Rudy wouldn't call himself superstitious, but he certainly couldn't deny the accusations. There were the simple things, like knocking on wood or breaking jinxes as soon as possible. He didn't really believe in much of the black-cat stuff, and he'd seen enough broken mirrors to know that that wouldn't hurt him.

But he had a few of his own things he did around base. He'd keep a broom upside down by his door in the barracks, and usually made Alejandro describe his nightmares, just to be safe. But one of his habits was a bit more out there.

Whenever Rudy got candy, he'd leave a piece out on his bedside table. It started a year ago when he had forgotten about some chocolate placed on his bedside table. The next morning, there was a peso coin in its place. Not thinking much of it, he picked it up, slipped it into his gear, and went off on a mission.

That coin ended up being a life-saver, literally. He was able to use it to take out a screw on a bomb, saving the lives of his team and countless civilians. Since then, he made a point to leave out candy and take whatever he was given in return as a token of good luck. Not everything had been as useful as that coin, but it made Rudy feel better.

And tonight was no different. A recruit had offered him a pack of Skittles, and after eating most of them, he left two pieces out on the tray he had gotten for this ritual. He went about his nightly routine, his mind elsewhere as he wandered back from his bathroom, brushing his teeth. He nearly choked on the foam at what he saw.

A fairy. At least, that was the only thing he could think of. They were tiny, no bigger than a can of soda, stepping out from behind the lamp. They didn't seem to be aware of him watching as they picked up and inspected the Skittles, trying to figure out how to eat it.