Heart of Steel

Chapter 19: Matis and Absolute Power (2)

Image Credit: D92615653 on Twitter

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"Since when could you work a campfire?" 

"Since I read a book on it, Senio- I mean Eunhwa. These hands aren't just for mechanical things you know?" Vulca said as he got a fire started. Luckily for him, Emma had brought some . . . unique flavors of splendamin for the mission, so he was currently trying to figure out what would best make a meal. Judging by the slight fear present on Vesti and Eunhwa's faces at the offer (or threat) of Emma cooking . . . Vulca was the one to do the task.

"Birdie, are you certain you don't need any assistance?" Laplace asked, eager to do something and bored out of her mind. Maxwell was tinkering with her gear and Drake . . . was fast asleep.

"Nah, I'm good for now . . . What on earth is Cordon Bleu?" Vulca asked as he looked over the packaging of one of the Splendamin flavors. 

"I heard it was a delicacy from the surface way back when. It's kind of hard to make lately, so it is convenient in splendamin form!" Emma said proudly.

"None of this is necessary. We could continue walking to the designated point instead of wasting our time in a little campground." Eunhwa scoffed. It was clear she was somewhat humiliated at being under the command of her former junior.

"Do ya have to be so snippy? Instead o' nagging you could consider this quality time. " Vulca said as he ruffled through his belongings. 

"Of course, you would think anything productive is considered snippy and nagging. Slackers have no place in a field such as this." Eunhwa snapped back. Vulca merely rolled his eyes as he finally found the object he was looking for. 

"It cost a fortune for these but these are more than worth it, trust." Vulca said, beaming at the pack of marshmallows. "Ever had smores before? And I don't mean splendamin, I mean the real thing." 

"Huh? Why do you have all that?" Vesti asked as Vulca began to assemble smores for everyone present. 

"It's nice to spoil my comrades I think," Vulca replied, thinking back to how happy Jackal was the first time she had smores. Mihara and Yuni loved them too. It was Vulca's way of keeping the squads he led at ease . . . Even if it costs way too much for the actual ingredients. As the treat was shared around the campfire, along with their serving of splendamin, Vulca noted Eunhwa had walked off elsewhere. Taking it upon himself to check on her, he followed the footsteps and came across her leaning against the rubble, away from the campfire.

"Yo, yours is going to get cold you know?" Vulca held her Smore in front of her. 

"How can you be so . . . casual? We're on the surface, at any time raptures could strike, and you're holding some sort of TEA PARTY." She said, simmering with anger. "Did nothing I helped teach you at the academy go through that thick skull of yours? Just . . . Leave me alone." 

"No." 

"What do you mean no?" 

"You're not mad at me just for that are ya?" Vulca asked the question seeming to be correct as Eunhwa flinched. 

" . . . I'm just wondering how you've made it so far with a lackadaisical nature like your own. I died, and even then I did everything to survive and you just . . . get by from slacking off. Must be easy not having to care at all or even being remotely on edge when it comes to danger." She said bitterly. 

"Why is it that despite everything I tried, every precaution I put in, I ended up where I am today, and I'm seeing some . . . idiot stumbles his way through without any problems at all? Was I really that inadequate the whole time? So tell me . . . Why is it you get to be so careless and carefree, so . . . so . . . Idiotic?! How don't you realize just how dire things are up here instead of treating it like some little tea party? Tell me."