My Morphine

Chapter Eighteen: "Somebody Just for Me."

Colonel Schubaltz stood directing soldiers what to do and where to go.

"Bring the injured to the East Hall." He said as he watched Mizuno using his powers to heal a little girl's scraped knee. A smile crossed his lips as Thomas asked him what to do with all the rubble. "Just get it outside or out of the way. I want the hallways cleared out," he said.

"You've got it, Karl!--I, ah, I mean, Colonel Schubaltz, sir!" He said, fumbling a quick salute.

"At ease, little Tommy," He said, ruffling his hair. "Oh, have Raven and the others awoken, yet?"

"…No, I haven't received any word on it…"

"Don't worry. I know he'll be fine. They all will be. I'm sure they are all just mentally drained, that's all," He said, hugging his younger brother.

"Yeah, 'sides, Raven's one tough pain-in-the-ass." He laughed softly and returned to his work.

Thomas let out a deep sigh and plopped down by Raven's bedside.

/Will you wake up, already? You're making me nervous …/ he thought, moving a few strands of dark hair from his face.

He groaned quietly and fluttered his eyes open.

"Hey…" the blonde lieutenant said, as the other turned to him.

"Good morning…" he said sleepily as Thomas chuckled.

"It's more like good afternoon."

"What happened…?"

"You, Meara, and Reese, along with Prozen, Van and Hiltz all passed out after Meara managed to kill her. Mizuno said something about it being part of her 'letting go'."

"Oh. So everyone's okay?"
"Yeah, pretty much so. Reese woke up a few hours ago and everyone else is still asleep.

"What about all of the other people?"
"Fine, now. We've been working on cleaning up Red River. It's pretty filthy around here from the Zoid battle that went on."

"So, Shadow, Specular and the Zoids are okay, then?"
"Yup, the Empire and the Republic lost a good few, though."

"Hm." He sighed softly, sounding quite content. "So, it's over, huh? We won…"

"Yup…" Thomas smiled, kissing him softly.

Raven sat perched on the footboard of the lavish bed, waiting for the two to awaken. He smiled and jumped between them, nudging at the ashen haired beauty.

"C'mon…wake up…" he whined almost, as his crimson eyes reluctantly opened.

"Raven….?" he said as the teen nodded happily. "Uhn…what the hell happened?"

"It's all okay, now…we killed Fiona. Aren't you proud?" he chirped as he smiled and nodded. Raven beamed and nuzzled at Hiltz who groaned, sounding quite irked.

"Mmm…fuck off, Ambient…." He mumbled, pushing his hand against Raven's tummy, making him fall back into Prozen. Realizing that he his hand had not connected with an Organoid he opened his eyes.

"Huh?" he said groggily as Raven nuzzled him and smiled.

"Good morning." the two said as he grinned and hugged them both tight.

Raven dipped the scrub-brush into the sudsy water again, then set to cleaning another section of wall free of grime.

"Raven…?" Someone said weakly, approaching quickly. He turned slightly and saw Van stumble up and fall into his arms.

"Van? What are you doing up? You should be resting…you've been though a lot…" He said softly as the other looked up at him sadly.

"I-I know, but I had to see you. Raven….? I…I don't know what's going on at all, everything's so confusing…." he told him, quietly, burying his face in his chest.

"It's okay. It'll all straighten out soon. It'll just take some time for you to forget Fiona."

"Raven, but I don't know how she could do something like that! She was my best friend, she was--"

"It doesn't matter why she did it. She just did. She was a selfish, spoiled brat that wanted everything."

He sighed quietly and nuzzled the Maverick. "Raven, she made you hate me, didn't she?"
"No, I don't hate you. It's all in the past now, these are new beginnings, okay?"

He wrapped his arms around his neck and sniffled. "Oh, Raven…I'm so sorry….Raven, I do love you…"

He faltered slightly and sighed. "Van, I'm sorry, but it's over. I have Thomas, and I love him. I'm not the one for you…"
"Y-yes you are…" he sniffled further.

"Van." He said, wiping away his tears. "I swear that I'm not.." He stared into his eyes, using his powers to see his future. A smile crossed his lips as he kissed his cheek lightly. "I'll make you a promise. Keep your heart open for not even a half an hour and you'll fall right into his arms." He smiled brightly and hugged him tight. "I promise you," he said letting go as Van's knees gave out.

"It's not fair…" he whispered, sobbing into his knees. Raven sighed and walked away, stopping just around the corner.

Irvine groaned as he opened his eyes, staring down at the patch of white linen under his arms. /Why do I bother to sleep. All it does is make me hate reality. All I ever do is wake up, cold and alone./ he thought mournfully to himself. /All I do is rise to the petty truth--that he could never love me. I can't bear to dream anymore; not another night of his envisioned body with mine, not another ersatz kiss or touch…why do I even bother? He doesn't love me and he is all that matters. He barely acts like I exist or make a difference; so why bother staying here, just to have my heart broken more…?/ He sighed and felt his more optimistic and accurate side take over. /That's easy. He needs someone, now. And you know you love him so much that you could never leave. You and your heart belong to him, right?/ He shook his head at the fact and looked up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He sat back in the chair, surveying the empty bed where Van had been--and where he had stayed, waiting for him to show some signs of consciousness.

"Van?" He said, his voice soft and sore. No answer came. He turned and saw the door ajar. He got up, calling his name again, then quickly exited. The mercenary walked down the halls, searching for the absent pilot. "Van?" He said once more, turning the corner while hearing soft crying.

Van sat on the ground, his knees drawn up to his chest, his body wracked with sobs. Irvine knelt beside him, touching his shoulder lightly.

"Van…?" he picked up his head and wiped his cheeks hastily, staring into the mercenary's cobalt eyes.

"Oh, Irvine!" he cried, throwing himself into his arms. He flushed slightly, but pulled the smaller teen into his lap, holding him tightly.

"Shh…it's okay, Van…I'm here…don't cry…" he whispered, smoothing his hair gently.

Reese walked back into Meara's room, after taking a slight break from sitting beside her for 3 days straight. The pretty brunette sat on the bed, drawn into herself, shaking her staff rhythmically-- making a loud clanking sound.

"Mea…? What are you doing…?" She stepped closer and watched her hold her head with one hand and beat her rod with the other.

"It's too quiet…" She nearly whispered, dropping the golden staff and clutching her head with both hands now. "Too quiet!"
Reese held her tight, delving deep into her mind, soothing her gently.

//Shh…Don't worry, I'm here….shh…//

Mizuno, Raven, Karl and Thomas sat in a lobby of sorts, waiting for Reese to finish healing Meara. Irvine walked by, escorting Van somewhere, the teen grabbing his arm tightly.

"What's with them?" Karl asked.

"Irvine's been in love with him for as long as I can remember--maybe he…" Thomas suggested.
Karl shrugged and leant back in the chair. "It's possible."
Raven smiled. /Phew. I'm so glad that worked the way I planned it to./

Reese hugged Meara tight, kissing her repeatedly.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? Are you sure?" She asked as the other sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I will."
"Positive? Definite?"

"Yes, darling…" she said as the cerulean haired Zoidian smiled.

"I'm really sorry I have to go, but I have to go sort out things with the Emperor and the Madame President."
"It's okay."
"I'm sorry I can't take you with me, I mean, I'm sure you'd just get bored out of your mind, and we all know what happens when you get bored- things usually get broken in some careless effort to have fun and all." She laughed nervously.

"I know." The brunette said as the Hammer-Kaiser pilot yelled at her to hurry up.

"Coming!" She yelled, hugging Meara tight and kissing her again. "I'll miss you, sweetheart."
"Uh-huh. I'll miss you too." She hugged back and sighed. "Now will ya get going? If you stall anymore, you're not gonna have a chance to miss me." She teased, nipping her ear.

"Okay." She waved and ran to the Zoid, stopping on the steps. "Have fun while I'm gone, behave yourself, don't miss me too much and for Gods' sake, don't do anything stupid!"

[To be continued…]

Yo. Naomi here, sorry. Took way long to update. There are like 2 or so chaps left and the acknowledgements.

Details for the sequel and prequel (to be released around the same time probably) will be discussed in chapter 20 at the end.

Please review.

Love ya lots!

xoxo

~Naomi