spartan051 | (no subject)

"God is dead."

It's a useless dismissal, but Matt makes it anyway. He's stopped believing in higher powers. Religion was supposedly what drove the Covenant to do this to them. Granted, Matt would still exist without that, because the Insurrection was why they were made.

War on humans. Who knew what would happen with that afterward.

"Only SPARTANs to be afraid of these days."

"It's a turn of phrase only, Matt." Kurt snorted, mildly bemused his brother had such strong convictions when it came to religion. Like the rest of the II's he'd been raised without any hint of a religion and he was a staunch atheist as well but he didn't feel the need to go around proclaiming "God" was dead.

"Especially if you are the Covenant."

Maybe that was how he was raised, but there was a lot Matt had experienced since then. And humans that still held to religion were a bit maddening. There was nothing out there to save them. Just themselves.

"Especially then," Matt agrees. Finished with his food he rises to his feet. Time to get a bit of a workout in before heading off to sleep. Probably a run. He could really use a run. A real run.

Kurt understood why they still clung to their beliefs and hopes for a merciful god, because it brought them hope, the promise of a better tomorrow. And in times of peril, humanity craved hope to help get them through the day. But he also knew that wishing for hope was a pretty useless activity when you could be doing something.

"What are your plans for the evening?" He asked his brother as he got to his feet. Kurt recognized that vaguely restless energy that practically radiated from Matt.

"Run," Matt smiles, and he looks so pleased at the idea. "I haven't been able to run in years. Getting to build up my strength, my speed, getting to be what I am is pretty high up there on my priorities."

There is a lot to be said for the ability to de-stress that comes with just... running. Almost understood Kelly more now.

"Mind some company?" Considering Kurt only had paperwork to look forward to, he would happily put that off for the chance to get out and stretch his proverbial legs. Especially since Mendez was taking point on Matt's suggestion of mixing up the Gamma teams.

Well, that gets an even wider smile. Sure, if he can lure the CO off of his duties to instead go running, he's down for that.

"Track or cross-country?"

The paperwork would be there when he got back. It always was. That was one of his least favorite part about being in command but it was a necessary evil unfortunately.

"You said you wanted to stretch your legs, right? Can't really do that running on a track." Of course, it was beginning to head towards sundown so maybe running around in the jungle wasn't the best idea but they'd done far worse in training.

Really? They're SPARTANs, Kurt. Their night vision is beyond natural. They'll be fine.

"Gonna change?" Matt asks, gesturing to what Kurt's wearing. Clearly not suitable for a workout, unlike Maine. He's still in fatigues. Maybe he'll even go grab one of the heavy packs just to make it feel right.

"No I thought I'd go traipsing through the jungle in my BDU's." Kurt quipped a little sarcastically before climbing to his feet.

"Meet me at the gates in ten minutes."

"I mean, they're not not suited," Matt laughs. But they aren't appropriate either, not for a light run. He nods and throws off the sloppiest salute ever. It's more of a casual nod at the rank between them, because in any official situation before this he'd given the crispest salutes ever. Proper salutes, like were beaten into them.

"Don't be late. I'll start without you."

"And if you're late, I'll start without you." He snarked over his shoulder and left the mess hall in a different direction.

But true to his word he was there at the gates ten minutes later dressed in PT gear looking looser than Matt was probably used to seeing. Maybe because he'd shouldered off responsibility even for a few minutes?

Why would Matt be late, he just has to head straight over there. He was waiting for Kurt with three minutes to spare, even with water bottles. He does look a bit more relaxed and Matt smiles at that.

"So, Kurt, how far you willing to go?"

Because right now, it's just brothers, not his CO, so he's going to use names.

"As far as you go, brother. I might be an officer these days but I'm not a desk jockey." Like all Spartans, Kurt was at the peak of human physical perfection and he hadn't allowed himself to go to seed in the past two decades.

"Prove it," Matt challenged before setting off. Like he's going to do a 'ready, set, go'. By being here he's clearly read. He's clearly set. He's clearly going to go.

"Oh, you're on. But we both know I always beat you in endurance trials thanks to that fat ass of yours." Kurt teased as he set out after Matt in an easy lope.

"That was then," Maine counters. "You've been a desk jockey, and I've been out there. Maybe you can't keep up anymore."

Still, he doesn't bother for speed. That easy lope was everything they were trained in.

"A desk jockey!? How dare you! I'm going to make you eat those words, Matthew." Kurt said with mock outrage while trotting out his brother's full name to demonstrate his displeasure.

"I don't know, Kurthias," he jokes, because Kurt isn't even short for anything, and at this point Matt doesn't even remember if his name really was Matthew at any point. "When was the last time you went for a run?"

"That's not even my name." Kurt rolled his eyes heavenward in feigned disgust. "I train every morning, stop implying I'm some REMF desk jockey."

Matt chuckles as he keeps pace easily with Kurt. Jogs easily next to his brother and doesn't have any issues easily leaping over the uneven parts of the ground. And then he keeps going, speeding up as he runs. Because he wants to stretch his legs.

The further they got from Currahee the thicker the jungle became. Huge, towering banyan trees arched overhead and the canopies nearly obscured the night sky in places. By now, they only had the thinnest of moonlight to navigate with.

Eventually, they ended up along the banks of Twin Forks River where the water ran swift and icy cold. Visibility was a little better here but the footing was more treacherous thanks to both the exposed roots of the trees and the eroded areas of the river bank. "Mind your step, you wouldn't want to fall into the water."

Honestly, considering how hot and humid the night air was, maybe he wouldn't.

"Not going to," Matt shrugs as he easily dodges the roots. "If it's the water you're worried about, go in and test it just to see if I can handle it."

Not going to push at all, though. Because as funny as it would be to shove Kurt into the water, he knows the guy is more nimble than him. It would mostly end up with Matt in the water.

"Don't need to, I know how cold that water is." He'd had to dive in to rescue one of the Alphas because apparently he'd grown up at the edge of a desert and hadn't known how to swim very well.

It was probably one of Matt's better ideas because Kurt could fight downright dirty if the situation called for it, something Matt had figured out first hand during training.

Still... After a few more lengths Matt starts to slow. Slows to consider the water flowing beside them. And finally he comes to a stop.

"I haven't seen a river since we were young. Or anything on the scale. Trees haven't been for a while too. I've had nearly only urban engagements. All of this..."

He shakes his head. "I could see it. All those books people write about nature? I can see the appeal I think."