“You need to do more than just sleep. Actually take a rest, do something you enjoy. Like, uh- you like playing the violin, right?” Pushing Rebecca probably wasn’t the best idea, but she needed the time off. Aerin knew very well that overworking oneself will only end badly.
He’s done it.
The initial response to her question was a quiet sigh as he shook his head. “I won’t lie to you, I feel like a completely different person.”
Even if she was attempting to change the subject, he wasn’t just going to ignore the fact that she was concerned. It was nice, honestly. He didn’t think she cared.
“But that’s to be expected. Anyway, I’m making you take more breaks. Starting now.”
“I only know so many songs though.”
But training was enjoyable for her, she refrained from saying. She quietly listened to him though and turned around to look at him at that last part.
“I’m glad you’re alive.”
But then she looked a bit confused. Starting now? Wait, what?
“Eh? I, uh-”
She didn’t want to make excuses as to why she couldn’t. That would be rude. So she nodded instead.
So that was what was on her mind. At least he knew what her thought process was so he could judge it accurately. He sighed and shook his head. The grip he had on her wrist loosening before letting go completely.
“You won’t get anywhere overworking yourself.”
It was a simple answer. The only one he could really think of for the time being.
“I take breaks to sleep.”
That was enough, right? Not that she slept much these days, considering she had a nightmare every time she slept. Though it hadn’t stopped her from going right back to sleep after jolting up.
Her arm hung by her side now, and she didn’t seem to be making any more movements to walk away.
Did he need anything else? She absently wondered that to herself. She would have asked if Aerin was okay, but she knew X wouldn’t have let him out of the med bay if he wasn’t 100% repaired and rebuilt.
But then again… Maybe it wouldn’t hurt just to be sure.
“…Are you feeling alright since you got out of the med bay?”
Okay, fuck what she wanted. This entire situation was unacceptable, and he needed to do something, anything. Once Rebecca had left the room, Aerin quickly stood and ran after her. Upon catching up to her, he took a tight hold of her (right) wrist and kept her in place. Or well, attempted to without possibly hurting her.
He was holding on rather tightly..
“I know I said you can walk away if you wanted, but fuck that noise. I’m not letting you continue to run from me. I’m your damn brother for god’s sake!”
He was infuriated. Whether it be with her or himself, he wasn’t entirely sure at this point. But this needed to stop. From the very beginning, she’d avoided him. Sure, they’ve had their talks here and there, but it was all very short lived. That wasn’t how siblings were supposed to be..
“I’m sorry for being an asshole, but you’ve gotta step up. Don’t think I’m saying all of this because I hate you or something like that, I’m telling you this because I care.” A sigh. “I know I’m not showing that very well..”
Her hands were shaking. She hadn’t expected Aerin to actually come after her and stop her. That had stopped her in her tracks though.
She didn’t understand. Didn’t he hate her? Why did he want to stop her?
“I thought I was stepping up by putting my all into training. That way this could never happen again. I’m not locking myself in my room like a crybaby again, so I’m not avoiding anything. I don’t understand why wanting to improve is considered ‘running away’ or a bad thing. Maybe I’m stupid, but I just don’t understand.”
She never wanted to see Aerin die like that again. Or her Papa being hurt like that again. Or that there had been nothing she could do to help at all.
She looked up at the ceiling, not looking at her brother at all.
“Your and Papa’s blood was everywhere. I couldn’t do anything to stop it, all I could do was carry you out of there, all I could do was run. I never want that to happen again, where I can’t help anyone.”
“So now you’re running away from the problem? What kind of Maverick hunter does that?”
It was true, he was taunting her at this point. And it wasn’t right, but he wanted – needed to get this off of his chest. All he’d seen from Rebecca was either her attempting to be far too strict, or running when she’s scared. While he can understand fear, this was inexcusable.
He turned to face Rebecca as she was walking out, his arms crossed.
“You can walk away all you want, but it isn’t gonna change the fact that you’re a coward.”
She had paused on the way to the door to quietly speak in response.
“Then consider me a coward. Think whatever you want. You have a right to do so.”
She didn’t understand what seemed to be so damn bad about wanting to improve herself to help others. She just didn’t have the mental energy to bother with this right now, and Aerin acting like that simply decreased her energy.
Something twisted in her stomach area, but she had said what she had come here to say. If Aerin wanted to taunt her, then fine. He could think whatever he wanted, and he had a right to hate her right now.
After all, she had gotten him killed by being stupid enough to get captured. Every nightmare she had since then dug that right into her processor to the point where it was embedded. Aerin’s and Zero’s blood splattered everywhere, across her face it was everywhere get it off she was so stupid-
She left the room, shoes softly tapping down the hallway as she intended to get back to training.
Was that seriously all she could think about? Granted, she was sort of thinking of his death. Aside from that, all of her focus was on herself. “It’s nice you wanna learn from your mistakes, but stop thinking about yourself.”
What were relaxed, open hands were now clenched fists upon his desk. Only after turning away from Rebecca.
“Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the apology. But quit throwing a pity party already.”
“I wasn’t thinking about myself. I was thinking of the people who could and did get hurt by me being stupid.”
It was clear enough to her that he hated her, or at the very least disliked her. Rebecca wanted nothing more than to get out of his way right now so he wouldn’t have to deal with her.
“I’ll get out of your way now, that’s all.”
She didn’t even have the mental energy to get irritated at the ‘pity party’ bit, She genuinely didn’t see how this could’ve been interpreted as a pity party, she wanted to improve herself so this never happened again, so no one else got hurt because of her stupidity ever again.
She hadn’t locked herself in her room to cry and sulk with her violin like when Papa died. She actively wanted to improve herself.
She got to her feet again and started towards the door, intending to leave and get out of his way.
To think that Rebecca had wanted to talk after all of this time was a shock. She hadn’t come to see him while he was stuck in the med bay, or even left a message. So why did she want to talk now?
Well, may as well see what she wants.
“Yeah, come in. You can sit on my bed.” He motioned for her to do so. When she eventually did, and closed the door behind her, Aerin took a seat back at his desk.
“What’s on your mind? You look pretty bummed out.”
She quietly sat down on the bed, not making eye contact with Aerin before she spoke.
“I’m sorry for being stupid enough to get captured. You got killed and that’s my fault.”
“I started training again as soon as I got cleared, so I won’t be that stupid ever again.”
And that was it. If he hated her after this, she was fine with that. She was completely prepared to leave if he told her to get out.
Back in the Game 