Ready Or Not...

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

"I cannot believe you!"
Madeleine rolled her eyes, pushing past Levi to go through the door. "You're starting to sound like a nagging wife, Levi."
He was outraged, even more so than she'd expected. "Maddie, you can't do this-"
"Don't call me Maddie," she snapped, taking out the key to the weapons store. It was 10 pm, and she'd given the Warriors a twenty minute break, and was waiting for them to meet up back here.
"Fine then, Madeleine," he said, placing a deliberate stress on the last syllable of her name as he followed her. "You can't do this without me-"
"I can, and I'm going to," she replied sweetly, lifting out her sword from the rack and sheathing it in her belt, before closing the door and going over to her bag where she had packed her armour.
Levi was looking mutinous. "You know I'm the best Warrior you've got, and you're allowing Ailith to go up front with you, and you're still keeping me at the back?"
"In a word? Yes."
"Why?!"
She lifted out her dagger in it's leather sheath and attached it to her belt. "Because I need someone to command the defence line. You know that. So why are you still wasting time and breath by arguing with me when you know it won't work?"
"Can't a guy hope?" he asked, starting to smile, before placing his arms around her waist. "Come on, Madeleine, please."
"Not going to work," she answered sharply, shuddering as his hands snaked around her waist. "I need you in defence."
"You need me in the front line," he corrected quietly in her ear.
"No, I don't," she said, trying to push him off. "Come on, get off me."
He just smiled. "You need me there," he retorted as he held her tighter to him.
"Levi, off! I need to sort this out."
"I have to be in front, Madeleine."
At this point, with his arms still around her, the five Spies, Ailith, Jude, Kira, Tameron and Lee walked in.
Madeleine jumped as though she'd been scalded, and Levi moved back automatically.
"You're early, great," she said to them, avoiding Lee's eye and trying not to blush. "Are you guys feeling ready for this?"

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee heard Jude swear darkly under his breath at the sight of Levi with his arms around Madeleine. Lee ducked his head, concealing his smile. What would Jude said if he knew about Lee's homecoming plans? He'd already sent a letter to Bethany about it; knowing full well she'd be overjoyed at the news. He'd skimmed over the finer details of this whole mess with Madeleine, and if you read his letter, you'd just think he was homesick.
More like school-sick.
And sick of seeing him wrapped around her, even after what he'd said to her.
Thank goodness for Jude, and their quiet rebellion. The thought at the look on Levi's face when he discovered Lee was out on the front line was almost worth whatever anger was directed at him by Madeleine.
Wasn't like it was gonna' hurt her, was it?
"Of course we're ready," Tameron, Jude's sister said happily, flexing her fingers. "Very ready."
"Think it would be too dramatic to drop from the sky, unpin a grenade and toss it their way with a call of, 'See ya'll in hell,'?" Jude grinned crookedly.
"No... not unless you called, 'yeeee-haw!' after," Lee managed a smirk.
"Oh," Jude said softly, his face brightening. "The possibilities..."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine chuckled. "And you're alright about staying in defence? I know you're all a bit peeved about it, but you have to see where I'm coming from. And it's not as if it's just you guys, I've got Warriors in defence as well. And I'll let a few past - I wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun."

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Kira smiled to herself. She loved this; she really did. Somehow or other, she felt really prepared for battle. In some ways... she almost felt like she wouldn't need to chanel Aunt Black. Maybe it was already there. In her blood...
"When are they coming? Midnight?" She was looking at Madeleine, but the question was really directed at Jude.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

"Midnight," Madeine confirmed. "I want to be out there long before that, though."
Though her body was outwardly serene, inside, she was fizzing like a bottle of Coca-Cola that had just been shaken. She was containing the urge to fight, containing the bloodlust for now, and the only clue that she was excited and raring to go was in her eyes.
Just like Shaun's.
The Warriors were now starting to flood in, and Madeleine turned to Ailith. "Are you ready, Ailith?"

[Ailith Rayner]

I wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun. What a strange thing to say, Ailith wondered to herself. She frowned slightly at this. Killing was not fun. Sure fighting and for a just cause is necessary and especially in defense it's vital. But when you've seen people die, no watched people die. Learned how to make sure every last light had left a persons body. Well, it sucked the fun right out of things. Ailith was doing this for justice and justice alone and she felt that if she stayed in defense she wouldn't be put to the best use that she could.
Madeleine turned to look at Ailith, "Are you ready Ailith?"
"As every spy should be." She smiled, "Are you going to talk tactics with us though?"

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

"Of course, but I'm not going to spend too long tonight, because we've gone through it all before. When everyone gets here, I'm going to run through it once, then I'm going to put you into your ranks and all that," she said, glancing back at Levi. "I know some people aren't happy about where they've been put, but I can't really help that."

[Jude Dorrian]

Nope, but I can.
It was a bit like a private joke, really. The four Spies in his little plot were quite enthusiastic about it. Jude was worried about his sister, of course he was, but he also knew she'd never let him away with not including her. She wanted to prove herself as much as anyone else.
She had guts- he admired that.
He would've quite happily included Ailith in it, but she seemed to be able to stand on her own two feet, and do things for herself. He kind of liked that about her- the fact that he hadn't had to swoop in like Prince Charming and save the day when she escaped, and now this whole 'front-line' thing. In fact, he really liked it about her; it earned her a lot of his respect.
So she had guts too- he loved that.
"That's alright, Madeleine," Jude said cheerfully. "At least we're in the battle. At least we're getting a shot at it."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine smiled warmly at him. "See, I knew I liked you for a reason."
It was good that they weren't flipping out about it... unlike the guy behind her.
"Madeleine," he said insistantly. "Can we talk about this? Please?"
She turned around to face Levi. "Look, I've made my decision," she replied in a low voice. "I know you don't like it, but you have to deal with it, okay?"

[Ailith Rayner]

Ailith looked at Levi. Levi looked back and visably sneered. She was tempted to stick out her tongue again but she didn't want him to lose his head just before battle so a small smile and raised eyebrows in his direction was enough. Well not quite ... that was a pretty vicious look. The sneer deepened and he opened his mouth when a laugh interrupted.
From somewhere behind Ailith, came, "Mate! Your fly!"
All eye's went down but Ailith's who looked at Jude.
"Thanks for the move. You taught me a lot." She winked.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

As Levi cursed colourfully, Madeleine went over to the whispering Ailith and Jude, fighting back a smile. "I'm not sure what one of you that was, but, eh, let's not do it again, okay?"

[Jude Dorrian]

Jude winked cheekily at Madeleine.
"Maybe it can be reserved for very special occasions?"

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine couldn't help but laugh. "Any time that's not just before a battle, hows that?"

[Jude Dorrian]

Jude flashed her the boyish grin he knew he had not quite yet lost. "Aww, gee, miss. That's awful kind of y'all."
Oh, it slipped it again...

[Ailith Rayner]

Y'all, ha ha, I love it.