Project 43: Healing

Are you alive?

For eleven days Elias had been going to work with Agathe during the days. He could have already made his way around the library blindfolded because of the countless days and nights he spent there over the years. Agathe was enjoying having Elias over, helping her with everything, and keeping her company. Before the man had arrived, the woman had been considering adopting a dog.

Elias knew that he would have to move sooner or later. He couldn't stay sleeping on Agathe's couch for the rest of his immortal life, but he didn't want to face the harsh reality. His options were very limited, but he had narrowed it down to calling Dimitri or going back to Belize. He knew that going back to the place he had just been in could be dangerous so as the days passed by, Elias was staring at Dimitri's number on his phone more and more, trying to figure out how his friend would react to everything.

Dimitri had never liked the Avengers and would have completely sided with the Sokovia accords. Especially since they were almost completely based on the destruction the group caused in his home country. His apartment, the place he grew up in, and everything he had known was blown to pieces that day. Even tho Dimitri had forgiven Elias for going with the Avengers, not signing the accords was an entirely different thing. Still, even after everything, Dimitri was Elias' best friend even tho he didn't like the term too much.

"Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" Agathe asked as she noticed Elias staring at his phone. It was unusual since Elias didn't even own a smartphone so unless the man had developed a new passion for the worm game, something was going on.

"J'essaie de me dissuader d'appeler mon meilleur ami," Elias chuckled, knowing just how insane it sounded.

Agathe raised her eyebrows as she sat down next to Elias.

"Pourquoi ? Si c'est votre meilleur ami, vous devriez vouloir l'appeler," Agathe lightly chuckled to which Elias just smiled.

"C'est compliqué à expliquer," Elias dismissed the question, but Agathe simply asked:

"Est-ce que cela a quelque chose à voir avec votre opposition aux Nations Unies?"

Elias looked at the woman in shock before realizing it must be very simple to put together.

"Et je suis un peu blessé. Je pensais que nous étions les meilleurs amis," Agathe joked, gently nudging Elias in the side.

"Vous êtes les meilleurs amis d'Anna," Elias laughed knowing how much Agathe had complained about the woman the night before.

Elias never liked the sound a phone made when it was trying to go through. With every buzz the small device made against his ear, Elias had more time to overthink his decisions. Every time the sound cut off, he thought his friend had picked up the phone, only to be disappointed once more. Elias' leg was bouncing against the floor as he held his head in his hands, taking deep breaths, trying not to chicken out because there wouldn't be another chance. After the third ring, someone finally answered.

"Hello?" Dimitri asked and immediately Elias smiled to himself.

"Hey Dimwit," he simply responded, not sure how to even start the conversation. 

The line was quiet for a moment that felt like an eternity as Elias waited for his friend to go off on him, cut the line, or do whatever it was he was going to do.

"Elias?" Dimitri finally asked.

"Yeah, it's me," Elias answered slowly only to be met with silence. He ran a hand down his face and leaned back, waiting for Dimitri to say something. Elias felt his heartbeat picking up as he started to panic.