DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR
A/N: o hai! Well, I just feel silly now, having left this story in the dust like I have. For those of you who don't know, pretty much right after I uploaded that last chapter, my capacity to write diminished substantially... Yayy, big words! But really, lack of free time, writers block, minor physical injuries, insomnia, blah blah, excuses, excuses, I know. But, that's why I completely stopped with this story, versus just making it secondary. After a while, I decided it was best to just take a break from writing for a bit. Things are getting better, though. I'm in a better place now, so to speak.
So, come time to get back to this. Part of the delay here was my deciding to reread everything thus far (and replaying Mass Effect 1 on Insanity, watching Dexter, working on original story ideas [I go by the same name on , though I've nothing up over there yet], etc...), to help get myself back in the mindset for it. Man, I've made a lotta typos and grammar errors in this... I really need to go back and fix those sometime, as well as touch up the dialect. In hindsight, I should've fixed as I went, but that hadn't occurred to me at the time. Oh well. But, I'm back on track, and I'm gonna try to get this story finished up without any more distractions.
I'm gonna go ahead and admit it now: I feel that this could be the weakest chapter yet. I knew what I wanted to do with it, but, even before I took that break, I wasn't too sure how I was gonna go about it. I don't think it's bad, per se, but... yeah. Maybe it's just a common case of Writer's Confidence.
To mah wonderful reviewers:
FrittzyCrazy: Thank you kindly, I hope this ridiculous wait hasn't changed your mind. XD
Eric Cartman Forever: I'm glad you liked it. Here's to hoping you like this one.
Double Deuce: Well, it just so happens that you learn a bit more about Trent in this chapter. Hope you like it.
Commander York: You're delicious! ...wait. That was weird, wasn't it?
catspats31: Glad you liked it.
Right. Well. See you at the end of the chapter, eh?
CHAPTER 10: THROUGH THE EYE... (Part 3)
An hour and several sodas later, Trent departed Abby's room. A smile was still etched onto his face, and his mood was light. Abby was definitely one of the coolest kids- no, people- that Trent had ever met.
He inhaled deeply, and then exhaled slowly.
Alright, so things are fine with Numbuh 5, Numbuh 4, and Numbuh 2. I guess Numbuh 1, too, considering what he said on the flight back here. Which leaves...
He didn't want to say her name, not even in his head. He was still too embarrassed to even consider facing her again. Sure, the team didn't seem to blame him for anything that had happened recently, but that didn't change the fact that he still blamed himself. He had only gotten lucky that his sporadic act of rebellion against them led him in the right direction.
Maybe he could go talk to the hamsters instead...
No, no... I need to do this.
He sighed.
Guess I'm headed to Kuki's room, then...
Mere days before, Trent would have been excited to go to Kuki's room to talk. Now, he was just anxious. There was an unshakable feeling of dread in the air around him; he could almost feel it on his skin, like the musk of a long-abandoned home. The feeling was familiar, yet despicable.
C'mon, Trent, you're just psyching yourself out. Seriously, what's the worst that could happen? Hm... does that question only jinx me if I say it out loud, or am I already done for, just for thinking it? Dangit, I can't even think without messing things up!
Before he knew it, he was standing before the door to Kuki's room. Unsurprisingly, his inner turmoil hadn't prepared him for the moment at all; he simply stared at the door, as if it were supposed to provide some sort of hint for him.
Well, crap, he thought, shoving his hands into his pockets. He had no idea why he thought the right words would just come to him, but he was sadly mistaken yet again.
He clenched his fists in his pockets. Clearly, there was only one way he was going to get anything accomplished here: do something rash, before he can stop himself. In one swift motion, he whipped his hands out of his pockets, and knocked on the door.
There! Now I have to talk to her.
He smirked, satisfied with his spontaneous moment of decisiveness. A few seconds later, however, as the consequences of his actions set in in his mind, his victorious expression faded away.
Now I have to talk to her...
A bead of sweat appeared on his brow as he imagined every way she could react to seeing him there. Would she say anything? Would she shut the door in his face? Would she hit him? Would she stick her army of plush animals on him? Were they sentient?
Aw, MAN, this could be bad!
The hissing noise of the door opening caused Trent's heart to jump. The sight of Kuki standing before him caused it to go spastic.
She stood a few feet away, with her arms wrapped around a large, stuffed bunny doll. For some reason, her close proximity alarmed Trent; he tensed, as if ready for an incoming attack.
"Numbuh 81?"
She sounded surprised. Was she not expecting him to come speak to her? Did she not want him to?
I knew this was a mistake! But it's too late now.
"Numbuh 3."
A silence fell between the two. As usual with Kuki, Trent was very uncomfortable with this silence. He hated his inability to strike up casual conversation with her. It made him feel even more distant from her, and he was already so far away.
"Uh... what's up?" he asked, trying to maintain his calm composure.
"Um, not much," she said slowly. "I was having some tea with Chieftain Fluffwuffums, and you knocked on my door, just now..."
"Ah. Well, I can leave, if you're busy, then, and just-"
"Come join us!"
Trent raised a brow.
Join her? What kinda person invites someone they're angry with to join them for imaginary tea? The British, maybe? But this isn't Nigel I'm visiting, it's Kuki. What gives?
"Me?"
"Of course, silly!" she said with a giggle. Without waiting for a response, she turned around, and made her way across her room to a round table with four chairs around it. Not wanting to be rude, mixed with a reasonable dose of befuddlement, Trent followed her through the gauntlet of plushies to the table. Kuki placed the purple bunny in a chair, and then sat down in the one next to it. Trent remained standing a few feet away from the table.
"Have a seat!" Kuki said cheerfully.
"Uh, alright."
He took the seat across from Kuki. There was a small saucer before him, white with pink edges, with a matching teacup resting on it. Inside the cup was a dark liquid, with steam visibly rising from it.
"Hm. I woulda guessed you'd just pretend to have tea, like most girls do."
"I usually do," she said, pouring some more for herself. "But I felt like having some real tea today."
"What's the occasion?"
"Hmm, no occasion." She set the teapot down in the center of the table. "Sugar?"
"Oh, uh, no thanks," Trent said. He didn't actually like tea at all; he would only drink his current cup to be polite. Sugar wouldn't help.
"Now, what were you saying, Chieftan?" Kuki asked her stuffed friend, as if engaging in a real conversation.
I'm sure she is... in her head.
"Ooh, that's so interesting! Don't you think so, Numbuh 81?"
Trent shot her a blank look behind his shades. Did he just miss something?
Just fake it, man.
"Yeah. I woulda said the same thing."
Kuki's eyes lit up with glee, and she giggled wildly into her hands.
"I should have guessed!" She continued to giggle, while Trent stared at the Chieftain.
What did I just relate to, you little fuzzhead?
"Listen, Kuki," Trent said, raising his cup and sipping from it. It was repulsive, and he dreaded the thought of having to finish it. "I was hoping to catch up with you. I-if you have the time."
She smiled at him. "Of course! I always have time for you, Trent!"
Don't overthink it, man. Don't overthink it.
"The Chieftain was just on his way out, anyway." She stood up, grabbed the bunny, and turned away to return it to the sea of plushies from wence it came. Trent seized the opportunity to pour the remaining tea from his cup into the teapot, moving swiftly and silently. By the time Kuki turned around, he was casually leaning back in his chair, grinning in the wake of his perfect crime. Unfortunately for him, she did notice the aftermath.
"Oh, you're all out of tea! Please, allow me."
A small scowl crawled across Trent's face as she refilled his cup. He looked off to the side, and found the judgemental gaze of the Chieftain upon him.
Oh, shut up.
"Numbuh 5 would probably like to be here with us," Kuki said, returning to her seat across from Trent. "She likes being around you, and she's always in the mood for a tea party."
"Really? I wouldn't think she'd care much for tea parties."
"Oh, yes! She never actually gets to come, though. She's always busy whenever I host them. She tells me she'd love to if she could, though!"
Trent quickly gulped a mouthful of tea, using his disgust to suppress a smirk.
I'm sure she would.
"Oh well. I'm glad you showed up. An uninvited guest is only a guest I didn't have the chance to invite!"
Wow, that was really lame.
"You're probably not here for the tea, though. It's too girly for you. So I'm guessing you have something you want to talk about."
And that was... surprisingly astute of her.
"Or, maybe, you're just here to keep me company, because you're so nice like that!"
What? No, you had it before. But, that works, too...
"You are really nice, aren't you? Always doing things for others. Trying to make the world a better place for kids everywhere."
Trent shifted in his seat. He didn't like the spotlight, no matter how small the audience may be. Though he did notice how she didn't even mention the events of the previous couple of days.
"C'mon, Numbuh 3. I'm just trying to be a decent guy. There's nothing special about me."
"Yes, there is. You're different."
"Everyone's different."
"You're differenter."
Is that a word?
"I'm really not. Any of you woulda done the same things in my position. Probably better, actually."
He noticed she was smiling at him.
She's always smiling. Don't overthink it.
"Oh, come on, Numbuh 81," Kuki said, reaching for a small bowl of sugar. "How can you say that? We've all had to deal with bullies before. Some kids stand up to them. But you did so much more than that! You started something!"
Trent gulped down some more of the wretched tea. He carefully placed the cup back on the saucer, trying not to drop it out of spite, and watched Kuki add several spoonfuls of sugar to hers. Maybe sugar would help. Just a little. But, probably not. He knew it was just wishful thinking.
"Numbuh 3, I... I donno. It's really not a big deal."
She simply smiled, gazing down into her cup as she stirred it. "So, how did it begin? What made you want to start fighting for kids who got picked on?"
As she raised her eyes to look at him, his dropped into his own cup. A smile crept across his face.
I've almost finished my tea! Thank goodness!
And then he pondered her question, the gears in his mind grinding together as he tried to remember details. The memory began to play in his head, like a movie.
"I was in preschool," he said, swishing around the remaining tea in his cup. "I was... having a rough school year. One day, the class bully, uh... Buck? Yeah, Buck. He was picking on Little Izzy- the smallest girl at the school- and, well..."
"B-B-Buck, p-pwease!"
"What? What?! Say somethin', pip-squeak!"
The tiny red-headed girl was shaking. She wore pink pants, a bright pink t-shirt, teeny pink flip-flops, and a facial expression of sheer terror. Even if she was standing up, she still wouldn't come to Buck's shoulders. But, as she was sitting there, at the picnic table off to the side of the playground, his unnaturally-large-for-a-preschooler figure completely obscured her from the sun. And the world seemed like a much colder place from inside the darkness of his shadow.
Buck glared down at her. "So, waddaya got for me today, runt?"
She squeaked at his name-calling. "I-I-I don't ha-have anything, B-Buck!"
"Oh, really?" He leaned down closer to her, which almost made her fall off of the bench trying to keep distance between them. "Then what are you coloring with here? Your imagination?"
Meanwhile, on the swingset across the playground, Trent slowly rocked back and forth on the swing furthest from the rest of the kids. He glowered as the bully cackled, and the poor little girl recoiled in fright. With every passing moment, a rage was boiling inside him. Buck had been a problem for everyone, but he loved to pick on Little Izzy most of all; made him feel the biggest, Trent guessed.
Buck reached for Little Izzy's box of crayons on the table. Instinctively, she grabbed them, and pulled them away before he could touch them. This act of defiance infuriated the boy. Little Izzy seemed to regret her actions immediately, but what was done was done, and Buck didn't accept apologies. He snatched the crayons away from her, and then shoved her off the bench, sending her toppling over backwards.
That was it. Buck had finally gone too far. Trent dismounted his swing, and marched toward the two.
Tears began to pour down from Little Izzy's eyes- most likely from fear rather than pain- as she stood to her feet. She pressed both of her hands to the back of her head, and sniffled as she attempted to keep from sobbing. A crowd was beginning to form around them (at a safe distance from Buck) as the entire playground took notice of the scene unfolding. Dozens of spectators, gaping like birds on a powerline, only watched as the tiny girl cringed in fear of the approaching monster.
"You feelin' like fightin' me today, tiny?"
Little Izzy hastily shook her head, cowering as the bully loomed closer. "N-no, B-Buck! I-I didn't m-m-mean to! I'm sowwy!"
Buck stopped just in front of the girl. He stared at her for a moment, before adorning a sickening smile. Poor Little Izzy was shaking uncontrollably; she was a nervous wreck.
"Yeah," Buck growled, raising a fist in preparation to strike. "You're really sorry."
Little Izzy whimpered, covering her eyes with her hands. This would quite possibly be the worst beating yet.
"Get lost, freak!"
Buck looked to his right for the source of the voice, and was caught by surprise when someone shoved him away from Little Izzy. He almost lost his footing, but managed to stay standing. He twisted around to face the offender.
"Who do you think you are?!"
Trent stood in front of Little Izzy, clinching his fists and glaring at the towering menace. He didn't match Buck size-wise, but he knew that wasn't the only thing that mattered. Even if it was, there was no way he was going to allow Buck's rein of terror to continue.
"T-Twent?" Little Izzy squeaked.
Trent didn't budge. Buck had his full attention; he was the target, and Trent was locked on.
"Looks like I got a volunteer for a butt-kicking," Buck said, pounding his fist into his open palm.
Trent remained stationary. He was a palisade between the big, bad Buck and the fragile, innocent Little Izzy, and he stood strong. The idea of faltering hadn't even crossed his mind. He was a one-boy phalanx. But, the moment Buck took just one step toward him, the wall became a spearhead.
"I'm sick of you, Buck!" Trent growled. "Everyone is!"
Buck chuckled, though his eyes were wide in shock. Who was this kid, thinking he could talk to Buck like this?
"You gonna learn some manners!" Buck took another step toward Trent.
Trent smirked. "I'm not a very good learner!"
Buck grumbled at Trent's insolence, and broke into a full-on charge. Trent glanced over his shoulder at Little Izzy, who needed no further reason to retreat into the surrounding audience, and then faced Buck once again. It was right at that moment that he realized he had no plan of action. But he was committed to seeing this through.
Just before Buck could reach him, Trent sidestepped to his right, leaving his left foot in place; a move which would use Buck's momentum against him. Buck tripped, as expected, and skidded to a halt face-first.
Buck grumbled some more as he clambered up to his feet. This smaller boy was more trouble than he was worth. So, the bully decided to employ a... lower form of warfare.
"C'mon, Edison," Buck challenged snidely. "Make me run crying for my mommy and daddy. C'mon!"
Trent's entire body tensed. A fire sparked in his eyes, and the blaze raged through his veins. His knuckles were white, and his fists began to shake.
"Come on, wimp!"
The insult didn't bother Trent, but Buck had already secured what was coming to him.
"You deaf, wuss? I said, make me run home to my-"
Trent lunged at the bully, catching him by surprise. He punched him in the stomach with all the strength he could muster. Buck doubled over, trying to catch his breath. Trent grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and slammed him into the ground.
Buck lay motionless, with a weak "Duuuhhh..." emanating from his mouth to assure the onlookers of his consciousness. In mere seconds, he had gone from arrogant, reining tyrant of the playground, to a defeated lump of pathetic.
The audience gawked at Trent. He'd just put the class bully in his rightful place: in the dirt. No one could stand up to Buck like that and get away with it! Except... he just did.
"T-Twent?"
A moment passed before Trent could look away from his dazed foe; he was still fuming. When he did turn his head to face the addressee, he found it to be Little Izzy, approaching him from the crowd. She stared at him with wide eyes, though not quite the same way as the rest of the kids.
"You... you..." She was struggling in her search for words. Her eyes dropped to Buck. "You... saved me. Fwom him."
Trent's anger subsided. The battle was over. Now it was time to deal with the wounded.
"You OK?" he asked, turning to face her. She had some dirt on her from her fall, but seemed physically unharmed otherwise. Might have a bit of a headache if she hit her head.
"Yeah..." She trailed off shyly. "Thank you, Twent. I-I thought..."
He grinned, for the first time that school year. He had done something good. And he felt good for it.
"But, what about tomowwow? He's gonna be mad! And some of the other kids-"
"Don't worry," Trent interrupted. "I won't let those bullies pick on us anymore." He spotted her box of crayons on the ground next to Buck. He reached for them. "I believe..." He picked them up, and held them out to her. "...these are yours."
She beamed at him as she accepted what was rightfully hers. She looked up at him, giggled, and embraced him in a hug. This move caught Trent by surprise; by the time it registered in his mind, she had already released him.
"Thanks!"
"...and I knew I couldn't let that happen ever again. There's just too much bad in the world; we can't have kids hurting fellow kids. It's... just not right."
Kuki stared at him with eyes wide, holding her cup just under her lips. "Wow... You remember it well, don't you?"
He continued to gaze into his cup. "Vividly."
Another silence befell them as Kuki was at a loss for words. This time, though, Trent didn't pay it any mind; he was still remembering Buck's challenge to him. It was a low blow, one which still stirred up mixed feelings in Trent all this time later.
Kuki sipped her tea thoughtfully. Trent looked up, and met her gaze. He could tell she had something on her mind.
"So, you made it your mission to protect your friends?"
"Didn't have many friends at that point. Anyone who got picked on, really."
"So you looked out for people who may not have even liked you? Did you feel responsible, or something?"
He chuckled. "I did it for the thrills."
"Was bullying a big problem there?"
"Yeah. And they didn't like me taking a stand against them. Not that I cared."
"Wow. That's, like, the nicest thing ever!"
He scoffed. "Sure."
"No, really! And when you got so mad at Buck- well, it's kind of odd, I know, but- I think that was sweet."
"Huh?"
"He was making fun of kids who cry and want their parents, right? That's just mean! I mean, every kid should want their mom and dad!"
Trent cringed. He didn't mean to. He hadn't expected himself to. But he did. And Kuki noticed.
"Numbuh 81? Are you OK?"
Trent looked away from her. "Yeah. It's just... uh... I don't like to think about Buck."
"Oh. That makes sense."
Good. She bought it.
"Still, though. You must have spent a lot of time dealing with bullies."
He nodded. "I did."
"You still gave yourself time to play and have fun, though, right?"
"When I wasn't busy."
"Treeent!"
"Whaaat?"
"You gotta make time for yourself! I mean, I'm sure you spend plenty of time with your family, but-"
Trent dropped his cup onto the saucer. It hit harder than he expected, and made a loud CLINK! that made him jump.
Kuki eyed him suspiciously. "Have you been home since you graduated?"
Trent shifted in his seat. "No..." This conversation was heading in a direction he wanted nothing more than to avoid.
"What?! Why not? You need to see your family!"
"Kuki..."
"Seriously, you have to! You never know how much time you have left with them! Why spend so much time fighting bullies and not..."
She trailed off. Trent rubbed his temples, eyes clinched shut. He was thankful that he was wearing his shades; a person's eyes had a tendency to sell out their emotions. And right then, they had plenty to tell. Instead of dropping the subject, she was honing in on the things Trent had hoped to keep secret.
I'm not ready for her to find out...
"Don't you like your parents?"
He looked up at her. "It's not that.."
She gasped. "What's the matter with you?! How could-"
"Drop it!"
He looked away from her once more. He hadn't intended to sound so hostile. But she had traveled far beyond the boundaries she couldn't know of.
Unfortunately, she was too close to a breakthrough to be deterred now. "So, what is it, then? How can you do so much for strangers, but nothing for your family? Don't you love them?"
Trent downed the last bit of his tea, and then stared into the empty cup.
"I did... when they were still around..."
The most uncomfortable silence Trent had ever experienced followed. He attempted to cope by studying the bottom of the plastic teacup with great attention to detail. He didn't want to know how she was looking at him right then. Eventually, she'd offer up a sincere, empathetic apology, and they'd move on. But she'd never look at him the same. None of the other kids ever did.
His eyes grew tired of the stained off-white inside of the cup. But he didn't dare look anywhere else. Especially not at Kuki. Did she even understand?
If there were a graceful way for him to exit the situation, he'd be all over it. But there wasn't. So, he awaited her new appraisal of him.
"Trent... I-"
No. He couldn't take it. Not from her.
"Don't!" He kicked back from the table, stood to his feet, and took several steps away. "Don't say anything. I already know."
Kuki didn't move for a moment. Then, she slowly rose to her feet. Trent could hear the chair sliding on the wooden floor. He inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly. This wouldn't be enjoyable.
"So," Kuki said, her voice just above a whisper. "What Buck said... that's why it got to you." If she was looking for a response, that wasn't clear to him. "Did Buck bug you a lot after that?"
Trent sighed quietly.
Forget it. If she's gonna distance herself from me, the least I can do is make it easier for her. Tell her everything.
"Yeah. He was... kind of my brother. In a way. But, not really. I mean, his parents became my foster parents. So, you can understand why I hated going back to the house."
He turned around to look at her. If she was going to know everything, she at least deserved the courtesy of not having his back turned to her.
"I had to put up with him every day. Before, during, and after school. He was perfect in his parents' eyes, so he got whatever he wanted. I was always getting in trouble for not doing whatever he wanted. So, when he decided to pick on Little Izzy that day..."
"It was your chance to get back at him."
Man, it sounds so... petty, when she says it.
"Yeah. Plus, it got the rest of the class to stop treating me weird."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since... well... the accident... the summer before school started... the other kids would look at me funny, like I was some pitiful little puppy or something. Except, they wouldn't come close enough to talk to me. Didn't go outta their way to avoid me, but I was definitely an outsider. Like they were warned I was different, or something. And I just... didn't care enough to prove them wrong. I can have fun by myself."
That last part was intended as a joke, but it didn't carry over. Kuki watched him with a look in her eyes Trent couldn't quite identify. It almost looked... sad, but it wasn't. Not quite.
He decided to continue. "After that, I still didn't pay much attention to the rest of the kids. Just the bullies. It wasn't until Lily came along that I started really caring for the other kids. Up till then, I was, uh... I guess I was doing it for myself. I had nothing else to do, really. There's nothing noble or anything about it."
He crossed his arms. "So, as it turns out, the only way I know to do anything decent with myself is to do everything I can for others." His mind drifted back to South America. "I'm not worth the trouble myself. I'm terrible at making decisions, anyhow."
Kuki listened without saying a word, still watching him with the unknown facial expression.
Probably means I've said enough.
He took in a deep breath. "I'm done. I'll show myself out."
This is the worst, Trent thought to himself as he turned toward the door. I came in here to mend our friendship, and, instead... this. I've scared her off. I can't-
Kuki grabbed Trent's forearm, stopping him in his tracks. Surprised, he looked over at her, and saw that she was smiling at him.
What...?
The next thing he knew, her arms were wrapped around him. Her silky raven hair felt cool, pressed against the side of his head. Her oversized sweatshirt was soft and warm, the sleeves around his neck comforting, like a protective scarf against a relentless blizzard. There was heart behind the embrace, as if it had been held back for some time and was finally indulged.
"Don't go."
Her voice was so calm, so soothing. It comforted Trent; something he wasn't expecting. He couldn't bring himself to move, to return the hug. This was wildly different than what he had anticipated. What the heck was going through her head?
She released him, but didn't step away, leaving her face only inches from his. "I don't want you to go."
Trent stared at her in disbelief. "What? What about everything I just told you? I do everything for the wrong reasons! I don't play well with others, I'm a mess... I can't be normal! I don't know how!"
"That's okay," she said with a shrug. "It's better for you to be you, anyway."
"Doesn't seem like it. 'Me' doesn't fit in anywhere."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is!" He took a step back. "I don't fit in at school, I don't fit in at home, I don't fit in here, I don't even fit in on my own! How does that even work?!"
Kuki frowned at him. "What makes you say you don't fit in here?"
"Seriously? How do I not not fit in here?"
"That's silly, Trent! You could never not not fit in here! I think..."
"Of course I couldn't not not, I don't not... uh..." He scratched his head, and then cleared his throat. "Listen, Kuki. You guys... you have your own story going here. I'm just not a part of it."
It hurt to admit that to her. But he felt it needed to be said.
Kuki tilted her head just the slightest bit to the side. Her expression was blank. Was she going to concede to his statement? Did she even realize it herself? There was no way to know. Trent just tried to brace himself for whatever she was about to throw his way.
"Of course you're part of this, Trent." She reached up, took hold of his shades, and gently slid them off. "You're my friend."
Nothing could have prepared him for that. He couldn't think of anything to say. He just stood there, staring into her violet eyes, as she gazed into his.
"Kuki... I..." He blushed. He could tell by how his cheeks began to burn. It wasn't about what she had just said to him, it was about his own stupidity. Why was he always worrying that she'd be relentlessly cruel? That was the complete opposite of who she was! Maybe in some weird, messed up mirror universe she'd be like that.
She wasn't so kind because she was naive or ignorant; she was so kind, so caring, because she was Kuki Sanban. How did it take him so long to realize that?
"I... I'm sorry. I-"
"Shush." She raised her sleeve-covered pointer finger to his lips. "Stop apologizing. See how I'm still standing here, talking with you? I'm not waiting for a reason to leave. You're my friend."
A smile spread across her lips. "I know you're not perfect. I don't want you to be. I told you: I want you to be you. Because you're the boy that became my good friend. All of you. Do you get it now?"
Trent did understand what she was saying. He felt truly ridiculous for every negative thought he ever had in regards to her. Normally, he'd apologize profusely and feel bad about it, but, not this time. He was going to prove that he understood her.
And just like that, he could almost feel the weight on his shoulders lighten. Yeah, he still needed to solve the mystery that is Jumpsuit, but at least he knew everything was fine with all of his new friends.
Trent chuckled. "Kuki?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
She giggled. "For what?"
"For being you. Because 'you' is awesome. Uh, are awesome. Um..."
"Something like that."
The two shared a good laugh. For Trent, for the first time in what felt like forever, all was right with the world. Everything that mattered, anyway. He knew it was only temporary, but, he'd enjoy it while it lasted.
"So," Kuki said, leading him back to the table. "You glad you came in here for tea?"
"Ha, yeah."
"Care for some more?"
"Sure."
"You don't like tea, do you?"
"Makes me wanna puke."
Trent plodded down the hallway leading back to his room. His mind was a mess after everything that went down in Kuki's room. Spending alone time with Kuki always seemed to leave him confused. But, it didn't seem to be a bad thing this time.
Keeps it interesting, I guess.
His room door slid open, and he passed through the doorway.
"Numbuh 81."
Trent looked over to his workbench across the room, where Numbuh 522 sat facing him. Behind him, Trent could see several weapons strewn about.
"Numbuh 522. What's going on?"
The senior commando stood up, stretched, and approached Trent, who met him in the center of the room. He examined Trent for a moment, before chuckling.
"Having a good evening?"
Trent chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh... yeah, guess I am. So what's up?"
"I'm heading out to one of our research facilities to rendezvous with the Supreme Leader tomorrow morning. She's going to investigate one of our scientists, who's a bit... unstable. I think he has something to do with this whole mess."
"Numbuh 08."
Numbuh 522 nodded. "I wanted to check it out myself, but Numbuh 362 insisted I come here with Sector V to prepare for the next battle. But, if I'm right, there won't be a next battle. But, if I'm right, she's heading right into the danger zone. As you know, our primary purpose it to keep her safe."
Trent nodded in understanding. "Are you going alone?"
"I donno, am I?"
Trent smirked, sliding his shades from his pocket and donning them. "No. You're not."
Numbuh 522 smiled. "Excellent. I'll inform Numbuh 419, see if he wants to come."
"He probably will. Where is he, anyway?"
"Oh, he's off playing video games. Numbuh 4 challenged him to a rematch; I guess he's still sore from earlier. I imagine there's a lotta trash talking going on in there."
Trent chuckled at the thought. "Probably. So, hey, I have a question."
"Shoot."
"What's the deal with Numbuh 08? Like, what's his story?"
"Hm, he hates the KND."
"So why hasn't he been decommissioned?"
"That's a long story I'll tell you sometime. You just gotta promise not to let Numbuh 362 know that you know."
"Why tell me, if it's such a big secret?"
"Because I've told all the commandos. Just in case."
Trent crossed his arms. Since he couldn't show his uncertainty with his eyes, he needed to convey it somehow.
"There's always something I don't know, isn't there?"
Numbuh 522 laughed, and pat him on the shoulder. "Always."
A/N: Yeah. This was the worst possible place I could've put the story on hold at. I know this chapter was really dramatic compared to the rest of the story, but, considering the subject matter, it kinda needed to be. I tried to keep it with the flow of the story, but it was really difficult to do, and I'm not entirely sure I pulled it off. I guess that's what reviews are for, eh?
On a brighter note, "Through The Eye..." is now complete, so we'll be moving right along.
Thank you for your time, dear readers. Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Have a Merry Christmas, and a fantastic rest of the year.
- Marty