Battle It Out

was their regular formation. Him first with Zane guarding his six, they’d worked that way for a year. All the times before came flooding back and it felt like home. Like a familiar hat one put on to keep the sun from scorching them alive.
Archer shot out every hallway light as they went upward. The man’s silencer gave a slight snick in the semi darkened hallway with the only visibility from the sky light above.
“Holden, guard the stairs here,” Zane said and Holden nodded, taking up position to guard their flank from that point.
Isaac moved upward with Zane close to his ass, so close that at one point, he could have sworn the man’s breath caressed the back of his neck.
Ahead of them, a slight figure, dressed in black from head to toe like some fucking ninja, darted out with a gun raised.
Isaac lifted his weapon, but Archer knocked his arm up and away.
“Don’t fucking shoot!” Archer snapped.
“I wasn’t going to!” he snarled back.
“You fuck!” Zane slammed Archer against the wall too fast for Isaac to do anything more than gape. It was a battle of sheer fucking power. Archer spun Zane against the wood, but Zane had more muscle and turned the tables.
Archer’s head cracked against the wall and the man gave a harsh grunt.
“Let him go or my next bullet will be in the back of your head,” a soft, calm voice said from the darkness and the muzzle of a gun was aimed at the back of Zane’s head.
Isaac lost his ability to fucking breathe. He brought his gun up and aimed it at the ninja guy.
“Everyone just calm the fuck down,” Zane growled.
“You first,” Ninja said.
Zane eased his grip on Archer and the man shoved away, straightening his shirt.
Ninja guy lowered his gun.
Isaac had a clear shot until Archer Hall stepped in front of his gun.
“Get out of the way,” he snapped.
“Your Master Sergeant just said to stay calm,” Archer pointed out.
“Easy,” Zane said, stepping closer to him and Archer.
Isaac gnashed his teeth and pulled his weapon up and away from Archer’s gut.
“He put a gun to the back of Sergeant Gannon’s head. I can’t let that go,” Isaac growled.
“It’s okay,” Zane rumbled.
“Don’t fucking say that,” he snapped. No, it fucking wasn’t okay! As far as he was concerned, Ninja guy should be thankful he was still fucking breathing.
“Who the fuck are these guys, Arch? I said to come alone,” the soft voice snapped.
“They showed up looking for me.”
“Why?” Ninja guy turned on him.
Isaac stepped forward, but Zane put a hand on his arm. For some reason, Zane was being abnormally quiet.
“Ease up, Colin. I don’t fucking know,” Archer said.
“Colin? As in Sergeant Colin Savage?” Isaac squinted.
“What of it?” Colin growled.
“You both live here?” He checked his phone and frowned. Colin was listed as living with his parents.
“We both have apartments here,” Archer said.
“We’re looking for you both,” Zane spoke up.
“It’ll have to wait Master Sergeant, we have a perp to catch,” Archer told Zane.
“Need some help?” Isaac gave Archer a cocky grin.
Zane snorted under his breath.
“Over it just like that?” Colin snorted.
“I’ve no reason to hold a grudge unless you want to give me one,” he said, stepping up to Colin, the man shorter and slighter.
“Take it easy,” Archer said, putting a hand on each of their chests and moving them back from each other.
Isaac smirked and through the dim light, he noted the returned smirk from Colin.
“Sure you’re up for it?” Isaac goaded the guy.
“Let’s do this,” Colin growled.
“We are so going down for this,” Zane muttered.
“Aww, come on, Zane, live a little.” He flashed their new Master Sergeant a grin in the dim hallway as he chambered a bullet and received a dark look for his effort.
“What’s the situation?” Zane asked Colin and Archer.
“We have two small children and their dead-beat dad barricaded in unit 312,” Colin said.
“Who lives there?” he said.
“I do,” Colin replied and disappeared into the shadows.
“Damnit, Colin, wait!” Archer hissed, charging after the guy.
Isaac launched up the stairs hot on Archer’s tail.
“Fuck,” Zane hissed, but his partner followed him into the fray.
Fuck yeah!
“Watch out, motherfuckers, here we come!” he cackled.
Zane snorted a laugh.

Zane
Subduing the man had been fairly easy with a team of Special Forces soldiers and the kids were safe with Colin’s sister. The small, cluttered apartment appeared cramped, but they seemed to be happy now that the dad was in police custody.
“Meet us at the base?” Colin said.
“We’ll be there.” He gave the pair of men an up nod as they passed him in the hallway on their way out.
Archer and Colin were nothing short of beasts and he could see why the colonel wanted them in the unit. Of course, they had to go through the final rounds and some facility training, but he suspected Liam would push that along in a hurry.
The rest of Infinity had gone back to the base, with Pia driving his jeep. He now stood in the hallway waiting for Isaac.
It had been a dick move to not take a ride from Isaac on the way there, but he feared his desire for the man would have been seen by the team. Now, he was glad he hadn’t taken that ride as it left him and Isaac alone.
He wanted a chance to talk to Isaac, to further clear the air while the man had his sense of humor. And maybe, just maybe, share that he’d kissed a man before. Just tell him you’re bi. Maybe, but he still couldn’t get that phrase past his tongue. How long would it take? Why the hell did he have to say it anyway? Saying it didn’t make it any truer than it already was.
He eased back against the wall and gazed up at the skylight. The cloud covered the small window, cutting off a good portion of the light.
“Ready?” Isaac caught his attention and he shoved from his lean.
Too late, he realized that Isaac was almost nose to