The Other Brit- An Infinite Stratos OC Fanfiction

Armistice

Deet. Deet. Deet.

The noise filtered into Edward's hearing mutely, as though it was the echo of some distant sound at the end of a long tunnel. There was also the murmur of low voices, small and faraway, so much so that they did not seem to matter. He tried to think back, to remember what had happened, but came up against a wall so high and so thick that it could have been that it looked to have been made to keep out Titans. Where was he, he wondered absently, but the question was swiftly whisked away by a cruel wind.

Two things dominated his senses; the slow, rhythmic pulsing of his heart, booming like enormous footsteps, but low and almost soothing, lulling him, and the darkness, so deep and absolute that he doubted it could have been pierced with a military spotlight.

Ah. He had his eyes closed.

Though cracking open his eyelids seemed like a good idea to start off with, the boy regretted the action the action an instant later. Light flooded his vision and for a moment he was completely blind, the painful brightness scouring his eyeballs like lasers, before pouring into his head and making it pound as though he had headbutted a moving lorry. It hurt.

Then his vision cleared, and Edward sat up, slowly so as not incite the intense pain that seemed to be trying to to drill a hole into his skull. Though his sight was still a little blurry, it was gradually become sharper, and by now he could make out the features upon the face that had been turned in his direction when he sat up. That face belonged to a tall woman, dressed in black, with long dark hair. He recognised her, of course.

"Orimura-...se..sensai." Edward croaked hoarsely, surprised to find his voice in such disorder. It grated against his parched throat, as though trying to drag itself back down with claws like knives.

"Prop yourself up." The home room teacher suggested, gesturing to the pillow behind him. The Briton did not hesitate to follow the firm suggestion; the woman was regarding him with an expression that somehow managed to be both stern and gentle simultaneously, and that look brooked no argument.

It was only when he was safely rested back that Edward noticed another person in the room. The boy's face darkened immediately. The other occupant was small, petite in build, with hair that fell down her back in a silver waterfall, and a single crimson eye mirrored by an eye patch that covered the opposite orb. She sat in a chair a little way off, unspeaking, her unflinching gaze boring into him constantly. Edward withered a little, wondering how long she had been glaring at him.

Orimura-sensei dashed the brief silence, her strong voice filling the room easily, and bringing them both to attention. Now, it was about as gentle as naked steel, and about as sharp.

"Just what were you thinking? Displeasure I could accept. Awkwardness I could get, especially from someone who's only just recently started to catch up with the rest of us and lived most of her life in a military camp. But fighting? What are you, little children who have to scrap to settle every dispute? Even worse, fighting with two fully armed IS units? Going at it like that in an occupied corridor? One of you nearly died, for God's sake, and almost worse, you completely destroyed the interior of part of the school. That section of the building has to be closed off now, so your idiocy has affected everyone else, not just you.

"There is, however, some good news, at least. I've thought of a particularly suitable punishment for you."

Edward winced. The hoomroom teacher's definition 'good news' sounded more than a little warped to him.

"Neither of you will be allowed to change rooms."

Silence. Both of them ceased all movement, shock freezing them in place. Of anything she could have thought up... Of all the horrific punishments... The girl recovered first, fury and betrayal writing itself in large characters across her face. She opened her mouth and began to protest against the atrocity. Edward was about to join in the revolt when Orimura-sensei cut the words off brutally, talking straight over the protests.

"In addition, you will be grouped together for every group or paired activities for the rest of this term. Maybe that will help you settle your differences."

Then, leaving no time for any sort of dispute on the matter, she swept out without another word, leaving the two them alone in what Edward had finally realised must be the academy's infirmary, now that his addled brain was back to one hundred percent. The Briton gave the girl a furtive glance out if the corner of his eye. Lived most of her life in a military camp. He could believe that. She wasn't looking at him now, but he half expected her to break several more bones than the ones he could already feel, before killing him and claiming it had been some machine accident.

Instead, as she turned her sharp gaze in his direction (causing him to instantly flinch and avert his eyes), she simply sighed. For what seemed a long while, the girl studied Edward silently, as he desperately tried to keep his own eyes from meeting hers, for fear of what might happen when he did so. Finally she stood, still silent as a ghast, and made to leave. Surprised, the Briton stared at her retreating back, frowning.

"Hey." He called out, a little apprehension entering his voice as he realised he was addressing the person who had pummeled him to within an inch from death. She paused, midstep, and cast a glance over her shoulder, her one crimson eye glaring. Edward fought back a flinch at the intense look. He had to know one thing, at least; he couldn't keep calling her Demon forever.

"What's your name?"

The girl turned away again, unmoving, but wordless. For a moment, it appeared as though she would not answer, but then she spoke out into the silence.

"Laura Bodewig. My name is Laura Bodewig."

And then the crimson eyed girl left, leaving him to consider that singular piece of knowledge.