Surface R: Reunion

Part 01.1

[ARC TWO: RETREAT]

::CODY::

I can't sleep. So I stay up and stare at Sean. Now that my mind can relax a bit since I don't have to listen for mutants, I can think. I swear Sean seems familiar. Aside from looking at Sean, I'm thinking of Lori. The cure has gotta work. It's a cure right?

I'm so worried. But somehow, looking at Sean and not having him glare at me is comforting.

"You're staring at me."

I blinked. He was awake? "Um... Sorry."

"Stop it."

A bit of ray of light beams from the boarded up windows so I see cold eyes stare back at me.

"Stop what?" I blinked a few more times, a little confused.

Sean scowls. "Staring."

"Oh," I turned away.

Trey stirs a bit, stretches and puts an arm over my lap. I have to stay still. Trey is the number one person always lacking sleep. No one likes disturbing him when he gets on a bed, unless absolutely necessary or urgent.

"You're doing it again."

"Sorry," I say again, quietly. "I just... I like your eyes, they remind me of something I can't remember, except it's suppose to be comforting, even when you look at me coldly. It's a nice shade and all. I don't mean to stare, it just happens..."

"That's foolishness." Sean says flatly. "you either decide to look at something or you don't. What you decide, your brain follows. And don't think I'm flattered by your assessment of my eyes. I'm a tool—I'm designed to be useful, not appealing to the eye. If you can't stop staring, I'd prefer you leave the room. I can't rest when I'm being looked at."

So much for kind words. Maybe if I give him gifts. But I have no idea what we have that he might like. I sighed and went back to sleep. When I woke up again, Trey was gone. When I went down for breakfast, I saw Trey and Rhys standing near a window, and from the looks on their faces, they're talking about something important and serious. I go to find someone else for food but they see me and called me over with brief, tense smiles.

"How are Thomas and Nina doing?" Trey asked me.

I shrugged. "Sleeping, they're not used to waking up early." he said. "what's going on with the trees?" I've already been given a summary of what's going on, but if there's anything new—

"Nothing," Trey glares out at the window. "everything's quiet, everything's still. They just sit there... waiting. I don't like it—they've got to be up to something." he grips the windowsill, turning away from me completely. "The question is—what?"

"An attack?"

Rhys placed a hand to his chin. "That seems probable." he answers. "our current problem lies in our inability to discover where and how they plan on attacking. The element of surprise could throw us off, and they seem at least marginally intelligent."

"Huh?" I can't think of any better response for that, so I don't try. No one can really answer Rhys before he answers himself. "Is Lori awake yet?"

Trey turns to me again. "I think so. It'd help if you stayed with him and Meeko. If we get caught in a surprise attack, we're going to need Corrin in other places, if your side gets attack, you and Meeko can protect Lori though." He said. "Can you handle that?"

"I'm sure he could," Rhys smiled dryly. "the concern is whether you can handle Corrin throwing a fit if he found out you assigned Cody to the task with that in mind."