05-30-2018, 04:52 PM
Jay played sports his whole life, but the first time he put on that varsity uniform in 10th grade, he thought he was on top of the world. Not to mention that people treated him totally different when he wore it. And by people, that mostly meant girls. Hot girls.
Good times.
So there was something about the uniform that thrilled him. Same thing happened when he graduated basic training. Only by then, the eagle, globe and anchor was a symbol of pride for something he grit his teeth, buckled down into the soul of his gut, and fucking earned. That he did well on Saturday nights was slightly less important than it was in high school.
The day he relinquished his Blues had been a bad day. A good memory to keep buried. Hard to believe that was not all that long ago. So much had happened. Home. Cayli's diagnosis. Mom and dad. But when the offer of a job in the Legion came, he wanted to cry with relief. Everything was going to be okay. He'd have a good pay check. Cayli could see some real doctors. The house wouldn't be foreclosed. Mom and dad would make it until Jay was able to get their finances turned around. A few years would see them all better off. The days before Danjou was CEO, the Legion was an attractive cause. Jay was willing to put his life on the line for something he believed in. If he died on the job, the death gratuity would be enough to sustain his family back home.
Fast forward .. what... less than a year? And the uniform of the Legion was already replaced with another. The dark cloth settled around his shoulders like the long-lost arms of a brother. The chain lay flat across his chest. The wrapping tucked around his waist like a second skin. He ran his palms along the sleeves, then down the flat of his coat. Fingers grazed the threads of the patch - the skeleton of a winged demon. It was a fucking cool uniform.
Samuel's face filled the mirror alongside him. At least from the chest-upward it did. There was no such thing as floor-length mirrors in the facility. Sam's dark hair and well-trimmed beard fit among the shades of black. He smiled. "Its good, yes Carp?"
The wavy nature of Belgian accent brightened.
Jay nodded. "I hate to say it, but I think I finally feel like one of you."
He clapped Sam on the shoulder and the two departed together.
For the most part, the Nine were of similar stages of approval. They hadn't seen Michael yet, but knowing the guy was constantly draped in his long coat, some side-bets were taken as to whether or not he would be adding it over the top of his uniform. If he even got one. Karim, for all his unofficial status as second in command had no distinction to his from any of the others. Either rank wasn't important among the Nine, or Karim had none to display.
They were dismissed from the Facility as a group for the first time since Jay joined. He was almost worried about peering into the brightness of the sky as they ascended to the surface. Otherwise, the uniforms put them in a good mood. Even Sanjay was prodding Allan, who carried his weight in the belly if you know what I mean, with some good-natured jokes about his fat-ass looking svelte in the flattering cut.
Despite the light-hearted air in the elevator, Jay wrung his hands together nervously. By the time the doors opened, he was sweating, lips licking like he was suddenly dying of thirst. Luckily, Karim was the first of them to seize the power, and when he did, the others followed suit. Jay breathed a sigh of relief when the power flooded his veins. He took a deep breath, savored the painful grasp of glory to his bones, and exited in the company of these new brothers.
The Kremlin was spectacular. He'd seen pictures, even a map of the grounds. Their role tonight was protection for Ascendancy, Representative Evelyn Avalon, Commander Danjou, and the guests - in that explicit order. Though, there was one guest in particular that his baby-blue eyes darted in search of golden hair.
He'd seen the pictures, the map, and virtual reality walk-through, but none of it really prepared him. He grew up in the middle of no where, where the Des Moines mall was about the most spectacular structure he'd ever seen (until later in life anyway). When he deployed to South America and Africa, he wasn't touring the wealthy retail districts either.
The very air seemed to glint with gold. The wealth and luxury of the Kremlin Grand Palace was smothering. He found himself frowning with the discomfort. These were not his people. This was not his home. He'd never fit in here. Maybe with the Nine. Maybe in this uniform. But never with these people.
With that, he was grateful the uniform kept him apart. It made the divide easier to grapple.
"Who are you looking for?"
Samuel's rolling accent interrupted his thoughts. Jay snapped his gaze to the shorter man.
"No one."
Sam smirked, but shrugged off the obvious lie anyway.
Good times.
So there was something about the uniform that thrilled him. Same thing happened when he graduated basic training. Only by then, the eagle, globe and anchor was a symbol of pride for something he grit his teeth, buckled down into the soul of his gut, and fucking earned. That he did well on Saturday nights was slightly less important than it was in high school.
The day he relinquished his Blues had been a bad day. A good memory to keep buried. Hard to believe that was not all that long ago. So much had happened. Home. Cayli's diagnosis. Mom and dad. But when the offer of a job in the Legion came, he wanted to cry with relief. Everything was going to be okay. He'd have a good pay check. Cayli could see some real doctors. The house wouldn't be foreclosed. Mom and dad would make it until Jay was able to get their finances turned around. A few years would see them all better off. The days before Danjou was CEO, the Legion was an attractive cause. Jay was willing to put his life on the line for something he believed in. If he died on the job, the death gratuity would be enough to sustain his family back home.
Fast forward .. what... less than a year? And the uniform of the Legion was already replaced with another. The dark cloth settled around his shoulders like the long-lost arms of a brother. The chain lay flat across his chest. The wrapping tucked around his waist like a second skin. He ran his palms along the sleeves, then down the flat of his coat. Fingers grazed the threads of the patch - the skeleton of a winged demon. It was a fucking cool uniform.
Samuel's face filled the mirror alongside him. At least from the chest-upward it did. There was no such thing as floor-length mirrors in the facility. Sam's dark hair and well-trimmed beard fit among the shades of black. He smiled. "Its good, yes Carp?"
The wavy nature of Belgian accent brightened.
Jay nodded. "I hate to say it, but I think I finally feel like one of you."
He clapped Sam on the shoulder and the two departed together.
For the most part, the Nine were of similar stages of approval. They hadn't seen Michael yet, but knowing the guy was constantly draped in his long coat, some side-bets were taken as to whether or not he would be adding it over the top of his uniform. If he even got one. Karim, for all his unofficial status as second in command had no distinction to his from any of the others. Either rank wasn't important among the Nine, or Karim had none to display.
They were dismissed from the Facility as a group for the first time since Jay joined. He was almost worried about peering into the brightness of the sky as they ascended to the surface. Otherwise, the uniforms put them in a good mood. Even Sanjay was prodding Allan, who carried his weight in the belly if you know what I mean, with some good-natured jokes about his fat-ass looking svelte in the flattering cut.
Despite the light-hearted air in the elevator, Jay wrung his hands together nervously. By the time the doors opened, he was sweating, lips licking like he was suddenly dying of thirst. Luckily, Karim was the first of them to seize the power, and when he did, the others followed suit. Jay breathed a sigh of relief when the power flooded his veins. He took a deep breath, savored the painful grasp of glory to his bones, and exited in the company of these new brothers.
The Kremlin was spectacular. He'd seen pictures, even a map of the grounds. Their role tonight was protection for Ascendancy, Representative Evelyn Avalon, Commander Danjou, and the guests - in that explicit order. Though, there was one guest in particular that his baby-blue eyes darted in search of golden hair.
He'd seen the pictures, the map, and virtual reality walk-through, but none of it really prepared him. He grew up in the middle of no where, where the Des Moines mall was about the most spectacular structure he'd ever seen (until later in life anyway). When he deployed to South America and Africa, he wasn't touring the wealthy retail districts either.
The very air seemed to glint with gold. The wealth and luxury of the Kremlin Grand Palace was smothering. He found himself frowning with the discomfort. These were not his people. This was not his home. He'd never fit in here. Maybe with the Nine. Maybe in this uniform. But never with these people.
With that, he was grateful the uniform kept him apart. It made the divide easier to grapple.
"Who are you looking for?"
Samuel's rolling accent interrupted his thoughts. Jay snapped his gaze to the shorter man.
"No one."
Sam smirked, but shrugged off the obvious lie anyway.
Only darkness shows you the light.