48. May 31st

MAY 31ST

Waters

The entire teamwas hanging out around Midas' desk. The tension was nearly unbearable.

TB was throwing knives at a poster of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Midas was running eight million coded programs on what felt like the same number of monitors and playing Tetris on an old Gameboy from the eighties.

Nemo was scrolling through his phone, blowing bubbles, and cracking his gum.

Steel was sitting next to him on the couch, leafing through the reports on Ka-Bar. Without looking at the man, Steel took his pencil and popped a particularly large bubble, causing it to splat all over Nemo's face.

Nemo nonchalantly pulled the gum off his face and put it back in his mouth.

Demon had his sunglasses on and was tipped back in his chair, feet up on the table, dead asleep.

Waters was standing in front of one of the wall monitors, staring at the screen, seeing nothing.

A soft knock came at the door, and then it opened to reveal Cherry, who ushered Kai into the room.

Everything in the room stopped, all eyes pinging between the couple, and nobody breathed.

Kai stopped five feet from the desk, put her hands to her hips, her gaze narrowing. "Is there something you forgot to tell me, Mister Miller?"

Nemo guffawed. "Dude, you are so busted."

Waters walked slowly to Kai until he came within inches of her mouth. "I'm sorry. It was the only condition he gave me for my proposal of non-operative status. And even then, he didn't say yes. It was dependent on his meeting with you." Waters put his hands on her hips and lowered his forehead to hers. "I've been sick to my stomach, no clue what he was going to say to you. Are you okay?" he whispered.

She smoothed her hands up his biceps and nodded, her forehead not breaking contact with his. "I'm fine. He shook the heavens a little, but I was myself, so I guess I'm in his good book." They both laughed at her analogy.

Nemo spoke up from behind Waters. "So, what does he look like? Spill it."

She looked at Cherry, who smiled at her from her place in the doorway. With a chin lift worthy of a Navy SEAL, the confirmation of a promise was sent via silent communication. Kai looked to Nemo and, with a completely dead-pan expression, said, "Exactly what you think a deity looks like."

The men groaned.

Kai noticed the whiteboard behind Midas and shook her head with her own groan. "I'm glad I provided you all with so much amusement."

She swore she heard Waters murmur, "You have no fucking idea," but she wasn't quite sure.

Midas put his hand over his heart. "Aw, Kubrick, you made my life on a daily basis with your Kubrickisms. Our office hasn't been the same since."

She glanced at Waters. "Do they speak Kubrick now, too?"

He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Not fluently. Just enough to get by."

"Mmm," was all she said, glancing at the full board, her swear words, and all the hash marks behind each one. Then, her focus went back to Taj. "God said he doesn't want to see you for four more weeks. Apparently, it's going to take you that long to recover from me kicking your ass over not including me in decisions."

Taj snorted. "I'll suffer the ass-kicking. Besides, he knows I would normally be back in half that. Just to fuck with him, I'm taking six."

Kubrick let out a full, loud laugh.

I don't know what's so damn funny, but I love it when she laughs.

He pulled her tight and kissed her crazy, right in front of everyone.

"Let's go home. I just realized I forgot to make the bed."