Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"Oh, come on!" Joe protested incredulously, rocking back on his chair legs, arms crossed over his chest. "Aren't you blowing this out of proportion just a little bit, Ken? It's not like it made the headlines or anything."

"Do you think I'm kidding Joe?" Ken shouted, slamming a fist down hard on the conference table, water glasses shaking and making Jun wince. "Any more stunts like those and you'll really be making headlines all right! In the obituaries !"

How could this have happened? Ken shook his head tiredly and buried his head in his hands, royal blue gloves buried in chocolate hair, shoulders slumping beneath his wings. He closed his eyes trying to regain his composure, taking deep breaths, trying to focus on thoughts of the blue sky and clouds that he loved.

"Joe... how could you be so careless?" he asked quietly lifting his head, staring at his gunner. "What if someone had seen you...?" he questioned, voice rising again in anger, but he cut himself off sharply, jaw set.

"It's my fault Ken..." Jun told him biting her lip, hands palms down on the table. "I told Joe...."

Joe whirled around in his chair, the front legs clanking at they met the tile floor, eyes pinning Jun to her seat as effectively as if he'd thrown a handful of shuriken at her.

"I don't need you to defend me Jun!" he growled hotly, glaring at her with stormy eyes. "It was my idea and I can take responsibility for my own actions..."

Jun felt her face grow red in anger and she opened her mouth to retort, when Ken interrupted them.

"Cut it out! Both of you!" he shouted, holding up a hand. "I don't want to Joe, but you know I'm going to have to tell Hakase about this. He needs to know what transpired."

"Are you serious ?" Joe shouted, standing up so quickly his chair fell over, and leaned over the table. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Does it look like I'm kidding?!"

Joe shook his head with a snort of derision. "Please it's not like it's the first time..."

Then he suddenly stopped short, realizing what he said.

"Dammit!" Joe hissed quietly to himself, pounding his thigh with his fist. He turned away from them, eyes closed, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"What?" Ken said in disbelief, eyes growing wide. "This isn't the first time this has happened?"

He looked at both his second and third. At the strong muscled line of Joe's back, unyielding. At Jun, staring at anywhere but him. Were they keeping things from him? Things that would undermine his command? Why? Why would they do that?

"Jun?" Ken swallowed hard. "Jun, did you know about this?"

She just shook her head, not saying anything, not trusting her voice. Her face was paler than usual, green eyes large in her heart shaped face. Her hands gripped the edge of the table, gloves stretched tightly across the knuckles.

"So." Ken said flatly. "You've been keeping information from me? Mission information? Apparently this isn't the first time, huh Joe?"

Joe didn't move, just stood stone still, muscles locked. Ready for a fight.

"Right, Joe?"

"It wasn't important Ken. It had no bearing on the mission or its outcome....."

"That's not for you to decide Joe!" Ken shouted standing up behind the table. "How dare you undermine my position?"

"Undermine your position?" Joe intoned, turning on his heel. "Yeah, you would think that." He narrowed his eyes at his Commander. "The fuck if I have to stand here and listen to this....."

The Condor's face was hard as he headed for the door, wings flaring out around him like a dark cloud.

"Joe..! Get back..." Ken yelled, half starting after him, but then stopped and sank back into his chair in frustration.