Inception

Chapter 26: Nothing To SEe HEre

As she expected, Hoshina went quiet. He didn't, however, stop from following her to the table and even slid onto the bench next to her.

Lena didn't miss how her brother stiffened. Had something happened between him and the Vice Captain?

Hibino, completely unaware of everyone's tension, greeted her with his usual enthusiasm.

"So, doctor, when's my test coming up?" he asked before biting into a riceball.

"I have to finish the sensor. I had planned to finish it by next week, but with this stupid kaiju attack overloading our workload with all its spawn," she groaned.

"Eww, yeah. Just what kinds of tests are you running on them anyway?" he threw the rest of his riceball back and looked at her bright-eyed with interest as he chewed.

It made her smile.

"Damn, he really is your type, isn't he?"

Lena ignored Hoshina's muttering in favor of diving into an explanation of the tests to an eager Hibino. It was always nice to meet someone who could keep up with her work without being a complete nerd about it. Just because she did it for work didn't mean she was like Yoji, who tests were his source of living.

As their lunch break wound to a close, Hoshina got up with Lena to follow her like he always did, but Leno strode around the table to stop him with a hand on his shoulder. Lena stopped, suddenly concerned. He could have just called out to get his Vice Captain's attention.

"Sir," said Leno.

"Ichikawa," said Hoshina, his default smile taking on that plastic nature Lena hated.

But Leno didn't let go. "Can I talk to you about something in private?"

"I don't really have the time. Though I can squeeze you in to break your hand."

Leno let go, but he didn't apologize or back down.

Lena hesitated, then figured that, even if there was something going on, Leno wouldn't be stupid enough to get into a fist fight with his superior and she could go drop off her tray of dirty dishes. It wasn't like she could just jump into his personal business like they were kids, too. Maybe she'd done it too much and that's why he felt like he had to fly off and go radio silent one he turned eighteen.

It did make her want to skip the rest of her afternoon of tests so she could kidnap her little brother. It ached in her. They'd been able to hang out the night before when Leno came over to stiff arm her into taking sleeping medication, but she wanted more of that.

So she turned around and headed back just as Hoshina stepped into Leno's personal space to put his mouth against his ear. Whatever he whispered made Leno gaze harden.

Lena's stomach clenched.

"Hoshina, you better not be threatening my brother."

The Vice Captain stepped back to give her his default smile, hands raised in an 'I'm innocent' gesture.

"Just a secret between us, sweet."

"Don't call me that."

Leno's mouth went tight, as though he were just stopping his lips from curling back.

A glance at Hibino, who was watching all this from a seat at the table, told Lena he had noticed it as well.

Hoshina put his hands down. "You heading back to the lab?"

"Unfortunately."

"Whew, that's new. Usually you love it there."

"Yeah, when I'm doing my own thing. Leno, you want to see where I work?"

"Sure."

"Can I come along?" Hibino asked.

"If it won't make you late, yeah."

"We can hurry."

So Lena had a little entourage on her way back to the lab. At least it meant she had more time to try and pick up clues as to whatever Hoshina had on her brother. Just thinking about the possibility of Hoshina hanging his power over her baby brother's head made her want to tear out his bowl-cut hair and gnaw at his scalp.