Sun blinked several times and tilted his head as he looked Ilia over. He brought a hand up to rub at his eyes, and found that he couldn't remember whether or not he'd fallen asleep, or how long ago Ilia had left the room with Blake.
"Uh, sure! As long as you don't mind me being a little out of it. I'm pretty wiped, to be honest," he admitted. Sun patted the spot next to himself upon the bed, and Ilia hesitated before simply taking a seat on the edge instead. The pair sat in silence for a few moments as Sun waited for Ilia to speak, and Ilia kept her eyes on the sheets. Finally, she mustered up the courage to look at him, and opened her mouth.
"Hey, so… it looks like we match," Ilia said with a self-conscious attempt at a grin.
Sun raised a brow, and scratched at his neck. "What do you mean? Like I said, I'm a little slow, right now."
The scales on Ilia's cheeks turned pink as she shook her head and pointed to one of her bandaged arms. "No, no! It's not you, I just… didn't really explain… I meant our injuries. We're both wrapped like mummies, or something…"
"Oh!" Sun chuckled and offered Ilia a warm smile as he brought his hand down and around to rub at his biceps. "Yeah, we definitely do. Mine are from broken glass, too. Quite a coincidence, huh?"
Ilia tucked her legs at an odd angle and sat primarily on one hip as she pressed an arm down into the mattress for support. She looked down at her hand as her voice grew smaller, and her facial scales shifted to a pale blue. "Yeah… how about that…"
An uncomfortable silence ruled the air, before Sun broke it with an exasperated sigh as he began to slide himself along the mattress. Ilia froze and looked at him in terror as he closed the distance and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Sun! What are y-"
"Hey," he began. "I know you're feeling terrible right now, probably because of how we started out, but it's okay. You're with us, now, and I've got your back. It's kinda my thing, alright?" Sun asked as he gave her a soft squeeze. Ilia squeaked in surprise, and tried to keep her eyes off of him as she took a few calming breaths.
"Sun, I was a total bitch to you. I deserve the treatment I'm getting from Blake right now, and I'm fully expecting the same treatment from you. You don't have to mask your feelings about me. I understand if you're still upset."
"…you mask yours. I saw the messages you were sending her, after we exchanged scrolls," Sun said as he dropped his arms. Ilia's entire body turned an icy blue as she glared at him and narrowed her eyes. "And don't even get mad, Ilia. I know you raided my scroll, too. What I saw was an honest accident."
"You need to forget what you saw, Sun. Now," Ilia commanded as she slipped off the bed and stood, arms crossed.
"Why?" he insisted as he moved to follow her, and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Because it's going to complicate things! You're in a relationship with her, aren't you? It's… serious, isn't it?" Ilia asked with a strained insistence.
Sun heaved a sigh, and rested his arms on his thighs. "Yeah, and yeah, it is. Why did you come back to talk to me, Ilia? I'm guessing Blake doesn't know?"
Ilia merely shook her head, and kept her lips sealed.
"It's to sort out some complicated things, isn't it? So, let's do this. We're alone, Blake can't interfere, and you know what? I want to sort things out, too. I'm not mad at you, Ilia. I mean that. I'm more… tense, I guess? It seems to me like you're barely holding on, and I don't want to set you off," Sun continued.
"Stop, Sun. Just… stop, or you will set me off," Ilia threatened.
"In that case, just let it out. I get the feeling you don't exactly have someone you can just vent to, a-"
"That someone was Blake!" Ilia yelled. Sun fell silent immediately, and leaned in to listen intently. "And I lost her! I lost her, from just… the shittiest circumstances imaginable! Then, you swoop in and sweep her off her feet, after I tried for years to get her to see how I feel! When she came back to Kuo Kuana, I almost wanted to run to her and ditch the Fang, but then I saw you leaving the mansion with Kali. I had no idea who the hell you were, but the more I listened in, the angrier I got. The more I understood who you are, to her, the worse it made me feel. You stole her from me, without even knowing it," Ilia choked out as her eyes began to well up.
Sun adopted a sympathetic tone, and pushed off the edge of the mattress to offer a hand. "Ilia, you know that isn't what happened. I didn't 'steal' her. Dating someone is up t-" He jumped slightly as Ilia smacked the hand away and let out a frustrated growl.
"I know!" Ilia fumed. "That isn't what happened, because she was never mine to begin with! I know, Sun! No one owes anyone else love, and some of us get short changed in some bullshit cosmic lottery. She could have been mine, and I know that part of it's my fault, but you're just… you're the perfect target for how I'm feeling!" Ilia's hands shook as she tried to decide what to do with them, and she settled for pointing a finger into his chest. "You suck, Sun! I suck more, and it's just…" Ilia let out a shuddering breath as she let the tears fall, and balled her fists at her sides. "Everything sucks."
Sun waited for a few moments, to let Ilia continue. After watching her simply stand as her skin shifted through several colors in silent tears, he made another approach and telegraphed a hug with an exaggerated motion. To his surprise, Ilia didn't resist, but instead returned the hug in a desperate grasp. Sun hissed as he felt his wounded torso being squeezed, but tried to distract himself by patting Ilia on the back as she sniffled against his chest.
"Everything does suck, Ilia. Trust me, I know what being love-starved is like." Sun continued quickly as Ilia glared up at him. "I know, I know… but that's not what I meant. I'm talking about love from family. My circumstances… weren't exactly great. Let's leave it at that, for now."
"My parents are dead. They were killed in a dust mine collapse. So, take whatever feelings you have about yours, and multiply by watching someone else dating Blake. First it was Adam, and then it was you. I grew up with her. I tried for years to drop hints, and eventually, came out to her, only to get a 'maybe'," Ilia seethed.
Sun shifted as he considered her words, and found that he had nothing to say that would offer comfort as Ilia continued to dampen his chest.
"…that's what I thought. I know I brought a lot of this on myself, and sometimes, I still wonder if confessing to Blake played a part in making her run."
"No," Sun interjected immediately. "Ilia, you look at me." He gripped her shoulders and pushed her back slightly to hold her at arm's length. Ilia sniffed as she listened, her eyes red from crying. "She left because of Adam. Not just because of his extremism, but because of what he did to her."
"What he… did to her?" Ilia asked, confusion clear in her voice. "Their relationship was perfect. I watched it from the sidelines. They were madly in love, and he treated her like a queen."
Ilia shrank back as she watched Sun's face twist into an unfamiliar mask of fury. "Is that what you think? She never told you? Her best friend?"
"Sun, what the hell are you talking about?" Ilia asked as she shivered. She instinctually took a step back, looking somewhat afraid.
Sun clenched his teeth and guided her back into a tighter, more aggressive hug as he breathed out through his nose. "…it's not my place to tell you the details… but I will tell you this- I'm going to fight for you. If you want it, I'm going to offer you some support. Backup. 'Love', if you want to call it that. I'm going to push like hell to bring you and Blake back together so you can reconnect and learn the truth, and I'll be your shoulder if no one else will. I mean, I'll still do it, even if Blake gets to that point again, but…"
"I know what you mean," Ilia cut in. The pair simply stood for a few moments, before Ilia offered a final squeeze and broke the hug. "I'm starting to see what Blake sees in you." Ilia shook her head and wiped her eyes, before walking past Sun to sit on the bed with a huff. He turned his gaze to follow her, and smiled.
"So, is that a yes? Are you down for getting a little closer, and letting me help out?"
Ilia flopped backward onto the bed and spread her arms out to the sides as she stared up at the ceiling, her skin finally reverting to its normal tone.
"Sun… I have no one. I'll take whatever I can get… and you're far from the worst. Once we get all of this Haven stuff taken care of, I might need to lean on you a bit. Or a lot. I don't deserve to have you as a friend, but I am grateful that you're even considering."
Ilia's eyes widened as she was launched a few inches into the air from Sun impacting the space next to her. "Well, we don't always get what we deserve, huh? Venting isn't so bad, right? I can take it."
"So I've noticed." Ilia flinched as a knock came at the side of the door. Acting on reflex, she shifted her skin to match the sheets and stood up into a squat. "Sun, I need to go."
Sun sat up and immediately put a hand on her shoulder, while shaking his head. "Who is it?" he called out.
"Kali," came the reply through the wall. "Can I come in? I made you something."
Ilia's eyes widened, and she bit her lip. "No, no, no, no. Sun, I can't. She used to be like a mother to me, after… the incident. She probably hates me, now, a-"
"Yeah, sure! C'mon in!" Sun gave Ilia's shoulder a squeeze as she looked at him in disbelief. "Trust me. Kali's good people. She wouldn't turn you away."
"Sun, it's not about turning me away, it's about the fact that I feel like dog shit and I don't wa-"
Ilia was cut off as the door slid open, and Kali walked in carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups. Kali froze as she caught sight of the crouching chameleon faunus atop the mattress, and Ilia shifted her skin back to normal with a worried look.
"…Ilia? It's been years! Wait here, I'll get another cup."
Kali set the tray down upon an ottoman and disappeared back through the doorway as Ilia simply fell backward to sit upon the bed with Sun's hand still on her shoulder.
"See? We already told her you were cool. Just go with it."
"Just go with it," Ilia repeated. "Is everything really so simple to you?"
"Most things, yeah. For the things that aren't, I have Blake. Well… I'm getting to that point, because she's forcing me to let her in. You're not the only one who doesn't want to talk out their issues, but it's helped me a lot. It's time I pass that on to you," Sun replied as he dropped his grip to sit beside her.
Ilia rolled her eyes and leaned forward to punch Sun in the leg. "I reserve the right to hit you over the head with the tea cup and run, if I so choose. Stop being so… mushy, and positive, and... eugh. It's gross."
Sun rubbed at his thigh and chuckled while shaking his head. "No can do, Ilia. That's just how I am, and you could stand to be more positive. You'd be happier."
"I'm not worried about being 'happy', right now. I'm worried about stopping an attack on Haven and getting Blake to look at me with something less than intent to kill," Ilia replied as Kali walked back into the bedroom and slid the door shut. She picked up Sun's discarded weapon from the chair near the door and propped it up behind the edge of the door, essentially locking it in place.
"Um… what…?" Ilia asked as she rose from the bed with Sun in tow.
Kali turned back to face the pair with a smile as she spun the teacup around her finger. "Oh, if Ghira catches you, you're dead. That will buy us enough time to throw you off the balcony, if he comes calling. Now, come here, and get a long overdue hug."
"A hug?" Ilia asked incredulously. "I… I attacked Blake and Sun, infiltrated your home multiple times, and…"
"And I've been worried sick about you. So yes, a hug," Kali insisted as she approached with open arms. Ilia tensed horribly, before Sun gave her a gentle shove to the small of her back and she stumbled forward.
Kali caught the unbalanced girl, and Ilia threw her arms around Kali's waist as she half-fell into a warm embrace. Kali took a deep breath in of Ilia's hair, and mouthed 'thank you' to Sun over her shoulder. He returned the gesture with a wink as he folded his arms.
Ilia pulled back after a few seconds and whirled on Sun, her scales a furious crimson. "You're an ass."
"A pretty fine ass, at that," Kali commented. It was Sun's turn to blush as he made his way to one of the waiting chairs, and sank down into it while Kali moved to set up tea on the coffee table.
"Yeah, I know," Sun replied. Ilia took the seat across from Sun and glared at him, her cheeks and facial scales a light pink as her skin shifted back to its almond tone.
"So," Kali began as she turned to Sun, "I originally came to apologize to you for breaking a window and cutting you up in the process. I saw that Cinnamon had you, and it was the quickest way to get you loose," Kali explained as she took a chair between the two teens.
Sun waved a hand, and used the other to begin pouring the three of them tea. "Nah, it's no big deal. I need an excuse to lay around for a day anyway, so let's call it a favor. Besides, there are more important things to talk about, right here, right now," Sun said with a grin. Ilia used her middle finger to massage the inside corner of her eye as Kali looked at Sun.
"I suppose you're right… and rest, you will. I trust my daughter, but I want to check your wounds… and the burn on your hand."
"…sorry…" Ilia added as she took her tea and stared down into the liquid. "And don't say it's fine. It won't help me feel any less guilty," she added quickly.
Sun nodded and respected her request, as Kali sat back into her chair. "Hey, Kali? Are you alright? She didn't get any hits in, did she?"
Kali smirked as she took a drink, before shaking her head. "Nothing noteworthy, but she did come close, a few times. I like her."
"You like her?" Sun balked as he nearly spilled his tea and jerked forward to keep the cup steady.
"That sounds like something you'd say, yeah," Ilia said as she gave Kali a deadpan look.
"Let me clarify- I like her in the way that she's definitely going to be a challenge, and I very much look forward to knocking her smug ass out. She's a woman who knows what she wants, and that's always fun to be around. I'm calling her as my rival, in this little anti-Fang crusade," Kali stated as she crossed her legs.
Sun shook his head. "But… I thought you were against this? Now, you're 'calling' a rival?"
"Well, if we're going to war, I might as well have some fun with it," Kali said nonchalantly.
"…gods, I missed you," Ilia said as she set her tea down onto the coffee table. Sun merely looked back and forth between both of the women in disbelief as he tried to make sense of the situation. "You haven't changed at all."
"I missed you too, honey," Kali replied with a warm smile. "Having Blake back, and now you as well, is a welcome surprise… not to mention Sun, here. Things had gotten so lonely, and dreary in Kuo Kuana that I was starting to get bored and listless. The three of you bring some youth back into these walls, and it's stirring some old feelings."
Ilia hesitated, before leaning in and hiking a brow. "Which old feelings are we talking about? The kind that led to you taking Blake and I bra shopping, only to get caught by Ghira in the marketplace? He looked like he wanted to die, when you called him over."
Kali met Ilia's statement with a wicked grin. "Something like that, yes. Now, I can put that sort of energy into teasing these two," Kali said while hiking a thumb at Sun. Ilia narrowed her eyes and shot him a predatory smirk that reminded him a little too much of Blake for comfort.
Sun put his hands up defensively, and offered them both his best disarming grin. "Ladies, please. I think we can come to a reasonable conclusion, here, that doesn't involve embarrassing me. I'm an injured man! I need rest!" he joked as he reached for his tea.
"What you need is pampering, and being injured makes you vulnerable," Kali countered.
Ilia nodded, and took a sip of her tea. "Don't think I won't help, when and where I can. Help annoy, embarrass, and occasionally pamper, that is."
"Okay, okay. Tell you what," Sun said as he stood with his tea. "I'm gonna go take a lap around the house, and leave you two to scheme and plot my demise."
Kali's ears shot up as she gave Sun a worried look. "Are you sure? We can tone it down… slightly."
Sun shook his head, and gave Kali a shrug. "It's not that, really. I feel like stretching my legs a bit, and Ilia can't stay on her own for too long, without it looking suspicious. Take this opportunity, tonight, to catch up, and we can talk later. Sound good?"
Kali gave Sun a slow nod, and set her tea down before standing to offer him a gentle hug. Sun returned the gesture with one hand while keeping his tea steady with the other. He let the embrace linger as Kali leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"…you're a good man. Thank you, Sun."
Sun merely nodded in return, before offering Ilia a small, two-fingered salute. "I'll see you around, scalie."
Ilia huffed in the middle of a mouthful of tea, and swallowed before shooting him a glare. "Oh whatever, monkey boy."
Sun smiled to himself as he scooped up his weapon and slipped out the door. He took a sip of his tea as he made his way down the halls with no destination in mind. Almost without realizing it, he snapped his weapon apart and began to twirl the device while walking and reflecting upon the events of the day.
A sudden vibration from inside of his pocket broke his train of thought, and Sun folded his weapon back down into a short rod before stashing it in one of his belt loops. He fished around in his pocket for his scroll, and found a message from Blake with a photo of herself peeking over the collar of a new, wine-red dress shirt. Sun grinned and fired back a simple message of 'Looks great', followed by a heart. He moved to stash the scroll back in his pocket, when it vibrated once again.
Sun quirked a brow as he moved the scroll back into his line of sight, only to see a new message chain with a portrait of Ilia next to the notification. He tapped the grey bubble to bring up the text, and a warm feeling spread through his core as he read the brief admission.
Thank you. I really needed this, tonight.
Sun slid his thumb across the scroll to send a reply.
I know. Reconnect with her. We can hang out soon, once this is all sorted.
Another reply came quickly, and Sun took a quick drink as he read.
I hope so.
A sudden, unexpected thought pulsed through Sun's mind as he considered the situation. At first, he moved to put the scroll away once again, before he drew it back out and set his thumb on autopilot as he took another sip, refusing to look at the screen as he typed.
Me too, little sis.
Sun began to walk once again, partially to try to distract himself. He half hoped that Ilia wouldn't respond, but said hopes were dashed as another text came in almost immediately.
…little sis?
Sun took in a deep breath as his thumb slid across the scroll once again. "Well, no going back now…"
Yeah, why not? Like I said, I've got your back, and I'm not going away, even if you want me to. Besides, a little sister is supposed to make your life a living hell, and I have a funny feeling you're working on that right now with Kali.
Sun stopped walking once again as he stared at the screen, this time praying for a reply. He took a final nervous sip to drain his teacup, and felt his heartbeat pick up as another message popped onto the screen.
You can't prove anything, big bro.
As he made his way down to the kitchen to drop off the empty cup, Sun found that he couldn't remember another time in his life when he'd smiled so wide.
Author's Note:
According to the 'chapter pacing guide' I made a few weeks ago, events are already 5 chapters behind where I thought they would be at Chapter 25. At this rate, the story will never end. There's just too much potential in Sun, Blake, Ilia, Adam, and the Belladonnas to rush things, so I'm going to just keep pushing ahead and say that I have no goddamned idea on a projected chapter count. There is a long way to go.
As a side note, I'm switching the Ghira character tag to Ilia, since everyone's favorite lizbian is going to be playing a much larger role than Ghira, as time goes on. After all, 'What You Stole' refers to many things in this story…
Next update on Tuesday, the 19th.
-RD