Resolutions
The heart of winter, this year, had been far too exhausting for Cruz. Between making such frequent visits to Barton and Durem, the croc was subjected to a great deal more cold than was found in Gambino this time of year. This season always took its toll on the croc's energy but the sigel had been sapped even before Christmas, which meant that as much as he willed it Cruz couldn't attend the New Years celebration the lab held.
Aina and Mordekai attended, which both Cruz and Anita were delighted to hear that Seabiscuit was allowed to accompany them to the event. There had been a snowball fight and everything.
When tales of all the fun wound down and the raevans were put to bed, Mordekai recalled something else; something less pleasant and more concerning. Cesc mentioned the difficult time Iorek and Cruz had, but of course that was news to the man. It was not, however, to Anita, and she smacked a hand to her face when she realized. Shepard, himself, contacted her about the situation but in the wake of everything from that summer the detail had completely slipped her mind.
On top of it all, with her new understanding of those events, everything fell into place.
Quote:
CONVERSATION >
Shepard - Mobile
hey girl, howsit?
Hey, it's going. Howsit with you?
going. hey i saw reks a bit ago
told me bt him and cruz breaking up
was pretty ******** style="color: lightseagreen">Wait what? They're not friends anymore??
huh?
reks said they were dating
or he thought they were idk
??????????
Thaaaaat is the first I've heard of this. What the s**t.
uh yeah he was ******** about it
said the breakup was weird
idk he said cruz was sad but reks made him feel ok, said he wasn't bummed when it was happening but really down later
Jeez I'm sorry to hear that. I had no idea
I don't know why Cruz didn't say anything
tbh it seemed weird
Weird how
aside from the obvious
said the convo somehow went so he didn't feel anything right then
like cruz said something n he shut down totally til later idk exactly
Uh
Ok
I don't know what that's about but I'll definitely talk to him. That is weird.
yeah that's what i thought too
no idea but wht reks said
Yeah thanks for the heads up.
i'll let you know when I know what's going on
thx
drama with the kids always fun
Tell me about it
Like things aren't dramatic enough rn lol
hasn't ended since we got into lab
Hopefully this gets settled soon, whatevers going on
Just concentrate on your super manly cupcake dreamhouse and all will be right again (for five minutes)
hah will do
try and keep that kid from kissing too many unsuspecting kids too
Believe me I am trying.
Take care buddy
Shepard - Mobile
hey girl, howsit?
Hey, it's going. Howsit with you?
going. hey i saw reks a bit ago
told me bt him and cruz breaking up
was pretty ******** style="color: lightseagreen">Wait what? They're not friends anymore??
huh?
reks said they were dating
or he thought they were idk
??????????
Thaaaaat is the first I've heard of this. What the s**t.
uh yeah he was ******** about it
said the breakup was weird
idk he said cruz was sad but reks made him feel ok, said he wasn't bummed when it was happening but really down later
Jeez I'm sorry to hear that. I had no idea
I don't know why Cruz didn't say anything
tbh it seemed weird
Weird how
aside from the obvious
said the convo somehow went so he didn't feel anything right then
like cruz said something n he shut down totally til later idk exactly
Uh
Ok
I don't know what that's about but I'll definitely talk to him. That is weird.
yeah that's what i thought too
no idea but wht reks said
Yeah thanks for the heads up.
i'll let you know when I know what's going on
thx
drama with the kids always fun
Tell me about it
Like things aren't dramatic enough rn lol
hasn't ended since we got into lab
Hopefully this gets settled soon, whatevers going on
Just concentrate on your super manly cupcake dreamhouse and all will be right again (for five minutes)
hah will do
try and keep that kid from kissing too many unsuspecting kids too
Believe me I am trying.
Take care buddy
It was all the way back in god damned July. Anita felt awful – and how must Iorek have felt, and Cruz too.
She waited until the next morning to approach the matter, after they both ate. Minerva was out with friends from the previous night, no doubt sleeping a party off, so it was just the two of them and Tango in the apartment. As she brought their dishes to the sink, Cruz slipped toward the couch and the TV remote.
Before he had a chance to turn it on, she spoke. ”Hey, Cruz?”
”Yes, Nitaaaa.” The sigel leaned backwards over the couch to smile at her upside down.
He was in a good mood. She winced.
”Have you talked to Iorek recently?” There really was no delicate way to broach the topic.
Immediately, Cruz's smile waned. ”No?” His voice lowered, became timid. A moment later, his eyes widened as realization struck. Cruz paled. He shot back up to a normal posture then all but hurdled over the back of the sofa. ”s**t--” A hand clapped over his mouth.
Tango hurried over and nosed at Cruz but the croc floated just out of reach. ”Nita, I messed up. I-I messed up again, I--” She held her hands up as she cooed and he closed his eyes. How could he have forgotten about that? It hadn't been an intentional use of his powers, sure, but he still did it, he still overwrote Iorek's actions with what he wanted to happen and the fact that it was an accident didn't make it any better.
He recalled, vividly, that both of them were upset and bordering tears then suddenly Iorek was fine. Don't be sad. But he was sad. Cruz unconsciously refused him the ability, the right to feel sad because he didn't want to deal with the consequences of their misunderstanding. He wanted everything to be fine again.
Selfish,
”W-what should I do?” Cruz trembled, heart a flutter. Hands to his head, he floated somewhere between the sofa and the dining room table.
”Breathe, first.” Anita's words came gently. He tried. It was shaky and wrong but Cruz took several slow breaths, in and out, then nodded. ”You should call him.”
”B-but it's been--”
”Months, I know... All the more reason to.”
She was right. No matter how long it had been, there was still another mistake to account for. A grievous one made worse by how much time had passed. ”O-okay.”
Saying was always easier than doing, of course. After a hot bath to calm himself further, Cruz tried to steel himself for the conversation but found himself lost. How could he explain all of what he had done wrong to the gargoyle? It was so hard to put into words. Would Iorek even want to listen? Surely the effects had worn off by now but there was still a great deal Cruz didn't know about the power, and he didn't want to find out.
In all the time that had passed, Iorek hadn't once called or texted. That seemed to solidify matters – he didn't want to hear from Cruz, of that much the croc was certain. Rather than paint his friend into a corner, if he even still wanted to be Cruz's friend after such a thing, he sent a text. Iorek could then choose to answer on his own time – or, Cruz supposed, not answer at all. That would tell him enough.
It said 'hey' and nothing more.
He retreated from the bedroom, looking worn, and Anita offered a sympathetic smile from the couch. ”How'd it go?”
”Texted. Waiting.”
Anita nodded and looked to the floor. ”The important thing is that you reached out.” Cruz nodded, as well, but wasn't sure how he felt about the action. ”What... happened? With you two.”
Breath caught in his throat before he could swallow it down. ”It's, uh...” Cruz grimaced. He rubbed his arm as his posture slackened. ”He, um– f-for a long time, he–“ Cruz buried his face in his hands. It felt so stupid to explain, to face the fact he had been ignorant to Iorek's confusion for so long. ”Thought we were together, like you and Momo.”
”But you weren't?” Cruz shook his head, quick as anything. ”How did that happen?”
”I-I don't know. Kisses, maybe? He's– he's so good and nice but I don't...” The words flew out of reach but, like so many times before, Anita was there to decipher his half thoughts.
”You don't feel that way... you just wanted to be friends?”
He nodded, a weak murmur in his throat. ”So – so we talked. And I didn't– didn't want to make him sad, but–“ but oh, he did. Cruz sniffed and took a slow breath. ”Didn't know I could do those things yet. Forcing stuff. He was sad a-and I was sad... and scared. It happened and then he wasn't sad anymore, so–“
It sat heavy in Cruz's gut to think of how self centered he had been then, maybe still was. He hadn't put any thought at all to caring for Iorek's feelings, he just didn't want there to be anything negative between them and he wanted it so badly that he overwrote his friend's emotions.
He really was no good.
Cruz pushed his bangs back and stared at the floor, eyes wide and wet. Anita shifted in her seat. ”Okay... I had a feeling it was something like that.” With their understanding of Cruz's new power, how could it have been anything else? ”Shep texted me a while back. He, uh, he talked to Iorek after that and, um--”
”Was he sad...?” Cruz mumbled, pathetically quiet.
Anita hesitated. ”Yeah. Yeah, he was sad.”
With a hiccup, Cruz fished out his phone. There was still no response. According to the service, it hadn't even been read. ”W-what if – what if he never answers?”
”Then...” Anita paused. She looked toward the balcony, the overcast morning and the dull colors of the season swept across the beach. ”He'll be doing what he thinks is for the best. For the both of you. Sometimes that's all you can do...”
Phone clutched to his heart with shaking hands, Cruz hovered lower. He hated the idea of never speaking to the gargoyle again, of ruining their friendship, but that seemed the most likely outcome of this whole mess. A mess Cruz had no one to blame for but himself.
What a way to start the new year.
