Day 56: Bus 3

[rocksthecourt]

Waking carried a sense of disappointment along with it for the first time in a long time. Klavier actually sighed in irritation when he realized where he was. Damn it all. So they hadn't managed to move quickly enough to cover as much ground as they had hoped. It was a shame, really. Last night had actually proven to be relatively productive. If

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[purpletaint]

There was movement, and he had shifted to face Klavier utterly, blocking the entry point into the seats. Of the same motion, his hand darted out to grab Klavier's wrist, fingers closing around it tightly. "What did I say," the Variant questioned, and it was perhaps that Albedo's tone was flat, lacking in any emotion that was the most giveaway of the heightened state he was in. "That was the last time, Klavier. The last time I would warn you."

He stared forward, humanity again bleached out as if it had never thought to return. "Do you want to banter about methods of betrayal? You, I, and Nigredo all have that guilt, thick and choking. Rubedo is the living incarnation of it, and you the follower in his footsteps. Nigredo and I--our violations are petty, and if you ask him, he'll speak the same."

His fingers tightened, muscles in his hand squeezing the small bones in Klavier's wrist together, grinding the joint to point of pain. "It's not that simple." His face darkened with anger finally, deep and potent, his eyes flashing violet. "I would never leave him. I will never abandon him."

Albedo leaned forward, malice adding a treatise to his words. "Do not insinuate that again."

[rocksthecourt]

The fact that Klavier had continued to push through with the conversation despite fear was either a testament to the man's courage or a display of utter stubbornness and stupidity. Especially with Albedo the way he was. But as brave a face as he was trying to put on, he reacted purely on instinct when it came down to it. The moment Albedo snatched up his wrist, Klavier gasped and flinched both at once, immediately shifting to try moving away. But they were on a blasted bus! It's not like there was actually any room to move one way or the other. So his options were pretty much limited to either doing nothing, yelling for security, or attacking back... assuming he even had time to do any of that. The way his hand had been grabbed was faster than one might expect, and he’d only had time to act on reflex.

But Albedo didn't attack, didn't do anything to rip apart the stitches in his hand. Instead, he spoke again. Threatening, horrible... and with a look that had somehow become even more severe. Albedo was furious, apparently. And although he wasn’t specifically doing anything yet, the threat was plenty obvious. But… what he was saying… it was so absolutely frustrating.

What the hell... was the matter with this kid?! "Warned him?" He thought that warning was about "getting between them" not about speaking. So now if Klavier did anything other than smile and nod and act like everything Albedo was saying was absolutely correct, he was going to attack him? If he dared disagree with him and didn't just blindly accept everything coming out of the child's mouth, despite all contradictions, this was somehow considered stepping over some kind of line and justified an assault? It was completely ridiculous! Just like when that “game” they’d played had gotten out of hand, Albedo was being completely unreasonable. He was determined to dictate things into something entirely one-sided rather than on equal footing. This wasn't a discussion or an argument. He wouldn't hear any opposing views or answer questions. Evidently, he wasn’t even allowed to ASK said questions even though they were entirely reasonable given the situation. Albedo hadn’t addressed the issue at all… in fact, he didn’t really answer anything over the course of this entire discussion!

The only thing Albedo had really said just now that was even slightly of substance was only something he was inferring from the boy’s words. That being that apparently Klavier was being nitpicky regarding the definition of betrayals and that all four of them were guilty of it to some degree, so this somehow made it completely alright that he’d tried to shatter his brother’s skull. That was exactly the same as all other forms of betrayal and DARING to ask about it was UTTERLY ridiculous, evidently. Bitterness aside though, the fact that Albedo would actually dare compare Klavier to himself was just…

The hand gripping his wrist got tighter and tighter as the boy spoke. It hurt. It hurt a lot. Far more than anyone would think coming from a prepubescent child. He already knew Albedo was unnaturally strong for his age and size, but the force behind it was still surprising. But Klavier just frowned, wincing and biting back any kind of audible response with grit teeth. He... he really wasn't kidding around! At this point, if Klavier said anything Albedo was seriously ready to assault him right then and there on the bus. And with how fast he could move, it was very likely the man could end up dead before security even had a chance to try prying the kid away. And yes, everything about that look indicated that he was plenty willing to resort to murder by this point.

Klavier tensed, frozen in place. He didn’t respond nor did he make any noise regarding the pain in his wrist. He was almost afraid to. Afraid to speak, afraid to move, afraid to so much as break eye contact. The silence between them stretched and all Klavier could do was breathe and ready himself. Prepare himself to do something drastic if need be should Albedo make an entirely undesirable move despite the man's reluctant complacency. It wasn't like him to give up like this, to let something go. But under these circumstances... did he really have a choice?

[purpletaint]

He was sick of this. Sick of it, and there had been nothing torn asunder from this seating; just ill-mannered words and a disgusting human male. He wanted nothing more to do with it. He felt like he was going to be sick. There was too much trampled underfoot and he hated all of it.

Klavier's hand was released and Albedo stared at his own as if it had been dipped in some radioactive muck. He shook, then pressed it against his pants, as if to wipe off residue, sliding across the bench to the edge in the same motion. He stared out across the aisle, something like bile but tasting of blood rising in his throat. He was going to be sick. He wanted to rip Klavier's throat out, so the man could gurgle his arguments softly. He'd rather tear out Klavier's eyes and force them down the man's own throat, see no evil, and speak none of it to me.

"A distraction," he forced out roughly, voice strangely hoarse. "I was a distraction." Of the question of wounds, answered as if nothing had passed. Violet eyes slanted back to Klavier, the rest of Albedo's body remained turned away. "Because I wouldn't allow him to be close to a threat. And he could shoot with precision while it was preoccupied."

Of why he spoke, or the reasons, none were apparent. Possibly to either.

[rocksthecourt]

The fact that he'd been released did little to alleviate the situation as far as Klavier was concerned. He only pulled his hand back and resisted the urge to rub away the pain that still lingered there, still watching Albedo and his movements warily. But the child only wiped his hand and turned away from Klavier entirely, the perfect semblance of a child who'd been emotionally hurt and was sulking to himself. With his back turned and face obscured, Klavier at first thought the boy was trying to put on one of his acts for the sake of anyone who might have caught the earlier motion.

That possibility vanished, however, when Albedo turned his head enough to peer back at him over his shoulder. Dear god, it really was like he was sulking. Like he was such a victim over here. But any animosity held between them would have to be put to the side if only for the briefest of moments.

It was those words. Those first two words finally uttered by the boy were enough of a surprise for it to openly show on the man's face. A distraction. Albedo had acted as a distraction for the sake of protecting Nigredo? For the sake of keeping some "thing" busy while Nigredo "shot" at it? That was how the boy had gotten injured?

On one hand, Klavier trusted Albedo about as much as he'd trust an arsonist with a lighter. The child was a liar and a manipulator. He couldn't really rely on the boy at all to be truthful. On the other hand... Klavier did trust certain factors of Albedo to remain constant. Had Albedo actually assaulted Nigredo, he wouldn't hesitate to say so. He wouldn't be the type to make up a story about it to escape blame. On the contrary, Albedo was normally more than happy to accept blame for his crimes and wholeheartedly confessed. So if he says otherwise... that's perhaps more trustworthy than not.

However, if what he was really saying was the case, then something didn't make sense here. Klavier continued to eye the boy warily, unsure. Asking for further details was apparently out of the question. So should he remain quiet or did he dare risk opening his mouth and pressing Albedo again regarding a single point?

...It was a short decision to mull over. Klavier had never been one to back down easily, after all. But he remained reserved as he carefully asked, "...If that's the case, why didn't you simply say so from the beginning?"

[purpletaint]

A simple question from a simpler man. Albedo's eyes narrowed in disgust. "Why bother," he stated, tone full of repulsion. "You've already made up your mind on me--nothing I say either way will change that. Your field of vision is too narrow." No point in effort for something stagnant. He glanced away, watching the view through the opposite window.

He just wanted the bus to stop. And to be away from this one as quickly as possible. "And it's none of your business," he added with no real heat. "What we do. You have no holding on either of us."

So might as well play. Nothing else to do. Right?