The Girl from the Ground - Season 1

Episode Four, Part 6:

Episode Four, Part 6: 
A Boy Named Theo 

Theo sat in a quiet place in camp, hoping to be able to sneak back into his bed not long after dark, and once he knew his tent-mates would be asleep.

There was a lot going on in New Riders; people were sharpening up their fighting skills, others building shields or traps, others making weapons.
Should he have told Veer? Should he have warned her about the danger his people were planning to do to hers?

Theo shook his head, trying to shake the guilt from his shoulders. Veer was capable and smart - that much was clear from the short time they'd had together. And she seemed aware of the war that was coming; she had to know.

"So what, do you just sleep out here nowadays?"

Theo flinched at the sudden voice drawing him out of his head. He looked around, soon noticing Rocco standing a few feet away, arms folded as he glanced down at him.

"I... I was just waiting for my tent-mates to fall asleep first."

"Shouldn't be long. Everyone's wiped out from today," Rocco said. "You'll get in trouble if you're caught back here by one of the guards. They'll think you're up to no good."

Theo nodded, acknowledging the older man's advice, but not sure what else he could do.

"What's that?"

Rocco gestured to the white bandage poking out from the sleeve of Theo's right arm. The young boy hurried to cover it with his hand, trying to pretend it wasn't there.

"Nothing-"

"Is that a bandage? What, did one of our doctors check you out?"

He shook his head.

"...You stole it?"

Theo didn't know what to say. If he denied stealing it, he would have to come up with an answer that was safe to tell Rocco, but if he said nothing, then he risked punishment for letting Rocco believe his speculations.

"You stole medical supplies," Rocco continued, laughing as he spoke. "This actually makes me like you a little. Don't tell anyone I said that, or you'll regret it."

Don't tell anyone I said that, or you'll regret it. Theo said the words in his head at the same time, already able to predict Rocco's words before he even said them.

It was hard to believe Veer's tale about her people - how they were good and kind and would protect him - but he wanted it to be true. For the longest time, Theo had wondered if Rocco was his friend. After all, he snuck him food and water every now and then, and was the only person in camp to hold a conversation with him. But did it truly count if it was always in secret? If every shred of humanity from him was followed by 'don't tell anyone, or you'll regret it'?

"What happened to you, anyway?"

"Same as always. Someone beat me up. No one helped."

Rocco chewed his lip then momentarily glanced away, as if hit by a fleeting wave of guilt.

"You should probably take the bandage off," he said. "If other people see it, they'll find out what you've done, and it won't be good. Especially with the war on it's way; we need all our supplies for the people who are going to be out there fighting."

Theo nodded and pulled the bandage off from his arm as he was told, carefully tucking it in his pocket, out of sight.

"You seem different," Rocco pointed out.