Chapter 23
Nina has never been angry in all my life, and if her legs work she would have walked to somewhere else, wanting to be left alone but instead she's staring at Aku aku dead in the eye, waiting for an answer. But all Aku aku did was sigh,
"Nina, I understand you're angry but it's a little difficult to explain." Aku aku tried to explain but Nina cuts him off.
"Who else knows? Why did my dad kept this a secret? Why didn't you tell me?" Aku aku floats closer without realising Crash, N. Gin and Tiny walking into the room to hear the argument, ingodile and Crunch coming into the room from the kitchen, wonderig what the commotion is about.
"Nina, please understand. Your father cared about you greatly, and I'm sure he wouldn't keep it a secret unless he has a very good reason." Aku aku tries to explain but it's not enough for Nina as she's getting angrier and angrier.
"So he's a coward, like everyone else has been saying. He's lying to protect himself. Coco's right, he doesn't care about me at all!" N. Gin decides to step in,
"Don't say that Nina! Your parents love you and will do anything for you, things has just been complicated but it's all to protect you! You just got to have a bit of faith." Nina is getting angrier with tears welling in her eyes.
"Yeah? Then how come he replaced my hands with biotic ones huh? So I can't be a normal girl? To be his killing machine? What? I look up to him, yet he lies, abandons me and becomes a coward, as well as trying to kill half of you, and yet we're risking our lives to save him?!" Nina crosses her arms while everyone looks at her with worry.
"TINY SAW MASTER! MASTER IS PALE WITH LOTS OF HURTS AND SADNESS! MEAN BLUE MAN KEEPS ZAPPING HIM!" everyone is shocked to see Tiny appearing out of no where but turns their attention back to Nina.
"Nina, no one deserves that, not even your dad. Yes he did shitty things but he brought you to us to make sure you're safe." Crunch tries to reason with her but Nina's not listening.
"Well maybe he does deserve it, for all I care he can die!" she shouts, shocking everyone to silence, looking at Nina with complete disbelief, they know she's deeply upset but they didn't think she would say something that far. Nobody know what to do when they hear a clang, of Crash dropping P. L. A. S. M. A to the ground with a dark shadow over his eyes. He slowly walk towards Nina and stands in front of her, looking at her immense anger in his eyes, almost murderous, making Nina shake with fear, using her hands to try and back away when Crash grabs her by the front, lifts his hand and bring his hand down fast against Nina's cheek with a sharp SLAP before anyone could stop him.
"Crash!" shouts Tawna as she runs up to him and grab his arm before he could slap her again.
"Enough. Please." she looks at Nina to see her cheek is swollen with a red hand print on her cheek, tears streaming down her cheeks. Crash slowly let her go as he realises what he's done, watching Nina shuffles into the mech and slam the door close.
"Perhaps we should leave her be so she can cool off. Don't forget she is still a child who just found out who her parents are. Give her time." Aku aku said wisely but Pinstripe next to him can't help but feel terrible.
"I didn't mean to tell her like that. It just came out" Pinstripe said as Aku aku shakes his head,
"Honestly, no matter who told her in what way, she wouldn've reacted the same way anyway, we just need to give her time." he said wisely
"We also got some grub ready for you mates, maybe that will make things better." everyone follows Dingodile into the kitchen when they hear groaning coming from the other side, they turn to see Coco looking like she's about to wake up. Aku aku, Crash, Crunch and Tawna run up to her.
"Could someone get her some water?" N. Gin run to the kitchen to get the water, when Crunch is holding her head up right and took the water from N. Gin to get her to drink it. After a few seconds, she starts fluttering her eyes open and turn where everyone can see her eyes is purple. It's not Coco.
"NADIA!" N. Gin shouts and immediately jump to hug her making her smile.
"Hello Ginny." said Nadia who sounds exhausted, when N. Gin lets go, she looks up to see Aku aku smiling at her a little with the Bandicoots looking slightly disappointed it's not Coco. Nadia smiles back in understanding,
"I understand you want Coco back, but she's going through a mental strain after the incident. We talked for a bit and she wants to use this time she rest, and don't worry I asked if it's ok for me to come see you guys and she says yes. She will let me know if she wants to come out." N. Gin immediately agrees,
"Yeah, when she was with me back at the village, she seemed very out of it." Crunch nods,
"She said she hadn't been sleeping properly, you've been in her mind, any reason why?" Nadia suddenly gone quiet and then look at Aku aku, not knowing what to say. She knows Coco has been getting nightmares but she doesn't want to admit that she's the reason for the nightmares, Aku aku understands her look and step in.
"There are could be many reasons why she had nightmares but the most important thing is she's resting now, and we should leave her be." everyone silently agreed except for Tawna who's side eyeing at Nadia, still not trusting her, and Nadia caught eyes with her and nervously smile at her. Tawna didn't return the smile and walks back into the kitchen to where the other guys are.
"Alright children, let us eat the delicious food Crunch and Dingodile made and then fix up the mech to continue in our journey." Everyone walks into the kitchen when Aku aku stays behind while Nadia got up and start walking herself, getting used to Coco's body.
"Are you sure Coco is alright?" Nadia turns to Aku aku with a questionable look,
"After a good sleep she will be, and I'm awake so she won't see my memories in her dreams." Aku aku moves closer,
"But what happened Nadia? What did you go through? Before you were trapped into the crystal." Nadia suddenly gone quiet as memories is going through her head. Being strapped to the table, with er screams muffled with a face she hates so much lookig down at her, stroing her hair. N. Tropy. "There there, my dear. Without that big headed troll in the way, we can finally be together. Now, just sit still, this will only hurt a bit." he brings out a syringe with clear liquid inside and having it slowly getting closer to her neck as she's struggle to get out.
"Nadia! Nadia!" Nadia is snapped back to reality to see Aku aku looking at her with concern.
"Are you alright? Your eyes went wide." Nadia shakes her head then look at Aku aku with a fake smile.
"I'm fine. Nothing to be concerned about, now I hear there's food? I haven't had any good food for 10 years." she starts walking when she remembered something,
"By the way, where's Nina? I haven't seen her with anyone." Aku aku intakes his breath,
"She's upset so we're giving her tie to herself. Someone accidentally told her about you and Neo being her parents." Nadia quirks her eyebrow in confusion,
"I'm confused. Why didn't she know we're her parents? Why was it a secret?" Aku aku sighed,
"It's hard to explain but will tell you and Nina in due time, but it does involve my brother if you remember him."
"Vividly." she said darkly then sighed.
"Ok, I trust you Aku aku and everyone else to help me and my family but maybe we should get her some food?" Nadia asks while continuing walking to the kitchen.
"Give her time Nadia, if she wants food she will come for food." they walk into the kitchen to join the others without realising Nina, crack open the mech and heard the conversation between them.