I stared up at the ceiling above my head as I heard Dogen's snores from underneath me.
Just a little longer and I can sleep too.
I swallowed dryly as I leaned up onto my elbows to look over toward the rest of the dark cabin.
Just to be sure. Just to be safe.
I sighed silently to myself as I leaned back into my bed with a creak.
Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. Just enough to get a good night's rest.
I brought my arms up so I could put them under my head like a makeshift additional pillow. A small yawn escaped me as I tried my best to stay silent.
Already fucked up that one though. For better or worse. Maybe it's for the best, though.
I closed my eyes gently as I knew I could fight off slumber only for a little bit longer. A small creak escaped the bed as I relaxed my body into the mattress under me.
Best to rest now, after all,
A small smile spread across my lips as my Nona's words echoed in my mind.
'Rest now to live better'.
But as I drifted into sleep, I could tell her voice would invade my dreams.
"Forever we will be Aquatos, Razputin."
I turned onto my side as her voice continued in my mind.
"Till death do us part."
I snapped my head up instantly at the sound of a bugle horn sounding off as it seemed hours had passed in the few seconds it felt like my eyes were closed.
"JESUS CHRIST!" My head bonked the ceiling as I then held my head in my hand. "Motherfucker!"
"You okay, Raz?" I looked over to see Dogen's cap as it seemed he was trying to look up at me by climbing the side of the bunk bed, but didn't go any higher than that. "I know, the horn isn't the most friendly wake-up call. Better than the squirrels waking you up though. They use nuts." I rubbed my head as the memory of acorns being telepathically thrown at my head as a child filled my mind.
"Guess Frazie is just as nutty as the squirrels then I guess," I mumbled under my breath as I moved to climb down from the bunk. "Couldn't find something a little less frightening for a wake-up call though?"
"It's Oleander. What do you expect?" I gave a small shrug as I reached the floor.
"Honestly have no clue, but it wasn't that." I moved to gather some clean clothes from my drawer before slipping on some old sandals I brought as shower shoes. "Do we got enough time to shower though? Or is that a breakfast call too?"
"We get an hour between that and breakfast being available." Dogen moved about to do the same as me but then covered his tinfoil hat with a shower cap. "I can show you to the boy's area and stuff."
"Lead the way, little man." I smiled widely as Dogen grabbed his things.
"Lucky you are a friend of Dogen. Otherwise, I would tell the squirrels you said that."
"I glad I am." I chuckled a little to myself as we left the cabin with little to no stir from the other boys.
Guess I'm in the clear for now, that is.
I ruffled my wet hair just a tad as I followed Dogen back toward camp. There were prying eyes, but I couldn't honestly tell if it was because of my last name possibly being whispered about or that fact I wasn't wearing my helmet at the moment.
"So you can go without your helmet?" I looked over toward Dogen, who was slightly ahead of me. "Why do you wear it then? I wear mine cause of voices. Voices quieter. Dogen likes fewer voices." I smiled at the smaller boy as I gave a small shrug.
"It's a gift from my dad. It was his father's and I was fascinated with it as a kid. Once I got old enough to fit it, he gave it to me. I just," I stopped for a moment as I looked down at the helmet that was stepped to my belt loop at the moment. "Kept wearing it after. Kinda like a reminder of my family, ya know?"
"That's nice. Nicer than quieting voices."
"Yeah?" I chuckled a little as Dogen shrugged. "Hey, have you seen Lili while we were out and about? I haven't seen her yet myself."
"Lili has a thing about trying her best not to be bothered by the other kids. She's never cared for them as much. Lili is Dogen's friend, but no one else but you are really able to call her as such."
"So she's people dodging, I guess?" Dogen nodded at that as we reached the cabin once more.
"Normally, yes."
"Why's that?" Dogen just shrugged as he entered the cabin without another word. I shrugged it off myself as I followed to put some of the stuff away from the shower. "Better not to ask I guess then," I whispered to myself before ruffling my hair once more.
"Not going to hydrokinesis yourself dry, Aquato?" I rolled my eyes as Bobby's voice put emphasis on my name. "Or are you too chicken?"
"First of all, Off-Brand-Carrot-Top," I turned toward Bobby with a wide smile as I closed my drawer. "What's the point in that? I don't have anywhere to put the water after. Also, why the fuck would staying wet make me a chicken?"
"Don't make me kick your ass, Aquato! I'm not afraid of you!"
"Yeah and you backing away like a suka yesterday was so brave of you." I rolled my eyes before looking over toward Dogen. "Care to show me the way to breakfast? I have only been there once and I doubt I'll be able to find it again."
"Sure thing, Raz."
"You're helping an Aquato, you know!" I looked over to see that Bobby was crossing his arms over his chest defensively while giving Dogen a confused look. "You're not fearful or anything, weirdo?"
"Names. Names names name." Dogen looked off into the distance as he continued. "The squirrels whisper names a lot. Hurtful ones too. Dogen learned that names have no meaning. Especially the hurtful ones. Cause if they had meaning, people would be dead." He tilted his head for a second. "So no meaning, right? Yes, names have no meaning." I blinked for a second as the kid nonchalantly looked back over toward me. "Did you say something? Or did I? I can't remember."
"Alrighty then." I drew out the first word for a moment before changing the conversation. "Food?"
"Ah yes, food." Dogen turned on his heels and left the cabin without another word.
"Fucking psycho," Bobby muttered the words to himself before shoving me harshly into the bunk bed's latter. "A match made in heaven for you, Aquato." I rolled my eyes as he passed me by to leave the cabin before me.
Rather be friends with a psycho than share air with you, Carrot Top.
I sighed to myself as I pushed myself away from the bunk beds and made my way out of the cabin as well.
Okay, Raz, let's get some food and go about our morning. Maybe once we meet up with Lili the day will get better.
I ran a hand through my still damp hair as the cabin's door swung shut behind me.
Maybe.
I grabbed my little tray of food and looked over the mildly crowded mess hall as I let out a heavy sign.
Seems Dogen has already left. Still no Lili in sight too. Guess I have to try and mingle then.
I walked over toward an empty spot at the end of a table where a couple of the other kids were sitting. But after sitting down and looking over, I noticed they had started to gather their things as hushed whispers were shared between them.
"Better keep our distance." I overheard a girl with a space helmet on her head as she nodded her head toward a different table. "You heard how Aquatos get."
"Do you think Agent Vodello will have levitation class at the lake like she normally does? Or do you think it would be dangerous with you know who?"
"Did his aunt really kill her own sister?"
"She tried to kill her own friends, what else do you expect?"
I sighed as the whispers grew further away with each word. I grabbed a piece of the bacon on my tray and took a bite. The idea of eating suddenly made my stomach drop as bacon, of all things, tasted as if I was suddenly chewing those disgusting cube things my sister's horse would eat.
And everyone is afraid of me. Hazzah. Hurray. Other sarcastic happy things to say.
"Is everyone seriously forcing you to eat alone?" I snapped my attention up as Lili's voice appeared before me. She took the seat across from me as she started to peel the wrapping off a single muffin. "Did Bobby's mouth spread shit that fast?"
"I couldn't even take a shower without being remarked about how I should just dry myself off with my powers." I took another bite of my bacon despite the fast my stomach continued to twist. "Dogen doesn't seem to mind, but everyone else," I looked over the rest of the mess hall as I saw that the other kids were staring and whispering at any chance they could get. "Seem to care quite a bit."
"No one's gotten violent with you yet, right?"
"Other than Bobby being Bobby, nothing bad so far."
"Good," I turned my attention back toward Lili as she pulled a piece off of her muffin. "I'll make sure it stays that way."
"Yeah," I muttered the word to myself as I dropped the rest of my bacon strip onto my tray. "God I should be used to this by now but I had hopes it would be different here." I ran a hand through my hair as it was still a little wet from earlier. "I should remember that hope and the name Aquato mean nothing in this world."
"Hey," I stared down at my tray as Lili's voice grew soft. "It'll be alright."
"You can't promise that." I pushed my tray away from me a little as I moved to lay my head down in my arms on top of the table. "I feel dreadful though."
"You should still eat."
"Says the one only eating a muffin by pieces."
"I get sick if I eat too much in the morning." I brought my head up just enough so I could put my chin on my arms.
"And what if I say I'm the same way."
"Please, you're an acrobat. You'll burn more calories than this muffin in a minute. You wouldn't be able to function without a good bit of breakfast." She popped another piece of her muffin in her mouth as a soft look came over her face. She chewed and swallowed before speaking, unlike me, who was speaking with their mouth full earlier. "If this place is making you feel off or something, we can take what you can grab and go to the dock. What do you say? I bet bacon tastes better without assholes ruining it." She raised from her seat with a smile as she held out her free hand. "Here, I'll grab something for you too. Whichever you chose." I slowly brought my eyes back to my tray as I then handed her my own muffin from the tray before sitting straight up and grabbing the water bottle and bacon strips that were left. "That's more like it."
"Anything to get away from all these people, honestly."
"Then away we go." I stood and felt a small smile grace my lips as Lili came around the table and gave me a playful nudge. "Now, come on. Want to make sure my favorite person eats." My smile only grew as I felt a small blush tint the tops of my cheeks. We made our way out of the building as whispers continued behind us, though this time they weren't just about me.
But about how a Zanotto called an unlikely Aquato their favorite person.
