Part 3 — Four Days Remaining
Four days.
That was all the Academy had left.
The pace had changed.
Training still filled the mornings.
Mission planning still occupied the afternoons.
But the evenings...
Belonged to Gamma Squad.
---
The sun had already disappeared beyond the Academy walls.
David pushed open the door to Room B-17.
Their room looked exactly as it always had.
Two beds.
Two desks.
A bookshelf.
A small window overlooking the Academy grounds.
It was simple.
But after nearly a year...
It felt like home.
David quietly closed the door behind him.
Castiel was already there.
Seated at his desk.
The Shadow Blade rested across a maintenance cloth.
A small cleaning kit sat open beside it.
Without looking up...
Castiel spoke.
"...Long day."
David smiled.
"...Yeah."
He removed his Claw Gauntlets and carefully laid them across his own desk.
For a moment...
Neither said anything.
Only the quiet sound of cloth sliding across polished steel filled the room.
David picked up one gauntlet.
A tiny scratch crossed one of the black plates.
He ran a thumb across it.
"...Already scratched."
Castiel finally looked over.
"...Good."
David raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
"...Means you're using them."
David laughed.
"I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Castiel returned to polishing the Shadow Blade.
"...Weapons that stay perfect..."
"...Usually belong to people who don't fight."
David nodded thoughtfully.
"...Dad used to say something like that."
"He and Mom never cared if their gear looked new."
"They cared that it worked."
The room grew quiet again.
David smiled faintly at the memory.
"...I miss them."
Castiel looked up.
"...I know."
Nothing more.
Nothing needed.
Sometimes...
That was enough.
---
Several minutes passed.
David disassembled one of the gauntlets.
Each mechanical claw slid smoothly from its housing.
He carefully applied fresh lubricant before checking every joint.
Castiel watched him for a moment.
"...You've gotten faster."
David looked over.
"With maintenance?"
"...Everything."
David smiled.
"I've had a good teacher."
Castiel looked genuinely confused.
"...Who?"
David stared at him.
"...You."
"...Me?"
"You've been maintaining your equipment like this since the first week."
"I just copied you."
Castiel thought about it.
"...Huh."
David laughed.
"...That's all I've got?"
"...Huh?"
"...I expected something deeper."
"...You shouldn't."
---
Silence settled over the room once more.
Comfortable silence.
The kind only close friends understood.
Outside...
The evening breeze rustled the trees beyond their window.
David reassembled the final claw.
**Click.**
Perfect.
He flexed the mechanism once.
Smooth.
Responsive.
Exactly the way he liked it.
Across the room...
Castiel slowly sheathed the Shadow Blade.
"...Done."
David nodded.
"Me too."
Neither stood.
Neither seemed in any hurry.
Eventually...
David leaned back in his chair.
"Cass."
"...Yeah, D?"
"You think we're ready?"
Castiel looked toward the window.
The Academy lights glowed softly against the night sky.
He was quiet for a long moment.
Finally...
"...No."
David wasn't surprised.
"...No?"
Castiel shook his head.
"I don't think anyone's ever completely ready."
Another pause.
"...Tomorrow we'll be more ready than we are today."
"The day after that..."
"...More ready again."
He looked over at David.
"When deployment comes..."
"...We'll still think we could've prepared more."
David smiled.
"...You're probably right."
"I usually am."
David laughed.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The confidence."
Castiel actually smiled.
Small.
Almost invisible.
"...Don't get used to it."
---
A knock interrupted the room.
Before either of them could answer...
The door opened.
June walked in carrying an entire stack of snacks balanced in both arms.
Behind him...
Mira followed carrying two steaming mugs.
June looked around the room.
"...Good."
"You're both alive."
David blinked.
"...Were we supposed to be dead?"
"I didn't know how exciting weapon maintenance was getting."
Castiel looked at the snacks.
"...What's all that?"
June grinned.
"...Emergency supplies."
"For what?"
"...Maintenance is hungry work."
Mira quietly handed one mug to David.
The other to Castiel.
"...Tea."
David accepted it.
"...Thanks."
Castiel nodded.
"...Appreciated."
June dropped into the empty chair beside David's desk.
"...You know..."
"...This room has become everyone's room."
David looked around.
He wasn't wrong.
Nyra knocked gently before stepping inside a moment later.
Lucian followed behind her.
Neither seemed surprised to find everyone already there.
Nyra smiled.
"I had a feeling."
Lucian looked toward June.
"...You brought snacks."
"I came prepared."
Mira looked at him.
"You always do."
"...One of my many talents."
David leaned back in his chair and looked around the room.
Six people.
One small dorm room.
Talking.
Laughing.
Sharing snacks.
For a little while...
No one mentioned Kharos Vale.
No one mentioned monsters.
No one mentioned deployment.
They simply enjoyed being together.
David looked around at every face in the room.
Without realizing it...
He smiled.
This...
He thought.
Was worth protecting.