Tim p.o.v.
"So, you wanted a talk?" I asked the bat hybrid. He had sat down in the middle of a training room.
Azezal slowly got up. "Yeah. Got kinda bored. Let's do some sparring." He began kicking a spear around with a leg. "Alright with you, berserker?"
I gave a chuckle. "You must be mistaken. I am a-"
"White mage, right? That's what your actual occupation is. How's that curse coming along?" Azezal asked in spite.
"W-w-what curse?" Confusion could be seen on my face.
"Feigning innocence is funny. I have seen your life's records. For what it's worth, it was a pain to get them." Azezal picked up a paper from a desk. "Age 7, singlehandedly beat up a gang who scared your family. Two days later, on your birthday, became a leader for that gang and changed morals for the gang. Age 10, argument with parents caused a rift between both groups and left the house, returning when wanting to talk to siblings. Age 13-"
"Stop." I pleaded quietly.
He continued. "-fell in love with a girl who also had feelings for you, kept in secret. Age 16, made it well known that you were dating. Age 18-"
"Please, stop." I had whispered louder.
He had heard me, but continued anyways. "-went back to your shared place on your dating anniversary to see everyone dead, including her. Fell into a depression, activities causing your sibling to look for you. Once they found you, you lashed out any and all emotions you had, heading into a long two weeks of sleep."
"No more." I covered my ears.
Ignoring my pleas, he had continued. "Woke up empty, more pacifistic and began to show affection again, just enough to fake attachment. Smiling enough that people would think that everything will be fine. Age 21, gang members attacked and you watched as your siblings defended you. Age 22-"
My ears were ringing. I can't hear him speak. I know he was speaking. I know he's telling the truth, but...
but...
.
.
.
.
why should I care.
I had swung my fists at the figure, who had dodged with ease. It left it's spear behind. I picked it up and continuously jabbed at it. I saw shards everywhere. Doesn't matter. I will kill this thing before it harms my peace any further. I must.
Tina p.o.v.
"You sure this will work?" I heard someone ask. Here I thought nobody else would be in the canteen this early. I looked to the voices. Zoro and Elliot were looking at a tablet.
"It's therapy. I majored in it." Elliot replied.
"Whatcha talking about?" I asked. They showed me a video feed was being played of Tim trying to hit Azezal. "What's going on?"
"So we need Tim to get his strength back. A bit difficult when he hides himself." Elliot flipped the tablet towards himself before flinching a bit. "That has to hurt."
"Are you kidding me!?" I shouted. "Do you not care for the lives of others!?"
Elliot gave me an empty smile. "If, and only if, it benefits me."
"You shit!" I pulled him out of his seat. "Why do you toy with our lives!?"
Something in Elliot must have snapped. He spoke coldly. "I have never once seen lives as toys." Elliot grabbed my wrist with a hand. "I see lives as tools now." He threw my whole body to the floor in a swift move. The sound of bones cracking covered the canteen. "And tools are meant to be used to their fullest."
"Elliot. I think that is enough." Zoro spoke. "I'll bring her away so you can focus."
Elliot sighed. "I'm heading to the lab." He walked off.
"Are you alright?" Zoro questioned with worry.
"How can you stand to listen to him?" I sucked in a breath. Ow.
"He used to be smiling kinder." Zoro passed me a potion. I took it from him. "He had lost someone dear and his world had been crushed." He gestured me to follow.
"Huh." I walked with him, quietly sipping the potion.
"Elliot has been through things even I don't know. He opens up randomly when he feels like it." Zoro chuckled. "The witch is the closest to him. You might know more if you ask her."
"Maybe." I finished the potion and passed it back to him.
"Perhaps we should stop the training though." I looked at him weirdly. What training?
He opened the doors of a training room and Tim was panting heavily. "He's a real feisty one." Azezal laughed as he left the room. He placed a hand on our shoulders and whispered. "A curse broken by true love to heal is stupid." He said as he left.
"I'll help carrying him." Zoro hoisted him over his shoulder.
As we went back, Tim muttered a word repeatedly. "Sorry..." What was there to be sorry about? I need to have a family talk.
"You have a phone?" Zoro asked me as he dropped him on his bed.
"We don't have one at all. We were on the run for a while." I replied. Being chased for being different is stupid.
"I'll see if I can get some for you." Zoro ruffled my hair. The feeling of a latex was weird. "See you."
Tima p.o.v.
I looked at the cabinet of clothes. How do regular girls pick what to wear? "This looks nice." Elizabeth held up a red dress too small for her metal body.
"When did you get here?" I asked.
"1 minute and 27.38 seconds ago." Elizabeth shrugged. "Came here to buy clothes for a dress up party with my friend. How about you?"
"Clothes for my sister. She said she wants to look like a biker girl and asked me to get her clothes." I sighed. "I have no idea where to start."
"She is your body size right?" I nodded. Elizabeth smiled. "Alright then! I'll help you!" She smiled joyfully. "But first, this is the wrong place for biker girl clothes." She dragged me a couple aisles. "First, how biker we talking?"
"I dunno." I pulled the memory of the dead girl out. "Tight, but breathable. Does that count?"
"That does narrow it down." She looked at me, then towards the shelves before making a full blown sprint down the aisle and back, taking clothes out every so often. She returned with a bunch of sets of clothes. "Which one do you want to try first?"
"Huh?"