Note: long chapter---but my favorite! :]
Part six: when suspicions arise
A few hours later, they reached their destination.
"So this is where you are going?" Raven felt foolish, as he questioned the brunette while watching him pack his things. Van looked up and nodded, "Yeah, I guess so---" and he asked, "How about you? Where are you heading at?"
"I don't know." The gray haired pilot shrugged, "Maybe until Shadow breaks the crate I guess."
They both looked at each other and laughed, Raven felt a mild wave of headache passed through his head since he wasn't accustomed to laugh as naturally like this before.
"I think Shadow would be glad without me around now, ne?"
"Nah, he is just temperamental. He is not used with other people around him- --like Zeke for example." Then Raven paused, somehow that statement about his organoid made him feel that he is going to regret something if he let Van leave the ship.
"Do you know where are REALLY going?" he asked again, "I mean, where are you actually heading at?"
Van made an exhausted sigh, "To be honest, I don't know. I just ran away for some personal reasons---" and admitting it almost shyly, "You know-that incident with Irvine."
"So it seems pretty useless now, going this far---you still want to go back?"
"Of course I want to! But like you said, I am already here it is use---"
Van wasn't able to finish his statement, and gawked as he watched Raven moved towards the crate box without question and ripped it open, freeing Shadow.
"Van Flyheight, I'm going with you. I'm going to help you find your way back."
*****
They finally stepped out of the cruise together, and Raven vowed for reasons unknown to himself to help Van back to the military base. It would probably take about a week---traveling with his geno breaker is giving them THAT difficulty. But it's the best option than riding another expensive way of public travel. And they don't have much option the first day. A lot of townspeople had spotted the flying geno breaker and it caused quite a ruckus way back, so on the second day they decide to left it hidden in a few mile radius in the mornings and that they travel by foot. No such luck, many of the people both recognized Van as he was and they also recognized Raven, with the dark organoid following around. Raven muttered about something putting shadow back into a crate again, after their 5 unsuccessful attempts to get in a tavern to drink and rest. At the third day, the gray haired pilot was almost at the point of exhaustion and giving up when Van came up with a half-amusing plan.
"I would rather have you defeat me in battle again than agree to that." Raven muttered, eyeing the brunette with a cold indigo glare. Van remained unfazed with his comment, and he was grinning silly, "Why, do you have any better ideas?"
"No---" Raven replied, and then stood up, placing his arms over Van's shoulders, giving the other boy a good shake as he shouted, "For Zi's sake! Can't you think of any BETTER idea than having to disguise as WOMEN?!"
"We did it once on Rudolf some few years ago and it worked,"
"Flyheight, His Majesty way back then is a BOY. Go figure how two men like us would pass as a FEMALE now."
"Well, you'll pass as a nice woman." The pilot grinned even wider, trying to get the other youth's spirit up. He thumbed a lock of gray hair from his forehead, "Your hair needed only to---"
Raven slapped the hand away from his head, grabbing it by the wrist and giving Van a reprimanding glare. "I said NO."
"Fine, have it your way then." The boy shrugged of the iron grip and leaned back at the wall, giving himself one exhausted sigh. "It isn't easy traveling when everybody just knows who you are, eh?"
"Van," Raven spoke again
"Yes?" the bob of spiky ebony hair turned around, Raven liked the way those curious large eyes look on him with such question.
"There is ANOTHER good reason why your idea is not a good one."
"How to hide shadow?"
Raven made a snicker, and lowered, shook his head. "Shadow can take care of himself. It's you I am worried about. Have you ever imagined how will you look like if you disguise as a woman?"
They both paused for awhile, each imagining the possibility. After a few minutes, Van shuddered and held both palms to his head, much to Raven's amusement and the gray-haired boy let out a roar of laughter.
"Ouch! You are right, IT is a headache!" Van blanched, "This is worse than getting called sugar bear! I can't imagine myself in a pink dress!"
"Pink? You're thinking PINK? I think you'll look nice in red---it set's your eyes perfectly. Right, sugar bear?" Raven teased, bringing color to Van's cheeks.
"Don't start with me now, Raven!" the boy protested, but was disarmed when Raven quickly approached and silenced him with a quick kiss on the nose, he frowned and stared at it, wondering if it left any mark.
"You know it's getting to be a habit," Raven said, "-getting to kiss you every time you make me laugh."
"Aw, come on---"
"No, seriously."
The two teens are within the arms of each other, and almost making out at the damn floor when a soldier barged into their room (they are staying in an inn) with them is the inn keeper. The soldier gave them a bewildered look and ran shouting, leaving the inn keeper gaping as Raven quickly tore his arms away from Van's body. The other boy peered on his shoulder, and was up to his feet in no time when he noticed what is going on.
"Shit, they tracked us down." Raven muttered, zipping his trousers up and hauling the other boy to his feet. He didn't have to ask where all those soldiers have come from, obviously they are after the bounty on his head, and he noticed, that they came from the imperial forces. Cursing out loud, he knocked down the screaming inn keeper much to Van's chagrin.
"She's just unconscious."
"You still don't have to do that!"
Raven didn't say anything as the other boy protested, he is only focused in one agenda: get out of here, and as fast as possible. He was hoping none of the witnesses have gotten the idea that they 'are doing something' on the floor. He could also run away himself to make everything else fast and easy.
But he don't
As they made their haste escape, he is pulling Van tightly by his side along the way.
*****
It's already near nightfall, and the narrow escape gave him an idea--- Raven decides its best that they travel at night and rest by day, to lessen the amount of mounting suspicious witnesses around the area. In this case, he can't see the stars from above---the stars show if the weather would be good or not. And there are barely a few luminous stars in the cloudy sky as the sun finally set in the horizon.
"We will stay here for the night," he said tersely, his indigo eyes barely blinking. "We can't risk it if the weather would go bad. Why don't you start the bon fire?"
Van nodded, "Sure thing. I can't fix the tent already anyway."
Raven frowned, "Tent? You brought one?" He was pleasantly surprised that Van suddenly materialized camping materials, and all that in two duffel bags of a person who ran away. He is as prepared as a boy scout.
"I prepared just in case," the brunette grinned, "We can even share it together, isn't it romantic?" he kidded Raven, who just frowned even more. Romantic. Something Raven was surely not. He couldn't spout nice pleasant words pleasantly and even if he try, it always sounded strange. He even tries to sing if he gets lonely, but he was told by Reys that his singing voice sounded like that of a wounded cow. He said nothing, just set the tent aside and walked toward the trees.
"Where are you going?"
"We should get some sleep."
Van followed, rushing to keep up with his longer strides, "Wouldn't you help me with the tent?"
"The trees will be our 'tent'." He shook out a blanket with a snap, dropped it, and stretched out on the ground, crossing his boots at the ankle.
Van stood by, having grabbed two small fluffy pillows and some blankets. Where did Van get those? "This is camping Van, not a leisure trip. Where the hell did you get them?"
"The cruiser has tons of them, I grabbed myself some souvenirs" he said, tugging both the small pillows in the crook of his arm, and then looked at the sky. "You are right; it looks like it WOULD rain. Are you certain you are alright there?"
"I am certain."
Van shrugged, "Since you insist, I will join you anyway." And he proceeds to throw his pillows and to lay every blanket neatly beside the other pilot. Raven swore what the other pilot is doing is totally weird and out of place. Van finally settled down the blanketed ground and his hands under his head, leaning down the pillows, and after a minute of peace filled silence, he said "Raven?"
"What?"
"Would you like a pillow?"
"No."
"I have an extra."
He grunted.
"Only one just to rest you're head on."
Raven turned over and looked at him. Van was holding out a pillow. He took it, stuffed it under his head, and closed his eyes. There, hope he is satisfied, he silently thought.
Van shifted a few more minutes before settling down, "Raven?"
"What now?"
"I have an extra blanket too."
"I'm fine."
"Well, you need something decently to sleep in to."
"I've slept more often on the ground in the past several years than in a bed." Then he turned over and looked at him. He felt suddenly very foolish. "But you have slept in the comforts of having a bed back at your headquarters, these past few years, haven't you?"
"Nah, I slept in a hammock once." The ebony dark hair shook a bit to disagree, "It was quite interesting. Took me four attempts before I managed not to spill out of it. It was the only time I have ever bloodied my nose." He softly chuckled, then with a tired yawn he pulled the extra blanket over himself and huddled under it, with only his face and the bob of his spiky black hair peeking through.
Raven called himself silently an ass, again. He should have planned where they could stay, far from the prying eyes of many. Far from getting suspicious witnesses, far from what others would be thinking about them--- and that could probably ruin Flyheight's career. Huh? Now he is starting to really care about the youth, oddment indeed. Caring is such a different emotion to him, he hadn't thought about what the other boy would need. He had been too determined to get him alone. Too eager to be with him---too desperate to think clearly. Now he was with him, alone, and his time was passing quickly, like sand leaking to the other side of an hour glass, he felt each grain was a lost moment.
"This is rather nice," Raven said with a sigh, catching Van's attention. "Look at all those stars." He sounded surprised and pleased (finding himself talking with no reason). He continued, "I don't think I never seen the sky like this---interesting."
"Liar. You told me the weather will go bad,"
"MIGHT go bad, but the wind seem to blew the clouds away somehow."
"Yeah. Somehow seeing the sky likes this makes the night less dark and frightening." Van agreed, and he stared up at the sky, Raven glanced by him wondering why would someone think it is frightening. The air was still, cold and it was quiet. To him there was a strange power in the darkness of the night. A sense of peace, for battles was not fought at night.
"Do you know," Raven whispered softly, "Men use the stars to guide them home."
"Did you?"
Raven paused. "There is an empty neglected place I once called home,"
"Sorry,"
There was a long silence between them, before Raven started again. "See that star above us?" he pointed out with a gloved hand, "That's what called a mariner's star. A ship's crew uses the stars to keep on course."
"It's beautiful." The other boy quipped, then asked, "So what is like to sail a ship?"
Raven turned, frowning. "Just because I know it's a Mariner's star doesn't mean I have to be a sailor, should I?" He was quickly disarmed by the youth's soft laugh, and felt a warm hand by his head, rubbing his hair in a friendly gesture, "Ah, Raven. Don't be too serious! You must know how to take a joke."
The gray-haired pilot read the puzzlement in Flyheight's face when he muttered, "So, I mean---uh, how does it feel?"
"Feel?"
"To take a joke?"
The spiky haired youth eyed him strangely one more time, and shrugged, with a small smile creased on his lips. "Just go to sleep, Raven. You'll know soon enough."
"Yeah, whatever."
Raven stared back at the night sky and wondered when he had stopped noticing things aside from the vast number of stars. It all started from one tragic event over another, after that he never really do cared. He never had the time to notice what other people his age has taken for granted: the innocence, the eager curiosity, the freedom and just being with no care of the world---a normal average youth. He sat up a little and rested his head on his hand while he looked down on him. Van lay there, calmly, and he was surprised he is still very much awake and looking at him with expectant eagerness. He cursed lightly, and blushing, he shifted his indigo gaze somewhere else.
"I'm just keeping on guard. Who knows what punk there lurks behind the bushes." He mumbled,
"And kick their ass?"
"Definitely,"
Van was quiet, and then he cocked his head. "I think I'll think twice before anything else. Yet you find pleasure in danger do you?"
He shrugged, uncomfortable at speaking so plainly of his thoughts, but he fought to keep his expression impassive. "They don't know anything about piloting Zoids."
Van said nothing, and brought the blanket around him. Raven wished, HE would go to sleep for Zi's sake. Then he could watch him freely, watch him sleep. The other youth's scent drifted to him in the air, making him aware of the ways he'd just soon forget. He took a deep breath, his soul as cleansing as fresh sea air. He stared into the night sky, and then took one last look at him.
Van is watching him. Again.
Raven would kiss him, at any moment. He knew he would, those wide eyed dark onyx gaze is way too much. He started to move towards him. He wants to express himself, but he can't bring himself to say it---
"Raven?" he spoke his name gently, as if it was natural for him.
He froze.
"Go to sleep," he whispered sleepily, and closed his eyes.
*****
Meanwhile, back at the headquarters :]
"Where the fuck is that Thomas?"
"Infirmary."
"What is it this time?"
Moonbay rolled up her eyes as she turned around Irvine, she was working on something else and she is too busy to answer so many questions. But a silly smile curved her lips, just trying to recall what the lieutenant did to end up in the infirmary. "It's Fiona-related."
"Oh, no wonder." Irvine replied tartly, "He has been getting into weirder accidents, just because of her."
"And after you chase Van away, that's what it did."
Irvine winced, "Did not! It was all a joke! How should I know Van would take a joke that seriously?"
"He had disappeared in DAYS and everyone is worried and looking for him, You shouldn't have pick on his sexuality next time. I think."
"Yeah? How come, is he hiding something?"
"Umm---I think you better see Thomas in the infirmary." And with that, Moonbay turned around and went somewhere else, leaving Irvine hanging. She wasn't sure either about Van, and although she caught him sneaking outside the past few months in 'suspicious' night spots, she didn't say anything to anyone. "H-Hey, Moonbay!---FINE! I'm going." He shrugged, and went to the infirmary area.
**
"He got his tongue stuck inside the water bottle." The clinic doctor informed rather almost amusingly to Irvine, not noticing that the embarrassed blonde lieutenant has already emerged from the curtained room clutching a big ice pack over his face. "But I DO wonder why would someone be that thirsty, Mister Irvine."
"Easy, he must have seen its Miss Fiona's drinking bottle."
The female doctor made a silent 'Oh' and restrained the urge to burst out laughing. Almost everyone knows that Thomas is infatuated with the blonde zoidian, although they don't know that it would be THAT bad.
"You must could have seen when Moon bay caught him hiding a handful of Fiona's missing ribbon bands---- he is placing it under his--"
"Shaw puff, Irvun." /Translation: Shut up, Irvine/ The blonde cursed, his green gaze dark and the murder intent quotient brewing within them after hearing the embarrassing details Irvine is telling everyone. "Thel hwur tha I wul keel hu!" /Translation: Tell her that, I will kill you!/
Irvine shot him a glare, "Yeah, right. Like you would do. Let's keep going shall we?"
"Iruvn?"
"What?"
Since Thomas can't speak properly well, he gestured with his hand, as if to request on something before they go. Irvine crossed his arms, as the blonde make gestures and pointing signs. "Three words, one syllable---" he muttered, and Thomas nodded, and then raised a couple of fingers. "One syllable each three words---hmm," the lieutenant made more hand gestures, until Irvine just gave up.
"Stop this foolish charade and just get to the point!"
Thomas shook his head exhaustedly, and went back to the room, getting himself a pen and paper, and wrote "I'm asking for pen and paper" He earned a whoop on the head from Irvine, and the much muscular youth dragged the lieutenant by the collar and went into the headquarters, to the private sector of the Imperial army colonel, Col. Karl Scubaltz who is impatiently waiting inside.
"What took the both of you so long?" the impatient colonel muttered, his tall figure rigid and stiff, his eyes displeased and commanding. Both made their salutes,
"I didn't hear you," Karl muttered at his younger brother, very tired of reminding of his formalities.
"He can't talk for now, colonel sir. Got his tongue-tied in an embarrassing situation." Irvine said, with a sly smile as he eyed Thomas, who returned him a sharp glare. The colonel glanced at his brother, then shrugged and turned away. "I think I don't want to hear that, but I have some news for you two." Karl placed his gloved hands together as he took his seat, eyeing both men, "I had been doing some monitoring myself secretly these past few days, Flyheight seem to have-----"
Words formed out of Karl's mouth, but the two seem not to comprehend what he just said.
"No way, that's impossible!"
*****
It was already early morning,
Van woke up ahead than Raven, and changed into much relaxed clothes. In his civilian clothing, he is less bound to be recognized by anyone else within the area. He was surprised to hear that Raven was snoring loudly; his body sprawled atop the messy ground with only a pillow for his comfort. Then he heard a low grumble and felt a heavy forceful nudge by his shoulder. It was shadow.
"Hey there, fella." He attempted to stroke the dark organoid's head, but Shadow made a low growl and nudged him harder. It was obvious he is still displeased and jealous over his master's decision to be with Van. It wasn't just like him. "I'm going to look for something to eat around here, you want to come?"
Shadow answered by running off past him and hitting him hard with his tail.
"Fine then, I'll go look for myself." He mumbled, standing up and letting out a small sigh. He looked around the nearby green woods or any area that possibly have a riverbed and/or edible fruits around them. There could be a small copse of gooseberry bushes somewhere, he thought. Those small bite size fruits that could come in handy to keep your sugar-level up even if you don't eat for a day. He spotted the bushes when he noticed shadow re- appeared in a certain direction and tried to follow him. A little distance away he found the gooseberries, then held out his tunic and began to pick them while he starts humming a tune. Within a few minutes, he had several handfuls of plumped berries on the loose end of his shirt.
He stopped humming and glanced about to see Shadow has just re appeared few feet behind him. He tried to signal the dark organoid if he wants to taste them. The organoid grunted and veered away, obviously still NOT wanting to be with his master's 'friend'. He shrugged and popped a couple in his mouth and shuddered. They were as sour as unripe papayas.
"Now what the heck will I do with the sour gooseberries?"
Then without thinking, he proceeds to hum again his silly tune and lazily throws a handful of the gooseberries over his shoulder while he looked for anything edible ASIDE from gooseberries. He made a game of flinging the berries skyward and listening to them patters the ground and bushes behind him as he walked around deeper around the bushes and the trees. He looked at shadow, who is still suspiciously watching him in a distance and laughed, "Those berries ought to be good on something since they certainly aren't good for eating!"
After a few more minutes he glanced down, just as shadow suddenly ran off towards the trees edging the riverbank as if to chase something away.
"Shadow!" he called, "Come back here!" yeah right, like the dark organoid will listen to him, he thought. He tossed the last handful of berries and dusted off his shirt, then spun around.
Raven stood there, already awake, looking quite rigid.
Van stared at him for a second.
He has gooseberries in his gray hair.
He grinned
He didn't.
Laughter just bubbled up and he tried to stop, but couldn't. He had a plump gooseberry wedged silly in his ear. Raven shook his head and the gooseberries flew everywhere, and shadow ran back anxiously around him, sniffing the gooseberries that had fallen from him around his boots, thinking he was toying around. Now, Van is laughing out loud, Raven glared at him, but it did no good. The gooseberry is still stuck in his ear, making him look rather silly.
He dropped his hand and took a breath, smiling. "Your face is as sour as those gooseberries." Then gave Raven a sincere look. "I'm sorry, truly. I didn't know you were there." He walked towards him and stopped, Raven stared at Van for a long moment. Van reached up and plucked the berry from his ear and held it up. "You missed one!"
The gray-haired pilot was silent and Van cocked his head and watched him, trying to read his thoughts. It was then he saw the flowers. Clutched in his bare scarred hand was a small posy of marigolds, maidenhair fern, and bright buttercups. Raven stiffened and looked at the bouquet, he didn't know what possessed him to give Van a small bouquet of hand picked flowers and Van wondered what he was thinking. Raven looked strange---a hardened mercenary pilot standing before him, his rival, cold and fierce, until one noticed the flowers. It was like watching the devil pet a kitten. Certainly not a scene one would imagine.
Very softly he asked, "Are they for me?"
Raven looked as if he wanted to say something but could not speak. He seemed to be waging some kind of mental battle. He glanced up at the sunrise, now at its peak and muttered, "There is no time for this foolishness."
Van's heart fell a little. He didn't think the fact he had picked flowers for him was foolish at all; it must be the best way he wanted to express himself to him, and he thought it was touching. Part of him wished he could put Raven at ease, yet he wasn't certain what he would say so he said nothing. He embarrassingly gave the flowers a wistful look.
The other boy seemed to make a decision and he turned around, then stopped and turned back.
"Here." Raven barked and shoved the flowers just a few inches from his face. Van took the posy and in a moment of sheer whimsy held Raven's hand and pulled him closer in a friendly hug. Raven froze for a moment, his cheeks mildly blushing. He heard Shadow's angry grunt of protest, but ignored the organoid and proceeds to bring his one free arm to hold Van closer to him. He stared at the posies on his other hand at the longest time, then with a very intense look he slowly lifted Van's chin to his face and mildly brush a soft kiss to the other boy's cheek. "Van---" Raven whispered, which was then followed shortly by a crackle of a vicious curse.
Vicious curse?
Stunned, Van snapped his head up, and then followed the angry stare. At the edge of the small woods, were a few zoids---a couple of them are red-horns, from the first panzer division of the imperial army. "Col. Schubaltz---" Raven mumbled angrily, turning to Van, giving the youth an accusing betrayed look.
"Hey, I don't know anything about this!" Van protested, who was as equally surprised as he was. Raven assessed Van one more time and finally presumed he wasn't lying. With a move he even surprised himself; the gray-haired pilot wrapped his arms around Van and rolled to the ground when the red- horns opened fire. He quickly called for Shadow, and the dark organoid came running towards his aid.
"Don't mobilize. NOT yet." He rasped to his dark organoid,
Van gave the pilot a startled look, what will Raven do without his dark organoid? In a split second, he finds himself surprised as Shadow opened his chamber, and Raven shoved him in. "Take him away from here, shadow." He said, eyeing the organoid seriously, "Please."
"R-Raven?!"
The gray haired pilot gave him such a pained look that even words escaped Van's mouth, "We'll meet again, Flyheight---I promise, I'll be b--"
Then came ammunition exploding atop their heads, Raven cursed angrily and proceeds to shove the other boy in and clamp shadow's chamber shut. What happened next, Van recalled foggily, is a low rumble and being rocketed away to god knows where, he heard a lot of ammunition fires and some droning noises so intense that he thought his head would ready to explode. What he came into consciousness, or what he think might be, he heard a lot of angry shouts and remembered hazily seeing a red flying zoid disappearing from red-horn's reach. It must have been Raven's geno breaker--- and shadow is catching up behind it. Shadow had already dropped him off.
He finds out he was very much alive and he was laying down at grassy side of a slope, just several feet away from the attack where he wouldn't be easily seen, unless by someone piloting a zoid. He tried moving his badly shaken body,--- going to the direction of 1st panzer unit, hoping to signal them to stop. Staggering a few meters, he recognized that there are some back-up soldiers in their armored truck and units, all from the imperial quarters. A particular figure caught his eye, some guy in gray with deep brown hair. As he focused once more, the figure is arguing with the people who piloted the red-horns---behind him is the lightning saix.
THERE could be only one lightning saix
"Irvine!"
The gray figure turned around momentarily away from the group of soldiers, he gazed curiously at the distance where the voice is coming.
"Irvine! It's me! Stop the attack! Ceasefire! Ceasefire!!" Van called out, waving his arms frantically at the air. He stumbled to his knees and before he passed out again, his comrade had finally recognized him and ran quickly to his aid along with some group of soldiers. He recalled strong arms holding him, shaking him---, everyone and everything is like a swirling vertigo, calling out begging him not to pass out and stay awake.
"Hold on Van, hold on---" are the last words that drifted to his head, coming from Irvine. He didn't know whether it was his fevered state or it was just a dream that he said-
"Raven has nothing to do with this, let him go."
-continued-
Part six: when suspicions arise
A few hours later, they reached their destination.
"So this is where you are going?" Raven felt foolish, as he questioned the brunette while watching him pack his things. Van looked up and nodded, "Yeah, I guess so---" and he asked, "How about you? Where are you heading at?"
"I don't know." The gray haired pilot shrugged, "Maybe until Shadow breaks the crate I guess."
They both looked at each other and laughed, Raven felt a mild wave of headache passed through his head since he wasn't accustomed to laugh as naturally like this before.
"I think Shadow would be glad without me around now, ne?"
"Nah, he is just temperamental. He is not used with other people around him- --like Zeke for example." Then Raven paused, somehow that statement about his organoid made him feel that he is going to regret something if he let Van leave the ship.
"Do you know where are REALLY going?" he asked again, "I mean, where are you actually heading at?"
Van made an exhausted sigh, "To be honest, I don't know. I just ran away for some personal reasons---" and admitting it almost shyly, "You know-that incident with Irvine."
"So it seems pretty useless now, going this far---you still want to go back?"
"Of course I want to! But like you said, I am already here it is use---"
Van wasn't able to finish his statement, and gawked as he watched Raven moved towards the crate box without question and ripped it open, freeing Shadow.
"Van Flyheight, I'm going with you. I'm going to help you find your way back."
*****
They finally stepped out of the cruise together, and Raven vowed for reasons unknown to himself to help Van back to the military base. It would probably take about a week---traveling with his geno breaker is giving them THAT difficulty. But it's the best option than riding another expensive way of public travel. And they don't have much option the first day. A lot of townspeople had spotted the flying geno breaker and it caused quite a ruckus way back, so on the second day they decide to left it hidden in a few mile radius in the mornings and that they travel by foot. No such luck, many of the people both recognized Van as he was and they also recognized Raven, with the dark organoid following around. Raven muttered about something putting shadow back into a crate again, after their 5 unsuccessful attempts to get in a tavern to drink and rest. At the third day, the gray haired pilot was almost at the point of exhaustion and giving up when Van came up with a half-amusing plan.
"I would rather have you defeat me in battle again than agree to that." Raven muttered, eyeing the brunette with a cold indigo glare. Van remained unfazed with his comment, and he was grinning silly, "Why, do you have any better ideas?"
"No---" Raven replied, and then stood up, placing his arms over Van's shoulders, giving the other boy a good shake as he shouted, "For Zi's sake! Can't you think of any BETTER idea than having to disguise as WOMEN?!"
"We did it once on Rudolf some few years ago and it worked,"
"Flyheight, His Majesty way back then is a BOY. Go figure how two men like us would pass as a FEMALE now."
"Well, you'll pass as a nice woman." The pilot grinned even wider, trying to get the other youth's spirit up. He thumbed a lock of gray hair from his forehead, "Your hair needed only to---"
Raven slapped the hand away from his head, grabbing it by the wrist and giving Van a reprimanding glare. "I said NO."
"Fine, have it your way then." The boy shrugged of the iron grip and leaned back at the wall, giving himself one exhausted sigh. "It isn't easy traveling when everybody just knows who you are, eh?"
"Van," Raven spoke again
"Yes?" the bob of spiky ebony hair turned around, Raven liked the way those curious large eyes look on him with such question.
"There is ANOTHER good reason why your idea is not a good one."
"How to hide shadow?"
Raven made a snicker, and lowered, shook his head. "Shadow can take care of himself. It's you I am worried about. Have you ever imagined how will you look like if you disguise as a woman?"
They both paused for awhile, each imagining the possibility. After a few minutes, Van shuddered and held both palms to his head, much to Raven's amusement and the gray-haired boy let out a roar of laughter.
"Ouch! You are right, IT is a headache!" Van blanched, "This is worse than getting called sugar bear! I can't imagine myself in a pink dress!"
"Pink? You're thinking PINK? I think you'll look nice in red---it set's your eyes perfectly. Right, sugar bear?" Raven teased, bringing color to Van's cheeks.
"Don't start with me now, Raven!" the boy protested, but was disarmed when Raven quickly approached and silenced him with a quick kiss on the nose, he frowned and stared at it, wondering if it left any mark.
"You know it's getting to be a habit," Raven said, "-getting to kiss you every time you make me laugh."
"Aw, come on---"
"No, seriously."
The two teens are within the arms of each other, and almost making out at the damn floor when a soldier barged into their room (they are staying in an inn) with them is the inn keeper. The soldier gave them a bewildered look and ran shouting, leaving the inn keeper gaping as Raven quickly tore his arms away from Van's body. The other boy peered on his shoulder, and was up to his feet in no time when he noticed what is going on.
"Shit, they tracked us down." Raven muttered, zipping his trousers up and hauling the other boy to his feet. He didn't have to ask where all those soldiers have come from, obviously they are after the bounty on his head, and he noticed, that they came from the imperial forces. Cursing out loud, he knocked down the screaming inn keeper much to Van's chagrin.
"She's just unconscious."
"You still don't have to do that!"
Raven didn't say anything as the other boy protested, he is only focused in one agenda: get out of here, and as fast as possible. He was hoping none of the witnesses have gotten the idea that they 'are doing something' on the floor. He could also run away himself to make everything else fast and easy.
But he don't
As they made their haste escape, he is pulling Van tightly by his side along the way.
*****
It's already near nightfall, and the narrow escape gave him an idea--- Raven decides its best that they travel at night and rest by day, to lessen the amount of mounting suspicious witnesses around the area. In this case, he can't see the stars from above---the stars show if the weather would be good or not. And there are barely a few luminous stars in the cloudy sky as the sun finally set in the horizon.
"We will stay here for the night," he said tersely, his indigo eyes barely blinking. "We can't risk it if the weather would go bad. Why don't you start the bon fire?"
Van nodded, "Sure thing. I can't fix the tent already anyway."
Raven frowned, "Tent? You brought one?" He was pleasantly surprised that Van suddenly materialized camping materials, and all that in two duffel bags of a person who ran away. He is as prepared as a boy scout.
"I prepared just in case," the brunette grinned, "We can even share it together, isn't it romantic?" he kidded Raven, who just frowned even more. Romantic. Something Raven was surely not. He couldn't spout nice pleasant words pleasantly and even if he try, it always sounded strange. He even tries to sing if he gets lonely, but he was told by Reys that his singing voice sounded like that of a wounded cow. He said nothing, just set the tent aside and walked toward the trees.
"Where are you going?"
"We should get some sleep."
Van followed, rushing to keep up with his longer strides, "Wouldn't you help me with the tent?"
"The trees will be our 'tent'." He shook out a blanket with a snap, dropped it, and stretched out on the ground, crossing his boots at the ankle.
Van stood by, having grabbed two small fluffy pillows and some blankets. Where did Van get those? "This is camping Van, not a leisure trip. Where the hell did you get them?"
"The cruiser has tons of them, I grabbed myself some souvenirs" he said, tugging both the small pillows in the crook of his arm, and then looked at the sky. "You are right; it looks like it WOULD rain. Are you certain you are alright there?"
"I am certain."
Van shrugged, "Since you insist, I will join you anyway." And he proceeds to throw his pillows and to lay every blanket neatly beside the other pilot. Raven swore what the other pilot is doing is totally weird and out of place. Van finally settled down the blanketed ground and his hands under his head, leaning down the pillows, and after a minute of peace filled silence, he said "Raven?"
"What?"
"Would you like a pillow?"
"No."
"I have an extra."
He grunted.
"Only one just to rest you're head on."
Raven turned over and looked at him. Van was holding out a pillow. He took it, stuffed it under his head, and closed his eyes. There, hope he is satisfied, he silently thought.
Van shifted a few more minutes before settling down, "Raven?"
"What now?"
"I have an extra blanket too."
"I'm fine."
"Well, you need something decently to sleep in to."
"I've slept more often on the ground in the past several years than in a bed." Then he turned over and looked at him. He felt suddenly very foolish. "But you have slept in the comforts of having a bed back at your headquarters, these past few years, haven't you?"
"Nah, I slept in a hammock once." The ebony dark hair shook a bit to disagree, "It was quite interesting. Took me four attempts before I managed not to spill out of it. It was the only time I have ever bloodied my nose." He softly chuckled, then with a tired yawn he pulled the extra blanket over himself and huddled under it, with only his face and the bob of his spiky black hair peeking through.
Raven called himself silently an ass, again. He should have planned where they could stay, far from the prying eyes of many. Far from getting suspicious witnesses, far from what others would be thinking about them--- and that could probably ruin Flyheight's career. Huh? Now he is starting to really care about the youth, oddment indeed. Caring is such a different emotion to him, he hadn't thought about what the other boy would need. He had been too determined to get him alone. Too eager to be with him---too desperate to think clearly. Now he was with him, alone, and his time was passing quickly, like sand leaking to the other side of an hour glass, he felt each grain was a lost moment.
"This is rather nice," Raven said with a sigh, catching Van's attention. "Look at all those stars." He sounded surprised and pleased (finding himself talking with no reason). He continued, "I don't think I never seen the sky like this---interesting."
"Liar. You told me the weather will go bad,"
"MIGHT go bad, but the wind seem to blew the clouds away somehow."
"Yeah. Somehow seeing the sky likes this makes the night less dark and frightening." Van agreed, and he stared up at the sky, Raven glanced by him wondering why would someone think it is frightening. The air was still, cold and it was quiet. To him there was a strange power in the darkness of the night. A sense of peace, for battles was not fought at night.
"Do you know," Raven whispered softly, "Men use the stars to guide them home."
"Did you?"
Raven paused. "There is an empty neglected place I once called home,"
"Sorry,"
There was a long silence between them, before Raven started again. "See that star above us?" he pointed out with a gloved hand, "That's what called a mariner's star. A ship's crew uses the stars to keep on course."
"It's beautiful." The other boy quipped, then asked, "So what is like to sail a ship?"
Raven turned, frowning. "Just because I know it's a Mariner's star doesn't mean I have to be a sailor, should I?" He was quickly disarmed by the youth's soft laugh, and felt a warm hand by his head, rubbing his hair in a friendly gesture, "Ah, Raven. Don't be too serious! You must know how to take a joke."
The gray-haired pilot read the puzzlement in Flyheight's face when he muttered, "So, I mean---uh, how does it feel?"
"Feel?"
"To take a joke?"
The spiky haired youth eyed him strangely one more time, and shrugged, with a small smile creased on his lips. "Just go to sleep, Raven. You'll know soon enough."
"Yeah, whatever."
Raven stared back at the night sky and wondered when he had stopped noticing things aside from the vast number of stars. It all started from one tragic event over another, after that he never really do cared. He never had the time to notice what other people his age has taken for granted: the innocence, the eager curiosity, the freedom and just being with no care of the world---a normal average youth. He sat up a little and rested his head on his hand while he looked down on him. Van lay there, calmly, and he was surprised he is still very much awake and looking at him with expectant eagerness. He cursed lightly, and blushing, he shifted his indigo gaze somewhere else.
"I'm just keeping on guard. Who knows what punk there lurks behind the bushes." He mumbled,
"And kick their ass?"
"Definitely,"
Van was quiet, and then he cocked his head. "I think I'll think twice before anything else. Yet you find pleasure in danger do you?"
He shrugged, uncomfortable at speaking so plainly of his thoughts, but he fought to keep his expression impassive. "They don't know anything about piloting Zoids."
Van said nothing, and brought the blanket around him. Raven wished, HE would go to sleep for Zi's sake. Then he could watch him freely, watch him sleep. The other youth's scent drifted to him in the air, making him aware of the ways he'd just soon forget. He took a deep breath, his soul as cleansing as fresh sea air. He stared into the night sky, and then took one last look at him.
Van is watching him. Again.
Raven would kiss him, at any moment. He knew he would, those wide eyed dark onyx gaze is way too much. He started to move towards him. He wants to express himself, but he can't bring himself to say it---
"Raven?" he spoke his name gently, as if it was natural for him.
He froze.
"Go to sleep," he whispered sleepily, and closed his eyes.
*****
Meanwhile, back at the headquarters :]
"Where the fuck is that Thomas?"
"Infirmary."
"What is it this time?"
Moonbay rolled up her eyes as she turned around Irvine, she was working on something else and she is too busy to answer so many questions. But a silly smile curved her lips, just trying to recall what the lieutenant did to end up in the infirmary. "It's Fiona-related."
"Oh, no wonder." Irvine replied tartly, "He has been getting into weirder accidents, just because of her."
"And after you chase Van away, that's what it did."
Irvine winced, "Did not! It was all a joke! How should I know Van would take a joke that seriously?"
"He had disappeared in DAYS and everyone is worried and looking for him, You shouldn't have pick on his sexuality next time. I think."
"Yeah? How come, is he hiding something?"
"Umm---I think you better see Thomas in the infirmary." And with that, Moonbay turned around and went somewhere else, leaving Irvine hanging. She wasn't sure either about Van, and although she caught him sneaking outside the past few months in 'suspicious' night spots, she didn't say anything to anyone. "H-Hey, Moonbay!---FINE! I'm going." He shrugged, and went to the infirmary area.
**
"He got his tongue stuck inside the water bottle." The clinic doctor informed rather almost amusingly to Irvine, not noticing that the embarrassed blonde lieutenant has already emerged from the curtained room clutching a big ice pack over his face. "But I DO wonder why would someone be that thirsty, Mister Irvine."
"Easy, he must have seen its Miss Fiona's drinking bottle."
The female doctor made a silent 'Oh' and restrained the urge to burst out laughing. Almost everyone knows that Thomas is infatuated with the blonde zoidian, although they don't know that it would be THAT bad.
"You must could have seen when Moon bay caught him hiding a handful of Fiona's missing ribbon bands---- he is placing it under his--"
"Shaw puff, Irvun." /Translation: Shut up, Irvine/ The blonde cursed, his green gaze dark and the murder intent quotient brewing within them after hearing the embarrassing details Irvine is telling everyone. "Thel hwur tha I wul keel hu!" /Translation: Tell her that, I will kill you!/
Irvine shot him a glare, "Yeah, right. Like you would do. Let's keep going shall we?"
"Iruvn?"
"What?"
Since Thomas can't speak properly well, he gestured with his hand, as if to request on something before they go. Irvine crossed his arms, as the blonde make gestures and pointing signs. "Three words, one syllable---" he muttered, and Thomas nodded, and then raised a couple of fingers. "One syllable each three words---hmm," the lieutenant made more hand gestures, until Irvine just gave up.
"Stop this foolish charade and just get to the point!"
Thomas shook his head exhaustedly, and went back to the room, getting himself a pen and paper, and wrote "I'm asking for pen and paper" He earned a whoop on the head from Irvine, and the much muscular youth dragged the lieutenant by the collar and went into the headquarters, to the private sector of the Imperial army colonel, Col. Karl Scubaltz who is impatiently waiting inside.
"What took the both of you so long?" the impatient colonel muttered, his tall figure rigid and stiff, his eyes displeased and commanding. Both made their salutes,
"I didn't hear you," Karl muttered at his younger brother, very tired of reminding of his formalities.
"He can't talk for now, colonel sir. Got his tongue-tied in an embarrassing situation." Irvine said, with a sly smile as he eyed Thomas, who returned him a sharp glare. The colonel glanced at his brother, then shrugged and turned away. "I think I don't want to hear that, but I have some news for you two." Karl placed his gloved hands together as he took his seat, eyeing both men, "I had been doing some monitoring myself secretly these past few days, Flyheight seem to have-----"
Words formed out of Karl's mouth, but the two seem not to comprehend what he just said.
"No way, that's impossible!"
*****
It was already early morning,
Van woke up ahead than Raven, and changed into much relaxed clothes. In his civilian clothing, he is less bound to be recognized by anyone else within the area. He was surprised to hear that Raven was snoring loudly; his body sprawled atop the messy ground with only a pillow for his comfort. Then he heard a low grumble and felt a heavy forceful nudge by his shoulder. It was shadow.
"Hey there, fella." He attempted to stroke the dark organoid's head, but Shadow made a low growl and nudged him harder. It was obvious he is still displeased and jealous over his master's decision to be with Van. It wasn't just like him. "I'm going to look for something to eat around here, you want to come?"
Shadow answered by running off past him and hitting him hard with his tail.
"Fine then, I'll go look for myself." He mumbled, standing up and letting out a small sigh. He looked around the nearby green woods or any area that possibly have a riverbed and/or edible fruits around them. There could be a small copse of gooseberry bushes somewhere, he thought. Those small bite size fruits that could come in handy to keep your sugar-level up even if you don't eat for a day. He spotted the bushes when he noticed shadow re- appeared in a certain direction and tried to follow him. A little distance away he found the gooseberries, then held out his tunic and began to pick them while he starts humming a tune. Within a few minutes, he had several handfuls of plumped berries on the loose end of his shirt.
He stopped humming and glanced about to see Shadow has just re appeared few feet behind him. He tried to signal the dark organoid if he wants to taste them. The organoid grunted and veered away, obviously still NOT wanting to be with his master's 'friend'. He shrugged and popped a couple in his mouth and shuddered. They were as sour as unripe papayas.
"Now what the heck will I do with the sour gooseberries?"
Then without thinking, he proceeds to hum again his silly tune and lazily throws a handful of the gooseberries over his shoulder while he looked for anything edible ASIDE from gooseberries. He made a game of flinging the berries skyward and listening to them patters the ground and bushes behind him as he walked around deeper around the bushes and the trees. He looked at shadow, who is still suspiciously watching him in a distance and laughed, "Those berries ought to be good on something since they certainly aren't good for eating!"
After a few more minutes he glanced down, just as shadow suddenly ran off towards the trees edging the riverbank as if to chase something away.
"Shadow!" he called, "Come back here!" yeah right, like the dark organoid will listen to him, he thought. He tossed the last handful of berries and dusted off his shirt, then spun around.
Raven stood there, already awake, looking quite rigid.
Van stared at him for a second.
He has gooseberries in his gray hair.
He grinned
He didn't.
Laughter just bubbled up and he tried to stop, but couldn't. He had a plump gooseberry wedged silly in his ear. Raven shook his head and the gooseberries flew everywhere, and shadow ran back anxiously around him, sniffing the gooseberries that had fallen from him around his boots, thinking he was toying around. Now, Van is laughing out loud, Raven glared at him, but it did no good. The gooseberry is still stuck in his ear, making him look rather silly.
He dropped his hand and took a breath, smiling. "Your face is as sour as those gooseberries." Then gave Raven a sincere look. "I'm sorry, truly. I didn't know you were there." He walked towards him and stopped, Raven stared at Van for a long moment. Van reached up and plucked the berry from his ear and held it up. "You missed one!"
The gray-haired pilot was silent and Van cocked his head and watched him, trying to read his thoughts. It was then he saw the flowers. Clutched in his bare scarred hand was a small posy of marigolds, maidenhair fern, and bright buttercups. Raven stiffened and looked at the bouquet, he didn't know what possessed him to give Van a small bouquet of hand picked flowers and Van wondered what he was thinking. Raven looked strange---a hardened mercenary pilot standing before him, his rival, cold and fierce, until one noticed the flowers. It was like watching the devil pet a kitten. Certainly not a scene one would imagine.
Very softly he asked, "Are they for me?"
Raven looked as if he wanted to say something but could not speak. He seemed to be waging some kind of mental battle. He glanced up at the sunrise, now at its peak and muttered, "There is no time for this foolishness."
Van's heart fell a little. He didn't think the fact he had picked flowers for him was foolish at all; it must be the best way he wanted to express himself to him, and he thought it was touching. Part of him wished he could put Raven at ease, yet he wasn't certain what he would say so he said nothing. He embarrassingly gave the flowers a wistful look.
The other boy seemed to make a decision and he turned around, then stopped and turned back.
"Here." Raven barked and shoved the flowers just a few inches from his face. Van took the posy and in a moment of sheer whimsy held Raven's hand and pulled him closer in a friendly hug. Raven froze for a moment, his cheeks mildly blushing. He heard Shadow's angry grunt of protest, but ignored the organoid and proceeds to bring his one free arm to hold Van closer to him. He stared at the posies on his other hand at the longest time, then with a very intense look he slowly lifted Van's chin to his face and mildly brush a soft kiss to the other boy's cheek. "Van---" Raven whispered, which was then followed shortly by a crackle of a vicious curse.
Vicious curse?
Stunned, Van snapped his head up, and then followed the angry stare. At the edge of the small woods, were a few zoids---a couple of them are red-horns, from the first panzer division of the imperial army. "Col. Schubaltz---" Raven mumbled angrily, turning to Van, giving the youth an accusing betrayed look.
"Hey, I don't know anything about this!" Van protested, who was as equally surprised as he was. Raven assessed Van one more time and finally presumed he wasn't lying. With a move he even surprised himself; the gray-haired pilot wrapped his arms around Van and rolled to the ground when the red- horns opened fire. He quickly called for Shadow, and the dark organoid came running towards his aid.
"Don't mobilize. NOT yet." He rasped to his dark organoid,
Van gave the pilot a startled look, what will Raven do without his dark organoid? In a split second, he finds himself surprised as Shadow opened his chamber, and Raven shoved him in. "Take him away from here, shadow." He said, eyeing the organoid seriously, "Please."
"R-Raven?!"
The gray haired pilot gave him such a pained look that even words escaped Van's mouth, "We'll meet again, Flyheight---I promise, I'll be b--"
Then came ammunition exploding atop their heads, Raven cursed angrily and proceeds to shove the other boy in and clamp shadow's chamber shut. What happened next, Van recalled foggily, is a low rumble and being rocketed away to god knows where, he heard a lot of ammunition fires and some droning noises so intense that he thought his head would ready to explode. What he came into consciousness, or what he think might be, he heard a lot of angry shouts and remembered hazily seeing a red flying zoid disappearing from red-horn's reach. It must have been Raven's geno breaker--- and shadow is catching up behind it. Shadow had already dropped him off.
He finds out he was very much alive and he was laying down at grassy side of a slope, just several feet away from the attack where he wouldn't be easily seen, unless by someone piloting a zoid. He tried moving his badly shaken body,--- going to the direction of 1st panzer unit, hoping to signal them to stop. Staggering a few meters, he recognized that there are some back-up soldiers in their armored truck and units, all from the imperial quarters. A particular figure caught his eye, some guy in gray with deep brown hair. As he focused once more, the figure is arguing with the people who piloted the red-horns---behind him is the lightning saix.
THERE could be only one lightning saix
"Irvine!"
The gray figure turned around momentarily away from the group of soldiers, he gazed curiously at the distance where the voice is coming.
"Irvine! It's me! Stop the attack! Ceasefire! Ceasefire!!" Van called out, waving his arms frantically at the air. He stumbled to his knees and before he passed out again, his comrade had finally recognized him and ran quickly to his aid along with some group of soldiers. He recalled strong arms holding him, shaking him---, everyone and everything is like a swirling vertigo, calling out begging him not to pass out and stay awake.
"Hold on Van, hold on---" are the last words that drifted to his head, coming from Irvine. He didn't know whether it was his fevered state or it was just a dream that he said-
"Raven has nothing to do with this, let him go."
-continued-