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Chains Of Command [DamonHuntington x MasochisticHeartx]

DamonHuntington

DamonHuntington

Planetoid
Joined
Aug 7, 2017
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"Sir, the new recruits are about to arrive!", stated the Corporal as he entered the quarters in a loud voice tone.

However, the news of such arrival was not unknown by General Jedrek Wolf. In fact, he always savoured for this very day - the day in which a fresh batch of new meat arrived at the base ready to be shaped and formed anew. This meant, naturally, that the General had another group to control, command and torment in whichever way he seemed fit, under the guise of "training their bodies and minds to be stronger".

Of course, this was far from the truth. Jedrek savoured the power for the sole sake of power; he wanted the control because of the control itself.

"Get back to your position, Corporal Lewis. I am already on my way to the assembly point", General Wolf said abruptly, which elicited a cry of 'yessir' from the distraught member of the platoon. With a series of strong steps forward, the commander left the building and began walking to the location where the newcomers would be greeted.

In fact, his presence was already the first tool of dominance that he employed to strike fear at the hearts of the cadets. His towering height, standing proud at nearly 6 foot and 5 inches of height, hovered above the heads of nearly every individual in any crowd. His body was extremely muscular, toned with several years of a strict exercise regimen that the Army conditioned him to take as his own second nature. The type of uniform he wore, reserved for the use of those in the upper echelons, was spotless and perfectly ironed over his body; his chest held rows and rows of medals and decorations that jingled with each step - each of them so carefully polished to the point of reflecting the glare of the sun. His boots thudded against the floor in a series of rhythmic and fierce steps.

All of these details meant one thing: Jedrek was a force to be recognised, and a man that would not accept the smallest deviation.

Soon he arrived at the rendezvous point, seeing the convoy of military units that brought the newest targets for his control. The commander grinned widely, took a military stance and awaited for all of them to descend from the vehicle and take their positions. As soon as they were all lined up, he began to talk.

"Welcome to the Army. In other words, welcome to fucking Hell. I'm going to make your pathetic asses stronger so you can all last more than five seconds in real war, but you need to fucking know that this is not a place for the weak. If you have any doubts that this is the life for you, go away and never come back. I don't want the rabble, no - I only want the ones that think they are the best.

But you aren't the best, no. At this time, I have little more respect for you than for a piece of shit. You need to conquer my respect, and you'll all learn that this will not be a fucking walk in the park. To make you stronger, I will make your life miserable; so miserable that you'll hope we get to war soon - because war has nothing on the training I'll put you through. You'll be reforged, made anew, built with steel and passion rather than whatever shit you currently have in your bodies and mind - but, for that to happen, you will follow my orders without question.

No excuses, no insubordination, no dilly-dallying. I tell you jump, you ask 'how high, Sir?' and thank me for giving you the opportunity to prove yourself. You are now mine, and it's best you remember that for your next days. Dismissed!", he screamed as he turned around in an abrupt motion, without acknowledging the presence of any recruit.

"I wonder which one of them I'll take as my personal challenge this time", the General wondered as he walked back to his post.​
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The day he'd been waiting for has finally arrived. Today would mark the first step of his dreams coming into fruition. After having passed a few different tests, the actual training was finally going to begin. Leroy Ryker could still recall his parents' proud faces as they said their goodbyes to him, and more than once it was suggested that he should just become an officer of the law instead of actually enlisting in the military. While the notion itself wasn't at all a bad one, it still couldn't compare to the grandeur of being a soldier. Leroy always aimed for the top of the top no matter what he was doing, and this time was no exception either. Being a simple policeman wouldn't satisfy him -- no, he wanted to prove his patriotism by following in the footsteps of those brave war heroes he'd heard so much about; the ones who valiantly defended their countries to the death, protecting their loved ones and all the other innocent, helpless citizens from harm.

Contributing to the country and defending it for what it was worth, what could be better than that? Leroy had practically given up his former life and he threw everything into this one goal, which was why he knew nothing would cause him to back down. Despite his ideals, however, the young man knew that the road wasn't going to be an easy one, nor was he expecting it to be, but he had all the confidence in the world to believe that his determination and perseverance would push him through whatever obstacles were lying in wait. Overconfident to a fault, he truthfully believed that he could and would eventually rise through the ranks to stand at the very top one day. That was goal number two on his list, and although it was a far greater one than his first objective, anyone who knew him would say that he'd always find a way to make his aspirations a reality, something he took a great deal of pride in.

Now, here he was, surrounded by other new recruits, some livelier than others. Only once the vehicle slowed to a halt and the sound of a door could be heard opening, was when everyone knew that they had reached their destination. The soldiers all hopped out of the car one by one, Leroy included, his thick boots thumping lightly against the floor as he landed. Getting into the straight line that was formed, he stood at his full 5'11" height and waited for whoever would be greeting them. Leroy wasn't sure what he was expecting exactly, but the sight of a 6'5" man entering his vision was... impressive, to say the least. Perhaps he was the only one who thought so though, because some soldiers twitched, while fear or surprise worked their way into the eyes of others, regardless of how they tried holding their faces in a serious, stoic expression.

The General really did seem imposing, though; his uniform wore was different from the rest, although not overly different. Much like the man's, Leroy's uniform was smoothed out against his lean frame, while small buttons and glossy ornaments were pinned on the material -- quite different from the medals the other man wore, but the way the two took care of their uniforms seemed to be very much alike. Leroy was already imagining himself in the other man's position when he'd be able to say those words as well.

The man's powerful aura was made known the moment his voice cut through the air, and Leroy listened intently. Everything the General was saying was exactly as Leroy imagined. Of course, he wouldn't have expected any less. 'Conquering respect, huh? I like the sound of that... I'll be sure to do just that and more.' He thought to himself, unable to stop the small, fleeting smirk from forming in the process. He continued to remain poised yet attentive up until the very end where he'd yell out a quick "sir!" along with the others, to acknowledge what had been said. Once the general was out of sight, another man would take his place, doing a quick briefing before assigning posts. Once the basic procedures were over with, Leroy separated from the rest and went over to the spot where he'd be stationed, having a moment to settle in and become acquainted with his surroundings. Yeah, he could handle this. He'll prove himself one way or another.
 
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General's Post, One Hour After The Assembly

A series of full profiles was atop the Commander's desk, all lining up the polished wooden surface of the desk. Each paper sheet contained all the details pertaining to each and every candidate that aspired to join the military life this year. The pages were filled with their psychological profiles, physical aptitude tests, main characteristics and other sorts of information that Jedrek ordered to be collected for his own egotistical purposes.

One profile, however, called his attention more than any other. Apparently so, Private Leroy Ryker had the best results in the physical tests during his entrance examinaton, coupled with a disposition that seemed to be reported by the psychologist as "strongly assertive and overly confident". The recruit displayed the height and weight of a well-built young man, and the mind of someone that would be tough to break. "Ah, but they all break. Eventually they do", chuckled General Wolf to himself, enjoying the new-found target for his devious purposes.

The Commander began thinking in retrospect, trying to remember how Private Ryker reacted during the assembly - after all, the first impression of a man, according to the General, certainly dictated his worth and the true colours of the one hiding beneath the façade. A faint recollection played in his head, until the male recalled the sight of an individual that looked like the profile picture that was right before him. The recruit in question had, indeed, a certain aura of confidence projected from his body; he did not react with the same degree of fear or astonishment at the presence of his leader, and seemed to actually seek for an opportunity to prove himself when the Commander's discourse was finished.

Jedrek had found his target. Now he was going to teach the boy how to fear and obey.


Private's Quarters, Night-Time

Soon the moonlight spanned across the area, prompting the soldiers to go to their sleep - except for one, that would get more than he asked for tonight. As the privates began to assemble inside their Quarters, Jedrek entered the premises abruptly and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"At attention! Everyone take post at the side of your designated bed, NOW!", he screamed and took delight at the rushing and scrambling of the soldiers in the dormitory as they ran to their positions. An aura of fear began to exude from the collective group, not knowing what was about to happen.

"Pitiful", the Commander said when they were done with the task. "Had you all been that unprepared in a war, you'd all drop dead like flies without a warning", the man proceeded as he walked in the direction of Leroy, staring into his eyes from a very uncomfortable distance.

"You think you're hot shit, don't you, Private Ryker? That you're better than any of these morons, that you deserve to be on top, that you'll fucking prove yourself to me to the point I'll fall head over heels for you. You're wrong. WRONG!", asserted General Wolf in a vociferous tone. "You're nothing, worse than nothing, because I have less disdain for an idiot that knows he is an idiot than an idiot who believes to be the next Patton. Drop, now, and give me two hundred!", the man commanded as he awaited for the private to complete his punishment.

Unbeknownst to the man, Jedrek was going to push his whole body weight with his boot over the body of the soldier, as soon as he reached the mark of the fiftieth push-up.​
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The silence of the atmosphere would soon be broken once Leroy heard the voices of two other approaching soldiers, and he turned to face them while they turned their attentions on him. "Damn, we're gonna be worked to the bone, I can already feel it." One of them complained as the other would add in, "I knew it was going to be no walk in the park, but that General man... didn't he seem like some kind of monster?" The guy would focus his attention on Leroy, "What do you think?" He asked, and Leroy almost wanted to laugh at the question. What did he think? Was it even worth talking about? Sure, the Commander was intimidating, but he was still human. "He seems capable, if nothing else. I don't think anyone better could have been chosen for the job." He replied easily, only to add in, "It is what it is though, we'll just have to get through it."

The other two seemed to have accepted his answer without putting up any sort of argument. "Oh, by the way, I'm not sure if you caught our names earlier but I'm Wyatt Blaze, and that's Zeke Davenport. And you're...?" The first man asked, and Leroy didn't hesitate in his answer, "Leroy Ryker." Getting to know his comrades in arms was something he was planning to do from the start, so this worked out nicely. The three continued socializing, and Leroy could already practically feel his trust in them begin to grow. He knew interacting like this would strengthen the bonds and teamwork between one another, should a time ever occur where they'd be tested on it, but he did know that first and foremost it should be every man for himself. His own survival was top priority.

The day dragged on and Leroy mainly spent his free time with Wyatt and Zeke -- or more like they were the ones who lingered around him the most. Then, soon enough, night fell. Everyone shuffled into their Quarters to get some shut eye, and at that moment, a sudden booming voice startled everyone in the room as they scrambled to find their beds. Leroy, too, was caught off guard, and he mentally cursed himself for not having expected such an occurrence. He managed to successfully find his bed and stood beside it as ordered, telling himself how next time... next time he'll be more prepared. Next time he'll be prepared for anything.

He was more curious than fearful as to what the Commander could want. Was there going to be a surprise drill or something? In the middle of his thoughts, it seemed the General had selected him out of the crowd, and Leroy couldn't help but feel a swell of pride from deep within his chest, while all the other men seemed to visibly relax upon knowing they weren't the ones targeted. As expected, the words that reached Leroy's ears were as harsh as ever, but he wasn't put off by them. Damn straight he thought he was better than all the others -- he didn't have to think about it, he knew he was better than them, but he refrained from actually interrupting the man in the middle of his speech. The General's brutal comments continued, yet satisfaction was still present as Leroy gazed into the other's eyes with unflinching determination. He may have meant nothing to the other now, but he was still singled out, and if the Commander said that about him, didn't that mean he must've saw potential in him?

At the sound of the command, Leroy replied with, "sir, yes sir!" and without hesitating, dropped to obey despite his mind questioning the number. Two hundred? Two hundred?! What in the actual fu-- ...Oh well, he figured it was just another test he had to overcome... although even body builders may have had trouble doing two hundred push ups all in one sitting. "One, two, three..." He voiced aloud, allowing himself -- and everyone watching -- to keep track of the number he was on. When he reached forty nine, he was still going strong despite some beads of sweat beginning to break out on his forehead. It was right when he reached number fifty that a sudden weight on him caused his entire torso to fall flat against the ground as a subdued "oomph" sound left his lips. The decorations on his uniform scratched against the ground and dug uncomfortably into his flesh.

For a split second, he was confused as to what had just happened, but-- ...Was he being stepped on? He guessed it was to make things more difficult for him, to really push him to his limits, but it also sparked a type of anger within, and that anger was what caused him to actually push back against the substantial weight. The muscles in his arms flexed and trembled with strain as he did, "Fifty... one... fif-ty... two--" He thought he could do better but he ended up falling right back onto his chest, trying to catch his breath, his arms propped awkwardly at his sides as he realized he couldn't move anymore. How long was the General planning to keep his foot on him? It was one thing to have extra weight placed on top of him to make his tasks more difficult, but it was a completely different story when said weight belonged to a man of the General's caliber. Even Leroy wouldn't be able to move if too much force was added onto his back, and surely the other man must've known that?
 
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The General chuckled upon seeing Leroy's failure. His laughter echoed in the exiguous space of the quarters, with no other sounds to muffle it. Jedrek stepped more harshly over Private Ryker's back, twisting the tip of his foot in overt disdain for the man that now lied slumped on the ground. Now was the time to add insult to injury; without wanting to give the Private a chance to stand up, Wolf sat right behind his ass and pinned him to the ground with his sheer bulk. The Commander then relentless grabbed Leroy by the hair and tugged his head backwards, forcing him to look at the other members of the group.

"Disappointing, very disappointing. It takes a little weight and you crumble like a fucking house of cards; doesn't take much for you to make a mess out of yourself. You try to play all high and mighty to fool your colleagues, but I see the real worth of a man - and you, Ryker, are worth nothing. You deserve the ground and the pain; they'll teach you how to begin to be a man, because you lack any spine and any strength. You're a pitiful maggot that thinks too much of yourself; you lack a brain and that is why you cannot see how weak you really are inside", Jedrek quipped, pulling harder on his subordinate's hair.

"But you knew that was going to happen, didn't you? You were happy to follow my command, even though you knew that there was no way in Hell you'd complete the task. Fifty push-ups were enough to make you drenched in sweat; guess you like to be humiliated that much. My foot was an act of mercy for you to save some fucking dignity, but now that I am thinking in hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have done that: you like to be scorned in front of others, don't you? That's the only explanation that makes sense - you're so fucking eager to be singled out for a task you're unable to complete in front of everyone, knowing that you will fail and become the laughing stock of the group", the man proceeded in a rough tone, clearly punctuating each word and idea beneath it all. As Jedrek knew fully well, the tendency of the recruits would be to mentally deny the assertions, but more often than not the seed of doubt was planted on the first day.

Nonetheless, he was not done with the cadet. "Tonight all shall remember your failure. They will give you words of strength when talking directly to you, but I'd be surprised if a single one of them didn't fucking laugh at your back. Your problem, Ryker, is that you have shit for brains and cannot see your limits - you're willing to engage in direct fight with a stronger force rather than using your smarts, and that only serves to make a complete fool of yourself; all you get is your face on the ground and a boot on your back, which you probably like much more than you'd want to admit. Make no mistake - I single you out not because you are the best, but because you're the biggest disgrace to have ever graced my presence in all of these years of service. You're member of the lowest type of scum; the type that can't learn a thing until they realise how pitiful they are, and I'll be here to remind you of that during every step of the path. Understood?", the General snarled, standing solely when a response was given to his satisfaction.

"At attention, everyone!", Jedrek shouted to all when he was done with Leroy. "Unless you want to feel my ire, you'd better not follow the example of Private Ryker here. I do not want him making my job any worse that it already is, so use tonight as a lesson for you to not repeat the same mistakes. Is that clear?", the domineering man shouted at the members of the group.

"Dismissed!", came his order right before he left.​
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The laughter that reached his ears sounded cruel -- crueler than it should've been for the circumstance, and whatever hopes of reprieve Leroy held would be dashed the second the other man ground his foot deeper into him before deciding to sit atop his lower half like he was a piece of furniture, earning a grunt of contempt as Leroy tried not to move. The increasing anger and humiliation he was feeling would dissipate the second he felt fingers grip his hair, unexpectedly forcing his head back. "Ngh...!" Biting back a gasp and withholding a wince, he -- to his chagrin -- found himself staring into the faces of his fellow comrades who stared back. Some looked to be terrified, others gazed at him with pity -- freaking pity, and he could've sworn a few were even ridiculing him!

The General would begin to speak shortly after, and every word that Leroy heard might as well have been a slap in the face. 'That's not-- don't listen to him...' He thought to himself, mentally rejecting every statement. He had to bite the inside of his own cheek, clenching a hand into a fist while doing his best not to snap. His heart was hammering to a painful degree, out of sheer indignation, and it reflected clearly in his dark eyes. He could feel the blood rushing to his head, making it pound. 'I would've been able to do it if only you hadn't interfered!' He seethed to himself, truly believing those thoughts. Halfway through the General's speech, Leroy wanted to tune the man out, but failed. "Tsk..." And thus he couldn't help the agitated noise that left his lips. Hopefully it was low enough to the point where it wasn't actually heard, and that did seem to be the case. The onslaught of words continued, sinking deep into his mind, lingering there, before he'd fervently push them away. Then, after what felt like too long, the Commander's lecture would finally come to an end... but not without awaiting an answer from Leroy.

'No, I don't understand, and I shouldn't have to because all of this was your damn fault!' The haughty soldier inwardly accused, continuing to fume. However-- "...Understood, sir." As much as he wanted to verbally refute every single claim, he'd just resort to a bitter yet compliant reply through clenched teeth. The weight pinning his body down finally lifted, and he pushed himself back to his feet, standing tall regardless of what had just transpired. The front of his once pristine uniform was now covered in a layer of dirt and dust, while the other soldiers perked up at the General's orders. By the time the giant of a man finished, all the other soldiers would shout "yessir!", watching as the commanding officer disappeared out the door. At that moment, an uncomfortable silence permeated the air, far more awkward than Leroy would have liked. He should've been able to easily brush it off, but what just occurred was a huge blow to his pride, and it did leave somewhat of a dent in it.

As most of the other men turned their attentions away from him, Wyatt would make his way over. "Uh, hey, you alright? He was way too strict..." The kind man attempted to comfort, unknowingly rubbing salt into the wound. Wyatt continued, "I thought you did well though, the best anyone could do in that situation." Although Leroy would've originally accepted those words as the plain truth, at that very second, the general's words rang in his mind: "They will give you words of strength when talking directly to you, but I'd be surprised if a single one of them didn't fucking laugh at your back." A sneer was given as Leroy eyed his companion with a look of mild suspicion, "Why wouldn't I be alright? What are you trying to say?" He questioned in an icy tone, which made the other male flinch a bit. "What? No, nothing, I just--" But he was cut off, "I don't need to hear it. Go to sleep." Leroy ordered as he himself got under his thin covers, feeling more than insulted despite the other soldier's best intentions.

Without saying anything else, Wyatt gave him one more apologetic look before backing off and went to his own bed to get some rest. Once all was still, Leroy's mind kept wandering back to the incident. Although he knew better than to care what people thought of him, it was unbelievable for him to have been belittled like that in front of his allies. And on the first fucking day? Failure wasn't something he was familiar with, but that damned general seemed to enjoy making a fool out of him. Furthermore, he didn't catch the man's attention because of his potential, but because he was the biggest disgrace? Bullshit! He wouldn't believe it. Maybe instead of having described the commander as capable, the term unreasonable would have been more appropriate. Tomorrow should be different though, Leroy told himself, and so he simply closed his eyes, allowing his mind to drift off into a restless sleep.
 
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A new day was born as the first rays of sun hit the land. The privates were all ordered in a rank and file formation, eagerly awaiting for the next exercise that they were supposed to endure. The outline of the wooden structures could be seen against the incipient sunlight, although the true nature of the test was still not revealed.

"At attention, all Privates! Today's the day where you'll have the first chance to prove that you are not a colossal waste of my time. We're going to do a drill that's going to test your strength, your intelligence and your teamwork skills. Try not to be a total disappointment", Jedrek vociferated boisterously. "I'm going to divide you in groups of three for this task - when I say your names, assemble and form a line right there", came the order as he motioned towards a predetermined area marked on a different colour. "Blaze, Gilles, Robertson! Cobain, Davenport, Arlington!", began the barrage of names as he read them all from a clipboard.

"Fredrick, Magnus, Ryker!", came the final names from the list right before the General directly addressed Leroy. "I honestly entertained the possibility of getting you out of the exercise, as you've already proven yourself unable time and time again - but that would be unfair to your teammates, so I'll let them deal with the likes of you", was the scathing remark that was addressed to the Private before the sign to begin the drill was given.

The choice of partners, however, was not arbitrary. Jedrek paired Leroy with two troublemakers that had a very lax set of morals; a couple of Privates that would not have any qualms to lie, sabotage and cheat others for a tiny sliver of reputation and admiration. What they lacked in strength, they made up for in cunning and deceit, and the Commander certainly intended to use that to his advantage. He knew that both Privates would quickly throw Leroy under the bus if that meant they got some fame from his colleagues.

And this was exactly what General Wolf wanted to see. "Get a move on, go, go, go! We don't have the whole day!", screamed the man, expectantly waiting to see what the circumstances would bring to him.​
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The morning was about as unpleasant as he imagined it to be; blaring sergeants screamed at the newbies to wake up, and although Leroy did wake up on the spot, he was not as rested as he would've liked. He stood with the rest of the soldiers, listening to the names as they were called. Of course he would be put with people he never once held a conversation with, why the hell wouldn't he? Leroy glanced at his two teammates, and could've sworn that those two were the ones who had looked at him with ridicule the night before. He was hoping he was wrong, but he doubted that to be the case. Hardly ever was he wrong in his judgments, and they were looking less than pleased to have been paired with him. Upon being personally addressed, Leroy was hit with newfound determination. He'll prove his commander wrong, even if it was the last thing he did!

"Get a move on, go, go, go! We don't have the whole day!"

The commander's voice spurred everyone into action. The course lying in wait seemed simple enough, but he didn't know that working as a team would have been so... arduous. It seemed like his teammates were dead set on getting him to fail, from literally dragging him down during climbing obstacles, using him as a stepping stone for themselves, to shoving him off during balancing segments -- making it seem like he fell due to his own incompetence, to disregarding him completely when they had to all work together to get over the final obstacle. Somehow, Leroy made it over that obstacle on his own, although without the help of the other two to hoist him up, it took more time than he cared to admit. Leroy wasn't sure what number his team ranked; he would hardly be surprised if they came in last place, but he himself was collectively in last place.

He reached the end to see all the others already there, and he was expecting to receive some backlash from the General, but whether he'd receive it right away or not, he'd still waltz straight up to where Fredrick and Magnus were, not missing a single beat as he'd hiss out, "What the fuck was that back there?" He pointed a finger behind him. His assertive nature was in full swing now, openly confronting the two as the other cadets looked on with confusion. He couldn't help it; everything that happened went against standard procedures! If this was a real war, Leroy could've been dead, and while he understood that sacrifices were necessary, what they did was very much unnecessary! Was this all a game to them or what? He couldn't trust to fight alongside them in an actual battlefront scenario. Hell, just knowing that his dear country would be defended by the likes of them, by people who would so needlessly sacrifice another teammate for no reason at all, sickened him.
 
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Jedrek shook his head in complete disappointment, albeit he knew the reasons why Ryker had failed. Nonetheless, he was going to milk that opportunity for all that it was worth - once more he would debase the young Private to directly attack his sense of pride and self-worth.

With that resolution in mind, General Wolf walked slowly towards Leroy, each boot step lifting a small cloud of dust as he made his way to the boy. The Commander stood uncomfortably close to his face and remained silent for a short split second, right before screaming and throwing a death glare into Private Ryker's eyes. "Failed again. Again! How many times do you plan to do shit around here? Do you fucking think that this is Summer Camp, that it's all fun and games for shits and giggles?", the man bellowed before raising his hand and smacking the Private square in his face, a loud sound surfacing from the strong contact. "You keep disappointing me in a way that I thought impossible. I thought you were the worse soldier of the batch, but you have surpassed my expectations. You must be the fucking greatest idiot to take step into these facilities, and that's not an easy task", was the claim given by Jedrek followed by a second slap across the other side of Private Ryker's face.

"You are weak, you are stupid, you are unable to work in a fucking team. You are dumb enough to not see your flaws and you have absolutely no redeeming characteristics to make up for that. You are arrogant without reason, you think you're too good for the group, and if I had to bet you're a momma's boy that always protected you and she said you were her pretty little prince that could do no wrong. She lied to you, bitch, just to protect your weak-ass feelings from being crushed. Did they even think you deserved to be in the military? Didn't they tell you to do another shit with your life, one that you'd be actually capable of partially doing?", asked Jedrek - attempting to hit the truth, as most families were unwilling to let their children to take part in the military without a hitch.

"You have thirty seconds to tell me why I should let you continue here; otherwise, I'll fucking go to my office and sign your punitive discharge; that would be a fucking new record over here, so at least you'd be the one holding first place for once in your life. Why should I even bother with you?", the man inquired, awaiting for a response.​
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Without receiving any type of answer, the sound of approaching footsteps caused him to shift his attention towards the General, who practically encroached on his personal space. Well, what happened next was just as he expected... but a part of him was still in disbelief. Was he the only one getting the brunt of it all, when the other two deserved it so much more?! The General must not have been paying any attention to him or his team the entire time... though as enraged as Leroy was, he still held his tongue, choosing not to interrupt the man. '...Let him talk. Everything he's saying is a lie, anyway.' Leroy thought to himself, the derogatory statements not having much of an effect on him -- not when he was so self-assured that he was right and the General was wrong. But the slap had taken him by surprise. With a silent gasp, his entire head snapped to the side, his eyes stunned at first... yet he managed to keep himself from wincing, and stood his ground when the stinging pain settled in seconds later. When he looked back at the general, he was no longer giving him the same respectful look he'd normally give, but instead glared with a type of silent rage -- as if wanting to flat out murder him. It was taking nearly all of Leroy's willpower not to cut the taller man off and yell back right in his face.

The harsh sound of skin contacting skin for a second time caused his face to whip to the side once more, the pain radiating to his head, and now a visible red print could be seen on his previously unmarred skin. This time he couldn't keep a low hiss of pain down. It was short lived, however, and the fingers at his sides began to curl in on themselves, while he clenched his jaw as he once again glowered at the General. A certain phrase that reached his ears did make his mind pause to think; his family did suggest him to do something else with his life, but-- ...no, he wouldn't regret his choice, nor would he back down. He wasn't the one who screwed the entire thing up!

Finally, he was given the opportunity to speak, and he would jump on it, "With all due respect, sir, I feel you are wrong! They were the ones who neglected the use of teamwork, and limited any potential I may have shown, sir!" He began by telling the truth, although it sounded like an excuse even to his own ears. Still, he'd proceed on, "For you to have not realized, it makes me question certain things!" He tried to keep his tone as deferential as possible, with only a hint of his anger, and while he started off by responding in a manner similar to any normal soldier, it gradually began to stray the more his fury would encompass him. "By keeping your eyes only on those who you think are worth your time, you miss out on the details that actually matter! Next time I will handle the situation more appropriately! I only ask that you give me another chance to prove myself, and this time, I request that you actually do your part... sir!" He concluded, his eyes burning with a type of sound defiance, not even caring for consequences of having openly chastised his commanding officer. He felt he was just telling the truth, and he doubted he could get discharged for something as petty as that. Maybe he'd receive another type of punishment, like getting hit again... or even beaten, but he felt he could handle it. He just had to make his point known. Throughout it all, all the other soldiers shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to expect.
 
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The anger simmered and boiled inside Jedrek's body, to the point that he was completely taken by ire. That was the time his tone of voice dropped lower, to a normal volume, preluding that something was very, very wrong. His speech was not brash and screamed at the top of the lungs, as it usually was, but calm and deep like the sky right before a storm; the way he spoke felt sadistic and ominous like the dangerous depth of the oceans.

"You seem to think that everything is about you, don't you, Private Ryker? I have very much noticed everything that happened, but I stand by everything that was spoken until now. You seem rather intent on shredding your own reputation in front of our friends, and I won't be the one to hold your hand right in front of your brothers-in-arms. If you want to know that much on how you failed, I shall describe it in-depth", the threatening voice spoke without raising its tone or inflexion, even going so far as to giving a smirk while the General spoke.

"You failed because you could not work with the tools provided to you. You were not strong enough to brave the circuit on your own, regardless of your teammates' actions. You were not smart enough to use their desires to your favour. You were not diplomatic enough to be able to strike an alliance with them during this task. You were not perceptive enough to see what kind of behaviour motivated your colleagues in order to make this knowledge your weapon. You were not resolute enough to use whatever means necessary to finish the task. You were not enough of a leader to command them. You were not cunning enough to pretend being under their command so you'd all complete the task", Jedrek began to rant, giving a single step forward into Leroy's personal space.

"There is more. You were not willing to make sacrifices - if you knew they were dragging you down, why did you not pay them with the same coin? You were not willing to distance yourself from a lost cause, which is how many soldiers die in action. You were spineless and never stood up for yourself until you were confronted by me. You were limited in your ability to see and thought the course only tested a few abilities; you missed the big picture, you couldn't see beneath the first answer that crossed your mind. You are idealistic and think the world is fair, and you get down on your knees for that stupid belief of yours. Newsflash - war is Hell. Don't expect your enemies to play nice, and don't expect things to be just. You're the kind of soldier that would die just to drag a dead body back, you're the kind of soldier that would die while trying to bite more than you can chew, you're the kind of soldier that would die because of a stupid trap you fell into. Dead, dead, dead", the Commander said as he shoved his index finger against Leroy's chest.

But he was far from done. "The truth was that you were given a test and you failed, and to make things worse you hadn't even noticed that you failed until this very moment. You prefer to cry than to own your mistakes; saying that everything is unfair seems to be your to-go weapon rather than finding a solution to turn a loss into a victory. You did nothing, Private Ryker. You accepted your destiny when you saw what was happening and chose the path of inaction. Every group here had a weak point - some were composed of the physically weakest soldiers, some were composed of highly-distracted individuals - and your group had the weakness of selfishness. You seem to think everything's about you, to the point that you cannot look past your own universe. It's always about how you're going to prove yourself, how you'll show others that you are better than anyone, when in reality your hubris clouds your mind and disallows you to see who you truly are. Now, are you going to give more excuses, or are you ready to man up and admit that you screwed up and that you're the exact kind of soldier I described previously? Say that you are a failure in front of everyone here, and begin to grow rather than giving justifications", Jedrek demanded with a twisted grin.

"We also have to deal with your insubordination right now. My Quarters, one hour from now", came the final command from the mouth of the General.​
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This time, Leroy was taken aback for a completely different reason. The hits didn't rain down on him like he was expecting, and he wasn't met with shouts that threatened to blow his eardrums out. No, this time, the General's calm, chilling tone was somehow more unpleasant than anything else Leroy had to deal with. Remaining composed, he continued to face the formidable man, whose claims would once again worm their way into his very brain. With each declaration, his temper began to disperse while his more rational side began taking over. This time, what the Commander said... made sense. Leroy could've and should've done more, but he still refused to believe that all the blame fell solely on him. "Sir, that was only because--" He'd actually attempt to cut the other man off, unable to bear the way he himself was being put in place, but the General pressed on, leaving Leroy with no choice but to snap his mouth shut and keep listening. He wouldn't budge an inch even as his commanding officer would step ever closer, jabbing a strong finger into his uniformed chest.

His prideful mind fought to devise various rebuttals to the statements presented. Couldn't work with the tools provided? He worked pretty damn well for what it was worth. Couldn't circuit on his own? He would have excelled if he was on his own! Strike up an alliance? Why would he have to, when they were supposed to be allies to begin with?! Couldn't see what behavior motivated his teammates? That... could have been a few things. He knew the horrors of war, knew it wasn't fair or pretty; he wasn't opposed to doing whatever it took to survive, or turning the tides in his favor, but he didn't think that was what today's practice was about--! His mouth opened to say as much, yet it would close again when the General wouldn't give him a chance. It was becoming clear... the two held very different views. Leroy may have been selfish, for sure; he always put his own interests first, wanting to reign at the very top, to be better than everybody else... and what was so wrong with that? Why should he stop? ...Because it clouded his mind? No way. He knew himself and his abilities. He had things he would and would not do, and he wasn't going to change his principles if it wasn't needed. He wasn't going to quit thinking of ways to prove himself either. His self-confidence wouldn't be broken, no matter what the General said, or how true the man's logic sounded to his ears. He'd hold onto his values, make them work, and wouldn't settle for anything less.

The final reasoning left no room for argument, though. This was a test, and whatever the other male was hoping for, Leroy failed to live up to those expectations. He could say whatever he wanted, deny the man as much as he wanted, but it really would just sound like faulty justifications on his part -- along with how he'd practically be confirming the General's words about him -- so he refrained. At the final command, he continued to stare at the larger man for a few moments, lips set in a straight line, unblinking, and right when it seemed like he either wasn't going to go through with the order, or reply with more defiance, he turned to face the group, "...I'm a failure." He halfheartedly uttered through grit teeth, as if not believing the phrase for what it was. 'But still better than the rest of you.' If he failed, that naturally meant everyone else must've failed too. They probably all just owned up to it already while he was lagging behind, by no fault of his own... or at least that's what he liked to tell himself. They all eyed him with silence, and he could almost guarantee he was being judged by every single one of them. But at least the General's voice of dismissal broke the discomfort in the atmosphere. "Yes, sir." Came Leroy's final, unenthusiastic reply.

***AN HOUR LATER***

The hour passed by, and he realized that most of the other soldiers seemed to avoid him. Fredrick and Magnus seemed to despise him, walking away whenever he so much as went near them, and the only two people who still bothered to linger around him were of course the very two he'd first spoken to, even if Zeke appeared more tense than usual. They spent a majority of their time trying to console him when he didn't want it, which made the duration spent with them a whole lot more troublesome than anything else. Now, Leroy had parted ways from the duo and was heading to the General's Quarters, bracing himself for what he felt was going to be another long-winded disquisition. The ground thudded lightly beneath him with each step of his boots -- boots that had been wiped down so that most of the previous dirt and grime were off. It wasn't too long until he reached his destination, and if the General's door was closed, he'd knock on it once before entering into the room. "Sir." He voiced out, just to make his presence known.
 
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The door was opened in a very slow and deliberate manner, setting the tone for the conversation that was about to happen. General Wolf didn't even bother telling the cadet to enter; he simply glared and motioned with the head rudely, indicating the seat that the Private should take. Jedrek closed the door and locked it, even though he knew that such an action was unnecessary - no one dared to question his methods, regardless of what he did to the people under his command.

"Before we begin, I advise you to stay quiet and listen until I order you to speak - you're hanging by a thread here, and if you dare even look at me wrong, I'll have you out of my regiment", preluded the Commander, unwilling to have his phrases cut short by an insubordinate underling.

"You have a lot to explain yourself for, Private. I do not admit, in any way, insubordination from the ones under my command. You fucked up, bad, by running your mouth and by questioning my methods, and now it's time for you to pay the consequence. I'm going to show you why I'm the one giving the orders, and not the other way around". A pair of strong hands clutched the front of Leroy's uniform, opening it completely and then throwing the piece of clothing to the floor. "You don't deserve to wear this. You're not man enough for that", he said as he stepped on the jacket slung on the floor, marring its appearance with powdery blotches of darkness.

Jedrek then grabbed hold of Leroy's hair, yanking it sharply and forcing the boy to look directly into his eyes. "I noticed you on the first day. You seemed to think you were so high and mighty; that you could be one day in my place. Pathetic. I am the youngest person in the story of this country's military to reach the rank of General. I have more awards that you and your companions will ever get in your military career combined", he said as he forcefully led Private Ryker's left hand to the area where his medals piled up, row by row, on top of each other. "I have overseen hundreds of successful campaigns, whereas my failures can be counted on the fingers of one hand. You're nothing compared to me; an ant trying to challenge a powerful, vicious wolf. Today you're going to learn how to respect me, and you'll never make the same mistake again."

The clutching against the hair intensified, causing Leroy's head to tilt backwards. Jedrek then released the hold, moving uncomfortably closer to the Private that sat in front of him. "Start worshipping the man in front of you and his uniform", demanded General Wolf as he leaned forward and placed the other hand of the soldier against the perfectly pressed pair of pants; the sudden motion causing his medals to strike against each other with a jingling sound.​
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Seeing the gesture, Leroy proceeded to sit in the seat. He didn't think anything of the door shutting and locking behind him, and before he could get a word in, the General suggested that he remain silent. Instantly, his expression would morph into one of dissatisfaction. Not only was he being ordered to stay quiet, but was he really going to get booted just for giving a certain look? He knew he had some explaining to do, which wasn't much of an issue on his part, but having hands suddenly on him, ripping his uniform open, alarmed him. "Wh--!" Instinctively, he grasped onto the general's wrist, his mind reeling with confusion, though it would calm itself down once the garment was ripped from his shoulders, fully exposing his well-toned torso and abdomen. His uniform top was then tossed onto the ground stomped on in the most unbearably insulting manner possible; the piece he always strove to keep presentable was defiled in front of his very eyes. Leroy could feel his blood begin to boil, and the rage was once again working its way into his eyes without his control.

Even as his hair was roughly gripped and yanked, his expression wouldn't change as he unwittingly glared into the other man's pupils. At the same time, his hand would be directed to the many medals being boasted about, while the bottom of his fingertips would brush against the cold, solid surface of the sparkling badges. 'Yeah, you've got a lot of medals now... but don't fucking act like you didn't start out on the bottom like everybody else!' He growled within the safety of his own mind, attempting to jerk his hand out of the other man's grip, not liking the way it was being handled in such a way. His action only seemed to result in having the fingers in his hair tighten, craning his head back at a disagreeable angle, and although he suppressed any sounds from escaping, his Adam's apple bobbled as he swallowed down his discomfort. Only once he was released did he notice that the General was yet again invading his personal space. His other hand would be grabbed and pressed to the man's pants, pushing up against the material, but before he could even begin to feel confused, the next orders followed--

"What? Why would I--" Those words left his lips without warning, although he quickly caught himself, thinking better against it. He'd spoken without permission too, but-- oh screw it... there couldn't be a more perfect time for him to talk. He just had to keep his anger in check, "Sir, I mean no disrespect, but I'm unable to see what doing that will accomplish. It will not affect my performance or my views in any way." He asserted bluntly, displaying signs of disobedience even now. He supposed the General just wanted him to show some respect, to make up for his former insubordination... although he had no idea what the guy was actually expecting of him. Well, if the commander insisted... "But your uniform and your achievements are unmatched, sir." ...Was that a good enough 'worship'? He didn't care if it wasn't. He didn't care if he didn't sound genuine. He'd again attempt to pry his hand back, while simultaneously leaning away from the other man who didn't seem to understand the concept of personal space. Leroy had never felt so unsettled before, and as much as he wanted to tell the other to back the fuck off already, he was sure that doing so would just work against him. The general might even step closer... if possible.
 
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The scenario that Jedrek was waiting for had been set at last. The General knew that his previous blows had taken a toll on the Private that was now sitting right in front of the man that commanded the whole military - now it was the time to finally strike to reap the fruits from his effort. Knowing that it would all boil to this very moment elated General Wolf to his core, whose anticipation was simmering to a very deep extent. He had never failed before, but the possibility was always present - and it was exactly that kind of risk and the thrill of getting the strongest to yield to him that fuelled the Commander's hunger for power and control. The knowledge that he was able to subvert a strong individual's personality to the point they'd serve him was just too strong to ignore.

A sudden motion was felt from Leroy's hand as the Private tried to pull the limb away from the strong grasp of the leader. Jedrek reacted by holding the man's palm in a steadfast way, forcing it back onto the same area of the uniform until the orders given were completed. The sudden motion caused the medals to move and slam against each other in a loud and sharp sound that filled the room. "I believe I was very clear in my orders, but I will make it easier for you to understand", spoke the Commander as he walked to his desk and extracted a sheet of paper that he had prepared in advance.

The header of the page made it clear that those words were orders for Leroy's dismissal.

"Now I believe that I have your attention. All I need is to sign this and you'll be on your merry way back home", stated General Wolf as he intently watched Private Ryker's face. "A flick of the pen and you can say goodbye to your dreams. You're never going to be a soldier as you've wished during your entire life. All of the tests, tasks, training, it will be for naught. Personally speaking, I think this is for the best. You are much more suited to be a civilian than a member of the Army", the man proceeded speaking as he waved the paper right in front of Leroy's face. "If you cannot follow a single order without questioning, this isn't the life for you. You're not here to see what my demands will accomplish. You're here to obey them - didn't you pay attention to your first fucking day here?". Jedrek exploded in a loud outburst, slamming the desk once as he made his question towards Leroy. "Answer, Private!", he demanded sharply, pure anger and hatred burning into his eyes.

But the scourning was far from over. "If you want to stay here, then you're going to have a last chance. I will let you stay, provided you follow every single order, no matter how little, that I give you. Fail to do that, and you're out. Consider your previous failures your 'two strikes' - give me a third one and you won't be here anymore."

At last, it seemed like everything was coming to an end; Jedrek would soon know whether his plan had succeeded or failed. The last part of the procedure required him to portray himself as a caring and concerned individual, which he intended to do by taking a less aggressive and abrasive personality. "Private Ryker, I am concerned about you. All I want is to make you great, but I cannot do that if you keep ignoring what I say. Working with the others, who are lacking in physical strength or dexterity, is easy; you, on the other hand, need to learn something that can only be taught through the means that I'm putting you under. I want to help you, but I cannot do anything if you insist on this pride of yours. You now need to choose between insisting in your old ways, or start forging a new path for yourself", stated Jedrek as he moved back to his original place, as close to the Private as possible.

"You must make your choice now."​
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Leroy's attempts to pull his hand back ended in failure as the other man kept a powerful grip, bringing the limb right back to the medals, where they'd clash against one another upon contact. With every move of Leroy's fingers, the melodic jingles resounded in his ears, reminding him that the General before his eyes was the exact man he himself wasn't -- just quite yet. 'I get it, you have a lot of awards... how long do you plan to keep showing them off?' He mentally questioned, getting more irritated by the second. It felt like the other male was practically rubbing it in his face, that he was so much better than him. But finally, the General would release his hand and walked over to his desk to lift up a sheet of paper that made Leroy's eyes widen somewhat. He recognized the header and he knew what it meant if the General ended up signing it. But... how the hell was that making things any clearer? All that served to do was make Leroy panic a bit internally, while still not understanding what the other man's previous orders were. Leroy thought he already complimented him, was that not enough? Or was it because he had talked back to him first? Hearing the man, that must've been the case -- it seemed the General was expecting absolute subservience from him.

His eyes flicked up to the other man's face, about to retaliate and defend himself against the decision to discharge him on a whim like this, but the General continued before he got a chance to. "Yes, sir." He answered when prompted. "But..." He'd open his mouth again to make his disapproval known, as if he either didn't actually hear what was said, or didn't care-- however, the next sentences admittedly surprised Leroy, and his mouth closed, silencing himself for an entirely different reason. 'Concerned about me?' If he had to be honest, he wasn't expecting the General to have been concerned about anyone or anything at all. If that was the case though, maybe Leroy had the wrong impression of him all along? Maybe the man really did just have everyone's best interests in mind? Leroy was now being given a choice, and he honestly didn't have to think long into it, but he frowned when he realized the General had once again closed in on him. Seriously, was that necessary?

Ignoring the close proximity of the other, he'd speak up once more, "I understand, sir." Sort of... but there wasn't anything else he could say. If he refused, that would be the end of it. His dreams... all he's worked for... he absolutely refused to be sent home! What would his parents think, hearing that he had been expelled because he wasn't cut out for being in the military? What would his entire hometown think? Even if they would be happy to have him back safe and sound, his pride would never allow him to live it down. "...But there is actually one thing I don't understand, sir. What is it that I need to learn, and what is it you want of me?" He couldn't help but ask. What was he lacking? What kind of training method would he be put under, where he'd end up becoming 'great'? Why couldn't he keep on his regular path, and what was the General hoping for? Leroy couldn't arrive at an answer no matter how much his brain fought to think of one, and he was hoping he wouldn't be given an answer like 'you have you figure it out for yourself' or 'it's resting deep within you', because as far as he was concerned, his adaptable ways allowed him to be more than cut out for pretty much anything.
 
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Jedrek looked deep into Leroy's eyes and spoke gravely. "You need to learn how to not get stuck into your own arrogance. I won't tell you how I will whip that out of you, but rest assured that there is always a lesson to be learnt with every request of mine", stated the Commander as he faced the Private.

But that was far from the truth. General Wolf controlled for the sake of controlling, and he employed whichever tool was at his disposal to get the desired results. His fake concern, albeit seemingly moving, was nothing but a pure fabrication to justify, into the Private's eyes, the reasons for the treatment that the man intended to dish to his recruit.

Jedrek was slowly, but assuredly, closing in on Leroy.

"Now go to sleep, Private Ryker. You've had enough for today, so rest a while and think about everything that was said today. You need to remember that your ass is on the line here - fail to comply and it's goodbye to your dreams. I'll be much, much more strict with you, to the point that no deviations shall be tolerated during exercises and orders, but I am sure that you'll be able to grow stronger from that", Jedrek affirmed as he appealed to Ryker's desire to be different from the rest of the crowd.

The man, however, had one final order to the Private. "Before you go, though, kneel down before me and thank me for giving this opportunity to you. This is the only way through which you can show me that you're going to do whatever is ordered from you, and that you put yourself into my hands to form you into a better man", he attested.​
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Stuck in his own arrogance? He didn't think he was, but... "Is that really an issue, sir? I know not to let it get the better of me in the line of battle." He combated, but he supposed he shouldn't argue too much. Despite his former thoughts of the General, it was an undeniable fact that the man did have more experience than him, and there must've been a good reason for why the man had the position he did. Plus, it did sound like he only had Leroy's best interests in mind. So, the Private would simply nod at the end of the explanation, "Understood." His answer was an obedient one, making it known that he'd go along with it. How hard could 'letting go of his pride' be, anyway? Even if he failed to do that, he could still easily make a show of acting like he did, right? He remained seated where he was, wondering if there would be anything else the General wanted to say, but he'd soon be allowed to leave.

Things surprisingly weren't as bad as Leroy thought. He wasn't yelled at or hit, nor was he given any real punishments, so aside from his uniform getting dirtied in the most infuriating way possible, he should consider himself lucky. Standing up without a word, he walked over to where the top half of his uniform rested and picked it up, the golden decorations hanging form the ribbons clinked together in a dainty chime as he shrugged it back on, buttoning it again while trying not to pay any mind to the powdery blots of dirt that now littered the fabric.

Right when he was about to salute and leave, the last command caused him to turn back to the other man. Oh, was that what the Commander wanted from the start? Leroy should've known. He didn't hesitate, but with an internal sigh, he lowered himself onto his knees, the little trinkets on his uniform clashing together as he did, and bowed his head, "Thank you for giving me this opportunity, sir. It's an honor." He went the extra mile to add the last part in, as if he was already sucking up to please the guy. Something so small shouldn't have felt this demeaning, and yet it did. Leroy had never been too good at humbling himself, but he hoped it was sufficient enough so that he could get back to his own Quarters to get some much needed sleep.

Thankfully, that did seem to be the case, and after giving one last salute to the other man, he left the room to head back to his own. When he arrived, his other peers were already getting comfortable, and they all turned their attention on him. "Hey Leroy, how'd it good? Are you being allowed to stay?" He heard Wyatt ask right off the bat, and seeing as how everyone seemed to be staring at him, he figured they were all curious. "Yeah, it was fine. He wasn't as bad as I thought he'd be." The response wasn't a lie; things really went smoothly, his uniform aside, but it didn't seem like anyone really noticed. "Man, that's kinda a relief." He heard Zeke chime in, but some other soldier would scoff, as if they were disappointed, and when Leroy turned to see who it was, he realized it was in the direction Fredrick and Magnus were in, and automatically assumed it was one of them.

He still held a grudge against them, and now he knew would be the very best time to confront them about their previous actions, but whenever he tried, the two seemed intent on ignoring him and wouldn't even look at him. Just as Leroy was heading over to the two, he was stopped by Wyatt who practically implored him not to start a fight... not that he was going to, but it seemed the other soldiers were getting nervous as well, so with a frown, he backed down. Starting a fight really would get him in trouble, and he had no further desire for that to happen. So instead he'd simply say, "Don't think you can get away with that again next time." He gave a stern warning, leaving it off at that. Once he was satisfied, he went over to his own bed where he'd sit down, and after every one did the same, Leroy would close his eyes and drift off to sleep without holding any further conversations.
 
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