PSI

HOBNAIL MOMENT
by Harper Kingsley

murmur murmur. "What the fuck DID YOU SAY TO ME?!?" scritch-SCREECH-crash of a cafeteria chair forcefully shoved across the floor and back into a wall.

Caspian turned his head to look. His lips tightened at what he saw.

Hobbs was leaning over PSI threateningly. The visible portions of her face were a purpling red with her anger. Both hands were firmly planted on the table she’d stood up from. The tips of her fingers had left imprints in the surface.

PSI had the "Oh shit" expression of someone that knew they’d said the wrong thing. He was still seated with his fork in his hand, the tines angled down where the potato salad had globbed back onto his tray.

From Hobbs’ reaction, it must have been pretty bad. She was a steady and level-headed superhero. No complaints on her file.

PSI though…

He wasn’t a bad guy. He was friendly and he was powerful and he had a solid work ethic once he started working. The rest of the time he spent goofing off. And he had a tongue that formed words faster than his brain did thoughts.

Caspian cleared his throat loudly.

A reminder that he was here versus having to deal with this situation? He would take the reminder any day. They were both adults. They’d had interpersonal conflict training. Their friends/coworkers were around.

If he had to step in officially, someone was getting a write up.

How things turned out in the next few minutes would be a clear indicator of the mood between Hobbs and PSI.

Caspian would hate to have to break up a successful squad, but bad blood couldn’t be allowed to stand. Not when they all depended on each other so much to stay alive.

/EXCERPT