Evolution

Evolution: Chapter 12

"I just...give me space." Tyrion murmured to me, his head bowed as he spoke. There was no shame in his voice, but I could see the troubles in his eyes, "You know where I am if you need me, but right now? I have things to figure out."

Freddie had skunked off after Tyrion launched a block of wood at him. It probably wouldn't have happened, had the moron just kept his mouth shut. Veronica was almost like a forbidden topic between us.

Just like Emma was, and...and everything that happened in that bunker.

So, when Freddie made an off-hand comment about how she screwed up Tyrion's head, it wasn't well received. Of course, had Tyrion really wanted to hit Freddie then the wood would have bounced off his head.

Instead, it just smacked his shoulder. But it was hard enough to make him yelp, and spew out a line of new curses. I really had to know where he learned them all from.

"Figure out what?" I pressed, holding my arms to myself. Did he not know how much I needed this? I needed my pack around me, "Tyrion, we know each other. We know that's not who you are, you're not a bad person."

He looked as if he disagreed, "You don't." There was so much conviction in his tone, that I almost believed him, "We all have new issues, Selene. I think Fred might be the only one who got with a clean slate."

Our heads turned towards Freddie, watching him. Moving like a blur to even our advanced sight, he zipped around the fallen trees, waiting to be chopped. Hurdling them like they were an obstacle course, trying to distract himself because our discussion was too boring.

"He doesn't even realize it." I muttered, feeling heartfelt envy towards him. Watching him made it impossible to think anything could be wrong with him, "You need to be with us, Tyrion. We need you as much as you need us."

I didn't understand why he felt the need to do this alone.

His lips curved into a half smile but it didn't reach his eyes, "You don't need me just now." He promised, like he knew everything, "For now, we're fine. We don't have any reason to be on edge, or twisted up."

"And we're not being forced to be together." I spoke his silent thought, and he sighed heavily, "I know what you feel, Tyrion. We share a bond, remember?"

An apologetic shine in his eyes was obvious, but it didn't hurt any less. An annoyed shout came from behind us, followed by a tumbling wood. Freddie had crashed into one of the perfectly stocked piles, and was wiping the dust from his hair.

I gave him a pointed look when he threw his hands up, "Came out of nowhere," He muttered, almost to himself, and I rolled my eyes at him, "Will you at least eat with us? I never see you eating."

"I eat." Tyrion informed us, giving Freddie a pointed look and I rolled my eyes, "Why do you need me to be around so bad? Is something wrong?"

Yes. I wanted to scream that everything that could be wrong with me was. Instead, I just gritted my teeth stubbornly, annoyed at everything was happening around us. All that was going on inside us, and how confusing it all is.

But I knew I could handle it. I didn't need people to hold my hand anymore, and Tyrion clearly felt the same. Part of me wondered if I had slept through this new independence stage they had fallen into.

"Nothing is wrong." I snapped, feeling my temper flare. My fingers coiled into themselves before I straightened them, "I just didn't realize the only thing holding us together was force!"

Tyrion looked exhausted just speaking about it. I could see the coldness enter his eyes, frustration towards my lack of understanding showing through our bond. His hand tightened on the ax, and he slammed it through another standing log.