(I’ll be reblogging this with Charlie’s! But here’s Arrows.)
Pyro is almost vibrating in place. “We did it! I can’t believe it, but we did! Cosmos, we’re gonna be so rich tomorrow.”
Arrow smiles to herself. He reminds her so much of Bow in times like this. His fur is red-orange, like Bow’s, but darker; more orange then red. His eyes are dark brown, almost black. He’s older than Bow, but still younger than Arrow…
And unlike Bow, he still looks up to and likes Arrow.
Just like that, her mood sours.
Frigid notices, because he always does. He sidles up next to her, hands her a drink. Frigid is pale blue, like ice; with dark blue eyes. He smiles at her. “He’s right, you know. We won. We did good. And tomorrow, we won’t have to worry about money for another week or two.”
“I know.” Arrow summons a smile again, and sips at the drink.
“Which means we can spend some more time looking for your brother,” Frigid presses. “Where do you want to start this time?”
Arrow shakes her head. “I don’t know. I feel like we’ve looked everywhere there is to look.”
Frigid scoffs. “Please. This galaxy is large enough that even with our lifespans, we’re not going to be able to look everywhere.”
Arrow snorts. None of them know how much extra time these cybernetic implants will get them, but the scientists that created them, that forced them on them, seemed to think it was going to at least double it. In all of his studies, Frigid has yet to find anything to contradict that.
He bumps her lightly. “Don’t think too hard on it. Tonight, we should celebrate! Worries are for tomorrow.” He grins.
“I suppose.” Arrow returns his smile, though hers is far smaller. She’s sure that something of her troubled outlook is displayed on her face, but Frigid doesn’t comment on it. He’s good like that.
Pyro attracts their attention again. He’s finished setting up a place to sit. He insists that, after each victory, the best way to celebrate it is to retell their favorite parts. Arrow can’t say it isn’t enjoyable, so she continues to participate. But there’s something in her that just wants to jump to the next thing. Her baby brother is out there somewhere, and even if he resents her, she has to find him.
Frigid tugs her over to sit with them, and she settles onto the cushions and blankets, careful not to jostle her drink. Once they’re all settled in, Pyro dims the lights save for a small lamp in the center—meant to mimic firelight, though it lacks the comforting crackles and warmth.
Still vibrating, Pyro says, “Okay, who should start?”
Frigid laughs. “You start.”
One of them always says that. If only because Pyro is as impatient and hard to control as his namesake. And because he’s just so cute when he gets excited.
“Arrow you were so cool! The way you just, bam, energy blasted that guy’s face!” Pyro touches his fingers together then spreads them apart, mimicking an explosion. “And Frigid, you totally froze that guy in place. Did you see his expression? Man.”
Frigid grins, pleased, and Arrow can’t help but smile herself. It’s nice to be admired. Though the blast Pyro was talking about came after a moment where her powers didn’t respond to her. She was still getting the hang of this “being cybernetic” thing. Even after all the training they were forced to go through. It was times like these she missed her bow; but that wasn’t enough to keep up with all the technology their enemies had.
Not to mention it was still at home. And like hell she was going home without her brother.
“The best part of the battle for me was the end, when you blew up their cargo,” Frigid says, looking at Pyro. “Excellent job. That will keep them from restocking their weapons supply for another month–which means the colonies are safe for a while longer.”
Arrow nodded. “We did well,” she said. “All of us have improved a lot.”
Pyro stares at her expectantly. “What was most impressive to you?”
Arrow pauses, considering. “Well, like I said. We all improved a lot. I was able to keep my blasts going for longer. Frigid was able to control his frost enough to freeze only a single person, and to keep it from spreading across the floor. And you were able to keep your explosions to just the cargo bay. I enjoyed getting to see how all of us have improved. How far we’ve come since… we met.”
Frigid gives her a smile, and Pyro pouts a bit.
“Come on, Arrow. That’s what you always say. You don’t always have to be responsible, you know.”
But what time was there for fun, when there were things to do?
Arrow didn’t say that aloud, instead choosing to laugh lightly. “I suppose not. Old habit, you know. I suppose my favorite part of the battle was the look on the commodore’s face when we left.”
Pyro grins. “That was pretty great.”
Arrow finishes her glass. “We should probably turn in soon. We need to get to the colonies early tomorrow.”
Frigid hums. “If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to stay up in my lab tonight. I want to analyze the samples I took. Maybe crack open a few of those weapons.”
“Alright. Just make sure you don’t sleep in past lunch.”
He inclines his head. Arrow stands.
