I managed to avoid Beckett and Orion for about a week.

Naturally Arthur and Demi were both rather suspicious of me when I explained I was just obeying doctor's orders by staying in my room, lying down, relaxing, keeping off my leg so my hip could repair, but they didn't bother arguing with me. Even if it was out of character for me, at least good came of it, because my hip was healing, not hurting as much, and the rest of my injuries didn't need to be bandaged any longer.

Because of that, I didn't even need a nurse to come in daily to check me over, so I just locked my door and window, isolating myself completely for seven days straight. A few times Demi tried to join me, but I told him he needed to look after Kailas and that I was fine. Gale would bring me food two times a day, but after a while I stopped eating, because getting the food meant unlocking and opening my door, which would risk Orion or Beckett seeing me.

A week was all I managed to do before Demi picked the lock of my door before dragging me out of my room to eat with everyone else, "I don't know what you're sulking about, but it ends now. You can't just hide in your room like an angsty child and refuse to eat or see anyone."

"I'm fine," I argued, but Demi ignored me and just forced me into the dining room.

I was admittedly hungry, so I didn't complain too much, but when I caught sight of Orion and Beckett at the table, I slumped down and folded my arms. You know, like a punk child. Evidently, I was dead set on proving Demi's definition of me to be accurate. Go me.

Gale, who was sitting beside me, tugged on my sleeve, curiosity in his eyes, and I just frowned at him, "What now?"

He held up both index fingers, looking at them, "Two more."

I cringed, "I hate you sometimes."

Gale just smiled and appeared pleased as he turned back to his plate as I leaned my head back with a sigh. Two more months of that bullshit bet, and of course Gale was the one to remind me of that. Maybe I could just keep myself busy? I didn't need to wear the brace on my leg anymore, so I was completely ready for perimeter check.

"Is there anything I can do today?" I asked, rolling my head to look over at Kailas, "Since I'm free to walk now, I can go out on perimeter."

Kailas just hummed, lifting a forkful of sausage up to his lips, "I think we could use a few hands in the armory to organize weapons and clean guns."

I groaned, "That's the most boring job we have, though."

"Yes, but Arthur hasn't released you into active duty yet, so simple jobs are all I can offer."

I glared at Arthur, who just arched an eyebrow as if daring me to argue. I didn't, that wouldn't get me anywhere, but I did slide a little lower in my seat and continued to mumble curses and poke at my food with my fork.

In the end, I decided it wasn't too big of a deal that I was on gun cleaning duty. Then I got to the armory, sat down, started cleaning a gun, and immediately had the urge to shoot myself when the door opened and I caught sight of Cass and Orion, who smiled when he saw me.

"Cass, do you want me to accidentally talk about that whole hallway scene I saw?" I asked, and Cass squinted at me.

"This was Kailas' idea, thanks," he pushed Orion into the room and followed, "This isn't a one-man job, so Kailas asked Orion if he'd help out."

"Of course he did," I scoffed, turning sharply away from the door and scrubbing at the gun angrily, "I showed Carina a picture of you as a kid. Have fun with that."

"You did what?! Why the fuck?! Does he still have it?! Shit!" Cass ran out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him, and I couldn't help the smirk that broke across my face.

Revenge sure did taste sweet.

"Why would that have bothered him?" Orion asked, and I slipped the photograph from my back pocket, holding it up for him to see.

"He looked a lot different back then."

"Holy shit. Puberty hit him like a train."

"Uh-huh," I slipped the picture back into my pocket before returning to the task of taking the handgun apart and cleaning it.

Orion sat down next to me, and I tensed up before forcing myself to relax. It would be a struggle not to turn and shoot him out of frustration. I had to deal with this, put everything out in the open and settle things. I didn't want to be in a relationship, I didn't want to string anyone along, but I didn't want them to leave either.

"Look-."

"I'm guessing it wasn't a dream," Orion spoke the same time I did, clearing his throat when he realized he interrupted me, "Sorry."

"Whatever."

"I kissed you, didn't I?" Orion asked, and I tensed up again, "When I was in shock? I remember it, but figured it was me imagining things. I tend to hallucinate when I'm in shock after something like that, so... but you've been avoiding me. I did, didn't I?"

I flicked at the spring a few times before cleaning it with the rag in my hand, "I can forgive you because you were in shock," I decided, and Orion dropped his head, propping his elbows on his knees and sighing heavily.

"I knew it. I'm really sorry, Dakota, I already promised I wouldn't touch you without permission, but I did something like that."

"Whoa, shut the fuck up!" I demanded as I turned to him, "You sound... not like yourself. Are you sick or something?"

"No, I'm fine," Orion laughed weakly, lifting a hand to rake his fingers through the fringe of his hair at the front, "I just... I'm sorry you had to see me like that, and that I took advantage of you without even realizing it. You probably hate me."

"Why does everyone think I hate them?" I demanded, and Orion shrugged.

"I'm sorry."

"Enough, fuck," I rubbed a hand over my face, "Stop making me feel sorry for you. You were in shock after bludgeoning someone to death, and you had to watch your brother get his shoulder dislocated, you were weak and made an impulsive move, but I don't hate you for it."

Orion relaxed instantly with my words, scratching his neck, and giving me an embarrassed smile, "This bet was kind of a childish idea, wasn't it?" he asked, looking down at the gun he was cleaning, "When Beckett said he was interested in you too, I didn't really want to back off, so I decided to just make this way for you to choose between us, or neither of us. Really, though, just asking you would have been easier. Less stressful. I'm really sorry."

I watched him for a long time before rolling my eyes and putting the gun back together, "What's your deal with Beckett, anyway?" I asked, "Carina mentioned you had a kind of friends-with-benefits relationship with him before now."

Orion gave an awkward sounding chuckle, "I figured that conversation wasn't a dream either. Yea, for a while Beckett and I had a kind of mutual proposition we both got something out of."

"What did you get out of it?" I dared to ask, and I was a little stunned to see his cheeks start to burn red.

"I wasn't as lonely at night," he admitted, scratching his cheek, "I don't know what he got out of it, but I just... wanted someone with me, someone to talk to, and... yea."

"How long has that been going on?"

"Since he joined us," Orion answered, and I scoffed.

"You can't hold a long-term agreement like that with someone and not feel anything."

"No," Orion agreed, "I said it before, didn't I? Beckett is very important to me, and I think he always will be."

"Then why are you both pining after me?" I demanded, feeling my frustrations spiking, and Orion just stared at the gun in his hands as he seemed to consider it, "Before, you said you didn't know why you were so interested in me, but you couldn't really think straight at the time."

Orion nodded, "Remember when we first met? After you got away from the Con Rồng, you drove into Pluto territory, and despite being so badly injured, you were still feisty enough to indulge yourself in sarcastic comments to try and get us to leave you alone."

"I remember..."

"That's what caught my attention first, the fire in your eyes. You were hurt, but still fighting, doing everything in your power to protect your friend, willingly putting yourself between him and us just in case we turned out to be hostile. I admired you immediately," he smiled at me, "I said it before, that there's a glow like fire burning in you. You're beaten down but so strong, and that's what draws me to you."

The smile faded, and he reached a hand out, barely touching my cheek with his fingers, "But you worry me. That fire that keeps you going... it's burning you up inside and you can't stop it. For whatever reason, you hate yourself, and... that's why you're fighting so hard against mine and Beckett's advances. You don't think you deserve us, do you?"

My breath was caught in my throat, and I was struggling to bring in oxygen I needed as I gaped at Orion. Beckett had said something similar a week ago... they were both alike in some ways, weren't they?

I dropped my eyes to stare down, "You're just annoying," I mumbled without any energy, it was probably obvious to him I was just spouting bullshit for the sake of protecting myself from him, "I don't... want to get involved with anyone."

"You're scared," Orion elaborated for me, "It makes sense, but you don't have to be."

Unconsciously and completely against my better judgement, whatever better judgement an eighteen-year-old could have, I leaned fully into his hand, closing my eyes and just letting myself go for once, testing the waters so to speak, seeing what would happen if I dropped my guard and became somewhat vulnerable in front of him.

The longer I sat there and nothing bad happened, the more relaxed I became, I felt at peace almost, and opened my eyes, "I know...," I decided, and Orion gave me a warm smile as I looked down again, "If... if you want to... it's okay..."

He seemed stunned before his lips parted like he wanted to speak, then leaned closer to me, pushing his forehead against mine, "Really?"

I twitched and smacked him in the nose, efficiently breaking the moment, and possibly his nose if the way he jerked back in pain was any indication, "I meant if you want to keep up with that stupid bet then it's fine, I didn't mean you could break my bubble and try to make out with me. Again."

Orion laughed uneasily and straightened up, holding his nose with both hands, "Right, my bad, overstepped my boundaries."

"No shit," I turned my attention back to what I was supposed to be doing, cleaning guns, stretching my legs out as I leaned back, "One thing, mainly curious. Carina mentioned when the bombs first fell, your back was shredded up a little," I looked at him from the corner of my eyes, watching the way his shoulders went rigid and he pulled his hands from his nose.

"He told you about that? Huh," he smiled a little, "He's making friends then. I'm glad," he lifted a hand to his left shoulder and rubbed at it, "Yea, I got a little beaten up in the east coast bombings."

I sat a little straighter, "The east coast was the first area hit."

"Mhm," Orion's smile was forced and sad, "We've been on our own for a while now. I mean, without our parents."

"I'm sorry."

"It's no problem, really. Carina is safe, so I can't find it in myself to regret what happened. Sure, I miss my parents, but I consider myself lucky."

"That's... one way of looking at things," I mumbled, staring at the gun I was cleaning before looking up, "I guess I'm pretty lucky too, in that aspect. I could have been killed with my parents and Gracie if... you know, I wasn't who I was."

"I'm glad then," Orion decided with a bright smile, "I never would have met you. For what it's worth, I'm grateful to whoever helped you survive."

I bit my lip, reaching up to my pendant, a broken smile pulling across my lips and nodding, "I am too."