Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Tough Love

Working with Silas wasn't just difficult.

The man was cold, not for animosity, for to say so would mean he felt.

No, the man was absolutely heartless, cold, calculating, and methodical as any machine.

His apathy was borderline cruel, if not downright savage.

When she had fallen, it was the Invalid that had come in unannounced.

Barging into the isolation ward, he fixed her with the same indifference as he always had.

"Get up." He demanded, ignoring how she jumped at the door, or cowered at his gaze.

She didn't move, and so he did.

Grabbing her by the wrist he dragged her, screaming and crying, out of the gurney.

"Don't touch me! Go away! Get away from me!" She struggled wildly against the shackle on her wrist, nearly hysterical.

"You're stronger than this." He snarled back, ignoring her screams as he pulled her towards the exit of her isolated unit.

"No!"

It is only cornered, that an animal became the most dangerous.

Frightened as she was and beside herself with rising, and overwhelming panic, she threw her full weight back, throwing Silas off balance and bringing them both to the ground.

The Invalid groaned and sat up, the redhead finally having stopped her vicous struggle, though this wasn't much better.

She sat with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arm's length between them, drawn taut and bearing her weight as she leaned away from him, trying to put as much distance between them as she could.

But still he wouldn't release his grip on her wrist.

"Look at me."

She sat still, as if she hadn't heard, but he knew from the tremble in her shoulder she had.

Still afraid.

"Look at people when they're talking to you." He bit out, albeit more forcibly.

When she didn't move yet again, he reluctantly released her wrist.

And she was already pressed against the wall as far from him as she could be.

This wasn't working. Just as he'd predicted.

But it would set the stage, just as he'd hoped it would.

"Fine. As long as you're listening it matters not." Silas stood and batted his pants free of dust, "But know that you're better than this."

There was a choked sob and he glanced over to see her face buried in her knees, shaking her head vigorously.

"Is that so? You don't agree, you think it's some false projection of mine mind, do you?"

A nod and stifled sniffs.

Even after the fact she was still trying to hide the tears, though it was mere moments ago that she had been crying.

She still had it.

"Do you think I treat you any differently now?"

A shake of the head.

"Heartless, I must be, no? My apathy to your, shall we say, dilemma."

Nothing. She was uncertain.

"Do you know why I treat you no differently despite your horrors that we witnessed--which you've relived--through the mindscape?"

Still nothing.

"Because you haven't changed. No matter what storm you weather, nothing extinguished the fiery Heart within."

Her cheeks colored, she never did take compliments well, what with how scarcely she heard them.

"You know who you are. You are still you, regardless of what they've done--and you've conquered it once. Some of us know of the sordid past now. And what of it?"

"It's disgusting. I'm disgusting."

It was the first Time in his monologue that she had spoken, a quiet, frightened voice, weak and tapering.

"Bloody vile!" This Time she couldn't stifle the cries, try as she might.

Silas stood there, watching as she huddles in on herself.

"Absolutely vile." He agreed nonchalantly.

Her breath caught in her throat and she felt her Heart twinge.

She knew it.

It was impossible to see it--to see her--with anything else but disgust. A memory so morbidly vivid could never be forgotten. When people saw her, it would be that sordid bit that they saw.

"The worst kind of vile."

There were hands on her, hands she could never shake off, so deeply burned into her mind.

"Absolutely disgusting."

Touching her, forcing her arms and legs spread--holding her down--

"To be so strong as to dredge up and confront the horrors from the darkest pits of one's own memories." Silas grimaced to himself even as he spoke the words and readied himself for the icing to top the cake. Such praise were embarrassing enough in their own right, but he pinned his hopes that coming from him, they would carry the weight he needed to pull her back up.

"..."

What?

Finally she was looking up at him. The bewilderment plastered upon her face said he had her rapt attention.

And he would not waste a moment of it.

"Few are strong enough to brave the monsters within." He smiled, "... And yet instead of holding your head high for it, you hide and call it disgusting. What then do you think of us, who hide behind masks?" Silas unfolded a hand to tap at the rim of his characteristic shades.

She was speechless.

What?

Nothing was coming to her.

No thoughts, nothing.

In all of her years of meditative practice, no matter how she tried nothing could clear her mind the way this man had.

"I treat you no differently because you are no different. None of us see you otherwise, if not better. You need not fear."

He strode across the room, grunting as he kneeled with some effort, and extended a hand, "Neiro and I will be meeting in lounge before heading to the solar. You're welcome to join us."

She hesitated, neither taking the hand, nor turning away.

"No one is forcing you to. It's alright."

She laughed, and shook her head. "I know what you're doing. What you did."

He didn't falter, but it did give him mental pause.

"You're not playing fair. I... I want to come. I--" she glanced around the empty room, and was mum.

Scared.

"You can hold my hand--but just this once."

Her eyes were on him again. So unsure.

"It's okay."

With a shaky breath, she took it.

Not a tentative touch, but a firm grip, and when she was looking at him again, it was the familiar determination. The same headstrong, fiery girl, who threw herself straight into the frenzy.

Because no matter who or what happened, she would always roll with the fall, and find her feet again.

Neiro was more than overjoyed to see her, and she only paused a moment before holding her arms open.

"I'm really here aren't I?" She whispered to him, and her arms squeezed the soft of him just a little tighter.

The question was befuddling, but Neiro nodded, "Far as I can tell. If you aren't, you sure have me fooled."

Esti laughed, a shaky sound, as she shook her head.

It was hard to believe, but here she was. Everything felt so much displaced, far away and on the verge of melting into nothingness.

She was here. 

Not in the dirty grimy room. Not in front of a black convex lens nor the small red link dully blinking above it.

The two hugged it out, three whole weeks worth of hugs, much to Silas's discontent.

Less hugging and noise, more peace and quiet.

But it was good to see that Esti wasn't broken by her troubles.

There was still much she could do yet. Would do, if he played his cards right.