DEVIATE X / / AN UNORDINARY FANFICTION

XVII.

John.

F*ck. Some day it's been.

Despite Doc's unwavering glares and our livid outbursts, I had no doubt in my mind that he would eventually snap at my frequent visits. Hell, could I blame him? Eventually, stirring up healing concoctions four times a day for the same person over and over is bound to get tiresome.

On my end, tiresome was a vehement understatement. It used to be a struggle, yes, the consistent tests against my "weak" will and plentiful bounds of fists, knees, and elbows leaving marks on my body. But eventually, the pain begins to numb and the bruises yellow, and the trips to the Infirmary become normal. That much I can handle, but it never seizes to be exasperating.

But when she came along, the pain lessened and the fists against my face seems so trivial. The burdens of a cripple seemed to be less heavy with her presence distracting me, to fill the hole that Seraphina left. But that probably wouldn't last long after today. No doubt about it, with her observational skills, she's seen and is repulsed by my sudden outburst, which is probably why she left the Infirmary so abruptly. I should find her tomorrow and.....

"John."

I whirled my head around and let my eyes fall on her.

Delta.

There was a casual tilt that affected her shoulders and her leg kicked up against the wall. Despite her girlish uniform and pleasing features, she didn't bear any feminine mannerisms. Her navy hair, which was usually swept into a pony tail, fell into a gloss of blue under the warm light swimming through the hallway window. She looked to gorgeous to be a regular student. Too gorgeous to have such a relaxed, casual, stature.

"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting long?" I asked as I approached her with a tentative gait. She eyed me strangely, sweeping her pale gray irises over my unkempt hair with an unreadable expression before locking onto my face.

"Not really." She said.

For once, an awkward silence festered in the air like a haze of fog hanging over us. I felt somewhat anxious about what she was thinking at the moment. Was she angry at me for snapping like that earlier? She was so composed, so unreadable most the time unless I tested her with suggestive statements.

"About earlier...." I instinctively raised my hand to the back of my head, running through the thick tufts as I felt warmth flood my neck and cheeks, "I'm sorry for snapping like that. I was just...."

Angry? Tired? Exasperated? Maybe it's all three of those fused together for today. I visited the Infirmary this morning under Delta's pretense. I promised her I would go to have my injuries checked by Doc, and if it would give her a peace of mind, why not humor her? She only wanted to make sure I was okay, seeing that she was stressed and frustrated with me yesterday over my injuries.

"It's no big deal." Delta said, a soft smile on her lips. "Feeling better?"

Surprisingly, the easygoing lilt of her voice confirmed that she wasn't angry with me. I expected something passive like a cold shoulder from her, but she didn't seem to be bothered about my qualm with Doc.

"Yeah." I replied strangely.

"Say, you never found The Secret Garden in the school library, right?" She inquired, her sudden soft expression replaced by deliberation. It was a face I was familiar with; it was a face she made when the gears in her head were working over time to create a plan.