Chapter 63

Finn had been smart enough to not divulge what he and Aerrow had spoken about in the red heads room, but he found he couldn't stop his mind from fanning over their conversation from five nights ago;

"What do you want to chat about?" his leader asked him emotionlessly.
As Finn examined his leader closely, he noted that there were fading pink streaks over his already red cheeks and that the skin around his eyes was puffy, but was beginning to become less so.
Finn moved further into the room. Radarr, moving in slowly behind him to observe, was obscured by his legs. The blonde looked towards the small creature as a paw came to a rest on the back of his leg. He didn't mind being a support at this point. He was unaware of the change that flickered across his leaders face and there were no obvious changes when Finn finally looked back to his friend.

"You know what I want to talk about" he directed a little too snappishly.

"I don't want to talk about that"

"Well I do" Finn returned frankly "Honestly, no one understands what's going through your head, I don't know if I really want to. But your dark mood is making its impact on the rest of us"

Aerrow blinked big green eyes in Finns direction, and he could understand why. Since being on the team, Blinx had left her impression, and, unintentionally, Finn may have picked up on a few mannerisms.

"You kinda sound like her" Aerrow told him, turning to lean into his pillow and stare at the wall.
Finn let a hand run through his hair, a hand that came to rest on the back of his neck.
"I know, I heard it" he moved further into the room, Radarr's paw falling from his leg, and sat down on the bed next to his leader.
Radarr whined and ran from the room. Finn put the odd behaviour down to stress.

"So, why are you so hurt?" Finn asked.
Aerrow didn't even look to him when he answered with "Why aren't you? I thought you had a crush on her"

Finn diverted the question, despite his reddening face providing the truthful answer "We had a…complicated relationship. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna cry over her leaving. We always knew she would leave. It wasn't a permanent arrangement"

"I wouldn't have minded if she had stayed" Aerrow told him suddenly.

Finn kicked up his feet and leaned against the opposite wall "Why?"

"I've never considered you a therapist. Especially since you don't seem to listen too often" Aerrow said, a hint of lightness to his voice.

"Well, at least you don't have to pay for my time" Finn joked, happy to make the other smile nonchalantly. "So, why?" he pushed.

The red head sighed, pulling something out from his pocket.
Finn watched as Aerrow unfolded the small paper and stared down at it for a moment before handing it off to him. Finn took it gently, staring down at the image printed on it.

There was a woman, about twenty something years of age, with short cut, curling dark brown hair and green-blue eyes that Finn figured was Aerrows mother, who, as he had heard, had died years ago in the beginnings of the war between the Atmos and Cyclonia.
In her arms was a small red head whom was obviously Aerrow, about a year old.

Next to them was a man with dark coloured eyes but had similar features to Aerrow in looks and the same shocking red hair as the boy next to him now.
Standing next to the man, on the other side of Aerrow, was a small girl, probably about seven or eight, with long copper-brown curly hair, bright blue eyes and smile to match.

Finn balked at the image "What's this? Is that Lightning Strike? Is this your family?"
Aerrow nodded a little.

Finn stared down at the photo again.
There was rumour that the war had begun because the wrong person had been killed. Was it possible that the war began because Aerrow's mother had died?
"Who's the girl?" Finn questioned.

Aerrow sent him a look "Do you know why I never told you who my father was?"
Finn shrugged as he shook his head.

"Because it wasn't really your business" Aerrow shot.

Finn felt a pang of hurt at those words. "So why are you making it my business now?" he questioned icily.
"Take a close look at the girl Finn!" Aerrow spat angrily.

Finn grudgingly did as he was told as looked carefully at the girl in the picture, his mind and eyes worked together to understand exactly what was going on.
When it finally clicked, he mentally slapped himself for not noticing it earlier. "She looks like your mom…and…"

Aerrow looked to him sadly "I think the last of my family just flew away"