A Revolution In Shadow And Blood

So Formal

I'm hunched over from the pain in my stomach as I approach the park where Ben and I have been frequenting since we met. The place is small and pretty far away from everything else in town, but it's a beautiful spot. Naturally placed trees cradle a field of soft green grass. Sunlight hits my face gently, warming me as the trees protect me from a stiff wind. Not many people frequent the park, so vines crawl up the jungle gym and birds nest in the play castle. During the spring, I watch the tiny eggs in their warm nest while the mother bird is away.

Ben is sitting on a bench that a bush has tried to grow into, facing away from me. I sit down next to him slowly, and watch the two birds pecking at bread crumbs on the ground. He passes me the bag. "Good afternoon. How are you?"

I smile, and take a slice of bread, picking pieces off of it and throwing it to the birds. "So formal. I'm doing fine, if you must know."

Ben shakes his head at me, and puts an arm over my shoulders. "It's not formal, it's being polite!"

"Whatever you say, Mr. Torix," I respond, keeping my voice as formal and stiff as I can manage.

"It's not-!" He huffs and rolls his eyes. Ben knows when I'm in this mood, I'll argue over what color the sky is. Playfully, of course. Though, as I watch him pout, I realize that the other participant might not consider it as fun as I do.

"Oh, come on, Ben, I'm teasing you." I smile even as I'm worried I might have really offended him this time.

He cocks an eyebrow at me. "Oh I know Miss. Blaz. Just don't be surprised when I tease you back."

I grin, and taunt, "I'll be waiting for it."

I turn my attention back to the birds. His arm across my shoulders pushes down between my back and the bench. His other hand grabs my waist, and he begins tickling me with both hands. I thrash against him as he pulls me closer, with giggles erupting from my mouth. Ben only holds me tighter, laughing with me as he tickles me.

"St-stop!" I gasp between fits of giggles, even as my hands cling to his muscular forearms.

Ben only laughs louder. "Not a chance, you little minx!"

I shriek again, before his hand moves across my stomach. My laugh turns into a small scream, and I grit my teeth to stop the noise. Benjamin freezes and quickly pulls his hands away from my body. "What's wrong? What happened?"

I wince again, and cross my arms over my stomach. "I'm fine. It's fine." My voice comes out strained.

Ben isn't convinced, and his hands return gently to arms, rubbing circles into my skin. "Please don't do that, angel, tell me what's wrong."

I sigh, then say, "I ran into a dark spirit on the way here. It put up a bit of a fight, and managed to throw me into a tree before I blew the thing up. It's not a big deal."

"Freya." he shakes his head. "It is a big deal if you're hurt enough that just touching your stomach is painful."

I shake my head. "Common, Ben, we deal with this stuff all of the time. It's normal for us to be hurt 24/7."

He frowns, and gets a crease between his eyebrows. "Freya, just because we deal with Dark Spirits doesn't make it ok for people around us not to care." Ben pauses for a moment. "Do your parents notice when you're hurt?"

It takes me a moment to think back and remember the last few times that my parents saw me hurt. Wednesday, when I walked home from school...Friday, at the zoo...

"No, not really," I say, "But it's not really their fault. I'm not visibly bruised or anything, and I haven't been hurt badly enough to limp or be really sore."

Ben responds, "That doesn't make it OK, Freya."

Frustrated, I go to pull away from him, but his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. Ben sighs, "I'm sorry, Freya. I don't mean to upset you. I'm just worried about you."

I nod against his shoulder. "I know, Ben. I just don't want you to think that they don't care. They keep a first aid in my bathroom, and my Mom keeps it stocked really well. And my Dad asks me every once in a while if I need him to look at any injury for me."

Ben sighs against my ear, and I shiver at his warm breath against my skin. He says, "That's good. I'm sorry if I over-reacted. I just care about you and want you to be safe."

I turn my head so I can smile back at him, and respond, "No, it's OK. I like to know that you care."

He grins back. "Oh, I definitely care." Ben pauses as his grin turns wicked. "That I can tickle you when I want."

He's back to tickling me just like that, and I shriek with laughter. His hands don't come near my stomach again.