Target

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 15 January 2019
Setting: Outside the Team Lucky Seven suite, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
The door to the /Lucky Seven suite flies open before Pietr can press the bell a second time.
Chuck points to the bandage on his cheek, growls, "This your idea of a joke?"
::Thought it fit.::
"/Vulcan Specter?! You /complete ass—!"
Pokes Chuck's nose, then, ::That how you talk to a copilot?::
"When he's being an as—a-a blockhead, yea!" Chuck rips off the offending bandage.
Pietr winces.
Chuck blinks rapidly.
.::Coffee?::
"Seriously?"
Pietr grins, bounces on the spot. ::Your treat! Let's go!::
"You can't mean it! Not! My! Fault!"
.::Still fought.:: Walks backward toward the cafeteria.
Chuck follows. "What was I supposed to do?!" he whines. "Let 'em beat me into pudding?!"
.::Running works, you know.::
Chuck glowers.
.::Really. Sometimes it's the best plan.::
"That how /you managed to come out all shiny?"
.::Defended myself. Didn't attack.:: Pietr huffs. ::If you'd done the same, I'd let it slide.::
"You can't do that! Everyone'll think you're soft. You'll make it /worse!"
.::If you're a target, you're a target. You just do your best to stay safe.::
"Maybe—" Chuck closes his mouth. After a moment, says, "You know, don't ye."
Shrugs, 'c'est la vie'.
"'s why your defense is so good."
.::Practice, practice.::
"They ever stop?"
.::Most of them.:: Grimaces. ::Might have to deal with a few next month.::
"People back home're dumb enough to attack a /Ranger?"
.::Cadet—::
Chuck rolls his eyes.
.::They don't know how scary Cadets are.::
Chuck snorts. "They're in for a surprise, ay?"
Pietr shrugs. ::C'mon, we're late meeting Derek.::
"He can wait. He works for us."
.::/With us.::
"/For," Chuck declares. "He does all the shit we don't wanna."
Pietr stops walking, lips thinned. ::We're a /team. He's not less important because he doesn't fight.::
"Doubt that mouse /could fight," grumbles Chuck.
.::He knocked me down yesterday.::
"Wha—He /what?!"
.::Tripped me. Landed on my butt in front of class.::
Chuck gapes.
.::Just because he doesn't /like fighting doesn't mean he can't defend himself.::
Chuck continues to look like a fish.
.::You should talk to him. He knows what it's like to be a target, too.::
"Huh." Resumes walking. "Better get going or we'll be late for ... whatever our first meeting is."
.::He'll know.::
Chucks nods, sighs.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr's POV
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Derek (mention)
Category:Jackson (mention)
Category:Logan (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images