Diablo and Void sat inside the tent, eating in silence. After a moment, Diablo spoke quietly, and Void replied, "I know I might sound ungrateful, bro, but it's not fair. How many pieces of meat did you take? How come I only have two?"
Diablo chuckled and shook his head. "Very ungrateful, hmm. After a punishment like that, with a big punch you distributed to me, you don't even deserve any flasks. And besides, you're not sounding ungrateful—you are ungrateful."
Void shook his head in disbelief, still surprised by Diablo's unexpected actions. No one would've thought he'd actually go that far. Even though that thought might've crossed anyone's mind, it would've stayed just that—a thought. But Diablo took the risk and turned it into action.
Diablo continued, his voice low, "I would've simply eaten both flasks of food, but I lended you one. I could've just let you go and beg for a scoop from the commander. You think I'm dumb? Forgotten that I love food, huh?"
Void nodded. He knew Diablo was telling the bitter truth. He took a moment before speaking again.
"I'm sorry, bro. At least give me two extra pieces of meat."
Diablo couldn't believe that even after his heartfelt speech, Void still chose selfishness over understanding.
Diablo shook his head. "No, no. Take this as payment for not counting," he said, tossing a piece of meat into his mouth. He caught another in the air, smiling devilishly.
Void closed his eyes and sighed. "At least I'm glad you got food, bro. No one expected that. Wow, you're quite the actor. Why didn't you use those acting skills in a different way? Why did you even become a soldier in the first place?"
Diablo smiled, voice light, "True. That's exactly why I need to use my acting skills here."
They ate in silence for a while, until Void spoke again.
Void shook his head. "Don't eat too much, man. Tomorrow is another day."
Diablo nodded and covered the flask, clearly content.
He finally dropped the flask onto the deck, and Void did the same with his plate. Diablo moved toward the wardrobe, pulling out a bottle. He drank from it quietly, then handed it to Void, who caught it.
"Don't finish the water. You clearly aren't contributing anything here," Diablo warned.
Void could finally see why this guy liked staying alone—he had his own ways of doing things. Hmm.
Void nodded as he gulped down a mouthful, then capped the bottle and set it back on the table.
He moved to climb onto the bed, but Diablo shot him a look.
"Bro, what do you think you're doing? Lay on the floor."
Void gave him a pointed stare. "You must be kidding. Me? Lay on the floor? You lay on the floor—that's where you belong, after all."
Diablo chuckled. "Wow, says the one who just arrived today. You're supposed to be begging. In fact, be glad you have a lifesaver like me. I could throw you out if I wanted."
Void blurted out, "Oh really? I'd like to see you try!"
"And besides," Diablo added, "you know you were supposed to stay on the floor more after killing that dirty fish earlier."
Void turned to him. "I wasn't even allowed to kill it. I was new. The commander told a soldier to take me to a safe, hidden place."
Diablo shook his head. "Oh, so you got the special treatment, huh?" He scoffed, tilting his head slightly in disbelief.
What made it worse was that Diablo could clearly remember—when he first arrived at the legion, no one gave him any special treatment. Not even a soldier to keep him company. In fact, on his very first day, he was punished—arriving late and signing in late.
"Fucking partial system," Diablo muttered under his breath, as Void chuckled.
Void shifted slightly, and Diablo grumbled as he laid, "Bro, stay on your lane and let me stay on mine."
Void simply faced the ceiling, both hands behind his head, smiling.
"I should be the one saying that. I just hope you don't snore. I don't want to be inhaling another man's exhale."
"Shut up, dude. I wouldn't blame you. Only real men snore," Diablo said, voice already thick with sleep.
"So what are you trying to say—that I'm not a man?" Void asked, turning toward Diablo, who now lay with his back facing him.
"You ain't no man, bro. You're a boy. There's a difference," Diablo muttered, half-asleep.
Void chuckled. "Says the idiot who ran because of food," he muttered.
"And the fool who ate the food I ran for," Diablo finished, finally shutting his eyes, making Void grin and shake his head.
Just as Diablo was about to drift into sleep, Void suddenly stood up. The bed shifted, and Diablo's eyes opened slowly.
Void spoke quietly, "I have a feeling this food's going to turn sour by morning. So why don't I eat mine now—and help Sage with his, too. After all, no wa—"
Before he could finish, Diablo grabbed the flasks. Void's lip twitched slightly. This guy… when it came to food, he was something else.
"I didn't ask you to do charity work for me," Diablo said his tone annoyed, Void shook his head in disbelief. His once half-sleepy eye was now wide open.
Diablo sat down on the floor and began to eat from the flasks.
Void chuckled and spoke calmly, "You know what your problem is, man? Stinginess."
He still couldn't believe that Diablo, who had already been half-asleep, jumped up like that just for food.
"I'm starting to think it would've been better if you and your brother actually stayed together," Diablo muttered.
Void raised an eyebrow. "Which brother?"
Diablo chuckled. "Commander James. You two are both bald."
Void's eyes widened slightly in shock as Diablo burst out laughing, eyes watery from amusement.
"Shut up, man! There's a difference—I have a buzz cut," Void snapped, clenching his jawnin annoyance.
Diablo kept laughing. "That's just the stylish way to say bald."
Void dropped his flask. "I've lost my appetite," he said, moving back to the bed.
"Oh wow, more for me," Diablo said, quickly grabbing the flask like his life depended on it.
Then he turned with a grin. "Just a little reminder…" he said before continuing, "You're baLD!" barely holding in his laughter.
"Good night, Bro Bald. Hope you don't bed-wet," he added, letting the laughter slip.
"If having a brain was part of the requirements to be a soldier, you'd be kicked out," Void muttered, and Diablo fell silent.
"If having hair was an occupation, you'd be rotting in jail," Diablo shot back with a laugh.
"Not funny, man. So not funny," Void said, even as Diablo continued laughing and opened Void's flask to eat that as well.