Crimson

Skip the anger stage : Bargaining

Juno stared at Vita .

He seemed strangely shocked , it was almost as if he had not suspected me at all .

Was that even possible ?

Mama had taught me that everyone was a suspect .

Vita took a step back .

I watched as his eyes strayed to the mask I had abandoned on the table .

I was usually never that careless but Larona had been in critical condition , my mask had been the last thing on my mind .

Why did he look so shocked ?

Was he not here to arrest the thief ?

I looked at Ali , I wondered what he was thinking about .

Probably regretting the moment he had agreed to let me go to Larona .

The doctor did not mind that the atmosphere was tense , he kept on with his business .

I had known him for so long and I knew nothing about him , just that he was old and did not joke with his job .

I still could not breathe well .

I had used gunpowder to break down the walls of the governor's house , when I had entered I had been unable to find Larona .

Feeling more claustrophobic with every passing second that I did not find her , I had again used gunpowder to blow down the walls of the basement .

At this point , I had been struggling to breath but I had found her .

When I had left with her , I had encountered Vita again and had to use another smokescreen while still running .

My whole body hurt now and breathing had become a chore .

But , I could not show that to Ali .

I thought back to our conversations , we had always assumed we would be gone before we were ever caught .

This was my fault , I would not let Ali clean up after me .

I cleared my throat .

" Why is the brigadier here ?"

Vita looked at me , his eyes hardening , he was terrible at hiding how he felt .

He did not look like he was going to answer .

Ali stepped in front of me .

" Let us talk outside , the doctor needs complete concentration to help Larona ".

That was a good , rational idea .

The fact that I had not thought of that meant I was actually anxious , I sighed and nodded .

I realized no one was looking at me , I stopped nodding .

The door opened quietly and I heard Vita step out , Ali went after him and I followed , trying to hide the fact that I was losing sensation in my body .

When we crossed the door , Vita was standing feet apart in the center of the room .

If the situation was not so dire , I might have laughed .

Ali positioned himself opposite Vita , feet apart and hands folded .

Was this a thing ?

Was I supposed to join too ?

The sight of the bed broke my fragile resolve and pride , the fatigue came pouring out .

My body had begann to sag , I walked towards the bed and sat .

When I had made myself marginally comfortable , I looked back at them .

They were no longer having a stare down show , they had both turned and where looking at me strangely .

I lifted my hand and laughed in an attempt to stop them from worrying .

A failed attempt , I flinched .

I had jumped out of the governor's window while carrying Larona .

To make sure Larona was safe , I had used my side to break her fall , I did not feel anything after , the endorphins were high .

Now , my ribs hurt like I had been branded .

" Are you okay ?"

I looked up , Vita was on his knees by my side .

Ali stood a little behind him , his face unreadable .

I nodded .

He did not look like he believed me .

" Why are you here , brigadier ?"

Ali had returned to his folded arms position .

Vita sighed and turned around .

" I heard you were acquaintances of the thief ".

Wait.... acquaintances ?

Did he really not know I was the thief ?

Well , that explained his shock but did he really not know or did not want to know ?

Vita got up , stretching to his full height .

" What exactly did you do to get the entirety of the Agrippan armed forces on your ass ? "

Ali smirked , " We became acquaintances with the thief ".

I smiled slightly , Ali was being sassy .

Vita nodded .

" And this morning ?"

Ali raised a brow ," What about this morning ?"

I watched Vita carefully , his pose was rigid , his fists balled .

" What happened to Juno this morning ? "

The fleeting look of shock on Ali probably lasted longer on me .

How had he known ?

Wait , that was not even the issue , was that really why he was here ?

A knock sounded from Ali's office .

He looked at me , a warning and then , he left , disappearing behind the door .

Vita's back was still to me .

" You should lay down , you're exhausted ".

I obeyed , I had been trying hard not to roll into the bed and fall asleep .

I tried to get my legs out of my boots , but it was stuck , I groaned quietly .

Vita turned around .

" What's wrong ?"

I had forgotten that the under of my feet were ripped open since I had not felt pain from it .

It seemed like they had ripped further and the skin and stuck to the boots .

Moving my feet even a little hurt .

I lay down with my boots still on .

" What's wrong ? "

He asked again , his eyes were on my boots .

" Nothing " , I murmured .

He knelt again by the side of the bed , he picked up my hand , intertwining our fingers .

" I am sorry I was not there " , he whispered softly .

I looked at his eyes , really looked .

I smiled ," You know , don't you ?"

He didn't reply and just closed his eye , I closed mine too .

I listened to his breathing as mine slowed down , I really was exhausted .

I would go to sleep and face whatever problems when I awoke .

Hot air fanned my temples and then warmth .

His lips were on my temple and then , they were on my brows .

My eyes began to twitch but in that moment I felt like if I opened them , it would all come to an end .

So I held unto the sheets and kept my eyes tightly shut .

His lips touched my eye lids and then , they were on my cheeks .

I waited impatiently .

He went to my nose , kissing the bridge of my nose .

He exhaled then and I opened my eyes .

His face was literally on mine , his eyes an eyelash away .

The gold flecks in his black irises were dancing , they looked alive .

I blinked when he suddenly kissed the corner of my lips .

I waited and he lingered by the side of my lips .

The weight of his face suddenly disappeared and I came out of my haze .

He was still on his knees but now he was by my feet .

He lifted my right foot up , holding it carefully .

He looked at me and smiled , a sad smile .

" I'll be gentle , close your eyes ".

I nodded because I did not know what else to do .

The thought of him seeing my blistered , bloody feet almost had me kicking him away .

But , I had limited time with him already .

And I did not want Vita to be just a memory .

So , I lay back down and closed my eyes , my eyes suddenly teary .

Why did I always have to be the one to lose someone ?

I did not have so much people to begin with .....

And I wanted Vita , goddesses , I wanted him so much .

I wanted him to want me and until this morning I had seen the possibility of that , he had confessed to liking me just the night before and now this .

It seemed like a month ago that we had that conversation .

If I could not have him , then the least I could do was not let him hate me .

So , I would do it . What my mother had hated , a principle she had taught me to live by .

I would explain myself even if I had been taught to never explain myself .

If I explained , then he might forgive me .

" It started a while back , there was just me and Ali at first , ouchhhhh ".

I flew back up and looked at him , he was already looking at me .

" Ali and I ".

He bent back to my feet .

" What ?" , I was beyond confused .

" It's not me and Ali , it's Ali and I " , he deadpanned .

What the actual....

I burst into laughter.

" I'm trying to tell you my life story here , I was preparing a sentimental mood and you are correcting my language ? Now ,Vita ?"

He just shrugged .

I lay back down , my shoulders still shaking .

I closed my eyes , some other time I would tell him .

He did not want to listen now , at least I was sure that he was a little bit angry .

His lack of emotions had begun to worry me .

" All done ", he announced .

I raised my head again to look at him , he was holding one of my boots up and staring at my bloody foot .

I had not felt a thing , I stretched my other foot towards him , he accepted it without looking up at me .

I lay back down but kept my eyes open .

" You don't have to tell me why you did it , I understood after walking around Agrippa ".

I raised my head back to look at him .

He was silent now .

" When did you..."

Ali came into the room and I turned to him .

" How's Larona ?"

His hand was over his face .

" The doctor says it's not looking good ".

I lay back down . It was never supposed to be this way .

" Will she live ?"

I had finally asked what had been plaguing me .

Ali dragged his hand down , he sighed .

His eyes were red .

" I really hope so ".

The tears I had been trying to hold back came then . Not Larona , she had suffered too much already .

I had promised her that I would protect her...

I put my hands over my face and sobbed quietly .

I was frustrated and hungry , extremely hungry .

But , I was pretty sure mentioning my hunger now was not the best idea .

My other boot fell to the floor , I had not felt anything again .

The sound of someone shouting jolted all of us .

We heard it again , men screaming .

I stood up immediately and looked towards Ali , " Get Larona and the doc away from here ".

He nodded and turned immediately , leaving us .

I turned to Vita .

" Leave now , I don't want you to involve yourself any further ".

He tilted his head , mimicking me .

" What can you do with feet like that ?"

He drew his sword out .

I laughed ," Watch me ".

I picked up my blades .

Larona and Ali would be on their way to my house .

I would stay here to keep the soldiers at bay.

Yes , this is what I was good at , protecting .

It would be easier now , I didn't just have me .

I had Ali , I had my grumpy Brigadier . I threw a blade at him .

" It's great for pinning people to surfaces ".

He showed me his teeth and I laughed .

Yes , this situation I could control .