Point of View: Nosedive
WASN'T
She wasn't home. Either that or she lets the phone ring twenty-eight times.
He snapped his cell shut, letting it fall to the floor. It clattered almost noiselessly to his ears.
She wasn't home.
He didn't know why, but this depressed him so much he wondered if he was sane. It was just one call. So what if she hadn't answered, it wasn't like she knew it was him so ignored it. Wasn't like she was avoiding him, they only spent one night together. Wasn't like she hated him, or refused to talk to a non-human. Some humans were like that, but not Buffy.
Right?
He let a few minutes march on before he picked up his cell and tried again.
She wasn't home. So he went to sleep.
MORNING
He woke up on Sunday morning with one thought in his mind: cell phone and Buffy. He called her once, got a busy signal, then went for breakfast.
Startled everyone that was around the breakfast table. What? A guy can't get up without his brother (or, as been happening as of late, his mentor) getting him up?
"Dive, you feelin' okay?" Duke wondered. Dive ignored him, snatching a bowl of Mallory's mush and leaving, munching absentmindedly. He heard Mallory say,
"He took my breakfast. The little turd took my breakfast!"
Oops. Oh well. Thank DuCaine Duke was there to hold her down.
ASKING
Tanya startled him today. Instead of their usual lab-time activities, she asked him why he was 'weird' lately. After a few moments of prodding (sneakily, he might add) he broke down and explained everything to her. She listened - actually listened - and then told him he should tell Wind how he felt.
Ha. Double ha. WHEN do you purpose I do THAT?
She shrugged. And they continued on with their now ritual way of doing things, as she saw she had poked alittle too deep.
GAME
He scored the winning goal again. It was also the first one he had done this game, so after excaping safely to the dressing room, he was cornered by Wildwing.
"What's wrong Dive?" he demanded. Dive shrugged. Wildwing sighed, didn't press it, and went to take off his gear.
The truth was, Nosedive had kept looking to the stands to see if Buffy was there. It was stupid. He knew she wouldn't be, he almost wished her not to be, but he wanted her there, damn it.
He finished up as quickly as possible, in his hurry to leave not realising they had an interview in five minutes. He hurried out of the dressing room, out of the Pond, and then to the aimless streets.
CANDLES
He was spending more time with Grin now, more then just the extra hour of napping. Grin didn't mind hearing about the latest comic as long as Nosedive didn't mind listening to karma, candles, and meditation.
It was an araingement that Dive never realised was a good thing, and now he was happy he had been conned into those naps.
He was starting to forget he cared if Wildwing talked to him. He had Duke and Tanya, and now he had Grin.
'SoonI will have Buffy,' he decided as Grin entered a shop. Soon he wouldn't need his brother.
He realised what he had thought. Shame rolled into him, but he pushed it off. He did need his brother, he probably would until forever was gone. But he realised he didn't need his brother to be his father, his best friend, his teacher. Not anymore.
Grin came out of the shop. Dive wondered if Buffy liked candles.
SHOUTING
Four days after that game. Three more skipped interviews, a couple of photo shoots that hadn't of had his presence, and no hockey practices with his attendance. Wildwing was not impressed, to say an obvious thing.
It started out quietly. Wing had asked why Dive was neglecting his duties. Dive replied he had other things he needed to do. Wing asked what was so important that Dive wouldn't go to practice. Interviews and photo shoots Wing understood (and actually didn't care about, either) but hockey practice?
Dive didn't answer. This of course prompted Wing to ask if everything was all right. Dive told him it was none of Wing's business. Wing was shocked, asking why.
This was where it got louder, and then louder, and then exploded. Nosedive spat that Wing didn't care about him.
After that Nosedive wasn't sure what had happened, all he remembered was their voices rising. Yelling. Then screaming. Then nothing, as he had split, not wanting to talk to the man that used to be a hero to him.
GONE
He avoided Wildwing by spending time with Tanya. Wing hadn't noticed he was in the lab, and he intended on keeping it that way. Tanya wasn't about to say anything, as Wing just 'politely' ignored her while she talked about the lab. As a result, Tanya rarely talked to Wing unless he was asking her to do something.
Thank goodness.
When he wasn't with Tanya, he was with Grin, hiding from Wing via 'meditation', and learning to bring good karma. He had a feeling Grin knew he was simply avoiding an unpleasant confrontation, but he kept quiet. Instead he taught Dive all he could, taking him as an aprentince.
Which brought Dive to having no time on his hands, because he also had the workouts with Duke.
Good thing he was avoiding Wildwing, otherwise this would be very irritating.
PEACE
Dragaunus was so quiet lately. No mad schemes to kill off the Ducks, or go back home, or anything.
They hoped he had died (from bad karma, hoped Grin) but they all know that was stupid. He was planning something, something big. Wildwing even cancelled all games until further notice, insisting they keep out a sharp eye.
Nosedive thought that was over kill, but then it had been four months since Draggy had done anything, which was why the team had all that spare time.
He rather thought it was nice. Why not enjoy this while it lasted? He was sure that no good lizard-lips was going to do something soon enough.
HELP
It was another week, and he had phoned four times each day, trying to get to through to Buffy. She was never home, or the call simply didn't get through. Once the operator told him politely that the phone was out-of-service, but he phoned again later to get rings. He must of got the wrong number.
It was ten o'clock. Mallory insisted on everyone eating the (late) supper she had made. Even Grin was trying to get out of it, but he - like everyone else - was trapped.
Duke, Wing and himself were not yet at the dinner table. Nosedive didn't know where Duke was, but Nosedive was going to follow Wing to the Supper of Doom, thinking how lucky Duke was.Then Dive paused. Without thinking, he turned and left, heading upstairs. He just had a feeling, an awlful, gut numbing feeling. He didn't notice someone trail behind him.
He got to the front doors of the stadium, seeing a form outside. Curse night time!
He opened the door to reveal a lost but determined looking woman.
"Dive, I need your help."
Buffy.