The Summoning

XIII - Alkaline

"You're not seriously suggesting what I think you are." I could hear II's voice down the hall as I sat in my room. I limped to the door and leaned closer. It sounded like they were in the kitchen. 

"What? I think it's a good idea!" That was III's voice.

"A good idea?" II exclaimed with a sour chuckle. "This woman basically has a target on her back and you wanna - what, have her help with backline equipment?"

"I'm sure Sam wouldn't mind -"

"You know that's not what I'm worried about." II's words seemed to linger in the air as no one spoke for a few moments. 

"We'll talk about this when Vess comes back." II finally spoke with finality.

Just as I wondered why Vessel wasn't with them, there was a knock at my door and I jumped back. Wondering if they had heard me, I backed up into the room and tried to sound casual, "Come in."

Vessel slunk into the room with his usual medical supplies and I sat on the bed as he curled up on the floor. It seemed to be a routine now. I offered up my leg and he slid the sweatpants up to my knee before getting to work. 

"Thank you." I murmured and he froze as if I had called him some obscene name before getting back to work. The lantern on the dresser illuminated the golden tresses falling in front of his face, just barely glowing over his eyes alight with concentration. 

"I'm just a liability, aren't I?"

This time, Vessel slowed his hands as he was finishing up wrapping. With his face hidden, I had no idea what he could have been thinking. He tilted his head up, hair falling to the side as he offered a hand. 

I stalled for a moment before remembering the cut on my hand and laid my hand into his. Figuring he wasn't going to give me any sort of hint as to what he was thinking, I made myself look away from his eyes. 

He didn't move for a moment before squeezing my wrist, making me look back down to him. There was the hint of a smirk on his lips, but his eyes were narrowed in suspicion. Lifting his other hand, he tilted his head and pointed to his own ear with a quirk of his brow. 

My cheeks heated. "Yeah, I... I heard."

Leaning back with the smirk still present, he swayed an index finger back and forth with a minute shake of his head.

Tsk... tsk...

I scoffed, rolling my eyes and looking anywhere but down at his hypnotizing gaze, hoping my cheeks weren't aflame. 

"Am I really a target? Is that why those people tried to kill me?" I tried, before realizing he wouldn't even be able to answer me. I wondered if it would be easier to ask him to write anything he knew down for me. Was there anything he would tell me?

Sighing, I watched as he wrapped my hand. "Two's right, though, and I'm sure you agree. I have nothing to give and would only get in the way."

He stood suddenly, towering over me and I drew in a sharp breath, holding it. For just a split second, I was sure I had seen him before. It was like a dream I'd had and lost. 

He suddenly turned to leave, throwing the door open and starting down the hall to the kitchen. I stood to go after him and a string of curses left my mouth when I stumbled and had to limp to grab a crutch. How was I to be any help injured?

Hurrying as much as one could on a crutch, I hobbled down the hall, following the sound of the argument.

"Well, I'd love to say it's your problem, but it's my responsibility, too, innit?" II's voice spilled out of the kitchen.