Squad X (a Nuzi Story)

Chapter 7: New Guy New Enemys

NORA'S POV

Months had passed since I ended things with Tate, and I was still working on picking up the pieces. The breakup hadn't been easy, but it had been necessary. I'd thrown myself into my work, buried myself in training, and focused on what I needed to do next. Relationships were not my priority anymore. Not with the way things had gone with Tate, anyway.

Now, here I was—still dealing with the aftermath of that mess, but at least I was in a better place. And that meant I didn't have time for distractions, especially not him.

hahaha that's some bs....

C9DF's top squad leader. A seasoned vet. Everyone's ideal. Tall, easy smile, and a voice smooth enough to make any drone's circuits buzz. He was the kind of drone that all the "pick-me" drones practically fell over themselves to get near. Every day I saw more and more of them glancing at him like he was the last light in a darkened room.

And yet, somehow, there he was walking into orientation and talking to me. Me.

It was honestly pretty surreal. I'd expected him to be too busy with all the other drones fawning over him, but instead, he made his way straight toward me.

"Hey, Nora, right?" He smiled like he was already familiar with me, even though we'd never talked before.

"Uh, yeah," I said, suddenly feeling like a deer caught in headlights. "You're Xavier, right?"

He grinned wider, offering me a handshake that felt way too casual for how much my heart was trying to leap out of my chest.

"Looking forward to working with you."

And just like that, he was off, talking to someone else like we weren't standing a few inches apart. It wasn't until he turned his back that I realized I was still holding his hand like an idiot. I shook myself out of it, cursing inwardly.

Get it together, Nora.

That was the last thing I needed—another guy to make me lose focus. Not when I'd just gotten out of the mess with Tate. My ex, my mistake. Tate and I had been... well, not the right fit. And I'd learned that lesson the hard way.

Xavier was probably another distraction I didn't need.

The next day, I sat down to lunch with Lessa and Yasmine, trying to ignore the buzz of Xavier's name floating around the room. I didn't care what anyone thought. Seriously, after what I'd gone through with Tate, the idea of falling for someone else anytime soon seemed laughable.

Lessa, being her usual curious self, noticed the moment I sat down. "What's up with you?" she asked, clearly not missing the way I had been acting earlier. "You look... off today. Different."

I raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

Yasmine, who had been quietly nibbling on her sandwich, took one look at me and said, "You've got a crush, don't you? It's Xavier, isn't it?"

I could feel the heat rise in my face, but I wasn't going to admit anything. I wasn't that easy. "Oh please. Every pick-me drone in this place is probably dreaming about him. Don't include me in your little fantasy."

Lessa grinned, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing. "Uh-huh, sure, sure. You're not fooling anyone. You've been staring at him ever since yesterday. Don't think I didn't see it."

"Stop being dramatic," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm just here to do my job. Nothing more. You guys need to stop trying to set me up with every single squad leader in this damn place."

Yasmine, always the instigator, nudged me with her elbow. "Come on, Nora. He's not just a squad leader. He's Xavier. You've got to admit he's got the looks and the brains. No wonder the other drones are tripping over themselves to get his attention."

I sighed and crossed my arms, trying my best to look unfazed. "I'm not one of those drones, okay? I've got bigger things to focus on than some guy who's probably too busy looking at his reflection to notice anyone else."

Lessa raised an eyebrow, but she didn't press it. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Nora."

Later that afternoon, I found myself paired with Xavier in the training hall. How it happened, I still wasn't sure. But when he flashed me that grin of his and asked if I wanted to spar, I honestly didn't know if I should be flattered or annoyed.

"Sure, why not?" I said, trying to sound indifferent. Inside, I was just trying to keep it together. It wasn't like I hadn't sparred before, but the way he made it look so easy? It was messing with my head.

The fight itself wasn't anything spectacular. I kept my distance, trying to focus on technique, while Xavier had this lazy way of evading every one of my hits. Every time I thought I had him, he was one step ahead, like he was toying with me.

"You're not bad," he said, his voice low as we wrapped it up.

I didn't say much in response. Honestly, I was still trying to sort through the mental mess he had just left in his wake. I wasn't some smitten drone. I wasn't.

But then there was Chloe.

The moment Xavier was out of earshot, Chloe—his self-appointed personal cheerleader—came storming up to me like I'd just killed her pet.

"You think you can just stroll in here and get his attention?" Chloe spat, her eyes practically burning holes into my face. "Xavier doesn't have time for drones like you."

I raised an eyebrow. Chloe, really?

"I'm sorry, but did you just say something to me?" I asked, totally uninterested in whatever nonsense she had brewing.

"I see the way you look at him," she hissed. "Stay away. He's not yours to mess with."

I shrugged, unfazed. "If you think I'm going to change anything about what I'm doing, you're sadly mistaken. You can keep glaring at me all you want, but I'm not the one wasting time over someone who doesn't care."

Her face flushed with rage, but I couldn't care less. I wasn't going to back down, especially not for her. Not for Xavier.

"I don't have time for your drama, Chloe," I said, giving her a dismissive glance before turning on my heel and walking away.

Let her waste her energy being angry. I had better things to focus on—things that didn't involve someone like Xavier, who probably didn't even notice me beyond the basic squad rotation.

Chloe could keep her little fantasy world. I was good with reality. And reality? That was a whole lot better than chasing after someone who didn't matter in the long run.

Not my problem.