Rest

My body felt achy and sore as I woke up. My head throbbed and my stomach growled. How long have I been out? The sun blared through the window, and I rubbed my eyes. The blurry rays of light dissipating. I yawned and stretched. But I flinched immediately with the scrape marks that covered my body. Despite the headache and the claw marks, I truly did feel better. I felt more energized and upbeat. I felt like a whole knew person. I kicked the blanket off my legs and swung my feet onto the floor. I'll tell Lola the tea worked.

I quickly skipped to the closet, dawning on my usual set of clothes and bounced out the door. I was really in such a good mood, it was astonishing. When was the last time I actually felt this good? I walked into the commons room and found Sebastion sitting at the table with Aspin and Drake. Sebastion was facing away from me, talking animatedly to the others. No one seemed to see me, so I tip toed behind Sebastion's back. Aspin glanced up, surprised to see me. I put a finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet. I placed a careful foot on the floor, stalking him. He wouldn't expect me to be up this early, and after the events of last night, he was still probably half tired. What better way to wake up with an unexpected visit? When I got close enough I practically tackled him from behind.

"Oh look at my baby brother getting along with others. Whose the soft one now?" I squished the side of my face to his. He cursed under his breath as he tried to pry me off of him. But I only held on tighter, keeping my grip almost death like.

"You damned pea brain, get off me." He growled irritated. I let him go laughing as I plopped down in the chair next to him. He was so fun to tease when he was embarrassed. His face was red as he whipped around to glare at me. I batted my eyelashes like a mischievous child would to try and get out of trouble.

"So mean." I pretended to act offended. I let my bottom lip pucker in feigned disappointment. Sebastion just rolled his eyes and shook his head. But you could see the tips of his lips twitch as he fought a smile. So he wasn't really in a bad mood after all.

"Glad you are doing better." He mumbled around his cup. Aspin watched us carefully, eyes shifting ever so often. Normally he would crack jokes or chime in. But today he was silent, too silent. I've seen this type of behavior before, and it was never a good sign. But I had to trust that Master picked him and he wouldn't turn on us.

"Why are your hands bandaged?" Drake demanded. His eye brows furrowed in displeasure as he studied my wrapped hands. Sebastion and I tensed at the same time. I was already on the hot seat with him after yesterday's conversation. If he so much as found out what happened last night, I would be left behind for sure. I know for a fact he can't do this without me. My hearing was the perfect skill to get the information we needed, under the radar. Lola came in to the room, but paused when she saw me. Her eyes narrowed and she placed her hands on her hips.

"I told you to rest young lady. Why do you never listen?" She glared down at me. I was happy to avoid Drake's question despite her being angry. The more I avoided him, the better off my chances where to be on the mission. Or maybe just piss him off even more.

"I got hungry and I needed to stretch, my body was bunched up." I gave her a sheepish grin. She tsked as she shook her head.

"Lords have mercy if I ever have kids." She grumbled before disappearing into the bath house hall. Sebastion chuckled to himself. If her kids where anything like us growing up, she was going to need more than mercy.

"Did you sleep better?" Sebastion asked setting his cup down. I sighed happily, stretching again before leaning against the back of the chair. It was a dreamless sleep just like Lola promised. With the undisturbed amount of rest I received, I could feel my strength returning. I was starting to register movement faster and my thought process wasn't so sluggish. I could take on an army.

"Best damn sleep I've had in 15 years. If my stomach wasn't so angry with me, I would still be sleeping, But it can wait." I grinned as Lola brought out a plate full of eggs and bacon. It was a little cold, but food is food. I munched happily.

"Yeah, it was nice to sleep for once too. You actually laid still all night instead of hoping around." Sebastion grinned. I do not hop around. Now he was just trying to embarrass me, but little did he know that I could fight back. So I rolled my eyes and punched him lightly.

"What ever. You hog all the blankets so I don't want to hear It little bro." I said shoveling more food into my mouth.

"You guys share the same bed?" Aspin asked quietly. Fishing are we today Aspin? Quiet, observant, and fishing. What are you up to? Sebastion didn't read into it because he didn't skip a beat as he replied.

"First off, you are only older by eight minutes. Remember that you pea brain. And yes we share the same bed. We always have. It's a comfort mechanism." I casually pinched his cheek.

"Look at you! Sharing information. Where the hell did my wall of steal go." I cooed at him. He leaned over and grabbed me in a head lock, rubbing his knuckles against my head.

"God you are so annoying. I think I preferred you in your zombie state." We laughed at each other tossing back and forth insults as I finished my food. For once, it felt like I had nothing to worry about. Drake was burning holes into my skin with his eyes. He wasn't pleased that I had ignored him, and it was clearly showing.

"I really do have to thank you for taking care of me all these years. I don't know where I would be without you." I stared at the table. He ruffled my hair chuckling.

"Jeez. Would you quit already. You've had your fair share of protecting me too. We are siblings, we are suppose to look out for each other after all." He smiled into his cup, but his eyes where full of sorrow. The room went silent.

"Aria. A moment if you would." Drake's tone was firm, no room for argument. I swallowed nervously and nodded my head. Now was my chance to convince him that I was able to go. That I was reliable. I wouldn't give him the answer he was looking for, at least not yet. Not until I knew I could trust him. So we both rose from the table and he led me into the sparing room. Gently shutting the door behind us, he turned. His eyes where dark again today, a storm brewing underneath his stoic façade. Ah shit. I was in for it now.

"You avoided my question Aria. I don't like when I'm being avoided. So I will ask you one more time. Why are your hands bandaged?" I flexed my fingers nervously and avoided his gaze. Why did he make me so nervous. Not even Master's temper made me feel like this.

"If I tell you, you can't kick me off the mission. I know I have been a wreck the last few days. Thanks to Lola that is changing. You need me for my hearing, that's my I was assigned to the mission was it not?" Drake pursed his lips together and said nothing. Of course I was right. His threats where empty from the start. But I would appease him just this once and give him an honest answer.

"Lola explained to us last night that with my how tired I was, my nightmares caused me to be delirious. So I sort of snapped last night and woke up clawing at myself. I dug my palms trying to get rid of the memories of what I had done. But Lola gave me a tea that actually worked and I managed to get some rest. I'm not at my best, but I am a hell of a lot better than I was." His eyes stared down at me as I spoke. The storm had lessened, in his eyes, but they where still brewing.

"Anything else you want to tell me Aria?" He asked, tone almost deadly. I pretended to think about it as I pursed my lips.

"Not anything worth mentioning." I beamed at him. He growled, slowly stalking towards me as he grabbed my wrists up in his hands and pinned them above my head against the wall. My heart pounded in my ears, thrumming faster than I could keep up with it.

"Aria, you will tell me what it is that you are hiding. Why won't you say anything?" He was mad, almost like he was taking it personally.

"I have my reasons. Just please accept that until I am ready to talk. Once you hear it, you will understand why I am hesitant." The anger rolled away, and in it's place was hesitation. His eyes wandered my face, our bodies pressed together as he pinned me against the wall. My body hummed with awareness, wanting him to keep touching me, wanting him to go further. I could see it in his eyes too that he wanted to continue, but he had a greater hold on himself than I did, because he backed off and dropped my wrists.

"Very well Aria. I will do as you ask. But please, if anything bothers you, I would rather deal with it now than before it's already to late. I meant it when I said you where an important part of this team. That still stands." I just nodded once, my arms limp at my sides. His warmth still felt pressed to my body even though he was no longer there. We stared at each other in silence until Drake cleared his throat. "I want you rested up. So take the day and sleep. I will grab you in the morning so we can head out." He murmured, lingering a moment longer before he exited the room. I watched his back as he strolled out the door. What an interesting and intriguing man. I barely knew him, and yet he had so much control over how I felt. I wonder why that was.