The Story Of Soldiers

Chapter 34

Diaz sighed and laid his head down on the table, running a hand through his messy hair.
"Something wrong, Diaz?" Robinson asked, her voice calm.

Diaz cleared his throat. "It's just that...888, the situation with him. I'm worried. It's only been a day, but I'm...I'm just, it's...complicated."
Robinson rolled her shoulders, looking away from where she was sterilizing needles.

"You're getting too attached," Robinson said matter-of-factly, "You need to discipline them. This is necessary, remember this is for the good of our universe. These children, with the proper discipline we must provide, may just be humanity's final hope."

Diaz nodded, worry shining in his eyes as he looked up at her.
"You're right," he admitted, "I shouldn't be this damn attached to them. Especially considering that they're his kids, and you know what he did to me."

"The blood that runs through their veins does not mean they are his. They are in some ways, but not because of the blood they share with him. In a way, he has a hold on most, if not all of us."

Diaz narrowed his eyes at her incredulously, "What exactly do you mean by that, Robinson?"
"By that I mean he has done unforgivable things to us. Our anger towards him controls our every action. It seems as if everything we do is to try and make him pay. What he did haunts our dreams and makes us want for revenge the more we think about it."

Robinson paused her monolog briefly, taking a deep breath as if to compose herself.
"In that sense, he has more of a grip on your mind than you think, Juan."

Diaz's previously half-lidded eyes snapped open at the name, unbridled anger welling inside him.
"Don't call me that."
"Why not?" Robinson prompted, as if to try and provoke him.

"You know why," Diaz half-whispered, his gut twisting unpleasantly.
Robinson smirked.
"Indeed I do. However, you shouldn't let the anger and guilt control you."

Diaz balled his hands into fists, gritting his teeth as he tried in vain to calm down.
Robinson looked at him blankly, face void of emotion as she turned away from her distraught brother.

"You need to let go of the past," Robinson said firmly, voice vacant of any sympathy despite Diaz's distress.
"How do I let go of what he did...?" Diaz whispered.

Robinson shrugged. "I don't know either. I'm still trying to let go myself."
Diaz scoffed. "Then what right do you have to lecture me about letting go of the past?"

"I don't," Robinson agreed, "But I want to see you let go. I want you to be okay. We can learn to let go together."
Diaz is silent, laying his head down on the table again as his chest heaved.

"I love you," being the last thing Robinson said before she left without waiting for an answer.
Diaz heaved a sigh. "I love you too."

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Kaze paced anxiously in the confined space, tears threatening the corners of his eyes.
Anxiety welled inside him, chest rising and falling rapidly as his mind raced.

His team must be worried. Atleast he hopes they are. For all Kaze knows, something awful could've happened. Something awful could be happening to them.

Without him there to pick on, Ace was sure to go after Kamlyn and Kira instead. The thought of his family going through that bullshit without him there to take the worst of it infuriates him to no end.

His food had been brought to him, the person didn't even spare a glance in his direction out of the times they'd been there.
The fear of his team getting bullied without him there irritated him, it made his skin crawl with rage.