WoundedPride[continued from Keep On Knockin', But You Can't Come In] Day Two (Early Morning) As the morning light invaded his room, Cole felt Silk shift against his back, threatening to push him out of his bed. Her tail was curled around somewhere unduly distracting, but at least her sharp nails were sheathed for the moment. A rumbling purr hinted that she still slept soundly. He’d found her under his covers after returning home – her strangely sad welcome greeting him from the darkness. She’d been very adamant that he not turn on the lights either. When he’d gotten in beside her, she’d molded to his back but without amorous intentions. Indeed, when he’d touched her, she’d flinched and instructed him to go to sleep in no uncertain terms. Now that Cole could finally see his companion, he noticed the ugly bruise that stained her right cheek. Silk moaned softly, turning away, as if sensing his gaze. Cole sat up and started pulling on clothing. His face was grim. "Who did it?" he asked. Silk rubbed her eyes and grimaced as she touched a tender spot. “It’s nothing, Cole,” she replied, more annoyed than usual. She sat up in bed, too tired to wrap her bare breasts. “Seriously, Beanpole. There was a fight at the Duck. A few Loyalists got too drunk and started talking shit to Rita. One thing led to the next and I took an elbow in the eye.” She smiled sadly, “Don’t worry about it, okay? It'll teach me to duck next time. Heh heh. Duck, Get it?” Cole smiled. "Yeah, I get it. Well, I can see that you're taking it really well. You're being very calm and mature about it." He stood and finished pulling up his pants. "So you're lying. And the only reason to lie is because you actually don't want me to confront the person that did it. So I'm going to go beat the hell out of Anthony unless you give me another target." Silk’s ear twitched at the name. He walked to the door, then turned to face her, one hand on the doorknob. "Well?" She flicked her tail and lowered her ears, “Cole. Just drop it. I’m serious! Rita has enough trouble as it is. If you go off cracking heads, there’s no telling what they’d do next. We took our licks and sent them on their way. It’s over.” Silk stood up, wrapping the bed sheet around her. “This isn’t your fight, anyway. This is katayan business. Always has been.” She gingerly rubbed her cheek. Cole crossed the room in two strides and held her by the shoulders, his face inches from hers. "What do you mean? What happened at the Duck?" His voice was in deadly earnest, and it sounded different somehow. Older. Quieter. More dangerous. "Trust me, Silk. If I crack their heads now, they won't do anything next. Nothing at all." Silk’s tail snapped like a whip, “What the hell has gotten into you, Cole?! I think you’ve been hanging with that Kel broad too long.” She tossed the sheet away and began angrily collecting her uniform. “The Loyalists – Anthony’s buddies – came into the Duck. They got drunk. Insulted Rita. Richard took offense. Smacked one of them. They didn’t like that much, pulled their blades, and started tearing up the place. “Arkela, Satonka, and I stepped in and kicked their sorry arses out the door. That’s it. Done.” Her jade eyes met his, resolute. “So, don’t start it up again. Please. I’ve been called a whore more than once. It’s nothing.” The way her tapered ears twitched, however, said otherwise. They pulled blades?" Cole asked, incredulous. "In the Duck? Did anyone get hurt? I mean, more than bruised up?" Silk shook her head, “Only from the pushing and punching portion of the fight. But drawing their swords? Well, that was the stupidest thing they could have done. Between Arkela, Satonka, and a few others from the fencing team, those guys may as well have thrown themselves under a train. Even I clocked one upside the head with a jug of ale.” She grabbed her skirt and wriggled into it, buttoning it around her tail. “I doubt they’ll come back any time soon,” she said. “So, no need for the murderous boyfriend act.” "It's not an act!" Cole said, angrily. He paused for a second, realizing what he'd just said, then, struggling, tried to explain himself. "I"m not trying to show off. I can't stand to see you treated this way. Or Rita. Or even Richard. Anthony and his friends are a pack of rabid dogs, and they need to be put down. I'm not saying they should be killed, but something has to be done. And I'd be delighted to be the one that does whatever that is." He took a deep breath and continued, before he lost his nerve. "And I'm not your boyfriend." Silk flinched, as if slapped. Already cowed by his anger, she turned away to pull on her blouse. Her tail sagged behind her, its fluffy tip twitching traitorously. After buttoning her and smoothing out her uniform, she straightened up, her ears held proudly. “Well, at least you didn’t ‘call’ me a whore, right?” she said coldly. She brushed by him, heading for the door. Cole stepped between her and the door, holding his hand in front of him, palm out. "Hold on. You are not a whore. I've never even thought that. You're a very close friend. But we don't have a committed relationship. You've shown interest in other guys, and that's fine. And you probably know by now that I'm interested in someone else. I shouldn't have gotten this involved with you in the first place, but you... you're like a force of nature. I couldn't tell you no. Didn't want to." Silk wiped away a tear, growling at her own weakness. “‘Friends,’” she said with a tired laugh. “That’s supposed to be my line.” Her tail slashed the air angrily, “Just a stupid katayan. Letting her heart yearn a little too much.” She waved her hand dismissively, “Don’t worry about it, okay? Forget I even said anything. Although maybe we should cut out the Friends with Benefits bullshit for now. Tell whatsherface she’s a lucky girl. “Now I need to get to class.” Cole wrapped her in a hug. "Right. No more benefits." She kissed him on the cheek – a deep wistfulness in her eyes. Then she gave a perfunctory nod and stepped away from him. Even though she moved only a few feet away, it felt as if an insurmountable chasm had sprung up between them. After a minute, when they'd both calmed down, he stepped back, held her shoulders, and looked her square in the eyes. "Now. What you told me about the incident at the Duck. Is that the truth? The whole truth?" Silk leaned against the door, “I did. Really! The gang came in, ordered a few drinks, and then started getting rough with Rita. It’s happened before, sure. But something was different last night. Like they need to hurt someone. I think they wanted to lure Richard into the street and kill him. In a duel. So it’d be legal, you know? But they got ahead of themselves and the rest of us got involved. “Once we kicked their asses to the curb, they left. Although, I do feel bad for anyone that crossed paths with them on the way back to their rat-hole.” "I don't know much about Amber city ordinances, but I'm pretty sure that a gang against a single bar bouncer wouldn't be treated as a duel. I hope not, anyway. But at least one of the constable captains is whacked: I could see him agreeing to it. He'd probably commend the gang for putting down a dangerous terrorist." He sighed. “Exactly.” "I'm sorry I couldn't be there for all of you last night. I'll be by tonight. Unfortunately, I'll still have to be in by midnight. I assume the trouble started before then?" “Aye. Just after Tenth Strike, I think,” Silk said. “Must have been Satonka was well into the cups by then. And she drinks slow.” She rolled her eyes at this. She smoothed out her tail and offered him a rueful smile. “I think I’ll study tonight.” She gave a furtive glance at the door. “I know it’s hard for you. But don’t do anything stupid. Okay Beanpole?” "It doesn't come naturally," he agreed, " but I'll see what I can do." He opened the door then himself, and, with a sweeping bow, held it open for her. Silk sauntered on through – pausing only once to glance back at him. It was as if she was looking at him for the last time. She managed a smile before disappearing down the corridor. [Cole continued in That Which Is Lost] |
