Unlikely Assignment

"Okay, okay, okay!" He raised his hands, trying to calm the furious girl before him, "Perhaps blowing the building up wasn't my best idea-"

"You think?!" She threw her arms up as she began pacing the concrete floor of the warehouse.

"But I can explain." He attempted. She halted, swiveled around, and glared at him. Or at least he guessed that she was glaring. It was hard to tell with the protective goggles shielding her eyes.

"What explanation is there for this?" The girl exclaimed, resting her hands-that were protected by thick leather gloves-on her white t-shirt. Permanent black grease stained her top. Letting a puff of air escape, he blew a raven tuff of hair out of his eyes.

"If you would shut up for just a second, I would explain."

That ticked her off.

"If I shut up?" She pulled up her goggles, revealing raging, hazel eyes. "You arrogant prick!"

"This is getting out of hand, May." He stood straighter, fixing the black jacket of his general uniform.

"No Even, you screwed up. What is the commander going to say when she gets back?"

"By the time she gets back from the eastern rebellion encampment, this issue will be water under the bridge." Even replied off handedly, May wouldn't do anything. She was harmless. He turned around, prepared to go back to his cot. As he began walking, something whistled by his ear, hitting the ground with a thud. Rusted metal stared up at him. It was a wrench.

Even swung around to face May once more.

"You threw a wrench at me?!"

May narrowed her eyes.

"Don't walk away from me. What are you going to tell the commander when she returns?"

"Yes, General Even, what will you tell me?" A cool, creamy voice rang out from behind Even. He froze. Listening to the sound of steel-toe boots hitting the ground, he pleadingly gazed at May. She was frozen too. His gaze moved to the silent rebels who lined the warehouse walls. They avoided his crystal eyes.

"No witty retort?"

Slowly, Even turned to see the commander's calculative eyes examining him. It was like she could see into his soul. Even shuddered and looked away.

"Commander, I thought you were in the eastern rebel's camp until Sunday." He managed to say without letting his voice tremble.

"Yes, arrangements went quicker than expected. There is now an alliance between the east and the west against the Union. Of course, I was going to tell all my generals about the success at tonight's meeting, however, with how active you've been, you might be too busy for it."

"No ma'am." Even hurriedly replied.

"Brief me on what happened, General Cross, and what it has to do with out head mechanic, Miss Loure."

"He broke my best fighter craft on his little supplies mission." May growled. Even scowled at her.

"It's not my fault that your jet was in the blast radius."

"You knew it was there!"

"Of course I knew it was there. I didn't become a general on good looks and guts alone, princess." Even replied smugly, forgetting his place. May's fists clenched.

"And I didn't become head mechanic by letting egotistic, lazy idiots call me princess." She growled. The commander watched them squabble and grinned.