Aizis~
You could cut the tension with a knife.
I’d thought being trapped under ground sucked, until of course when Alek found me. I loved being carried around like a princess, being so close to him made the pain in my ankle bearable. I could tell he was happy to be alone with me too; in fact I’m pretty sure something good would’ve come out of this situation. I saw his mouth open to say something, but the voice that came out was not quite what I was expecting.
"What a relief! finally some familiar faces." Liral
Almost instantly, it was like a storm cloud descended on Alek, He was suddenly moody in short whenever (and if ) he answered. Liral, as usual, played the part of a puppy; trailing after us as though he didn’t notice Alek’s mood swing.
“So…” I spoke, stabbing through the silence before it killed one of us, “Why do you think Fudo sent us down here?”
“Donno.” Alek said, staring into the dark up ahead. I winced at his expression; it was almost like someone he didn’t like stole his food. I’d seen faces like that on Calchi, not very comforting.
“Exercise? Teamwork?” Liral guessed as he slung an arm around Alek’s shoulder, “A chance to bond?”
I saw Alek’s jaw clench and his arms tightened around me. “Yeah.” He spat out. “Bonding.”
Liral smiled, oblivious to Alek’s obvious anger, “Yes! I hope we can be great friends, ones that rival the bonds of the angels!”
I really don’t understand Liral sometimes. He either talked like a preteen, or like someone out of the old writings we had to read. Don’t get me wrong, Liral was already becoming a great friend. He was just… A mystery. Everything about him and his sister was strange. Maybe I should ask him where they were from…
“Yo, Alek.” Liral’s voice broke into my thoughts, “If you start to get tired, I’ll carry her for a bit.”
“No. I’m fine.” Alek replied. I sighed. He was so nice for carrying me, I’m such a burden sometimes. He probably doesn’t want to let on that I’m heavy.
“Alek, really. It’s okay if you need to pass me over to him.” I smiled up at him. I didn’t want Alek to strain himself carrying me, especially because it’s been such a long time. One look at his face told me I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“Fine. You know what? If you want to be carried by him” He spat out angrily, “don’t let me get in your way!” He quickly dumped me into Liral arms and began to slink away. I was stunned for a second, almost like I’d been slapped in the face. I quickly got myself back, pushed myself out of Liral’s grasp, and limped after Alek.
“Hey, Alek?” I said as I tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He turned slowly to face me. I smiled at him for a second, and then slapped him square across the face. He looked so surprised, as he stood there with his hand over his cheek.
“Don’t you dare ever talk to me that way again.” I hissed through clenched teeth. I could feel hot pinpricks of the beginning of tears poking at my eyes, but I hurriedly blinked them back. “I thought you knew me well enough! I don’t understand why you have to be such an ass over him offering to fucking help you!” I hadn’t been yelling when I started, but oh god was I now.
“Aizis.. Just listen to me for a sec..” Alek asked, pleading with his hurt little puppy dog eyes.
“Oh, so NOW you’re being nice? Is that it? No. You listen to me, I don’t know who pissed in your oatmeal this morning, but if you think for one second I’m gonna let you treat Liral like that you’ve got another thing coming!”
“Oh. So you are on his side.” His eyes narrowed accusingly. This definitely wasn’t the Alek I knew and loved.
“Sides? What are we four?” I couldn’t hold my tears back at this point, and really I didn’t care too much anymore. It hurt either way. “You know what? I’m done. Good bye.” I stalked (well, more limped) into the dark of the tunnel, aiming for the closest passageway to me, walking right past Alek. He grabbed my hand to stop me. And wouldn’t you know, it almost worked. I paused a second, then shook his hand off.
“Fuck you.” I muttered, praying that neither of them followed me as I flung tears out of my eyes. When I figured I was out of eyesight, I leaned against the wall for support as I walked; a little less stress on my ankle.
I’m not really sure how long I walked for. It hurt to walk, but the pain distracted me enough that I didn’t have to think about what had just happened. I was in way too much of a predicament to worry about sobbing all over the place. After a while, I kinda decided to screw the whole operation. I was alone, lost, I felt so conufsed, so unhappy, so betrayed, so…
“Dammit!” I screamed as I slammed my fist into the wall. I wasn’t even sad anymore, I was angry and disappointed. But not at Alek, of course not at Liral. It was me. I was such a baby, crying and yelling, and fuck I even slapped him! I sank down to the floor, leaning my head against the wall.
“Good lord strike me down dammit.” I mumbled under my breath. Maybe if I’m lucky Fudo push me down another hole, and I won’t have to exist anymore. Alek doesn’t need any more of my problems. He should find a girl who doesn’t complain and/or slap him.
“You really fucked up this time bitch…” I shook my head. “And now you’re wallowing in your own self pity. Perfect. A plus.” I stood up shakily, and without even consciously realizing what I was doing, I started back in the direction I came from. go apologize, go apologize, go apologize a voice chanted in my head. A voice I knew…
“Dammit Sylvia. I’m going. Sheesh.” I muttered. I don’t quite understand why she was hanging around in my head, but if the 12,000 year old lady tells you to apologize, you darn better apologize. The journey back to where I’d left Alek and Liral felt a lot quicker than it had leaving. I quickly scanned the room for any signs of blood and death; By the lack of either, I’d say Alek hasn’t murdered Liral yet. I hopped around the room, checking if there was any hints to which was either (hopefully Alek) had gone. I paused in front of one entrance; Alek had definitely gone this way, no doubt in my mind about that one. Using the wall as I crutch, I started to enter in the blackness. That is, until I hear the all-too-familiar sound of arguing coming down the tunnel to my right.
“Why don’t you accept it and just be chivalrous for once?!”
“Chivalry is dead. And I’m plenty chivalrous dammit!”
“Izu? Calchi? Is that you?” I called out. Not like anyone else could argue the way those two did, but with Fudo on the loose who knows who it was.
“Aizis!” Izumi ran to where I was, quickly followed by Caleb. “Are you alone? Where’s Alek?”
I pointed down the tunnel. “Thataway. Liral’s down here too, but I don’t know where he went.” Caleb started walking in the direction I pointed
“Well? Let’s get going then.” I called over his shoulder. Izumi and I started walking after him, although I ended up lagging far behind. I tried, I really did.
“Aizis, we’re not getting any younger up here.” Calchi’s voice floated back from ahead.
“Yeah, I know. I’m trying.” I called back, stumbling a little over a rock in my way. “Shit..” I muttered, or thought I’d muttered, because all of a sudden, Izumi and Caleb were back at my side.
“Oh Aizis.. Did you hurt yourself again?” Izumi asked, sliding her arm around my back to hold me up.
“A little when we fell in. I’ll be okay, I just have to go slow for now…” I trailed off as Caleb dropped down on one knee and gently grabbed my ankle.
“It’s pretty badly swollen. I don’t think it’s broken, but I’m no fucking doctor.” I couldn’t exactly see what he was doing down on the ground, but by what I could feel I think he took off his hat. “Izumi, think you can do a little more of that snap-crackle-pop action? I can’t see a damn thing.”
“I could, but it really wouldn’t help us much. I’d need like some kind of wood… I’d be able to make a fire if that were the case.” I felt Izumi shrug. “I don’t know if there even is any down here…”
“I’ll look.” Caleb grumbled. There was a loud scrabbling sound, followed by the crack of falling rock and a faint whisper of fuck fuck shit ouch dammit what was that it fucking hurt. Finally, Caleb thrust a plank of wood at me. “Found something.”
“Thanks Cal. Aizis can you hold it really far away from your body? I don’t wanna risk anything.” I did as I was told. I felt Izumi’s hand clamp onto the end of the plank, and a giant flash went through the cave.
“I gotta admit, that’s pretty fucking handy!” Caleb chuckled. In the light from the now-burning plank, I could see him slowly unwrapping his hat.
“Huh. I didn’t know you could do that.” Izumi commented, resting her head on my shoulder to watch.
“Aizis, take off your shoe.” Caleb ordered as he finished disassembling the hat. I did as he told me, and he began wrapping the cloth around my foot. “Let me know if it hurts, okay?”
“Is he being… Nice?” I whispered to Izumi, hopefully low enough that Calchi didn’t hear.
“You’d be surprised. He’s got his moments, aside from the times he’s an insensitive blockhead.” She whispered back with a little laugh. Strange, I wouldn’t have expected that answer. It made me wonder just where her and Calchi were; before Izumi wouldn’t have said something so nice about him. Insensitive blockhead? She’s losing it.
“If you chattering monkeys are done whispering about me, we should probably get moving.” Caleb muttered, standing up. He brushed of his hands and smirked cheekily at us. “Ready?”
“Yessir!” I affirmed, shaking all of my Izumi confusion out of my mind. I had some problems of my own to deal with. Like Alek. And Liral. And strangely, a 12,000+ year old woman bossing me around.
“I’m good. But Cal,” Izumi began. When did this “Cal” thing start? “Do you think you could carry Aizis or something? She might slow us down if she walked.” She winked in my direction, and in response I mock punched her in the stomach.
“Not a problem.” He agreed, crouching down to my height. “Hop on.”
I nervously glanced at Izumi. I’m not sure why, probably looking for approval? The whole Alek situation had me so anxious. She looked at me confused for a second until she realized what was wrong. She nodded, obviously trying to hide her laughter from me.
I sighed and hopped onto Calchi’s back. Life was so confusing.
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ALMOST DONE ERIN!
I'll do some Caleb and/or Lyric next!
please don't hate aizis she's innocent and dumb
