Carpe Noctem | 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐅𝐅

chapter fourteen

[ 14 - CHAPTER FOURTEEN ]

― end's herald ―

"You might have given me longer than an hour," Orion grumbled, tugging on a new pair of pants. They were soft to the touch, yet firm, reminiscent of leather in its density but not in its shine.

The material was twin to that of the jacket he'd been given and, despite the circumstances that led to it being on his body, he couldn't deny its comfort. It was like a second skin. He felt as if he could stretch and twist to no end, with no restrictions but that of his own mortal body.

"Well, where's the fun in that?" Natalia - Nat, as Ward called her - hummed.

He rolled his eyes. A partition separated them, blocking her from glimpsing the action. Though, he wouldn't have cared if she could have seen it. Let her look at his behavior, declare him insolent, lecture him, keep him removed from Titan for even longer. What would it matter? They didn't need him, no, but they'd certainly sounded as if his presence would make their mission much easier. He would use that leverage where he could.

His fingers grappled for the jacket zipper, finding it on the side under his armpit. Completely clothed in H.A.M.M.E.R. apparel, he stepped out from behind the partition, arms out as if presenting a work of art. As if he were some sort of rarity, a masterpiece.

The dressing room was white, sterile like the rest of the place. Piles of clothes were neatly folded on a table in the far corner of the room where Natalia sat, fingering the device on her wrist. Her eyes rose to survey him, trailing his silhouette like a jaguar examining her prey moments before ambush.

"Good," she conceded after what felt like minutes. "You're just missing a couple accessories."

He raised an eyebrow, a question whose only answer was a brown box kicked in his direction.

He tilted his head. "Awe, you shouldn't have."

"Oh, but I did." A matching tilt of the head. "Courtesy of your lovely new friend, Mr. Ward."

Orion crouched, resting on his haunches as he pilfered through the box's contents. A utility belt, with pockets and holsters to hold weapons. Cuffs with a metallic sheen, their purpose unknown. A lab coat casual enough to be mistaken for a winter coat. Steel-toed grey boots. A hideous green badge.

He lifted the lime ID card to the light. "You aren't serious."

His eyes skipped between Natalia and the card. She was leaning back in her chair, basking in what was sure to be his intense humiliation, an experience he would have each time he introduced himself as this supposed H.A.M.M.E.R. agent.