Elixer of Feelings

Episode 2

For all the man's height, it takes him forever to make it back to his car. Or is it that time has seemed to slow down for me? By the Queen, it seemed like he walked up the walkway faster than I could, but now I feel the seconds drag on. He reaches up and grabs the handle to his Shiny new Sedan and pulls it open, before he gets in he looks back at me and waves.

"Andre wait!" Why am I doing this to myself?

"Huh?" he returns.

"You're right, I shouldn't have distanced myself from you. You're my friend, after all, no matter what."

He closes the door and stands there for a sec.

"Are you sure? You seem like your struggling to say that." Yes but not for the reason you think.

"No, just ashamed that I have been so distant. I'm sorry, let's go to breakfast. If you'll still have me?"

"Of course, get in." He says and walks over to the passenger side of his car and opens the door for me.

Why am I so nervous? He's never made a pass at me or done anything to me I didn't want. There were a plethora of things he didn't do to me that I both respect and hate at the same time, but never once has he ever given me a reason to feel any type of unease around him.

It does concern me that he's a Captain in the Royal Army. Word has it, that to reach that level in the army you have to be able to do some incredible things. Dangerous things. Looking at him now as I make my way to the now opened door, sure his body could do those things, but I find it hard that his mind could. I continue to think as he closes my door and goes to get in on his side.

Looking around in his car gave more reasons to doubt that he could be this beast that everyone makes our army out to be. His car is completely spotless. Air fresheners in the vents, change neatly arranged, he even has clean mats. He was too well kept. Someone capable of those unspeakable evils, couldn't be this organized and put together.

Someone that could perform the vicious acts that comes with the small talk of the Drow Army must be evil. And if I know at least one thing about Andre, he was not evil.

He finally makes it into the car and with an effortless motion he turns the ignition and we seem to sail. My car has never driven this smoothly before and it's an automatic. Here he is working a stick shift with such ease. And the only thing I can think about is how good he must be with his hands.

My eyes trail his arm and admire the way the fabric hugs him. They land at his face and notice his lips are moving. Queen's breath is he talking to me.

"Bunny? You okay?" his baritone voice gives my body a little hum.

"Hmm? Yeah, why do you ask?" shaking the feeling off and paying attention to his lips. His words.

"I don't know, you have this look."

"Like, what kind of look?" I lick my lips and hopes that he misses that.

"I don't know, I was hoping you would tell me."

"I don't have a look."

"Okay Bunny, well would you please play some music for us?"

"Oh, so that's why you brought me along? To be your copilot?" I say with a smile crossing my arms.

"No, you're my DJ. The music I listen to is trash next to yours. I wanted you to put me onto some new stuff. I have been away for five years. Not many radio stations in the battlefields of the Kelza Republic."

"Well, since you put it that way. Can't have your ears rotting off." I say, not sure which way the conversation would go if I didn't. I tease him and want to be normal, but I don't like him thinking about the war at all. He's been back for a little over a month now and though I'm sure he's had his chance to re-transition, I don't want to bring up bad memories if I don't have to.