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 Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:13 pm
After the rendezvous in Mirrorspace—or wherever—Evan had been ready to come home. He hadn’t protested when they had gone to Lysithea’s homeworld, if only because it was always soothing, but he was so ready to be home and in bed.
When they had left the planet, he hadn’t even bothered getting a shower or something to eat; he had powered down and slid into his pajamas before crawling right into Cambria and Zac’s bed.
It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence anyway, but tonight he didn’t even ask. Zac was out, at work and safe from all of the happenings—judging by the fact that he’d just texted Evan to make sure he was okay. Evan had lied and said yes, but he knew by morning he’d be fine. He was too tired to get into things over texts, and he didn’t want Zac to worry about him any more than he already did.
Still, something was nagging at the back of his mind. When Cambria crawled into bed too, Evan scooted over just slightly to give her more room. He had already claimed one of Zac’s pillows and was hugging it tightly. The room was dark, sans the nightlight they kept on at all times—for him, even though it was their room.
“Cambria,” Evan said softly, as if he were whispering to avoid waking someone in the house. It was only them, but he was worried about speaking so loudly at this hour. Especially when he was afraid of upsetting her. He was tired and his eyelids hung heavy, but he’d been thinking about Airi since they’d run into him.
“The youma you were with. How long have you known him? I don’t think I ever heard you say anything about him before.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:20 pm
Truth be told, Cambria had almost already fallen asleep, though she had moved closer when Evan scooted away, wrapping her arms around him and holding him much like he was holding the pillow. She had gotten far too used to sleeping with someone else in the bed, that she almost was uncomfortable to even try to go to sleep alone.
Though when Evan’s question penetrated itself past her sleepy mind, she blinked, her brain firing on all cylinders at once. “You uh…you mean Airi? We met a few weeks before this and then when I got separated from you, I wound up in a room with him so…that’s really all…”
She was quiet for a moment, then reached her hand up, threading her fingers through Evan’s dark hair. “How long have you known him…and why didn’t you ever mention that you knew him?” Her voice remained gentle, and she tried to keep any sort of accusation out of her words. “He told me all about this friend of his, Evan, who was a youma and then wasn’t a youma…and how he went into his house…Ev, I have to know…it was the old house, wasn’t it? You didn’t let Airi find you here, did you? Please don’t lie to me if you did, I’m not mad, I have to tell you that, I’m not mad, but I do need to know.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:48 pm
Evan’s eyes flashed open when Cambria revealed what she knew and before he could process how to answer he found himself guiltily shrugging. For a moment he faltered and it was clear that he was trying to answer but couldn’t seem to figure out where to start.
“No,” he said, finally. “Not in the new house. That’s—no, I haven’t seen him since the old one. No, it’s a long story, okay? I have to—no, it’s,” he paused and jumped between topics, like he couldn’t find a thread to cling to in any one sentence. “I’ve known him for a while, technically. Since I was a youma. We spent a lot of time together, in the Rift. He was big and stronger than me, so he looked after me. And I liked him, he was nice. I didn’t know him when I was a human. But I did know this cat, Iolite? I brought her home a lot, back when it was just me and Zac. So, she knew where I lived. And she knew me when I was a youma, and she knew Airi. So, when we were moving out of this house, she saw me—and she thought I was some evil devil clone because nobody knew that youmas could be un-youma’d. But I proved that I wasn’t and so she found Airi, who I guess was missing me, because—we hung out a lot—and she told him where I lived. And then he came to the window and I opened it, and then he came inside. But.”
He faltered. “I didn’t mention him because I didn’t know that it…mattered. I don’t…There’s a lot that I don’t know how to talk about. And I haven’t seen him since then. I mean, before tonight. I don’t know,” he mumbled, drawing the blankets a little higher so they were tucked just below his chin. “…I never mentioned him because it just didn’t come up, I guess. I can’t just say over dinner, you know, ‘By the way I let a youma into the house’. Zac would have been so mad at me…”
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 8:50 am
Cambria nodded, still combing her fingers through Evan’s hair. “Well…I’m glad you’re telling me about it now. I was scared to bring up the topic with you because I didn’t want to upset you, I never like when you get that far off scared look, it scares me, sometimes…and I didn’t want you to think that I was mad at you or anything for bringing a youma into the house…though I have to say, I’m glad that it was the old house, and not this one…that could have turned out kind of nasty.”
She leaned down and planted a few kisses on the top of his head and snuggled closer. “I met him when I was out patrolling, he was, and he will deny this, but I thought he looked like he was up to no good when he swears he was just people watching.” Cambria rolled her eyes and sighed. “He had a lot of things to say, and honestly, I was really surprised when he could talk. I didn’t realize that youma could do that…I mean, all you ever did was make that cute chirping noise…anyway.”
She grew quiet for a moment, seeming quite distant, then finally looked back down at Evan. “I think…I would like to try to save him. Like we did with you…I mean, I don’t know if it will work…we knew that you had been human…but he…I don’t know. Acts like he might want to be? It’s not…He says that he’s been this way for years…so maybe the darkness…if he was a person before this…maybe the darkness erodes…some of the humanity that was inside of you?”
Hadn’t Evan gotten more skiddish and jumpy as time went on? Didn’t he start seeming more vague and absent minded? If time really was the key…she wondered if Airi really could be saved or if…the humanity just…washed away completely. “…He didn’t seem to agree with me that he was ever a human and said that he would just cease to exist if I tried to purify him…I don’t know…”
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:18 pm
Evan gave Cambria a look when she said his chirping had been cute, but he couldn’t be mad at her. It had been frustrating, knowing that he used to know how to communicate but suddenly couldn’t find the words. Or, having the words in your head but not being able to get them out. If he had to pick the worst part of being a youma, it was the fact that he felt like he was slowly losing his mind, unable to talk to anyone else. He’d made the best of the situation—hand gestures, chirping, drawing.
It hadn’t been perfect, but nothing ever was.
He scooted a little closer and tried to repress the memories of frustration and loneliness. Things were different now. Better.
“Airi isn’t like most youma,” he mused. “I don’t know if he ever was. I mean, I only know him from my time with him, but he was protective. Other youma, they would attack each other and fight. But he only ever fought with the ones that were giving me a hard time. He doesn’t deserve to be a youma. I mean, I don’t know if he was a human before, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t know where youma come from, but I don’t think he’d disappear. He’s got too much good in his heart.”
He was quiet for a moment and then added, uncertainly, “I mean, I think. I’m not an expert. Or maybe I just want him to saved. I’d save every youma, if I could. Or, well.” He glanced at her. “You’d have to, because I don’t have the power that you and your Court have. But I’d help out, you know. If I could.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 11:08 am
Cambria was quiet for a long time, digesting Evan’s words and trying to figure out how best to make her offer. She agreed with everything that he said. That Airi didn’t seem like most youma...and that she would also like to save all of the youma that she could...they didn’t deserve to be monsters. It wasn’t their fault.
“Evan...I think you should meet my court. I know that they worry about you, I give them regular updates…I haven't’ told them that you’re a senshi yet, but I think they’d like to know that, and I know they’d want you to join. And I mean. We all have the same ideals so...why not join with us? It would give you some new friends, and new people to patrol with, and I think that would do you and them good. I mean...for them...it’ll drive home the reason we’re doing what we do. For people like you. Finding the light in the darkness and all that...I mean...not that they need to know that, I know that they do but...but you know…”
She sighed, kissing the top of his head again. “I want you to be fighting and saving people alongside of me, I want it a lot. You make me so proud.
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:19 pm
Evan was quiet for a moment, processing her request. “…You talk about me to them?” he asked, as if it was a thought that had only just now crossed his mind. He’d known about her Court, at least because they had fixed him, and because he knew she still went out some nights to patrol with them. The thought of them knowing about him still seemed to surprise him.
“I don’t know,” he said after a second; he felt warm and hopeful when Cambria said she was proud of him, and he wanted to believe her but it was just in his nature to doubt himself. “I’m not so good at working with groups, and you guys already know each other. I don’t want to intrude or anything. Or weigh you guys down. I don’t know that I can bring anything to the table that you guys don’t already have—except, you know, like. Dinner. But that’s not really that useful when you’re supposed to be fighting bad guys and saving the day so,” he shrugged and looked up at her as he tried to read her expression in the near darkness.
“I don’t want to let you down, or let them down. I mean, I might be such a nag, they might not even like me, and then I ruin your whole dynamic. And, I mean, I feel safe with you and Zac, but…Is it safe? Are they strong, like you?”
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:26 pm
“I talk about you to most people, Evan. You’re my best friend. I’m proud of you and just think you’re the greatest. I brag about you a lot too, about your cooking, and I talk about the food truck all the time. That’s normally how I get on the subject of you, food. Because, who doesn’t like to talk about food...I know that I do.”
She was quiet for another few moments, then shook her head. “They’re strong. We’re stronger as a group, of course...but there’s another eternal besides me...and there’s a super senshi, and two basic senshi...though one is a chibi, so honestly, you’re stronger than her...I’m not quite sure why she’s still a basic...I think she might have been a senshi longer than I have but…” Cambria shrugged and sighed. “I really would love you to join us...maybe you can come to our next get together? You could bring dinner, that would make sure that they liked you. Even though I know that they will regardless.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:27 pm
Evan debated for a moment longer and then finally, perhaps a bit reluctantly, nodded. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Cambria or the group that she belonged to, it was just that he wasn’t sure if he could fit in. He was worried about being around other people in general, and more than that these people knew what he was before. It felt like some dirty secret he was forced to share, but he had to remind himself that it was by fault of no one there.
Not by him, not by them.
“I suppose at the very least, I could ask for their opinions on the food for the menu,” he finally said slowly. “And if things don’t work out, I just won’t go to the next get together.”
He took a moment to consider his options and then finally nodded. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt. I’m not sure what to say to them, though. Or how Senshi in groups are supposed to act or anything. How do you join a Court, is there a ritual or anything?”
He side eyed her. “You aren’t going to haze me, are you?”
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 6:18 pm
Cambria grinned. “Evan, that’s perfect. And I promise that we aren’t going to haze you, at least not the first time.” She winked and gave a mighty yawn that made her feel more tired than anything else had thus far. “They’ll like you, and I know you’ll like them…they…they’re a little rowdy, I mean, most of us are girls, except Adria…but…but he…”
She paused and shrugged. “He’s Malcolm. Zack’s brother. So you know at least two of the people there…so doesn’t that make it sound at least a little better? His name is Adria, and he’s been one of my patrol partners for ages now…he’s such a nice guy. I’m lucky to have him as my friend.”
Honestly, Cambria felt lucky to have all of her friends, and yawning again she snuggled closer to Evan, pulling him into a tight hug. “You’re my favorite though. You’re the best friend that anyone could ever ask for, Evan…thank you for being in my life.” It was so hard not to take it for granted that he would always be there…because the moment she did that, he seemed to just disappear.
First into being a youma, and then into that mirror…she had to be extra careful to take care of him. She had to keep Evan around forever. Because if she didn’t…she didn’t know who else would.
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Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:00 am
Evan’s eyes drifted to Cambria. “Malcolm’s a Senshi?” he asked, almost skeptically. He hadn’t known much about Zack’s family life, but he had known that he and his brother didn’t get along. Evan’s experiences with him had been few and far between but all he’d heard from before was that Malcolm was useless, weak, a coward.
Zack had not had kind things to say.
But, now, Evan couldn’t recall Zac saying anything about him.
Malcolm had stopped by a few times, but Evan usually avoided company. In a way, he wondered how he had never questioned why Malcolm was coming to visit Zac or Cambria (though, he realized that most of the time Malcolm wound up at the house it had been while Zac was gone). He moved closer to Cambria, tucking himself in next to her.
Maybe Zac had just gotten nicer, but he’d even been telling Evan that he was doing a good job with this whole Senshi thing. Zac was proud of him, of how strong he was getting.
So if Malcolm could do it…If someone quiet, out of the way, non-violent—someone who quit school because of bullying—could be a Senshi…
He rolled the thought around in his head for a moment and then nodded again. “Okay. Yeah, I want to meet them. I mean, if I’ve got a best friend like you to introduce me, I don’t think I have anything to worry about. Even if I think you might be fibbing a little bit about me being your favorite.” He was still smiling and closed his eyes. “But I think if that’s the last thing I think about, I might even have good dreams tonight. Love you, Cambria.”
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