When the Smoke Clears

friends

Azure

I thought I'd never see him again. I didn't want to see him again. There he was, the man who threatened me, inadvertently keeping his promise. I grazed my burned hand as I stared at him with malice.

"What are you doing here?"

His face scrunched up as well, projecting his equal disgust with us being put together. He stepped back to the door and put a hand against it.

"Apparently leaving. I refuse to work with you." He knocked on the door. No answer was heard and the door did not open. 

"I don't think they'll let you out. We're in here for thirty minutes; whether we talk or not doesn't matter." My reasoning was flawless. I knew they wouldn't let him out unless he was actually in danger. The doors were automated. I doubted they were even watching.

"But as long as we're here," I continued, "Maybe you'd like to explain why you ran away yesterday without giving me a second glance."

James put a hand to his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He slowly sauntered back to the seat set out for him, grumbling. "Look, I would prefer to just forget about the experience and move on entirely."

"Nice try. Why were you there?" I knew that I was pushing it, but I pressed forward.

"Next question." 

"You can't do that, you have to answer."

He scoffed. "I don't have to do anything for you. I think I'm done with this conversation... Cian." He abruptly turned away from me in the chair. A thought popped into my mind as I realized the wording of his sentence.

"Do you even know my name?" He had called me a Cian, not Azure. I reflected back on the previous meeting and discovered that I had neglected to share my name. 

You could turn this to be in your favor Azure. If you play your cards right, he might talk to you; tell you why he was at the barn. 

I wasn't sure why I had such an avid interest in finding out why he was there; it was purely curiosity. And a little bit of arrogance. After all, if he expected me to just back down after he sternly reprimanded me, he was in for a treat.

"It's Azure, just so you know. I figured you should since we will most likely continue to work together."

I saw him straighten up slightly at my name. He turned a little bit, not enough for me to see his face again, but enough for him to direct his voice at me. 

"Why did your parents name you Azure?" A question. A simple one, but enough to let me chip through. I really wanted to know why he was at the barn.

"It's the color of my eyes."

He turned around in the chair and scooted forward, becoming more engulfed in the conversation. "Is that it? I mean, that's not very creative. I bet there a bunch of people with azure colored eyes."

I gave him an annoyed look and huffed. "Well it's not like James is all that unique either. What's your story?"

He flinched slightly. "It was my father's name."

Smirking, I continued, "Very original."

"I'm proud to hold his name."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but it's kinda lame to be named after your dad. After all, that makes you more of a clone than a son."

"Speak with a little more respect," he hissed, "My father died serving a good cause."

I raised an eyebrow. It might be time to change the conversation Azure. I looked down at my hands, still a bit red from the burn yesterday.