Round 4 [Open Commentlog]

[helluvachin]

[He's been wearing the same clothing since he showed up here and taking shelter in a stables full of animals. Needless to say that both him and his clothing are getting a little ripe. Problem is that those hotsprings are way too public for him, last thing he wants is people seeing his scars, and he's not stepping foot inside those barracks if he

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[forthebothofus]

[Would you believe his partner in crime had a similar idea? Stretched out on the grass not thirty meters away is Abeni, the bulk of her own clothes laid out beside her while she waits for the not!sun to dry them off. Being covered in your own blood is never a fun thing.

At the sound of someone nearby, her senses skip from alert to kill mode, and keeping hidden, Abeni seeks out the source. When she spies Zachariah, relief sweeps over her. Standing up, she picks up her pants and starts to pull them on.]

Zack.

[It's all she says in way of greeting.]

[forthebothofus]

[From somewhere deep down and locked away comes a surge of emotion, but Abeni quickly gets a hold of it and pushes it back where it belongs. For a brief moment, what would be missed by any other might have been caught by Zachariah; worry, regret, sadness and surprise all rolled into one.

Whether dressed or not, Abeni rounds on him, marching on over to stop just inside his personal bubble and look up at him.]

You listen to me when I say this, Zachariah.

[Her tone is low and scolding. Serious on all accounts.]

I don't know about anything else, but you are not to blame for me getting killed.

[helluvachin]

[He catches it and is immediately taken off guard by it all. Nothing he's said or done has ever gotten a reaction like that out of her, no matter how short it was. Well, nothing except for taking that bullet for her.

Suddenly she's right in his face and he stumbles back a bit. It's like he's a kid again or something. Zachariah frowns at her.]

I wasn't there. I made a mistake and I wasn't there. I could have saved you if I had just been there.

[forthebothofus]

[For as well as she knows him, Abeni has failed to believe until now that Zack blamed himself for her. The whole idea was ridiculous in her eyes.]

Could you have? Really? We were outnumbered from the start.

[In the corner of her eye she catches a glimpse of a scar on his side, remnant of the bullet he'd taken that should have been hers. Her focus shifts from his face to the scar, lingering a moment before she looks back to him. Though still angry, Abeni loses a lot of her bite.]

You already saved me once. More than once. I could have run when you were knocked out of the fight and I didn't.

[helluvachin]

[He sees her see the scar. That one holds some memories, and for once they aren't all bad. Sure it hurt like hell, but it also saved her life. Maybe Zachariah couldn't have fought them off but he could have at least tried to get her out of there. That would have been worth a few more scars.]

I know, but when you needed me, when you really needed me, I wasn't there. When I got back you were already...

[He doesn't finish. He just shuts his eyes and tries to force the image of her lifeless body out of his head. She's here right now. That counts for something.]

[forthebothofus]

[Her eyes cast downward. Zachariah doesn't need to finish the sentence. Abeni is well aware of where it was going. She sighs.]

You did all you could, Zack. You came back.

[That alone meant the world to her. She's been more angry at herself for dying than anything or anyone else. After a pause, Abeni takes his hand and gives it a gentle squeeze before letting it go.]

So thank you.

[Feeling a little weak and with far too many thoughts running through her head, Abeni takes a step back, turns on her heel and starts to walk away.]

[helluvachin]

You're welcome.

[Zachariah is completely and utterly dumbstruck. This is first time he's ever seen Abeni like this. She looks almost...vulnerable. He wishes he knew what to say, but nothing comes. Instead he just kind of stares at the back of her head as she walks off.

Quickly he snaps out of it and throws on his shirt, still soaked from being washed, and jogs after her to catch up.]

[forthebothofus]

[She doesn't look back though she's aware that he's there. Abeni won't acknowledge him, nor will she speak. She just keeps on walking.]

[helluvachin]

[Nor is he going to say anything. He just follows her as he's always done. Whatever has been said has been said whether it should have been or not.]

[forthebothofus]

[Her whole life, Abeni has focused on being the strong, independent one who never needed any real anyone. There were allies where most would have friends, acquaintances in place of family and she was alright with that.

To be vulnerable is not her style, and never has been. Abeni can't recall the last time she cried. Dying she had been alright with, or at least that's what she thought.

The conversation passed runs clear through her mind, much as she tries to shut it down. Dying bothers her because she failed, she was weak, and she hurt the one person she trusted.

Eventually she stops, still refusing to turn around and mutters to her partner. If anything, the word is tired.]

What.

[helluvachin]

[When she stops he stops. Now he's utterly confused. While he's alright with pretending that their little talk didn't happen for the sake of her pride, he doesn't see why he should stop doing what he's always done around her. Besides, he's not staying at that lake by himself. Seeing how Abeni found him so easily it might not be as good as spot as he thought.]

Um...nothing?

Abeni: /CANNOT BRAIN RIGHT NOW

[forthebothofus]

[Abeni blinks, just as confused as he is and quietly glad that he's not pressing the subject.]

Right.

[She takes a second or two to think.]

You're soaked still.

Riah: /PAPAPAPAPAPAPAP

[helluvachin]

[He's not pushing it because he can tell she doesn't want it to be pushed. Right now he might not know the right thing to say but he's pretty sure he knows the right thing to do. For now he'll just remain close and constant by her side. There will always be that constant, wriggling doubt that her death is his fault but as he thinks about, he does have something to keep his mind from dwelling on it. Unlike himself, Abeni didn't get those years out of Deadworld to adjust so hopefully he can help with that here.]

Yeah um, I should probably fix that. I'm starting to freeze.

[He looks down at the soggy mess that he is. With his mind so preoccupied, he failed to notice that his entire body is shaking.]

Abeni: HOOOOOOOONK

[forthebothofus]

[Excellent. Now she's playing an active part in giving the poor man pneumonia.]

Pick a spot to dry off proper. I'll keep watch.

[Their time in Deadworld and even her life before has left Abeni with the habit of giving orders. Again, she reminds herself that this is not there, a fact easily brought to mind given the conversation that happened only minutes before. The woman pauses. She really needs some quiet time to get her head back in order.]

If you want.

Riah: Shooooooooosh

[helluvachin]

Alright, sounds good.

[Of course the thought had already come to him but he didn't want to just leave Abeni. Inwardly he grins at her quick correction. At least she's trying.

Zachariah heads off, finding a nice, sunny spot that he can bask in and warm up.]

Abeni: honk honk ;A;

[forthebothofus]

[Already today she's said more than she ever should have. She moves with him, not leading nor following and when he picks his spot, Abeni leaves him to his privacy.

Somewhere close by but far enough away not to bother Riah, she sits, draws her knees to her chest and focuses on getting her thoughts back in order. It's a lot harder than usual for her to get a hold on things, but eventually she manages. By the time Zachariah is back, Abeni is her usual quiet and in control self again.]