Operation Leap of Faith

Chapter 10

Present day - USA, Minnesota

Glaz awoke with the pleasant sensation of feeling well rested for once, a bone-deep mix of satisfaction and relaxation that he hadn't felt since he set foot in the States. He was vaguely aware that his head was resting against someone's arm, while he was hugging the person below him. Kapkan, yes, the hunter was the one acting as Glaz's personal pillow, an arm around him and fingers lightly caressing Glaz's back. Drowsily, he tightened his hold on the man below him. It was a lovely way to wake up; he wouldn't have trouble getting used to it. However, as soon as his actions gave away that he was awake, Kapkan tensed up. Then something collided harshly against the sniper's shin.

"Ow, don't kick!" Glaz whined.

"You are so clingy," Kapkan tried to push him away with little success. Glaz really didn't feel like moving. "Couldn't turn without having you plastered against my back or putting me in a chokehold."

Convinced that Kapkan was vastly exaggerating, Glaz rolled away from the hunter with a sigh of regret. "It's called cuddling; it won't kill you."

"I'm not so sure," Kapkan muttered, getting out of bed and out of Glaz's sight.

Such a shame, he wouldn't have minded lazing in bed a few more minutes. In fact, Glaz had slept so peacefully that he was tempted to find an excuse to do this more often. Moments later, he heard the water running in the bathroom, and his mind helpfully supplied images of how Kapkan would look showering, glimpses he had caught in the open bay showers at the base. He better stop that now, before he got himself in an awkward situation. Besides, it was obvious Kapkan had been uncomfortable waking up with Glaz wrapped over him, indulging in silly fantasies would get him nowhere.

He waited in bed until Kapkan got out of the shower, and allowed himself a moment of weakness when the hunter came into the room still dripping water and with a towel wrapped around his waist. When Kapkan stared at him, eyebrow quirked in a silent answer, Glaz nearly vaulted out of the bed and ran into the shower.

Right, a cold shower would help him clear his mind. And it would be good to start the day feeling refreshed. It was the least he could do, since he would have to wear yesterday's clothes. It took him a grand total of five minutes to shower and get dressed, and when he came out of the room, he found Kapkan sitting at the table and reading something on his laptop.

"Any news from Six or the team?" Glaz asked, missing all of his dear friends and teammates from Rainbow. He hoped he could see them all soon.

"Six answered a few of my questions," Kapkan said, looking up at Glaz. "Have you heard before about the 'Pieces of Eden'?"

"You've got to be kidding me." Glaz's mind was working at maximum speed suddenly, going over every time his mother had mentioned something about the Pieces of Eden. He always thought that was just a fanciful story, part of the Brotherhood's mythology; not real. The concept of objects that could manipulate humanity like that was ludicrous. And horrifying. "The sphere. Shirke has a Piece of Eden?!"

"Two, according to this. A ring and... an Apple?" Kapkan frowned, reading more of the message. "What the fuck is this all about? What are these Pieces?"

Right, from what the hunter had told him, his uncle seemed more preoccupied teaching Kapkan practical skills than the history of the Brotherhood. Still, Glaz had no idea how to explain something he didn't understand that well either.

"From what I remember, some sort of mythical objects that can control people, mostly."

No wonder both the Templars and the Assassins were always fighting over those. In truth, Glaz would feel better if the Pieces were destroyed. However, between having Abstergo freely giving them out to the White Masks, or having them locked away as the Brotherhood supposedly did, he would opt for the second option any day.