[center][h1][b][color=cyan]Minerva[/color] & Bug[/b][/h1][/center]
[center][sub]We Happy Few[/sub][/center]

[hr]

Step after step Bug hobbled around, trying to steer his overloaded body towards the briefing room, probably waiting for team Leader Ava to come. However, the nerves still were not connecting properly, as his left foot failed to set a step, his knee bending forward as his face lurched ominously.

Bumping directly into someone’s back and rump. Someone whose back and rump seemed sculpted of granite. Ah hell… out of all the people he could have bumped into, he had literally fallen on Minerva’s back.

Steading himself, he pretended as if nothing had happened, before using the most sparse of expressions. “Hey. Good fight.” He said, as he tried to steady himself once more.

Minerva would look at her back as she saw her teammate bump into her, that is careless of him and probably reckless as well. She took a few moments to help the prince settle himself before speaking.

[b][color=cyan]“Good fight as well, I saw what you did on that Framewerk that was inspired.” [/color][/b]Minerva spoke as she looked at Bug, realising something from his surprisingly tense muscles.

[b][color=cyan]“You seemed to be pushing yourself too much, do you need help getting into the briefing room? I am heading there as well.”[/color][/b]

The Prince let out a strangled grunt as he tried once again to stand himself. He eyed Minerva once again, his eyebrow raising somewhat. “Who the hell are you and what have you done with Minerva?” Bug would state, as he gritted his teeth and began hobbling once more. “But regarding your question, I don’t really need the help. I should be able to live on my own with this. Cruxi [i]won’t offer assistance[/i].” He replied bitterly. “This…is nothing.” He said, as he continued, quickly attempting to switch back the topic. “Do you have any favourite sweet, or drink? I’ll treat a fellow warrior regardless of the result.”

Minerva raised her eyebrow in confusion before speaking. [b][color=cyan]“I am Minerva and as far as I know there is only one of me.”[/color][/b] she spoke with a serious tone. [b][color=cyan]“And I insist, at the very least you should consider buying a cane for support. It would be annoying if you falter on those wounds at an unfortunate moment.”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as she gave moment to consider her options.

[b][color=cyan]“I just go with water most of the time, I see no reason to change it up now.”[/color][/b]

Bug sighed. Minerva was sometimes even more naive than the muscle-for-brains Griff. “I just need a moment to let the nerves settle. 
They have been like that since the incident. Healing is not easy when it comes to it. But I will [i]not drag anyone[/i] down.” Bug stared at Minerva. “It was part of the offer I accepted. “Firewater it is, miss [i]Happiness Sunshine[/i]. You’re not getting the Class rep option. It doesn’t suit your mettle to simply ask for boring water.” Bug added, his nerves settling again.

“See, much better now.” He continued to walk, his steps full of ponderous determination.

[b][color=cyan]”You're not dragging me down.”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke as she stared at the so-called firewater, an oxymoron if she got the English. Oh well what is the worst that could happen.

[b][color=cyan]”Sure why not.”[/color][/b] Minerva spoke not realising she was being offered alcohol.

[b][color=cyan]”Also I have a name and it is not Happiness Sunshine.”[/color][/b]

Bug rolled his eyes. Sarcasm was lost on this girl. “You totally have the face of someone called Happiness Sunshine. Really.” He would insist, as he took a deep breath, his eyes leveling with her owl-like stare. “You need…to loosen a little. Steel is strong because it bends before it breaks.” Bug answered. “We have so much work to do with you…” He would trail off.

Minerva would stare for a while as she makes a mental note to check if Athena has been called anything too close to Happiness Sunshine, not that she cares much about her secret but if she needs to know if Bug knew about her origins.

[b][color=cyan]”I will never break.”[/color][/b] she replied as she began heading to the briefing room. Her tone seemed like it was more of a promise than a bravado most people use. She cannot afford to be that weak little girl anymore, she cannot afford to let anyone die while she can do something about it.

“Are you really sure about that?” Bug would answer, his eyes with the same dirty, putrid stare that he once cast upon her, before the battle was done, when she had tried to undercut him in a condescending manner. “Really sure, sure about that, kiddo?” He would answer, even if he was younger. 

“Lorenzo can break you easily. And he will if he needs to. He knows your past and weakpoints. And as far as I can tell, you’ve…got some points of imbalance.” Bug would reply. “Nevertheless, you’re not a half bad warrior. And we are supposed to get along in the same team, so listen to someone who has been broken before. [i]Never say never.[/i]” He leaned against the corridor, still staring and judging.

[b][color=cyan]”I am.”[/color][/b] was the only reply Bug would receive as she watched Minerva cast an unsettling smile. It wasn’t a smile someone will use to reassure people or a smile that dares fate to do their best.

[b][color=cyan]It is the smile of someone who realized she would experience hell and welcomed the prospect.[/color][/b]

If he wants to break her, he is welcome to do so. She will rise, stand back and fix herself back with a smile on her face.

She would do so until she could never stand again. That's her atonement for the failure that she was on that day.

Surprisingly Bug received her smile with his own smile “Well…like I said. You have the face of a Happiness Sunshine” He added, undeterred, as he walked up to her, maintaining her stare at all times. “And you don’t know how cute are you being right now.” He added, tilting his face to whisper on her ear. “[i]57% of body mass lost. Orbital strike after a rampage that ended the life of more than…three hundred people. That’s what turned me like this. Compared to that…you’re just a deluded little girl who thinks she has superhero powers. I’m telling you this for your own good. The universe is a far emptier, vast and scarier place than your tale of heroes and villains. So…take my offer of peace, and my words of wisdom. Who knows when you might need them.”[/i]

[b][color=cyan]“I am not Happiness Sunshine.”[/color][/b] Minerva decisively insisted as she ignored the rest of Bug's words. She lost her happiness and sunshine a long time ago. For a moment, Bug would see sympathy in Minerva's eyes even if it disappeared as soon as she called her a little girl.

[b][color=cyan]“And I think I am older than you.”[/color][/b] she added before walking heading to the briefing room and leaving Bug alone with hurried steps.

Because a part of her doesn't want to admit that she wants to be that little girl surrounded by her family and a dream untainted by tragedy.

“Heh. Might as well get some really fancy drinks up. She really needs some good poison.” Bug would say to himself, before attempting to follow. “And I do treat a fellow warrioress to drinks when they perform well.”