Jia knew that kind of anguish all too well, the kind of pain that made you want to shrink in on yourself, just to try and get away from everything that made you remember.
Squatting down to sit next to her, Jia moved to do the only thing she knew was best right now. To put an arm around Lydia–and hold her friend tight.
“You’re right, you will be fine. You’re okay. Take a breath.”
➳Someone else’s presence during these episodes was foreign to her. When Lydia had been lucid enough, she could hear her parents outside her room, but they’d never crossed the threshold, never stood by her side.
In spite of herself, Lydia leaned into her friend–another foreign, unfamiliar word–body tensing as she choked back a small sob.
❝Th-thanks. No o-one’s bothered b-before, y’know?❞
This wasn’t the time for their usual little bickering, Lydia looked like she was in pain; heaving for breath. Jia knew what that felt like, more than anyone. One quiet step after the other, the woman moved over to her FRIEND.
“You’re not, and I understand that…”
➳ She’s curled tighter into herself, trying so hard not to slip away again. But her body still ached with the phantom pain of past injuries, and she could almost feel the crackle of dried blood on her skin.
❝I’m—-❞ Her voice felt like glass in her throat. ❝I’ll be fine,❞ she managed. And she always managed, alone. Because this breakdown, it wasn’t just shameful——it was an abomination.
➳ ❝Oh hun, if believing that will get you through the day, then by all means. I’ll be the bigger person and try not to steal your thunder—- even if there really wasn’t much thunder to begin with.
You know what, a mask is indeed a good idea, if it means I don’t have to suffer your sweaty feet smell. Seriously, I know us Asians do the whole take-your-shoes-off- in-the-house thing, but I’d really rather you keep those boots on. I don’t have enough proper ventilation for the feet smell, y’know.
❞
➳ ❝I’m not sure you deserve the credit for getting us out of trouble if we got into trouble because of you in the first place.
Okay, a cape would probably get me killed. No capes. And hey, I can breathe in what I wear. which is important. The boots might be comfy, but all that leather? In this recent warm weather? You’re clearly nuts.❞
➳ ❝Y’know, the last time we went with one of y o u r brilliant plans, I nearly got decapitated. But I guess things like that are your idea of EXCITING. And you said I lack self-preservation.
Oi, it’s not like I go around in a cape. What I wear is practical. Not sure I can same about some o your fashion choices. Just sayin’. ❞
➳ ❝The reason that I’m the brains and not you is because my plans don’t usually end up with us in deep shit. Also, I do notdress up. Don’t be ridiculous. I conceal my identity, which is, by the way, the smarter thing to do.
Sure, Jia, let’s just go with that, because I know you’re embarrassed about being clingy.❞
➳ ❝Wouldn’t that make me the brainsof this operation? Sounds about right. It’s actually why I can afford to, as you so eloquently put it, throw myself into unfor- seeable peril. Besides–I have a NORMAL day-job. Your profession is the definition of unforseeable peril.
Sure, Jia, clearly this is me needing your company and not you butting in as per usual. ❞
“Tнe тнoυɢнт тнαт yoυ wαɴтed тo ɢo ιɴ тнere вy yoυrѕelғ proved тнαт yoυ’re ѕтιll α cнιld. Aт leαѕт yoυ’re ɴoт rυɴɴιɴɢ ιɴ тнere нeαd oɴ. Do yoυ ĸɴow αɴ eѕcαpe roυтe? Or dιd yoυ ɴoт plαɴ oɴ eѕcαpιɴɢ. We do тнιѕ, we do ιт rιɢнт. Aɴd вy we, yeѕ, I'м leттιɴɢ yoυ drαɢ мe ιɴ тнere. No ɴeed тo тнαɴĸ мe.”
➳ ❝R U D E .
And yes, I do have an escape plan. That’s what the explosive arrows are for. The old part of the building is far less structurally sound than the newer part. Old brick versus steel, and all that physics-y stuff. The arrow can be detonated once I’m in the newer, safer part.
Look, I told you I’ve got it all down. But if you really must accompany me, then I suppose I can make room for you, too. ❞
➳ ❝I wouldn’t call this much of a LIFE, would you? It’s a bit late for me to play it safe, I think.
One of the entrances is backed by some woods; there’s less guards there. It’s isolated from the other entrances; I can take the guards out from a distance before they have a chance to alert their buddies. Those bastards seem to be a bit understaffed, so they wouldn’t even know I was there. Or…we. If you still think I need to be supervised like a child. ❞
➳ ❝What I want, is for you to get out of my way. And–not that it interests you, but I know what I’m doing, who I’m up against. And even if it ends badly, what do you care? I was supposed to have died a long time ago.❞
