Dauntless

Dauntless: Daddy Dearest (Part 9)

"There we go," I grunted, setting Kai's carrier on top of the counter as I entered the daycare. "He's all yours for the day."

"Alright." Trevor reached for Kai, who now had the art of spit bubbles down pat. I reached forward, popping it for him and making him scrunch his nose. I chuckled; I wondered if I did those as a kid.

Considering I was in a different faction, I hadn't seen my old family in a decade almost. I didn't miss them, I didn't miss leaving Erudite at all. Did they know I had a kid now, my own family? Did they realize they were grandparents?

Honestly, did it even matter?

I doubted I would recognize them now anyway.

~~~~~~

Camille was ignoring me.

Flat out, cold shoulder, pretending I didn't exist type of ignoring me. She used to do this a lot in the beginning of our relationship, especially when she was trying to pretend that we weren't doing anything in our off hours.

Which we were. 

A lot.

I frowned at her across the training area, crossing my arms along my chest. She was barking something at one of the female initiates, something about how lousy their form was, before forcibly straightening them; she wasn't acting any different with these kids now that she had her own, she was still just as harsh --- her mothering instincts made no difference in her job.

I had to be proud of her there, she was an excellent soldier.

"Keep your head up, don't look at your feet when someone is approaching you," I snapped at the boy in front of me on the mats, sparring with someone else. "You face them head on, don't cower. Raise your arms!"

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose at such idiocy; how did these kids expect to get in this faction when they knew nothing of fighting? I supposed, considering it was only the second day, I shouldn't be so judgemental, but I'd only gotten two hours of sleep last night thanks to Camille aggravating Kai.

The bitch.

I had no idea what her sudden problem was, why she suddenly wanted to know if I was dumb enough to have a second kid --- obviously not right now, one was more then enough!

My eyes caught on one of the new transfers, the candor who had been brazen enough to make a smart comment about Camille. I narrowed my eyes at him where he stood across the blue mat, talking to one of the former Erudites.

Heh.

I cracked my knuckles thoughtfully, shifting restlessly. I hadn't had a good fight in a month now, even dealing with those factionless hadn't been enough to settle me down.

I was getting frustrated, with Camille, with not having sex and not getting any sleep --- I would never have tolerated this from anyone else.

I cut my eyes across the room, seeing her demonstrating a move, how quick and easy her movements were. She knew how to fight, she had scars from using those very same moves --- Camille was excellent.

Just a goddamn bitch.

"You," I barked, glowering at the candor, seeing him jump as I singled him out. "On the mat, now."

There was a soft murmur before the candor moved, rolling his shoulders as he stepped onto the blue mat before him. He was rather large, about a head shorter then me, dark skinned with a shaved head.

I was going to teach him a few things.

"You kids better learn this quick," I said, seeing him shift uneasily as I stepped up near him, cracking my knuckles again. "You show us trainers respect, you watch your mouth, because there's always consequences."