Blood On Our Hands (Red vs Blue)

Old Memories

I looked out the window of the small, metal, hut, watching the snow fall down, watching it blanket the earth in a white comforter. I watched as the flakes fell from the sky, they touch the ground and disappeared like all the others.

"Holmes, what's wrong?" I heard a familiar voice ask from behind me, making me turn to face him. Like the others, he wore the standard marine slacks, white camoflougue (I spelt that wrong, didn't I?.

"Yeah, Parker?" I asked, turning my attention back out to the snowy landscape that stretched out in front of us, all around us. I couldn't see more than twelve feet out, but I didn't mind. It snow. It was peaceful. It was a distraction to keep me from snapping the other's neck.

This whole war with the insurrectionists has made me rather irratible. I snap at my 'teammates', my friends, even if they had done nothing wrong. One had even said that I have a very... pissed off aura around me. They try to stay away from me when I'm in those moods.

"We have some fresh coffee brewed, if you'd like some," He said, taking a few steps toward me, then reconsidered, returning to his original placement. I just nodded.

"Save me a cup," I replied, not able to suppress the smile that found it's way into my face. Coffee has been the one thing that really kept me awake the past few days. We've had so much to do, and I, being the elected 'leader' of our small team, I've had to oversee what has been going on.

"Okay, and, Holmes, take the day off today, okay? We haven't received word about any troop movement, so you should be fine," Parker said. I heard his footsteps approach from behind me, but I didn't turn to face him. I just kept my gaze focused out the window, unmoving.

"Parker, I'm fine. Just go," I said, merely turning my head to look at him from the corner of my eye. He didn't move for a minute, as if contemplating what to do, what he should do. Eventually, his shoulders sagged, and he turned and walked away.

I continued to gaze out the window, sighing. I took my dog tags out from under my armour, holding them in one hand, just looking at them.

Aerin Holmes

23987-49156-AH

UNSC

That's my indentification, the number I'm known by. If you look closely, or if you know what to look for, there a slightly raised croshair right beside my service tag, a signal that I am... I was a Headhunter. That part of my past will stay with me, won't it?

It's where my... 'career' started. It's where I learned how to kill, how to forget about everything that happened before that time.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. I don't need to remember all that. It's unnecessary, at least right now.

"Here," I heard Parker say from behind me. I could smell the coffee that he had in his hands, and that alone made me smile. I turned towards him, smiling slightly. He offered me the mug, looking at me.

I nodded my thanks, and took the mug from his outstretched hand. He just returned the nod, not saying a single word. I took a small sip, aware that it was still steaming hot. It was bitter, strong, but it was something, at least. It was coffee.

"Aerin..." I heard an all to familiar voice say from my right side. I immediately turned toward him, my shoulders sagging slightly. It was Seyer, the man who the the team always worries about.

Since the last attack, he's been horrible.

He was left traumatized when the... attackers killed several of our team, two of which were his family. He... hasn't been stable since then. We're all worred about him, and have requested for him to take permanent leave. He didn't need to be here any more. He needed to be with his family.