Lady with the Lamp
( chapter five: little impulse )
"You didn't tell me you were eighteen." If the speaker was any other person, Piper might show a little more courtesy and inform the questioner her personal reason for not disclosing her birthday. However, this is the Dark Ace, and everything that comes out of his mouth sounds like a command for underling Talons.
Piper unconsciously raises her nose in the air, her dark lashes blink once and she says, "I don't think you need to know."
The man snorts and crosses his arms across his chest. She can't tell whether he is more amused or annoyed, but then again, it might be a mixture of both. Barely thirty minutes after his hearing and the blind man is back to his moody, incorrigible self. Well, his soggy mood won't have an affect on her, not that much anyways. She will allow his surliness to continue because, as luck would have it, he is not going to die.
In her hand is Nurse Abigail's medical folder on the Dark Ace and on top of the file is another small bundle of paper regarding the man's release papers. Well, more like terms of freedom, his legal rights, and the details of his guardianship. Once the Elders who represent the Sky Council exit the hearing room to catch their airship back to Terra Atmosia, the nurse excuses herself to search for the bathroom, leaving Piper and the Talon alone. Restless from standing still for so long, she starts wiggling her right foot and shifts her body weight to the side.
"So…"
"You're my nurse." Dark Ace snorts again, this time with more derision. Imagine that. First, he loses his master, goes blind, has his freedom stripped away, and now he's the patient to her caretaker. Just great, his life will be peaches and cream from now on - and all because he agreed to help the Storm Hawks.
"It's not like I wanted to." She says and her tone comes off just a touch too whiny. After one of the Elders pushed that piece of startling information towards her, she had no choice but to say yes. Piper is no coward, she won't let a little inexperience and social awkwardness (and gender difference, and age difference, and morality issues) get in the way of doing what's right. Dark Ace, commander of the disbanded Talons or otherwise, is still someone who needs her help. He gave his word to help them find Aerrow and Radarr.
I'll scratch your back, and you'll scratch mine.
"Eugh." The girl with the orange eyes makes a gigantic stinkface from the implications of that worn-out phrase. Oh dear god, she's going to learn how to be a nurse. The possibilities are horrific.
The root of her current problem speaks out. Piper turns to him and feels like gagging, so much for celebrating the removal of his death sentence. "What?"
The guys will never let her live this one down.
But before Piper can consider clawing out her eyes from the swarming mental images of short white uniforms and sponge baths, Abigail returns from the washroom and takes the folders from the Storm Hawk. With a nod of her head and a "Come on, let's go!" she heads out the doors where her ride is waiting for her. Her padded footfall is the only sound in the room; the older woman turns around sharply and eyes the two individuals standing apart. Piper's expression retains traces of revulsion and the Dark Ace is merely bored.
"Well?" The hearing is longer than she expected, and therefore it is too late to go back to work for some overtime hours. "Are you two coming or not?" There's a package of spare ribs lying on the kitchen counter back at home that needs to be cooked. She left them out last night to marinate.
"Coming." Swallowing her pride, Piper reaches out and attaches her hand around his crooked elbow instead of holding his hand. Really, it can't be all that bad, right? All three parties inside the room notice but don't say anything. Abigail holds open the door as the joined pair step outside. The girl hesitates again just in front of her parked Heliscooter.
"Piper."
"Yes?"
"Drop our patient off at the hospital. Then come tomorrow at nine o'clock to start training." There is a grunt behind her and Piper fights to keep her lips in a tight line of silence. She looks towards the older woman for some aid, to tell her she isn't prepared to take on this job, and why didn't you tell me you were going to retire so soon? If the Talon was rude to her before, he's going to be impossible to handle in the future.
Abigail shrugs her shoulders and mounts the seat behind her husband's skyride. A nurse must do her job no matter how ill-tempered her charge may be. Piper watches the pair drive towards the hospital before them and mutters under her breath. Thankfully, the noisy blades of her chopper drown out most of her words. His hands are around her waist again for support, but this time she hardly notices, too engrossed in her self-misery to cast a second glance where his fingers are.
"Did you just swear?"
The girl wrinkles her nose and wants to say 'Shut up!' but ultimately says "Uh, no."
Once he is back in his bed, he asks her what his medical file says. She replies calmly that it's not in her jurisdiction to read what the doctors and nurses write unless she has their permission to do so. Somehow, he doesn't buy the act. Standing at the edge of his bed, she draws the curtains around them for privacy as he squirms on the mattress and decides to test her.
"Fluff my pillow."
Piper's mouth drops open. Incredulous!
"You're kidding, right?" The look on his face says no.
That evening on The Condor, Finn's cheeks expand like a chipmunk's as Piper relays all the stupid and thoughtless things the Dark Ace said to her that afternoon, and to think she used to pity him.
"He seriously asked you to add ice to his water? Is that even allowed?" Lynn is not helping either. Wearing a wide grin with one hand on her thin waist, she raises an eyebrow at the crystal specialist and in no certain terms, wishes the rest of the Storm Hawks could accompany Piper for her nurse's training.
Throwing her head back and making noises like a zombie, the victim of today's tiring events opts to crash on a nearby chair with her arms hanging down. Hoping for a pleasant distraction, her fingers touch the floor and Piper mentally decides to coordinate a ship cleanup sometime soon.
"So, what else did your new patient do?" Junko finally makes an appearance on the main deck complete with a tray of freshly cut slices of watermelon, and Finn jumps onto the fruit like Radarr attacks Piper's sandcakes.
"Let's see. He asked me about his medical file – I wouldn't read it to him. I think he heard me cursing, and he's not at all happy he's off the execution block."
Between mouthfuls of juicy red melon and spitting the black seeds onto the plate, Finn brings up a rather reasonable question. He ignores the piercing glares from the pilot and the soft threat of spreading bacteria that might affect their intestines if he continues to chew and spit watermelon on the floor of his beloved ship.
"So, what are we going to do with him?"
The conversation continues throughout the night. After Junko polishes off the plate, sadly pats his stomach and looks towards Piper for more food, the Storm Hawk's First Officer gives into his large child-like eyes and sighs. Okay, big guy, I'm going to make dinner. What's on the menu? Merb cabbage.
"Really?" The merb exclaims excitedly while the rest of the crew winces. The older girl sucks in her lips and her shoulders rise up to her neck in embarrassment.
Just kidding, Stork. It was a bad joke. Piper plans to make some beef stew, using the last of the supplies they bought on Terra Rex. As Junko breathes a sigh of relief, Lynn follows Piper's footsteps but tells the boys to clean up after themselves.
"Why can't you do it? You're going towards the kitchen anyways." Finn complains. "Hey, why don't we get our new nurse to start training right away?" The blonde expands his chest and in his best manly voice, commands Piper to turn around and clean up the mess for him. The teammate in question allows a sly smile to grace her face.
"Too bad, Finn. I don't start tomorrow. Besides, the Sky Council is paying me to do this job. You're not."
The next morning comes all too soon and with the parting snickers from several of her friends, Piper takes her Heliscooter towards Our Lady of Lourdes. As she flies over the orchards and buildings on this terra, she considers the Dark Ace extremely lucky. If they hypothetically switch bodies, the girl would be bouncing up and down with joy with the news. Waiting to be executed isn't something most people, no matter how awful, wish upon themselves.
However, the mental image of Dark Ace smiling and hugging strangers proves too much for her, and Piper almost drives her skyride into a cherry tree, narrowly missing the branch but earning a few whips in the face instead. There just may be a valid reason why bad guys come off cold and untouchable.
Nurse Abigail is waiting for her in the main lobby. Once inside, the girl's heart beats a little faster and she worries what she has to learn today. Eleven working days until the nurse retires, and there is so much to do until then! The team conversation back at The Condor gurgles up to the forefront of her mind and she wonders, as she returns the medical files back to Abigail, how the Storm Hawks will manage it all.
For starters, the Elders made it perfectly clear he will have to be transferred to a new location right away. Hospital beds are always needed and judging from the patient's records, he is no longer in critical condition. The most logical explanation is to take him to the airship, but Finn and Stork are not ready to allow someone like him to step aboard their home. There are no spare rooms left, and to utilize Aerrow's quarters is clearly out of the question.
After her friends retire for bed, Piper stays up in her bunk and mentally scores out potential plans to make everybody happy. Add in the trauma of sponge baths, and Piper is a little more than nervous for the day.
"Morning!" she chirps happily.
"Are you ready?" Abigail's brown eyes, however stern, take to her warmly. There are eleven days left, but truly, they only have three days to spare.
"YES!"
Down three halls and through the doors of the east ward, the women greet the Dark Ace. To the Storm Hawk's surprise, he is still sleeping. Glancing at the giant clock mounted above the entrance to the ward, she reads five past nine and looks towards the older woman in confusion. Abigail merely smiles, the corners of her mouth turn up and Piper clearly sees the many lines around her lips, before raising a finger indicating they must be quiet.
"Why are we here?" the younger one whispers. This is certainly a deviation from the norm, to be within three metres of the Cyclonian without the risk of receiving insults. Her puzzlement continues to grow as they stand at the edge of the bed, doing nothing. Frankly, it's creeping her out.
"Um, Abigail?" Again, the older woman hushes her but anticipates her unspoken question.
"Do you see him?"
"Yes."
She extends her palm to show Piper she is not look at what she is supposed to. Stepping closer, the nurse gestures for her to come closer, so her hips are next to the mattress, but the girl doesn't want to come. Reaching into the pockets of her white uniform, she takes out a handkerchief, unfolds it, and shows one of the corners to Piper. The linen is not exactly white and one can tell it's been used over the years, but two embroidered letters near the scalloped edge peak her interest.
"Do you see this?" Sucking in her lips, the crystal specialist concludes the worst that can happen is the Talon waking up and shouting at her.
"What is it?"
"They're my husband's initials. It was given to me. Back in the day – Oh, maybe before you were born there was a fad. All the young men wanted fine linen handkerchiefs. Think of it as a sign you're well-off, almost like a woman showing her jewelry. Anyways, a lot of the men had someone embroider their initials onto the fabric to prove ownership or else someone would steal them." Abigail hands the object to Piper and the girl runs her index finger over the raised blue threads.
"As you can see, my husband wasn't so well off. And well, I used it a lot." She took a breath. "Anyways, before I ramble on too much I just want you to know some young boys had other designs on theirs. Emblems, family symbols, squadron crests."
The Storm Hawk hands back the handkerchief and returns her gaze over to the sleeping man. He is a light breather, and every once in a while his eyelids will rise just enough so she can see the whites underneath, but their whispering voices don't affect him much.
And then Piper realizes what she is meant to see.
"His eyes!"
This is the first time she looks upon him without the bandage over his blind eyes. She swallows and feels as if a hard, grey stone dropped into her stomach and upset the balance. There are scars along his brow where she assumes shards of the crystal embedded themselves into his skin, and genuinely feels sorry for the man. His nose is still intact, but the skin just above, the bridge, she can see the burns on his face. His thick eyebrows in that area look as if they have been waxed off.
Overall, he isn't too bad off. He manages to keep his head of jet black hair, his pointy chin, and his body with the exception of a foot, is still in good condition. The sleeping man grunts and Piper jumps away, suddenly realizing she is far too close to the Talon's face than she wants to admit.
But she will acknowledge is the sense of peacefulness on his face, like one who is able to breathe fresh air after hiding in an earthy tunnel for so long.
"This is the first night he's slept without a bandage on."
"Oh, really?"
Abigail chuckles. "Really."
The younger woman makes a face and ponders if this little indiscretion is a subtle life lesson older adults are known to bestow upon younger generations. Reading her thoughts, the nurse's eyes crinkle in delight and she lets the girl in on a little secret.
"Underneath his pillow there's a handkerchief."
The women leave the sleeping man alone and Piper is more than relieved to get out of the vicinity before he wakes up. In the corridor, they turn right instead of left towards the main lobby, and the girl's eyes wander along the walls as they head towards the inner hallways of the hospital. The whitewash reveals the stone masonry underneath, evidence of the convent's forgotten tradition, and at the end of each long passageway is a winding stairwell. There are many windows, not very many are stained-glass, but they all look towards the sunshine. A photographer would love this place.
When Piper follows the nurse inside the ward, Dark Ace raises his head with a grim look on his face and stares at the women with a high degree of contempt. Piper, familiar with his temper and his skills as a Talon, slides her feet a little father to match the width of her hips; her muscles tense should he suddenly attack. Again, she notices there is no bandage around his eyes. The peaceful face of a several hours ago transforms into a dark, scowling scar.
However, the nurse ignores his heated stares, shows him the traveling bag he will use to pack his belongings in, and places it on top of his feet. Orange eyes widen momentarily when she recognizes the Talon crest on the side and involuntarily raises a critical eyebrow. Such blatant propaganda is bound to bother some of the other patients even if it counts as part of his few personal belongings.
"Where is it?"
"Where's what?"
The man growls and rips off the sheets covering his lap, revealing a new and interesting pair of green pants to match his red shirt. New, in the sense the Storm Hawk has not seen it before, and interesting because the colours clash horribly. As Abigail and Dark Ace continue to argue, Piper maintains her observer status until the nurse points out her presence.
"Stop shouting, you have a guest."
Her attendance startles him. Realizing someone else besides the everyday nurses can see his scars; Dark Ace stills his acid tongue and turns his back on her. He hopes she will mistake his actions for arrogance instead of fear, he prefers to suffer antagonism in place of pity. Lowering his head so his chin touches his chest, he breathes heavily and waits for the expectant gasp from the female mouth to secure his place among the ugly.
"Um, hi."
"Hello, Piper."
"Um, what are you doing?" The question is directed towards Abigail, who answers with all the patience she can muster while her patient kicks the metal frame of the hospital bed.
"We were supposed to start packing his belongings, but I see now it'll have to be done another time." Glancing at her wristwatch, she inhales sharply through her nose before turning towards her apprentice.
"I'm sorry, Piper, but the meeting I told you about is starting in five. Can you take over for me? I've already held you up today, and if you need to go that's fine. Just leave a message at the front desk for me." They hear the screech as she pulls back the white curtains and then she's gone.
Alone again. Together, the Girl and the Talon serve as a breeding ground for awkward silence. She removes her orange headband, replaces it upon her blue hair, and touches her neck in the place where her crystal necklace once was. Carefully she approaches him, crossing the space to his side of the bed, when he abruptly turns his head away. Clasping her hands, they hang in front of her legs and it is not long before she begins to fidget. Abigail had her walking all day.
"Can I sit down?"
His gives a snarky reply. "Go right ahead."
To his dismay, she decides to sit down on the bed alongside him. The social experiment progresses when he doesn't move away, but increases the level of inhospitality. It's more than a little intimidating to be so close to him, especially when he is awake. But the hunch of his back and the line on his shoulders makes her feel bad, and she wonders what he lost.
So, she does something she does well: talk.
"You don't have to pack if you don't want to. I know your stay here is done, but the guys aren't sure where to put you up. I remember the Elders saying you can't pilot any flying vehicle, and I believe that includes airships too, but they didn't say you couldn't stay on one. The problem is, we don't really have a lot of room to spare.
If you remember the layout of The Condor, you know there are seven bedrooms in total. The thing is, the seventh room is all taken up by our newest member of the Storm Hawks. Well, she's not really new – but she'll be new to you. Her name's Lynn, I guess you'll eventually have to meet her.
Anyways, my teammates and I were talking last night about what to do. You need a place to stay but the doctors want you to be close for the first week, just to make sure your eyes are healing properly."
The last sentence has a visible affect on her silent audience. He sighs.
"Dark Ace?"
"Just - keep talking."
But all the words leave her mouth as something inside her chest starts to ache. If only Aerrow is with her, if only her Sky Knight is not missing. Somehow, she feels more confident when he is around, as if she can never let him down. If Dark Ace were Aerrow, Piper won't hesitate to throw her arms around his shoulders and give him a comforting hug. Quickly, she racks all sections of her brain for a clever thing to say and perhaps raise his spirits in the process.
"Um, what did you lose?"
He looks at her now, turns his blind face and holds his breath, expecting her to gasp. And again, she doesn't. In lieu of her revulsion, the young woman wishes he could see her sad smile. Grabbing the Talon suitcase, she lowers it to the ground to indicate she will not rush him to do anything is he not prepared for. After all, they do have an agreement. The Storm Hawks have done their part, and now she is relying on him to return the favour.
"It's the medallion."
The Cyclonian swears someone has taken it; something that valuable is bound to end up on the black market. Thankful the curtains are drawn; Dark Ace's voice is full of barely held despair when he tells the girl the crest is missing from its usual place inside the drawer. Yes, the one next to his bed. Last night he remembers placing it there – he doesn't divulge why he has taken it out in the first place.
Finally, she has a problem with a clear goal. A twinkle in her bright orange eyes, she knows exactly where it is. Placing her right hand on his sleeve, she urges him to stand up so she can retrieve the object for him. He doesn't question her – he obeys.
And there it is, hidden underneath his pillows is the medallion. She picks it up using a square piece of folded cloth lying on top and returns both the crest and the handkerchief to him. Piper presses it into his hands and makes the mistake of looking at his face when she does. The expression of pure gratitude is something she is not likely to forget.
Suddenly, it is gone. The Storm Hawk may not consider it, but he is in her debt twice over. The first time is for making him walk, the second for this. These teenagers will always have one favour over him.
"I owe you." The blue-haired girl makes a face. Is he serious? Dark Ace places the keepsakes on the bed and unknowingly uses his signature deadpan face. She has not seen one of those in a long time.
Piper laughs hysterically although he is not really sure why.
"No problem!"