Cracking The Commander (DJ x Commander)

CHAPTER 21

Commander had noticeably picked up an obsessive interest in Ranger. Every moment he got, he'd be found in the infirmary, pacing side-to-side as Ranger was sweating bullets.

DJ walked past one time, only to pause in the doorway. He peeked in, curious, to see Commander seemingly fussing over Ranger. Strangely enough, exactly like how he would with Scout.

"Are you cold? You need another blanket. You look cold. You're shivering," he tutted in that gravely, intimidating voice of his. His tone always made everything he said sound scarier than it should be. DJ loved it (sometimes).

"Nnno, sir, I'm alright. Thank you," Ranger replied, a tremble in his voice. He sounded small. DJ wasn't sure if he was actually shivering, but Commander seemed to have convinced himself that he was.

"I'm getting you a blanket." He was firm in his voice as he suddenly whipped around to leave the infirmary. "DJ? What are you doing here?"

DJ realized he was just standing there this whole time, watching like a total creeper. "Uh. Just passing by. Sup." He waved, albeit awkwardly. Commander huffed.

"Stay here with Ranger so he doesn't pull anything and leave," he commanded, pointing a finger at him and then towards Ranger. The poor kid looked mortified.

'He can hardly get himself out of bed. I doubt he's going anywhere anytime soon,' DJ thought to himself as he obeyed. He walked over to Ranger — pretty quietly for a guy like him. Commander was already long gone by the time he glanced back at the doorway. He was stuck here with a guy he barely even knew. No problem. He's met many shy people in his lifetime, he just had to break the ice for them to warm up to him!

"So." DJ leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest as a way to seem nonchalant. "Anything going on with you?"

It was completely silent as DJ stared at Ranger. The younger man glanced down at his mangled, wrapped hand, leading DJ's own eyes to follow, then back up at DJ.

"...Please leave me alone."

DJ pursed his lips. "Got it." And looked away from Ranger with a far less confident posture. God, this was awkward. He barely knew the kid, and clearly he didn't want to talk. Those were the two biggest blows to DJ's ability to hold up a decent conversation.

DJ took advantage of the silence to examine Ranger. He looked worse for wear. Clearly, considering the circumstances.

Dark bags under his eyes made him look lifeless, not to mention the noticeable paleness of his normally tanned complexion. The wrap around his wounded hand distantly reminded DJ of Commander's own experience with being severely wounded (what a fun coincidence, right?). Brown, crusted blood seeped through the material. His posture was slumped, and he looked thin through the t-shirt he was given.

Needless to say, Ranger had better days.

He frowned. He wished he could help, seeing as Ranger was vehemently opposed to getting any. In the meantime, DJ could really only rely on Medic and Commander to help him out. More so Medic. As much as Commander would like to think he's helping, DJ felt he was causing some stress all around.

Speaking of...

Commander had returned, heavy blanket in hand. "Thank you for watching him, DJ. I appreciate it."

"No problem." He scratched his arm sheepishly. He really didn't do much, except for making Ranger feel uncomfortable. That wasn't really ideal, per se, but Commander wouldn't know. "I'll let you guys...hang out. See y-"

"Oh, DJ, before you leave," Commander said. "I ran into Scout and he said to tell you that he wants to talk. He was in the lobby. I expect him to still be there."