Satine [ONGOING]

CLEMENTINE (II)

"Once upon a time-"
"Oh shut up, Clem."

"On a dark and stormy-" She continued to tease.

"No. Not today."

Leon pushed past her, the axe held high and without much warning threw it against one of the heavy tree trunks ahead. The tool created a significant dent in the wood but ultimately fell onto the ground with a heavy thud. Clémentine had been teasing him, like a worthy little sister would, though technically she was only his little cousin, their families' proximity made their bond akin to that of a brother and sister. Around them was nothing but greenery and rocky pathways, Clémentine felt increasingly uncomfortable around Leon all alone, not in a way where she was scared of him, nothing like that, it simply felt as if she couldn't go right with him, she was constantly stepping around eggshells. He had been angry, fuming even ever since his father had been called up to the army in April, and nothing could pull him out of this filthy mood. Marguerite had given up, somewhat, though of course she was gentle with him nonetheless, she didn't feel it was productive to fight it. However, Clémentine wanted to, she wanted her cousin back. The one that told stories, the one that wrote poetry, even if he found it embarrassing when she dared to bring it up. But like most things lately, Clémentine felt they were slipping out of her grasp.
"Leon," She sighed. The young man did not say anything, and proceeded to pick up freshly cut logs.
"Hold your arms out." He demanded, before stacking up about three logs for his cousin to carry.
"We don't even need wood! It's summer already for crying out loud!" Clémentine exclaimed angrily, letting each and every one roll out of her arms and fall against the ground with a puff of dust. "What is up with you? I thought you wanted to go to the lake or something, not throw axes at trees like some madman-"
"Just go home if you don't like it!" He yelled, his voice echoed against the trees, the leaves seemed to whisper it all back to him in the silence. Clémentine stood frozen as he turned his back to her. She wouldn't leave him here in this state, but she also didn't particularly want to stay with him. "Just go home," His voice lowered, breaking ever so slightly. Clémentine crossed her arms, taking a few tentative steps back towards him.
"I'm not going back home without you." She stated, holding her chin up high. Either they would walk back together or she would finally get something out of him. Perhaps he could begin to explain where he went in the early hours of the morning, and why he had refused to help with the farm for weeks. The poor pigs were filthy almost beyond comprehension. They were his job, but now Clementine and Constance had to share the chore to keep them alive.

"Do you hear me? I'm not going home without-"
He turned around and took a hold of her wrist, for a second there was nothing but rage across his face, but as his eyes focused, all of it washed away and he threw her arm away carelessly.

"Everyone acts like nothing is going on." He muttered as he turned back around to face the forest, a cold breeze caught in Clementine's hair, grazing her face gently as if trying to mark a shift in this conversation. "Sorry," he said after a brief hesitation. It took Clementine a second to decide how to respond. Her wrist felt strangely sore, but that didn't hurt nearly as much as seeing her cousin in this state. If someone were to meet him now for the first time, they would be under the impression he was grumpy, reserved and rough, but that wasn't the Leon she and Constance had grown up around.

"Don't say sorry," She finally decided to ask him, though of course, she wished he was in a state to truly apologise, but she wouldn't make him, she didn't want him to because the roots of his outwardly anger were not his fault.
"No, I am sorry." He quickly interjected. "Really, it's not your fault, I shouldn't be mad at you.."
"It's not yours either." Clementine reminded him. "It's not your fault, and I know that you know that, so don't even pretend."
He gulped, and though she couldn't see his face Clementine guessed his lips were starting to tremble, his slouching posture told her a little regarding his changing emotional state.