Terra (A Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare FanFiction)

Chapter 22- Convincing

March 19, 2121

"Approaching the atmosphere of Mars," Elijah spoke as he reached over and flicked on a switch to send thrusters low. "Do you still wish to land the entire Ruination?"

I opened my green eyes from where they'd been closed. "It's the only way to rebuild the ship and keep us going."

"If they try to take it-"

"We will fight," I interrupted.

"With who? With what?"

"Elijah, we aren't having this discussion."

"It could come to that and I just want you to be ready."

"Hopefully it won't."

Spinning around away from him, I walked towards the window overlooking the landing runway and turrets along the rest of the Ruination. She was beat up bad, holes where turrets should have been, flickering waves of electricity seen where they needed to be hidden. Lights throughout different parts of the ship were completely out- even generators couldn't get them up and running again.

You better hope they have the right tools.

I couldn't tell if that was my own voice or that which belonged to Kash. In the eight days it'd taken to fly into Mars, Kash had never once left my head. I knew letting go of his image would allow me to forget, but I didn't want to. Without the picture of his face and sentences in my head I felt lost.

There would never be another person who could possibly fill that gap in my heart.

"Are we landing close to their base?"

To the voice I longed to hear almost every day, I glanced over my shoulder. Reyes listened to Elijah's response- something I couldn't hear because I was too involved on Reyes. His hair was back to its usual slicked-back look when really the cut of the chocolate hair was an illusion. He was clean shaven, his jawline even more defined without thin scruff etched onto it.

Everything about him was smooth and I just wanted to touch him.

What the hell Terra? Get a hold of yourself.

I laced my hands together so tightly that they quickly began to turn white. Reyes wandered up to me as I did so and a wave of scents sparked a nerve inside my gut. I stifled a yelp as my nostrils subtly flared to take in the fresh smell Reyes was surrounded by. My nose tingled with greed, wanting to bury itself at the crook of his neck.

He wasn't even wearing cologne. He'd just taken a shower after everything. But I hadn't seen him very much since- between minor repairs and other business- especially not close. It surprised me that I hadn't noticed the smell before.

"Are you alright?"

I forced myself not to clear my throat, but to look away from Reyes and his tantalizing body. I didn't want to think of him in that way at all. I wanted him to stay a figure of leadership, not admiration. But was it okay to admire a leader?

"I'm nervous."

"I can tell," his eyes moved downwards to my sweating hands. "You never usually do that."