The Secret Third Player (Spinoff to "Intertwined by Fate, Reunited by Destiny")

Chapter 20: A Defeated Heart, A Crushed Soul

At the spaceship pod launching area, Firefly was pacing left and right, with a hand on her chin as she seemed like to be in deep thought. She has been doing this for hours, wondering when would Silver Wolf come back. As always, Silver Wolf was not picking up her calls, or reading her text messages. 

As Firefly was waiting for Silver Wolf, she was pondering some of the questions she has for herself as well: Is it really okay to do what Elio's asking her to do? What would Silver Wolf think of their friendship if she really went on with the plan? And... is this really the second chance that she had always wanted? And even if it was... will it really work out between you two?

And with that, after a long while of lost in thought, a spaceship pod docked into one of the empty spots, and Firefly rushed towards it.

When the door to the pod opened, Silver Wolf walked out, showing her usual monotone face, except this time, it felt different for Firefly. This time, it felt like Silver Wolf became bored and dull all of a sudden. Almost as if... she had lost her reason to live, and was merely just... existing.

Despite Firefly's uneasiness, she still showed relief that her friend was back, safe and sound. When Silver Wolf closer and closer to Firefly, Firefly noticed that Silver Wolf's eyes were a bit red, almost as if she had been crying for hours. Firefly's relief has now turned into concern.

"Silver Wolf... are you alright?" Firefly asked while putting her hand on Silver Wolf's shoulders.

"Hmm? I'm fine, yeah. Why'd you ask?" Silver Wolf replied dryly, which fits her monotone persona that she's currently portraying.

"N-Nothing, it's just... never mind. Forget that I asked." Firefly said while her tone switched to a slow one. 

Of course, Firefly was more concerned than ever, but she knows better to prod and poke at Silver Wolf when she doesn't want to be. Not to mention with how the meeting went, it doesn't seem like a good idea for the time being.

Silver Wolf then smirked at Firefly.

"Well, if it's nothing, I'd like to get back to my games now, thank you very much."]

Silver Wolf's tone was slightly arrogant, and snarky. This was the image that most people had on Silver Wolf, but Firefly knows that this was not how Silver Wolf really is.

"O-Oh... alright then." Firefly said as she lowered her arms and released them from Silver Wolf's shoulders, and as Firefly did so, Silver Wolf continued walking back towards her room, ready for another game all by herself.

Two days later, Firefly was laying on the fake grass by the observatory again, this time all alone. She was hoping that Silver Wolf would come by and tell her everything that's been bothering her like always, but this time, Silver Wolf didn't show up.

After a long wait, Firefly decided to just go visit Silver Wolf directly, and so she prepared some snacks before heading on over to Silver Wolf's room.

When Firefly knocked on the door and let herself in, Silver Wolf was gaming on her PC, as per usual. 

"Hi, Silver Wolf. I... brought some snacks with me. You want some?" Firefly greeted as she closed the door behind her.

"Oh, I'm good. Thanks, Samuel." Silver Wolf replied dryly as she continued jamming on her keyboard.

"Oh... alright then." Firefly said as she stood there awkwardly.

Afterwards, Firefly attempted to initiate conversation with Silver Wolf, hoping to get through to her.

"Wow, Silver Wolf. I guess you... play a lot of games, huh?"

Silver Wolf chuckled.

"I play games 24/7, Samuel. Of course I play lots of games." Silver Wolf replied dryly, again.

"Haha, I guess you're right... Silver Wolf..." Firefly started to get a bit down, feeling like her plan to initiate a convo was failing.

As Firefly was about to turn back and leave, she had something else to say, so she stopped walking but still continue facing the opposite direction of Silver Wolf.

"The stars outside are... pretty beautiful today, you know. You should... come see them sometime."

After Silver Wolf heard what Firefly said, she froze. She immediately got what Firefly was trying to imply.

"...Sure, Samuel. I'll do that." Silver Wolf replied again, and continued jamming on her keyboard again.

Firefly, feeling defeated, just sighed underneath her breath and continued walking out of Silver Wolf's room. However, just as she was about to leave, Silver Wolf spoke up again, while still looking at her PC monitor.

"Before you go... I just wanna say..."

"I don't hate you, Samuel. I don't hate anyone here at all."

"I just... I just need time to process... well, everything."

"There's too much on my mind right now, and I need time to think."

"I know I came off rude... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that."

"But for now... I just need to be... alone. Just for a little while."

After Silver Wolf finished, Firefly stood still for a few seconds, and nodded as she held the door knob.

"...Alright, Silver Wolf. I understand."

However, as Firefly was just about to close the door, Silver Wolf turned her shoulder back at Firefly to look at her, but only over her shoulder.

"And don't worry about Elio's script."

"Just do what it's saying you should do."

"I'm fine with it."

Firefly looked downwards for a moment, then looked back at Silver Wolf.

"...If you say so."

As Firefly finished her sentence, Silver Wolf unpaused her game, and continued playing. Firefly closed the door to Silver Wolf's room, and slowly lift away the weights she leaves in her chest.