𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐒 》 MILO THATCH

𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔑𝔬𝔴... 𝔚𝔢 𝔇𝔦𝔤?

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗪... 𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗚?
❁︎𖣘︎❁︎

AS THE TRUCK FOLLOWED THOSE BEFORE IT, (Name) and Milo made small talk. Occasionally, she would point out a lizard or some odd, scientific name that Milo didn't really understand but would nod along to anyway. Otherwise, Milo would be talking about the Shepards Journal and would be pointing out odd carvings that (Name) wouldn't even know was there if he hadn't pointed them out. There were times when they had nothing to talk about, but they didn't mind as the silence was comfortable and allowed them to simply bask in each others presence.

At some point - is was hard to tell the time as they were underground - they reached where the road split into two. (Name) pulled over and allowed Milo to walk to the front. She watched with a small smile as he read from the Journal, translating it for them. A sharp elbow to her side brought her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Audrey smirking at her. Though, there was something else hidden behind her eyes. (Name) knew what, but she wouldn't dare think it, nevermind agree to it.

From in front, Mole cut off any conversation that was about to blossom by screaming. (Name)'s head snapped forward to spot that he had driven down a tunnel, but a large creature had stopped it. (Name) wanted to take a small sample and draw it, maybe even study it, but she knew they had lost enough men already, they didn't know how dangerous this thing was. Besides, that wasn't the mission.

She turned to see Milo look at his book in confusion. He turned pale as he turned the book around and sheepishly pointed to the other pathway. He recieved a few glares after that.

Milo practically ran back to (Name)'s truck as he buckled himself on and hid his face in his book. (Name) laughed slightly as she grabbed the lever and started the truck again.

It wasnt long until the Commander decided it was time for a break, so she pulled over again. "Theres some water in the back," she told Milo as she exited her truck, she smiled at him through the open window. "Help yourself."

She turned and walked over to Audrey. The girl smirked at her, but not for the same reason as before. After receiving an eyebrow raise, Audrey pointed out something behind her.

Turning, (Name) had to fight off a loud laugh when she spotted Vinny approaching Milo, a grim expression on his face.

He stared in disbelief at Milo as he hugged some water. Once Milo had finished he spotted Vinny. In a state of confusion, he offered the water to him, but Vinny only gaped at him as he pointed to the flask. "You didn't just drink that, did you?"

Milo nodded proudly, happy that (Name) had considered his needs.

"That's not good." The smile left. "Thats Nitroglycerin." Milo froze up. He made a checking sound as he grabbed his throat and held his breath.

"Don't move. Don't breath. Don't do anything... except, pray maybe." Milo slowly nodded, whole-heartedly taking on Vinny's advice.

"Ahghaha!" Mole made a weird noise from behind Milo. Apparently, it sounded like an explosion enough as Milo screamed and dropped the water, his hands flying up to protect his head.

Going against her minds wishes, (Name) laughed.

❁︎𖣘︎❁︎

Sweet stood on top of a rock, holding his hand down to help the others up one at a time. Vinny, then Mole. (Name) was next and then it was Audrey.

Milo weakly held his hand up but Sweet had ready turned around to continue his journey. His hand and head dropped in disappointment.

(Name) turned to talk with Milo, but he wasnt there. She spotted his hand picking over the rock, waving frantically. (Name) glanced at her friends in disapproval before jogging back to Milo. She practically dived on the floor so she could grab his hand before he gave up entirely.

In shock, Milo looked up. A smile spread on his face when he spotted (Name) beaming down at him. He should've known. (Name) wouldn't leave him behind - he doubted she'd leave anyone behind.

(Name) struggled far more than Sweet had but she managed to haul him up and the two ran back to the others.

❁︎𖣘︎❁︎

(Name) sat around a firepit, the others sharing ghost stories they had heard. She glanced at Milo. He was sat alone, separated from the rest as he tinkered away with something. (Name) could barely make him out between the tall stacks of books.

She wanted to go join him, she really did. But she was having fun with her friends. Besides, he seemed to be deep in thought as he concentrated on what he was doing. So, she decided it was probably best not to disturb him. Maybe when he was less busy.

❁︎𖣘︎❁︎

"Jimminy Christmas!" Milo said, throwing his hands up dramatically. They had been forced to stop when they ran into the cliffs edge, only a large sculpture in sight. "Look at the sight if this! Its gotta be half a mile high, at least! It - it must have taken hundreds - pfft - thousands of years to carve this thing." He was dragged away by Vinny.

Vinny pushed a lever down, causing an explosion. He smiled at the sight. He turned to Milo, gesturing to his new creation. "Boom! Look, I made a bridge. It only took, what, ten seconds? Eleven tops." And with that, ge turned around as Milo stared at the new bridge in despair.

As (Name) walked past him, she patted his back, sending him a small smile in Hope's it would make him feel better.

❁︎𖣘︎❁︎

They stopped again when the tunnel was blocked by a wall with carvings in it. The Commander left his vehicle to stare at it. "Well, gang, looks like we've ran into a little road block, Vinny, what do you think?"

"Well, I could unblock it if I had... two-handed of these" -- he held up a dynamite stick -- "but the problem is, I only have," Vinny stopped to count on his fingers. "Ten" -- he opened a bag and popped his head in it. "Plus, y'know, five of my own. A couple of cherry bombs." He came out of the bag holding another stick. "A road flare?"

The Commander shook his head slightly. They needed something bigger than that.

"Hey, too bad we don't have any Nitroglycerin, hey Milo?"

(Name) placed a hand kn Milo's back, whispering to him from the corner of her mouth. "Brush it off. They treat all newbies like this. You should've seen the marshmallow trick they pulled on me." That made Milo feel slightly better. (Name) was really close with them all and if they had treated her like this, then maybe they weren't all gonna hate him. For much longer, that is.

At Vinny's remark, Mole laughed loudly from his vehicle.

"Looks like we're gonna have to dig," (Name) yelled to the Commander in hope's that Mole would stop laughing at the mention of his favourite word.

It worked as Mole turned to the Comander, smiling when he recieved a nod. "It will be my pleasure!"

The vehicles parted ways to allow Mole's to come through. He laughed maniacally as he began to create a hole in the wall, but his vehicle made a splintering noise and smoke erupted from the front and back.