« Prev 1 2 3 Next » Reply Share Thread Facebook Twitter Tumblr LinkedIn MySpace Email Go to Previous Thread Next Thread Please make a selection first Author Topic: Needing Answers (Piper) (Read 483 times) Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 11:29:18 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Hey. It's me. You know what to do." *beep* "Piper, hey. Uh... yeah. Aaron. I, um, we need to talk. About yesterday, and whatever was up earlier. I'm not mad, but you've really made me worried. Come up to the roof when you get this, okay? There's privacy up here." It was a little cold to be up here, but it was the first place he thought of, and he'd stopped by his pod to throw on a coat before he came up. Nobody was on the roof right now, but there wasn't any rule saying he couldn't be, so at least they could talk and not be overheard or get in trouble. So much to say, and he'd not had a chance to say any of it today. Twice today that he'd woken up in her pod and she'd not been around, first in the morning after she'd asked him to stay with her, then later when she suddenly texted him saying she needed him there again. After... well. They both knew what happened. He wasn't exactly complaining, nor was he so needy as to panic when he stirred awake and found an empty bed. He'd tried to tidy up, to leave the place not a total war zone, then shambled off to what few classes were left. Popped up to the library to see if maybe she was there afterwards, since it'd been one of her usual haunts over the past several days, but no luck. Maybe he should've just called right away, but that seemed weird after everything, and besides, she could've had classes. Or she could've been working through things on her own - everybody needed alone time now and then. Well, whatever. He'd called now, so the die was cast. He sighed and leaned against a railing, back facing the edge of the roof as the cold November air swirled around him. The past few days had been weird, and he didn't think he could be blamed for wanting to get some straight answers. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 11:36:31 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top It was cold. The little Aussie didn't do so well in the cold, even bundled up as she was. She didn't have a jacket that wasn't... his... so she had no choice but to face the cold weather in one of her oversized jumpers and hope for the best. Being grounded still rankled. That word... Grounded. She hadn't ever been grounded. Running a hand through her messy green hair, she left the Tutorial in a huff. When her phone alerted her to a voicemail, she visibly flinched. Fuck. No break, it seemed. She fished her phone out of her pocket (her training shorts were under a pair of pants... it's cold...) and gave it a listen. Aaron. She swallowed back her fear and sent him a simple text. I'm on my way. Without booze and without cigarettes. This conversation was going to suck. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 11:42:06 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Sure, I'll wait." No hurry after all, especially not as fast as she could move. The wind blew his hair to and fro, but the campus was otherwise still. Maybe odd, for a late afternoon at superhero school, but not unwelcome. It gave him time to think, to collect himself. Could he really just up and demand a straight answer from her after so long of carefully not prying? Well, something horrible had clearly happened yesterday. Hopefully she wouldn't blame him for wanting to get whatever was going on out in the open air where it could be dealt with. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 11:51:57 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top The roof was cold. Really cold. ... Too cold. She walked onto the roof and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold the heat in, somehow. She was shivering, teeth chattering, as she moved from the warmth of the staircase. Aaron was already there. While she knew he would be, she still froze, looking at him. Her shaking then had nothing to do with the cold. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 11:58:03 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top It was chilly, but nothing he wasn't used to from 16 years of Midwestern and East Coast winters. Clearly, not so much for Piper, and he probably should have expected that. Stupid bastard. Poor girl was shaking on top of everything else. He smiled, trying to keep the tension from before he called out of it, put in some warmth to replace the lack of it around them. Then he nodded to the stairwell. "Heat's probably still on in there, if you'd like to step in." If she took the offer he'd follow, stepping just into roof access and shutting the door behind them to keep out the bitter air. Echo might be a concern but at least she wouldn't freeze. "Sorry. Didn't expect it to be quite so chilly." Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 12:31:11 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "No, Aaron, it's fine," she assured him, making her way over. Besides... he looked nice and warm, and she'd really appreciate the touch. She tried to offer him a smile, but came to a stop about a foot away from him. She looked a bit shaken up and didn't meet his gaze. Her fingers continued to lightly caress where her necklace had always been. "I'm sorry," she said softly. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 13:13:22 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Nothing to be sorry about. You went through a lot." He stopped in his tracks rather than lead them inside, since she didn't want to go in. Didn't really seem like she could stand up to this weather with just that jumper, though, not the way she was shaking. She stopped a foot in front of him and so did he, so as not to bump into her. He watched her fiddle with a necklace that was no longer there, and pointedly refuse to look him in the eye. Maybe best to get to the point, then. "What happened yesterday? I came to help with the kids and found you having a panic attack outside. If something's wrong, you can talk to me about it." Not accusatory, hopefully not rude, just concerned. Curious. Something was obviously wrong. Couldn't it have just been trauma from the giant attack? She'd been right in the middle of it, and there he'd been, back at the Academy. That was possible. Seemed unlikely, though, somehow. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 13:43:24 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "I... it won't make sense if I try to tell you," she said softly. Her fingers remained at her neck and she just stared at the ground, thinking. He wouldn't want to be around her anymore. He would hear her story and see her as a broken little puppet. He would cast her aside. Her shaking worsened and she forced back the bile that threatened to sour her stomach. Reaching out, she silently offered him her hand. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 13:55:44 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Try. I've got time." He took her hand, strong but gentle, and waited. Patient, because after all, he did have plenty of time. That wasn't a lie. He would've made time, anyway. She obviously had one hell of a story, and even an idiot could see that tale needed telling. The sooner, the better. He felt the shaking worsen, tightened his grip just a little. He was there, hopefully that show of support would help. "You look like you're going to be sick. You okay?" Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 14:55:57 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top She couldn't help but laugh at that. Okay? No. She wasn't okay. She clung to his hand. "I need to show you something," she said softly. "It might help explain a few things." Slowly, she let go of his hand and turned around, facing away from him. Her breath was ragged. It didn't matter what they had done... she had always been so careful to avoid letting people see her back. Clenching her teeth, she slowly rose the hem of her jumper. It wasn't enough to be inappropriate, but it would be enough for him to see the war zone that was her back. Some of the scars had faded away to a soft white color, and none were welted anymore, but others looked only a few weeks old: an ugly, purple red color that hadn't had the time to heal. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 15:42:59 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Holy shit." Well, that explained why she kept making sure he couldn't see her back, earlier. Several long seconds passed where all he could do was stare at the scars, his mind switching numbly from one to the other. She'd been through all this, and she'd still come here? She'd still risked her life to save those children at the hospital? He had a better feeling for what she was trying to get away from, at least. Why she said she had nothing left back home. It was one thing to guess that something bad had happened she was running from, to figure there was probably an unhappy story back in Australia, a wholly different thing to see it. He never meant to gawk, but the sight transfixed him, and his stomach turned. He didn't notice his hands clenching into fists. Don't overreact, Aaron, she was trusting you with this. "This is what you were getting away from, when you came here?" Not judging her, only asking. There were more questions, who did this had been on the tip of his tongue, but it didn't feel like the time. Let her tell him what she would tell him, on her own time. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 15:50:18 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top She dropped the jumper to cover the scars again, wrapping her arms around her stomach. She didn't want to show him. She didn't want to talk about the scars or how she got them. She didn't want to answer any of his questions... but he deserved answers. Piper took a deep breath and closed her eyes, turning back around. She refused to look at Aaron, then, as she slowly shook her head. "No, Aaron. I wasnt... running from... him." It seemed painful for her to say the pronoun. "I was running from my mother... and trying to run... back... to him." She was so quiet. She was far quieter than she should be. She felt certain he would call her crazy, insult her, something. She clenched her teeth tightly and tried to breathe. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 16:01:44 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Who?" Trying to go back to whomever did this? ...Well, abusive relationships were a thing. And he couldn't think of any other kind that would leave scars like that on somebody. He wrestled down the shock and anger the sight of them rose in him, forced a bit of warmth back into his voice. None of this was her fault, don't let her think he was mad at her. Aaron just wanted the truth. He would listen to whatever she had to say, that was the entire point of asking for this meeting. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 16:05:57 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Silence. She stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes. He was a Silverman. He knew Paradigm. If what Mat said was true... Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Jimothy Clavish?" Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 16:18:16 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "The Imperial operative? The traitor?" Ironic, that he'd been reading the file on that man just the other day. His eyes widened, his fists unclenched, his skin went a little paler, but... no. That wasn't on her. What the hell had he been doing in Australia? "No, it's okay. I'm not mad at you; you wouldn't've known all that back then. The name's just a shock." It was the truth, and he forced himself to relax, the tension in his muscles fading. This was still the same Piper he'd been getting to know, after all. And from the context... "What happened at the hospital - did he have something to do with it?" Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 16:23:07 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top She visibly flinched when Aaron snapped at her, curling up slightly and putting her hands against her chest. Traitor. Her body quivered as that word burned itself into her. Traitor. Traitor. Traitor. She might be sick, after all. Unable to speak, to focus, to do much of anything... she just nodded. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 16:28:34 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top He had to choose his words more carefully, here. She reacted like he'd pulled a gun on her, and any trace of anger fled him as he watched her stand there, quivering. The nod was almost imperceptible. Use some goddamn tact, Aaron. Look what you did. His eyes met hers, and she wouldn't find any judgement there, only concern. Sympathy. Clavish being around... well, that's very bad news. But he could wait. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, it just startled me." He kept his voice reassuring, calm, took a step towards her. "Just talk to me, I'm here, you can tell me anything. What happened?" « Last Edit: Nov 24, 2015 17:06:06 GMT -6 by Aaron Silverman » Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 16:33:51 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top He was trying to comfort her. She knew that. But she also knew that telling him anything more would put him in even more danger. She wasn't exactly in a place where she could handle losing him... or anyone, really. "I... He found me," she said softly. "Outside the hospital." Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 17:13:58 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top So he was in Chicago. That could be bad. He'd have to tell Director Gavyns, for sure, but only once he knew she was okay. "What did he do? Did he hurt you?" Obviously he'd done something. She'd been fine on the phone, in the middle of a complete breakdown when Aaron next saw her. He'd meant it when he said she could say anything, and besides, he couldn't help deal with this if he didn't know what was going on. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 17:35:59 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Not... physically." She looked up at him, her eyes darkening as she remembered his words. She shuddered slightly and reached up, as if she were going to grab at the necklace that was no longer there. She wasn't supposed to care, but for years, he was the only one that had cared for her. How could she turn against him? She swallowed painfully and whispered, a hoarse noise full of uncertainty, "He would... not hurt his..." Then, brokenly. "Puppet.. unless she failed him." Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 18:04:05 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Without thinking, his hand slowly extended, and if she let him he'd take the hand she was reaching up with. Softly, no real force to the grip, but just to show support. Puppet, huh? Well, those strings didn't have to be there if she didn't want them to be. "What did he say, then? Are we in danger?" Well, if you were in Paradigm, you were always in danger at some point or another. His parents had made sure he knew that full well before ever singing up. She would probably know what he meant, though. He wanted to ask about the puppet thing, about failing, but too much coming too fast might overwhelm her; just give her time. « Last Edit: Nov 24, 2015 18:04:57 GMT -6 by Aaron Silverman » Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 18:11:52 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top She let him take her hand but looked obviously uncertain about it. The more he touched her, the more she wanted him to. She had a moment, sitting there, remembering only a few hours before... It felt like years. She took a step towards him, uncertain of what it was she wanted, but did not close the rest of the distance. "Not exactly," she said softly, refusing to look up at him. The shaking started again, and her fingers tightened around his hand, as if he were the only thing holding her in place. Where else she would go, she didn't know. "Mat knows." Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 18:45:10 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top ...Oh. Mr. Amtrum. Aaron'd avoided him ever since they talked about his case. Sounded like that might have to end soon. Not a conversation he looked forwards to having. Hopefully Mr. Amtrum hadn't noticed that Aaron skipped a session. That could wait, though. He felt the shaking start up and squeezed a little tighter, not taking a step because they couldn't get much closer without being right up against each other but giving her hand a slight tug to let her know she was welcome. If she finally looked back up, she'd find he hadn't taken his eyes off her. "Let me know if you want to get out of the cold, but I need you to tell me everything you can. At least what Clavish said, what you told Mr. Amtrum. Otherwise, it's gonna be a lot harder for me to help." That he would help wasn't even a question, obviously. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Sarah White Mentor Defense When Autumn Came... [send pm] Joined: October 2015 Gender: Posts: 2,037 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 18:49:08 GMT -6 via mobile » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top She glanced up at the tug, not really sure what it was he was offering her. She couldn't focus on any one train of thought, and what usually gave her immense amounts of comfort only served to make her even more uncertain. She tightened her fingers in response, but dropped her gaze again. "You shouldn't," she told him softly. "Want to help, I mean. You shouldn't want to help." Of course he wanted to help, she chided herself. He was a hero... a true hero. And Clavish was a villain. Of course he would want to go chasing after the bad guy. Back to Top   Aaron Silverman Legend Defense ... [send pm] Joined: November 2014 Posts: 3,701 Needing Answers (Piper) « Nov 24, 2015 18:55:23 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Well, for one he'd like her to look him in the eye. It's not hard. "Why not?" Seriously, why wouldn't he. Back to Top   Some things are worth fighting for, some feelings never die... Reply Share Thread Facebook Twitter Tumblr LinkedIn MySpace Email Go to Previous Thread Next Thread Please make a selection first