Title: Regret
Warnings: I don't think there's really anything to warn about this time, maybe some language, and maybe some slight AU.
Rating: PG
Author's Note: So this is kind of sporadic, but I hope you all enjoy it. I wanted to do moments of time, and different instances in which Ulrich might regret not being "normal." Again, it's been awhile since I watched X.A.N.A. Awakens so I may have gotten the Sissi-betrayal wrong. And maybe Holiday in the Fog as well. Oops. Let me know what you all think.
And thank you once more to those who have followed, favorited, and feedbacked this fic. I love hearing what you all think and knowing you're enjoying it.
24. Some days he regretted ever getting involved with Jeremie-Lyoko-X.A.N.A.
"She betrayed us."
Ulrich looked up curiously. "What are you talking about?"
Yumi and Jeremie glared down at him, Odd stood there trying to look intimidating. "Your little girlfriend," Yumi said.
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"Elisabeth Delmas?" Odd asked, voice reproachful. Ulrich frowned.
"She told her father."
"Yeah, before the Return. Everything's been reset now, she doesn't know anything about Lyoko anymore, remember?" Ulrich asked slowly. He eyed each of them carefully, trying to determine if they maybe weren't all there. "She never went to Lyoko so she doesn't remember, right?"
"Right," Jeremie stated. He adjusted his glasses and pulled at his sleeves. "The point is, she betrayed us. We can't trust her."
"You can't trust her," Yumi added quickly.
"None of us can trust her," Jeremie reiterated. He looked hard at Ulrich and Ulrich felt his stomach twist. He knew what was coming. "You'll have to stop interacting with her."
"What?" He stared at Jeremie in shock. "Why?"
"It'll be safer that way. If you blow her off she won't be prone to following you around and discovering the factory," Yumi replied. "It's to keep the secret safe, we discussed it."
"You discussed it?"
"We'll all do it," Jeremie added.
"You're all nuts." He turned to Odd for support but his so-called friend and roommate just shrugged and scuffed a toe along the floor. "Sissi's my friend."
"She can't be trusted," Jeremie repeated. "Lyoko is our secret."
He bit his tongue and glowered at the three of them. "I'll think about it," he snapped. Before they could respond he'd grabbed his bag and headed for class.
/
"I don't agree with them, you know?" Odd asked. "I mean, Sissi's an airhead and an idiot. I doubt she'll take the hint of you blowing her off. You'd need to be more direct."
"Just stop talking," Ulrich groaned. He wondered if it was possible to suffocate under his pillow. Apparently not since the pillow was removed from his face. "What?" he asked.
"You really like her? I was teasing when I told Yumi she was your girlfriend but I dunno…is she?" Odd asked. He peered at Ulrich curiously and Ulrich threw an arm over his face to escape the bright green eyes staring at him. "Ulrich?"
"She's my friend, Odd. Something that may be lost on the three of you."
"We're your friends now too," Odd pointed out. "And at least you know you can trust us with your secrets. Look, they're just paranoid. I'm sure it'll be over in a couple weeks, maybe a month tops. You can apologize and grovel and whatever else you need to do and get back into her favor if you really want to."
Odd flicked Ulrich in the side of the head before bouncing back to his side of the room. "I just didn't think you liked her all that much. You always seemed annoyed with her."
"Like I am with you?"
Odd grinned at him. "Nah, you smile with me. With her you just look confused and like you want to swat a fly or something." He tossed a ball for the mutt to chase. Ulrich reached for his history book. "I'm telling you, a month tops and Einstein will have cracked the code, we'll have rescued the princess, and all of this will be forgotten. You'll see."
. . ... . .
"So who's going to stay behind?" Jeremie questioned. Blank looks met his question and he sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Holiday's coming up soon. Someone needs to stay behind, in case X.A.N.A. attacks. I'll be here but we need someone to go on Lyoko with Aelita."
"Can't," Yumi said. Her face looked apologetic even if she didn't sound it. "I'm going to Japan, remember? The tickets are already booked."
Jeremie turned expectant eyes on the other two boys. Odd shrugged. "I'm heading home too. I already made plans."
"That leaves you," Jeremie said. He looked at Ulrich expectantly.
Ulrich shrugged and leaned against Jeremie's bed, tried to ignore the blonde genius staring at him from the swivel desk chair. "My parents expect me home," he said at last.
"Come on, Ulrich. What if something happens?" Jeremie pressed. "You just went home last break." Ulrich frowned but didn't say anything. "Perfect," Jeremie said. He grinned at them. "One less thing to worry about now."
"Sure," Ulrich grumbled. Odd gave him a curious look while Jeremie detailed his newest plan of action. Whatever it was, Ulrich hoped it could be accomplished before vacation started in a week.
/
"You're what?" Annie demanded.
"I'm staying here," Ulrich replied. He stared up at the posters tacked to the ceiling and tried to ignore the looks Odd was sending him. Why couldn't his so-called best friend take a hint and leave? "At school."
"But Ulrich…!" Annie whined. "I haven't seen you in forever and we were going to visit Grossmutter and you know she only likes you. And Heidi was planning a cake, that double chocolate one you like. With the chocolate frosting. And Mama was looking forward to seeing-"
"Hannelore, let me speak to your brother," a voice in the background interrupted. Ulrich stiffened as the phone was jostled between hands. "Boy."
"Hallo, Papa. Wie geht es dir?" he asked.
His father ignored him. "Hannelore says you won't be coming home this holiday?" Charles questioned.
"I have a project, for history. And a paper for literature," he stated. His voice dropped; even if Odd couldn't understand German (he hoped Odd couldn't understand German). "How is Mother? Will she be-?"
"Your mother will be just fine. She understands that you need to stay and focus on your studies. You will be focusing." It wasn't a question. Ulrich nodded even if they couldn't see him. "I expect better than average."
"I understand," he said. "Should I tell Moth-?"
"Your mother is resting now. I'll tell her tonight. Remember our agreement."
"I remember. Goodbye, Father."
"Goodbye."
"Everything cool?" Odd asked. He looked over the magazine he'd pretended to read throughout the conversation.
"Yeah," Ulrich groaned. He tossed his phone onto the end table. "Let's hope Jer figures this X.A.N.A. thing out before summer holidays because I'm not staying at school that whole time."
"You and me both," Odd joked. He turned a page in the magazine and Ulrich sighed. At least he wouldn't have to deal with his family this Christmas.
. . … . .
He was awoken by a blood curdling scream. In a daze he rolled out of bed, grabbed the nearest weapon to him (a shoe, thankfully a cleat) and held it aloft. Kiwi gave him an indecipherable dog look and then turned back to licking Odd's arm. His roommate was thrashing back and forth, the covers tangled around his ankles, and screaming.
"What the…?" he grumbled. He dropped the shoe and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, plucked the earplugs from his ears. He wasn't sure what to do. It was storming outside and each flash of lightning illuminated Odd's face in a color just a shade darker than the white walls, his hair matted with sweat. Kiwi turned his head to give him a reproachful stare. "Alright, alright."
He leaned over the bed, grabbed Odd's shoulders and gave him a hard shake. "Odd. Odd!" he yelled. He wondered if he should slap him. He'd seen it in a movie once, but the woman had been awake and hysterical, not asleep and possessed. "ODD!" he shouted. His eyes caught sight of the clock. Two-twenty. He was bound to wake someone up.
He hit him in the face and Odd swung back, but he was still out of it and missed by at least a meter. Ulrich stepped back, but Odd was still caught in whatever nightmare had ensnared him. "If it isn't snoring it's screaming," he groaned. He grabbed his half-empty water bottle and dumped the contents on Odd's face.
"Wha-?" Odd spluttered, gasping and wild-eyed. He jerked up and wiped at his face looking confused. "What was that for?" he asked. He jumped at the streak of lightning.
"Well, I had to stop your screaming somehow," Ulrich replied. He studied his roommate warily. "You okay?"
"Yeah, duh." There was a banging on their door and Ulrich sighed. "You gonna get it?"
"Sure." He swung the door open while Odd searched for a dry (and clean) shirt to wear. Jim stood panting on the other side. His eyes were bloodshot and he carried a baseball bat. At least it was a better weapon than a cleat. "…Jim?" he asked nervously.
"I heard reports of screaming. You two alright?"
"Odd saw a spider," Ulrich replied, face serious. Jim glanced between the two, eyes narrowed. He could feel Odd's glare directed at the back of his head. "Don't worry, I got it."
"You see any more spiders you keep quiet, you hear? People are sleeping around here."
"Yes sir," Odd replied. Ulrich could tell something was bothering him because he didn't even make a crack at Jim's polka dot pajama bottoms.
Ulrich shut the door and flipped the lock. When he turned back Odd was changed and petting Kiwi absently. "A spider?" he asked. Ulrich shrugged and sat down on his bed facing Odd. "Thanks. And uh, sorry for waking you."
"Whatever." Odd still looked pale and his hair was curling along his temples from the sweat. "You want to tell me what you were dreaming about?"
"Not really," Odd replied. He plucked at his comforter and winced at the clap of thunder outside. Ulrich's face turned neutral.
"Does this have something to do with the Attack?" he asked gently. "I know you came close to…you know," he said hesitantly. "Jeremie said you might remember the electric current even after the Return."
Odd shrugged. "Yeah well, almost dying does that to you, you know?" he snapped. Immediately he looked apologetic. "Look, it was just a hard day. I didn't expect to be hit with what was it, fifty thousand volts?"
"More or less, when the Return happened," Ulrich agreed. He didn't really want to remember entering the electrical room to see Odd in the process of becoming a living lightning rod.
"Yeah," Odd sighed. "I'm okay, the effects will wear off." He flinched at the lightning and Ulrich nodded, even if he felt skeptical. "Why don't you go to bed, I feel like sketching for a bit."
"You sure?"
"Positive." Ulrich laid down, earplugs set aside on the end table, and watched Odd pull out his sketchpad and a worn charcoal pencil. He dozed off to the rumble of thunder overshadowed by the scratch-scratch of the pencil.
In the morning he got an extra coffee and handed it to Odd silently.
. . … . .
"Hey," Emily greeted him. She offered him a bright smile as she climbed the bleachers to sit next to him. He gave her a brief smile in response. "I've been looking for you."
"Oh yeah?" he asked curiously. Emily handed him a flier and he frowned at it. "What's this? L'orchestre d'hiver?"
"The winter concert," she replied. "I have a solo." Her face turned red and she shoved her gloved hands between her knees. "I have an extra ticket, you're coming, right?"
He grinned at her. "Of course. What are you playing?"
"You'll just have to see." She stood and brushed off her jeans. "I have to go; we have rehearsal now until Friday. I'll see you later."
"Later, Em." He folded the paper and stashed it in his jacket pocket.
/
"Where are you going?" Aelita asked when the scanner doors opened with a hiss.
"I'm late!" he shouted, racing out of the scanner room.
"Late for what?" Aelita called after him. Odd shrugged before chasing after him. "Boys," she groaned. She headed for the supercomputer where Yumi was sitting with Jeremie, looking at the screen.
"Where are Odd and Ulrich?" Jeremie asked.
"Don't know, they took off as soon as the scanners opened." Yumi frowned. "What are you looking at?"
/
"So where are we running to?" Odd panted. He'd caught up to Ulrich on the bridge.
"I told Emily I'd see her perform at the concert tonight," Ulrich replied. He checked the time on his phone again and groaned. He was so late.
"Oh, really?" Odd asked. Ulrich chanced a look at him as they ran along the forest paths. The blonde's face was thoughtful and peculiar, his forehead creased and lips pressed into a thin line even though they were running full out. "So you and Emily…?"
"What? No, just friends." Ulrich shook his head as they tore across the back fields. "Why would you ask that?"
"Dunno," Odd said, but his face said something else. Ulrich just didn't have time to puzle out what it was.
He arrived at the auditorium just as everyone was leaving. Odd hung back at the entrance while he went in, pressing against the push of the crowd. He saw Emily in the lobby. She was in a black dress, her hair pinned up by sparkling clips. She looked over at him and her eyes looked sad.
"Em…"
"Hey," she said. "I'll catch up with you outside, okay, Kate?"
"Yeah, sure," the blonde girl next to her said. She squeezed Emily's hand before following the crowd through the open doors.
"You missed a great rendition of Carol of the Bells and Mozart," she said dully.
"I'm so sorry, Emily," he said. "Something came up and I had to-"
Emily's smile didn't reach her eyes. "I know, Ulrich. Something always comes up. It's okay. Maybe the spring performance, yeah?"
"Emily-"
Her smile wavered and she lifted her violin a little higher. "I'll see you later."
"Em!" he yelled, following her outdoors. She had joined Kate on the front steps and she looked back at him briefly. Other students and adults looked at him curiously as well. "I really am sorry," he said, quieter. "I'm sure you were great."
"She was," Kate stated. "Come on, Em. Let's celebrate a performance well done."
Emily hung back briefly and smiled a little brighter at Ulrich. "It's okay, Ulrich. I'll see you Sunday, okay?"
"Yeah, sure." He watched her walk off with Kate, laughing at something she said.
"You sure there's nothing between you two?" Odd asked, coming to stand next to him.
"Yeah," he said irritably. "Unless you count me bailing on her once again."
Odd shrugged and attempted to fix his hair. "Well, that's the price of saving the world, you know?" Ulrich frowned and crossed his arms. Odd sighed. "Come on, Nature Boy. I need to feed Kiwi still and you have to finish that project for Arends. There'll be other concerts."
"Yeah, I know," he sighed. He fell into step with Odd.
. . … . .
"Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if we hadn't of found Lyoko?" Yumi asked them, at the end. They sat around the terminated super computer for the last time and ate crisps and cakes and candy.
"I wouldn't be here," Aelita said simply. Her fingers twisted strands of blonde hair into tiny braids along her face.
"We wouldn't be friends," Jeremie replied. He popped a few candies into his mouth.
"Wouldn't have gotten the best cousin in the world," Odd joked. Aelita laughed and threw one of Jeremie's candies at him. He caught it in his mouth, crunched loudly on the hard shell. "Thanks, Princess."
"We would have been normal," Ulrich said simply. He leaned back against the wall and watched the others.
"Eh, where's the fun in being normal anyway?" Odd asked.
"Normalcy is desired by many-" Jeremie began.
Odd rolled his eyes and Aelita stifled a smile. "What do you think, Yumers?" he asked with a grin.
Yumi glared at the nickname and drew shapes in the dust covering the ground. "Before, I wished we hadn't. But I'm glad we did." She smiled at Aelita. "At least now I'm not the only girl."
"You're a girl?" Odd gasped, hand clutching at his chest. Yumi whacked him and Ulrich snorted.
"You asked for that one," he stated. He leaned around Odd to get at the cake. "What's the point of wondering anyway?" he asked. "It doesn't change anything, unless we Return to before we found it and just actively decide not to look for it."
"Exactly!" Jeremie agreed. "Here's to us, and the excellent job everyone's done through the years." He held his water bottle up in salute.
"To us!" Odd agreed, nearly spilling his in his haste to make the toast.
"To us!" Aelita smiled and lifted her bottle as well.
"To all of us," Yumi stated quietly, and he got the feeling she was including those who were absent. Franz Hopper and William Dunbar and everyone else who had helped them defeat X.A.N.A. and unlock Lyoko's secrets.
Ulrich met Yumi's eyes and offered her a small smile. "To us," he agreed. Yumi relaxed, smiling.
He didn't resent it anymore, he'd discovered, being involved in Jeremie's quest to rescue Aelita. Not like Yumi did now anyway. He'd made friends, he'd had adventures, he'd given up normalcy but he liked to think he gained a Greater Purpose or some other nonsense. And, most importantly, they had succeeded and rescued Aelita.
But, sometimes when he did think about it, he realized that he was still kind of jealous that Sissi got out when she did.