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Chapter 27 - Incident Assessment

The corridor leading to the debrief room stretched longer than usual, the soft hum of ventilation underscoring the faint scrape of boots against polished floors. Jin walked close at my side, her tail swaying lightly with each step. On my other side, Viper strolled with their usual swagger, hands tucked into their jacket pockets, their grin sharp enough to cut glass.

“You okay?” I asked Jin quietly, my voice low enough that it wouldn’t carry.

Her sharp, pink gaze flicked up to meet mine, her expression calm but faintly curious. She tilted her head slightly, her tail brushing my calf. She was alright. Since when can I read that so well?

I nodded, the tightness in my chest easing slightly. “Good.”

Ahead, the faint murmur of voices seeped through the barely cracked door to the debrief room. Breaker’s booming laugh rose above the chatter, followed by Watcher’s low, measured tone.

Viper leaned toward me, their grin widening. “Place your bets now—how long until Reaper calls you out?”

“Five seconds,” I muttered, pushing open the door.

The noise inside paused momentarily as heads turned toward us. Jin stayed close to my side, her sharp gaze sweeping the room with her usual quiet intensity.

“Look who finally made it,” Viper drawled, elbowing me as they sauntered inside. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head as I dropped into an empty chair near the door. Jin slid into the seat beside me, her tail wrapping neatly around her legs as she settled in.

“Enough,” Reaper’s voice cut through the room like a blade. The squad stilled immediately, his presence commanding silence without effort.

The grizzled veteran’s gaze swept the room before landing squarely on me and Viper. “You two were late this morning. Again.”

The room seemed to shrink under the weight of his tone.

Reaper’s sharp blue eyes didn’t waver as he continued. “I don’t care what you were doing. I care that you were late. You’re veterans. You know better.”

“Understood,” I said, my voice clipped.

Viper leaned back in their chair, their smirk lingering but muted under Reaper’s scrutiny.

The squad held their collective breath as Reaper’s gaze lingered. “You both performed well enough during drills, but ‘well enough’ isn’t what I expect. And let’s talk about what ‘well enough’ means. Knocking Paul out cold—Tats, do you think command won’t hear about that?”

I stiffened slightly, but I met his gaze head-on. “He was out of line, sir.”

Reaper’s jaw tightened. “I don’t disagree. But his parents have deep pockets and longer tempers than you might think. If they push this, it won’t be on Paul—it’ll be on us.”

The reminder hung heavy in the air.

“Don’t let it happen again,” Reaper said firmly, his gaze holding mine for a beat longer.

“Yes, sir,” I replied, my tone steady.

The tension eased slightly as Reaper shifted his attention to the rest of the squad, beginning the debrief in earnest. He ran through the day’s drills with precision, highlighting strengths and weaknesses with the blunt efficiency we’d come to expect.

As Reaper spoke, I found my attention drifting despite myself. The steady cadence of his voice became a low hum in the background, drowned out by the thoughts swirling in my mind.

The soul-bond.

Crone’s words lingered like a persistent echo, a sharp counterpoint to the warmth of Jin’s presence beside me. Five days. It had been only five days since I found her in that basement—terrified, feral, and half-starved. Now, she sat beside me, calm and steady, her tail curling idly around her chair leg as if she’d always belonged here.

But was it real? Or was the bond twisting my emotions into something stronger, faster than they should be?

I glanced at Jin. Her sharp gaze flicked to meet mine briefly, her eyes soft but unguarded. There was no calculation in her look, no trace of manipulation—just quiet trust and an unwavering focus that seemed to center itself on me.

I thought about the way she’d clung to me earlier, her warmth wrapping around me like a cocoon. The bond might amplify emotions, but it couldn’t create them out of thin air. It couldn’t fabricate the way her presence settled me or the way she sought me out instinctively.

But it still left questions unanswered.

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“...understood?” Reaper’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and demanding attention.

A chorus of affirmations echoed around the room, pulling me back to the present.

“Good,” Reaper said, leaning back slightly in his chair. His gaze swept across the squad one final time, lingering briefly on me and Viper before he nodded. “You’re dismissed. Be ready for the next one.”

Chairs scraped against the floor as the squad began to disperse. Breaker clapped me on the shoulder as he passed, his heavy hand briefly grounding.

“Good punch earlier,” he rumbled with a grin. “Wish I’d seen Paul’s face when he hit the mat.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, earning a low chuckle from him before he moved on.

Vivi was already on their feet, stretching dramatically. “Well, that was fun,” they said, their grin returning full force as they leaned toward me. “So, Tats, was cuddle time worth all the heat?”

I shot them a glare, but the faint smile tugging at my lips betrayed me. “You never let up, do you?”

“Not a chance,” they said with mock solemnity, falling into step beside me as we exited the debrief room.

Jin trailed close behind, her presence a quiet reassurance as my best friend’s relentless teasing filled the air between us.

The corridor buzzed with low chatter as squad members dispersed in different directions, their voices bouncing softly off the sterile walls. Vivi nudged my shoulder as we walked, their smirk fixed firmly in place.

“Seriously though,” they said, their tone light but edged with curiosity. “You good? You’ve been quiet today—even for you.”

I glanced at them, catching the faint glimmer of concern beneath their usual bravado. “I’m fine,” I said, though my voice was quieter than I intended.

The half-devil raised an eyebrow. “Fine like ‘nothing to see here,’ or fine like ‘don’t ask because I’ll explode’?”

“Fine like ‘complicated,’” I muttered, avoiding their gaze.

Their smirk softened slightly. “Complicated things involving certain pink-eyed, horned individuals?”

I snorted despite myself. “No comment.”

“That’s not a no,” they said, their grin returning full force. “I’ll get it out of you eventually.”

“Get a hobby, Vi,” I muttered as we reached the end of the corridor.

“I have one,” they shot back. “It’s called annoying you, and I’m damn good at it.”

Jin’s tail swayed and brushed me as she stepped closer, her quiet presence a grounding counterpoint to their relentless teasing. I caught her gaze briefly, the calm steadiness there settling something in my chest.

The walk to the garage was quiet but not entirely silent. The hum of overhead lights mixed with the faint echoes of squad members’ laughter and chatter in the distance. Jin stayed close at my side, her tail occasionally brushing against my leg, while Viper strolled a step ahead, hands in their pockets and a spring in their step.

When we reached my car, Vivi turned with an exaggerated flourish, holding out their hand. “Keys, your majesty.”

I rolled my eyes, tossing them the fob. “Try not to kill us.”

“No promises,” they quipped, unlocking the car with a theatrical press of the button.

I moved to open the back door for Jin, but she caught my wrist, her pink eyes meeting mine with quiet insistence.

“You want me to sit with you?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Her grip tightened briefly—a silent confirmation.

I sighed, my mouth twitching into a smile as I climbed into the back seat with her. Vivi raised an eyebrow as they slid into the driver’s seat. “This is new,” they said, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

“Drive,” I muttered, leaning back as Jin curled against me. Her head rested on my shoulder, and her tail looped loosely around my leg.

“Alright, alright,” they said, fiddling with the music. “But I’m putting on whatever I want.”

The car hummed to life, and the playlist that filled the cabin was predictably chaotic—aggressive electric beats that clashed hilariously with the quiet atmosphere. I closed my eyes, letting Jin’s warmth and the rhythmic motion of the car lull me into a rare moment of calm.

The drive was quiet, save for the music thumping through the speakers and the occasional sound of tires on asphalt. Vivi, to their credit, kept the quips to a minimum, content to bob their head along to the beat as they maneuvered through the dimly lit streets.

Jin shifted beside me, her head pressing more firmly against my shoulder. Her hand slid into mine, her fingers fitting around my palm in a gesture so casual and instinctive it made my chest tighten. I gave her hand a light squeeze and turned to give her head a quick kiss.

Our semi-willing driver glanced at us in the rearview mirror, their smirk reappearing as they caught sight of Jin nestled against me. “Adorable,” they muttered, barely audible over the music.

“Eyes on the road,” I said, my tone half-serious.

They threw up a lazy salute that'd have Reaper fuming, their grin widening. “Yes, boss.”

Jin stirred slightly at my side. Her breath was warm against my neck, and for a moment, the world outside the car felt distant—just the three of us cocooned in the gentle hum of the vehicle and the glow of streetlights.

And, of course, Vivi's fucking music.

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The car pulled to a stop outside my apartment building, the hum of the engine fading as Viper cut the ignition. They twisted around in their seat, holding out the keys with an exaggerated flourish. “Your chariot has arrived, sir. That’ll be one coffee and a thank you.”

I took the keys with a roll of my eyes. “Thank you, Vivs. Coffee’s not happening tonight, I'm too tired to stay up.”

“Figures,” they said with mock disappointment, opening their door. “You two lovebirds head in. I’ll grab my car and be out of your hair.”

Jin stepped out first, her tail swaying lightly as she took in the quiet street. I followed, glancing back as Viper fished their own keys out of their pocket. They gave me a lazy wave before strolling toward their car, parked a few spots down.

The faint sound of their fob clicking echoed in the still night, but nothing happened. They pressed the button again. Still nothing.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Vivi muttered, their voice carrying just enough for me to hear.

I crossed my arms, leaning against my car as I watched them try the button a third time. Their frustration was palpable as they muttered curses under their breath, finally turning back to me with a defeated look.

“It’s dead,” they said flatly. “Just checked this thing last week, and now it decides to give up?”

I smirked. “Looks like you’re stuck.”

Viper groaned, running a hand through their hair. “I’ll call a tow.”

“It’s late,” I said, pushing off the car. “Good luck getting anyone to come out here right now. Especially for your high-tech shit.”

They hesitated, their shoulders slumping as they glanced at the darkened street. “Fine. Guess I’m crashing on your couch.”

“Wouldn’t dream of kicking you out,” I replied dryly, motioning toward the building. “Come on. I’ve got a spare blanket with your name on it. And that coffee I owe you.”