Flurry of Flames Second Chance: Part 4
Throughout her dinner, though what her parents talked about was kind of interesting, Natasha found her mind constantly wandering off to think about the red-head that inhabited her room at home. He was so mysterious and so intriguing that she wished for him to reveal everything he had ever been through. What he was hiding from her would probably be the thrill of her lifetime just to hear. She was lead to this conclusion simply by the way he tried to conceal it from her. But as she wanted to pry his thoughts and happenings out of him with a crowbar, she still worried about his health. Barely one day had passed since she found him face down in the rough sand of the familiar desert outside her native city. He had been parched and completely deprived of any nourishment, and yet he was already able to walk, albeit sickly, but still able to walk no less. Yet, even as he showed this astounding vigor, she still worried about his health, and whether or not he would still be alive when she returned with food for him.
Her parents observed her behavior throughout their meal and as their plates were collected and bags were given to her to carry the majority of her meal home they began to worry. As Natasha sealed the bag she was going to take home she looked up to find her parents weary eyes on her. She colored under the mere weight of their gazes and straightened her posture. She knew that look well enough, having to endure it for almost sixteen years, and knew they were about to ask her an 'important' question.
"Yes?"
The two adults looked at each other, silently asking who would approach the topic. It was silently decided that the female of the two would pull it off the best. Her father sat back in her chair and drank a steaming liquid from his mug still on the table as her mother leaned forward to talk to her.
"Are you feeling okay, dear? Are you happy?" she asked out of simple worry, which was visible by the three creases in her forehead.
"Of course. What gave you the idea that I wouldn't be?"
Her mother gave a slight sigh, some what relieved by her daughter's assurance, yet still unconvinced. She continued.
"Well, for one, you didn't touch your food, and second, you never take home anything you don't eat here. Usually you finish all of it anyway, or say 'it's not good unless it's fresh'. Is something making you uncomfortable? Ill at ease?"
Natasha had forgotten that it was her mother's habit to know everything about the ones she cared for. She herself had almost forgotten this was her favorite place to eat with all the wonderful smells and pretty colors. The food was never bad either, and there was no guilt as far as prices go, save for seafood, which also came pretty cheap considering their long distance from the oceans of the world. No wonder her mother knew something was bothering her. She stared back into her mother's eyes, identical to almost everyone she knew, yet softer and more caring. She said the first excuse that came to her mind.
"Stomach cramps," she whispered.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see her father crack a smile from behind his mug; she had purposefully said it just loud enough for her father's sensitive hearing to pick up. Her mother's eyes narrowed with sympathy and she pet her gently on the shoulder and leaned back to stretch.
"She's fine, dear," she saw her mother mouth to her father, who nodded approvingly in response, showing no sign that he, knew anything. Natasha felt lucky to have such caring parents who loved each other so much and her as well. Briefly she wondered if Axel had the same luck. Somehow she knew he probably didn't.
When the three of them finished any side conversation they wanted to attend to, Natasha attempted to move it along as covertly and quickly as she could so the food would not be cold for Axel when they walked home. They finally stood to exit. As they walked out she found happiness in knowing her parents were thrown off her trail, and that she could blame any strange behavior on mood swings of sorts. But the two elders shared a look of consolation for each other at knowing that was not the case; Natasha was never a good liar, only a good hider.
((A/N: Sorry Axel and long chapter fans. I'm somewhat bummed as well that Axel was not present here, but it was something I needed to put in here because her parents will be important a little later on. The next part has lots of Axel. Trust me, because I wrote it!
Neko Strawberri: Thank you so much! Flamers beware; I love roasted marshmallows :3 ))