Halo: Heroes Awakening

22. Explosive

Halo

As soon as Halo slid into the carriage, he was met with Augus' maddened glare.

"What is the meaning of this, Prince?" He yelled distraughtly, looking straight at Malia. "This is the person you were asking to join us? The rebel?!"

"For fucks sake," Malia groaned in annoyance outside the carriage, glaring at Halo as well. "You brought Gus? The biggest Vaea bootlicker? What the fuck is up with this?"

"I'm not working with her," Augus refused with a shake of his head. "She's a loose cannon. And I'm going to arrest her after this."

Malia let out a haughty laugh, rolling her eyes. "Look at this bastard. I outran you once, you think I won't do it again?"

Just as she finished her words, Augus lifted his flintlock pistol from his robes, pointing it straight at Malia's head. Halo immediately put his body inbetween them.

"That's enough! Put that away, Augus!" He cried out.

Augus' eyes were narrowed with disdain, completely on Malia and not straying for even a second. She stepped into his view again, wearing a taunting glare.

"You wanna shoot me asshole? Go ahead. I still took your entire regiment for a fool," She said daringly.

"Malia, you aren't helping," Halo told her scoldingly. Her amber glare did not back down. "Can everyone just relax? If you would let me explain-"

"What is there to explain, your highness?" Augus snapped, lowering his weapon. "You've been colluding with the enemy? How long did you know of her whereabouts? Are you the one who set her free?"

Halo sighed and nodded heavily. Augus tightened his jaw.

"The King blamed me for that," he grit through his teeth. "I was humiliated."

"I'm sorry, Augus," Halo said softly. "I just couldn't have Vaea kill someone."

"She's not even innocent!"

"But does that mean she has to die?!" Halo raised his voice, irritated with how sour the atmosphere went so quickly. Augus slumped back in his seat. Halo took a deep breath and steadied himself.

"She's going to help us. She's a good fighter and knows her way around the streets. Tolerate each other for a while until we find Finn, please."

"What choice do I have?" Augus muttered, turning away from him. "Just make sure you're being smart about this, your highness."

Halo turned to Malia, patting down the empty space next to them. He realized he was smart to sit between them. She gave him a wary stare.

"You trust this guy, Halo?" She asked suspiciously. "Because he's just as guilty as the King. Setting our warhero on fire and doing shit around Kiribati. He's a complete servant."

"I'm more trustworthy than you," Augus fired back. "You don't even have respect for the Prince. You dare call him by his name? You Sai wench."

"I'll call him by his name till he stops the tyranny in this country. Until then I don't respect this shit monarchy," Malia snarled. "And you can cry about it all you want."

Halo sighed as she slid in and shut the door with a hard slam. "I don't mind her calling me by my name," he said to calm the negativity.

"Even if you did, she wouldn't have stopped," Augus said bitterly. "She's callous like that. No regard for others. What did you promise her for her to do this? Are you going to help her flee the country?"

Malia groaned, sitting up abruptly as if she was going to hit Augus. "Goddess, you bastard. You're so obsessed. Why are you worried about me? Aren't we here for Halo? You wanna try and capture me again?" She burst out.