Work Text:
John crossed his arms. “This is a terrible plan.” He stated frankly. He's done worse, but it's still a terrible plan and that needed to be said. Currently gathered in the medical room, it was three weeks since the first training session, and things were starting to fall into place. John was relieved, he wasn't used to having this much spare time.
“Honestly,” Private Tucker replied, an amused twist to her lips as if she could read his thoughts, “This is not the worst plan I've been a part of. You should've seen my team's plan on how to keep our rookie from setting shit on fire all the time. That was both stupid and complicated.”
Thel cocked his head to the side, “Did it work?”
“Eh,” She tilted her hand, see-sawing it back and forth, “Seven times out of ten.”
“That it worked?”
“No, that it failed.”
Doctor Grey chimed in, “I must meet these team mates of yours, Tucker. If the stories you tell me are true, they would be fascinating to meet in person.”
“It's really just the one team mate that's crazy.” Private Tucker amended. “Most of the time it was really boring.”
“Back to the plan.” John cut in, returning them to the point, “This is the most hole filled-”
“Bow chicka bow wow.”
“-Private Tucker, you will be running laps next training session.” John did not glance her way when he informed her of that dryly. He also ignored the “Worth it.” That she whispered with a grin, and amended his comment, “This plan has so much potential for fail.”
Cortana appeared, “Says the man who deflected a missile that was shot at him.”
“Fucking what!” Private Tucker gasped, delighted, and snapping her head to the AI. “What other insane shit has he done? We've only seen the boring propaganda during basic, but I never knew he deflected a missile!”
“He crashed onto a planet at terminal velocity and survived.” Cortana replied promptly, amused, “And rode a bomb through space to destroy a Covenant mothership.”
John doesn't think he'd ever felt this embarrassed by his own past decision in his life, observing the way Private Tucker turned to him, expression filled with awe. Even Thel appeared interested. “Can you teach me that?” The young woman asked.
“No.”
His immediate shut down had her pouting. He ignored it and concluded that getting them back on track would be fruitless now, as he feared they would just diverge once more. However, Private Tucker was the one to pick it back up, folding her arms to wonder, “Are the higher ups that stupid to believe this story?”
Under the helmet, John let himself make a disgusted face, “Yes.”
Thel snorted, telling them all his own opinion on the UNSC chain of command.
The young woman, however, didn't look as amused, worrying her lip. “But isn't the explanation too close to the truth? Even stupid people can see through something that obvious.”
The doctor piped up, “Very rarely do people want to believe the truth, especially something that is deemed outrageous to them. Not many are willing to accept that a human gave birth to an alien and became mutated due to said pregnancy. With it being stated on the record that you adopted an orphaned Sangheili, they would accept that far more.”
Private Tucker darted her glance to her child, the hybrid laying in his bed, just now waking up and observing them. He had grown rapidly over the last two months, and it's getting to the point where they couldn't keep him hidden in the room anymore. Not only because he could stand and was the height of just above his mother's knees, but because the doctor was insisting that having a child practically locked up in a room would hinder their development. And John was starting to realise how terrifying Doctor Grey could get if her patients were in any form of danger.
John assessed the Private in her moment of contemplation. There was worry, plain as day on her face, and it made him think about parents. The only one that he could visualise was Doctor Halsey, and even he knew that she was not the best example of parental figures. His biological parents, on the other hand. He didn't remember them, but knew that they had received a clone of him, and wondered how well that clone was cared for before it deteriorated. Did they fight to find a cure for it's unknown illness? Did they mourn it? Mourn him? Did they even notice the change in behaviour, however he was like as a child? Observing Private Tucker, meant that John was beginning to put himself into her child's place, and just...think.
Was he loved?
“I still think stuffing Junior into a bag is the worst.” The young woman stated, snapping John from his thoughts, “But as long as you don't hurt him, then whatever gets him through all of this alive.” There was determination in her eyes. Since meeting her, John would only see that specific kind of expression when her child was involved. A mother's kind of protection.
His gut twisted, even as he nodded in agreement with her. “He won't be harmed.”
“And we have contacted both those of my kind who are willing to help with this ruse, along with the Chief's team.” Thel added. “Tonight, you will do as we planned, and we'll sneak you onto the ship, with the child secured in the bag. I've already informed Keyes of a request of my presence from some other Sangheili, and it's natural that Chief will come with, lowering any form of suspicion that there may be on our solo mission. We have provisions ready in the vessel for your stay tonight, so you and your child will be comfortable.” It was a simple plan, but John was still convinced that it could all go wrong. Sneaking the young woman to the private training room was already a risk and that they've nearly been caught in the past. This was why they were feeling that urgency to get Tucker out in the open with a believable lie that kept the truth secured.
Private Tucker plucked the child up from where he was now sat up in his bed, settling him easily on her hip. Junior honked and chirped in delight at the contact, nuzzling into her neck as his brown eyes watched them all. Junior was so obviously loved by his mother, someone who never had even planned to have him and had no choice in carrying. But was loved nonetheless.
John had to get his mind off this topic immediately, and dragged his gaze to the doctor, “We will return within the next two weeks, and you will need to make yourself the one to be designated for Private Tucker and the child's care. No one else can find out what's changed about her genetics let alone the truth.”
At his firm tone, Doctor Grey nodded seriously, “I'll have it handled upon your return.”
John nodded in return, “Good.” His gaze went back to the Private, “Be ready by 00:00. Is your armour cleaned and repaired?”
“Yeah. All ready to go, Chief.” Tucker confirmed.
Then that was everything they needed to speak about done with. John gestured his head to the door at Thel before making a sharp heel turn out of the room. The Arbiter was quick to follow, murmuring quietly to him once in the hallway, “You are agitated.”
A heavy breath left his nose, his jaw clenching. “It's nothing.”
Thel observed him for a long moment, before facing forward. “As you say, John. But I am here.”
The lack of prodding and calm acceptance eased some of his tension, and a spark of warmth flooded his chest at the Sangheili's words. Whether on the field or off, Thel was supportive and a soothing presence. It had John musing with a small amount of amusement over their first meeting, and the ones that followed after it, where they begrudgingly worked together. Until they managed to find a truce and then grew a friendship between them, John could admit that he had disliked the alien very strongly for a long while. He was grateful his initial assessment on the Arbiter was proven wrong, and he gained a strong ally and trustworthy companion out of it.
He nudged his shoulder into Thel's upper arm, a silent gesture in thanks. His partner let out a low rumble, that John knew to mean pleasure. Contentedness.
If no one else had his back, he knew Thel would.