DISCLAIMER: I do not own Attack on Titan
Epic Foreshadow. Sorry I missed two updates. My computer crashed and reviving it took half my soul. I'm not sure if I'll update next monday because all my word documents don't have spaces in them anymore and I have to fix that.
IX
Tsukeru had a good eye.
He noticed things. He saw people. He caught the simplest of the big picture. He could remember faces and hold every bit of gossip in his little brain with surprising accuracy. He understood a lot of the patterns in Nyll's shop and even some of the word garage his sister rambles about. He understood. He was good at reading people.
Nyll, however, was a challenge.
She was a walking brick wall of negative emotions. She had no shame. She didn't like animals-even the adorable kind. She hated noise, other children, and if anyone touched her she'd be moody the rest of the day. She didn't scowl or glare, but seemed to view the world in a type of bored resignation. Resigning herself to be something she doesn't want to be.
Tsukeru saw that.
He also noticed how well she hid pain. One time she managed to cut herself with a hot iron poker. She calmed Sosai down and casually washed it off, with barley a flinch during the whole escapade. Her skin seemed to be made out of solid rock. She never showed the least bit of concern for any injury to herself.
But he saw it. It was so subtle; he had to be paying close attention to it. She'd stumble in her step. When she was working with the hammer, she was usually precise and rhythmic. It had become offbeat as of late. She'd slouch off more, even when customers came, which she usually gave her full attention to. It was when she actually forgot to start the forge one morning that he began to grow concerned.
"Hey, Nao." He nudged his sister. The girl was contently eating lunch that Breino had once again made them. The kid was a miracle chef. Middy was out back with Sosai and Tinker while Breino helped Nyll with the forge, "You notice something?"
"It's nine o'clock." She glanced at him, "I'm not stupid, Tsu. I know that look in your eye. You're getting suspicious about something dumb, again."
"Yeah. It's nine o'clock. On a Saturday. What does that usually mean?"
"Early customers." Her eyebrows furrowed, "Tsu, what are you-"
"Look at the sign."
She did. She gaped, "It's still closed."
"And Nyll hasn't noticed."
"Nyll hasn't noticed."
"She hasn't noticed."
They stared. Tsukeru himself, even after realizing it for a while, was still trying to comprehend. Naowna glanced at Nyll, then at the oblivious Breino before turning to her brother in a hushed tone, "Something's wrong."
"For once you agree with me."
"Something's wrong with Nyll."
He pursed his lips. As of the moment, nothing seemed wrong with the red head. Appearance wise, she seemed the same. Her hair was still unkempt and her eyes that dull green. Her skin wasn't unnaturally pale or she wasn't saying anything unusual. But- there it was. Her hip went into one of the cooling racks. Just barely, but it touched. Her boots stumbled against the floorboards for a millisecond. She continued on as if nothing had happened.
Naowna turned to him with wide eyes. "Something is really wrong."
He cleared his throat, "Hey, Nyll."
The red head turned to him. He smiled, "You feeling alright?"
"Fine." She deadpanned, turning away and obviously annoyed. He pouted. That was a normal reaction. She hated when people wasted her time with dumb questions or useless conversation.
"Tsu." Naowna was frowning, looking worried, "What do you think is going on?"
He shrugged, "I don't know, but maybe it isn't so bad. Maybe she's just swamped with work again?"
"There have been worse days."
She's right. There had been and Nyll had pulled through as if it was nothing. He puffed out a breath, crossing his arms. He brainstormed different possibilities. An injury of some sort came to mind and he did another once over. Nothing seemed odd or concealed to the eye. Nothing at all.
She stumbled again. An idea came to mind.
"Nao," he stood up and stretched, "What I'm about to do may get me killed."
Naowna glared at him, "You going to do something stupid, aren't you?"
"Yup."
He walked forward, ignoring Naowna's aggravated sigh behind him. He approached Nyll, ignoring Breino's greeting. He saw her turning to face him. In her hand she had a hammer and in the other was a triangular metal. She lifted her right foot, swinging her body around. He stuck his foot in its path…
…and watched her tumble to the ground.
"Holy shit!" Tinker yelped, having entered at the worst moment, "Did Nyll just trip?!"
Naowna's jaw was slack. Breino was staring wide eyed at the floored red head. Middy and Sosai ran in, Middy exclaiming loudly why everyone was so quiet.
"Red!" Sosai scrambled over to her as she got to a kneeling position, "What's wrong?"
Tsukeru felt a chill go up his spine. Yeah, this was the part he was worried about…
"Did you just trip me, Laud?"
Oh, hell.
She'd said his last name.
She was pissed.
She stood, giving him a dark look that made him want to run away. Those dead greens were now filled with fury, directed pointedly at him. Weakly, he held up his hands in surrender.
"Before you jump to assumptions," He said quickly, "I was only testing you."
"Testing me." She echoed dryly, her fists clenched.
A sweat broke out on his forehead. He was in deep trouble. Taking a deep breath, he let it out, "If you weren't off in daze land, you would have caught yourself and flipped me, wouldn't you?"
She froze. Everyone stared in astonishment. He felt himself relax, only slightly.
"Tsukeru is right." Naowna stood, her chair screeching against the floor. "You're off today Nyll."
"When isn't she off?" Tinker exclaimed, still startled, "Just what the hell was that about, Tsukeru?"
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "I tripped her."
"Tsu-Tsu!" Middy cried, "What did Nyll ever do to you?"
The brunette winced. Maybe he should have thought that through…
"No, he's right."
Everyone stared at Nyll. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. She glanced at Sosai who was worriedly clinging to her sleeve. She slumped in defeat, "I've got a fever."
Middy wailed. Tinker's eyebrow twitched, "You guys are freaking out over a little cold?"
Tsukeru scratched his arm, "Well, we were worried is all…"
"You do seem a bit off…" Breino observed, "Maybe we should take a day off?"
"That's not for you to decide." Nyll said, "It's nothing bad. Just leave me alone." She grimaced before adding, "Thanks for the concern."
She returned to her work, Breino slowly following suite. Sosai stayed glued to her side, gazing up at her with intense worry. Tinker and Middy herded themselves over to their lunches, though the older Hadley sibling was glancing at Nyll and Tsukeru. He was eyeing the brunette pointedly.
Naowna shared a look with her brother. He mutely nodded back.
"Well!" Naowna stretched, "Time to go."
"So early?" Middy whined, "But you guys just got here."
Tsukeru smiled and pat her head, "Sorry Middy, we have some errands to run."
"Will you be back?"
"Definitely."
Tinker groaned. Naowna tossed a scathing look at him, "That happy to see me go?"
"I know you're going to bug us for another go at that stupid machine." He grumbled, "You know you can't do crap without a proper testing field and I don't think Nyll's basement is big enough for a 3DMG, princess."
Her boot hit his face. He yelped, falling back into his chair. Satisfied, she turned away and led her younger brother out of the fireworks shop.
"That is one of the reasons, wasn't it?" Tsukeru asked, already knowing the answer.
"…yeah."
"He's right though. You don't have space."
She ducked her head. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. It wasn't like he was trying to encourage her dream, but he didn't want to discourage her at all. A dream's a dream, however absurd it is.
"What should we buy first?"
"Well…"
They spent the next hour at the market. Both had remained silent the majority of the journey, only speaking when being spoken too. Tsukeru, for one, couldn't keep his eyes off the ground. He really hated to think of the future. Just to know what it could bring. Or the thought of being an only child…
"…Nao."
"What?"
"I love you."
She smiled grimly, "I love you too."
They entered the fireworks shop. Tsukeru found it ironic. When he first came, he was incredibly uneasy. Now he came and goes as he pleased. He inhaled the aroma of the dusty workspace. The forge was oddly unlit but still gave a smoky smell. The room was empty and quiet. No one had changed the closed sign in the window.
"Where did they go…?" Naowna mused, opening the door to the study.
Tsukeru followed her, greeted by the sight of a half awake Tinker and a dozing Middy. His little sister's head was resting in his lap as they sat on a pair of chairs outside Nyll's room. Tinker gave them both a glare as they approached.
"You're gone for not even that long and the whole place goes to ruins."
"Uh oh."
Tsukeru felt himself tense, "Did something happen?"
The inventor sighed, "Nyll collapsed."
Both siblings froze. Tsukeru felt his breath hitch and coldness settle in the bottom of his stomach. The words echoed in his head for a while, barely aware of his older sister speaking.
"Is she okay?"
"Yeah. She's asleep. She was out with Sosai and Breino when she took the fall. Scared the crap out of the little guy…" he huffed, "I can't make sense of anything with that new person in there."
Tsukeru raised an eyebrow at the door, "In there? What person?"
"Some girl Breino knows. Apparently they met up and got to chit chatting before Nyll decided to faint. She helped haul her back to bed, though. Sosai was whining so loudly I didn't catch her name…"
Tinker slumped, rubbing his elbows exhaustedly, "It's almost lunch."
Naowna snorted, taking a seat at the desk chair, "Yeah, so? We have to help Nyll first."
Weakly, Tsukeru added, "Because she's Captain."
The joke didn't bring any amusement to those around him. He puffed out a breath, running a hand through his messy hair, "Well, we got some medicine…"
"Won't do any good until we find out what's wrong with her." Tinker cast a glare at the door, "None of us have any idea what we're doing so we're only making it worse sitting around here like idiots…"
"Aw," Naowna cooed, "You do care."
He turned red. Tsukeru smiled, easing the situation, "Hey, now is not the time for fighting. Let's brainstorm some ideas. How about- do we know anyone with medical knowledge?"
No one responded. Middy mumbled something in her sleep. Tsukeru wanted to sigh. Things were stressful as it is. Couldn't they at least help? Be of some use other than sitting around? He was starting to understand Tinker's frustration.
The door opened. Naowna was instantly on her feet. Breino walked in.
"How is she?" Tsukeru asked, his voice coming out alongside Naowna's and Tinker's. The three glanced at each other before staring intently at Breino. The blacksmith smiled tiredly.
"Well, she's either recovering nicely or putting up a hell of a front."
"It's a façade." Tinker grumbled, "No way is she gonna blow off a fever that quickly…"
"I agree." Naowna nodded, "By the way, who is…?"
Tsukeru finally saw her. She was tan skinned with black hair, just like his sisters. It reached her mid back. Her eyes were bright baby blue, eerily the same as Breino's. She was smiling pleasantly at them, "Hello. It's a pleasure to meet friends of Breino. My name is Kisanna."
She bowed perfectly, a complete ninety degrees. Tsukeru suddenly felt like he was being introduced to a princess and bowed back, noticing his sister was doing the same thing.
"O-Oh, hello. I'm Naowna and this is my little brother Tsukeru. That over there is Tinker and the little blonde is Middy." She sounded flustered, "Nice to meet you."
Kisanna chuckled, "Oh my, aren't you the cute one."
His sister turned red. He coughed, "Right, how is Sosai holding up?"
"He's not leaving her side for a moment." Breino responded, "But that's not the problem. We need a doctor if we're going to be able to help her."
Tinker frowned, "You couldn't find anything?"
The blacksmith shook his head, "No. We think it might just be the common flu, but…there are some other symptoms I'm worried about."
Tsukeru felt himself pale, "Oh…oh no…"
"What is it?"
"The town doctor…"
"What about him?" Tinker growled impatiently.
"He's out of town."
Naowna groaned, "Of all times…!"
Kisanna turned thoughtfully to Breino, conveying some secret message. Breino nodded to her, "I think I might know a fella who could help us…"
Naowna perked up, "A doctor?"
"An apprentice doctor." Kisanna corrected, "He helped Breino with his…condition. He's the son of a reputable doctor in our home town."
Tsukeru wondered briefly what connection Kisanna and Breino had and just what he'd need a doctor for. They seemed like good friends, but he also pondered the chances of running into her here of all places. And the chances of this doctor being here as well…
"What are we waiting for?" Tinker sprung up, Middy scooped up into his arms. He lost his balance and fell back onto the chair, the little girl crying out in dismay. "Let's find the guy!"
Tsukeru frowned, "I don't think we should leave Nyll alone…we have to decide who goes and who stays."
"I'm going." His sister said, not missing a beat. For a moment, he was stunned by her quick response. He shrugged it off and gestured to Breino and Kisanna.
"They'll come with me and Nao then. Tinker, you and Middy will stay-"
"No way." He groaned, "You're leaving me to play housewife?"
Naowna snorted, "We have the medicine. Just ask Nyll when she wakes up, she knows more about it then you do."
"That's if she wakes up…"
Her boot hit his face.
"Agh!"
Tsukeru managed a weak smile. Kisanna hadn't lost hers and Breino was slouching in a defeated way. His blue eyes were downcast and his forehead was creased in thought. The brunette offered the blacksmith a consoling pat, pointedly ignoring the banter behind him.
"She'll be fine. She's gone through worse."
Breino smiled, "I hope it's not a trouble…"
Tsukeru almost laughed, "Trust me, it's none at all. As I like to say, the more the merrier. Nice to meet you, by the way, Kisanna."
"A pleasure." The tanned skin girl dipped her head politely. Breino's face turned red before he steeled himself.
"Right. I know where he's staying, so…"
"Lead us the way, Brieno."
Naowna paused in her verbal assault on Tinker to peer curiously at the blacksmith, "What'd you say the doctor's name was again?"
"I never did."
"Oh. Who is he?"
"Mabry. Isaac Mabry."
And here comes the Karanese trio. Breino, Kisanna, and soon Isaac's story will be revealed. You might need tissues.
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