Half-truths

The captain orders a sergeant to supervise the rest of the cadets’ training and then gruffly tells Mika to follow him.

“Before we get the papers in order, you’ll need medical attention”, he says as he leads the way across the courtyard.

“With all due respect sir, I can patch myself up just fine”, Mika protests, not keen on a stranger prodding at him.

“You will address me as Captain Havoc and nothing else, cadet”, the captain says, seeming to ignore the rest of Mika’s objection.

“That is an intense surname Captain, did you choose it yourself?” Mika quips.

“You have an awful lot of energy for someone who was just stabbed.”

“Oh this little scratch? Please, you’d need to do better than this to shut me up.” Havoc slows down to send a pointed glare at Mika. “Captain Havoc”, Mika adds hastily, which Havoc answers with a sigh. Then the dangerous glint from earlier returns.

“If I didn’t know better, cadet, I would have said that you seem scared of going to the school nurse.”

Mika bristles at the accusation. Havoc picks up the speed again, forcing Mika to take a few long strides to catch up, making his wound burn.

“Well it’s a good thing you do know better, Captain Havoc”, he bites out through the pain, but Havoc’s smirk only widens.

“I mean it would be ridiculous. A kid who is probably barely of legal age–”

“I’m nineteen!”

“–walks into the only paramilitary division in the whole university with illegal weapon shielding trousers–”

“I uh, I can explain–”

“–and accuses the university of corruption–”

“Oh come on–”

“–and after all of that has the gall to not address his superior officer correctly, even though he is the sole reason that the kid is not being charged for trespassing and assault, and that very brat turns out to be afraid of the university’s beloved school nurses.”

During Havoc’s derisive sermon, they enter a smaller brick building a few minutes from the Special Corps’ training grounds, where a desk with a stern woman with her grey hair in a tight bun greets them.

“Captain Havoc, one week into the semester and there’s already casualties?” she admonishes.

“Apologies madam Boyd, you know how lively new recruits can be”, Havoc answers warmly. Boyd only tuts in response and gives Mika a single acidly look before her frown deepens even further.

“I knew these street kids would be more trouble than it’s worth”, she mutters, the look of disdain plain on her face. “I will see if a nurse is available.”

“Thank you madam”, Havoc says. With a last tut, she disappears into a corridor, pointedly closing the door after her.

“I am not afraid of school nurses” Mika grumbles as soon as they’re alone. Havoc raises an eyebrow at him and Mika resists the urge to roll his eyes. “Captain Havoc.”

“Lovely, then you will not mind them stitching you up.”

“Madam Boyd sure didn’t look excited about it.”

“Madam Boyd has been Head Nurse Collins’ receptionist since before you were born cadet, she knows an attitude problem when she sees it.”

As much as Mika would love to continue bickering, the events of the last hour are starting to catch up to him. His limbs are heavy like lead, his right wrist is starting to swell and the cut on his abdomen is still dutifully bleeding through his fingers. It’s not very deep, no doubt because the captain restrained himself at the last second, but it stings all the same.

Moreover, now that the adrenaline is finally starting to settle, Havoc’s words from a few minutes prior are starting to sink in. Mika was convinced that his skills in swordplay would compensate for literally everything else that he lacks, but he forgot one important detail: the rich value subordination.

And Mika has a tendency to spit authority in the face.

Before he can figure out how he’s going to rectify his many snippy remarks, the door to the corridor opens.

“Nurse Collins can see you know.”

After meeting Boyd, or rather after being almost thoroughly corroded by her acidly gaze, Mika is quietly dreading facing the nurse. She is waiting for them in a small room with a simple bed and a few cupboards.

“Boys”, she greets warmly, gesturing towards the bed. “Let’s take a look at that nasty gash you’ve got.”

Mika is stiff and wary during the whole ordeal, determinedly fixing his gaze at his feet while she treats his wound. Nurse Collins works swiftly, only breaking the silence to gently inform him of the next step. “Prepare for a proper sting, I’m gonna close up your wound now, only one more stitch to go, what a solemn bloke you are.” All the while, Havoc stands by the window, seemingly content with looking at the buzz of people.

“Don’t worry about Havoc dear, he will not berate you for wincing”, she says, wiping disinfectant on the myriad of cuts on the rest of his body.

“It doesn’t hurt ma’am”, Mika replies, keeping his voice carefully even. Havoc gives him a doubtful look, which he pointedly ignores.

“Rejoice, he speaks”, Nurse Collins answers drily, pulling his bandages a tad tighter than necessary, causing Mika to blink hard with pain. “And call me Nurse Collins, people calling me ma’am makes me feel old.”

But you are old, Mika wants to point out, but he doesn’t actually have a death wish, so he opts to keep inspecting his shoes like they are a fascinating art piece.

“There, all done”, she says after some more moments of purposeful wiping and pulling, beloved school nurses his arse. “I’ll bring the paperwork and then you will be free to go. Name?”

“Mika”, he answers. Nurse Collins raises an eyebrow.

“That your family name dear?”

“No, I don’t have one. It’s just Mika.”

“You may put Doe as his last name”, Havoc gracefully interjects, making Mika frown.

“Rank?”

“Undecided.” Havoc says this part with a sweet poison that causes a chill to go up Mika’s spine.

“My, isn’t this shaping up to be an exciting day”, Nurse Collins comments. “I will leave the paperwork at Madam Boyd’s desk and you can fill it out once matters are more… decided.”

“Thank you.”

She simply waves at him noncommittally, giving Mika’s cheek a pat before heading out. Mika barely registers it, his mind occupied with revising his game plan. When the door shuts in front of them, he chances a quick glance at Havoc. He is still facing the door with a smile on his face, a terrifying one that is accompanied with narrow and sharp eyes.

Shit.

When Havoc turns to look at him, Mika straightens, ignoring the protests of his battered body.

“Any reason that you don’t have a family name to give, cadet?” he asks.

Mika considers telling him the story he intended. He thinks of home. He thinks of the duel. He thinks of all the disgusted looks that followed him right into the nurse’s office.

He thinks of why he came here.

In defeat, he sighs, avoiding the captain’s piercing stare. No time for pride.

“I was going to tell you that I’m running away from my awful foster parents downtown who want nothing to do with me.”

“But?”

“...But that would be a lie. I’m from an orphanage in the suburbs.” The suburbs is the area between downtown and the slums, separating the two with its rundown buildings before devolving into shacks made with corrugated steel. It is for people down on their luck, those who still can choose between having their lights on or dinner at the table, compared to the people of the slums who can choose neither. It is also the place that demands most of the Constabulary’s resources due to its high crime rate.

Not that it is worse than the depravity of the slums. But the Constabulary abandoned that particular eyesore a long time ago.

“That is not an issue, cadet”, Havoc responds, eyes quizzical.

“It houses bastards.” Mika carefully watches Havoc’s face, watching as realisation widens his eyes and smooths the hard lines. Being a bastard in an orphanage usually means that you’re a walking target, hiding from the public eye to avoid assassination from better off families not keen on any claims to their inheritance. Normally, such children end up on the streets, no one daring to take them in. Mika’s orphanage isn't one of them. “I can’t risk making the address public.”

“Why did you come here, cadet?” Havoc sounds more curious than stern now. Mentioning children at fatal risk usually mellows people.

“We’ve been getting threats, and I need to protect them”, he says simply.

“That is an issue for the Constabulary.”

“You think we haven’t tried asking for their help?” Mika laughs humourlessly. “They won’t lift a finger as long as we are protecting bastard children.” They care more about the fathers who want to keep those bastards a secret, is what goes unsaid between them.

Havoc seems to hesitate.

“I’m aware of the flaws of our police force. Special Corps is endeavouring to fight corruption within the organisation; if you give us the case, we will protect you.”

“Captain Havoc”, Mika begins, trying not to snap at the naivety of that statement. “While I appreciate the sentiment, I’m not telling you because I trust you. I’m telling you so you won’t go back on your promise and kick me out.”

Havoc blinks, seemingly reverting to seeing him as a rude cadet rather than a resident in need. Mika suppresses a smile at the jarring difference.

“Look, I’m sorry for being a git Captain, and I know I haven’t given you much of a reason to take me in. But this is the only shot I have of keeping them safe. Being in the Special Corps will give me the authority to tell the arseholes to bugger off. And before you say that you lot can take care of it”, he says when Havoc makes an effort to interrupt him, “I don’t trust constables in the slightest. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you seem like a good man, but all it takes is one corrupt officer to sentence them to death.”

Mika sighs again and runs his hand through his frizzy hair.

“Please Captain, I’m all they’ve got. Give me a chance.”

Havoc considers him, letting his grey eyes fall to the floor while he ponders. Mika tries to keep his breath even. He hadn’t wanted to mention the orphanage at all but he can tell that the captain wouldn’t have accepted the flimsy lie that he had prepared, and he can’t risk getting kicked out because he is a sarcastic moron. Besides, pulling at people’s heartstrings pays off if they are noble, and everything thus far suggests that Captain Havoc is one of those honourable, naive people who had grown up sheltered from the gritty reality of human nature; officer of the law or not.

“What makes you think I don’t intend to follow through with our deal?” The question is unexpected. Mika’s eyes widen in incredulity in the face of it.

“If we ignore the fact that you heavily implied it earlier, you virtually have no reason to”, he answers.

“I’m sorry that the Royal Constabulary has failed you, cadet Doe”, Havoc says with such genuineness that Mika struggles to keep his face blank. “But I am not your enemy. I don't strike deals on impulse and I don't have a habit of threatening people to get my way. You will do well to remember that, if you wish to enrol here.”

Mika purses his lips.

“Yes, Captain Havoc.”

“And I wish it weren’t so, but you will not have an easy time here, as someone from the lower class.”

Mika chuckles a bit.

“Trust me Captain, I’m aware.”

“Good, because people will look for chances to berate you, punish you and even expel you.” Havoc’s eyes are hard. “Don’t give them the pleasure of proving their bigotry right.”

Mika is once again surprised by the captain’s earnestness.

“I’m starting to think that you took me in as an elaborate scheme to give your colleagues hell.”

Havoc smirks a bit at that, though his face twists into exasperation.

“That is the opposite of what I just said, cadet Doe.”

“No no, point taken. I will keep in line and use my wit to insult them without getting into trouble.”

“That attitude is not going to serve you well here.”

“You can take a street rat off the streets Captain, but you can’t take the street out of the street rat.”

“You are insufferable”, Havoc sighs and Mika tries not to respond with a grin.

“I really appreciate this, Captain Havoc. I won’t waste this opportunity”, he says, trying to mimic the earnest tone the captain had used before. Havoc doesn’t seem nearly as taken by it as Mika had been.

“Alright Doe, come with me to the office to sort out the paperwork before I change my mind.”

“Ugh, I don’t like that name, it makes me seem like a maiden.”

"What?"

"You know, doe-eyed."

“Then you should’ve come up with a false one. Besides, it’s the common surname given to the parentless.”

“Yeah well, you can talk, your last name is Havoc. Why can’t orphans and unidentified bodies get a cracking name like that? Sounds fabricated enough.”

“Do me a favour and shut your trap, cadet Doe.”

They pick up the paper recording Mika's visit to the nurse's office and start walking to Havoc's office in silence. Mika is relieved that he managed to get this far. He hadn't been thinking really, when he had seen the poster for the Open Training for Cadets program. Two years he had waited for an opportunity to covertly pursue his target, a way in that wasn't bound to get him killed before he could achieve his goal. The poster had been his chance, not because of the program itself, but because for one glorious day, the doors to the Royal Constabulary University would be open. 

Now, he is inside, with a righteous captain as an ally. Well, maybe not an ally, but Havoc would at the very least try to keep Mika inside these walls. A better person would feel bad for fooling the captain, but Mika can't afford to lose this opportunity, and he sure as hell can't be truthful about his objective. 

The road to revenge is perilous, and Mika won't risk anything to jeopardise obtaining it.