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The latest mission had been successful; a team of Rainbow members had been dispatched to defend a location from a possible terrorist attack. Usually, one of the four groups – Viperstrike, Wolfguard, Redhammer, or Ghosteyes – created by the now-former director “Six,” Harry Pandey, would be sent out. This time, however, due to a lack of decisive intel, the mission had required talents from all across Rainbow's teams. You and Maxim Basuda, otherwise known as ‘Kapkan,’ had been assigned to guard the point, while the rest of the team, consisting of Jalal El Fassi “Kaid,” Brianna Skehan “Thorn,” and Saif Al Hadid “Oryx,” were tasked with intercepting the terrorists entering the building.
After the successful rescue of the hostages with the help of your gadget during your mission in Spain a month ago, you no longer needed special permission to use them during missions unless otherwise stated. You took full advantage of this when preparing the area with Kapkan for enemies.
Kaid was the leader for this mission, and as such, there was understandably tension in the air. El Fassi was a decorated military leader even before joining Rainbow, and his opinion held high regard both in and outside Rainbow. The man had made his opinion of you quite clear, and the fact that you had somehow garnered some kind of sympathy from his pupil did not improve it. You were thankful Oryx had been welcoming to you, but you didn’t come here to cause what now felt like a family feud between him and his teacher. All you wanted was to rectify your mistake—the mistake that cost the lives of your colleagues and more if Deimos and Keres were not stopped.
Even now, as you prepared the point with Kapkan, you still remember the overwhelming fear you felt when you watched your creation being used on your colleagues. The walls had felt closed in; your body had been frozen like you couldn’t breathe. The subtle contraction of your pupils as the bloody handprint on the window burned into your retina.
What would your life have been if you had not become obsessed with neuroscience and chemical enhancements? Would you still have a position in the Swedish army? Most likely. Would your family still talk to you? Maybe. They had encouraged you throughout your life in everything, up to a point. A point which you had crossed. The obsession with your work and supposed brilliance had cost the lives of your fellow scientists, and as long as Deimos had the formula, possibly many more innocent people in the future.
Brilliance, more like foolishness. Your arrogance was unable to take no for an answer regarding the project from the Swedish army. Yet you continued and caused your downfall with it. Kaid had good reason to doubt you, like most members of Rainbow. He had the experience, and you couldn’t fault him for his opinion. Thus, for this and future missions, you had decided to try to be more like the good soldier you should have been all those years ago.
The mission went without a hitch; none of the terrorists made it near the area you and Kapkan were guarding. Soon it was time to gather up gear and return to headquarters. With guns and gadgets in their lockers and uniforms switched to more casual clothing, it was customary to go over the mission—what could be done right or wrong—and to gather everyone's perspectives on what transpired. One by one, each of the mission members was supposed to tell their perspective.
"Due to how little happened during the mission and with Kapkan's perspective already accounted for, I think it is safe to say there is nothing extra to add that hasn't already been said." Kaid was correct in his statement. Kapkan’s report did include everything you had done as well, but it didn't mean it wasn't slightly petty to leave yours out. With your nod, the meeting was ended, and everyone trickled off to their quarters.
Except Kapkan, for some reason. As soon as everyone had left, you felt a clap against your back as Kapkan stepped next to you. "Ah, now that that is done, how about some lunch before we go count some sheep, puppy?" Surprised, you looked at him. The nickname you were already aware of, Kapkan often called you so, but it was the first time he had asked to spend time outside of missions. Kapkan, from what you knew, usually spent his free time in the armory or sparring room—both of which you barely had reason to go to. And he was rarely seen interacting with anyone outside the former Spetsnaz members. You, on the other hand, spent both your waking hours and sleepless nights in the R&D labs, working on your creation.
"Sure," you answered, and you both headed off to the canteen.
Picking up your food, you took a seat near the corner. When Kapkan, who had followed slightly behind you to the canteen, sat opposite of you, you finally asked the question that had been burning in your mind.
“Why do you call me that?” He looked at you, brow raised and spoon mid-air. His plate consisted of bread and some purplish-red soup. “Call you what? Puppy?” “Yes, that,” you confirmed while looking him in the eyes. You didn’t enjoy doing so; eye contact always made you uncomfortable, but Kapkan was from the army as well, no matter which country you were trained in, if one were to ask a question you needed to look them straight in the eyes and ask clearly.
Putting the spoon down back into his bowl, Kapkan leaned back in his chair. His gaze wandered from your eyes downwards. It felt assessing like you were being stripped down, broken into small pieces to inspect. Like a specimen under a microscope, despite you being the scientist out of the two of you. There was no doubt the Russian man was highly intelligent. Oftentimes, scientists hold themselves above common soldiers, but you could tell if it came to a fight of wits, though it was painful to admit, you would probably lose. He was a hunter. He knew how to spin his prey around and lead them to their demise.
“Do you know what happens often with smart dogs?” he asked.
“No. I can't say I know much about dog handling.”
“Smart dogs, when not given enough mental stimulation, start to destroy things; owners who can’t handle them often pass them along to shelters.”
“When I look at you, I don’t see this fearsome Norse wolf that will start the end of the world or whatever,” he started, crossing his arms. “I see an intelligent and maybe overly excited pup that got thrown out, picked up, and thrown away again.”
Ouch, but you couldn’t disagree with the assessment, though the example was a bit crude. You didn’t feel like the Fenrir from Mythos. And your stubbornness had gotten you thrown out from, well, everywhere.
“Doesn’t mean you couldn’t be that fierce wolf, just that you aren’t one now. This is why I don’t believe you to be the spy either. You have too much regret written on your face, and if you are a spy, well, you better leave the army and start acting because if you can fool me, you can fool anyone.” Kapkan ended with a huff, leaning back down to eat his soup, and with nothing to add to what the other man had said, you followed suit. A tension that you always felt seemed to ease just slightly as you ate in silence. You felt your shoulders relax and unwind just a bit.
The nickname had confused you. You weren’t sure what it meant. Was it mocking or demeaning or just some quirky nickname by the Russian soldier? It hadn’t been too important to know. You were a loner by nature and always have been, and you didn’t expect to gain comrades when you joined Rainbow. Not with everyone knowing your previous associate. But it felt good to know that someone trusted you, at least a bit. However, the trust did come up with a silly nickname. It was a small sacrifice for some companionship and trust.
While in your thoughts, you didn’t notice the other man getting up with his tray until a big and calloused hand landed on your head. “See you around, puppy,” he said. The warm hand ruffles the top of your long black hair gently before disappearing. With that, Kapkan takes his leave, leaving you with a warmth both where his hand had been and in your chest.