Chapter 15
I was walking outside now, John still holding my hand. I felt a few tears forming, and attempting to break free from my eyes. But I wouldn't let them stream down my face. I could just feel the eyes of watching Spartans as I dealt with my pain and sense of betrayal. But not from James, my own, I felt like I had betrayed James.
John stopped me after a while. He held my arms just below the shoulder, strong and secure. He looked into my visor. I could almost make out his blue eyes through my silver and his gold visor. His voice was strong, where mine would have cracked with pain. "Liz. It's alright. I'm here, he can't hurt you. I promise I won't let him hurt you."
I knew he was speaking the truth, but I just could hold it anymore. "John, I love you. I know I already told you this. But I can't hold it in John. I love you, and I want the whole world to know. I want even the god damn covenant to know I love you."
He was holding me still; we were looking at each other, unknowing of the other's thoughts. There was a murmur around us from the other Spartans. I took a deep breath, my chest felt tight. What he said could just change things. Could he only love my face, my body, my strength? Or does he love the real me? My soul, my personality, my temper and emotions, does he love those?
He didn't move; my heart was pounding so hard I thought he could hear it. Or maybe feel it through my arms. I was looking up at him; sense he was taller than me. It made me feel like I just asked him to marry me with the intensity between us.
"I love you Elizabeth, I don't care if the whole world knows, or the universe. I only care if you know."
A wave of relief flowed over me and I let out my breath. "Alright, we should… we should probably go train or something…" I said sheepishly.
He nodded and we walked to the training room nearby. Hand in hand, and my eyes ahead of us. John was holding my hand tightly, he fears something. I could tell, but what it might be eluded my mind.
I let go of his hand as we reached the training room. He watched after me and something told me I needn't worry about his loyalty to me. I started lifting weights as he ran on the treadmill. The others around us were silent other than the usual conversation between each other. I enjoyed the silence. The others, who wanted to know how it happened and why, were getting on my nerves.
I soon switched to a treadmill as well. John looked at me and I smiled in my helmet. I still needed to get it switched or upgrade it, and John would have to leave soon. I paced it at the highest level of twelve and highest elevation of twelve as well. I enjoyed running, that peace it brought with its rhythmical pounding on my legs and the constant beating of my heart.
Click, click, click, John powered down his treadmill and gave me a quick hug before he turned and left the training room. I watched him go and took a deep breath. I felt weird being alone. Not having his presence around me was… odd.
I shook my head, and continued to work out until my legs screamed in protest and I turned off the treadmill. Most of the Spartans that were present were gone. "I should get to the armory" I grumbled to myself and started towards it.
I was halfway there when I remembered that Lilith's room was near the armory. Crap! How could I have forgotten that? I took hold of the railing in the wall and held my breath; would she be out of the infirmary already? Might she attack me with harsh words when she sees me? Might she actually attack me if she felt well enough?
I continued to walk down the hall, faster and with care. I didn't want to run into her. Luckily as I passed her room the door didn't open and there was no sign of her. Thank goodness. I turned the hall and into the armory. The usual lady greeted me and asked "Hey Liz, what is the problem?"
"My helmet keeps unlocking in combat, and it falls off my head when I get jerked hard." I explained as I took it off. My curls tumbled free again and I groaned inwardly as I saw her smirk. She had flowing long hair. The lady took it and wrote something down.
"Alright, do you want a new helmet? Or should I simply repair the lock latch? You know, there is a bunch of upgrades for the helmets in. You might want to look at them." She pointed to a rack of helmet on the far side of the room. I nodded and moved over to them.
I simply browsed, not really wanting a new version of my helmet. I really like my air assault issue helmet with its silver visor. These all looked to blocky and male for my taste. "Um, where are the helmets for woman?" I asked the lady who was still waiting for my reply to a new helmet or not.
"Down on the right side behind that rack." She replied. She was right, a bunch of other helmets that no doubt would appeal to a woman were laid out on its metal bars. There were a couple of E.V.A. helmets with attachments, but I would be a beacon in the dark.
Then again there was the similar cousin of the E.V.A helmet, the pilot. It was smaller and had less of a visor but granted that wearer a greater field of sight with its large visor. The side offered greater protection then the E.V.A but not as much as my currant helmet. It did have an advantage of the ability to see more then my air assault.
I picked it up, something felt right about it. "Alright," I called out to her "I'll get this helmet and I'm going to need it to be painted to match the rest of my armor." She smiled and nodded and wrote down my order for the pilot helmet.
Unlike stores they don't make us pay for any upgrades or changes in equipment. They do however charge our parents a small fine for the armor that is so small they don't even realize they lost any money. I handed it to her and she began the customization of the helmet as ordered. "Violet and rose, right?" She asked and I nodded.
She quickly painted it and soon I had the helmet in my hands. I looked at my old air assault helmet with a sorry expression. They don't let you keep it. They take it and repaint it to standard and then fix up any problems it might have and someone else will get it.
She then switched out the visor for silver and did a few things to it before handing it to me. I held up my new helmet and examined the way the light reflected off its silver visor. I casted one last wistful glance at my old helmet as she began to paint it default white, and then left the armory.
I was stepping out when I heard a voice that caused my gut to clench. "YOU!" The voice hissed at me, I turned around slowly, having not put my helmet on yet.
Lilith.
She stood there, an expression of fury evident in her eyes. Her ruby red armor would have reflected the artificial light in a somewhat blinding way, but she wasn't wearing it. Her helmet was off as well, allowing her blonde hair to get some air for a change. Her blue eyes were barely visible with the way her brow comes down when she's angry.
I smirked a little, seeing how her right arm was in a sling must have been because of me. Unable to wear her armor; she was dressed in a pair of brown slacks and a white T-shirt. She also had large bandages running across her lower torso and on her arms.
"I'm surprised… I thought you wouldn't be out of the med bay by the time I returned from my mission." I called out to her and walked over.
She made a face at me, Great… just what I need. Another person mad at me… She shifted where she stood. In her free hand was her armor, reflected the light like I thought it would. She must have been heading in to get it fixed up or something. Unlike me, she didn't get the shock-absorbers broken by a fist like John had done to me before.
She looked at me, like summing up who had beaten her senseless. I smirked in a somewhat friendly way. Hey if she wants to act the way she does; then so be it. I owe it to her to at least act friendly. Thought I don't forgive her, even if I might be fighting with James. What she did is unforgivable.
I took a deep breath and waited; waited for what she was going to do. Lilith's jaw was rigid. That was to be expected with what had happened between us. "So… Are you feeling better?" I asked as casually as I could.
She snorted, "Yeah. We have some really good doctors here for when Spartans get beaten up real bad."
I looked at her arm; it was also in a cast as well as the sling. It most likely had the fast healing gel, which is commonly used for fractures, inside it. I shifted my weight, what was she planning on doing. I wouldn't blame her if she wanted revenge.
"Yeah… Sorry if I caused any permanent damage, how long until your cast comes off?" I asked her as I gestured at her arm.
"I haven't been told." She looked away from me; her eyes looked hurt, almost like she is feeling a constant discomfort or pain. I groaned inwardly, I was starting to feel guilty. Then she continued which made a rock drop into my stomach. "I have been told though that I might never be able to properly use my arm again. I would only have very limited use at the most, if any."
I grimaced and my guilt got the best of me. "Look I didn't mean to cause that much damage. I guess I'm so use to fighting other Spartans that are fully armored I didn't think of the damage it could have caused you in… the condition you were in." She snorted again.
"It doesn't matter, you already did it. Whether you feel guilty or not, it won't change what's already happened. Now if you don't mind, I've got to go." She turned on her heels but I wouldn't let her get away that easy.
"You can have him."
She stopped mid-step and turned around, her face was confused but also smug. "Say that again."
"You can have him." I repeated.
"Who is HIM?" She pushed. I swallowed before repeating to her, I might just regret this…
"James. You can have him. Try to make him fall in love with you, do whatever you want." She smirked, but I pointed my index finger at her. "Not done yet, remember this well. I'm his friend, and almost always have been. If you hurt him, you'll have more than a broken arm and bruised torso."
With that I slipped my new pilot helmet on, turned around, and walked away. I could hear her walk away, both our footsteps heavy on the metal floors; the click clank clang somewhat calming of each couple steps.
As I turned the corner towards my room I ran into John. I smiled and waved hello to him. "It's Liz." I greeted him and was soon pulled into a large hug. He seemed to be, off about something. I pulled back from him, "John? What's wrong?"
He shook his head, and his hand slid to mine. He pulled me into my room and removed his helmet. He looked very cold, and distant. Colder then when I after I had fought him and was asking all those questions actually. I took my helmet off and took his from his hands. I put them both on my bed and sat on the end, I tapped the open spot next to me a few times and he sat down without a word.
"Ok what's wrong John?" I asked him.
"I got promoted." He replied, not looking at me.
"Well that's great!" I exclaimed with joy at his success and hugged him briefly. Only when he didn't relax did I pull back. "John, I'm missing something here. What's bad about your promotion?"
"Because all the high commanders were at the ceremony, that's why. They have heard rumors about us. A few talked to me… they were all disapproving." His head was hung, almost like he was shameful of us. I swallowed hard.
"Well, what they think doesn't matter. We have each other, and you got promoted. Let's go and celebrate!" I stood up, clapped my hands and smiled at him. But still he didn't relax he looked up at me, his eyes full of fear.
"It's not that." He replied and I sat back down.
"Then what is it John? What is bothering you so much?" I begged him almost.
He swallowed this time, and let an air of suspense rise between us. "Liz, I got promoted; which means I'm going to go on much more difficult and high risk missions then our last one." He stood up and clutched his hands in frustration. He slammed his fists on my dresser; I remained where I sat on the bed for a bit. Letting him cool off would be a good idea.
I walked over to him and placed my left hand on his left shoulder and my right on her right hand. "John…" I cooed his name in his ear. I ran my hand up his right arm and to his face, where it remained on his chin. He turned to look at me, something in his eyes made him look so helpless. "You can't take those you know and are dear to you dying either?" I asked him calmly and slowly.
He shook his head, "At least not for now."
I smiled and shook my head. "Let's hope you don't have to get use to it. That it won't last much longer. That those we care about won't die in front of us, before our very eyes." The talk of dying comrades before one's eyes brought back the images of Ricardo, half way through the hanger doors.
I smiled at him, but he was still rigid; slightly relaxed, but still rigid. "John… Is there something else about your promotion I should know about?" I inquired my tone slightly pushy.
He sighed and suddenly held me in a hug, a deep tight hug. I hugged him back, deep and strongly. I had the feeling we were going to need each other more than ever with the upcoming battles. "There is… one more thing." He said as we pulled from each other.
I tilted my head, "What?"
"Part of being promoted, also means I might get sent on missions you can't tag along with. Or it could mean longer mission, to full on battles." He stated to me, not meeting my eyes on a few words.
I chuckled, and placed my right hand back on his face, cupping his cheek. "John," I laughed a gleam in my eyes. I kissed his lips and continued, "I know you can handle yourself. You won't need me to constantly cover your ass now will you?" He shook his head. "Good, because I would run out of ammo with the trouble both of us will be getting into!"
He looked up at me, a smile finally on his face. I grinned widely, "About time, because I wouldn't be happy if my strong Spartan went soft over a promotion!" He smirked, raised an eyebrow and tackled me.
He pushed me against the wall, his hands pinning me against the wall. His sudden abruptness had taken me completely off-guard. I instinctively stiffened up and held my breath. But the pressure on my body loosened, and his soft lips met mine. "I won't go soft over a promotion," He whispered in my ear when we stopped kissing. "But I will go soft over you."
A smirk crossed my face and I tilted my head. "Prove it." He answered me by lifting me up, his arms around my waist. He placed me softly on my bed and ran his left hand down my cheek. I grinned and couldn't wait any longer. "You're taking too long!" I argued and pounced on him, kissing him wildly and we rolled on the floor.
John lifted me up again and we continued to kiss as my rump supported the rest of my body by resting on the end of my cot. I ran my hands up and down his legs. His hands rubbed my back and caressed my chest. I breathed heavily and he did to.
We were in a beautiful harmony, showing each other some of our deepest forms of love and care for one another. "John." I breathed between a kiss, "I love you."
He smirked again, his blue eyes glowing with joy and humor. "I know. Liz."
"Yes John?" I replied after another brief kiss.
"I love you." He stated like it was new news.
"I know." I laughed and we returned to kissing. A groan of pleasure welled up in my chest. I finally let it go, and he replied with his own. I laughed at that; we were going far, but not as far as others. We still had restraint, our armor remained on. We both knew we would fall into the temptation and we feared what might happen when we left it.
