Team ALLY

Chapter 21: Broken Pieces

I sense Leo's unease. "I lost my temper. I shouldn't have. But I'm so tired of her grandstanding. She holds my mistakes above my head. I've apologized, and apologized. I've been honest but she spits it back in my face." I feel myself trembling and Leo sits me down on a bench.

~{(0)}~

I find Lilac in the dorm crying. "Hey you alright?." I sit next to her and hug her. "I'm so sorry, Yema. I'm so, so, sorry."

"Sorry for what? Lilac you haven't been yourself recently, what's going on?" She wipes her eyes. "I'm scared. I'm scared for Aries."

"Well you have a funny way of showing it."

"I don't know what to do. I just want him to fight for himself. I thought if I made him mad enough then he'd stop worrying about us and stand up to the people threatening his grandmother. So I've been confrontational, and pretty, and horrible. Now all I've done is hurt him." She cries into my shoulder.

~{(0)}~

Leo is still just sitting there quietly. "Why is she pushing me away? All she's done since the mission is push me further and further away." He's still just sitting there. "Say something, dammit I don't know what to do anymore."

"Then do nothing. You've said your peace. Now rest, breathe, and meditate."

~{(0)}~

Lilac continues to cry into my shoulder. "Lilac, what you did. I understand why you did it but it wasn't the right thing to do. You should have just talked to him."

"He'd die before turning his back on us. We both know that."

"Lilac that doesn't make it right."

"I know! I just didn't know what to do. Seeing him hurt after the mission, knowing he was fighting even harder because of his guilt. I just wanted him to fight for him not for me." I push her gently and look her in the eyes. "Lilac, listen. We both know Aries never fights for himself. It's just not the kinda guy he is. But I've never heard of him fighting harder than when he's defending the people he loves. It's how he got here. You wanna help him fight? Then be the strength behind his swings, don't take that strength from him. Fight alongside him, not with him." She wipes her eyes. "It's too late. I hurt him. I pushed too hard. and now he'll  never forgive me."

"Aries doesn't believe in never."

~{(0)}~

As we're sitting there I see Cinder walk up. "I'm surprised you didn't bring the stooges."

"Thank you for putting the pieces in place, Aries." I feel Leo's anger. He charges but I can't stop him. "Leo no!" She throws a black sword through Leo's shoulder and he falls to the ground. "Leo!" I stumble and fall next to him. She laughs and walks off. "Watch the tournament. The fun's about to begin." I lift him up and pull my scythe to my back. The pain spreading through my ribs as I carry him to the dorm. I blast through the window, dropping Leo and crashing against a wall. "What happened?" Yema asks, looking Leo over. "Cinder...showed up...Leo...charged." Lilac runs over and folds the scythe, pulling it off my back and laying me on my bed. "Ares, save your strength. Yema get the blade out of Leo." She seems different. Just a few minutes ago she was bitter and mean. Now she's back to the Lilac I met when I first got here. Yema pulls the blade out. Leo groaning the whole way. Lilac places her hands on Leo's shoulder and heals it to a more minor wound. She wraps it up. "She's...making a move. Stop her." Lilac, Yema, and Leo get their gear. I try and stand up but a pain shoots through my ribs. Lilac catches me as I fall to my knees. I can barely breathe. "Don't waste your strength on me. Get to Ozpin, warn him."

"Too late." Leo says looking out the window. I hear a nevermore screech and Lilac helps me to the window. Grimm are flooding in along with White Fang "Yema, you're acting leader. Take the others and aid in the evacuation."

"What about you?" Yema asks.

"I'm useless in this condition. I'm not the priority, get down there and save the people who can't save themselves." Yema and Leo nod and run out. Lilac just stands there, looking at me worriedly. I feel a small smile come across my face. "I'll be fine. Trust me." she grabs her staff and goes to run out with the others. She walks over and kisses me on the head before running out the door. I pull my scythe to me. But just trying to lift it leaves me unable to breathe. I fall to my knees and try to catch my breath, wheezing hard. I stumble to the window. Powerless to do nothing but watch as my friends charge into the fray.