Oblivion

S E V E N

Wednesday, 4 April, 2018

Nyco

"How's Jexa doing?" I asked Brax, who was starting to look concerned.

"I'm no doctor," he said, "So, I wouldn't know...I'm not sure about anything."

"Well," a voice started, a man with bright, cherry red hair popping out of the room Jexa and another woman were in, "It's a good thing I'm here, huh?"

"I'm definitely putting that to good luck...maybe a coincidence," I said, crossing my arms as I stared at Ace. Or 'Dr. Sullivan'.

"Definitely," he agreed, "I'm surprised none of you know that much first-aid."

"It's been five years since the last time any of us took first-aid courses in school, of course we're rusty," I muttered bitterly, "And aren't you supposed to be looking after the girls?"

"They're both fine," he told me, rolling his eyes, "Do you really think I'd let either of them die on my watch? One of them is my wife, the other is your...friend, right?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure--" he started.

"Sorry to crush your dreams doc, but I'm pretty sure that Nyco is ace and aro...or one of those," Bryx interrupted, glancing over at me for a second with a sheepish expression on his face.

Ace looked back towards me, pursing his lips, "Hm...that'd make sense, actually."

"Oh, stop gossiping like stereotypical teenage girls," I said bitterly, scowling at both of them.

"Sorry, dad," Bryx said jokingly with a smile on his face.

***

"Hey, Nyco," Rylan said, taking a seat next to me, "You seem pretty worried about Jexa."

I let out a sigh, "Everyone here is like family to me, so, sorry for caring."

He smiled sadly at me, "That's not what I meant. You just seem to really care about Jexa, I can see why Ace would think why you like her."

I chuckled at that, "No...I don't like Jexa if that's what you're getting at. I'd much rather look at a magazine full of male models instead of female ones."

"Oh..." he murmured, "That makes a lot more sense."

"Of course it does," I said, "I just don't want to lose anyone else I care about."

"That's understandable," he mumbled, "I'm guessing you probably lost your boyfriend to the Hollow?"

"You guessed correctly."

"You must've loved him a lot," he said with a pout on his face.

"I did," I told him, "You know that moment when you just know that you've found the one person for you? That's what Sylus was to me...we knew that one day we'd get married and, as cliche as it is, live happily ever after."

"If it weren't for the Hollow, then that's what it'd probably be like for me and Aera."

"Sometimes, I just wonder what I'd be like if none of this ever happened...." I murmured, letting out a sad sigh.

"Well," Rylan started, "You wouldn't have met me," he flirted, winking at me.

"No," I stated simply, "No flirting. Ever. And you're straight and you have a girlfriend."

He shrugged, "Friendly flirting never hurt anyone."

I scoffed at that, "Oh, it has and one day it will strike again."

***

"So...how's Jexa?" Melo asked, her voice shaking slightly as she combed her fingers through her bubblegum pink hair, her face pale with worry.

Ace kept the same grim expression on his face, causing Melo to gasp.

"She-she isn't--is she? Oh god..."

Ace suddenly broke into a smile, "No, no. She's fine, Jexa actually wanted me to tell all of you she didn't make it, but I just couldn't do it."

"Well, he isn't a dead man today," Brax said in relief.

"Yep, Nyco won't rip him into pieces for letting his precious daughter die," Bryx added, "He is a bloody good actor, though, isn't he?"

"Am I?" Ace asked with a wicked grin, "I guess I can add that to the list."

"What list?" I asked, "The list of reasons why you're a disappointment."

"Is he always this mean?"

Everyone nodded slowly, avoiding looking anyway near me.

I shrugged, "I can't argue with them."

"Well, Jexa's fine...just to be clear," the red-head said, "Sadly...her baby didn't make it."

Melo gasped, "Oh no...what about--"

"Arelle's fine too, and so is the baby," Ace interjected with a wide grin, "A healthy baby boy named Adrian."

"Well, you're a dad," I said, "Congrats. I'm never having kids, this lot is already enough for me."

He tutted, "Just wait until you meet someone you want to have a family with, then you'll be singing a different tune."

"Not likely," I muttered, crossing my arms.

"Give it some time, there's always that special someone who's just meant for you," Ace tried to assure me.

I glared at the man, "Cut it off with the whole 'fate' spiel. It's ridiculous."

"One day, you'll believe it."