Everglow: Friend From Far Away

21 - Civil War

"Here. . . uh, eat up I guess," Fischer stated, placing a plate of food in front of Mira on the table. Looking over at Ko, he saw she hadn't even taken a single bite from hers. Usually she'd down it in about thirty seconds flat but she didn't seem too interested in it now. He couldn't really blame her either.

Mira sat frozen, still in shock about coming face to face with an alien. Fischer could feel the tension in the air, it wasn't helping the already pressured situation. Looking back over his shoulder at the two of them as they sat there, locked in what seemed like an eternal staring contest.

Attempting to quell the stiff silence, he took a seat between the two of them.

"So. . . well. . . yea I don't really know how to ease the tension right now. I suppose if you want to-"

"How long has she been here?" Mira asked bluntly, sounding almost demanding. Fischer was surprised by her tone although once again, he couldn't blame her.

"Uhh, about two weeks," he responded sheepishly.

"Well. I guess you did an alright job of hiding her. I never would've guessed the reason behind you acting up was 'hiding a fucking alien,' you got me there," she stated, grabbing the glass next to her and taking a swig of water, "But why the fuck didn't you tell me?"

Her tone raised at the end, putting Fischer back on edge. He knew telling her the truth would most likely anger her even more, but he figured that he'd told enough lies to her already.

"I. . . I just. . . I didn't think you'd take it very well. I thought you might freak out, I thought you'd call the cops or something, I thought you'd do something to put her in danger, I'm sorry."

Her brow lowered into a scowl after hearing his words. "You thought I'd put her in danger? That was what you were scared about? Not the fact you had a god damned alien in your fucking backyard?!" she exclaimed, her fuse quickly burning out.

Fischer gave her a look of sorrow, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.

"What if she'd fucking eaten you or something hey? What if she was some sort of toxic. . . monster and you got really sick? What would you have done if she'd turned on you and torn you apart?!" she chastised, thrusting a finger at Ko in a demeaning way.

"Now hold on, she may be an alien, but she's no killer! She would've died if I left her out there ok? I did what I had to!" He rebuked

"What you had to?! You had to bring an alien back did you?"

"For her to live, yes! Why are you so up in arms about this?! She's done nothing to me, she was just as scared as you were when I met her!"

"I'm 'up in arms' because you never told me about this! You could've been killed!"

"But I wasn't-!"

"Stop! Please!" A shy voice called out.

The two of them ceased their argument and turned their heads towards a timid and nervous Ko. Her arms were held close to her chest, her eyes darting rapidly back and forth between the two humans in front of her.

"Please, neither of you are going to get anywhere arguing like this," she squeaked.

"She can talk?" Mira sputtered, bewildered by her speech.

"Yes, of course she can. She just knows when and when not to," he quipped, his eyes drifting over to Mira, who in turn promptly forgot all about Ko and shifted her focus back on him.

"Oh, you're so fucking funny Fischer. It really is nice to know this is the response I get for worrying about you!"

The sound of chair legs scraping on the tiles once again drew the two's attention back to Ko, who proceeded to wrap herself in her cloak and march out the door hiding her face from both of them.