(no subject)
Heather took a swig of water during a rest break. She was here at base camp, taking those self defense lessons from sergeant Dixon. They felt more like boot camp than ‘lessons’. She caught a cluster of guys sitting nearby quickly averting their gaze from her when she looked their way, and hid a smile. She’d initially felt embarrassed - guys didn’t typically ogle her, at least not so obviously - but that had passed. And it’s not like she was entirely innocent, either - this was a shared exercise area, full of cute guys in various amounts of clothing.
Then she felt a hand on her shoulder - which she immediately grabbed, spinning around to see the ‘assailant’.
“Edward?”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. But I’m glad to see you’re on your toes.” He gestured to a couple of crates. “How’s it going?”
“Dixon’s a slave driver.” She took another drink. “And he’s constantly coming up behind me on breaks to attack me unawares. That’s why I reacted like that.” She saw Edward try to hide a smile. “You snot! You sicced him on me!”
“No I didn’t - honest! He does it to everyone he trains. It just never gets old, that’s all.”
“Glad you find it amusing.”
“Well, it really is important to stay on guard at all times. Even if you have an escort.”
“Escort.” Heather snorted. Edward sighed. Previous terms such as ‘bodyguard’ and ‘protection detail’ had also fallen flat. He was going to have to find a thesaurus soon. Time for another approach.
“You know, I could get any of those guys to volunteer as your sentry.” She looked at him. “Sentry - one who guards entrances and exits”
“I know what it means. And if you put a guard on my door, I will hurt you.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Watch me.”
“If you don’t cooperate with your escort service - ” Heather actually barked a laugh at that term, he noted, filing that one away. “I will put a sentry at your door. There’s already plenty of volunteers.”
“Volunteers?”
“Yeah, you’re going to have a different soldier walk you home every night at the current rate.”
“Oh, god.”
“I think they’re hoping for more brownies, personally.”
I certainly hope that’s all they want from me.
“I can veto any of them, right?”
“If you insist, though I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” As he followed her train of thought, he added “They know better than to get fresh with you. You’ve got friends in high places.”
“Thanks.”
“You still available Wednesday?”
“Why, yes, I happen to be free. Which you know damn well, since you’re practically dictating my schedule for me. Why, you want another chance to lose at Scrabble?”
“Not quite how I’d word it, but yes. And I’m going to mix the tiles extra well.”
“Yeah, blame the fact that you lost the last three games on the tiles.”
“Well, it is statistically improbable that you’d draw the Q and the X every single game.”
“Whatever. You’re on. Soon you’ll learn that this little crusade of yours is quixotic.” She smirked, rubbing it in. He pointedly ignored the jab.
“I’ll bring popcorn.”
“Ugh. Only if you can find butter.” Popcorn was one of the latest attempts at culinary variety from a staple crop, and Heather was already sick of it.
“Looks like break time is over.” He said, standing as Dixon came over. “See you Wednesday.”
“Prepare to lose, sucker.” She called after him.
She didn’t notice the men snicker as she taunted him.