It was quite early in the morning when Viktor found himself between a bench and a fully loaded barbell within the Mount Justice gym, listening to the classical music of Johann Sebastian Bach through his black earbuds. His form was as precise as a machine. No wobbling, no deviation, feet planted, and his breathing kept to a steady rhythm as the bar continuously made contact with his black sleeveless compression shirt. His face was stoic as ever until the music cut out to the sound of a message notification. His expression read displeasure as he racked the barbell and sat up to remove his phone from his canary-yellow gym shorts.
Despite not wanting to interrupt his set, Viktor felt the need to be prompt whenever he was messaged. With as early as it was, he figured it could be a noise complaint, even if he didn't think he was being loud but it wouldn't be the first time. Instead, he found a message from Black Canary.
âMorning, Viktor. I have a task for you to complete, seeing as I might not be able to make it to HH this morning. Vincent is nearly complete with his pilot training on the team jet and I want you to fill in for his final test flight at 1000. He only needs to fly the bird to one of our refueling points and make it back without issue which includes his performance in navigation, takeoff, landing, and the standard safety procedures. I expect a brief on his performance and your opinion of him taking on the responsibility. With Alisa still getting used to her reassembled body, we can't have you being the only pilot.âViktor sighed before quickly replying with
Affirmative đ .Meanwhile somewhere and sometimes else within the headquartersâŚ
âAlright, come onâŚJust gotta do thatâŚthenâŚAre you kidding me, I pressed the button, I shouldâve dodged that! Dammit, I was so close, too!âVincent let out a groan and set his controller down as he slumped on the couch. As always, he had woken up early to get in his workout and make breakfast for the rest of the time, so now he was ârelaxingâ with a game known for its difficulty. As his character respawned, he sighed and picked his controller back up to try again, only for the alarm on his phone to suddenly start going off. He picked it up and saw the note he wrote on the alarm: âPilot Test!â
âShit, whereâd the time go?â he muttered as he saved and quit his game. He stretched his arms over his head as the console powered down. On the one hand, he was excited to finally finish his training, to officially be one of the teamâs pilots. Ever since he got his wings, he had always loved flying and flying in the jet was just a bit better because of how fast it was. On the other hand, he knew he wouldnât be flying with Black Canary, this time. As he made his way to the hangar, he remembered a message he had received from her earlier that morning, saying that she most likely wouldnât be able to make it and sheâd try to find a replacement to fly with him.
âWell, the test hasnât been canceled, so I guess she found someone. Wonder who it is?â he wondered aloud as he stepped through the door into the hangar.
âYou can quit wondering, Vincent. I'll be administering your test flight this morningâŚâ Viktor was standing beside the jet, suited up excluding his hemet with his arms folded.
âAnd don't think I'll take things easy on you because we're teammates.â Unbeknownst to Vincent, Viktor had already conducted a pre-inspection of the jet, a procedure he always practiced.
When he saw Viktor, Vincent grinned and waved.
âWell, if it isnât Mr. Ray-of-Sunshine, himself,â he teased as he approached the jet and began his own pre-flight check. Viktor simply shook his head at the nickname. Between Vincent and Pei, he wasn't sure who had the most energy.
âYou know, one of these days, Iâll get you to crack a smile.â âYou can tryâŚâ Viktor uttered under his breath. He didn't mean to be rough around the edges with Vincent but being compared to him since his arrival irritated him. Vincent potentially being the other pilot of the team jet would only make things more problematic. On the other hand, it could provide the two of them an opportunity to understand one another, whether it be through their simalrities or their differences.
The thought that Viktor might have done his own checks by then didnât cross Vincent's mind. Thanks to the lessons he had had up until then, he had fallen into a habit of doing it himself.
He took his time doing his inspection and, when he was satisfied, he took a step back and said,
âAlright, she looks good. Letâs load up, do the interior checks, and get this bird in the air.ââAgreed.â followed Vincent into the jet and positioned himself a few feet away from the control panel. He looked over the buttons and switches that were all too familiar to him and spoke without breaking his eye contact from them.
âYou were found by a member of the Bat Family, correct?â Viktor already knew the answer but his small talk needed some practice.
âDo find our team to your liking, or would you have rather be kept under the tutelage of the Batman?âVincent paused his checks and sat back in his seat with a sigh as he thought about Viktorâs question.
âWellâŚit wasnât exactly that simple of a choice,â he finally said as he scratched the side of his head.
âIf Iâd have said no, Iâd probably be in jail right now. I guess he wanted to show me that I could use my skills for more than myself and get you guys another set of hands to help out.âHe looked over the fuel levels and flipped a few switches before he added,
âI do like it here, though. You guys are an alright group, thoughâŚâ He sat back and looked over at Viktor as he asked,
âThat thing with KJ at the bankâŚthat happen often?âThe question snatched Viktor away from staring at the control panel. He figured the matter would come up eventually, especially amongst the new additions to the team but he had yet to figure out what really happened himself. All Viktor had was a theory. One that he formulated through his own observations of his peculiar teammate and friend.
âYes and no,â he started toward one of the passenger seats closest to Vincent.
âBut I will clarify what that means. What it means to me,â Viktor secured himself with the three-point seatbelt as he continued.
âMetamorph normally has two identities. Personas might better describe it. I'm sure you've noticed it. How his demeanor changes from time to time. Like a switch, he can be the cheerful animal in tuned Ja or the cool-headed nigh-militant Kila. Unfortunately, there may be a third. Perhaps more than that, I can't be certain but there is definitely a third. A persona that makes use of Ja's power over the Red, except unlike him, he's far more brutal and appears to be even more animalistic. More than anything, he's a threat.â Viktor lowered his eyes and tightly balled one of his fists.
âI only had to witness it once to discern that much.ââYeah, Iâd say. You donât break a guyâs arms because youâre friendly,â Vincent muttered as he finished up his pre-flight checks. Part of him wanted to ask what the âRedâ was, but he decided that was probably a conversation for another time.
Likely, Kila. âAlright, buckle up. Iâm gonna taxi out onto the runway.âAs the jet crawled out of the hangar and began to move toward the runway, Vincent then asked,
âBy the way, I heard something about Kassy being from Atlantis? Is that, like, the Atlantis?â A bit more warily, he added,
âTheâŚone underwaterâŚ?ââIntelligent of you to ask about her as we leave the vicinity.â Viktor smirked at the thought of Vincent incurring Kassy's wrath with a wrong question or assumption.
âBut to answer your question, yes⌠and no.â Viktor answered once more.
âI only sat it this way because most think of Poseidonis and think 'Atlantis' without stopping to consider the other parts that make up the kingdom. I believe Kass is from a minor region or district of Atlantis that most aren't familiar with but it is beneath the ocean all the same,â Viktor leaned his body in Vincent's direction so he could closely observe his actions with the jet's controls.
âI assume you haven't spoken to her much⌠Do you find her to be unapproachable ?ââWho, Kassy?â Vincent responded, followed by a dismissive noise.
âNo, nothing like that! Itâs justâŚthe oceanâŚâ He visibly shuddered as he added,
âNothing against her, I justâŚdonât like the deep sea, is all. The weight of all that water above and all around youâŚthe darknessâŚnever really knowing just whatâs lurking out thereâŚâ Viktor cocked his head to the side while raising an eyebrow, but simply listened.
He shuddered again and continued as he readied the jet for takeoff,
âSame reason I donât like caves or other tight spaces. Being able to flyâs given me a lot more appreciation for beingâŚfree, I guess. Being confined like that just sets me on edge, is all.âHe primed the engines and turned to Viktor as he asked, suddenly aware that he had just shared one of his deepest fears with someone who, for all intents and purposes, he hardly knew,
âJustâŚdonât tell anyone, alright? Donât need anyone thinking that a badass like me is afraid of little rooms.ââYour secret and fears are safe.â Viktor replied plainly.
âHowever, it could do you some good to be open about such things. We're a team. Individual parts of a greater whole. It serves all of us to have humility as painful as it is. To know each other's strengths and weaknesses. If it makes you feel better, I'll tell you one of my fears once you get us in the sky.â Viktor managed to say just before the engines became too loud.
âYou got it, boss. And Iâll think on it,â Vincent said as the jet began to move. It picked up speed quickly and Vincent couldnât resist grinning as he felt the g-forces push him back against his seat.
What I wouldnât give to feel the wind at this speed! he thought as he pulled back on the control stick and the jet began to rise.
Vincent retracted the landing gear and climbed up to cruising altitude before he leveled the jet, speeding along to the refueling station. He made a few small adjustments, double-checked their heading and the various gauges, before he relaxed in his seat with a sigh.
âNever thought Iâd be behind the stick of one of these babies,â he said with a chuckle.
âImpressive isn't it? Only you, myself, Alisa, and⌠another have gotten the opportunity to fly the jet. Though Alisa doesn't fly often, she was considered the best of us. She might not admit that, especially not after her reassemblyâŚâ Viktor's tone noticeably lowered as he was reminded of how Alisa has felt since her return. It was partly why Talos was commandeering the jet now.
Vincent noticed the change in Viktorâs tone and raised an eyebrow. All he had been told when he was asked if he wanted to learn to fly the jet was that they were short on pilots. He was never given a reason why, though he never thought to ask. He turned his gaze forward again, made another minor adjustment on the console, and asked, his mouth working before he gave himself time to think, as usual,
âWhat do you mean by that, âreassembly?â Did something happen to her?â â...â Viktor looked away from the console. He could have simply avoided the question, but he was rarely one to spare feelings, even his own. He let out a breath before starting.
âIn a way, she died. I mean if she was anyone else, that would surely be the case. Approximately two months before you and the other recruits arrived, her body was burned and torn apart. Cyborg along with others in the league rebuilt but⌠she hasn't grown fully accustomed to her new body yet,â Viktor explained. He unbuckled himself from his seat and stood up.
âThat was the second time I felt fear while operating with our team.â Viktor admitted as he walked toward Talon, taking a place where he could casually look over his shoulder.
Vincent, for once, wasnât sure how to respond. He wasnât sure what answer he had expected, but it definitely wasnât what Viktor told him. He felt an instinctive urge to crack a bad joke but stamped it down. Alisa may not be âaliveâ in the traditional sense, but in the few moments he had interacted with her, she seemed more human than some people he had known in the past. He could only imagine what dying could do to a personâs head. He adjusted their heading and said,
âWell, itâs good that Iâm here, now. Havenât met anyone who could crack my armor, yet. So, let me take the hits and Iâll make sure that doesnât happen, again. To anyone.ââThat job's taken, Vincent. I will ensure nothing like that occurs again. You can⌠assist.â Viktor had a bit of a smug look on his face for a moment before going back to serious.
âThe team is strong and capable. We just a leader and I'm the most suitable.â Viktor's eyes were staring out into the open sky through the jet's windshield.
Vincent let out a bark of laughter and replied,
âHey, if you wanna be leader, you can have it. Even I know Iâm not cut out for that kinda responsibility.â He checked over everything one more time, then flipped on the autopilot before he stood. He stretched his arms over his head and smirked at Viktor before he added,
âIâm just saying Iâm better at taking a hit. Unless youâre bulletproof, too?ââCan't say I can argue with you much there. The way you shielded the team from gunfire was⌠and I don't say this often⌠It was perfect.â Viktor's spirit lifted some as they both found more and more common ground.
âYou know, I thought I wouldn't like you. I even thought I'd have a legitimate reason not to while talking to you today. The jokes about us being the same are starting to get tiresome. No offense, but we couldn't be any different,â he admitted.
âIâll say. Youâre dark and brooding enough to give the big bat, himself, a run for his money and Iâve got a killer sense of humor,â Vincent joked. He finished stretching and took his place back in the pilotâs seat.
âJoking aside, youâre a good guy, Vik. At first, I wasnât sure about joining a team, but as long as Iâve got people like you and the rest of the crew at my back, then I donât have any complaints.ââLikewise. I think we've reached an adequate level of synergy as a team. We've gotten past the growing pains as Black Canary calls it.â Viktor moved back to his seat, knowing they'd be reaching the refueling station soon. Though, he still had something to ask. It was off-topic but the privacy the two currently had was the best it could ever be.
âI have a question. I may pose it to KJ as well but you seem suitable enough to have a valuable opinion on the matterâŚâ He took a moment to ask as he affixed his seatbelt.
âIf there was someone you liked on the team, how would you engage?â Viktor averted his eyes after asking the question, looking to the rear of the jet.
Vincentâs brow furrowed as he buckled into his seat.
âWhat do you mean?â he asked, only to find his answer in the way Viktor suddenly seemed interested in the rear of the jet.
âOhh, thatâs what you mean,â he realized as he faced forward again with a chuckle.
âHonestly, Iâm probably not the best person to ask about that kinda thing. Iâve never felt that way toward anyone, before, but if I didâŚIâd probably just straight up ask her out.âHe pushed the controls forward and the jet began to descend.
âWay I figure, itâs best to cut the bullshit and be upfront about how I feel, you know? Besides, if you take too long, worrying about how they might feel about you or what might happen if they reject you, someone else might come along, shoot their shot, and you might be out of luck.ââShoot their shot? Kill them?â Viktor pondered this.
She could dieâŚâWait, what? No!â Vincent responded quickly.
âI meant, take the chance!â Viktor looked skeptically toward Vincent.
âSo go in without complete preparation? No strategy? Just⌠Shoot the shot?â And then it finally hit Viktor.
âShoot the shot⌠Hmm, I think I understand what you mean. Don't hesitate or the opportunity might slip. It gives the chance for someone else to take it. Like an assassination mission where two or more parties want the target eliminated but each party has their own ends in confirming the kill⌠But⌠Hmm.. who would be my competition anyway. KIla or Ja is preoccupied. Zach is inclined toward men. I don't think Cora... Wait. You.â Again Viktor was struck.
âYou're the other assassin. At least, you could be.âVincent pulled back on the controls, bringing the nose of the jet up slightly as they came in to land.
âUhâŚHonestly, Iâm not a hundred percent sure what weâre talking about, anymore,â he admitted, the talk of assassination having thrown him for a loop.
âIf weâre still talking about dating, then I donât think you have anything to worry about from me. I havenât been here long enough to start thinking about anyone like that and Iâm not really interested in that right now, anyway. Besides, I doubt sheâd be interested in someone like me,â his words initially relaxed Viktor's tenseness, allowing him to relax back into his seat. It was only a second or so later when he received a mental double tap to the skull
âWait- I mean keep landing. Apologies.â Viktor followed up with a curse under his breath before watching Vincent engage the landing gear. Wanting to speak before the wheels touched the ground, Viktor came right out with it.
âThough, I am grateful for your disposition, there is a problem. If everyone on the team believes us to be so much alike, then won't-âViktor's next words were muffled by the sound of the wheels hitting the asphalt surface of the runway just before he uttered
her name.
The wheels screeched as the jet landed on them, bouncing once before it began coasting on the landing gear. It quickly decelerated as Vincent eased up on the throttle and began to taxi the jet toward the refueling station.
âSorry, I didnât catch that,â he said.
âWhatâd you say?ââUhâŚâ Viktor couldn't believe he had blurted out what he had. To lose his composure in such a low-stress setting like this one.
Get a hold of yourself! You're being weird! He stared intensely at the floor in front of him before properly answering Vincent.
âNevermind. Let's just refuel the bird.â Viktor unbuckled himself from his seat and stood up.
âWe can do it together. No need to prolong the mystery of whether or not you're capable of operating the jet,â He shrugged with his stoic expression returned.
Vincent watched Viktor rise from his seat and head toward the exit. He wasnât sure what he had said to make him return to what seemed to be his trademark stoicism, but he decided with a shrug not to worry about it as he stood to follow his teammate out of the jet.
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