Chapter 550: Turncoat (one) (1/2)
Nix woke slowly; the feel of a wet nose pressed against the side of his face pulled him from a deep sleep. ”If you're licking my face again, Del, I'm going to slow roast you over... ” The Inferno Leader stopped talking when he opened one eye. ”Oh, hey Morti.”
”Hey, Nix.” Morti huffed softly, making Nix's hair stand on end.
Nix turned on his side, his eyes straying to the open tent flap. ”Need something?”
”I want to fly. Everyone else gets to fly.” Morti's big black nose filled his entire line of sight.
”You're too fat to fly, Morti.” Nix pushed the cub's nose away and sat up. ”Didn't we talk about waking me up before 1000 hours?”
”Yep. It's 1130. I asked Semmi to make sure.”
Nix's sigh was filled with discontent as he stretched in place before heading toward the exit. ”Where is everyone?”
”At the beach. I think you're in trouble again, Nix.” Morti exited the tent after him and matched his stride.
”Me? I never get in trouble.” The duo walked toward the beach with Nix leaning against the Titan cub as they walked.
”You can put one of those camo things on my helmet and make a bird shape.”
”Bears don't fly, Morti. It's common knowledge.”
”Turtles don't fly either.”
”Good point. How about I look into it?” Nix stopped at the edge of the sand and scanned the beach. Most of the Inferno Officers were sitting in a large group near the end of the surf.
”Thanks, Nix. I want a small bird. The smallest one you can find.”
Nix stopped and turned toward the cub. ”Tired of being bigger than everyone?”
”Dunno. I've always been the biggest.”
Nix scratched the cub's ears with both hands. ”If it's important to you, then I will definitely do it.”
”Thanks, Nix. You're my best friend.”
Nix chuckled and pushed the cub's big head away. ”Don't forget it.”
”I won't.”
Nix approached the group; no one was using their bone form. ”Did I miss anything?”
Semmi got up without speaking, accompanied by Jun Li, Nezbit, and Fajii.
Nix took a seat next to Pon. ”What's going on, old man?”
Pon didn't even try to keep the large grin off of his face. ”Stepped in it this time, Punk.”
Wind chuckled from the other side of the Fire Mage. ”Agreed. Although for the record, I don't disapprove.”
”The hell are you two jokers talking about?” Nix glanced at the others sitting nearby. Sasi was the only female who hadn't left when he joined the group. ”Those guys mad at me, Sasi?”
Sasi nodded and pointed to the beach's far side where Sharl and Ronnie were talking with Bali.
”I don't get it.” Nix waved at the sisters. ”They're mad at Sharl and Ronnie?
[Whisper: Gideon to Nix] I'm trying to decide if you are dense or just oblivious.
[Whisper: Nix to Gideon] If given a choice, I'll pick oblivious.
Nix shrugged slightly and stood up. ”This is a waste of my time. Going to find something to do.”
/Inferno: Semmi: We're going to have an officer's meeting.
/Inferno: Jun Li: Aren't you staying for the meeting, Nix?
Nix was halfway to his crafting area when he sensed the footsteps behind him. Fajii caught up with him and matched his step. ”Talking to me today?”
Fajii gripped his hand in hers and squeezed gently. ”Sorry, I was trying to figure out why they were upset. Human women are difficult to understand.”
Nix laughed at her statement. ”I have no reply for that.”
”Want me to tell you what's going on?”
Nix stopped at his crafting table and took a seat. ”Not really.” He removed a pair of bracers from his inventory and slipped them on. ”I missed these guys.”
Fajii stared at the bracers for a moment. ”Those are the Arch Wing bracers?”
Nix nodded. ”Brought them back with me yesterday.”
”Those were the 5th item? So there's no way you could have...”
Nix brought up his hud and started studying the Turncoat Burrough. ”No way I could what?”
Fajii's face showed her confusion. ”They think you brought back swimsuits for Sharl and Ronnie.”
Nix laughed at the statement. ”That's dumb. I have six items to bring back, and I'm going to waste two slots on swimsuits? Do they think we're on vacation here?”
”They didn't have those swimsuits before. I think they assumed that you brought them.”
”Did Sharl and Ronnie say I brought them back?”
Fajii shook her head. ”No one asked them.”
”I summoned Shae last night so we could discuss the Trifecta; she left again almost immediately.” Nix leaned back in his chair, enjoying the feel of the sun on his face. ”Going to get some mileage out of this one.”
/Inferno: Nix: Hey Ronnie. Where'd you get those spiffy swimsuits?