"I'm sorry. You did what?"
Blood tossed a hand over his shoulder, robe sleeve flapping. "I hired a mercenary. Now, I know you and your team are well-equipped and trained. Ha! I should know, I trained you."
Jinx purses her lips and focuses her eyes at the back of Blood's white hair rather them rolling them toward the back of her head. "Of course."
"But we have far too many other concerns. Too many balls in the air to devote as much attention as we would need to to this one. So! I outsourced. She's very good." He shoves open the last door, shoulders visibly relaxing as he enters his lab.
"And you trust this... mercenary?" Jinx curls her fingers around the edge of the open door, leaning against it.
"Of course. She was trained by the best of the best."
"Are you going to leave me in suspense."
"No, no." Brother Blood beckons. An acolyte swings open the door on the other side of the room. Blood drops into his chair, smiling at the visitor and steepling his fingers. "Tremor, is it? Welcome!"
She's taller. Eyes darker. Clad in armored orange and black, but there's no mistaking. Terra.
"I believe you've met? Tremor, this is Jinx. My protégé and this academy's star graduate. You've met in combat a few times, yes?"
Terra lifts shadowed eyes to Jinx. "Yes. We have."
"Once or twice." Jinx lets her gaze travel down Terra's straight shoulders, slim belted hips, all the way to her heavy combat boots. Military grade. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. "When you were a Titan."
No flicker of recollection, no pang of regret. Terra just turns her attention to Blood. "You have the contract. Are we all good?"
"Yes." He reclines in the office chair, studying his newest toy with casual interest. "You will provide daily updates to either I or Jinx. If there are any concerns or questions, you will consult with us as well."
"You will have access to our extensive resources, as needed."
"I won't need them." Long, straight locks of thick blonde hair fly up, just slightly, as Terra turns around.
"Where on earth did you find her?" Jinx crosses her arms. "She dropped off the face of it after the Titans debacle."
"I know a guy who knows a guy." Blood wiggles his hand in the air, already swiveling to a massive tome. "I think she'll be perfect. Let me know if you run into any issues. Give her whatever she needs, number three clearance level. Oh, and you'll be running recruitment today?"
Jinx grips the doorknob. "We will."
"Splendid! Say hello to Amanda for me."
The door does not quite slam under Jinx's grip.
"Looks like a washout to me." Gizmo tosses back a jello cup and slurps loudly. "Budget assassin. Come on, we could do better in our sleep."
Mammoth lifts his head. "Huh. Think she'll choose the chicken or the beef?"
The dice clatter to the table in a satisfying almost circle. "If she's learned any sort of discernment, she won't eat anything from this cafeteria at all."
"Ah, come on." Mammoth pops a plum into his mouth and crunches. "Ish not soo bad. What, you got a fifteen? Is that good?" Leaning over, he squints at the dots.
"It's fine." Jinx sweeps the dice into her fist. "Who could possibly be worth hiring an actual mercenery for?"
"Washout," Gizmo mutters, sawing at a slab of chicken.
"Blood didn' tell oo?" Mammoth asks around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
"No." Jinx shoves back her chair. "He didn't." She steps around the table.
"Wait!" Gizmo squawks. "Do not engage! Classic cafeteria rules, numbskull!!"
The crowd parts, individuals much taller and broader than Jinx catching sight of her and sidestepping, others shrinking back into themselves with nervous smiles.
Terra leans over a loaded cafeteria tray at an otherwise empty table, fork nudging at ambiguous meat cubes. She lifts her chin from her hand as Jinx approaches. "Hey."
Something like relief flickers in her dark blue eyes. Jinx stops at the far edge of the table. "Hello."
"You're-" Terra glances away. "You've really moved up, here. Made a name for yourself."
"I have." What is this? Why are they having this conversation? "You're taller than I remember."
Terra's cheeks flush, ever so slightly. Curious. She's also paler than she was. Not nearly enough sun. "I- yeah."
"You've been doing this a while?" Jinx runs her fingertips over a chair back. "You have experience?"
Her expression flattens. And Jinx could swear a layer of color vanishes with it. "Yes."
Such somber eyes. "Then this should go smoothly."
"It will." Terra looks back to her food.
"Good." Jinx pushes off the chair. She strides back to her table.
Gizmo is sputtering, arms waving, face red. "What was that?! Are you crazy?? What were you-??"
"What did she say?" Mammoth's hazel eyes watch Jinx thoughtfully.
"She'll do fine." The words scratch at the back of Jinx's brain. They're something Blood would say. "We have nothing to worry about."
"Oh yeah?" Knife scraping into his plate, Gizmo jerks his eyes across the room. "'Cause I heard some stuff. You know what they say about freaky little Washout and her mentor??"
Hair falling in front of her eyes. Long fingers brushing it behind her ear. "I know." Jinx follows Terra's hand as it falls to drum on the tabletop.
A huff, and he rolls his eyes. "Yeah, well, I was just saying..."
"She looks sad," Mammoth says, suddenly.
"Yes." Jinx turns a die over in her fingers. "She does."
