Personality Clash

Grayson was very collected. Mia was… not. The day she hired him and Drake to excavate a long-lost artifact, he forced himself to tolerate her animated personality. But when she permanently joined their group ever since, his patience was quick to lose control of. It wasn't that he didn't like her, but he wasn't sure that he did.

He was setting up camp for the night when he saw Mia chase after a butterfly. Drake was laying out their beds, Grayson was throwing together a fire, and Mia was… playing. The blonde dropped his pile of sticks and stared at her.

Mia breathed at the butterfly in her hands in happy fascination. She looked up as if sensing Grayson's gaze. "What?" she asked with a giggle.

"Nevermind." Grayson returned to the fire.

Mia's unfocused tendency returned the morning after. Grayson was searching on his map for a particular landmark and thought he could see it beyond a small river. Climbing a half-fallen tree, he hovered over the water cautiously, craning his neck to see. Sure enough, that was the same marker on his map. Satisfied, he prepared to return to dry land.

He was startled when Mia leapt from the waves and shouted, "Grayson!"

Grayson yelled, lost his grip, and fell in the river. He resurfaced quickly; it was shallow, barely reaching his hips. But that didn't improve his mood as he coughed out water.

Mia was fighting back laughter. "Oh gosh, sorry." She presented a trinket. "Look at this clam I found!" She splashed him. "I can make it in a necklace. It'd match your eyes."

Grayson went thin-lipped and dragged his wording. "No thanks."

Later that same day Grayson and Drake were walking further ahead than Mia was. Drake had his eyes forward, and hadn't spoken in quite some time. Eventually Grayson was prompted to ask about it.

"Drake?"

"Hm?" Drake blinked as if he was woken from a dream.

"You alright? You seem distant."

"Oh." Drake shook his head and resituated himself. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine. Just… thinking. About Armen."

Grayson nodded mutely. He could have guessed that. After a moment, a thought occurred to him. "You think he's aware of everything? Everything that... he's doing?"

Drake sighed. "I don't know. I… kinda hope he isn't. I can't imagine how horrifying it must be, seeing yourself do something like- -"

"Oooh, are you guys having a boy talk?" Mia appeared from the bushes with that same teasing spark in her eyes. She had bits of twigs and leaves in her hair and clothes, and based on her behavior she hadn't heard a word either said.

Drake didn't seem to mind the innocent intrusion, but Grayson couldn't stop himself from fuming on the inside. In her defense, she didn't know the purpose of Drake and Grayson's quest. She didn't have any details other than it was dangerous. But Grayson found it hard to justify her carefree attitude when the land was in such a state of panic over not only Herobrine, but also the tyrannical Emperor's reign. Didn't she care about that, even a little bit? Or did she treat everything like a joke?

"Oh, hey, Mia." greeted Drake welcomingly. "What's up with all those leaves- -?"

Grayson spoke to Mia as if Drake hadn't said anything. "We were having a serious discussion, but if you want to interrupt and talk about something else, alright then."

Taken aback, Mia stuttered. Drake turned to Grayson in surprise. After a short silence he asked, "Grayson… are you okay?"

Grayson was already beginning to feel the guilt of snapping. "I'm fine." Briefly he scanned the area. "Let's set up camp here. I'll… go scout ahead. Don't wait up for me." He pushed through the woods and was quickly out of sight.

Mia's shock was written all over her face. She turned to Drake helplessly. "I came at a bad time, didn't I?"

Drake immediately shook his head. "No, no. You're fine. Grayson just… needs some air." He set down his backpack and cleared his throat. "Uh… I can get a fire going if you want to unpack."

Avoiding eye contact, Mia nodded and slowly set down her belongings. Drake inwardly sighed and went to work.

Night fell quickly. Drake just got the campfire going when the stars came out. Sitting on his bedding he watched them, only seeing a handful through the tree leaves. On his right sat Mia, who hadn't said a word since Grayson left. She was hugging her legs and staring at the flames.

A short time passed when Mia shuffled restlessly. "Can I say something? It's probably a little weird."

Drake blinked. "Uh, sure."

Breathing deeply, Mia rested her chin on her knees. "I think Grayson hates me."

Drake coughed and shifted. Oh boy. He didn't want any part of this.

Mia continued, absent-mindedly picking at the grass. "I didn't think so when we first met, but after I joined your group he's been so… short with me. All the time." Her face hardened slightly. "It's like he thinks I'm some little kid."

Though he didn't particularly want to, Drake paused to think about where Grayson's discontent for Mia could possibly stem from. She deserved some reassurement. He chose his next words carefully. "Look, Mia… try not to take it personally. Grayson's gone through a lot these past few years. I'm guessing that for him, there isn't a reason to feel as spirited as you do."

However Mia remained downcast. "Okay, but that doesn't make me childish… does it?"

Drake was quick to respond. "No, it doesn't." He remembered how Armen would take on a light attitude, not because the situation didn't matter, but to keep everyone's spirits up. Based on what Drake knew about Mia, she was no different. "Grayson will come around. He just needs time to get used to you."

Wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, Mia allowed the smallest of smiles. "Thanks, Drake." She yawned widely, her lively attitude returning. "I like this little campfire talk. We should do it every night."

Drake snorted a laugh.

Morning came quickly. Grayson in particular wanted to get a move on, and the three packed and headed out with haste. Drake didn't miss the fact that Mia hung in the back and Grayson kept pace in the front, leaving him stuck in the middle, trying his hardest not to get involved.

As they traversed the woods, Grayson looked back at Mia briefly. Her gaze was kept far from him, either scrutinizing the sky or observing her feet. Another pang hit him, and Grayson decided then and there he was going to make things right. Spotting a berry bush a little ways off the trail, he wandered to pick each one.

When Grayson approached Mia she pretended not to notice. Only when he addressed her by name did she dare receive eye contact.

"Hey, uh, Mia." Grayson presented the berries. "I noticed you like these; here."

Eyes widening, Mia accepted the peace offering and slowly started to grin. That was the equivalent of an apology coming from him. "Oooh… thank you!"

"You're welcome." Grayson drew out his map and paused as if debating something. Mia was all ears when he said one last thing. "Glad you're part of the team." Promptly he shuffled to the head of the group, leading once again as if nothing happened.

Mia's beaming face was brighter than the rising sun. The skip in her step returned, and this time she wasn't anxious to express herself when she spotted a flower.

"Ahh! Grayson! This flower would match the clam!"

Drake was relieved they made up. But he wasn't entirely filled in on what the 'clam' meant. "Clam?"

Grayson nodded and actually grinned. "She's making me a necklace."