It was still early when Aaron shook Austin awake; the Sun had barely risen past the eastern wall enough to light up the sky and the Gates hadn't yet opened. As he wiped the sleep out of his eyes, Aaron just stood watching Austin, the usual amusement and what looked like intrigue evident in his eyes. Austin had not spotted everyone, like the other Overseers or Gatherers, though he had spotted a few Wipers cleaning the Showers, and, judging from the smells of bacon and eggs in the morning air, the Preppers were in the Oakhouse readying breakfast for everyone. But mostly everyone he had seen were Scouts, who were up, preparing for their journey into the Labyrinth, packing snacks, lunches and other supplies in their packs.
When Austin groggily asked Aaron why he and the other scouts got up this early, he just huffed and grunted "Ya know what they say 'bout the early bird, yeah." it wasn't a question. Austin would've asked the composter why he was being so vague, but someone behind Aaron caught his attention: Wearing the same outfit as the day before, Reya stood by a usual-scowled-faced Ceasar and a normally tired-and-disinterested-looking Alyssa, all three overseers evidently deep in conversation about…something.
Austin couldn't help but wonder what those two were talking about for some reason. He had hoped it wasn't him… Or did he? Were they even talking about him? If so, what were they discussing? Given the fact that Caesar was involved, it was probably something bad, but, since Reya was in it as well, Austin was certainly hoping it wasn't anything bad about him.
"Don' worry 'bout them," Aaron had caught to the trajectory of Austin's gaze. "When I came to wake you up, they weren't arguing about ya yet; I doubt they'd do so in my absence. Besides, Reya can handle herself in any situation, especially putting those two in their place."
"But Alyssa doesn't even seem to want to be there in the first place," Austin found himself blurting out, as he studied the uncomfortable-looking third-wheel in the argument.
"That compost dump," Aaron said back. "She may not be in the argument, but everyone knows that she'll literally follow Caesar to hell, if she can get his attention for just some of the ride there."
"What, why?" Austin found himself looking to Aaron finally breaking his stare from the argument for a moment, before returning gaze back to it.
Aaron just shrugged. "Love does weird things to people, newbie."
As Austin observed them, he found himself studying their body language, despite not really consciously aware of doing it; kind of like a habit, or muscle memory embedded into his very being, or mind. Then again, having habits was one thing; being unsure of how one got them and just how sharp the habit is was another thing; it suggests that either he was a prodigy at it, or he's done many, many times over before waking up in that chamber the first time, all that time ago.
Nevertheless, Austin watched the conversation escalate; the trio stood near the Great Oak's base. Alyssa looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there, and, honestly, Austin didn't find himself blaming her; Reya and Caesar's argument was visibly disturbing, with Caesar flailing his arms with balled fists and Reya visibly raising her voice in return, evidently unbothered by Caesar's threatening form.
"-e gotta put him under if he gets too sick 'n ya know that already!" Austin somehow picked up on Caesar saying quite clearly, even from this distance.
"Absolutely not, Caesar," Reya shot back. "He's my brother. I won't kill him."
"We must if he's becomin' too far gone 'n da compost dump," Caesar shot back. "I'll do it, if it comes don' ter it. That arrow had Annihilator venom on it. Any other choice, and we're just torcherin' the guy."
"Like Hell's composts you will," she shot back. "If I have to bring him down temporarily then I - me, and only me - will. Got it?"
Austin knew he shouldn't have been able to see them, let alone hear them so clearly, but he did. Though he wasn't entirely certain how he could see them so well as if they were right before him, he decided to just mentally add it to the many things wrong and weird about him, up there with his nightmares and weird sense of deja vu about this place.
"But-" Caesar tried.
"Damnit, Caesar, who's in charge of this place in brother's absence?" Reya gasped as if she had had enough. When Caesar answered a hesitant "Reya," she said "Then my decision is final. Back down, or you'll face the consequences."
As Caesar walked away, somehow with a face more scowled then before, Alyssa tailed the boy, as if a follower, despite being an Overseer. As the two went out of sight, Reya must've sensed someone watching because she turned her head and instantly caught Austin's gaze. Her face not angry, but stressed, tired in ways worrying about someone and leading others simultaneously does to one. With a nod his way, she walked off into the Oakhouse wordlessly and Austin had to struggle from feeling the disappoint that he felt from showing on his face, buthe must've failed, because he spotted Aaron, who must've been watching it all, chuckled, shaking his head dramatically as he did so.
"Shut it," Austin said.
"I will when ya stop giving me reasons not to," Aaron laughed a little, playfully shoving Austin on the shoulder before regaining his serious face and said "Before we start our day full of work 'n stuff, let's get a bite to eat first. I'm hungry, and you are going to need the sustenance for today. Besides. Then maybe then ya can talk to Reya."
Austin would've argued that he wasn't hungry; that he can go on ahead and do what he needed so he can start his Scout duties as quickly as possible; he definitely would've, but his growling stomach betrayed him with its yearning growls at Aaron's suggestion to eat something. Aaron, of course, fixed Austin with a smug 'told ya so' expression and playfully shoved Austin again. Austin hadn't had the chance to return the favor as the guy was already racing towards the Oakhouse, shouting "Keep up slowpoke. Last one there's rotten egg."
Austin just smirked and raced after the boy.