Finally I'm back to this story! Know that you've missed it and so have I! Sorry about all of the pointless one shots and stuff…I just haven't had as much time lately…
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko
As Aelita and Odd dropped into Lyoko, it was still pitch black and dark. The air was so thick that it almost dripped with lack of light. "Alright Jeremy!" Odd called out, "We're here, now what?" Jeremy nearly rolled his eyes for almost no reason. Odd just was so annoying to him right now.
"I'll lead you, direct you, you know? Make sure that you don't run off of any cliffs, direct you to where Yumi and Ulrich are, try to get you to the tower, all that good stuff. Basically, keep you alive."
"Oh," Odd said in realization, "So can I take, hmm, 5 steps forward?" Jeremy rolled his eyes again.
"Yes Odd you should be able to-"
He was cut off as a loud, "Ouch!" Came from his headset. "Jer," Odd moaned, "you said that I could step forward." Immediately after the spiky haired boy had heard the sound of the letter y come from Jeremy's mouth, he had strutted forward only to run into something.
"If you had let me finish my sentence-"
"You know Jer," the younger boy continued, ignoring Jeremy's complaint, "were we even materialized close to Ulrich and Yumi? I thought we would hear the kissing noises by now…darkness is the perfect cover…" he trailed off.
Odd's comment was followed by a giggle from Aelita (causing Jeremy to roll his eyes yet again) and a very loud synchronized, "Odd!" from nearby.
"Ah the love birds are here. Sorry to intrude on your moment but-" his words were cut off midsentence.
"Now Odd," it was Yumi, "sorry to disappoint you but there was no 'moment' going on." You could hear the blush in her voice and all who were listening knew that it wasn't true. (Makes you wonder who else was listening huh…)
"Whatever," Jeremy snapped with a harshness that caused the four who were virtualized to raise their eyebrows invisibly, "Odd, you clumsy idiot, ran into Ulrich's overbike which was virtualized just before it went dark and Ulrich had to help Yumi. Right now we have to get Aelita to the tower so that she can deactivate it. Yumi needs to be taken to a way tower with all of you before I can do that so that we can heal her. I've come up with a new program that will allow me to do so. Ulrich, you start towards the way tower with Yumi. Odd and Aelita," the two looked to the dark sky as he spoke to them, "make your way to the activated tower and fight off any monsters. I doubt that there will be that many because of all the other problems he is causing at the moment. He will assume that we are weak and he doesn't need to do anything more to stop us. I may be wrong so be on the lookout just in case. Got that?" They nodded but realizing their response was imperceptible replied with an eager 'okay'.
"Wait a second," Aelita said, thinking about what they were about to attempt, "how will you guide both of us if we're going separate directions? And which way are the two towers?" She is always full of questions, Jeremy thought with admiration. Even my plans she questions because she knows that there are parts I only tell myself and not everyone else. She's always so concerned about everyone-
"And how will Odd fight monsters if he can't see them?" –and Odd. Jeremy wasn't sure why this bothered him but it did, everything about Odd and Aelita bothered him. Not Aelita, just when she was with Odd he felt so…sick. Odd chuckled softly.
"What makes you think I'll be the only one fighting Princess?" Odd said playfully, "Just because I'm your knight in shining armor doesn't mean I have to do all of the work."
Aelita was right next to him and said quietly enough that no one else heard but him, "You're right. But you do have to answer my question." This sent shivers through the highlighted boy's spine.
"So how are we going to get where we need to go Jeremy?" Odd asked, breaking out of the ice Aelita's statement had left him in.
"Ulrich has his saber which he can use to prod the areas in front of him in order to find his way. I'll guide Aelita and Odd," Odd hated how Jeremy always felt the need to put him last. Then again, there were only two people in the list. Maybe he was just being paranoid, "over the headset. Ulrich, Yumi, if you have any emergencies or can't figure out where to go, just ask for help. And Ulrich?" The brunette had been mostly zoning out and focusing on the warmth from Yumi's hand so he sounded startled.
"Yeah Jer?"
"Don't sound so nervous Ulrich. I was just going to say make sure to keep Yumi safe and don't let your guard down for any reason. XANA may have implanted a delayed possession virus when he shot her. Anything unusual that she does," Jeremy shuddered, "we can and will be suspicious of. Got it?" Ulrich nodded grimly and there was a silence before he realized he couldn't see him.
"Got it! Lets go."
"Aelita, Odd," Jeremy instructed, "head north on the path. It leads to a plateau." The two headed off slowly, taking careful steps. Aelita stumbled and fell.
"Are you all right Aelita?" she stood up and brushed herself off in the darkness.
"I'm fine Odd. Maybe we should hold hands just so that it doesn't happen again."
"Right!" Odd said, grabbing her hand and starting to march forward. "Lets go find the tower Princess!" Despite herself, Aelita giggled and began to stumble as she was pulled along after the giant purple cat boy. Still holding onto Yumi's hand, Ulrich tried to help her stand up but as soon as she got into a crouch her legs wobbled and she tumbled back to the ground.
"Oof," she huffed as she sat there, still too weak to walk, "Sorry that I'm so useless Ulrich. It's just that blast…" she trailed off.
"Um guys?" it was Jeremy, "Not to make things awkward or anything but I'm going to make it so that only very loud sounds come through this headset. So I won't be eavesdropping. Just thought you should know." Before Ulrich or Yumi could reply a small 'click' was heard and Jeremy was gone.
"Well since Jeremy isn't listening," Ulrich started, "do you ever get the feeling that he wants to punch Odd's head off? But he's frustrated that he has no muscle capability to do so?" Yumi laughed.
"Are you kidding? He gets so jealous I'd have to be crazy not to notice! But I think that Aelita kind of enjoys it. You know?" From his saber's glow, she could see the perplexed look on Ulrich's face. Yumi sighed and began to speak as if she were talking to a 5 year old.
"Look," she explained, "Jeremy is totally in love with Aelita. But it isn't really boyfriend/girlfriend love. He doesn't realize it but he loves her like a father or an older brother does and can't stand any other guy even breathing the wrong way when he's around." Ulrich nodded slowly, starting to understand girl logic. It was completely insane but strangely clear… Anyways, "Especially with Odd because no matter what he says, Odd won't change what he does. He's just…odd like that." Yumi continued, "There are some more reasons Jer can't stand him. For one, he's a ladies man and if Aelita fell for him…well, Jeremy would be like some old toy. Or computer in their case."
"Also," it was almost like a lecture the way she spoke about other people's emotions, like she couldn't care less, "Jeremy could never tell Aelita the way he really feels because he feels Odd is a constant threat. And he's also afraid that he'll get rejected for Odd even though Jeremy doesn't even like Aelita that way he thinks he does. This is all really confusing…And I still can't stand up!" She sounded angry so Ulrich thought he should ask one more question on the matter before she closed up and got bitter.
"What about Odd?"
"Well, Odd is sort of the question mark, you know? The variable. Whatever he feels could mess up the entire situation." Her statement hung in the air for a few seconds.
"Now could you help me up?"
Sorry if that last conversation was repetitive. Just making sure everyone knew what was going on there…See ya soon!
Aelita the Shadow Hunter