𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

33.. shopping in the apocalypse

By the time Bea stepped out of the mess hall, the sun was already high and the air heavy with heat. Around the camp's open yard, the Right Arm teens were scattered — training, repairing gear, or talking in noisy circles.

And there, at the far end, she spotted them.

Her friends.

And in the middle of them — Nico.

Her stomach dropped.

Matt was saying something animated, gesturing wildly with a wrench. Vicky had that mischievous glint in her eyes that usually meant someone's about to regret talking to her. Thèrèse, of course, stood with her arms crossed, looking like she was interviewing Nico for a job he didn't apply for.

Bea stayed where she was for a moment, arms folded loosely, watching the scene unfold.

Nancy noticed her first, grinning. "Oh look, your pirate's surrounded."

Bea rolled her eyes. "He's not my pirate."

Nancy raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because the others look ready to adopt him."

Bea groaned but didn't move closer — just lingered at a distance, watching the chaos with quiet amusement.

Matt was talking first.

"So, ex-pirate, huh? What's that like? You ever steal something cool?"

Nico chuckled. "Define cool."

"Treasure," Matt said immediately. "Or ships. Or—I don't know—someone's hat."

Vicky jumped in before he could answer. "Don't listen to him. Tell me you had a sword. Please say you had a sword."

"I had several," Nico admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh, he definitely did," Thèrèse muttered. "He moves like someone who used to fence."

That earned a few laughs. Even Hugo chimed in from the sidelines, "Well, if he's with Bea's team, we're in luck."

Bea felt her cheeks warm but said nothing, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Then Vicky's grin turned sly. "So, Nico, tell us... do all pirates talk like that? Or is it just you trying to sound charming?"

Nico blinked. "Like what?"

"Like you know secrets."

That made everyone laugh — except Bea, who was silently dying inside.

Nico's smile softened as his eyes briefly flicked across the courtyard. He saw her standing there — arms crossed, pretending she wasn't watching.

"Maybe I do," he said finally, still looking at her. "But I don't tell them to just anyone."

The teens howled at that. Vicky elbowed Matt, who immediately went, "Ohhh, smooth!"

Bea pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering, "Oh my god."

Nancy, who'd been standing beside her the whole time, grinned. "You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Bea sighed, turning on her heel before the teasing could get worse. "I'm going to work."

Nancy called after her, "Sure, sure! Tell your pirate we said hi!"

Bea didn't turn back, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her — curling into the smallest, most reluctant smile.