We Stand Together

Chapter 28: The Cabal Are Ugly Space Turtles

"Are you sure you won't go?"

Eden leans against the wall next to the door, gazing at Lance and Jaren with interest. For the past thirty minutes, she's watched the Warlock try every subtle move to get Jaren to come with them and none of them have worked.

Like all the last times, the Hunter looks back at him, face pinched in distaste.

"Sorry Lance, you know how I feel about Mars. But I'll be happy to go with you anywhere else when you get back."

Lance sighs in defeat but smiles, good-natured, before backing up to turn toward the door where Eden and Axel wait. Eden waits until both her other fireteam members have left to send Jaren a shy smile. He returns it with his own warm grin that makes her heart melt. Eden pushes off the wall, cheeks dusted in red and a dopey smile on her face. Uriah has to practically guide her out the door and after her teammates. It's only when she almost runs into another Guardian that she straightens up and watches where she's going. Uriah snickers but doesn't say anything when Eden shoots him a look.

She continues her way down to the shipwright and to her waiting teammates. Luckily enough, Lance is already in the pilot seat, flipping switches and firing up the ship.

Eden takes her place in the back with her Ghost, settling in and placing her weapons beside her. Axel pays her no mind as she quietly begins to speak to her Ghost.

She hasn't been updating the Vanguard like she needs to be and she tells him so. Uriah is quick to offer up a solution: speak to them when they return and tell them the new information they are about to gather. Eden agrees with the idea, pleased. She ruffles her Ghost's tiny shell and sits back with a sigh, relaxing. That is until Uriah decides to tease her some more about Jaren. For the rest of the ride, it's a desperate attempt to keep her features neutral and the blush away.

When they finally arrive in the orbit of Mars, Eden is relieved when Lance turns to her.

"Alright, do you remember the coordinates the prince gave you?"

Eden sits up.

"He said Meridian Bay, Eighty-Two North. Thirty-Two East."

Lance goes quiet, probably to input the directions.

"So, you gonna tell us about Jaren or are ya gonna leave us in suspense?"

Eden freezes and turns to Axel, mortified. She thought the most embarrassed she could get is when she says things without thinking to Jaren but this? This is far worse.

Her face heats up and she stutters and mumbles but no words come out.

"There's no need to be embarrassed Eden, we've known for a while," Lance soothes from his place up front.

Lance knows too?! Had she really been that obvious?

Yes, Uriah murmurs in her mind.

Well, it's time for her to find a place under a rock and never come out again. She squeezes her arms together and looks away, shifting uncomfortably as her face grows redder.

Axel chuckles before looking at her warmly.

"No reason to be embarrassed kid, in fact, we've been cheering ya on."

Lance snorts from the front.

"What he means is, we have been betting when you two would get together. And we hope you do. Also, my guess is within the next few months of course." He winks at her before turning back to the ship's console.

She feels flattered but the embarrassment still beats it by a mile.

"It'll be okay kid, don't worry."