[asbel+hubert] table #002: prompt #023 aid
Title: Break the ice
Author: Icys
Claim: table #002: prompt #023 (Aid)
Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort
Rating: PG
Word Count: 809
Summary: Asbel feels guilty after what he had done to Hubert in Lhant. Hubert thinks he's taking all the blame to himself, again.
Note: I know, I hate this piece too. :|
"Asbel ...?"
A shadow fell over my face as her voice ringing above me. Hesitatingly, I opened my eyes
facing another pair of violet eyes looking at me concernedly.
"Is Asbel... all right?"
"Yeah... I'm okay." I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly when she helped me
getting back on my feet. Not this again, I had made her worried over a trivial matter.
There was a sound of metal flung in the air as his guns transformed back to a double blade sword.
"Don't worry, Sophie. I'll take care of him." Hubert said while walking to us.
I took this chance to avert my gaze from them. "Please tell Malik-san we're done and will be back shortly."
Sophie looked back at me. I wasn't certain if she was still worried about me or
she wondered if we were going to start a fight again if she wasn't there.
But Hubert gave her a brief smile and nodded lightly. "I promise it won't take too long."
"... Okay."
We watched her running back to the inn, leaving us in an awkward silence.
This wasn't the first time I lost my little brother, though. Truth be told,
I knew for a long time that Hubert had potential. Still, I couldn't help being envious of the fact
he had already surpassed the strength I'd trained so hard to obtain.
"Don't tell me that was all you've got."
His sarcasm pieced through my heart as he casted a healing spell on me.
I forced myself to give him a smile.
"Geez, thanks. I thought we were just training, not killing each other."
"Hardly. When you didn't intend to harm me at all."
"-- What?"
"Don't play dumb, Nii-san. You think I haven't noticed your movement before?
The steps you've used in the battle might not be the best, but far better than when you practiced with me.
I also notice you hadn't even taken a chance to counter me back."
"..."
So he knew.
I reluctantly turned away when he tried to look straight in my eyes.
After a few moments, he shruged.
"If you feel uneasy when I asked for a duel--"
"No, it wasn't like that Hubert."
"... Then what?"
I remembered it clearly as if it happened yesterday. The moment we met
after seven years in Lhant wasn't going well, much far worse than I could have imagined.
I just wanted to thank him for saving Lhant but his words riled me up.
Siblings shouldn't have that much of a rivalry. But that day we ended up fighting, causing our mother cried.
"I'm not getting used to it yet."
What he said was true, after all. I didn't get mad at him. The cause of that incident
was me being foolish. If only I came back to Lhant sooner, my father wouldn't have died.
"Used to what?"
If only I was stronger, you wouldn't have gone to Strata either ...
"I don't wanna... raise my sword against you again."
Whether he was going to tell me that was pathetic or tilt his head and said I was thinking too much,
I didn't care. He was my brother, the one I had been missed for many years.
I didn't want to start a wrong move again.
He seemed tense after realizing what I was trying to say. We both were lost for words.
I kept staring at the ground and started feeling guilty to bring it up while
he hid his gaze under a glint of glasses.
"Nii-san..."
"..."
"Nii-san."
"I-... Sorry, just forget about it."
"Were you afraid that I would cry and cling to you if I lost?"
I blinked.
"Huh? Of course not!"
He adjusted his glasses and continued his speech nonchalantly.
"Then give me all you got, Nii-san. You can't possibly treat those you want to protect like glass.
Sometimes you must help them to learn how to protect themselves. I asked you for a spar to sharpen my skills,
I expect the same from you. And don't take it too serious. Even If it's not you who point a sword at me,
I believe someone else would gladly do that to me in near future, especially when we have a plan to
go into Fendel territory tomorrow."
"Hubert... you..."
He chuckled, then smile mischievously.
"Besides, it would be less boring to have a competitor trying to match my ability."
I frowned at him, then my lips twisted in a smirk.
"Know what? I might make you cling to me next time. I kinda miss that face of yours."
"Not a chance, Nii-san."
I laughed, throwing my arm over his shoulders and taking a chance to lean on him.
His face was far from amused -- rather between embarrassed and annoyed,
but he let me hold him anyway as we walked back to the inn together.
Just like the old times.