The Winged Rebellion

Chapter 32: *unidentifiable screeching*

Sebastian

After our little break-in at General Claudes office, and Liz's fight, he seems more on edge than normal. Well we train outside and we can see him pacing in his office through the window. He orders more and more patrols daily, turning the White Wings into some controlling brutal police force.

Liz, Alex, and I have been dropping hints, finding out which teams we can trust, and weeding out the bad ones. So far, we've managed to gain 4 teams as allies, and we're certain that if it came down to General Claude vs. The Icarus Guard, they would side with us and the rebellion in the fight. The only problem is trying to expand without alerting General Claude to our presence in his ranks. It takes a lot of secret notes and quiet meetings, but we set up a system.

Now when we deliver the file copies we found to Andy, her team, and Diana, we'll be able to give them good news about some potential allies.

Before the meeting, I pace nervously in my gear, running a hand through my hair that's gotten longer than White Wing regulations allow. I'll be called in sometime soon to cut it off, but we might not even still be here by then.

It's a thought that sends anxiety shivering into my brain, but also tremors of excitement.

Eventually, it's time to head out, and we gather our weapons and slide into the jeep idling outside - bad for the environment but good for not having to wait. Alex is in the driver's seat, I sit in the passenger seat, and Liz, Topher, and Nate are crammed in the back.

The drive doesn't take us very long, half an hour or less, and soon we're parked behind the old coffee shop. We all pile out, and walk in the back door, Nate taking a minute to make sure we weren't followed.

This time Andy is sitting at a table with her sword and a hot cup of coffee. Luckily for me - or was it not that lucky because I really want to hug her and this would be the closest thing to it - she doesn't lunge and try to kill me again. I really am whipped, aren't I?

I hesitate, not wanting to intrude on her space, but also wanting to go sit next to her. The decision is made for me when Diana gestures everyone over to the big booth in the corner and informs us that we are going to be a full team again because it's too dangerous for all of us to stay at the White Wing complex. And I Oop-

The fury is visible on Andy's face, barely contained in her furrowed brows, sucked in lips, and visibly clenched muscles. So much for her not killing me anytime soon. She immediately protests, but Diana raises her hand solemnly and shushes her.

"I will have no arguments on this. This is what I have decided is best for the plan, and this is what you will do. Andy, if you even think about killing Sebastian while he's under my protection you will be sentenced to nannying in Marpesia, and don't doubt that I will do it, because I will." she orders, sending a harsh look at Andy. Whoof, I am still living for a while longer.

She dismisses us, and we group in different spots of the cafe. Alex and Liz sit next to me, and we watch Nate flirt shamelessly with Christina. Surprisingly, Andy hasn't talked with him yet, despite the revelation that they are siblings.

"So, glad Diana saved your skin?" Liz questions quietly.

"No, dying was high up on my bucket list," I laugh, and Alex rolls his eyes at us both.

"I'm sure Andy would be happy to oblige," Alex grins, and winks at me. Andy picks that moment to come back inside, and walks towards us.

"Well, speak of the devil and she appears." Liz mutters under her breath, lifting her espresso up to her lips. Alex chuckles at her, and jostles her elbow in an attempt to spill her espresso. Liz glares daggers at him, but I ignore them both and get up, jogging to where Andy is now standing at the bar.

"Hey, Andy. I was hoping we could... talk. Like about Caelum and stuff," I say awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. She lifts one eyebrow, and gives me a poisonous look of disbelief.

"Just because we're on the same team now, doesn't mean we're friends. But, go ahead. Talk. I can't promise to listen," she replies, rolling her eyes at me. I grin, having not expected her to actually give me a chance.

"I know you blame me for what happened to Caelum, and trust me, I blame myself too, but General Claude threatened my family. Andy - I wouldn't have done what I did, killed him, if I didn't think that General Claude would have hurt Liz and Alex and Topher and Nate, and I'm so sorry for what I did, and I would take it back if I could, but I was trying to make the best decision for my team." I say all in one breath. She gives me a cold stare, picking my brain apart with her eyes, making me feel like a kid again, fresh to the world of politics and violence.

"I do blame you, but I also blame General Claude. I know that you were just the weapon and he was the one who let the arrow fly. It's like that old proverb, the weapon isn't evil or good, the hands that wield it are. I can't necessarily put all the blame on you for something that you were forced to do. I understand the feeling of needing to do anything to protect your team, because they are your family. And I trust you'll understand the feeling of needing to get revenge when someone does hurt your family." She says grudgingly, and it's more than I could have ever hoped for. Not only did she hear me out, but she admitted that she doesn't put all the blame on me, and even acknowledges my partial innocence in that I had no choice.

Andy steps away, walking over to Christina, and pulling her outside to talk. I head back to Alex and Liz who are cackling like the little witches they are.

"So how did the talk go lover-boy?" Liz asks, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"She doesn't totally despise me, and she doesn't put all the blame on me for killing Caelum. In her words 'you were just the weapon and he was the one who let the arrow fly' whatever that means." I reply cheerfully, ignoring her last comment. Alex smiles, but it's not a 'oh sebastian i'm so happy your crush decided she doesn't totally hate you and might kill you right away' kind of smile, it's more of a 'Sebastian has a crush on the girl whos ex-bestie he killed and i'm so going to make fun of him for it' kind of smile. Yay.

Alex takes a deep breath, opening his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, pointing at him and ordering: "No. You say one teasing, sarcastic word about this and I will personally write a letter to Topher's mother telling her about that time you broke her vase back when we were pre-teens."

He shuts up pretty quickly after that, and Liz laughs at him.

"Oh don't be getting any ideas Lizzabeth do you want me to write up that ex-teacher you flirted with and tell him he lost his job for inappropriate flirting with a student and a minor all so you could thieve his ID to sneak into the teachers lounge and change your test results?" I reply quickly, and she also shuts up fast. I smile at them, and Liz laughs a bit.

"Thats the smile of a devil right there, that is." she says pointing at me, and Alex joins in laughing. I do my best evil smirk, and they both wheeze, struggling for air.

"Thank you, thank you," I say in a funny deep voice. That sends them over the edge, the edge for Liz literally as she falls off her chair, landing on the ground. Alex had no chance after that, laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.

Do y'all's pronounce vase like vah-se or vaih-se??? dont judge me thats the best possible way i could do that. For me its a little bit of both.

Anyways cheerio- and we love sebastian the simp, boywhipped (play on boy wonder).

Loveee, -Alexandra Waterwings