[PRP] Broken Wings (Odette, Tamiya, Sinter) [fin!]

[seekingCylem]

[ Sinter knew ignoring Odette would be easier said than done, but once he noticed Tamiya begin to awaken, he knew all hope for the situation was lost. He did his best to keep Tamiya still. He needed to clean her wounds, but he also would deeply like for her to fall asleep again. Instead, Tamiya only tuned in further to her conversation with Odette.

Sinter kept quiet. He was curious himself as to how Odette ended up at his hive, as well as how Tamiya had made it through the fight—though he could already feel the guilt well in his chest preemptively.

He couldn’t help but feel a smile press at the corners of his mouth as Tamiya mentioned pulling Odette from the cave-in. He stifled it as best he could. It was hardly the time for smiling, but he felt pride in his moirail’s act of bravery. He could, sadly, understand Odette’s fear and anger towards Tamiya on principle, but he knew Tamiya was good. He cherished the flicker of hope that others could see the good in her as well.

Unfortunately, Odette was not so easily swayed. She had friends, quadrants, in that cave. She had no idea where they were, and likely, had they made it out as well, the reverse was also true. Sinter’s solemnity returned and he swapped out his cotton swabs for bandages.

The women’s quiet, if not tearful, talking lulled Sinter into a false sense of security. Sinter had almost finished placing plasters and tightening bandages when Tamiya broke. Tamiya lurched forward and Sinter stumbled back in surprise, landing on the floor. He reached forward to steady her, but her screaming jolted him into a stupor. He dumbly watched Tamiya fall from the couch.

Sinter was completely out of his depth. These women had experienced far more than Sinter had anticipated—more than he could even fathom. A cold despair welled in his chest. He was lost. He couldn’t help his moirail then, and he couldn’t help her now.

“T-Tamiya…” What could he tell her? What could he ask of her? Even telling her to lie back down on the couch felt painfully ham-fisted in this moment. Tamiya needed more than he could provide, and it killed him. ]

 

[Sypon]

Undignified, unadulterated weeping. Behind her eyelids, the bright color of her own blood threatened to throw Tamiya into a rage. She heaved and choked on the metallic blood that she could taste clearly in her mouth, before feeling a soft sensation parting her hair.

Odette had touched her. Tamiya flushed hotly, the tears in her eyes embarrassing and shaming her to her very core. This wasn't right. She was not a pitiable type. But Odette... She was so lost. If Tamiya had the strength, she could save her then and there. She would be powerful, even in this moment of weakness. But the buzzing pain of Tamiya's body betrayed her. She quivered uncontrollably, trying to keep eye contact with Odette while listening to her words. Listening managed to calm the purpleblood from her shaking state. Understanding the problem required her to absorb the information and process it through her own schemas, and as Odette spoke the pieces fell into place.

A part of the redblood was still unwell. Her twisting psychic vortex and dark thoughts had shown Tamiya enough. She had failed at purging her completely, but she would keep trying until Odette was clean. This, however, was no time for a rebirth: Odette had a debt to pay. This was clear to Tamiya now.

"You made a contract..." She wheezed. She looked briefly back at Sinter and then to Odette again. Her tone was desperate and raspy. "It weighs on your goddamned soul. That is pain that cannot… be seen,"

Tamiya felt herself becoming lightheaded. She gently laid a hand upon Odette’s cheek pleadingly, and sighed. “I will help you. Find your moirail. Be well again…” Her voice was a quiet rasp. Tamiya shifted to get up, and for a moment her vision went black. She released Odette and turned to Sinter. “Sinter…I would… Prefer to lay down…”  

[zeflamigo]

Odette furrowed her brows as she listened to Tamiya speak. She wasn't sure who was misunderstanding who at this point, but she knew that she was wasting her time. If she wanted to know where Vremea was, she could have just gone to her hive. She had lived in Chittentown long enough to know where it was, even from a stranger's home.

When Tamiya reached out to touch her cheek, Odette held her breath. But despite Odette's fears, the touch was very different than what she had expected. She had expected Tamiya to grab her roughly, but instead her touch was soft, delicate even. It was completely unlike the behavior she was used to. Tamiya's touch was a caress, plain and simple, and Odette had no idea how to react to it. She looked at the weakened purpleblood, blood pusher quickening as she kept eye contact fixed on her. She was so different now— gentle and quiet and almost calm. She gulped, desperately hoping Tamiya wouldn't notice all the heat rising to her face, despite the fact she knew well that the purpleblood could feel it with her own hands.

Tamiya released her and she felt relieved, but perhaps a bit disgusted with herself. She had to leave. She couldn't stay here anymore. Being around Tamiya was messing with her head. "I can find her on my own," She said. No, she thought, panicking. That sounded too rude. "You need to rest," She quickly added, knowing that her previous words might send the purpleblood into another fervor.  

[seekingCylem]

It seemed that as soon as the outburst had occurred, it subsided. Sinter brought himself into a kneeling position. He didn’t trust this scenario any more than he did when he first walked into his hive. However, he was too tired to remain properly vigilant. He liked to think if he was in a proper state he would have been able to physically carry Tamiya to the recuperacoon. He would make Odette leave, or at least keep her away from Tamiya. Unfortunately he could only watch.

Tamiya seemed to finally understand Odette’s plight and sympathize with her, even if only on Tamiya’s terms. Sinter’s mouth pressed into a firm line. He knew so little about this relationship that appeared so deep.

Tamiya’s stumbling distracted him from his dark thoughts. Sinter leaped up to grab her shoulders and carefully guided her back to the couch. He almost didn’t hear Odette as he got his moirail settled. He looked up at the other redblood with a haggard, but cautious expression.

”…Don’t push yourself. That cave was hell. I doubt your moirail wants you to break yourself on her account.” He didn’t know or trust this Odette person, but Tamiya cared a great deal for her wellbeing. That meant something to Sinter whether he liked it or not.

”Tamiya will likely be here for the next few nights… If you’d like to see her again, that is alright with me.”