CHAPTER 101: FATSO

Inside Hayden’s office, Lexa stood at attention, her face calm despite the tension hanging thick in the room.

Hayden, seated behind his desk, tapped a tablet slowly with a sharp look in his eyes.

"You disobeyed direct protocol. You withheld the identity of a red zone infiltrator - an individual we’ve been tracking for weeks. Even if your intentions were good, it was still a breach."

Lexa didn’t flinch. "Understood, sir."

"You’re suspended from all field duties for two weeks," Hayden said, voice cold. "Use the time to reflect on your rank, your responsibility, and what it truly means to wear that badge."

She nodded once. "Yes, Commander."

"Dismissed."

As Lexa turned to leave, Hayden added one final remark. "And tell Marlon... next time, I won’t be so lenient."

Lexa stepped out of Hayden’s office, the weight of her suspension settling heavily on her shoulders. She exhaled slowly, adjusting the cuff of her AMSO jacket, when-

"Whoa. You look like you just walked out of a war room."

She stiffened. Rick. He leaned casually against the wall just a few steps away, arms crossed, that ever-present lazy grin tugging at his lips. "Heard there’s a fresh wave of recruits today," he said, voice light. "Place is practically buzzing."

Lexa didn’t answer.

Rick pushed off the wall and walked beside her. "I even saw some familiar faces. That guy - Theodore, wasn’t it? Saw him back at Metro Doctors Hospital when everything went to hell."

Lexa’s steps slowed, but she still didn’t look at him.

Rick continued, trying to read her reaction. "Didn’t know he was joining AMSO. Small world."

She halted and finally turned to him, her expression unreadable. "If you’re serious about ranking up, Rick, I suggest you go back to training instead of loitering in hallways gossiping."

He blinked, momentarily thrown off, then gave a chuckle. "Aw, Lex. So cold. You’re still my senior, after all. But don’t worry-" he leaned a little closer with a wink, "I’ll be up there beside you real soon. So count on it."

Lexa rolled her eyes and walked past him without a word.

Rick watched her go, lips curling into a smirk. "Feisty as ever," he murmured. Then his eyes flickered with something deeper, something unreadable. "Guess I better speed things up."

*****

AMSO Mess Hall - Evening

The Mess Hall buzzed with chatter, trays clattering and boots echoing across the floor as recruits and officers gathered for dinner. Long rows of tables were filled with mixed ranks, Class 4s mostly grouped together, laughing and talking about the day’s trials.

The scent of warm food floated in the air, but Theo wasn’t really hungry. He entered with a calm expression, keeping his head low and finding a quiet corner to settle. He just wanted to eat in peace, maybe finish early and get back to his room before the stares got worse.

But fate had other plans.

"Yo..." someone muttered near the food counter, voice laced with disbelief. "No freaking way..."

Theo looked up slowly.

It was Ben. A smug face from the past. One of the worst bullies from school - loud, crude, and always surrounded by people who laughed at his jokes, no matter how cruel.

Ben squinted, then pointed, jaw dropping.

"Theo?" he barked out. "Theodore Luther? No f*cking way, man! What the hell happened to you?! You get liposuction or something?"

A few heads turned at the sudden outburst. Theo kept his tray steady, jaw clenched but expression unreadable.

Ben stepped closer with a nasty grin. "You used to be the walking rice cooker in school! Didn’t think you’d show up here looking like some action hero. Damn, you really got desperate to fix your face, huh?"

Before Theo could reply, someone stepped between them.

Beatrice.

Wearing her AMSO badge and a clear look of disapproval, she crossed her arms and stared at Ben. "Back off."

Ben blinked. "Wait... Beatrice. I’m just surprised seeing our Theo here-"

She ignored his attempt to get friendly. "Say another word and I’ll file a report for harassment. This is AMSO, not a trash school hallway. You keep that high school bully act up, you’ll be out of here faster than you got in."

Ben’s smug look faltered. People were now fully watching.

Beatrice turned to Theo, her tone softening. "Come eat with me."

Theo didn’t say anything at first. He just stood up, picked up his tray, and walked beside her toward an empty table on the other side of the room, leaving Ben standing dumbstruck in the middle of the mess hall.

Murmurs followed them, whispers trailing like smoke.

Ben scowled as he returned to his group, muttering under his breath, "Seriously... what the hell is going on with that guy?"

Ben’s ego couldn’t take it. His pride bruised by the whispers, the way Beatrice stood up for someone like Theo, the same fatty loser he used to mock in high school. It wasn’t just annoying, it was humiliating.

He slammed his tray down and stood up, his voice rising over the hum of the mess hall.

"That’s it!" Ben snapped, drawing attention. "You think just because you lost some weight and got into AMSO you’re someone now?"

Theo didn’t even flinch. He kept eating slowly, quietly, like Ben wasn’t worth his time.

That only made Ben more furious.

"I should teach you the same lesson I did back then, Fatso. Remember the locker? The lunch tray to the face? Should I remind you what your place is again?"

Some recruits laughed nervously, unsure if it was a joke or an actual threat. Most just watched. The atmosphere in the mess hall grew tense.

Beatrice stood up, but Theo gently raised a hand to stop her.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood, and turned slowly toward Ben.

"I remember," Theo said quietly. "I remember all of it."

Ben grinned smugly.

"But here’s what you clearly forgot," Theo continued, eyes cold and steady. "This isn’t high school anymore. And I’m not the scared kid you used to push around."

Ben scoffed. "Big words for a guy hiding behind a girl. You always hide behind Beatrice, even in college, and even now, you fatso! What a pushover coward!"