Transformers: Sparky

Chapter 2

So, I've been asleep for almost a week. Yeah, I'm shocked too. When I was told, I sat there for a good five minutes just processing that information. The whole time Dan was in a daze, staring, watching my every movement. Normally that would have weirded me out, I'd have told him to stop- But now? I just couldn't bring myself to say it.

Dan had never acted like this before; He's always been this tough stoic old man, kinda grumpy but unfazed. He didn't break down. He just kept going no matter what. However, to be the cause of his change, to be the reason he looked so- broken... I hated it.

We clash a lot, that's what we do. We argue, we fight... Then we get over it and everything goes back to normal. This time I wasn't so sure; this wasn't an argument. This was all my fault; I didn't know how to fix it.

I don't want Dan to look that way, I don't want him to look like some worried old guy! I don't like it. I'd rather he be angry at me, yell at me! Anything... Anything but this.

Dan turned to face my direction, his tired, somewhat glazed expression held my gaze, he still had that frantic air about him. As if I'd turn into a pile of ash if he looked away. Since I had woken up, he hadn't let me get out of bed, he was convinced I was sick.

Only one problem with that, I didn't feel sick, in fact I didn't feel much of anything. There was a certain numbness that had come over my body. It felt like I was wearing an air tight suit. My sense of touch was oddly disconnected; to be honest, everything felt like that; each breath I took was an effort, no autopilot for oxygen intake for me. Despite being out cold for days, I wasn't hungry or thirsty, my arms and legs weren't stiff from lying still for nearly a week.

I tried to assure Dan that I was okay, that I wasn't sick, and I had never been, which was true in more ways than one- I didn't get sick and I mean it. I've never had the flu, caught a cold, or even had a bad stomach.

I'd always assumed it was because I lived in a forest and I only ever interacted with three people, there was no reason for me to get ill. That or I just had a strong immune system. Hell, Dan had even told me that when I asked about it when I was younger. But now, suddenly he was treating me like an unexploded bomb.

Just cause, I got sick once, then passed out for a bit, suddenly, he thought I was fragile?!

Huffing, I broke eye contact, a bubble of annoyance surfaced, not enough for me to say anything. I knew Dan wasn't doing great, admittedly I've never been good at keeping how I felt shoved down for long. However, I wasn't a complete dumbass. I knew now wasn't the time for a spat.

In fact, I wasn't even sure he would even fight back in this state, the way he had been acting was too soft and subdued, there was no fire there. He just looked worried; that was enough to keep my mouth shut.

I didn't wanna look at Dan. His whole face felt wrong, not enough frowning or scowling, instead his brows tugged at his skin into wrinkled half-circles. The bowl of untouched soup on my nightstand seemed more appealing to stare at, the spoon's handle was bent at a slight angle letting it hang rather well over the edge. He had brought that soup in about an hour ago. Normally, if I refused to eat, he'd have yelled at me until I at least took a bite. This time he didn't. He just left it there.

I wished he had yelled at me. I knew how to deal with that situation, at least. All this quiet, tense atmosphere was doing my head in. I wanted things to be normal, I didn't like this! I didn't know how to act! If anything, this was just giving me more anxiety! This made me question things; what things you may ask? Oh, you know, normal people things, like how to communicate without shouting, how to ask normal shit! Shit like: "How are you?" "Are you feeling okay?" "I'm sorry for making you feel awful." "Please don't look like that..."