CUS 9; Cinco Encounter

ENCOUNTER 14

Blade's teammates adjusted to this new side of her, their perceptions and interactions subtly shifted.

"Please tell me you didn't expect a female with a more masculine feature behind this mask." Her expression is serious but her tone, hinting with teasing. "It's quite disappointing, isn't it?"

Sab's face flushed red, his blue eyes widening with embarrassment. "No, no! That's not what we meant at all, lass!"

Simon cleared his throat, his masked face tilting slightly. "We just... weren't prepared for the contrast. You're quite striking, actually."

Garen's imposing figure seemed to soften further, a hint of admiration in his voice. "It is... unexpected, ja. But not unwelcome."

Blade's teammates fumbled to explain themselves. It was as if they are afraid to offend her.

Blade chuckles, she scooped a spoonful of cake and forcibly fed it to them, "whatever folks..."

The three men were caught off guard by Blade's sudden playful action. Sab sputtered slightly, crumbs of cake clinging to his beard as he chuckled. Simon's masked face tilted in surprise, the cake disappearing behind his balaclava. Garen's imposing figure tensed momentarily before relaxing, a rare laugh escaping him.

The atmosphere in the café lightened considerably, the earlier tension dissipating into a more relaxed camaraderie. As the team enjoyed their unexpected dessert, the bonds between them seemed to strengthen, even as the mysteries they faced loomed in the background.

"You're damn messy." she laughs at them heartily.

Sab grinned sheepishly, wiping cake from his beard. "Aye, you caught us off guard there, lass. Didn't expect such a sneak attack."

Simon's masked face tilted slightly, amusement evident in his voice. "Not bad. Your tactical skills are improving."

Her laughter echoed softly, a carefree sound that matched the sparkle in her eyes. Her teeth, perfectly aligned, gleamed like polished ivory under the gentle light, adding to her radiant expression.

Garen's imposing figure relaxed further, a rare smile visible beneath his mask. "Ja, very sneaky. We must be more... vigilant in the future."

The coffee shop echoed with their laughter, the earlier tension completely dissolved. As Blade's teammates cleaned themselves up, the atmosphere became warm and lighthearted, a stark contrast to the serious nature of their work and the mysteries they still faced.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what's behind that mask, but...no rush." She said.

Simon's body language shifted subtly, a mix of surprise and intrigue evident despite his masked face. "All in good time, perhaps. We've all got our reasons for keeping some things hidden."

Sab raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Aye, but now you've got us all curious, lass. Might have to step up our game to match your reveal."

Garen's imposing figure leaned forward slightly, his blue eyes twinkling with interest. "A challenge, then? This could be... interesting."

The weight of the unknown only fueled their determination, drawing them closer. Conversations became more deliberate, each member watching the others closely, searching for hidden truths. They moved with a new sense of purpose, knowing that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together. The once individual motivations were now intertwined, bound by the collective mission and the mysteries they sought to unravel.

"I have a lot of gorgeous girl friends back in college, how would I start a match making for you all? I would love to match my girl friends with my newly found male friends that are more man than those jerks who know nothing but cheat."

The three men exchanged surprised glances at Blade's unexpected offer. Sab chuckled nervously, his face reddening slightly. "Ah, well... that's very kind of you, lass, but..."

Simon's masked face tilted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Matchmaking? Didn't take you for the romantic type."

"Seriously Lieutenant?" Blade could believe what her ears had heard from the stoic lieutenant of their team. She could sense the cold grin from Simon's lips under his mask.

Garen's imposing figure shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between his teammates. Blade was left speechless but she can't push the topic about matchmaking.

"Oh! Maybe this isn't the right time for the face revealing. I don't wanna see you guys blushing like a teenager." She joked.

Sab's face flushed an even deeper shade of red, his Scottish brogue thick with embarrassment. "Aye, you've got us there, lass. We're not exactly schoolboys, are we?"

Simon's masked face remained unreadable, but his body language suggested a mix of amusement and discomfort. "Careful now, or we might start thinking you're enjoying this a bit too much."

She gave them playful shrugs. "Not much, lieutenant, Sir."

"At ease Blade. You don't need such formality outside the camp."

"As much as I want to call you Simon, but, I can't let myself ending up taking a punishment..." She chuckles,
"Kidding... Did I done it too much?"

Sab's face softened, a warm smile replacing his embarrassment. "Nah, lass. It's good to have a laugh now and then. Keeps us human, y'know?"

Garen's imposing figure straightened, a low chuckle escaping him. "Ja, it is... refreshing. We are too serious sometimes, perhaps."

Simon's posture relaxed slightly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Just caught us off guard. Seems to be your specialty."

The team settled back into their seats, their bond seemed to have strengthened through the shared moment of levity, even as the weight of their mission remained in the background.

Blade scooped a small amount of her cake and put it in her mouth smiling while savouring the sweetness and flavor, "yeah...I'm being silly most of the time..." She answered, "perhaps this is really me." She flashes them with warm smiles, "maybe you should reconsider your decision taking me as one of your team or else, your team might end up less sane."