word count: 716
It didn't take more than a glance for her to know, once she'd opened the door on her day off- Mother's always knew. At least Anna always seemed to. Björn had never been good at, nor tried, to disseminate his feelings.
"You look like you could use a vacation. You can take a leave of absence from work. If they don't give it to you, then you just get a different job, " She'd said it with unspoken meaning - your life is worth more than your job and I'm worried. She made the arrangements with the frequent flier miles they'd both racked up. She made the calls to family in Norway, ensuring transportation from public transits to cabins or guest rooms. Then she sat Björn on the floor in front of her couch and just brushed his hair, humming folk songs until he fell asleep. He stayed the night.
Morning brought a quick trip to the apartment- Colin was gone to dancing already as was usual. There was no telling if Avior was alive or not. Björn packed in silence- clothes, toiletries in airline approved containers and quantities, his mp3 player and headphones, cellphone and chargers. He left a note taped to the microwave.
Surprise visit family in europe. Gone for november three. Keep safe both you. Miss you alot.
Looking at it there were things that struck as incorrect grammatically, but that was usual. They'd both seen enough of his notes, and Colin enough of his short essays in school, to be able to interpret the actual meaning. A quick shower and change and he was out the door to catch a taxi to the airport.
The trouble with airplanes and depression was that there was so little to do in general on them, and what there was to be done- read books, magazines, complete Sudoku or crosswords- he didn't feel up for. It was a long flight. At least First Class had enough room in legs and seat to fit him. He had a window to watch the cloud forms fall by. He drank apple juice and drifted in and out of sleep. Dreams came unbidden and strange.
He was alone in woods, hunting a knight. It had taken a teleport and a hammer throw, blowing out one of their legs to get them to stop. He'd pressed them to send a missive, then pressed energy balls down them to heal the leg. Hvergelmir's smile was sad, too wide to her jaw, but she came. She could not speak. He didn't ask for absolution, or for forgiveness- those were impossible to earn. He would work. She wrote he might lose everything. He said he already had, and could admit it now. She nodded.
Danger pressed near as coats in a closet, and he stood there without speaking. They never suspected when he didn't speak. Most preferred he didn't. He remembered commandeering specific captains and lieutenants who all had violent, disturbed records for a strike. Blood splashed everywhere. Bones crumpled like tin and the lot of them didn't have time to scream. He clasped hands with a bull-masked Prince, with a woman scarred and wrapped in leather, with many knights of Mars. Kairatos. He set his hammer down and knelt before the man, who drew out a gladius. Everything went white as he startled-sat up-
ItWasThePlane.
He was on a plane.
"Would you care for a beverage, sir?"
He was on a plane.
"Would you care for a beverage, sir?"
Eyes wide, he stared at the flight attendant for a moment while she valiantly maintained her aplomb and smile. "Yes...ah, water."
What an odd dream. Nightmare? I can't tell. I was a General. Why was I a General? Who would promote me? But...those people were awful. The City, the world, everything was so ruined. That was Kairatos. He doesn't wear a masky helmet thing. He had a sword. Why was I kneeling- I was...it was like Kairatos. I was leaving the Negaverse. Hvergelmir- He needed the baggie they provided in the side pocket, losing all the water into it to the displeasure and discomfort of the other passengers around him. It seemed likely enough to be a fevered, nutrition and sleep deprived remix of the conversations between Obsidian and then Kairatos at the tree. At the diner. Likely, but it didn't sit well. He couldn't fall asleep again.
