If Only, If Only - Unicorn Wars Fanfiction

Chapter Five: Regret

((Into the thick of it))

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Coco watched was Azulin went retreating into the hallway near the shared room that all of the bears in their squad shared. The hallway was dark and damp- seeming to reek of a stench of mildew. Honestly not the best place to hide when wanting to clear your head of whatever demons ailed you.

Sighing, the blonde bare tried to reason with himself just what he wanted to do from this point forward.

In one hand, he had his common annoyance with the blue bear below himself. The blue bear being a bit of a menace ever since he had his more kindhearted sibling had been drafted into the war affairs.

All he ever knew of Azulin was the fact that he liked to torment and tease Gordi- as well as harass the other bears in the same group as him. Belittling the only younger bears than himself to no end when they were first drafted was no different.

Nieve and Hielo did eventually learn to ignore the spiteful blue beast- and in a short amount of time, to boot.

((Authors Note: Yes, before there are any miscommunications- Nieve and Hielo are the Polar Bear Twins. I am unsure if they had any actual names in the movie- so I gave them names. The names were generated with a single-word prompt on Google Translate. Nieve being 'Snow' and Hielo being 'Ice'. ; Hielo is the sibling that stabbed Nieve in the movie, just to make the names bitterly ironic.))

However, Coco had a side to him that he was just not able to deny. That would be his fatherly instincts toward any bear younger than himself that needed help. Whether it be enemy, or friend. He wanted to be there for his baby- to learn and guide them. In a way, this was practice- as well as an attempt to help someone outside of himself with a problem- that way it doesn't eat away at them forever.

With a bit of a gruff grunt, the blonde bear pulled another cigarette out of his pocket- taking in a deep breath for a lengthy sigh- before walking around the corner to talk to Azulin.

He lit the smoke- discarding the lighter back into his baggy pockets.

Honestly, he had half expected the spunkier bear to immediately start telling him to leave- however no words rose from the frustrated Azulin's form. He just sat on the bench with his legs curled in toward his chest. Almost in a pose of resign.

"That was certainly something I have yet to see you pull." Coco muttered, before walking over to the bench. He stood in front of it at first- just to see if the younger bear would make a move to push him away like he usually would. However, Azulin just looked up at Coco- his eyes lost and despondent. Nothing but sadness welled behind them- before they were drawn away in favor of Azulin hiding his face in the crook of his left elbow.

The comment Coco made registered itself as rude and distasteful.

"Sorry. That sounded rather backhanded."

At this point, Azulin didn't even respond. He just looked to the side with a dejected huff.

Coco was about to give up and take his leave- not even sure as to what to say to Azulin. He had no idea what the others problem could possibly even be. There was no way he could pretend to understand whatever was going on- so how can he reach out to someone in need of assistance? It was frustrating, to say the least.

"No matter. There is something bothering you real bad. I am here to listen. It looks serious."

Azulin seemed to contemplate the offer. His blue eyes squinting in a means of judgement for a couple moments. However, with a lump in his throat, the younger bear started to speak. His voice was hoarse and his expression strained- but dry. No peace could be found within Azulin's tired eyes. Meaning they may or may not have been in for a lengthy chat.