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I looked out the window at the wet, dark, bustling street. My Norcrest comrades were sternly patrolling, as civilians watched them with wary glances. I was sitting in the tea bar; my petrol cap was on the counter next to my empty tea mug. The gun on my right hip was beginning to irritate one of the few scrapes that I had. As grimy as I felt, I had to stop and take a break before I went home. There’s something about a cup of tea that can take the ugliness out of a situation. It creates a sense of home and comfort for me. It reminds me of all the times I would make tea on a peaceful morning, having no worries about anything at the time.
“Here is that washcloth you asked for sir,” the bartender said as he handed me a warm, damp, white cloth.
“Thank you,” I tiredly mumbled. I rubbed the cloth all over my face, then scrubbed hard at the three, navy, horizontal lines of war paint next to my left eye.
“Is it all off?” I asked, gripping the cloth in my hand, my arm extended. The bartender nodded then took the cloth.
“You look tired Commander. Would you like another cup of tea?” he asked.
I looked at the bartender gratefully. He was a young man around twenty years old. His hair was completely shaven off, revealing a massive scar that ran across the middle of his head. His soft, brown eyes sparkled in the dim light.
“Thanks, that would be great,” I replied warmly. His cheeks reddened as I focused my eyes intently on his. Most people get uncomfortable when I stare into their eyes too long, they tend to blush out of nervousness more than anything else. Maybe it’s my intimidating personality.
“What will it be this time?” he asked. I shrugged, “Something energizing, please.”
“Of course,” he nodded and walked through the kitchen doors. I caught a glimpse of his name tag as he walked away; it said, Richard. Seemed to suit him; bold, brave, and not apprehensive. Talking with him reminded me of my roommate and best friend, Kai. Unlike Richard, Kai’s name definitely did not suit him. I could think of a bunch of other names to describe Kai: worry-wart and high-strung. I grinned, remembering all the times I had constantly teased him for always being so uptight.
The kitchen doors suddenly swung open. “Here you go, Commander.” Richard handed me a frosted glass. The condensation was beginning to bleed through it. I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Iced tea was okay, but it seemed like a weird choice considering I had only ever ordered hot ones. I reached for the glass, then promptly hesitated. He had gone into the back this time to make my tea. As much of a nice person as he seemed during these hard times, I could not trust him. My eyebrows narrowed as I pulled out my gun, placing my hand on the counter in front of me.
“Do me a favor. Take a sip, won’t you? I think the military would rather have you die of poisoning over me, don’t you think?” Knowing how threatening I looked and sounded, I wasn’t too concerned. I didn’t think he would try to fight me. He startled, then hesitated to try it.
“Go ahead, I’m not a germaphobe.”
“Oh, um, of course, sir. I’m just not much of a tea drinker,” he stuttered before lifting the glass to his lips. He nervously took a swig. Smiling, he handed me the glass. “Mmm, even better than I thought. I hope you like it, sir.”
I was still a bit skeptical, but reached for the glass, clutched it tightly and took a long, slow drink. It was revitalizing. I could feel the frostiness rush down my throat, then pool into my stomach, cooling me at the core. Why was I surprised? Tea was my cup of tea! I slowly slipped my gun back into its holster, then took another sip.
“This is refreshing,” I said frankly, letting the corners of my mouth lift up a bit. One rule I always followed was you don’t smile at people, just to smile. Make them earn it. He hesitantly stood in front of me, probably trying to get more out of me than a polite smirk. I pushed the glass away a bit, glanced up at him and asked, “How’d you get that scar?”
He raised his eyebrows and touched his head, running his fingers along its length. “A bullet went through it,” he explained with a sigh. “I was in the hospital for almost a year; a coma for the first six months. The doctors thought I was not going to pull through. The bullet had caused a lot of swelling and blood loss, but I miraculously survived. I am not allowed to enlist again, so I decided to work here. It gives me a sense of worth to my country by serving those like you who frequently visit the tea bar. I guess I’m hoping to come across someone of a higher rank that would somehow recommend I’m sound enough to be re-enlisted. ”
I pursed my lips. He was trying to hint at something. I couldn’t help him. Stories like these were not uncommon. I studied Rich’s expression. It was clear. As happy of an employee as he acted, he clearly felt trapped, like a soldier held back from his natural calling. He looked down at the oak counter, picked up my glass and wiped the condensation ring underneath. I racked my brain for what to say next, knowing this job crushed his pride.
“I am sure you did a fine job, that’s all that really matters. And you certainly earned your badge of bravery,” I said pointing at his scar. A sincere smile appeared on my face- he shyly smiled back. Suddenly, another soldier walked in, grabbing his attention. Looking over he nodded at me double-checking to see if I needed anything else, then started walking away. I was left to my thoughts.
I hung my head toward the counter. The war was getting worse. It was getting harder for the Norcrest to keep the Elilghts back. It was probably better that Richard could not enlist again. I gulped down the rest of my tea, just as the caffeine started buzzing through my body. Standing up, I walked towards the glass door and pulled it open. Before I walked out, I turned towards Richard, smiled and waved. We held each other’s gaze for a moment, thankful for the small window of peace we had just shared. I gave him a tip of my cap then turned and walked out the door.
The rain pelted my face as I ran to my truck. I hopped in and slammed the door right as my earpiece began to buzz. A robot automated voice filled my ear. “Commander Khalid, 23G924KA09, is attempting to reach you. Accept call?” I grinned. It was Kai calling, and he was in for a surprise! I was coming home; early and unscathed, well, for the most part.
“Yes, accept the call,” I said clearly. Soft static filled my ear before Kai’s voice replaced it. “Hey Ali, you answered! Are you actually taking a break for once?”
“Yes Kai,” I chuckled. “You won’t believe who’s supposed to show up at our door today.” I heard Kai ponder in confusion. There was a long pause, so I interrupted and asked, “Kai, have you had your cup of tea today?”
