"How old are you?"
"15."
Commander Goh nodded and crossed his arms for further consideration.
He pointed to the shooting targets on the special forces training grounds. "And you're telling me you can hit all 3 of these?"
"I'll hit all 3 of them twice. Just to save you the trouble of doing a double-take." Lucy guaranteed. "And I'll do it with my eyes closed."
When Commander Goh handed her his gun to prove it, she took it, closed her eyes, and loosed 6 shots into the direct center of the targets in front of her.
Bullseye.
"Impressive," he nodded in approval, referring to both her aim and her persuasive persistence.
"Glad you think so, sir. The Special Forces Agency has an impressive reputation. I'd be the perfect addition."
"Why here? Why not just join the American military?"
"Looking for a home, sir." She finished with a bow hoping that Commander Goh had arrived at a decision.
Faultfinding eyes and crossed arms conducted his final examination.
"You'll receive food and wages." He grumbled at Lucy, who was already energized by the sound of just that. "Your missions will be dangerous. You will be a part of a team. You must take such responsibility seriously."
"Yes sir."
"If you are a moment late, you will receive disciplinary action. No special treatment."
"Yes sir."
Lucy bowed once more in acceptance of these terms. Yet when she returned upright, Commander Goh had a gun drawn to her head, pointed right between her eyes.
With eyes still closed, Lucy sniffed a few times before drawing in a deep breath and filling lungs with new air for what felt like the first time in hours.
Surfacing back to reality and blinking through still sleep clouded vision, she began to phase back into consciousness from that onerous nightmare again that just wouldn't leave her alone.
Familiar knots in her stomach tightened remembering how she'd left things with Violet. Her best friend. Her partner. They'd been through so much together. It wasn't worth everything falling apart over this. What was this really even about anyway?
Rachael's reactions replayed in her head...
And then her father...
Nerves festered into anxiety.
Constricting. Consuming.
Feeding her fear by eating her alive.
How can I trust anyone?
She tried to swallow her apprehension but it soon spread through her body like a disease weakening her limbs.
One poke triggered her giggle with a tickle.
Another. And another.
*poke*
"Stop it!"
Not finding himself the least bit guilty, Freddie leaned innocently onto his hand and presented her with an amused smile. "No."
And then another poke.
"Freddie!" she choked through her giggles.
Facing an episode of her unsettled inner turmoil didn't seem nearly as appealing as the way his lips curled into that adorably cheeky and expectant smirk that made her heart race even faster than fear.
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EVERGLOW | Freddie Mercury (Vol 2) | Freddie Mercury Fanfiction
Romance"You give me this feeling..."
