Bryan was quiet, leaning against the wall and feeling his nose, wincing in pain. He wasn’t sure if it was broken or not, it hurt like hell was all he knew, and it’d been bleeding. When he heard the words, he jolted a bit, head shooting up and eyes going wide. Murphy. “I-I…” He stammered for a moment,
“Nobody hit me, if that’s what you’re asking.” Well, that was stupid. It was probably pretty obvious that someone had hit him, what was wrong with him? It wasn’t like he’d walked into a door or moved the gun and smacked himself in the face with it or something. He winced a little, sure that the other wasn’t going to believe that.
Bryan looked up at hearing Bou’s voice, startled out of where he was trying to wrap his knee up. He gave the older male a sheepish look in response to the question. It sounded stupid to try and explain it; especially since this was probably the thousandth time it’d happened, though not enough to hurt himself before. “I tripped,” he told him, “I went to go outside and look for you, and I tripped over that one spot again, but this time I didn’t catch myself. You wanna help me bandage up and maybe make it better with a kiss?” He gave Bou the most innocent look he could manage.
“How did you get that?” Bryan hadn’t expected anyone to open the door, and was startled, nearly falling back on the bed as he spun to face the girl as she entered the room. He knew exactly what she was talking about; there was a scar on his back; one that reminded him all the time of Ice Nation and what they’d done to their people. A scar he’d gotten fighting for his life.
“Got what?” He asked quickly, reaching for his shirt and tugging it back on quickly, in an effort to hide and pretend that he really didn’t know what she was talking about. He wasn’t sure he could even explain it or talk about it yet; the memory was fresh and still scared him. He offered Gina a half-smile instead, teasingly questioning to change the subject, “You need a few minutes away from the drunks, huh?”
“How did you get that?” Her words made Bryan jump from where he was sitting on his bunk, shirt pulled up to look at the large bruise on his side. He froze, realizing that there was no way to pretend she hadn’t seen it, or that she might be mentioning the long scar on his back; he’d told her about that one before. No, he’d just have to tell her about the stupid bruise.
“I fell down the stairs,” He spoke quickly then, pulling his shirt back down and giving her a tiny shrug, “Missed a step and went down, I put my arm out to try and catch myself so I landed on my side.” Well, he hadn’t exactly lied to her; he had gone down the stairs. However, it hadn’t been because he’d missed a step. It had been because a grounder hadn’t liked the way Bryan had looked at him, apparently.
Send me “How did you get that?” and I will generate a number from 1-25 for what my muse responds. Whether or not they are being truthful is up to the mun.
She put her arm around his shoulder and led him inside. “I hesitate to call it food, but it is edible,” she said, forcing a laugh. Maia pretend not to notice the awe in his voice. She’d been in his shoes once. It had only been a few months since they’d escaped Mount Weather. They’d all gone through hell then, but when they walked through those gates they didn’t want anyone’s pity. Then again, the mountain hadn’t been all bad. They’d been given great food and clean clothes. Azgeda surely hadn’t provided the same luxuries to their captives.
“Arkadia is sort of like the Ark. Minus the threat of being floated,” she explained as they headed down the hall and to the cantina. “The guard actually tries to protect everyone now. No more looking over your shoulder wondering if you’re going to get in trouble for taking an extra piece of bread or whatever.” Maia picked a table inside and motioned for Bryan to take a seat. A couple of people turned to stare at him and she shot them threatening looks to warn them not to intrude. He’d been through enough without his own people interrogating him about what he’d seen. “Sit, stay. I’ll get you something to eat.”
Bryan could hear the way she was forcing the laugh, and he got it; months ago if anyone had told him he’d be excited for ark rations, he would have told them they were crazy, they weren’t something to look forward to. Still, he’d been starving in Ice Nation, and the thought of getting something to eat, and something from home anyway, was a blessing now. He was just grateful she wasn’t completely mocking him for it, or pitying him.
“No threat of being floated, huh?” He asked softly, “And the guard protects? That… that sounds a lot better.” He walked with her, making sure he remembered the way they were going; it was sad, but he was still afraid he might need to escape fast or something. When they got there and she motioned to the seat, he quickly sat down, not noticing the people that had been staring. “Thank you,” He stated gratefully.
as soon as she’s inside the apartment she wanders towards the couch, plucking a forgotten tank top up off the side of it before she wanders towards the door. “sounds like a mighty fine plan to me, anything else we need b?” she asks, throwing the shirt on before shaking her hair out in front of the small mirror by the door. though the younger blake knows her brother doesn’t do well with emotions ( really, neither blakes did ), she was sure that if she pressed him long enough that he could give her some sort of inkling to his best friends recent behavior towards her roommate. “you want to make this a whole night?” she asks, grabbing her bag off the floor to sling around her shoulder. “we could grab some movies from harper’s after we hit the store – you work tomorrow?”
Bryan hummed thoughtfully, trying to decide what else they might need to pick up while they were out. “I dunno, I guess we see if anything looks good in the store?” He chuckled out then, “Always find things you don’t realize you need until you’re there, right?” At her words about making it a whole night, his shoulders relaxed and he looked a little more at ease; focusing on that instead of Miller and what might or might not be going on was a much better idea than anything else. “Yes!” He agreed quickly, “Let’s make it a night. I have the day off since I finished that article early today, so lets’ do it.”
“bryan. bryan.” he’s just going to poke the other. this whole bunker business? well, he isn’t liking it. then again, we don’t think he’d like space, either. though, it was either this or die, right? “uh, tell me a story. from space.”
Bryan let out a soft grunt, opening his eyes from where he’d closed them to rest a little. “Bou,” He returned faintly, before pausing at his words. He let out a soft chuckle, shifting to rest his head on the other’s chest. “A good story?” He teased, glancing up at him with a grin, before he continued, “Wanna know the story of when I first learned to knit? It was a disaster, but funny.”
“Since you’re here early, you get to help,” Bryan didn’t even say hi when he opened the door, instantly grabbing Maia’s hand and dragging her inside towards the living room. “Mom went out to get the cake, dad’s doing something in the barn, and I decided that I wanted some decorations but I can’t put them all up myself before everyone gets here, and I’m not even sure where to put everything, so you have to help.” He spoke as if he were giving her any choice, turning to look at his friend with a pleading look, bouncing a little on his heels.
indiebryan 