When Hyenas Scream

I

- Hey, move that ass of yours!

That voice. The voice that has been tormenting me since my fucking childhood. Damn... I'm starting to wonder when this guy is going to turn into a dopey old man and shut up.

Not that I'm complaining, I... I kind of like it. Maybe I've gotten used to it after being by each other's side after so many years together.

- I'm going! Damn, my legs are hurting, you keep waiting for the moment I sit down to give me these shitty orders, don't you?

- It's not my fault you're a lazy bitch. Not that you never were.

He never changes...

- At least both of my legs are working perfectly.

Yes! Now he'll shut up.

- Tch... And yet, I can be more productive than you.

Fuck.

- Come on, we still need to clean the bathrooms.

- I'm starving, can't we take a break for a snack?

- I can think about it.

- Nice. See you in the kitchen.

[...]

The day was calm, you could see a few grains of dust fighting against that crack of light that shyly invaded the kitchen over the sink counter. That old house was a little dirty, but nothing that a good cleaning wouldn't bring life to those walls again.

And even with a cleaning crew taking care of it, he still insists on coming and cleaning it with his own hands.

Between one sneeze and another, the calming smell of tea invaded their nostrils. Cassandra leans back on one of the counters, watching her old friend and companion practicing the same ritual as always, but now having a bit of difficulty. Well, two missing fingers made a certain difference in everyday tasks.

- Here, let me help you.

She says in a low tone, approaching the table where he was preparing the tea and taking one of the brushes to prepare the herb in the teapot.

I've seen him do this so many times that I've learned over the years...

His good eye darts from the teapot to her calloused hand, the same hands that annihilated several lives, but also changed his bandages so delicately in one of his most vulnerable moment.

- Finally learned something good.

- Stop that. - chuckling - You know I know how to make your tea the way you always did.

The clink of dishes echoed through the kitchen, bringing a bit of home to the empty, quiet place. Levi gives in to tiredness and finally sits down in one of the chairs, letting out a long sigh through his lips. His eyes seemed thoughtful yet attentive to Cassandra's movements.

We've been through a lot in life...

Even the simple gesture of hot water running through the spout of the teapot seemed more beautiful in that quiet world. Everything was still messy, but finally some good years of peace could be enjoyed.

- Do you miss them?

What the fuck?

- Of course I miss them... What kind of question is that?

- Do you miss him?

Silence again. Cassandra sets the teapot on the table and sits down next to him, letting her thoughts return to her noisy head.

- ... I miss him. Deeply.

A long, contentious sigh escapes her, trying to calm her heart from those painful and heavy memories. Those hazel eyes, the blonde hair that shined every time the sun touched it, the smell of pine cones and autumn...

Memories that I want to keep dearly.

- Obviously I wish things were different, but... There's nothing we can do now, is there?

- Of course not. It is in our hands to keep them alive in our minds and in our hearts. But just that.

- Yeah I know...

A shy hand slowly rests on top of her clenched one, trying to convey a bit of reassurance. Of course, it was never his strong point to demonstrate such language, but at least he tried. He tried it for her.

- Tsk. That's so cringe.

- Can you please stop being so childish?

Both of them shared a small laugh, knowing that even if they tried to have these little moments, her intrusive thoughts would always win. She gives his hand a small squeeze, gladly accepting his comfort during this little break. It was incredible how the two of them could finally afford to relax together.

- That's stronger than me, you know that.

- Yeah. I know you well enough to expect shit like that to come out of your big mouth.

A moment passes when a comforting smile dances across her lips, making her birth scar a little more obvious than usual.

- Levi?

- Hm? - he hums, opening the teapot to check the brewing.

- Do you think things would be different if we hadn't left there?

He rolls his eyes playfully, thinking that her question was a bit obvious, but not complaining her naive way of seeing the world.

- Of course.

Do you think we deserve to be here?

She complies and cuts some bread slices, placing in front of her and Levi. She was still trying to be more delicate with the knife, as she was so used to taking lives with it instead of eating with the help of the object.

After some moments of silence with full mouths of food and tea, Cassandra leans herself back on the wooden chair. An apple on the table stood out among all the bread and pastries, that red tone awakening dark memories in her mind. She reaches out and holds the fruit between her fingers, turning it around to take in every angle of that tempting, sinful sweetness.

- I'm sorry. - Levi says in a soft tone - Some employee must have left this here.

- No, that's... Fine.

Fine. Something that I can finally say about a simple fruit.

It doesn't hurt anymore.