The Mark

Matthew slid his fork across the plate, shoving around a piece of hamburger. Sedna had served the team dinner in the most uninspired way possible, and Matthew definitely would have cared if he hadn't felt so utterly awful. What little appetite he had was instantly extinguished by the dry, tasteless meat, and he settled for simply staring at the dull-colored wall.

“Excuse me, father?”

The sound registered in Matthew’s mind as static. He hadn't cared to listen to any of the dinnertime chatter.

An elbow shoved into his side, startling him. Matthew’s hand twitched, but he quickly pushed down his gut reaction- to attack whatever had touched him. He met Aunora’s eyes, finding her to be irritated.

“Yes?”

“Seraph was trying to ask you something,” she hissed between her teeth. Her arms were held tight with angry tension, weary of the judgemental gazes of Sedna and Infinity that clung to the both of them.

“Oh, sorry,” Matthew mumbled, rubbing his temples, a migraine blurring his vision. He turned to Seraph, “Right, what did you say, honey?”

There was a slight, uncomfortable frown on Seraph’s lips. “Ah, it was not a big deal, really. I just wanted to ask if I could have some of your hamburger steak.”

“You can have all you want,” Matthew said softly, standing up and pushing his plate in front of Seraph. “I'm going to take a shower.”

----

Matthew tugged at his collar, feeling his fingers tremble as he dragged his shirt over his head.

The tile floor was cold under his feet, making him uneasy as he stepped into one of the stalls. He clenched his eyes shut as water poured on his face, biting through sweat and running down his neck.

The memory came in flashes. He saw himself and Hawkins, side by side in the chaos they caused as children. He could feel the gun between his fingers, lurching closer on the trigger. The eyes of a man pleading for his life glimmering in the dark, the sounds of anguish he had somehow become accustomed to.

Matthew’s eyes snapped open. He was panting, suddenly becoming aware of the water soaking his palms. He felt it as blood, hot and sticky, covering his hands.

“Matthew?”

Matthew gasped, eyes cutting behind him. Infinity draped a towel over the neighboring stall, starting the water and stretching out his arms.

“I believe we are going to have to pursue some...traditional methods for this investigation. Sedna will be escorting us through the property tomorrow morning, and we will search for any trace of a struggle or fight.”

Infinity rubbed shampoo in his hair, shaking his head. “I didn't expect this mission to take this kind of turn, but it's nothing we can't handle. I haven't been a mercenary for twenty years to get stalled over a little PI work.”

“It shouldn't be too bad,” Matthew murmured, his voice vacant. He rubbed the fresh mark on his forearm, the aftermath of Victor’s necromancy. He couldn't look Infinity in the eyes. He wanted to tell him everything he knew, about Hawkins and the Circle of Life...but he couldn't.

“Matthew…” Infinity sighed, “Are you okay? I've seen this before- young men join Alcorith Horizons with big ambitions of becoming a star mercenary...and burn themselves out once they get in the thick of it. There's no shame in saying you're overwhelmed. This type of work isn't cut out for everyone.”

Matthew swallowed down a lump in his throat, clenching his fist.

“It doesn't bother me.”

Author's Note- ~two bros, chillin in the shower, six feet apart cause theyre not gay~

anyways, i apolgize for the delay! i actually graduated high school yesterday and we had a party earlier today!!!

ive also been working on arc 11 and making sure i dont burn through my planned chapters too fast so I have time to work on new ones 😣😣

thanks for reading! be sure to vote and comment :)♡