Quadrant Feathers

Chapter 33: "Keep It Simple"

Kwared scoffed before standing up, his tail shaking as glass fell.

"I don't need to talk to you, I don't need you, and I'll be fine," He spat as Phandrin stood as well, staring back.

"Kwared, stop pulling this- you're gonna end up doing something bad," Phandrin persisted stepping forward closer to the boy making him scoff again.

"I know my limits, you need to stop trying to fucking control me Phandrin," Kwared said making Phandrin clench his jaw.

"That, is not what I am trying to do, Kwared," Phandrin said lowly trying to stay more calm, he was already on edge from earlier.

"Please just listen to me, you're gonna get sick, you're gonna overdose or do something bad and I don't want it to happen," Phandrin said quickly as Kwared glared at him.

Phandrin waited for a response as Kwared just glared before pressing his ears down against his head.

"Go home Phandrin, I promise you I won't be fucking dead next time you see me," Kwared said leaning back against the wall again.

"I don't see aid in lying to me, or giving such a bad attitude," Phandrin said grabbing the boys face in his hands. Kwareds eyes widened as he grabbed the boys wrists.

"You're coming back to my dorm and staying with me until I'm sure you're clean," Phandrin said sternly, Kwared not finding any breaks in his voice as he tried to pull away from him.

"I can go to my own dorm-"

"Then I'll come to yours, you're not gonna be alone especially seeing as I know that wasn't all you got," Phandrin paused running a hand down to the pocket of the boys overcoat.

Kwared tried to pull away before Phandrin pulled out a bottle of pills.

"See? I'm not stupid, Kwared." Phandrin said pulling the boy from the wall as Kwared persisted.

"Give me those Phandrin- Im not kidding, I need them," Kwared said trying to snatch the bottle from his hands. Phandrin veered away, holding them at arms distance as he held Kwareds wrist with the other.

"No you don't, let's go back to the dorms, ok?" Phandrin said quickly as Kwared continued persisting.

"Just give me them," Kwareds voice raised a bit as Phandrin pushed him back, his hand holding him to the wall as Phandrin called for Ace.

She came into the room quickly as Phandrin tossed her the bottle, Kwared Seyed widening before he smiled.

"Ace give me those, do what I say or you know what I'll do," Kwared smirked as Phandrin looked confused at her. Her eyes widened as she looked between the two, Phandrin holding Kwared against the wall, a stern look on his face.

"Ace, pour them out and crush them," Phandrin said quickly as Kwareds face went white.

"No no no Ace, C'mon give me them, I'm gonna get sick bro give me them," Kwared persisted, his nails digging into Phandrins arms as he struggled.

"Ace, he's having a withdrawal, those will make this worse," Phandrin said hissing at the boys grip.

Ace thought for a moment, her family could be exposed by Kwared. Kwared didn't care about what happened to her, all he cared about right now was the drugs, but if she gave them to him there was a chance he'd die, if she destroyed them maybe they could convince him other wise. Maybe Phandrin could help her get him clean.

Phandrin felt blood trickle on the inside of his sweater sleeves as Kwareds struggling grew, he glad Kwared seemed to be trying to avoid hurting him, despite the nails in his arms.

Ace paused before pouring the pills down onto the floor as Kwareds face turned even more white than before.

Phandrin stumbled when Kwared almost threw him back, Ace crushing the pills quickly as a quiet wail escaped Kwareds mouth.

Ace's ears wilted down at the sound of the boy crying, Phandrin feeling the boys nails shorten out of his skin.

"Ace, Ace seriously I'm gonna get sick I need those, please can you go get more," Kwared yelled at her, Phandrin feeling his chest tighten seeing an empty needle on the ground behind Kwared, Ace holding her head down as Kwared continued yelling at her.

"Kwared come on, let's go to your dorm ok? I just need you to calm down," Phandrin tried reasoning with him as he continued to struggle.

"This isn't how an apology is supposed to go ..," Ace muttered under her breath as Kwareds wailing echoed in the room.

"I know... When we can get him to calm down, when he's sober.. we can talk to him again, right now he's not in any stable state o mind," Phandrin said quietly as Kwared struggled in his grip against the wall.

"It's gonna be hard, last time he withdrawaled he did something similar to this for almost an hour," Ace said as Phandrin grabbed Kwared wrists holding them together so he couldn't scratch him any more.

"I'm sure we can get him to calm down sooner, we walked around a lot today, he has to be worn out.. he might pass out," Phandrin said as Kwared growled at him.

"Phandrin I'm only gonna pass out if you don't give me those back, I need them," Kwared barked as Phandrin shook his head.

"They're already gone, you can't use them now Kwared just calm down so we can go back to our dorm," Phandrin said as Kwared ignored him continuing to ask Ace to give him  back the pills.

Phandrin sighed as Ace moved to check the boy's pockets, pulling out another needle and bottle as well as strips, Kwared almost kicking her away.

"I PAID FOR THOSE YOU LOWLIFE," Kwared telling echoed through the room as Phandrins ear pressed down from the volume.

"I'll pay you back, Kwared let's go," Ace said stomping on each of the items as Kwared gave up, his body going limp onto Phandrin, his crying and yells of anger continuing to ring quietly.

Phandrin stumbled slightly with the new weight, his arms wrapping up and around the boy as Ace paused.

"Careful... He might be tricking you or something," Ace said as Phandrin nodded, he felt the boys hands grip his sweater under his wings, his face in his neck as he leaned into Phandrin.

"I think he's ok, he knows he can't have them now," Phandrin sighed as Ace nodded eying him. Kwareds tears running down his collar, his body shaking as Phandrin leaned down.

"Kwared, were going home now ok? You have to either walk or let me carry you," Phandrin said as Kwared ignored him, Ace sighing.

"We're gonna have to carry him, aren't we,"