Broken Providence

(27) Tension

It was quiet. Too quiet for Trinity. Aleodei felt fear, she knew it was a bad thing in a war to have silence. Her room shuffled. It was one of those rare times she laid on the hard quarter bed instead of in her subspace mansion. She had gotten in an argument with May'qli about something so stupid. She laid frustrated on her hard bed, grumbling about long past forgotten things. A soft knock was heard. Aleodei shifted and sat up.

"Come in," she said as she adjusted her mask, she always wore it outside of the teapot. Claire's velvet hair peeked in.

"Aleodei, can I talk to you about something?" She asked softly. It was the middle of the night. Aleodei nodded and moved to the side of the bed and leaned on the wall.

"What's on your mind lieutenant?" She asked. Claire tucked in a strand of her hair.

"Please, call me Claire, we're friends, aren't we? As much as we can be in our circumstances," she said sitting at the edge of Aleodei's bed. Aleodei pondered. They were friends?

"How- what's wrong Lieu-Claire?" Aleodei finished softly. Claire smiled and moved back sitting next to her. She fidgeted with her fingers. A small grey ring on her pinkie sparked.

"It's- I-" she stopped unable to get her thoughts. Aleodei hesitantly placed her uncovered hand on top of hers. Claire stopped as they softly intertwined their hands. It was so familiar with the way her hand felt in Aleodei's. It was warm but rough like it had gone through much labor and work. She took in a breath. "I got into an argument with Belm, she was working too hard on training herself cause of the tension of the war and to become a general and I- I got worried and I told her to calm it down, and being a general wasn't that worked up to be. I know it my mom-" she stopped, "lady Monarch tried to train me for it and I almost died so many times." She said strained.
Aleodei pushed back the urge to question about Lady Monarch and how she had heard that Claire was her daughter even though there was no connection or even interaction between the two.

"And she blew up on me said I was jealous!" Her hand gripped Aleodei's tighter. Aleodei didn't finch she only continued listening. "And then she brought up Arielle and how I still wear her ring," she said looking at it. "I couldn't take it I left- I needed to calm down," she sighed. "I love Belm but I can't just forget about Arielle I was with her for five years!" She sat up straight letting go of Aleodei's hand. "This ring is my reminder that Arielle is with me always! And I thought she understood that!" She said standing. Aleodei moved to the edge of the bed and placed a hand on Claire's shoulder gripping her still. Aleodei's masked eyes met Claire's and she almost saw through it.

"Claire it was the heat of the moment I'm sure she didn't mean it. I didn't know Arielle but you keeping her memory is honorable even when with another person. Give her time to cool off, and then talk about it," Aleodei said. Claire nodded and smiled hugging her. Aleodei stood stiffly for a second before slowly hugging back. "My apologies if my mask is uncomfortable," she said awkwardly. Claire laughed,

"It's okay," she said touching the cold edges of Aleodei's mask.

When they separated Claire wiped her eyes smiling.

"Thanks, Aleodei that really meant a lot, especially after what you did on my birthday a week ago," she said, Aleodei nodded and put her thumbs up.

"It's nothing... friend," she said hesitantly reassuring. Claire beamed.

"Well if we're friends! Can I stay in your room for the night??? I'll sleep on the ground I just have nowhere else I can go without Belm finding me and I just want a good night's sleep," she said touching her index fingers. Aleodei scratched her head hesitating. She normally locked the door and went inside her sub-space but with Claire, she wouldn't be able to. Claire saw her hesitation and laughed sheepishly. "It's too fast huh? That's okay I'll go somewhe-," she started but was interrupted by Aleodei grabbing her shoulder.

"You may sleep in here, but you will be taking the bed," she said standing up. Claire sat on the bed.

"You wouldn't happen to have extra sleepwear I can wear after a shower?" She said smiling embarrassed. Aleodei stood. She did. In the sub-space.

"Take a shower and I'll deliver it to the bathroom," she said "I've got some stuff I need to go through," she said looking away. Claire nodded

"Alrighty cool cool!" She said entering the bathroom. Aleodei locked the door she didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. Claire de Lune, the daughter of Monarch de Lune, showering in a foreigner's room. If the generals found out it would be an early battle she didn't feel like fighting. She approached the teapot, there it sat with its simply grey blue, and golden design. She touched it softly and groaned. She'll have to speak to May'Qli but it's what she had to do. She grabbed her external armor in a hand and spoke the ancient words to pass through the sub-space.

She appeared opening her eyes to the dark beautiful scenery. Trees filled the edges of the floating island as she walked up to the steps of this old mansion. May'Qli appeared from the side of the door.

"Aleodei, finally come to admit defeat?" She said snarkily. Aleodei slid her mask upward.

"Funny. I remember a time you groveled at my feet," she said bluntly as she entered and went up to her room.

May'Qli followed her up with a frown.

"What's wrong?" she asked. Aleodei fumbled in between finding PJs and stripping. Aleodei shook her head.

"I'm a counselor for Belm and Claire's relationship now apparently," she said tone deaf. May'Qli snickered

"Fascinating, any chance she's outside?" She said grinning. Aleodei glanced at her with a glare.

"She's staying the night," she said grabbing the extra pair and heading out. May'Qli stopped in her tracks.

"You're going to sleep outside?? With her??" She said shocked. Aleodei nodded continuing forward. May'Qli ran after her. "Adei, what if you fall asleep and she takes off your mask!! I-" She was interrupted by Aleodei raising a hand.

"May'Qli it'll be okay," she glanced at her and offered a small smile. "I'm sorry for earlier, you were half right," she said admitting. May'Qli grinned and nodded

"You had the other half Adei, stay safe," she said as she watched Aleodei stop in front of the house. Aleodei turned and smiled.

"See you later may," she said slipping her mask forward to cover every inch of her face.

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