Two truths and one lie

Comfort and Pain

Yeet more of this one.

-

Varian sat up against the damp, cave wall. The dampness didn't seem to bother much of them anymore. At least, no one complained about it.

They've been in the cave for about a week now. They could still see the sun, it wasn't pitch black. But, considering where the sun was now, Varian assumed it was around seven in the morning.

Varian had his one hand on a sleeping Ruddiger, other on his stomach. They still had food; they've been having only two meals a day. But Varian thinks only him and Ruddiger were having two meals. They say he has to keep up his strength. They say 'oh, don't worry. We're eating two a day too.' but Varian only ever sees them eat one. They probably don't know that he knows. But he does.

Varian's leg has been getting better too. He can stand up, and walk, but it hurts when he walks. Pete and Stan have taken notice of this. They've decided to give it another week or so, see how he is, and start to find a way out of the cave.

Varian sat there, hoping someone else would wake up. Surprisingly, it hadn't been weird between them, considering it was two guards and their worst criminal. But, they got along well.

But, no one else woke up. Varian himself was still a bit tired, so he decided to go back to sleep.

-

He stared at it. It brought back bad memories. He watched snow fall from the ceiling, onto it. But, he didn't pay any mind to the snow, though it didn't help. The warm glow felt cold on his face. Had it been my fault? He pondered to himself. It didn't answer back. Instead, it sat there. It glowed a sad glow. He looked at the note in the hand. He had wanted to read it so badly. But now, seeing all of it again, he started to cry. He fell to the ground and cried. He hugged his knees. He felt as if seeing it again, he was being silently scolded by it. He knows it was his fault. But, he wishes it wasn't. He wishes it wasn't so badly. So badly that he says it's her fault. He said it, and thought it so much, that he started to believe it. But deep down, he knew. He knew it was all his fault. So he continued to cry. No one comforted him. It couldn't comfort him. Not anymore.

-

Pete had been dreaming about his cat, Mr. Happy Paws. He'd been petting him, when Mr. Happy Paws suddenly wasn't so happy. He was...... Sobbing?

Then Pete woke up to the sound of Mr. Happy Paws' sobs. He looked over, and saw Varian. He was huddled up against the wall, shaking from tears, Ruddiger on his lap, comforting him. Varian hadn't seen Pete staring at him. But, Pete didn't know what to do. Do I go and help him? I mean, we are friends now. But, are we? Or are we just acquaintances? Pete decided, he'd rather help than not. He got up, and stood in front of Varian. He got down, sat next to him, and put one arm around him. Varian stopped shaking for a second, then looked up. He had a questioning, yet sad look on his face. Pete kind of nodded, and continued the side hug. Varian never really hugged back, but he accepted it. He, secretly, really liked it. But not too secretly. Pete can tell he was happier than he was a few minutes ago. Even just by a little bit.

-

Something felt familiar. The side hug, that is. He couldn't place his finger on it. But, he knew it. He recongized it. But, what?

Last time he felt this, it wasn't as kind. More sympathetic, but forcing. The memory slowly came, still hard to tell. He knew it was painful, physically and emotionally. He remembered being cold at that time. He remembered hall ways, and carpets. He remembered two people on each side, pulling him. He remembered a promise. He remembered.

-

Varian quickly pulled away from Pete. Ruddiger jumped to the floor, slowly backing away. Pete stared questionly, and surprised. "IT WAS YOU. IT WAS YOU AND STAN!!" Varian yelled, waking up Stan. The two guards looked at Varian, still confused.

"What?" Stan said, walking over.

"YOU WERE THE TWO GUARDS WHO KICKED ME OUT OF THE CASTLE THE NIGHT OF THE STORM!!" There was regret, sorrow, and the feeling of betrayal in his voice. He looked in pain. He looked like he lost something, or as if he'd been lied to. The same expression he had the night of the storm.

Ruddiger contiplated going toward Varian, but he was in one of his fits. Better to let him calm down first.

"Varian...." Pete began, trying to find the words.

"Huh?! What?! What can you possibly say to make me feel better?!?! You threw my trust out the window! So, 'Varian' what?!"

"'Varian', we were only doing our jobs! What did you expect us to do?! We had to follow orders!!" Pete yelled back.

"Yeah, and to do that you had to kick a what was an innocent kid out of a castle!! You didn't even help to bring me home either!"

"We were needed back at the castle," Stan rebuked.

"Varian, you had no idea how we felt. We felt terrible, we're so-"

"Well, you sure didn't act how you felt," Varian spat interrupting Pete.

Pete had to think for a bit. "Well, even if you didn't want to, what if your dad had told you to do something?" Varian's head shot up in surprise. Stan stared sympathetically at Pete. Just then, Pete realized what he got himself into. He shucked in a sharp, regretful breath.

-

"Oh, don't you DARE bring my dad into this!!" Now, Varian was sniffling, sharp tears running down his face. He felt betrayed; just how he felt during the storm. He had made what he considered friends, but they were the ones to kick him out!! And now, thinking back on it, they were also the ones to put him in prison!

Varian decided to leave it there. Neither Pete or Stan had anything else to say. Varian sl just turned to the side, Ruddiger making his way over, and sat there in silence. They all did.

-

lol ok. Because of Gwen, I was told to say this. Zach.