Catalyst

Chapter 15

Warnings: Language, Violence

Chapter 15:
402 A.V; Month 9; Day 22

As my luck would have it, I'd spent most of the night twisting and turning with nightmares I couldn't even begin to explain. It was because of those nightmares that I didn't hear the knocking at my door, allowing Sabre to think he could just walk on in and sit at the edge of my bed. That's where he brushed the hair out of my face and his touch woke me up. I scowled at him and backed away.

"What the hell," I muttered.

"Sorry," he said while getting up, "You looked peaceful for once."

"That doesn't give you permission to come into my room and touch me," I stated. He let out a breath and backed away.

"We have to go to Priam's office, remember?"

"Great," I mumbled and got up. I locked the bathroom door, showered, and dressed before stepping out into the main room. As we walked to Priam's office, he spoke up.

"After last night, I thought maybe you'd let your guard down a little." I let out a breath. All we had done was play darts in the lounge. I'd stayed with him as more of a distraction from the tumult of the day. He hadn't been ordering me around or being an ass, so our game of darts had been normal, fun even.

"It was a game of darts," I stated grumpily, "Not a date."

"Really?" he asked in a sarcastic tone, "I hadn't been sure." It was his sarcasm that brought me up short. He hadn't whined about me being grumpy or not letting my guard down.

"You've done it before. I'd do something normal and you think it was a sign that I loved you." He stopped me, putting an arm to my shoulder and turning me to face him.

"I told you, I was under a lot of stress too and confused. Right now, I want nothing more than your friendship." I had the urge to tell him yeah right, but decided it would be better if I kept quiet. Again, it was like his energy as a whole had changed, even though through his hand I could feel the darkness behind it all. I moved out from underneath his grip.

"Don't we have somewhere to be?"

"Priam can wait," he snapped, but didn't try to stop me again.

We walked into the office and Priam was at his desk. To my surprise, Andon was there as well, his hands folded across his chest and a look of utter boredom on his face. It felt like I'd been sent head over tin cups again just looking at him, his worry and the overall ideal that we couldn't be friends. For a second his expression grew severe and I realized I might've looked at him a couple seconds too long. Priam looked at me and then to Andon and back again. He met my eyes and I glared right back, daring him to say something.

"See something you like?" he asked.

"You want me to come kiss you on the cheek?" I asked, reverting his stupid question back at him. His brow furrowed and before he could speak, Sabre cut in.

"What are we here for?" he asked. Priam sat back and looked at him with a thoughtful expression.

"You're not a waste of space like she is," Priam said, eyeing me for a moment, "You're a strong and healthy member of the Underground, Sabre. I think it's time you start to earn your place." Sabre tensed a little. It was obvious, Priam wanted to send him out on whatever senseless missions he had planned, probably to go out and litter or something and call it an act of rebellion.

"You are being deployed—with Andon," Priam continued and both Andon and Sabre lost their shit mentally. They didn't say or really do anything, but in their eyes was a complete and utter wave of refusal.