Angel With Broken Wings

77 - Finn Ames and the Friend (1)

[THIRD PERSON POV]

"Uh-oh..." Mash trails off as he bites at his fingers, eyes darting nervously back and forth as if hoping for Finn to randomly appear in front of him, his voice coming out in another mutter at his lack of luck, "Better find Finn." Meanwhile, Dot was also growing in nervousness as he realizes the separation between him and his teammates, his eyes shaking as he mutters out himself, "We might be screwed...need to find 'im fast."

Lance walks forward slowly, a sigh slipping past his lips as he moves with eyes narrowed, his thoughts circling within his mind as he smoothly moves along the stone bridge, 'They're probably in bad shape right now...' He glances around slightly with those thoughts, shaking his head to free himself of the concern once his mind slips to Kat and their separation, 'I'm sure she'll be fine...right?'

Kat sits herself on the floor as a pout forms on her lips, a sigh leaving her as she looks upwards to the stone ceiling, "I...probably won't get to do anything this time. How disappointing." She mutters softly as she let's out another sigh, the girl pressing her palms onto the ground as she allows her thoughts to wander, 'Who should I go to? Should I go find Lance or Margarette...or should I go help Finn?'

She closes her eyes for a moment at the thought, allowing her body to relax before she begins focusing on the feeling of the stone floor. 'Lance and Margarette will be fine, and even though we're on different teams...' Her thoughts trail off before her eyes shoot open wide, her Heart beginning to race as she swiftly gets to her feet and begins to rush forward, 'Carpaccio is near Finn...there's no telling what he'll do to him.'

Finn moves cautiously by himself as he clutches the crystal tightly to his chest, heart hammering within as he wets his lips nervously. 'Oh no, oh no, oh no...I simply must protect this crystal with my life!' His thoughts were showcasing his anxiety as he walks, his steps slowing to a stop when he hears a familiar voice reaching his ears, pressing himself against the wall and peeking around the corner to land his gaze on Carpaccio Luo-Yang.

"Talent...isn't something that's evenly distributed. Our birth decides who can climb to the peak." Carpaccio mutters to himself as he stands in one spot, glaring down at the knife in his hand before he clenches his fingers around it tightly. He felt irritated, the look he received from Kat when defeating that Adler third year and the way Finn Ames offered her comfort made an unwanted feeling flicker in his chest.

He was just sharing what he was taught to think, he didn't look at her as a weakling, he viewed her as someone he needed to protect, but he couldn't understand why she felt the need to defend those weaker than herself. After all, it's the natural order of life for those weaker to inherently listen to the strong, right? He huffs as he speaks once more, eyes cold and filled with rage, "It's important to live the life you were made for."

He was right, wasn't he? He didn't agree with what those people put her through, he felt the need to at least protect her, but he had no desire to play pretend with a desire to protect when looking at others weaker than him. He gives a growling huff once more before spinning on his heel, his footsteps making noise against the stone floor as he moves.

Finn remains pressed against the wall as his mind screams at him, anxiety fluttering within his chest, 'Oh no! He's on the move! Running will attract his attention, won't it?! I've got to conceal my presence...I'll pretend I'm an inanimate object. I am a wall, stay away. I am a wall.' The dual hair coloured boy closes his eyes as he chants his new mantra, the boy attempting to hide his nervousness as he slowly reopens his yellow eyes.

'Phew...he's gone thanks to my perfect wall impression.' He nearly let's out a sigh of relief before he stiffens, his body trembling as the familiar voice of Carpaccio speaks up behind him, "What are you doing?" The Orca first-year stared at the boy carefully after his question, eyes still having an anger settled within them as he recognizes the boy, Finn letting out a response shakily, "Can't talk. I'm a wall."

Carpaccio holds back a scoff as a nurse-looking being appears behind him, arms outstretched as he comments halfheartedly, "You...seem like fun." Finn shivers once more as tears begin to leak from his eyes, his mind screaming loudly at his fellow first-years comment, 'S-Someone help me!'

Mash was running forward at a swift pace, hoping the direction he was heading in was correct before he stumbles to a slight stop, eyes landing on a running Kat. "Mash! Finn is in trouble!" Her comment came out quickly, the boy holding back a gasp before beginning to run once more, the two falling into sync with their steps. "Carpaccio has him, and seeing what he did to our third year..." Her voice trails off as they ran, Mash nodding once in agreement.

"But...we're on different teams." His voice came passed his lips without a second thought, the words receiving a small laugh from Kat as she responds with a nod, "I don't care. There's no way I'm letting anything happen to you, Finn or anyone else I care about." Her words held a promise within them, the black haired boy beside her hiding his smile as he gifts a nod to her words. "Understood." The word that slipped out is the last one shared between the two as they continue to dart forward.

"How...does she know where Finn is?" Gazzy mutters absentmindedly to himself as he watches the mirrors, ignoring the mutterings of those around him as they complain at the obvious show of teamwork between Kat and Mash. The Headmaster watches the mirrors carefully, peeking over at Gazzy as he hears the boys words, the older man holding back his surprise at the blonde's next set of words, "She...gained a new ability?"

Finn continues to shake violently as he begs within his mind, pleasing helplessly as he backs up from the other first-year in front of him, 'I beg of you. I'll kiss your feet or even lick your toes...just please, save me.' He shakes slightly when Carpaccio speaks up again, the other boy's voice coming out blunt as he talks, "You...you're Finn Ames."

'Why would he know my...?' Finn's thoughts get cut off as the blunt voice cuts through again, "The continuing student who barely made the cut off." Finn flinches as he screams within his mind, 'I've become famous in the worst way!' Disappointment filled him as he flinches once more, Carpaccio continuing to speak almost absentmindedly as he watched the Adler first-year.

"I remember you. From the depths of my heart, I've always wondered...why you were at Easton. And here you are...at the Divine Visionary Selection Exams." Finn remains quiet as he listens to the rant happening before him, Carpaccio continuing coldly, "Did your brother get you in? I can't help but feel disgusted...when I see talentless trash like you...so what the hell does she see in you?"

The accusation and jumbled question at the end make Finn flinch, the boy partially confused at the last few words as he considers who the boy in front of him could possibly be mentioning. 'Is he...talking about Kat...?' Dread slowly fills the dual hair coloured boy as he begins to realize the anger he had seen in Carpaccio's gaze was actually jealousy and he winces once more as the piercing voice of the Orca first-year enters his ears once more, the glare still prevalent on Carpaccio's face,

"Give me...your crystal. It's not right that you're here, so hand it over."