Something Better

Chapter 13

Mark seemed immensely enthused on the prospect of testing out the armor, so Sheph decided to let himself get dragged into a new room. He was just now starting to realize this jackal had many more layers then what he wanted to reveal, albeit what Sheph had just now witnessed was beyond intriguing. But how could he pry? The topic would be impossible to discuss with Mark directly, but maybe with the others.

His thoughts were interrupted by the gigantic room that greeted him with bright lights and patterned walls. His eyes widened then cringed as he tried to look up at the blinding scenery.
"Here's our training room" Mark announced. Sheph raised an eyebrow, and looked down the gym sized room. "Stay here I'll go grab something to spar with." Mark told him turning away. Sheph sputtered for a moment and grabbed Marks shoulder before he could go
"I can't 'spar' with you." Sheph said awkwardly, "I can't even spar in the first place." He stated putting up his gloved hands to gaze at the craftsmanship. Mark looked sideways at him, and then yawned widely. In return Sheph yawned as well.
"Maybe you're right." Mark said with a shake of his head. Sheph sighed in relief. He didn't feel like making a fool of himself in front of Mark, or injure himself at least. Then a thought caught his attention.

"Weapons?" He asked. Mark tensed and looked away nervously.
"Maybe I'll show you another time." He said quickly, scratching the back of his head. Sheph deflated.
"come on please." He begged. Mark looked at him with a look that read 'plz no,' and he yawned again. Shaking his head with half closed eyes.
"See I'm just sooo tired Sheph." Mark explained trying to fake a yawn. He stopped and looked at Sheph who huffed in response.
"Fine, but you have to take this off. It's getting heavy." Sheph said stretching. Mark seemed to perk up.
"Cool." He said in agreement
---
"Breakfast." Came a cheery sing-song call. Sheph opened his eyes slightly, and glanced over Mark's sleeping frame at Kyle who danced in with a couple plates balanced on his paws. Sheph groaned and turned towards the wall. 'whyyy' he whined internally until the smell of breakfast food wafted over him. Mark rustled besides him, and he felt the jackal sit up.

Mark rubbed his eyes tiredly, and looked over at the cup of coffee being offered to him. He thanked Kyle, and stood up. Padding over to the table he sat next to Phin who waved at him cheerily.
"You two sleep well?" Mark asked jokingly. The two both nodded silently, and Kyle put out plates for all of them. Finally laying out three huge platters in the center of the table piled high with both pancakes, waffles, sausages, eggs over easy, and hashbrowns along with a huge pitcher of piping hot coffee. Mark looked back over his shoulder at Sheph who'd wrapped himself in his blankets tightly. 
"Want breakfast?" He called hopefully. Sheph only groaned and curled up tighter in his covers. Mark shook his head with a grin, and turned back to the food. Hungrily he began to pile it onto his plate. 
"We'll get there today." Kyle commented plainly whilst walking towards the back of the ship. Most likely to fetch Nik from his wicked hangover since he was holding a cup of coffee loaded with sweeteners, and half'n half. The tiger still acted like a child, hating mushrooms, and runny yolk, and chunky salsa, etc, but he was one of the strongest in the group. Besides Kyle, but that wasn't necessarily fair. Kyle was all alone for most of his life, so he had plenty time to discover things about the world that no one could even fathom. He watched the wolf disappear through the wall, and looked at the empty seat next to him. Then at Phin's plate which was literally piled with some of everything on the platters in front of them. He chuckled at the indecency, and began to dig in.
--
A couple minutes of eating had past and Kyle finally came back, dragging Nik by the scruff. Angrilly he stood up, and faced Kyle.

"I told you to let me sleep!" Nik pouted loudly throwing his arms to his sides angrily. In return Kyle kicked him in the shin violently enough to send him to the ground. Sheph turned around in surprise to see the tiger clutching his shin with tears forming in the sides of his eyes.
"Ow! Asshole that hurt!" Nik continued in an offended tone. Kyle looked at him angrily, and turned away to sit at the table leaving Nik with his 'injured' shin. Quietly he turned to Phin.
"Do you want me to drop you off at the nearest jump-gate before we arrive?" He asked as if nothing had happened. Mark watched them talk until both Nik and Sheph sat at the table. Nik glaring at Kyle, and Sheph slowly picking up his plate. Still half asleep.

Sheph looked around for the small kangaroo, but Autzen was nowhere to be found. While he stabbed food with a fork handed to him by Kyle he asked Mark.

"Where'd Autzen go? I haven't seen him in a while."
"That little pessimist? I wouldn't know." Mark replied. At the same moment Autzen appeared threw one of the doors with a scowl on his face directed at Phin.
"Is he going to stay here until we get there?" He asked Kyle as he took a seat next to Sheph who'd caught himself staring at the odd burn marks that lined his visor. Autzen glanced at him, and he saw his brows furrow.
"Having fun over there?" He asked in annoyance, addressing Sheph's questioning stare. Kyle looked up at the two of them with a anxious look on his face, and without thinking Sheph blurted out.
"Why do you wear that visor?"

Without answering Autzen stood up with his food, and walked out of the room, leaving an apologetic Sheph in his chair feeling like an ass.
"I-"
"Don't worry about it." Kyle assured. Mark rubbed Sheph's back, and to his surprise, kept it around his shoulder. Leaning in Mark whispered into his ear.
"It's burned into his face." Sheph's eyes widened, and he glanced at Mark who pulled away, and continued to eat.