After all the dust had settled[1], a new dynamic was established. Awkward looks that led to nothing, because the pain was still too fresh, and Sunless was once again ordered to not make too much effort for a week. For the better or for the worse, he hadn't suffered a real heart attack, and even if he had been close to one at multiple times, his recovery had been smoother than expected.
With Jeanne's boosted recovery, he felt weak for only two more days. If we didn't count his week of constant sleep of course…
He couldn't remember what happened after …you know who's arrival. But he was perfectly able to remember what happened before.
Theseus chose to let him go, Nephis had been honest with him, Vincent offered to train him and Plume…She revealed that everything in here was just some half truth compiled to gain more time to finally get rid of him.
Choosing for him a path that he wanted to reject. A path of weakness, to depend on someone else to save him and Rain when they'll be reunited.
He lost her once… Never in his life he would take the chance to lose her once more.
They almost had him, to make him believe in their words, that he was better than that. That he should accept their help, that he should trust them… Usually, he would have just run away. The same way he did when some people tried to adopt him once. But not everything in here was worthless.
They had resources and not everyone was guilty.
And without thinking about that, even if he wanted to leave, he was stuck in there for all he knew.
He couldn't leave and they wouldn't listen to him… His only choice left was quite obvious, to make them regret saying those words. I'll learn more and more from them and once done, he will leave and hide in the city. Making quick cash with his knowledge to ask for a private investigator to search for his sister.
And if everything works as planned, he would still be able to see Nephis from time to time. She wouldn't mind… Maybe..?
So the plan was to be an asshole and leave once done…Then why was he stuck like that?
Standing before the tired doctor, Sunless didn't know what to do or what to say. That feeling the golden haired woman would always be at reach had been broken, and at the same time reinforced.
After all, out of the three women involved in that plan, Jeanne was the least guilty.
[Jeanne]:"Now. Sit. Finished. All good."
The check-ups had been a bit longer compared to before, she was putting a lot more effort to verify a couple more times at each test. Putting back his shirt, Sunny had a difficult time getting out of his seat. Pushing himself more than anything else, no words were said though. Because he knew that if he came to say one word, he would break.
Onyx fleeing gold.
Because…
'I know that you're putting on a charade, you're a bad liar Jeanne… Just like before.'
Keeping her gentle and sweet act, like nothing happened. She was still incapable of hiding the pain in her eyes. Now, all he wanted to do was to go to his bed and sleep.
And so, he did.
Opening the door and leaving the room without saying a word.
'I will talk to her. Just...not today.'
That was his though, and the same that he had the day before. And the day before that...Again and again since he first woke up from his coma.
It had taken him a few mistakes but Sunny was now able to instinctively go to his new room.
Something that was not truly his anymore.
A few turns, the stairs and then the door. This one was still on its hinge, compared to his last one…
Knock Knock
Silence…
He hated that…
[Nephis]:"Sunless ? Arg...come in."
He can already hear what she will say to him. Moving the doorknob in an exhausted sigh, Sunny entered the bedroom without really looking.
He shouldn't have done that.
Because now, he did not see the pillow flying in his direction. Taken by surprise, he felt it before he could recognize the danger. And standing proud in front of him was Nephis, looking at him a bit annoyed.
[Nephis]:"Your thing stays on your side of the room. How many times do I need to tell you this? ?"
…
Okay, he had expected another criticism than that.
[Sunless]:"What did I leave on your side this time…?"
The pillow did not hurt him.
Still, he was pissed off by this throw.
'Did she really have to aim for my face…?'
[Nephis]:"Your T-shirt from yesterday…"
[Sunless]:"WH- ! You literally saw me put it in the corner of my side !"
Silence.
Realization.
The pillow flew once again, but at Nephis' direction this time.
[Sunless]:"You think you're funny ?!"
Sadly for him, the girl simply dodged it a little bit too easily to his own taste. Worse, she even graded it at the last second to throw it back on her bed.
Moving closer to him, she was still having that same annoyed face as before.
[Nephis]:"And you think that I'm happy to repeat myself ? No need for you to knock at the door, it's also your room."
[Sunless]:"It is yours, I'm only a guest here".
[Nephis]:"So if it's my room, I can decide if it's also yours. Oh and by the way, guests don't throw pillows at their host…"
[Sunless]:"Oh you lit-"
That kind of interaction was now the base of their relationship while in their room. Order and Chaos were somehow working together to make each other's life an actual hell. Mocking him at every opportunity, pulling pranks when she wasn't there.
All that while staying respectful and easy-going, of course.
[Nephis]:"Go away, you lazy princess !"
[Sunless]:"Stop dodging then ! You sly devil !"
[Nephis]:"Use your own pillow at least ! Unlike you, I do my bed so leave it out of it !"
She had it coming though, after all… She was the one that started all this.
Literally two days after he woke up, still exhausted and defenseless from Jeanne's Aspect… She used that moment of weakness to pull the worst prank ever. To read his note aloud. From the tips he got from her to his intimate thoughts about everyone. Of course, she did not read it all, but the fact that had done it was enough to start a war.
This war.
[Nephis]:"Put my pillow down or I'll tell Diana what you really think of her."
[Sunless]:"What ?! You wouldn't dare."
[Nephis]:"Try me."
One where he was in constant disadvantage.
Without much of a choice, Sunny had to throw back the pillow where it belonged without concern or whatsoever.
Looking at each other, they stood for an instant. Eye to eye. Only for the both of them to nod. That battle was over for now. Passing beside him to make her bed once again, Nephis did let a little comment flee from her lips.
[Nephis]:"I asked you to put it down, not to throw it like an unwanted curse."
[Sunless]:"What's the difference ? You drool in it anyway."
[Nephis]:"I did not drool in it."
[Sunless]:"Yes you did"
[Nephis]:"No, I did not".
[Sunless]:"Yes."
[Nephis]:"No."
[Sunless]:"Yes !"
[Nephis]:"No !"
[Sunless]:"No !"
[Nephis]:"Yes !"
[Sunless]:"Ah ! Got yo-"
Without much time to celebrate, a hand had already taken the pleasure to have a rapid and forceful reunion with his ribs. Holding his side, he moved to reach his desk. Why did she have to hit where it hurt like this ?
To be honest, Sunny didn't truly know how it was possible for him to act like that. It came naturally, getting revenge for the last joke only to be met with another.
Still, he wouldn't say that he didn't have any idea either.
The way she tried to understand him, he didn't remember it but he felt like she also tried to help him which would explain the bruise she had on her neck. And how since she is joking more openly. That had something to do with it, but what ?
Or just simply because…she was honest to the point where she was surely the only person left he would try to trust.
[Sunless]:"Did you manage to take it ?"
A blind question that only they could understand.
[Nephis]:"What if I did ?"
The tone was special, like they were talking about something common and basic. From what he could hear, she was still placing back her blanket correctly.
But from what he knew, Nephis was worse than a rat sometime. From caring in silence to be right after the little pest she used to be.
[Sunless]:"Don't even think about it…"
Silence.
Sunny knew what was about to happen if turned to look at her right now. He will not give her the satisfaction to fall in her trap.
[Sunless]:"Stop smiling like that."
[Nephis]:"Me ? Smiling ? How can you know ? You are not even looking at me."
This tone.
A mocking one.
A triumphant one.
'I'm not looking… I'm not looking… I'm not loo-'
[Nephis]:"What… Are you shy, princess ?"
'Okay… I'm looking.'
His black hair moved, being part of the movement. Turning just enough to get Nephis at the corner of his onyx eye. A strand of black hair was placed behind his ear, letting him see what he wanted to see.
And here she was, behind him with a proud, sly, and mischievous smile. Hand behind her back, waiting for something without any risk for her. After all, she was the one who had the merchandise. Seeing as Sunny had looked at her, her attitude only grew stronger.
[Nephis]:"Say it."
[Sunless]:"In your dream Nephis…"
-[Nephis]:"Don't think too highly of yourself to be in my dream."
[Sunless]:"That's not what I heard."
Checkmate.
As he stood up to face the vile girl, a smile of his had found a way into his lips. He was sure of him, and that was enough to make Nephis attitude tremble, just for an instant.
[Nephis]:"You're bluffin-"
[Sunless]:"You called my name in your sleep last night, Nephis. Not once, not twice… but five times. Want me to tell you more or…?"
…
...
[Nephis]:"You are a guest. Get out of my room."
[Sunless]:"Too late, you said that it was also mine."
[Nephis]:"You're imagining things…"
[Sunless]:"Coming from you, its-"
…
...
[Nephis]:"Sunless, get back here ! I'll ki-"
And here goes another five minutes of cursing, dodging and mocking the other. Sadly for him, out of the two, one of them was a weakling with a heart on vacation and the other was a Legacy trained by a Master for the last five years…
So yes. He got caught.
Laying on the cold wooden floor, Sunny was stuck with Nephis's knee against his stomach. Short-winded by that effort, the pain was manageable, she had made sure of that. After all, she wanted to catch him, not hurt him.
Her gray eyes stuck on him, taking time before her thoughts were shared. She was in training mode.
[Nephis]:"You're getting better. Good instinct mixed with experience… You lasted longer than I thought you would."
[Sunless]:"… Then can you stop calling me Lazy princess ?"
[Nephis]:"Will you try to clean your side ?"
[Sunless]:"…"
[Nephis]:"As I thought."
[Sunless]:"Or at least the princess part."
[Nephis]:"Why would I ? You're still the one who needs the savings between the two of us."
[Sunless]:"I know I know, I'm weak… Now can you leave my stomach alone ?"
Without response, Nephis did not move. But after a second of looking at his irritated face, she finally stood up, giving a helping hand to Sunny. Which he refused to use, getting up on his own.
Nephis was already moving somewhere else, reaching for something hidden under her mattress.
A quick movement, a throw with a gentle and mocking warning.
[Nephis]:"Catch."
That's something in question was long and yet thin. Wraps in a cloth, as Sunny did his best to not curse while grabbing the flying object mid-air.
Taking his time, he wasn't pressed to look at it.
But still, his hands were already doing their best to remove the now useless part.
Because what was hidden under it was far more useful than the cloth in itself.
[Sunless]:"Was it hard to get your hand on it ?"
The words flew toward Nephis as he was grasping the handle of the wooden blade… His wooden blade.
He had been forced to stop his training against his will, but now… It was itching to not practice at least a bit. No spared match, no demonstration… Just being able to work and feel his progress each day.
In only six weeks of training, Sunny had started to get used to this weapon. Being more at ease to how he could and should move with it.
Him, holding a sword made of wood… His past self wouldn't have approved. He would have tried to sell for a very good price without being killed in the process.
[Nephis]:"It wasn't. Tea-.. Master Theseus just gave it to me without saying a word. Surely his way to say to keep working."
[Sunless]:"Wait, did he know about that ?"
[Nephis]:"You really want to know if a Master was able to find out your plan to steal a weapon from his supply room? I knew that you were not the brightest but now you are reaching a new record."
[Sunless]:"First of all, ouch. Did you really need to be that harsh? Second, I'm soooorryyyyy miss Legacy if I don't know the extent of what a Master is capable of. And third, did that mean that Jeanne and the others also know about it ?"
[Nephis]:"Yes. Not my problem. And yes absolutely. That's why I agreed to try and get it for you to begin with. If that was truly a no-go, they would have already done something to stop you from getting your training sword back. But Sunny, let me ask you this."
Sunny frowned, she looked a bit more serious all the sudden.
[Sunless]:"Yes ?"
[Nephis]:"Did you really think that you would be able to use it ? Since we both know that you want to accept Vincent's offer today?"
It was a good question. One that he didn't even have the answer for.
Because from what he had heard, Vincent was ready to go all out only to train him. He didn't really know what to expect of it, but he was sure of something, it was surely not ready for it but if he could pissed off some people in here by doing it, well…
Onyx pearls moving from the girl back to his hand, what choice did he have…
Entropy or moving forward?
Regretting not being enough or trying to make it change…
[Sunless]:"I don't know… But why did I need to wait to use it ? Haven't I have the rest of the day off"
Silence
Then two small smiles came to life.
[Nephis]:"I was almost proud of you, Princess. Almost."
[Sunless]:"That's better than nothing, I guess…"
[1] I swear… No more trauma—for now! I think…? Maybe? Well, who knows?