The Deviants | Harry Styles AU

VII| The Jump

"Avery..." Harry whispered. Avery clutched the new but torn blanket and brought it closer to her. She felt a cold hand touch her skin and opened her eyes to Harry. Avery pushed his hand away and rose from the bed to find Harry kneeling down beside her. He retreated his hands and placed them beside her instead of touching her.

"What do you want?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"I want you to talk and to actually tell me stuff. To tell me what I can and cannot bring up around you so you don't freak out on me like you did earlier," he looked at her intently, genuinely curious for her next words.

"You have to do this now while I was taking a nap? Geez, why does it matter anyway?"

"Because I know you think nobody has ever cared enough to hear what you have to say. Well here it is. I'm asking, because I care," Harry said as he placed his hand on top of hers. She looked at his hand but made no effort to move hers away. She looked at him, a bit softer now.

"Fine," she moved her hand away, "you want to talk, let's talk." She moved the blanket away and got off the bed. Harry followed suit as they walked to the living area. She turned around and faced Harry then started, "I hate wars. I hate the word, the mention of them, the vibes they give off. I hate everything that has to do with weapons or killing. So don't mention that around me, I'll lose my shit."

"Is that a personal choice or?" Harry pushed.

Avery ran her fingers through her hair. She sighed deeply and looked at him, "It was my mom's choice. Her last dying wish actually."

Harry eyed her as if she was a time bomb waiting to detonate at any moment. "She..she didn't want you in a war?"

"For some reason, I don't know specifics, but my mom knew I was immune," she crossed her arms.

"Maybe because you didn't get the virus when she did?" he asked as he frowned at the new information.

"It's a mystery," she shrugged, "my parents were one of the first people to get the virus after coming to Haven. There's no way in hell that she knew people would be immune. Maybe a lucky guess, I really do not know. The point is, she told me she never wanted me to be in a war. She said I was immune, but not to death. I had to stay clear of weapons and I intend on doing as she says," Avery told him with a stern tone.

"Is that why you are with the Redeemers?" he asked.

"No one wants to be on the losing side, Harold. No one. But my parents told me to pick the side that didn't fight. So I did," Avery said and looked outside the window. They shared moments of silence before Avery decided to speak again, "Don't report me, I'm telling you this because you asked and you wanted to know. I'm not harmful in any way, I've just made a decision I'm in full control of. I don't want to be a Reaper, but I'm not meant to be here either."

"That's why you're different," Harry said out loud.

"Yes, that's why I'm an outcast here. I don't think like them. I can't bring myself to it but I can't go against my mom's last dying wish. She just wanted me to be safe," Avery further revealed.

"But Avey," Harry's hand reached out to touch her shoulder, "you can't ignore the fact that you don't belong here." He looked at her sincerely with his dark green eyes.

"I do belong here. I have to," She looked down.

His fingers went under her chin and brought her face up to look at him. "You don't have to. Avey, she's gone, "he whispered lightly afraid to hurt her even more than she already was. She moved away from his touches. Feeling more uncomfortable than comfort.