Kai and Tih made their way back to the center of the district and entered the building.
Unexpectedly, the room that was previously filled with children was now empty.
“Huh?
Is no one back yet?” Kai looks around, forgetting that even if the children know their room number, they have no map and in turn, no way to get to their apartment.
“I guess we’ll have to wait,huh?
I’m gonna take a quick nap.
I’m still tired from all that excessive we did earlier.
Wake me up when it’s time to go,” Kai explains before jumping onto the couch and quickly falling asleep.
The child looks at the sleeping Kai for a moment before turning his focus elsewhere.
He looks around the no longer crowded room.
The faded white room is brightened with fluorescent ceiling lights.
The room looks more like a lobby with a chairs scattered here and there, two couches, and a reception desk, except it doesn’t look like anything has been used in a while.
Tih’s eyes moved to the open doorway the major left through.
Without much thought, he walks through it and enters a separate room that is currently being used as a bedroom.
Trash is littered on the floor, stacks of papers are piled high on a wooden desk, and on a saggy couch sleeps a snoring man.
The child walks around the room, looking at the trash, the documents, and finally stops in front of the man, Major Jax.
Tih crouches at the edge of the couch and stares at the man.
The child analyzes the man in front of him, muscle density, height, disposition, other physically attributes.
After assessing him for a couple minutes, a gravelly voice utters from the man’s throat,”What do you want, kid.” The shut-eyed man only heard silence.
After a few moments he huffed before lazily opening his eyes only to be face-to-face with a pair of blue eyes.
The short distance between them was unexpected and he blanked out for a second before saying,”Watching someone while they sleep is creepy, kid.” He eyed the unusual child in front of him.
Thin like a skin, sickly looking, could break with the slightest tap, these were the words that first appeared in his head, but for some reason, his instinct was telling him to be wary of this small thing.
Looking into his eyes, Major Jax couldn’t see any emotion, the kid was completely blank, It’s almost unnerving.
The child stared back at him, blinking occasionally.
Since the kid wasn’t going to say anything, the man decided to continue,”Seriously kid, it’s just creepy at this point.” Major Jax sat up, becoming slightly taller than the child.
“You one of the newbies?” When the kid didn’t say anything he was about to move on, but noticed the boy nod his head ever so slightly.
“You don’t talk?
Well, I don’t really give a crap about that sort of thing, but some of the other instructors with sticks up their as-butt will.
If your planning to continue with the silent treatment, better not be caught by one of them or you’ll have hell to pay.” He chuckles with a sneer after being reminded of a certain someone.
Major Jax yawns before checking the electronic watch on his wrist,”Did you already find your apartment?
Got here pretty quickly…” His gruff voice turned into a soft grumble,”should’ve taken longer than that…sigh.” At this time, the door in the lobby could be heard creaking open as the angry voice of Private Scott calls out,”Major!
Can you tell me why I just ran into a lost newbie that couldn’t find his way to his room!” The stomping of feet become louder and louder until the soldier enters the room and notices Tih,”Oh?
Are you one of the newbie?
Were you able to find your apartment?” The major answered in the child’s stead?,” Give it up, the kid doesn’t speak.” He shrugs his bulky shoulders.
“Doesn’t speak?” The Private frowns.
“What if the child runs into that guy?” “Well, it’ll be interesting.
That’s for sure.” The major chuckles in response.
Private Scott’s frown deepens,”That’s not a laughing matter.” He turns to face Tih and says in a softer, slightly hopeful voice,”You don’t talk at all?” Tih just stares at the man without expression.
Reviewing that reply, the private can only sigh and shake his head,”Lets hope your luck isn’t too bad…” The lazy major is chuckling softly to himself, imaging that man’s face red in frustration.
Private Scott sees this and remembers his anger from when he first came in,”YOU!
You think you have the right to laugh right now!
You were supposed to show them around, you sloth!” The loud commotion awakens Kai, who walks into the room rubbing his eyes,”What’s going on?” Private Scott realizes making a fuss won’t fix anything so he tells the man,”I’m going to go look for the lost children and bring them back here.
I’m leaving these two children with you and I swear to god Jax, if anything happens to these two newbies while I’m gone…” Private Scott’s eyes the man, leaving the rest up to his imagination, before disappearing through the door.
The major exhales while scratching the back of his head,”Such an overreaction, really…” It looked like he was about to return to sleep when *grumble grumble*.
The origin of the sound came from the currently blushing Kai,”ha…ha..” “Hungry, huh?
I could use some grub, too.” The man pats his belly before standing up.
The two watch as he starts walking toward the door,”Eh?
Where are you going?” Asks Kai.
“Where do you think?
Cafeteria.
You comin or not?” He pauses impatiently.
“Uh, yeah, sure.
But what about Private Scott.?
Won’t he be mad if he returns and we’re not here?” “Ah, right.” The major walks over to a desk and scrounges around for a useable paper.
Picking up a pen, he scribble some word on the paper before leaving it on the couch and walking out of the room,”Let’s go.” The two hurriedly follow along right after glancing at the paper that says ‘gone for food’ in almost illegible letters.
After following behind Major Jax for a while, walking North, Kai and Tih greet a large building in the shape of one-fourth of a pie.
The building is five stores tall, each one being lined with windows.
Looking into the windows, Tih can see many people in black uniforms.
Some are walking around or eating.
Many are chatting in groups, causing the overall noise to be loud enough to the point that Tih can hear the faint chattering from where he is, and the sound only increases as they get closer to the building.
“It’s already packed huh…” The major scratches his scruff as he leads the two boys to one of the entrances of the cafeteria.
He pats down his body looking for something, moving along all the pocket on the uniform.
After not being able to find what he was looking for turns to Kai, stretches his hand out, and grumbles,”Hey kid, pass me you’re ID.” Kai obliges, handing his ID to the man.
Major Jax turns back around to swipe the ID and as the doors automatically slide open, the major tosses the card behind him and walks through.
Kai flustered, picks up the ID that fell to the ground.
After walking through the entrance, the doors quickly close behind the major.
Kai and Tih swipe their cards and quickly follow along.
They stop when Major Jax stops infront of a digital sign.
He murmurs while looking over the words and leaves.
The two newbies glance at the sign to see menus corresponding to each floor, with each floor having a different menu.
After looking at it for a moment, they follow the major.
Major Jax starts walking up a flight of spiral stairs.
He passes he second floor, then the third floor, and finally stops at the fourth of five floors.
The two recall the menu for this floor.
It seemed to be Japanese cuisine.
Tih observes the people in this environment as the three walk past rows of long lunch tables.
They stop once they reach the end of the lunch line.
The line moves quickly, because everyone is given the same food and portions.
The cafeteria staff move in an orderly and efficient fashion as they send out meal after meal.
Tih watches the front of the line as the soldiers take out their already prepared IDs to show to the man handing out the food.
The lunch worker scans the ID and the lunch tray is then passed to the soldier and carried away as they sit down and start eating.
This cycle continues to repeat itself and soon the three are at the front of the line.
Expecting to see an ID in the person’s hand, the worker pauses when it’s no where to be found, creating a hiccup in the smooth relationship between the lunch workers and the people in line.
The lunch man quickly recovers, turning his face up to look at the soldier without an ID to say,”ID?” The man currently in front of him is Major Jax, who does not have his ID on him currently.
He chuckles awkwardly, making a show of patting his pockets to say,”It looks like I can’t find my ID.” The lunch man looks at the person in front of him with impatience,”If you don’t have your card, I can’t give you food…You’re holding up the line.” The man hints at his desire for the person without an ID to go away.
“Look, I must have left it at my office in Housing District A.
How about this, give me the food now, and then I’ll come back later with my ID so you can scan it?” Major Jax tries to negotiate with the lunch worker.
“Sigh, that’s not how we work.
Now please, if you don’t have your ID, please step out of the line.” The other soldiers in line start to get annoyed.
“That’s-” When the major looked like he was about to try to continue bargaining with the worker, a melodious but cold voice cuts him off.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Major Jax.
Are we degrading ourselves to groveling with cafeteria workers now?
It’s seems you are still not aware of your status as a warden.
How do you think this will effect the reputation of the other wardens?” The blunt words hit home.
Without needing to turn around, the major recognizes the voice and mutters under his breath,”$hit…
Speak of the devil and he appears…” Major Jax turns to face the man that just spoke with a half-hearted fake smile.
Kai and Tih also turn around to see who can make the lazy major put on a smile, albeit a lukewarm one.
They look on as the lean but sturdy and well-defined man pushes up his rimmed-glasses.
Standing straight in a perfunctory manner, the man is around the same height as the major.
The black uniform wraps neatly around him with one silver and one brown.
Dark brown eyes match dark brown hair that’s slicked back into a perfect short ponytail, cap resting on top.
He’s looking at the major with one eyebrow raised.
“Ha..ha, how ya doin man?
Wanna do me a favor and buy me a meal.” The man’s hunger overtakes his rationale.
“Ugh, there you go again with that way of speaking.” The man’s nose scrunches up and continues,”What do I get in return for lending you the money.” He uses the word “lend” to emphasize the fact that he expect to be paid back with interest.
The major grumbles,”I’ll send you this month’s documents by the end of the day.” The man pushes up his glasses,”It was due yesterday.” “So it’ll only be a day late this month!” The major looks proud of himself like a day late is a good end result.
The man with a strict ponytail stares at the man in front of him with a frown before giving up,”Sigh, Deal.” He takes out his ID and lets the worker scan it.
“But you better have all-” Before the man could continue, Major Jax cut him off by pushing his two followers in front of him,”These two are new recruits.
You should help them out and teach them a thing or two.” The major then bent down to whisper in Tih’s ear,”Sorry kid, it’s not my fault your luck is terrible.” He then proceeds to ditch the children and runs away.
He escapes down the stairs, tray of food in hand.