Chapter 2: Standings
Written by 4EVERA POLARBEAR LOVER
It had barely been more than just a few hours, but the responsibility of protection was pushing it's weight upon Oliver's shoulders. More so than Kaz's.
"Kaz, where's the-"
"It's here."
"Kaz do-"
"It's in my sock."
"Kaz..."
"I've got it!" his friend cried out to him in distress. Oliver let out a sigh, knowing that he was getting on his friend's short nerves. But Oliver couldn't help it. Kaz was what you would call, accident-prone. And that was the very reason that led to Oliver's worry. The last ending shifts of the hospital came close, and the two friends slowly finished up their final shifts. All the while, Oliver was still trying to comprehend the reason, the logic behind what is now his half responsibility.
How did Kaz get to keep hold of the half of the Dyan of Nebulon?
Oliver found himself tapping his pencil with the steady beat of his thoughts. Self-pity and slight obnoxiousness found it's way into his mind.
How many times had Kaz broken something;lost something?
Numerous.
How many times had Kaz pressed something that he wasn't supposed to?
A whole lot. Actually, he even shrank his best friend once in a while too.
Maybe it was the envy talking, or possibly the tiredness from a whole day of school and work that formed the glare that was now aimed at Kaz's entering form.
"Alright, let's go. I've got to head to the Domain to pick up a comic" Kaz said, putting down his notes upon the desk. Oliver slammed his pencil down quite loudly in the now sleeping hospital. Kaz's surprised eyes looked over him, and soon turned to confusion at his friend's slightly hostile actions.
"Let's go then. The Domain closes in half an hour" Oliver replied coldly. Kaz followed along his friend, after shrugging off doctor's coat. They left the hospital without much more than a glance at each other.
Upon entering the Domain, Kaz and Oliver were set in a tense atmosphere. Kaz had no idea why he was put in such a hard position, but choose to keep his thoughts to himself. As for Oliver his reasons were lined up and ready to go, but didn't not want to waste breath talking to someone who he surely knew wouldn't listen.
They stayed for a while, shuffling quietly about the small comic store while Wallace and Clyde busied themselves at the cashier. The few stranglers became none and the Domain was soon left to only the two best friends. All the while Kaz flipped through the already memorized and read comics, his eyes flickered hesitantly over to his best friend's profile, a few steps away. Never had Kaz thought it to be so hard to talk to someone. Especially if that person was Oliver.
Every time Kaz took a nearing step, Oliver's form would pull back, or turn away. This could be taken as a silent warning of "go away". It was now Kaz's fifth attempt at trying to make peace with his best friend. Or get near him at least.
When he felt that Oliver was deeply caught up in the somewhat newly released issue of Blue Tornado's Adventures, Kaz took two quick strides and came to an abrupt stop by his friend's side. Oliver passed an odd glance over him as Kaz greeted his friend.
"Sup" Kaz tried, while Oliver nodded silently in reply.
"Dude"
"What?" Oliver replied innocently, eyes glazing over the pages that he had read over a million times.
"What's wrong?" Kaz said bluntly, finding it really tiring beating around the bush.
"Nothing" Oliver shrugged off.
"Then why are you acting this way?" Kaz questioned as he followed in sync with his friend's distancing steps. Oliver lifted his shoulders hesitantly, and Kaz groaned in frustration at his friend's attitude.
"Dude…"
"So, did you find the comic you were looking for?" said Oliver, clearly changing the topic at hand to something else.
Kaz stared at the Oliver, eyes boring lasers into his friend's profile. But his anger seemed to go unnoticed. Blowing at the air in annoyance, Kaz accepted defeat for the time, and replied in a mumble.
"No."
"Hey, we're closing up shop. Are you two done yet?" Clyde called from the cashier. Pushing an annoyed glare over to Oliver, Kaz answered for the both of them.
"Yeah"
"But aren't you-" Oliver's comment was cut off by the shaking of Kaz's head. Oliver followed his friend out of the store, not staying back for a moment to bid goodbye to Wallace or Clyde.
His hands shoved deeper into his small pockets. The cold night air left a chill crawling down each of their necks. The steps of their feet on the pavement echoed softly into the darkening day. Autumn was coming close, and winter hinted to be colder.
They each reached their block, and so split ways. Anger ran in Oliver's veins as he walked away from his friend, not at all lessening with each step. Sadness and frustration bubbled inside Kaz, as he caught only a glimpse of his friend's back before turning away himself. Though not saying it, both felt that the night seemed colder without the known presence of each other.
Doors slammed shut.