"How you doin', Aerrow?" Finn asked hesitantly as the redhead in question turned his empty eyes toward the blond. A major difference could be seen in those emerald orbs, however; they were tinged with a trace of red.
"Okay, I guess... everything seems so... out there, y'know?" Aerrow sighed softly, unable to think clearly since the "attack". The other Storm Hawks had, of course, reminded him that the Dark Ace was dead. But, he knew what he saw.
"Need anything?" The sharpshooter was anxious to get out of there; their last conversation hadn't gone so well.
"Nope... just rest, right now..." The Sky Knight shifted to look at Finn while lying on his side.
"Y'know, Finn, I don't tell you this often enough-" The marksman's face perked up. "But you really need to get in more combat practice." The blond's face fell again. That's when Finn got angry for a change.
"Dude, are you serious!? That's all you have to say!? No 'thanks for checking up on me' or 'good to see you'!? Are you kidding me!? You... you bastard!" The sharpshooter stormed out furiously, leaving Aerrow stunned; he'd never spoken to the Sky Knight so disrespectfully before.
"So, Aerrow... getting along well with your teammates, I see..." The Dark Ace suddenly appeared in a chair sitting next to Aerrow, idly eyeing the crystal from his blade.
"What do you want, Ace?" He said half-heartedly.
"What's wrong? Things not going well? Something... bothering you, Sky Knight?" The Cyclonian taunted, shifting his legs a bit.
"No, nothing's bothering me... except you... can't you just leave me alone!?" He threw a glass of orange juice at the older man, watching it impact the wall beside him.
"Well, I could, but... what fun would there be in that?" He answered darkly.
"Go away!!"
Meanwhile...
"I'm starting to think Aerrow's losing it... I mean, he's been acting really weird, and this business with the Dark Ace attacking him? What's the real problem?" Piper thought out loud.
"Mindworms..." Stork answered her question absently. She looked up from her books to eye the pilot.
"Huh? I'm sorry, Stork, did you say something?"
"Nothing you'd be interested in..." He muttered under his breath. She blinked a bit in surprise then groaned in frustration, crossing her arms and scowling angrily.
"Stork, are you still mad about the sandcakes!?"
"No! Well, yes, but... never mind!" The Merb turned to glare at her. He'd let Radarr take over the controls for awhile, having agreed to help her "figure things out." She seemed to enjoy his company but not his ideas.
"What'd I do now!?"
"Nothing!"
"Then what the hell are you mad for!?"
"Because you were supposed to do something yesterday!" He answered, voice dripping with venom.
"What're you talking about, Stork?"
"Nothing. Never mind." He turned back to his book, sitting in his favorite chair at the meeting table. She had forgotten his birthday; nothing important.
"Stork, Aerrow is falling apart-"
"It's not always about Aerrow, Piper!" He spat back angrily. She put her hands on her hips.
"But right now, it is!"
"Hmph!" He stormed out like a little child throwing a temper tantrum. She stood stunned for several seconds before she shook her head; she could only deal with one crisis at a time.
"Hey, Piper. Hey, Radarr." Junko called as he entered the bridge, recoiling a bit when Piper slammed her fists into the meeting table.
"What's wrong, Piper?" He asked hesitantly.
"Something's up with Stork now! He's acting like a spoiled little brat, and I have no idea why!" She groaned in frustration.
"Well, maybe you forgot something. I mean, I know everyone's been kinda busy with everything going on, but... it was Stork's birthday yesterday, and-"
"It was his birthday yesterday!? No wonder he got so upset! Oh! He probably hates me now." She sat and let her head hit the table, sighing in defeat.
"He doesn't hate you, Piper. He really likes you." The Wallop added comfortingly.
"Yeah, but he probably likes me a lot less after I forgot his birthday and yelled at him." She groaned again, unable to think straight after everything that had happened. She was running on 6 hours of sleep, and her brain was ready to blow up.
"Maybe you should get some sleep, Piper. You've been up almost every night this week." Junko said, putting one hand on her shoulder.
"I can't sleep, Junko. Not like this." She answered softly.
"Piper!! C'mere, quick!!!" Finn suddenly yelled in panic. The pair ran at full speed through the ship, reaching Aerrow's room in time to see Finn pull his crossbow from behind his back.
"What happened!?" Piper looked around, seeing the various blast marks.
"I don't know! I came to get Aerrow some lunch, and he was gone!" The Merb and Wallop beside her gasped loudly. Now, a new danger; Stork noticed Aerrow's blades weren't over his bed anymore.
"Um, guys..." He pointed out the blank wall. They shared another hard look. Now, they go Aerrow-hunting.
