Elliot - [014]

[snapekillsedgar]

Who: Elliot, Leo, and WHOEVER
Where: Starting from Espoir and moving into the city if he has to.
Style: Either
Status: Open like a book!
Note: Elliot and Leo's thread will contain Pandora Hearts spoilers

Comments

[unsureazure]

Since the rebuilding had made considerable progress, Noel had been able to return to her normal work routine. It was nice, finally having her apartment back and regaining a sort-of sense of normalcy once again. The entire last few weeks were extremely stressful, and she was eager to relax once more

Yeesh. I must be tired. *edit*

[snapekillsedgar]

After only a few blocks of walking, frustration was mounting quickly. Elliot knew that no matter what he did, if Leo had made it all the way to the city by now, he was going to have a hell of a time finding him while he was barely moving. There was also the chance that Vanessa could come after him too. He couldn't let himself get caught...

... So much for that. Someone had already caught him!

"I'm not an idiot, damnit!" He snapped, immediately realizing who was following him, even before he turned his head to throw her a tired glare. In the back of his mind, he was glad to see her asserting herself so much, but if she ended up dragging him back to the tent, that would be no good.

Unfortunately she ruined that assertiveness by repeating herself... In a much more polite way?! Why?! If she hadn't done that, he might just have been forced to take her advice.

"I know how I'm doing way better then you do, Noel. Don't try to stop me!"

/pats

[unsureazure]

Even if she did rephrase what she had said in a more polite manner, Noel was still adamant on making sure he got plenty of rest. His response will not fly with her, because anyone could see that he wasn't doing as well as he claims to be. Why did he have to be so stupidly stubborn at a time like this?! So of course, she goes back to scolding him.

"You can't just expect me to leave you he---Huh?" she blinked in surprise once his reply fully registered through her brain. "Did you... just say... 'Noel'?"

Her persistence in getting him back to the tent was cast aside for the moment when the realization struck her. She was always worried that he had forgotten her, like so many of her friends did when they disappeared then returned to this dream world. Even Leo remembering her did nothing to reassure her otherwise.

Right now, in Noel's mind, she felt like she had experienced yet another miracle.

"You remember me, Elliot...?"

[snapekillsedgar]

Here he was getting ready to get into a shouting match with her. He blinked too when she stopped mid sentence, and only got confused by her reaction. Why would she be shocked by him calling her Noel? That was her name.

... Oh, right. People sometimes don't remember what they did in Somarium. Why would Noel think he was like that though?

"You thought I forgot?"

[unsureazure]

"I... I... Geez..."

Noel couldn't even properly reply; her eyes were already welling up with tears. She couldn't help it... All the emotions towards him that she had tried to keep locked away just busted through. Before she knew what she was doing, Noel had flung herself forward and wrapped her arms around him, not caring that she'd probably knock him down. The force of the movement causes her beret to fly off her head, allowing her long golden locks to flow loosely.

"WAAAAAAAAH!" Noel wailed, unable to keep herself from crying. "I missed you so much, Elliot! Please... don't scare us like that! I was really worried about you! Seriously, how could you scare me like that!?"

[snapekillsedgar]

"WHA---?!"

He had tried to step back when he saw her charge at him, and the second she tackled him, he stumbled and nearly fell over backward. He just barely kept his balance, but now had the entirely different problem of a wailing girl who had captured him.

"Wh-What's gotten into you?" At first, he tried to pull away from her, but... How could he keep trying when he saw how much she was crying?

[unsureazure]

Noel had assumed that it was probably unpleasant for him to be hugged so suddenly, but she found herself not caring. She was far too relieved. Almost all her friends had forgotten Somarium once they've left and returned. Plus, she knew everything behind his circumstances, and how it affected his memory. No matter how many times she had forced herself to cope, Elliot forgetting her would have been more painful than the rest.

"I was really sad when you left, you know!" Noel blubbered in between sobs and continued to cling to him. "I... I kept telling myself not to dwell on the past, but... I missed you... I missed you so much...! And then when we found you..."

Her sentence dissolves into more crying. She shouldn't have to elaborate, since he should know what she was talking about.

"I... I was... really scared..."

[snapekillsedgar]

Surprise surprise, but aside from Vanessa this was the first time that Elliot had a sobbing girl clinging to him! He had gone completely rigid in her arms, knowing that with how distraught she was, she wasn't going to be letting him go any time soon.

He knew exactly what she was talking about. She just had to see him like that, didn't she... It was bad enough that the people from their world were going to be effected by it. He didn't even remember anything about Noel when he had to choose to sacrifice himself. Now he had to come to terms with the fact that she was now one more person who he had hurt with his decision.

Awkwardly, knowing that speaking up might just make her cry more, Elliot hesitantly brought his arms up around her. In that moment, it was the only thing he could think of that could calm her down.

[unsureazure]

Noel didn't know whether her tears were from relief or guilt. Perhaps it was both. True, she was happy that he remembered her, and that they could be friends again, but... In his reality, Elliot was dead. Even if it was something beyond her control, Noel couldn't help but feel that it was unfair for the people in his world that cared about him.

Her thoughts were cut short when she felt him return the hug. It was completely unexpected, so it surprised her enough to lessen her sobbing.

"Wh-Why..."

Why was he doing that!? Noel thought it was quite clear that he didn't feel the same way she did towards him... This only made her confused! Doesn't he realize that!?

[snapekillsedgar]

... That didn't last long! Elliot immediately let go the instant she asked.

"W-Well what the hell am I supposed to do with you wailing like that?!"

It was the first thing that came to his head, and probably not the smartest thing to say. Needless to say though, he was completely embarrassed. That was not the way he would have usually comforted anyone, and even he doesn't really understand why he felt comfortable enough to actually hug Noel. After all, besides his siblings, he'd never really hugged anyone before!

[unsureazure]

Oh, that did it. Noel knew his words were just him being shy, embarrassed, some sort of thing like those. She knew that he really did care about her... but only as a friend. Nothing more. So, despite what he really meant, it annoyed her. She quickly pulled away from him as well, and was practically fuming. Her face was reddened from a mix of crying, bashfulness, and downright frustration. Why did he have to be so nice to her?! He already made it clear that he only thought of her as a friend, yet he hugged her knowing full well how she was in love with him and doing her best to get over it! This dummy was making it all difficult.

"... Geez! Because you're always like that, I can't stop feeling the way I do about you!" Noel knew that all the actions she had been doing were embarrassing, but she found herself not caring. At the moment, she really felt that she had to be honest with her emotions. "Please, just stop making it harder to give up on you!"

[snapekillsedgar]

She has no idea. Elliot has never even felt comfortable hugging Leo before, and they were the best of friends.

... Oh great. He made it even worse. She just HAD to mention her feelings about him too. He was conflicted enough about them! Still, he should have thought about that before he tried hugging her.

"What?! You're the one who grabbed me first! I didn't---!" ... Whoa. A hand quickly went up to his head and he swayed slightly. After a second of closing his eyes tight, he shook his head and looked back at her. "What did you want me to do?!"

[unsureazure]

Noel squeaks with alarm when she notices him teetering a bit, and instinctively steps forward to catch him if he were to fall down. Thankfully, it didn't come to that. She was about to ask if he was alright, but was interrupted by his question. What did she want him to do, anyway? She actually expected him to yell at her for blubbering so much, but expectation did not equate to wanting. It was a question that really stumped her.

"I... I don't know," she answered honestly. "B-But... Even though I was surprised, I felt really happy when you did that, so, um..."

Despite the circumstances, Noel was able to manage a smile that was bright enough. It was silly for her to make a big deal over a hug, but... High-ranked soldier or not, Noel was still an ordinary young girl with a crush. It was natural to feel a little pleased about it. At least... she thought it was.

"Thank you, Elliot."