VEXIC'S POV- Trust

This Andalite was driving me mad. I didn't know what to make of him. Had it been a trick from the very beginning? Was he just using me to get information? There were a lot more effective ways of doing that though, if that's what he'd been after. And that look of . . . had it been pain on his face when I'd talked about my death? Laura thought this whole situation was hilarious. Despite my façade of cold indifference and anger toward this Andalite, Aximilli, she knew better. It was still there in the way he talked. The insatiable curiosity. The way he carried himself was slightly different of course, but there was something in his stance. . .

/You've got it so bad.\\ Laura was mentally shaking her head.

/No I don't. I can't! He's. . . He's . . .\\

/Your worst enemy? And yet you explain everything about your kind to him? And are surprised when he doesn't rebuff you?\\

/That was hardly everything.\\

/That was a lot to tell an Andalite. Hardly normal conversation for two 'enemies'.\\ I caught what she was trying to imply.

/You can't be serious. He can't feel anything for me. I'm . . . and he's . . .\\ She was replaying the image of Aximilli's pained expression again.

/I don't think he cares.\\ She said quietly.

/But why?\\ I cried, totally bewildered.

/Because if I'm right, and I generally am, he loves you too, no matter what you are.\\ We walked about two miles in silence.

/Vexic?\\ The sound of his voice saying my name sent an odd thrill through me. Laura laughed quietly at my reaction.

"Yes?"

/The others are near. Please stay behind me.\\ I nodded once.

/Told you so.\\ Laura. /The guy's got a white knight complex. Geez.\\

We entered a clearing. Blocking our path were a tiger, a bear, a gorilla, a wolf, and a Hork-Bajir. Aximilli shifted his weight minutely, the action putting his body in front of mine if some one were to charge at me. I wanted to tell him to get out of the way. I didn't want him to get hurt. I was sure they'd hurt him if that's what it took to get rid of me. After all he could morph to fix any injury he sustained. But it seemed that I wasn't the only one who noticed.

/Move now Ax.\\ The voice I recognized as the leader's growled. Ax? Why did everyone keep calling him Ax? A nickname perhaps? Aximilli did not move. The voice sighed, exasperated.

/Do you mind Marco? But don't hurt him if you can help it.\\ Marco? They were . . . humans? The gorilla lumbered forward a step but stopped when there was suddenly a tailblade at his throat.

/If you like your limbs where they are I suggest you desist.\\ Aximilli stated coldly. Everyone in the clearing froze. Including me.

/Ax.\\ The voice that had been the hawk earlier. /You know we can't trust her.\\

/I will not stand by and let you kill her.\\ Aximilli was glaring at everyone in the small band of dangerous creatures, daring them to charge. The gorilla, Marco, took a step back, getting out of range of his blade once more.

/It's not even a her!\\ An angry female voice exclaimed. /It's an it.\\ I flinched.

/I do not wish to fight any of you but I will if I must.\\

/Why Ax? Why are you willing to fight us, your allies, to protect your enemy?\\

/Because . . .\\ He hesitated as though saying whatever he needed to say was difficult. Then he squared his shoulders and looked them all in the eyes. /Because I love her.\\

There was a beat of dead silence in the clearing and then four voices were speaking simultaneously. I didn't hear what they were saying though. He loved me. He felt the same way. I hadn't felt this euphoric since my first host. I felt rather light headed all of a sudden. Then a new female voice interrupted the others.

/SHUT UP!\\ Everyone fell silent. /Thank God. I thought you'd never stop. We could take her to Erek if she'll permit the uh . . . test. Then we know and you guys can leave Ax's love life alone.\\ I saw Aximilli relax the merest fraction. Whatever this new female had suggested he liked it much better than what the others had been saying.

/Vexic, you should probably brace yourself. Marco is not a very good driver.\\

When we pulled up to a rather bland looking white house in an unremarkable neighborhood I was on the edge of nervous collapse. Rachel, Cassie, Tobias, and Jake looked like they were about to be violently ill. Aximilli, who was back in human morph again, said nothing but his eyes were rather wider than usual as we took turns at speeds no reasonable human would go. A boy about a year younger than Laura stepped from the house and looked rather pointedly at Marco as we all exited the car.

"That was a mailbox."

"Good to see you too Erek." Marco said, voice thick with sarcasm.

"I was just headed to meet you all out at the barn. Why didn't you just wait? I have important updates. You guys have a problem."

"No kidding." Rachel growled and grabbed my arm jerking me into sight. Erek's eyes widened.

"Um . . . why are you guys toting around a Sub-Visser by the arm?"I felt all of their eyes on me.

"You are a Sub-Visser?" Aximilli asked but his eyes were not accusatory or disbelieving like the others. I nodded.

"Sub-Visser two."

"Perfect." Rachel muttered. "Just perfect. Ax has a crush on a slug. And that slug happens to be a Sub-Visser. Things just keep getting better and better!"

"Calm down Rachel." Cassie turned to Erek.

"That's sorta why we came early Erek. Can you scan her for us? Ax won't let us touch her and we can't take any chances. . ." Erek nodded then his eyes shifted to me.

"You need to leave your host." I stared at him, incredulous.

"You've got to be joking. They'll kill me!"

I felt someone take my hand. I looked down and saw Aximilli's fingers intertwined with mine. "They won't touch you. I promise." I couldn't doubt the sincerity of his words or the absolute confidence in his eyes. So I took a deep breath and then began to disconnect from Laura's brain.