THADDEUS

"Aghhh, fuck..." I sat up slowly, pressing my thumb and forefinger to my throbbing eyes which burned from the early morning light of the Digi-window.

My head was pounding, not unlike how it did when I was assigned to Expansion and the explosives were set a little too close for my liking.

I flopped my body back against the frame of the couch, pushing my curls back from my forehead as I released a groan of frustration. I didn't think I drank that much last night, but I guess I got a little carried away at some point during the chaos of the night.

Wouldn't be the first time, after all.

My eyes were feeling heavy, but I forced them back open as I tried to psych myself up.

'You're fucking Thaddeus Axton. You can handle anything. Has a little fucking headache ever taken you out of the game?!' I argued with myself, which was luckily enough to force my legs to stand.

However, once my eyes finally opened wide enough to take in the scene around me, my jaw dropped in sheer shock.

"Oh shit," I muttered breathlessly.

My Housing Pod was a complete and utter mess.

Cups were strewn all over the place, half-eaten food littered almost every flat surface, and there were even a few mystery puddles in a few spots on the counters and concrete floors.

Oh, man... This was... This was...

This was proof that I knew how to throw a fucking rager!

A huge, smug grin overtook my features as I realized how much clout I was gonna gain from my crazy good hosting skills. Regardless of that tiny little hiccup with that one enforcer as well as the fact I could only barely remember how I ended up falling asleep, I was more than sure that I would undoubtedly be the talk of The Society today. I even found myself getting a little lost in the thought of everyone begging me to be invited to my next party, falling at my feet just for the chance to be considered.

My headache was long forgotten as I had already begun to mentally plan for my next banger. Next time would have to be even crazier. I made a mental note to enlist Mitty to think up a master plan.

My eyes swept over the room one more time as I imagined the future scene before finally swiveling them over to the coffee table, where my... my... wait...

'Where the fuck is my uniform?!' I mentally screamed, turning to shove multiple empty alcohol bottles out of the way as if they were somehow concealing the much larger item that I was looking for.

Where was it?! It was always here when I woke up! Always!

There was no way in hell that I could show up to The Unit with a dirty uniform! Sure, some of the guys were more than happy to show their faces with jumpsuits caked with yesterday's dirt, but I was not one of... those!

It took a few beats for it to hit me as to why my uniform wasn't there, but when it did, my fists clenched so hard that I probably left little half-moon indents on my palm.

That little...

Though, as quickly I felt my anger rising, an unexpected sound stopped its fiery ascent right in its tracks.

"...Blergh!"

The sound was echoey and somewhat distorted, almost as if it were being spoken through some sort of funnel. Although I didn't immediately recognize the voice, there was only one person that it could have been.

And after rounding the corner to the hallway, all suspicions were confirmed.

I groaned, heaving a sigh at the sight of Bug, hunched over the toilet and clutching the bowl as if it were a ration pack during a week of low supply. He looked to be on the very edge of unconsciousness, thin extremities barely functioning to hold him up, skin dull and somewhat sweaty, and eyelids drooping as he audibly mouth-breathed.

Who would have thought, the little shit was hungover.

'Serves him right.' I silently thought to myself as a smug grin overtook my face at the scene. He looked so pitiful, barely even a spark compared to his fiery display of last night.

I almost laughed - and probably would have - if it wasn't for that damn metallic-y odor that once again invaded my nostrils. Another breath revealed that Bug was drenched in it, his normal peach scent almost entirely overcome by that horrific one, one that signaled his immense distress.

How was I so sure that it meant that he was distressed? I have not a fucking clue, my friend, but somehow... somehow my entire being just understood.

'Just like last night' I was abruptly reminded, the blurry memory of the end of the party becoming progressively clearer in my mind's eye. With only a single sound I had somehow known that he was in trouble, and this metal-adjacent aroma was absolutely no different.

You would have thought that the sour scent of vomit would bother me more than anything, but honestly I barely even registered it. That metal scent was somehow a million times worse, my stomach twisting with anxiety the longer that I stood there witnessing the scene.

And then Bug's arm gave out, and my body flew.

My knees smacked the concrete floor with a harsh crack, but I didn't feel the pain. Instead, I was focused on one thing and one thing only.

One arm slid underneath his floppy one and then around his surprisingly thin waist, my chest pressing against his back, and I used the other to sweep his hair back like a band so that it wouldn't fall into the disgusting toilet bowl. Only when I was sure that he was secure enough in my grip did I lean back on my heels, Bug's body weight supported in its entirety by my intervention.

"Hey, Bug! Bug, wake up!" I demanded, releasing his hair to gently smack his cheek a few times. His floppy head fell back to rest against my chest, and as I gazed down at his unconscious face, my brain began to whirl without my consent.

I couldn't help but notice a few things.

First, he could really use a tan.

Second, he was so small, his body weight not even a blip on the radar of my strength as I held him steady.

And third, his face was so... symmetrical, with features so evenly proportioned that I almost felt a hint of jealousy flare in my chest as I thought of my own, now completely asymmetrical face - courtesy of the shrapnel incident.

It was almost... kinda... stunning?

"Mmm..."

My skeleton almost jumped clear out of my skin as the color finally began to filter back into Aria's face, his eyelids slowly dragged open, and our gazes locked. His peachy fragrance immediately flared right back to life to my utter relief, competing against that lingering metallic bullshit that made me act so irrationally.

"...T-Thad?" Bug whispered, voice breathy and barely there to the point where if I wasn't right next to him, I likely wouldn't have even heard it.

"In the flesh." I replied, flashing him a signature, cocky smirk, although internally my stomach was still fucking churning with the desire to rid him of the rest of his that terrible distress.

But before I could move a muscle, Bug's eyes flickered with newfound recognition and he was scrambling away from me, eyes wide with horror as he realized the intimate position we were in.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pass out! I think... I think I'm sick! I just feel so awful, I don't know what's happening to me!" He blubbered with watery eyes, spouting explanations as if he were pleading for his life in front of The Elders or something. I rolled my eyes.

"It's called a hangover, Bug. But I guess I can't expect you - of all people - to know that." I explained, unable to resist the slightly condescending tone that slipped in. However, seeing his instantaneous reaction of curling away made me instantly regret it, and I ran a hand down my face in frustration.

He was scared of me. But honestly, after what I said to him last night, I couldn't fault him for it. Even I - king of blaming everyone else for anything that I could possibly justify - had to admit that it was pretty fucked up of me to say.

And I had a gnawing feeling I wouldn't manage to get rid of that terrible metal in the air until I made it right.

"... Listen, I'm... I'm s-" I began, but the word got lodged in my throat.

Fuck.

I wasn't used to apologizing. In fact, I couldn't even remember the last time I said sorry to anyone. I mean, nine-point-five times out of ten I was right anyway, so what did I need to have that stupid 'S' word in my vocabulary for anyway?

I would have to work around it.

"... I... am... regretful of what I said last night," I substituted.

Yeah, that was a good alternative, even though my jaw still ached with effort.

"... It was wrong of me to call you a name. You aren't... that." I finished, unable to repeat the word I'd used the previous night.

My eyes shifted around, finding it hard to maintain eye contact as we sat in silence for a few moments. Slowly, the scent of peaches overwhelmed the room, and when I finally looked up Bug sat, playing with his fingers and nursing a tiny, timid smile on his tear-streaked face. He looked at me through his long lashes as he went to speak.

"Thank you. I... I needed to hear that," Bug paused, chewing his bottom lip as if he were contemplating something before he continued, "I didn't mean what I said either... about... mating Uriah, I mean." He finished with a deep, shaky breath.

My biceps twitched, muscle memory taking over at the mention of that damn enforcer.

I could still smell his lingering scent on Bug, irritating both my nostrils and my nerves right along with the remnants of that fucking metal. However, I couldn't help the smug smirk that overtook my lips at Bug's words, confirming that I was still number one in his mind.

Not that I was... doubting my place there or anything like that, but I couldn't deny that I was experiencing an overwhelming urge to rub my victory in that enforcer's ugly ass motherfucking face.

'Next time' I assured myself, the promise allowing my tense muscles to finally relax. However, just as they relaxed, the PA system's unexpected voice sent me right back into defense.

"Attention: Inhabitants of Housing Pod negative six-hundred and thirty-four. Elder Edergan is requesting front door entry."

My brow furrowed.

'What the fuck could he want, and at this time of day no less?' I wondered, brain whirring with possibilities as I pushed myself to my feet.

"I'll get it. Stay here." I ordered as Aria moved to stand. He was in absolutely no condition to talk to an elder, let alone lie if we needed to. This was a situation for me, and me alone, to handle.

I made it to the door in record speed, tapping the control panel to open the door and stepping back at once as the salt-and-pepper face of Elder Edergan greeted me. He was smiling, as usual, and I forced one onto my own face as I spoke through my teeth, bitterness flaring at the sight of the same man who gave me my first strike following the Soul Mate Ceremony.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Elder?" I rasped, forcing sweetness into my voice as he stepped inside of my pod, tablet snugly tucked into the crook of his folded arm.

"Ah, hello my friend. It has been a while." He responded, completely ignoring my question. My jaw ticked with resentment as he shifted his unsettlingly penetrating gaze to take in the state of disaster that the housing pod was in, and I held my breath as he reached out a single, knobby finger, dipping it into a puddle on the counter beside him before lifting it to his nose. After a moment of silent deliberation, he finally answered my question.

"The Elders were notified of an... Altercation that transpired in this Housing Pod last night. Consider this a wellness check." Edergan flashed me a smile that was an alarming combination of ingratiating and terrifying as he lowered his hand, "Speaking of, where is our little miracle? I would like to speak with him as well."

I sucked in a breath. 'Just keep smiling, just keep smiling,' I reminded myself.

"Oh, Aria? He's uh..." I trailed, trying to think of a good lie on the spot.

"I'm right here!"

I whipped around, eyes wide at the sight of Bug, face flushed and brown hair a disaster as he stumbled his way into the corridor.

"Ahh fuck..." I mumbled under my breath. This whole situation just got a lot more complicated, all because this little mutant couldn't follow a simple fuckin' direction.

"Hi, Elder Edergan!" Bug smiled, although it was a pained one as I'm sure he was still experiencing all of the symptoms of a hangover. Edergan seemed to realize as well, as he raised a brow at the sight of the tiny man.

"You look worse for wear, Aria. Are you sick?" He inquired.

"Oh no, I'm not sick, Elder." He waved the elder off, as if he were saying something ridiculous, "I just have a umm..." He paused to word search, eyes brightening when his brain finally found what it was looking for "... a hangunder!"

I audibly groaned, pressing a palm to my forehead.

Yeah, we were dead meat.

"I see." The Elder mused, giving Aria one last look before shifting his gaze back to me, "I believe it is safe to assume that you are the guilty party in this situation, Mister Axton."

I sighed. Even if I tried to pin the blame on Aria, I knew he wasn't gonna buy it, especially since he was already familiar with my track record.

"Yeah, fine. It was me. But it was just a harmless party, I swear." I admitted. Elder Edergan just stared at me for a few, agonizing moments before he began tapping at his tablet without another word.

"I do not believe that one can call something 'harmless' when it almost ended in a physical confrontation, don't you agree?" He finally inquired after a long pause, not looking up from his precious tablet. I opened my jaw to argue my case, but somehow Bug beat me to it.

"It... It was my fault! I got him angry, don't punish him for what I did!" He cried, pressing a self-accusatory hand to his chest.

Huh?

Bug was lying.

But how? How was he doing this after he so very clearly demonstrated that he was literally worse at coming up with lies than a toddler? I had to admit, I was pretty damn shell-shocked.

"Aria, Aria, Aria," Edergan clucked, eyes softening as he turned them to the small man, "There is no need to cover for Mister Axton's discourtesies. You are a feat of the very best engineering that our great Society has to offer, you could never do something so distasteful." His smile faded, "Next time remember that, as The Elders do not appreciate being lied to."

Oh hell no.

This dude obviously had a few screws loose, because if anyone was the 'very best feat of engineering' our Society had to offer, it was me.

I went to argue, but as I did so, the PA system crackled to life once again.

"Attention, Society members: The time is now six AM. Morning schedules will commence in T-minus thirty minutes. Please report to your assigned Work Units. Those who are late will be punished as Society laws regulate. Good morning and remember, long live The Society of the People."

"Oh, no!" Aria exclaimed with frantic eyes, hands flying to cup either side of his cheeks as he panicked. "I haven't made lunches, ironed your uniform, or gotten anything ready for this morning! I can't be late, I can't get a strike, I can't -" He catastrophized, but was cut off by Elder Edergan, who held out a hand to place it gently on Aria's shoulder.

"Mister Toulsend, you are in no position to report to your Work Unit this morning. I will submit a Medical Absence Request on your behalf." Edergan smiled, patting Bug's shoulder gently before stepping back to his previous position and shifting his intense gaze right back to me.

"However, as for you, Mister Axton," He began, icy blue eyes peering deep and voice somewhat menacing, "This... partyof yours is not enough of an infraction to warrant an additional strike on your record. However, due to the fact that it hascaused multiple personnel to turn in Medical Absence Requests this morning, as well as provoked undesirable chatter among Society members, you will still receive consequences." Flashing me one last glare, he finally fixated his stare back down on his tablet as he tapped around on it.

"For the infraction of provoking undesirable dialogue among Society members, your biweekly nutrition rations will be cut in half for a duration of one month. For the infraction of multiple Work Unit personnel loss, you are ordered to report to the Construction Unit on your Free Day, for the duration of one month." Edergan pushed up his glasses as he finished, finally looking up from his tablet to take in my wide-mouthed expression. "Any questions?"

What the fuck? I wouldn't have a day off for an entire month?! And with fewer rations?!

Suddenly, I wanted to hurl, not unlike how Aria was twenty minutes prior.

But, I couldn't. I had to keep up the act. Smile. Smile. Smile.

My teeth hurt as I forced them shut so hard I thought they might crack, instead simply nodding in The Elder's direction. I knew that if I spoke I would curse him the fuck out, and that would definitely not go over well with The Elder Council.

Luckily, my nod seemed to placate the old bastard.

"Very well. I expect you to report to your Work Unit promptly this morning, Mister Axton. Although, you do seem to be quite the glutton for punishment, so I would not be surprised if we cross paths again sometime soon." Edergan noded in my direction before shifting to Bug,

"... And Aria, do rest. We need you in tip-top shape if you are to perform well for us. The Elders do not respond well to damaged goods, especially one of your... caliber."

"Yes, Elder." Aria nodded, bowing his head much further than necessary.

Only after flashing me one final, infuriating glare did Edergan finally take his leave.

_

Thoughts? 👀

Want more and can't wait? 👀 Become a Patron! You could get up to 2 chapters ahead, exclusive character art, one-shots and more! Link is in my bio!

Love you all!

Xoxo, Alex ❤️