Wands and Fireguns

13. Beating the Odds

'You're mental.'

I blinked twice. I should've known he was going to find this plan rather sketchy. 'C'mon you tossser,' I urged. 'I helped you out twice when Jane tried to kiss you in the courtyard.'

Rikkard shot me a look that told me he didn't appreciate me bringing that up. '...and I am in your debt,' he said. 'However, this is a totally different matter.'

'Yes. Yes, it is!' I confirmed. 'They're going to try and separate us around the city! Don't you at least care about where you're being shipped off to?'

He grumbled to himself. 'Patsy...'

'Rick!' I retorted, crossing my arms in a stubborn stance. 'We're talking about life and death here.'

'You don't seriously suggest we hold a march for orphans infront of the government's parliament?!' he exclaimed in whisper, trying to be discreet as we were discussing the plan I had formed to secure our orphanage in my new interrogation broomcloset on the ground floor. It showed itself to be useful; a trained police officer even gave in, so it shouldn't have been so hard to try and win any revolters.

'You followed me, all the way in here and now you suggest we don't do it?'

'You dragged me with you!' Rikkard argued. 'And I haven't agreed onto anything yet!'

I let out an exaggerated sigh. How thick was his skull? If he deigned to continue this I was sure as hell not afraid of testing it out and clobber a mop across his head.

'Stop being such a geezer and just help me with this, will you?'

'What do you suggest I do?' Rikkard said, making dramatic gestures with his hands. 'There's not much we can achieve Patsy... we're just orphans, remember? Did it get into your thick skull that perhaps there's no way to save the orphanage and we might as well accept that we're all being sent away?'

'What?' I snorted. 'Where's the fun in that?'

'It's called rational thinking.' He let out a deep sigh. 'I too- want to stay here,' he admitted. 'But there's no way that whatever stunt you're trying to pull is going to work.'

As much as I would have liked to admit it- I too feared that holding a demonstration against the downfall of our orphanage infront of the british parliament would go awry. But I couldn't be thinking like Rikkard and act like a rod crept up my arse! I had to do something! There was no way in a million years that I would allow for this to happen, especially because I was beginning to like the cold and grey halls of our orphanage. I was finally getting accustomed and now they just had to take it away from me!

Wasn't that ironic?

Grabbing the mop that rested against the wall, I held it up in sight for Rikkard to see. 'I'm not afraid to use it.'

A horrified look crossed his face as he stared at me. 'This is blackmail!' he exclaimed.

'So?'

'You are mental.' He confirmed.

I snorted. 'That's very concerning coming from someone who sleeps with a teddybear at age eleven.'

'I do not! How-How did you even find out...' he stared at me with a puzzled face. I showed him a grin, to which he responded: 'Nevermind. I do not even want to find out.'

'I once overheard you talking to Eric about your plushen friend,' I shrugged. '-Don't get any ideas into your head, mister. You're not that charming.'

'How do you always manage to insult someone and make it sound like you just greeted them a good morning?' he asked baffled. 'For the life of me...' he whispered.