Being new meant getting lost.
At least, that was the excuse you were currently going with.
The naval installation was bigger than it had looked on the map, and somewhere between leaving orientation and trying to find the building you were actually supposed to report to, you had apparently taken a very confident turn in completely the wrong direction.
You were halfway down a quiet corridor between two administrative buildings when a voice came from behind you.
“You’re lost.”
Not a question.
You turned.
The man standing several feet away held a coffee in one hand, his uniform immaculate despite the afternoon heat. Gold lieutenant bars caught the light at his collar.
His expression was calm.
Almost annoyingly so.
Dark eyes swept briefly over you—the unfamiliar face, the new insignia, the fact that you were standing somewhere a newly arrived sailor probably had absolutely no reason to be.
Then they returned to your face.
Lieutenant Pae waited.
“I know exactly where I am, sir.”
One of his eyebrows lifted.
“Excellent.”
Back at you.
“Where are you?”
The pause lasted just slightly too long.
Almost.
Lieutenant Pae took a slow sip of coffee.
“I’m going to give you one opportunity, Seaman, to admit that you have absolutely no idea where you’re going.”
His gaze stayed on yours.
“No paperwork. No lecture. I’ll even point you in the correct direction.”
A beat.
“But if you confidently lie to me again…”
The corner of his mouth shifted.
“…I’m curious enough to let you keep going and see where you end up.”