Gil was laying in the floor of the hallway, looked like he had taken a blow of somekind. Arthur and Matt could be heard down the hall, wrestling with...
Oh dear...
Ivan rushed further down to help. Ro was trying to crawl away but the men were quickly getting her pinned.
"What is the problem?" Ivan comes in looking between them.
"Just playing tag," Arthur called cheerily as he pinned Ro's wrists to the floor.
Ivan frowns softly.
"Ivan, please talk to her," Matt sighed tiredly, sporting a nasty bruise on his right cheek.
He comes over scooping her up off the floor.
She yelped, freezing. "P-put me down..."
"What's the matter?"
"I want to leave and they won't let me."
"Maybe because you ran off without telling anyone?"
"He already said get out!" She pointed an accusing finger at Matt who flinched in shock.
"W-when?!"
"When you brought in that bird! You said if we don't like it, get out!"
"...You don't like Alfred?"
"I don't like hunter birds... And if he's one of them..." her voice caught slightly, anger and confusion colliding. She loved Al, but she could never love an eagle...
"Alright think about it this way, has he ever done anything to intentionally hurt you?"
"No..." she muttered.
"Has he not tried to make up for his mistakes?"
"If forgetting I exist counts as a mistake, no... Not at all..."
"Ah but you arent helping with that by hiding from us all day are you?"
"I tried helping and got told I was in the way..."
"And who said that?"
"Matt has, Arthur and Francis and Gil told me to go away... Half the time I ask and get told there's nothing for me to do and the other half no one even realizes I'm there... I might as well already be gone... I doubt anyone would really miss me..."
Ivan ponders this for a moment before taking her towards the attic.
She shifted, anxiety starting to nip at her lungs. "W-what're you...?"
"I just want to show you something." He leads her up and stops at a suspicious looking bookshelf in Alfred's attic before letting her go. "First off, I did not show you this, you found it on your own alright?"
"Books," she frowned grumpily. "You want me to read...?"
He reached up and pressed a hidden switch causing the shelf to slide aside. Ro let out a little gasp of shock and amazement.
Inside was a pack rat's paradise, all kinds of nostalgic memorabilia from pictures of Amelia Earheart to Artie's old toy soldiers.. Her curiosity burned but she couldn't see what Ivan was trying to show her and she was still feeling moody. "It's just a bunch of dusty junk..."
"Not entirely true, these are Alfred's memories." He wandered over to a glass hutch.
She followed reluctantly, trying not to touch anything.
"I figured as much.." Ivan ponders as he gazed at the shelf.
"What...?" Ro crept over, peering in.
It was full of wooden sculptures. The top shelf was what was clearly beginners work, the bottom shelf a few famous people, but the middle shelf was special. It had an intricate label reading 'family', there was one to represent Matt, Arthur, Francis, and Maka. Also one for Ivan and the wolf Iain he carved before. But the newest one was surprising, it was Ro. Not as a human or even a sparrow, but a to-size replica of her fairy self.
A strange mix of emotions hit her then. Her heart swelled at the sentiment, but part of her still resented him. If she was so special to him, why did he ignore her so much...? When had he even made this? Did this mean he liked her better as a fairy...?
Tears formed in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks but all she could do was stare at the carving.
"What you must understand is, as nations we carry many responsibilities to take care of our people. And while we get distracted by mountains of politics and desires of the masses, we do not forget those closest to us. He does not mean to ignore you, but you have to be strong enough to stand on your own two feet at times. And you can't do that by sitting around and pouting. My guess is these particular carvings are his view of our true selves, yours looked to be a happy mischievous little fae."
"I'm not a fairy anymore..." She muttered, finally tearing her eyes away from the case. "M'just a human... Some weird form of human..."
"The point is you are one at heart, but that's not all that I'm saying. Take a look at this woman." He pointed to a picture. "This is Amelia Earheart, a female pilot who set many global record flights. She did not quit when someone told her no. Back then women didn't have much right to do anything men did but she didn't let that stop her. Just like you can't let grumpy parents tell you you can't help when they are running themselves dry. You need to stand up for yourself sometimes."
Shame piled on top of her now. She should have tried harder... She choked, scrubbing her eyes furiously. Ivan smiles softly hugging her. She hiccupped, clutching his shirt. She didn't know how to do things herself... And it meant everyone else had suffered... And they tended to forget that since they were so used to such things, she needed to keep reminding them to teach her what to do.
She needed the confidence to grab their attention when she needed it.
Ivan hugs her gently till she finally vented out.
By the time she finally puttered out, she just hugged herself, feeling empty.
Ivan smiles gently. "Come on, let's get out of this dusty room da? your eyes are turning red."
She sniffed dejectedly, letting him lead her off without complaint.
He leads her out letting the bookshelf slide back in place and takes her downstairs. Al lay on the couch curled around the cubs, dispite his worry, his exaustion and full stomach had put him to sleep. Ro paused when she saw him, loitering uncertainly. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but eagles still scared her...
"One bad bird dosen't make a flock." he pat her gently, "Just give him a chance."
She guessed he was right... Ro sat just inside the doorway, waiting for Al to wake. Ivan left and let him sleep.
By the time Al woke, Ro had managed to doze off, leaning against the bookshelf by the door. A cub had snuggled into her lap. He sat up looking around blindly, Ivan had taken off his glasses. They were just on the table beside him. He felt around trying to locate them.
A soft nose nudged them into his hand. Kuma had sat with him for a while. "You get real stupid without your glasses..."
He chuckles softly putting them back on, "Well you're not half blind without them."
"She's been watching you for a while." He glanced to Ro.
Al glanced up seeing her. She looked so peaceful resting there... Almost her old self again. Al frowns softly, hefting himself to is feet. He was stiff and sore but he managed to walk alright, touching her shoulder gently. She groaned softly, slow to wake. He backed up a step unsure if she was still pissed.
Her eyes cracked open and landed on him. "Al...? Uh...!" she snapped alert but not angrily. She stammered flustered. "I-I um..."
"Uh.. Hey.." his voice was slightly hoarse from disuse.
"I..." she looked into his eyes and her guilt flooded back, clogging her throat. She just shook her head, hugging him unexpectedly.
He staggered slighty, then hugs back with a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry," she croaked. "I-I was scared and..."
"It's ok.."
"I hit Gil today... I-I didn't mean to, I-I just panicked... And M-Matt..." She started to ramble into his shoulder.
"It's ok.. You were upset, just apologise and it'll be fine."
She sniffed softly, grip tightening. "It all feels so stupid now..."
Al rubs her back gently while easing onto the floor. She went down with him, realizing she was actually scared to let go. Al just sat hugging her.
After a while, she muttered something about apologizing to the others but she stayed buried deep in Al's shoulder. Al didn't mind either way instead just calling Matt quietly.
Matt came through, icepack pressed to his swollen cheek. He saw Ro and stopped in surprise. *What did you sat to her?*
*Nothin, I woke up and she just started clinging.*
*Ivan spoke to her earlier... Don't know what he did, but uts like he broke a spell. She was crazy earlier...!*
Al smiles softly, that man was a wonder sometimes. Ro looked up cautiously, shame pressing in on her heart when she saw the welt on Matt's face. "M'sorry..."
Al glanced up at him. *Boy, she clocked you good..*
*More strength behind her than you'd think...* Matt grumbled, internally reluctant to open back up to Ro just yet. He wasn't one for grudges, but she had cost him five teeth in two days... Luckily they should grow back.. Though Al never did figure out how Allen's didn't. (that short trip to meet their alternate selves still weirded him out..)
Ro shrank back when Matt seemed to blank her. He looked angry from where she sat...
*Matt..?*
*What?*
*You ok?*
*Yeah, just thinking...*
Al shifts slightly. Ro huddled into him, starting to tremble again.
Matt finally seemed to notice but couldn't smile without hurting his cheek more. "It's alright Ro... Just try not to hit anyone else, alright?"
Al smiles warmly. She just nodded softly, pretty sure Matt was still mad at her.
*Make sure she apologizes to Gil, okay? She knocked him out cold...*
*Sure thing. Will you be ok?*
*Yeah... I'll find her again later, I think I'm a little too grouchy to accept an apology right now... And my face hurts...*
*Alright.*
Matt slipped off, leaving them alone again. Ro sank into Al, radiating depression. "He hates me..."
"No, he's just a little grumpy right now.."
"A-are you mad...?" she asked him softly, almost reluctant to hear the answer.
"No I'm not mad.. Honestly I thought you didn't like me anymore."
"Um... I dunno... The bird thingy... I got confused... I just ..."
"It's fine.. You're not the first one to react badly about it, though you are the first one not to kill or capture me for it."
"It was the bird that hurt Iain that time..." she muttered. "I heard Arthur say so... When I found out it was you, I just..."
"Trust me, he felt just as bad about it as I did.. Worse even.. Would run off and hide whenever Iain walked by.."
"He... He has feelings?"
"Yeah, mostly he complains I don't eat enough fish but usualy he's pretty cheery."
"Oh..." She'd honestly thought of Eagle as some evil monster... "He doesn't sound like an eagle at all..."
"Only because you never got to know one. Not all animals are mindless killers."
"Hawks were enough trouble," she muttered. "They kill so many fae..."
"That may be true.. But not everything that hunts does so cause it's fun."
She looked at her lap uncertainly.
"...Do you want to watch a movie?"
She shrugged softly, idly tracing a line down her thigh. Al hugs her gently. She rested her head on his shoulder, fist clenching on her jeans. Al just holds her for a while.
When she pulled back, she looked worn out and empty. "I need to apologize to Gil..."
"Ok.."
She staggered to her feet, pausing for a moment to let her head stop spinning.
Al frowns, "When's the last time you ate..?"
"I... Um... I don't know..." she frowned. She had felt smaller than usual...
Al frowns at her, working himself up and pulling her to the kitchen. She stumbled alomg behind him, but just the though of eating made her feel queasy.
Al shuffled around a bit, Francis seemed to have reorganized his kitchen again.. Finally giving her half an apple. Ro took it, nibbling the edge just to humour him. It was only once she started that she realized she was starving.
"Ro.. I know how it is when you don't want to eat... I've been there.. Still do it occasionaly.."
She sighed softly, swallowing her mouthful. "I don't mean to... I just forget to be hungry..."
He smiles sadly, "Trust me I know, but I also know that it's because you feel so sad all the time that it happens."
"I'm not that sad..." she muttered, not sounding too convinced herself. "I just forgot..."
He just reached over hugging her again. She leaned in, one hand latching onto his shirt while she finished her apple.
"I say we chill out and watch a movie after you talk to Gil. Have you seen The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh yet?"
"That's a book, silly," she pouted. "I read it last week."
"Than you haven't heard about the great Walt Disney~"
"Who...?" she looked up curiously.
Al chuckles. "He was a man of many dreams. He changed the world of childhood." Al takes her by the hand and walks off to his movie room, (an entire library to itself from old film reels to bluray) stopping in front of the Disney shelf and picking out afore mentioned film.
Ro was temporarily dazzled by the room, and wanted to explore but stop when she saw the dvd. She gasped, a smile coming to her face. "It is Pooh Bear!"
"Yep."
"Can we put it in, please?" She hugged it, bouncing with a long forgotten excitement.
Al chuckles softly. "You've still gotta talk to Gil later alright?"
"Okay... I promise," she nodded seriously before holding out the dvd.
They head back to the living room and the now distressed chicks, (the cubs had been off exploring) Al puts in the movie before gathering a bit of meat and sitting with them again. Ro was both wary and intruiged by the chicks. She wanted to play with them because they looked soft but their beaks just unsettled her...
They sat in Al's lap some snoozing others trying to work their feet and bowling over those next to them.
Okay, they were cute... But Pooh Bear had her captivated in a heartbeat so the nest was soon forgotten. Al didn't comment on it this time, just enjoying the calm peace. It was enough just to have everyone calm and together again.
Halfway through the movie Francis had come in with lunch for both of them, sure to give Al a firm look as he handed him his plate. Ro picked at hers but wasn't really hungry...
It was a small portion each anyway. Unforunately the Frenchman was well versed in these situations by now. By the time the film ended, Ro had grazed through most of her plate, just picking here and there. It left her feeling a little bit queasy mind...
Al rubs her arm comfortingly. "Laying down on your left side helps settle your stomach sometimes, or at least gets rid of the feeling for a while."
She looked at him for a moment before curling up as instructed, her head resting against his thigh. He sat petting her back gently as he circled through bonus features, not really feeling like he could go up and change the film right now anyway.
"I like the way Pooh Bear sounds," she muttered after a while. "It's all cuddly and nice."
Al chuckles. "Yeah the voices were good. I like tigger's little slur."
"Rabbit is just like I thought he'd sound - all bossy and grumpy..." she smiled softly.
Al grins. "Kinda like Artie sometimes."
"Yeah," she giggled softly. "Eeyore sounded like he needed a hug though..."
Al nods.
"I wanna hug him..."
Now he knows what to replace Teddy..
Ro lay silent for a while before sitting up again. "I think I'm okay..."
Al smiles softly at her.
"Where's Gil...?" the last thing she wanted was to face him but she had to...
"Probably upstairs?" Al wasn't to sure himself not having seen him..
"...Can you come with me...?"
"Sure."
She got up and waited for him before they both trudged upstairs.