The Untold Story of Texas and Lappland (Arknights)

A Wolf Walks into an Alley

A/N: So, for everyone who wondered what happened on Lappland's return to Lungmen, hear we  go . . . (Also I put the eastern suburbs part of code of brawl up above. That's the part Lappland appears in, though not till the very end. BTW Captain MacMark also posted this video so credit to them for doing that. If anyone has difficulty viewing this video let me know and I'll post the link to it somewhere here.)

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Exusiai yawned eyes blinking open to the sensation of someone carding their fingers through her hair. Judging by the gloved touch and the voices murmuring over her, it was no doubt Mostima. Just when had she fallen asleep? What had they been talking about during her time of unconscious recovery.

"Do you hate to leave her again so soon?"

That voice was pretty unfamiliar soon. She thought she heard the woman go by the name of Suffering. But who would want such a name? Did her parents hate her or something? Or is it a code name? She hoped it was the latter option. The first was too terrible to think about. She'd heard of terrible parents before, had met some firsthand during her work with Rhodes Island, but for someone to despise their own child so much that they would name their child a terrible name . . . this she had yet to experience.

There was a sigh. The hand in her hair stilled. Exusiai kept her breathing as relaxed as she could. It was hard to get Mostima to be truly honest. Many of her secrets were kept behind an iron wall, impossible to breach. But she wanted to see past the wall and to the core of the fallen Sankta. But it was so hard, and the act got even more difficult as the years passed them by.

"What do you want me to say? Yes? No? I don't see how it would change anything."

She wanted to shout, wanted to tell Mostima that it would matter.

But would she even care her mind said sadly.

She had thought that Mostima's return would make her overjoyed. Instead it left her with a grab bag of emotions, leaving her more confused than she had ever been before. A part of her was still desperately yearning, the other half of her bathed in uncertainty. Why couldn't things just be easy for once? Why couldn't her life make sense? Back when she first left Laterano her plans had been simple. Follow Mostima, stay with Mostima, confess to Mostima. After what happened to her sister, the need for closeness had become all the more apparent.

"Sometimes I forget how indifferent you are." Suffering murmured. Was that dejection filling the mysterious woman's tone, or was it just her imagination? Was she too trying to garner a reaction from the steel trap that was Mostima? Exusiai thought of every time she'd  called Texas unapproachable and cold, but Texas's standoffish attitude didn't hold a candle to Mostima's uncaring one. Because uncaring would always be worse than harsh.

Because harsh is still honest. Because at least harsh shows some care.

Because even when she tried pushing away Exusiai could always tell Texas didn't really mean it, that she just didn't know how to ask for help. But Mostima was so different. She didn't use to be this way . . .

"Well you shouldn't. There's no point in caring anyways. Not when we'll be leaving tomorrow."

And that got her up and moving. Because no, she couldn't let Mostima run out of her life again. Even if she send a storm of confusion brewing beneath her skin the thought of her leaving was awful. The fire in front of them crackled as the wood sifted and burned. Little embers floated into the air, a pebble rolling to touch the toe of Mostima's boot.

"Yes there is a point! There's always a point!" She exclaimed.

Her outburst was impossible to go unnoticed by the other two. Suffering startled backwards, one hand raised. Mostima frowned at her, thoughts still carefully hidden away. Surprise flashed so briefly across the oceans of her eyes she almost missed it. But like all rippling waters this too was made to sink into a darkened depth. The flames continued to crackle, oblivious to the change in atmosphere. Her heart beat wildly, frustration from months of loneliness rooting into her gritting teeth and inexplicable anger.