A short jog carried Mercer past the wire. The wall rose in front of him. Twelve feet of flat, unforgiving surface.
Recruits crowded around it. Some were already working in pairs, boosting each other up. Others struggled alone, jumping, slipping, falling back down. It was excessively loud.
Shouting and frustration. Boots scraping against the wall.
Mercer scanned the chaos, looking for someone, anyone, to pair with. Time was already slipping.
Someone nearby jumped and missed, hitting the wall hard before dropping back down with a curse.
Another recruit tried climbing solo again. Same result, no progress. Mercer clenched his jaw.
' I have to find someone, now.'
Then he saw him. The same recruit from earlier, the one who finished first.
Tall and controlled. Watching instead of rushing. He wasn't panicking, instead he was patiently waiting. Then, their eyes met. That mere second glance between the two was enough to make Mercer move.
He pushed through the crowd, ignoring the noise around him, heading straight for him.
"You want to team up?" Mercer said as he got close. His voice was steady, even if his body wasn't.
The man looked him over quickly. Not dismissive. Just assessing. Then he smiled, easy, confident.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's do it."
"I'm Mercer."
"Asher."
The exchange of words between the two was simple. They moved into position at the base of the wall. Around them, people were still struggling. Some were making it over. Most weren't. Asher crouched slightly, already setting up.
"You go first," he said. "I'll get you up. Then you pull me."
Mercer nodded, there were no wasted words. Asher locked his hands together and held them low.
"Go."
Mercer stepped in. Asher drove upward.
The boost was strong, stronger than Mercer expected. It launched him higher than most of the others around them.
Mercer reached. His fingers brushing the top, almost. He grunted, pushing harder, and caught the edge. For a second, he hung there, then he pulled.
His arms screamed, but he didn't stop. He dragged himself up, got a leg over, and rolled onto the top.
No time to rest. He turned immediately and reached down. Asher didn't hesitate, he jumped. Their hands locked. The weight hit instantly.
Mercer's body jolted forward, his grip nearly slipping.
'He's too heavy…' His core tightened. He threw his leg over the wall, hooking it hard to anchor himself.
"Hold on," he muttered.
Asher kicked against the wall, trying to help, but most of the work fell on Mercer. His arms shook. His grip slipped, just a little.
Mercer adjusted, grabbing tighter at Asher's wrist. 'I can't drop him.' He pulled. Everything in his body burned. His shoulders felt like they were tearing, his back screaming under the strain.
But Asher started to rise, slowly.
Boots scraped against the wall. Asher found a bit of traction. That little bit was enough. Mercer pulled again. Then again. Finally, Asher's free hand caught the top.
He hauled himself up the rest of the way. Both of them collapsed onto the narrow ledge, breathing hard. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Asher let out a short laugh, still catching his breath.
"…You're stronger than you look."
Mercer exhaled, staring up for a second before sitting up.
"Didn't feel like it."
Below them, the chaos at the wall continued. But for them they were already over it, they had already passed the mess below them.
Asher let out a short chuckle, the tension finally breaking. There was relief in it, the kind that came after pushing your body to its limit and somehow making it through.
Mercer found himself laughing too, quieter, but just as genuine. For a moment, the noise of the course faded, and it was just the two of them catching their breath on the other side of the wall.
"Let's go," Mercer said, still breathing hard as he pushed himself back to his feet.
Asher nodded, a grin still lingering as he rose beside him, and without another word, the two of them dropped down the other side