[center][color=0076a3][h2][color=lightsteelblue]PERCY[/color][/h2][/color][b]MESS HALL, NEW ANCHORAGE[/b][/center]
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[color=lightsteelblue][i]This isn’t awful.[/i][/color] Percy thought for probably the umpteenth time that week as he sat, wincing slightly. Sure, his legs hurt and it felt like his arms were wet noodles, but he had to admit that the dopamine running through his body sure felt nice. Having Ana kind of gave him the excuse to let himself go for eight years. He wasn’t obese or completely unable to do a damn thing, of course, but Rebecca said it herself - he was kinda fat. He told himself that he didn’t give a damn, but he was lying to himself. That first day of training, he was so aware of how his body looked, it was hard to focus on actually following directions. When he [i]used[/i] to keep in better shape, he always did it alone - exercising in a group was totally foreign and awful at first. The days following were much easier though, with much thanks to both Rebecca and Jingo’s assurance that nobody gave a shit.. It was nice to feel like he was getting somewhere, honestly. He was still hesitant about the all the tests - especially the ultimatum - but he had, give-or-take, twenty days to do it and he was confident he could manage. Mostly. He could always completely fail and have his daughter get taken away and forced to become a pilot.

[color=lightsteelblue][i]I just had to go there, didn’t I?[/i] [/color]

Percy covered his face with his hands, letting out a breath. He lowered his hands slightly to look at his daughter, who was eating and was totally unaware of his inner monologue. Their eyes met for a moment and she smiled at him before going right back into eating.

He wouldn’t let himself fail - not because his job would be in jeopardy, or because some higher-up told him to, but because he wasn’t going to let his baby girl get forced into doing the same shit. He’s not a coward. He’s not completely clueless or stupid. He’s smart. How else would his daughter be so smart? She was too smart to sign off her life to being a soldier. There were so many other, safer, less awful things she could be. She could be a doctor, or a teacher, a scientist - something better. She deserved better.

[color=violet]“Dad!”[/color]

Percy jumped when Ana spoke up.

[color=violet]“You’re like.. [i]staring[/i] at me. Is something in my teeth?”[/color] she bared her teeth so he father could look.

Percy actually checked before responding, [color=lightsteelblue]“No, I’m just.. I’m thinking, hon. Didn’t mean to stare.”[/color] the pilot smiled, and Ana smiled back, devouring the last few forkfuls of food on her tray.

[color=violet]“Me ‘n Vera are gonna go do something,”[/color] Ana said as she stacked Percy’s tray on top of hers and lead the way to the rack of used trays on the countertop.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Oh?”[/color] Percy had a gut feeling that they were going to get into trouble.

[color=violet]“Yeah, it- It’s nothing bad. It’s just.. A thing,”[/color] Ana was on tip-toe, trying to get the trays in an empty slot - Percy took them just as she almost had it to do it for her.

[color=lightsteelblue]“What kinda thing?”[/color]

[color=violet]“J-just a thing,”[/color] Ana tried to explain, very obviously avoiding the question. She grinned the way that [i]all[/i] parents knew meant trouble. Percy’s pleasant voice took on a more serious tone, [color=lightsteelblue]“Ana.”[/color]

[color=violet]“Dad, it-it’s, just..”[/color] Ana looked around like she was afraid of getting heard - or maybe trying to find someone. Percy couldn’t really tell. He did know it was kinda cute, though. [color=violet]“It’s [i]secret[/i]. It’s like… It’s a girls only thing! No boys allowed!”[/color] The little girl grinned, but she looked more like she was being interrogated and lying than giddy about some girls-only club.

Percy let it go, though. It was more than likely nothing [i]bad[/i]. He sighed, then ruffled up his girl’s hair. [color=lightsteelblue]“Have fun, then - don't get into any trouble.”[/color]