Heart-Fluttering, Blown Away by A Old Titan

Alex sat quietly, his mind swirling with the mystery of having a core and being a 'Flawed'. He sensed a mix of pride and sorrow emanating from Lydia, a complex emotion that hinted at a deeper, untold story.

"That's why we recognised you as a 'Flawed' like us and why Grandpa mistook you for a threat. Our yard is a frequent target for members of other communities, searching for… well… dangerous things." Lydia's voice carried a hint of frustration. She removed her glasses and placed them on the top of the drawer, continuing, "The district is always a dangerous place, but it's the clashes between the communities that worsen the danger."

Alex's memory flashed back to the dumpsite where he had awakened. The place was a chaotic jumble of potential weapons—metal poles and sharp objects protruded from every heap. Recalling his fall from the hill, he glanced at his body, a surge of gratitude for its regenerative ability washing over him. He would have been a casualty of the dumpsite's treacherous environment without it.

Lydia's sigh carried a heavy weight, a mix of pride and worry that was palpable in the air. Her eyes, turning toward the doorway, a mirror to her soul, reflected the depth of her emotions. "Grandpa Jeb is a very kind and protective person. He might look big and scary, but I know his core is filled with kindness and care for others."

Alex followed her gaze, and his attention was drawn to Jeb, who stood in the next room, his large hands cradling an old-fashioned handheld phone that seemed like it came straight out of the nineteenth century. Despite its size, the phone seemed to fit Jeb's hands perfectly. His face, usually stern and imposing, was now creased with worry, his hand pressed against his forehead as if nursing a headache. He appeared to be engaged in a serious conversation with the other caller.

As Jeb moved around, speaking on the phone, he noticed Lydia's gaze on him. Jeb's expression softened for the first time since Alex had met him, his eyes revealing the gentle warrior within. He gave Lydia a reassuring smile and nodded, silently conveying that everything was under control. He walked away and continued his conversation out of sight, leaving a lingering sense of security in the room.

Lydia turned back toward Alex, pressing her lips together thoughtfully. She clutched her hands in front of her and leaned in closer, her eyes earnest. "You might not believe me… but I'm sure he's also very concerned about you. I'm sure of it!" 

Alex felt his heart or core, or whatever was beating so loudly in his chest, race as Lydia leaned in, her proximity making him increasingly nervous. He instinctively leaned back a bit, trying to hide his awkwardness.

His hands shook slightly as he held them up in a reassuring gesture. "Ah, it's fine. I'm not mad or anything. I understand where Mr. Jeb is coming from. If someone appeared out of nowhere in a dangerous territory I was protecting, I'd show some aggression, too. Probably."

"Really? You're not mad?" Lydia asked, leaning in even closer, her hands tucked against her chest. Her curious eyes were a mix of relief and worry, her face now just inches from Alex's.

At this point, Alex's heart was pounding so hard he was sure Lydia could hear it, considering how close she was now. His eyes widened as he leaned back as far as he could, trying to take a few steady breaths. Instead, he inhaled Lydia's hypnotisingly flowery scent, and soon his eyes were practically spinning, dizzy from all the unfamiliar sensations and crippling adolescent anxiety he was feeling.

"Yeah, yeah… uh… Lydia?" Alex managed to squeak out jitterily.

"Hmm?" Lydia cocked her head to the side, her expression as innocent as before.

Staring into her glittering eyes, Alex stammered nervously, "Uh… not that I dislike it… but you're really close…"

Lydia paused for a moment, wondering what Alex was talking about before suddenly realising how close she was to his face. She let out an embarrassed gasp before shooting back in surprise and sitting down quickly.

"Ah, sorry." Alex quickly apologised, afraid he had hurt her feelings and did not want her to misunderstand his intentions.

"Uh… mmm… sorry about that, too," Lydia replied, turning her face away shyly. Alex could see her blushing deeply, a crimson hue spreading across her cheeks.

Seeing her blush, Alex felt his own face heating up, and he knew he was blushing just as intensely. The awkward yet strangely comforting moment left them both flustered, and they shared an unspoken connection in their mutual embarrassment.

"AHEM!" Jeb's booming voice once again echoed through the room, shattering the heart-fluttering atmosphere with his authoritative presence. Lydia and Alex stiffened in surprise, wondering how long Jeb had been standing there.

Looking completely unamused and unimpressed, Jeb surveyed the scene. He noted Lydia's flushed face, an apparent remnant of her embarrassment. Then he fixed his intense glare on Alex, the kind of glare reserved for chasing away annoying skirt-chasing boys who are after his granddaughter. The threatening aura emanating from Jeb made Alex twitch, a shiver running down his spine.

Lydia, seeing her grandfather's glare, pouted. "Oh, Grandpa!"

"Nuh uh uh, it's my right as a grandfather. Every boy who wants to get close to you needs my approval. Otherwise, every one of those no-good admirers of yours—"

Before Jeb could finish, Lydia raised her voice in a panic, flailing her hands in the air before covering Jeb's mouth to stop him from finishing his words. "Awawahwah! No need to continue that! I get it! I get it already!"

Alex awkwardly sat through the entire comedy bit playing out before him, feeling warm-hearted at Lydia's closeness to her grandfather. Suddenly, a sense of nostalgia washed over him, as if he had witnessed a similar scene before, but the memory slipped away before he could grasp it.

"Anyways! Grandpa, how was your call? Did you find anything out?" Lydia quickly asked, stepping back and lifting her hands away from Jeb's mouth, trying to steer the conversation away from what Jeb nearly revealed.

"Ah, right, that." Jeb turned towards Alex, his eyes narrowing. He scratched his head in frustration. "Thing is, no one reported a lost person. Every community said they have their headcounts right. So, it's very likely that Alex here is a newcomer from the Outer."

"Oh, that's troubling. But what's the Outer?" Alex asked, another unfamiliar term adding to his confusion. He had anticipated Jeb's response but feigned ignorance to hide his own secrets. While he felt he could trust Lydia and Jeb, he couldn't risk revealing too much. If anyone discovered what had happened to him, he might be dragged back to the organisation Sarah and James were part of, and he doubted he would survive a second escape.

"The Outer? Hmm…" Jeb raised his head in thought before continuing, "It's difficult to explain. It's easier to let you see it." He turned and walked toward the doorway, then paused and looked back with slight concern. "Can you walk?"

"I think so," Alex replied, attempting to stand. However, as soon as he tried to walk, his legs felt weak and gave out, causing him to stumble. Both Jeb and Lydia gasped, quickly moving to catch him. Lydia managed to grab him by the shoulders in time while Jeb stepped forward to help support him and gently guided him back to the bed.

"Ah! Sorry..." Alex said, feeling dizziness creep into his head.

"It's fine, but I think you need more rest. We can worry about everything else later. Right, Grandpa?" Lydia looked at Jeb with concern. Jeb met her gaze, hesitating for a moment before huffing with resignation, his expression showing pride in Lydia's care for a stranger they had only met the day before.

"Yeah, we can't do much to help him if he's unable to move." Turning to Alex and putting his hand on his shoulder, Jeb's eyes softened, and for the first time since they had met, he spoke with a tone of assurance. "Take your time to rest up. We'll figure the rest out together later."

Alex nodded with understanding, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over him as Lydia gently guided him to lie down on the bed. Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh, allowing the weariness to settle in.

As Alex settled into the bed, Lydia approached him, her movements gentle and comforting. With a tender touch, she placed her hand on Alex's head, her fingers threading through his hair in a soothing gesture. Her touch was warm and reassuring, like a mother comforting her child.

With a soft smile that radiated kindness, Lydia whispered softly, her voice carrying a gentle reassurance, "Don't worry. We're in this together now. So, please relax and rest up. Everything will be alright."

As the dizziness swept over him like a gentle wave, Alex found himself smiling with a sense of understanding and relief. With a serene calmness washing over him, he surrendered once more to the comforting embrace of sleep, allowing the darkness to envelop him in its peaceful embrace.