The Zodiac Cycle

3.11 Potential

(TW: suicidal thoughts.)

"Stormy!" Mark jumped into the arms of the larger male as he entered Luxterra.

Stormy stood out among others. He was about the size of Elizabeth, with an impressive build. He had tan skin with swirly markings on his left arm. And a scar halfway across his throat. His hair was made of fire and somehow up in a ponytail, flaming past his shoulder blades when it was up. He had pointed ears and two different colored eyes; the left one red and the right one blue.

Clementine watched him closely as Mark seemed to gravitate around him. Mark had been told by Velerosa to have Clementine follow him around for a couple hours. She tried to get out of it, but Velerosa was insistent that she needed exercise.

Stormy reacted almost like a puppy, clinging to Mark like he was going to get taken away if he didnt.

"Did you find anything?" Mark asked Stormy. He was referring to the raid. Stormy had gone out to retrieve the raid team and anything they found.

"Yeah, some. But not as much as we hoped." Stormy let go of mark and crossed his arms. "We need to check in with Vel."

"Shes with sakura, In the training room." Mark motioned his head that direction.

"Sakura had training today?" Stormy asked, following Mark toward their destination.

"No, but she requested a quick assessment."

Clementine followed behind them, not wanting to interfere in their conversation. Mark seemed a lot more relaxed around Stormy, instead of his usual, somewhat prickly self. He had tried his best to be professional around the Zodiacs, but Clementine had been following him around all day and had seen a bit of his true personality.

"And Olive?"

"Already went back up for the week." Mark pulled out a small package from his pocket and handed it to Stormy. "Here's your gel."

"Thanks." Stormy looked behind him, at Clementine. "And who are you?"

"Clementine, I'm the Pisces." She showed him her elbow where her sign rested.

"Hiya Clementine! I'm Stormy, but you probably already figured that out." He laughed a bit, resting his hand on the back of his neck. "I'm a Capricorn myself."

She didn't respond. She preferred being a spectator at that moment. She didnt want to interact with strangers, she didnt have the energy for it.

And every time she tried, she felt guilty. She felt guilty for living on, without George. She hated how bad everything hurt, especially since there was no medicine or anything that could make it stop hurting. She had a couple bruises, but nothing that compared.

She wished she could have been the one in his place.

But would she want him to feel like this?

"Clementine?" She looked at Mark, realizing that she'd stopped walking and the pair of men were several paces farther down the hall.

She thought that the Remembrance Ceremony would help, but it didnt. It only brought more regret. She regretted putting George's rock on that lantern. It was at the bottom of the lake because she thought she could handle herself.

I wish...

"Clementine-" Mark set his hand on her shoulder, making her flinch. "Hey, do you need some water?"

She had apparently started crying. Clementines skin never really registered the feeling of water as much as it did the feeling of dirt and dust.

"Do you want to go for a swim? We have an indoor pool for water based species." Mark shooed Stormy back a bit, since he had gotten close enough for Clementine to feel the heat radiating from his hair.