She melted into him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his neck. Her body shook with sobs, even as she tried to be careful and not touch him where he was hurt. Her tears dampened his skin and the more she cried, the tighter she held onto him.
Miki nodded, cocking a thumbs-up-finger-gun at her, but knowing Vi was referencing Miki and Ben's tendency to make each other mad. "Got it."
He runs his fingers through her silky hair, quietly resting his lips on the top of her head.
It's okay.
Violet nods, unbuckling.
Good.
She gets out as Ben walks out onto the porch, his arms crossed. He glares at her. "You-"
"-didn't die. We're fine. And we got your brother." she interrupts. "Try to be patient." She walks past him inside and he stands, watching as the other file out of the car.
She cried on him until all the pent up tears inside had come out, and then slowly steadied her hiccuping breaths. Finally she sat back and tried to wipe off the wetness on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." she choked.
–
Miki nodded to Ben as she passed him and then dropped onto the couch and picked up all of her mess where she had left off. She needed to ask Ben for help deciphering his notes, but she didn't want to bother him when he was annoyed at her and Violet for taking off without him.
Don't be.
He brushes a lock of hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear.
Kissa stands. “We should go.” She states, turning her back to them.
What is with her?!? Why is he so gentle with her??
ok. He’s gentle with everyone.
Cage bounces onto the porch, wrapping Ben into a tight, happy hug.
“AAA I’m so glad you’re safe!!!” He squishes Ben as much as he can and gives a small squeal.
Ben stands still, glaring ahead. “If you’d like me to breathe then please let go.”
Violet sighs, setting her coat on the couch and turning the thermostat down since Ben has obviously spiked it.
“Miki, I’m really sorry if he snaps again. It’s more likely he won’t now that he’s slept, but still.” She turns around, sighing, “and thank you so much for being willing to help.”
Silver nodded. "We need to get back to Ben and the others. I'm sure they'll have medical supplies and we can finish patching you up." She finished wiping off Gabe's shoulder and scrubbed at her crunchy eyes. "I'm good now." she assured him.
–
"It's okay. I don't blame him. Goodness knows how many times I got upset with my friends when I was sick with worry looking for Silver." Miki said. "BUT. It would be nice to have these notes translated."
Violet nods in agreement, “oh yes. I’ll get him.”
With that she heads out to the porch and Cage comes inside.
“So, how’d you guys meet?” He looks around. “And umhn, where’s Silver?”
Gabriel stands, dusting his pants off. “We’re headed east?”
Kissa nods. She starts to walk in the general direction they’re headed. “What are the Elements in your group, Silver?”
"Thanks." Miki said, and began clicking away on her laptop. To Cage she said, "Well, I found Silver and her friend Gabe a couple nights ago out in a back street in town. I've been looking for Silver for like four years since she first disappeared. She's…" she paused, picking up her phone. "Silver got caught. I'm trying to locate her.
–
Silver stood up and stretched her wings before following Kissa. "They were at Ben's house but I'm pretty sure they left because the house was being watched. We're… there's fire and earth and… I think Cage's is water."
Cage's eyes widen. "She was caught? Is Gabriel with her?" He sits down beside Miki. "Can I help?"
Violet steps outside, the chilly wind biting at her cheeks the moment it could. She blinks a few times, rubbing her arms. "Ben? We're trying to locate Silver. If you could-"
"I have an idea. They should have a building near here, and it would be better to at least start looking nearby."
She nods. "How far?"
"Two hours. It's the closest one."
He turns to look at her, his cheeks pink from the cold. "She'd better be okay."
Vi rubs his arm reassuringly. "I'm sure she's fine. Let's go."
He heads inside, Vi following behind him, and takes his notebook from beside Miki, flipping through the pages a bit. He stops on one page. "Here. They should have a building two hours from here, but it's the closest know one."
Kissa nods. She raises her large, feathery wings behind her in effort to keep them out of the muddy leafs. Gabriel lets his drag on the ground.
Miki looked over his shoulder. "Wow, I didn't realize that was one of theirs. I've known that building was there all my life." She started packing her stuff up.
–
"Do you know where they are?" Silver asked Kissa.
Kissa tilted her head, letting the chilly air turn her cheeks red. “Hmmn, no. But this is in the general direction of the city. And I don’t think they’re far from it.”
Gabriel raises his wings, avoiding a few fallen branches, his thoughts wandering.
I could’ve freed them.
They're still stuck there being beaten and caged.
He briefly pauses, glancing behind them sadly, then continuing forward.
I have to help.
———
He shoves the notebook in his coat pocket before taking his coat off the rack and slipping it on. “Everyone get your jackets back on and get in the car.” He demands, then adds in a mumble, “I’m not wasting another minute.”
"Okay." Silver slipped her hand into Gabe's when she saw him looking back, and gently tugged him along. "Hey." She said quietly. "It's okay. We're free now."
–
Miki zipped up her backpack and jogged out of the house, climbing unto the back seat of the van.
Cage heads outside (I’m pulling Leo and Shadow with him into the backseat).
Violet stays behind, handing Ben the keys.
“We can do this.”
Ben nods. He pauses for a minute, studying the room, then turns to head out. “Мне нужно выйти из его дома.” he rubs his eyes with his wrists on the way to the car, refusing to let his them water. He sits in the drivers seat and starts the car while Violet assumes the passengers seat.
——
I’m not worried about us.
He takes his other hand, quietly tapping his collarbone with it.
They're scared. And I didn’t help.
He blinks hard a few times, his head starting to throb.
(Miki jus chilling)
–
"What's wrong?" Silver asked, studying his face. A smile flitted over her lips. "I can't read your mind, Gabriel."
He looks to her, swallowing hard. His eyebrows are creased and his lips chapped.
I can feel them.
I’ve seen them.
They hurt so bad.
(The car is driving)(vroom vroom)
Silver could tell he was upset, but she was still slightly amused over his habit//stubbornness of not talking outloud. "Darling, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."
–
(Whoop whoop)
Airrow will hurt them.
His elbows start to ache and he starts to actually feel warm.
We have to go back.
I need to go back.
He looks away and blinks hard again.
“I’m fine.” He manages to whisper.
——
(Ben forgot his coffee and is sad)
"Heyheyhey." Silver said, frowning at him. She could feel his body temperature changing and the pain inside. "You made me cry when I told you I was fine, so you don't get to play that game either." She squeezed his hand tighter. "You're upset and you're getting sick over it. Use your words and tell me, Gabe. You used plenty of words on Kissa, you can use a few on me."
They hurt.
He gulps, his heart beat pulsing loudly in his ear.
“We left them. I did- I- I didn’t let them out.”
He inhales and stares to the left of them at the ground, though still walking.
"Wait what? Who did you leave? Are there–" her heart sank as realization dawned on her and she almost tripped as she walked. "There are more still in there?" She whispered, horrified.
(Sorry for being gone I had a bunch of chores)
(That's fine lol I get it)(Shadow and Leo are in the backseat of the car with Miki and Cage)(Violet and Ben are in the front seats)(They're headed to go 'save' Silver)
"Wait what? Who did you leave? Are there–" her heart sank as realization dawned on her and she almost tripped as she walked. "There are more still in there?" She whispered, horrified.
The ones that had gone missing, and more.
Kissa glares ahead of them, "it's not like we can go back. Not now at least. They'd probably kill us."
Gabriel exhales shakily remembering the last kid with wings they had an issue with.
Silver walked on in silence, staring at the ground but not seeing anything.
There were more.
Of course there were, but somehow she'd never stopped and realized.
There were others still stuck in that living nightmare.
"Not right now." she finally whispered to Gabriel. "Maybe… maybe later. But we can't help them right now."
Kissa rolls her eyes.
Can we be normal and go on with life? And not hold ourselves responsible for others? Maybe just this once?
(I want to do a time skip but)(rocky)