If I leave immediately, maybe they won't notice? She thought desperately. She tried to turn the handle, but her hand had started to burn in her panic, which ma see it sweaty, which meant that she couldn't get a firm grip on the door. Dammit.
Royce helped Ara up on the bench. She was clearly exhausted, if not, sleepy. Either way, he couldn’t possibly leave her on her own as for the time being. He glanced back at the woman by the door… instead of a sinister smile or threatening gaze, he gave the woman a welcoming smile and a small wave with his free hand.
Ash waved back with an awkward and very small smile, shaking out her hands to put the fire out. She used her shirt to open the door.
Ara swatted his hand away. “I can do it myself.” She hauled herself onto the bench and glanced over. It was the Fire girl. She scowled slightly.
Royce nodded at Ara, even though he was worried, he chose to not show it. He glanced at the door once and froze it almost immediately. The fountain gave out just enough water and vapor for him to manipulate at a ridiculously quick rate. He wrote something on his notes.
Isn’t it a little inappropriate to leave without talking to us first? he showed to the girl by the door though with a warm smile.
Ash froze. Not literally, but she found herself unable to move. Oh, I'm going to die. I'm so going to die. "I prefer not to talk to people if I can help it," she said, carefully keeping the fear off of her face.
Royce nodded and took this into a count. He then wrote something else on his notebook. He showed it to the girl.
Then at least stay here and enjoy the atmosphere, don’t worry, we wouldn’t do anything that would hurt you his facial expression seemed to assure what he wrote down.
Ara snickered. “You’re talking right now.” Her voice held the faint tinge of exhaustion, but she chose not to let it show on her features.
Ash smiled thinly. "Yes, well, seeing as I didn't bring a notepad, speaking seems to be my only way of communicating at the moment."
Seems like it Royce held the notebook so that covered half of his face. Even so, it was clear that he was smiling behind the notes. He turned to the fountain and some of the water came up as vapor. He moved them around, condensed some of them into droplets and watered the plants around the garden.
Ara raised an eyebrow. “You could just steal some of his.” She pointed at Royce. “Or write in the dirt. Or use sign language.”
Ash slowly walked over to a raised flower bed and sat on the edge of it, not taking her eyes off the group. You know your training. You know what to do. Calm down, she told herself. She absentmindedly started playing with a tiny flame, moving it around between her fingers. The warmth was a nice change from the cold-blooded murder she had vaguely been expecting. "I don't steal. Dirt is messy. Sign language hurts my hands. But thank you."
“For what?” Ara raised an eyebrow. This girl was confusing. Her finger twitched as a wave of cold swept through her, and she watched the girl with narrowed eyes.
Royce turned to Ara.
No one shall touch these notes of mine, they’re my precious … he giggled slightly when he showed her that page.
He then turned back to this girl.
By the way, what’s your name? Powers?
Ara hit him on the back of the head. “You’re an idiot.”
"My name's Ash. I'd prefer to keep my powers a secret, if you don't mind terribly," she said lightly, shaking her hand once she realized she'd been playing with the flame. She knew they'd seen it, but that didn't mean she had to tell them. She may have been stupid, but she didn't need them to know that.
I am a man-child and I am fully aware of it he ‘corrected’ Ara with a smile touching his face.
Ara rolled her eyes. “Stop correcting me. And you are not a man child. You are just a child.”
Royce nodded and smiled at Ash. He snapped his fingers once and the ice that was blocking the door melted then evaporated.
Well, nice to meet you Ash
He then turned to Ara with a soft giggle.
Heh, true
Ara raised an eyebrow at him. “I know what I’m talking about.” She stood and almost winced before remembering that there were people around. She stayed standing, looking perfectly calm, and flicked a finger. A chunk of snow came falling from a nearby tree onto his head.
Ash silently sighed with relief, immediately crossing to the door and pulling it open. Her hands were completely burning now, but she quickly stifled the flames until the door had closed behind her. She closed her eyes and slid down the wall, feeling weak with relief. "I'm not dead yet," she muttered to herself.
Royce’s head lowered when the snow fell on him.
Ow…(￣^￣) he showed to Ara while covering half of his face with the notes.
Ara snorted. “Aww, You poor baby. Do you think you’re gonna survive?”
This is my life now until the Games end isn’t it? (°▽°) he gave a jokingly worried look.
“Absolutely,” Ara agreed. “You should have known what you were getting yourself into when you allied with me.”