Puppet {ManxMan}

CHAPTER 44

Arthur wasn't happy when we brought Ian home the way he was. His face was about as pale as when we'd found him in the Con Rồng prison cells, clinging to Cass despite how he was so obviously still mad at him. I could tell because he refused to acknowledge Cass outside of using him as a human crutch. Without his walking stick, Ian had become completely vulnerable to his handicap, fully blind, and he hated it.

After Arthur had checked over him, I took it upon myself to help him back to his room, since he wouldn't let Cass near him. He struggled to walk, shuffling his feet and clinging to my shirt as he kept his head bowed, like he was expecting to be able to see the ground if his eyes were wide enough.

"Just rest up," I said after lowering him to sit on his bed, "We'll find something better for you to use, okay?"

Ian's hands were clenching and unclenching on his lap, his jaw locked, "I'm completely useless," he said, and I frowned as he covered his face with his hands, "Damn it."

"Hey, no, you.... I don't think you're useless. A little more training and a staff that won't break as easily and you'll be fine," I knelt down in front of him, "These things won't just go away, the fear and the constant anxiety that someone is waiting for you to let your guard down, but you'll learn to live with it. I did."

"It's a little different though," he argued, "You understand, I know you understand, I'm really grateful for it even though the circumstances are so.... Dark and grotesque, but it's still different. You were there for ten years; I was there a few days. You've had more time to cope with it, but you also got it so much worse than me. I just.... I just deal differently."

"You need to try and relax, even I'm learning to do that," I suggested, taking his hands when they fell from his face, "Trust me, I don't cope. I push all of my issues to the back of my head and let them simmer until I snap, and that's not healthy."

"It works though," Ian mumbled, and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't be like me. Don't do this yourself. Tell someone, Ian. Arthur, Cass, just tell someone, not just me. I can only help with so much, and being weak.... Letting yourself be protected I mean.... It's not a bad thing. It's actually really nice to know you have someone strong like that."

Ian shook his head, "I don't want protection just because I'm a blind freak. I want to be able to do things on my own!" he ground his teeth for a long time before he seemed to stiffen in resolve, "I want you to train me."

I blinked before furrowing my eyebrows, "What?"

"Train me, the same things you learned from the Con Rồng. You're a skilled assassin, you were obviously taught how to function in pitch black or other serious situations like that, right?"

"Yes," I answered uneasily, "but the way they trained me wasn't exactly.... Humane."

"I can deal with it," Ian reassured, "Please, Demi, I just don't want to be weak, not because of this," he pointed at his eyes and I sighed, looking down.

"I suppose training you apart from everyone else wouldn't hurt," I decided, "If you're really that determined.... Because you know there are plenty of people here who are strong. They could protect you easily, you could just sit and relax!"

"I'm determined," Ian said, "I'm not going to be a burden. I want to fight, Demi. Please."

"Alright," I stood up, "I'll train you, away from the others, but first things first I want you to rest, alright? We'll look for a staff made of iron or something before we start your training. Don't push yourself, or we're stopping. Got it?"

"I got it," Ian grinned, sitting back, "Thank you."

"Yea, just lie down," I mumbled, walking over to the door, "I'll see you tomorrow."