Monthly Bonus #2 - Summer Scenario Special - Unit Foxtrot & Farah (Patreon)

It’s a little cliché to say, but there’s so much to love about summer at the beach.

The salty splash of the sea on my legs, the crisp heat of the summer-soaked air, the happy laughter of everyone enjoying themselves, the intense whipping rush of the volleyball skimming past my face at a breakneck speed that could have taken my head off.

Well, maybe not so much that last one.

“Oh shit! Totally my bad!” Styliana yells, holding up a hand in apology from the other side of the net.

Farah rushes to my side. “Are you ok?”

“I think I just saw my life flash before my eyes. But yeah, I’m good,” I reply, nodding at Styliana, who gives a thumbs up.

It’s not exactly a surprise she managed to wallop the ball like a torpedo. I’m not sure what her veil makes her look like to others, but with my mutation meaning I don’t see any veil, she still looks like the Titan she is to me.

Looming at nearly seven feet tall, her red, strappy bikini is filled to the brim with a dominating, muscled figure. Waves of strawberry blonde hair reach her lower back, swaying in the wind and draping around her oval face. She looks like a Greek statue brought to life, with shapely lips, large eyes, and a slightly curved nose. Even her skin is the hue of cream marble.

“You’d think having lived for centuries, you’d have your strength under control, Lia. Are you sure you’re ok?” the woman next to her calls, cupping her hands around her mouth, but her voice booming across the sandy court even without it.

I give a small wave and a nod. “I’m sure.”

The woman, the commanding agent of the team, Zarina, gives me a quick examination with a flash of her hazel-green eyes before being satisfied.

During my brief time working with the team, I’ve interacted with the Amazon the least. But even for that short period, there was no doubting her competence to lead. She stands only a foot shorter than Lia (Styliana’s preferred name) but is much more lithe and athletic in build.

She wears her incredibly long black hair in a thick braid down her back, the tassel of it almost coming to the back of her knees. Small pebbles and decorations are woven into it with coloured threads. Having her hair tied back shows off the wide features of her face to full effect as she gazes about the space to check on the others of her team as well.

A lot less of her skin is on show compared to Lia, the commanding agent preferring leggings and a tank top, which only really leaves her sandy brown arms on display.

Farah goes to grab the ball, throwing it over to the one agent of Unit Foxtrot who ended up on our team, Teshub.

The imposing man catches it with ease between his gargantuan hands. Being the other Titan on the team—though he disputes if that category truly fits considering he’s not a true ‘Titan’—he’s just as imposing as Lia. He matches the woman’s height and stature, the two of them like walls of rippling muscle.

He has a rich brown complexion, with straight black hair styled back from his face and a well-groomed beard that highlights the chiselled sharpness of his jaw and cheekbones, which matches the intensely carved abs of his torso on display, his board shorts slung low on his hips.

He meets my gaze with his deep brown eyes and offers out the ball. “Did you want get some revenge?”

“No revenge. Just play,” Zarina cuts in, bending her knees and grounding her feet into the sand in preparation. “We get little enough downtime as it is. Let’s not ruin this.”

Teshub blows out his cheeks before nodding. “Alright.” He then makes to throw the ball into the air to serve when someone interrupts the moment.

“Ice creams!” the approaching man calls. Unlike the team he handles, this man is definitely human.

The team’s handler approaches with a broad smile, adding crinkles to the unpigmented patches around his eyes, and carries a tray laden with small paper cups of whipped ice cream.

“Oh nice!” Farah calls, her eyes glimmering as she leaves the court and makes a beeline for the dessert. “Thanks, Vince.”

“No problem,” Vince replies, balancing the tray with a wobble on one hand as he passes a cup to Farah.

Zarina throws up a hand with a grunt. “I thought we were playing volleyball?”

“There are other ways to relax,” Lia calls over her shoulder as she makes her way to the ice cream.

Zarina huffs and trudges closer. “I suppose.”

Unit Foxtrot have been down a team member for a while—I’m not sure why. It didn’t seem polite to ask after Farah mentioned only being a team of three brought a cloud of tension—so Vince, their handler, has been filling in when he can.

After handing out the treats, Vince flops down into the beach chair near the court with a grunt. “Oof, I’m getting too old to keep coming out on mission with you all.”

Teshub nods, licking a dribble of ice cream from the wooden spoon. “Yes. You are.”

“Wow,” Vince replies in a monotone voice. “Thanks for softening the blow.”

The Titan winces. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just—”

“I know. You’re worried about me,” Vince replies with a laugh, leaning forward to pat Teshub on the arm.

“That’s where you’re more useful,” Lia comments, stabbing her spoon into the scoop of ice cream, digging it up as one whole thing and then devouring it in a single gulp. She grimaces and shudders at the apparent brain freeze. I didn’t even know supernaturals could get brain freeze.

“What do you mean?” Farah asks, blinking as she looks around the group. It’s been interesting working with another team. It took me a while to get used to how differently they work and coordinate from Unit Bravo. But the most amazing thing has been seeing how easily Farah adapted. It barely took her five minutes before she blended in with the unit as though she’d always been working with them.

“Vince is the only handler we’ve had that can translate what Teshub actually means half of the time,” she replies. It’s hard to tell if that’s an insult or compliment to either Vince or Teshub.

The handler swipes a hand over his shorn grey hair, the symmetrical spots of unpigmented patches also on his hands and arms, spreading across his brown skin beneath his glaringly pink Hawaiian shirt.

“What are you all going to do when I retire?” he jokes with a chuckle.

Zarina glares at him. “You’re not.”

He chokes on a breath. “Do you really think I can keep up with you all for much longer?”

“You have to,” Lia replies, blinking. “I’ve just gotten used to you.”

“How long have you been their handler?” I ask as I enjoy the dessert, even as it melts annoyingly fast in the beating sun.

Vince taps his lips. “Twenty-ish years?”

My eyes snap wide. “Wow.” I look to Lia. “And you’ve only just gotten used to him?”

She snorts before smiling. “I forget how short a human’s view of time is.”

I return to focusing on my ice cream, suddenly more determined than ever to enjoy every moment.