as Commander walked over to DJ, the gravel crunching beneath his combat boots. He leaned on the wall, a couple inches away from where DJ sat.

"..What are we gonna do after this?" DJ whispered, a small amount of panic rising in his throat. "We can't just stay here for years and years. What if that robot comes back? We can't fight that like this." 

"..I don't know." Commander hung his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll be honest with you.. I just don't know."

He sighed, a lot obviously going through his mind.

"We're lucky we even have cars right now. If we manage to leave, where will we go? What are we even going to do?"

DJ looked at Commander, sorrow shooting through him. 

"As your Commander, I should know what to do. As your Commander, I have failed you. All of you." His shoulders shuddered slightly as he spoke.

DJ swung his legs back over the concrete and did the first thing that came to his mind, pulled Commander into an embrace. Com immediately seemed to collapse, small tears flowing down his cheeks, wetting DJ's t-shirt slightly.

Any small amount of emotion from Commander was alreadly astounding, and sometimes worrying. This was a whole new level. DJ could tell there was a lot more on his mind then just his supposed failure as a leader. 

DJ embraced him just a little bit tighter, his own eyes watering at the sudden breakdown. 

"I think.." DJ said. "we will be able to face whatever is coming for us, okay? You are one of us. If you are not our Commander, you will always," DJ affirmed, "you will always be our friend."