fandomhigh | Unconventional Tactics, Tuesday, Period 2

"Yo, Rookies!" If Reno looked a little less mellow than usual, that was totally the imagination of everyone in the class. If he looked like he'd done up a few more buttons than usual on his shirt, too? Well, that much wasn't. Even Reno could respect when it was really freaking awkward to go around half-dressed in front of students who were practically his own age. "We've covered all kinds of fun fightin' crap already, and healin' and all of that, yo. So today we're gonna expand a little on that barricade thing we did the other week, and go into defenses as a whole."

Insert thoughtful pause while Reno struggles not to make a horribly off-color crack about 'protection,' here.

"In the sim where we we set up that barricade and faced off against them griffins, we were really just stratchin' the surface, yo. There are plenty of ways to keep invaders out, beyond just pilin' things up. It's true, some of the best-fortified places have way more time to set up those defenses than we do, yo. Can we really be expected to-" he choked on the word 'erect,' "set up a wall around the whole island or whatever? But there are things we can do. I know my girl Rikku's got experience with puttin' together patrol droids, which ain't a bad first step. Knowin' there's an enemy on the way and gatherin' info about 'em early on is a big help on the way to fendin' them off."

Deep breath. Press onward, Reno!

"Makin' yourself ha-difficult to find is another important step. Camo, magic or tech-based sight-shields, findin' your way into convenient little hidey-holes, they're all gonna save your ass when the heat is on, yo. And then, of course, comes the barricade stuff. The point ain't always to pile so much junk so high that it'll take 'em forever to get in. That kinda strategy don't work against an aerial enemy, does it? But the same idea applies, whether you're layin' out mines, electric fences, or lightin' your barricade on fire for one major last stand."

Okay! He was in the home stretch now! He could do this!

"Discussion class today, yo. Knowin' as much as you do about the island, how would you go about protectin' what you got? Where do your own strengths sit? Talk about what it is you can contribute to fortifyin' the island if somethin' big hits, whether it's early-warning, finding a place to hunker down that'll give you a tactical advantage, or just keepin' shit out."

[Open!]

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And see, now Tara had to squint and lean in to get that, and leaning in brought her that much closer to Kennedy, and ... it was weirdly warm in the classroom today, wasn't it?

"Missed you," she whispered back. Because a long weekend away together wasn't nearly enough.

It was a little warm, wasn't it? Kind of nice, though.

"It's been way too long," Kennedy answered in a low voice-- the hell with whispering. Even if it had been just a couple of days; that was practically forever.

Did she realize she was trying to scoot a little closer? Not really. Did she think it was a bad thing? More like a necessary one.

And if she scooted, Tara was going to have to scoot, until she could almost reach out and --

Bad thought. bad.

"We're supposed to be paying attention," she said, a little laugh in her breathy, soft voice.

But that bad thought seemed so appealing right now, and the sound of Tara's voice wasn't making it any less appealing.

"I am," answered Kennedy, her own voice a little bit husky. "I am so paying attention."

In her defense, Tara hadn't specified that she didn't mean paying attention to her.

"I'm not Professor Reno," Tara protested, in a tone that suggested she didn't exactly mind the attention.

"Thank God," Kennedy replied, pointedly looking Tara up and down as if she just had to make extra sure. "'cause no offense to him, but he doesn't get to be in my inappropriate thoughts."

"He has nice hair," Tara blurted, distracted by a glance at the teacher out of the corner of her eye. There was just something about redheads...

Though his was nowhere near as interesting as Kennedy's dark hair, really. "But it's good I'm in your inappropriate thoughts, 'cause you're in mine."

Oh, god, had she really just said that in the middle of class? Really?

"He kinda does," agreed Kennedy, who was on board with her about that redhead thing. Oddly.

...you so totally had just said that in the middle of class, Tara.

Kennedy, sadly, didn't think this was a bad thing. "Kinda hope I would be in 'em-- is it weird if I think it's hot that you just said that?" she asked, even more incorrigible than normal.

"Kennedy!" Tara squeaked in a whisper, more shocked at herself than at her girlfriend. "Um ... no. It's -- k-kind of hto to know you think I'm hot."

"Duh, I think you're hot," Kennedy practically purred-- whoa there on the outright seductive thing, Kenn. "Am I gonna have to remind you? Again?"

Tara was playing with her hair now, and grinning like an idiot. Raven was probably getting a nice free show at this point. "Come find me after reserves," she whispered. "I l-like being reminded."

Damn. They could've charged admission.

"Mmm, you ask me like that, I can't turn it down. Should I shower before or after I get there?"

The sad thing was that Kennedy would've asked the question, with the exact same suggestive implication, regardless of any outside influence. Just... maybe not quite as overtly.

Tara was pretty sure she was going to hell. Or detention.

Possibly both.

"After," she breathed. "So ... we can go together."

Maybe they were both going to hell. Kennedy was pretty sure it felt like the opposite at the moment.

She leaned in closer, just enough to give Tara a teasing grin. "Best. Field trip. Ever."

"Definitely," Tara agreed, forcing herself to stay where she was.

It wouldn't do to start kissing Kennedy in the middle of class. She'd have to keep that set of naughty thoughts in her head for now.

About the only thing that was keeping Kennedy from jumping on Tara right there was the less than appealing prospect of getting a bucket of cold water thrown on them, or something, and she wouldn't put it past someone in the room to do it.

Telling herself very firmly that sometimes a little anticipation made things even better, she shoved her hands into her pockets and slid down a little further in her seat, just grinning. A whole hell of a lot.

Unconventional Tactics, Tuesday, Period 2

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