Prompt #9: Drive
Rating: G
He opened to his mouth to wonder, to ask, as she yanked open the passenger door and climbed in, long black strands of hair settling about her shoulders as if the static electricity was still diffusing out of them. But she slammed the door shut, and his mouth closed soundlessly as he turned mutely ahead. "Drive." He hadn't heard that particular brand of calm in a long time.
He hadn't felt this jittery behind the wheel since adolescence. He licked his dry lips. "What did he say?" She was the brooding sort – she'd brood forever if left to her own devices.
As expected, she was silent, then in a very brittle voice – "He refused, of course. What did you expect? My father-dearest practically gave it to him for free."
So used to her moods and thorns he didn't even flinch. "You must have thought you might be able to change his mind, otherwise why bother with the trip?" Not to mention that outfit… he smiled inwardly. She'd take his head off, no question.
"No need to remind me." She picked absently at the fabric of the seat. "I'll just slam him over the phone next time. It's my home. I'll get it back," she said, more to herself than to him.
They'd been friends since primary school – he could hear when she hurt. "Maybe this is a good thing." He tried to broach the topic as carefully as possible. "You've lived at the shrine your entire life. Maybe now would be a good time for a change."
He could feel her stare burning a hole in his neck. "It's all I have. All my memories."
"All the hurtful memories too…" God, he must really have a death wish… surely she wouldn't hurt the driver? One could never tell with Rei. But he left the question hanging. Some things were better not to voice out loud.
She knew. Her father had vanished from her life at the bottom of those steps. Her mother in that room across the hall. Grandfather- The tears welled unbidden and she swiped at them angrily, forgetting she was wearing mascara.
"Hey-"
"You're right." His eyes widened a fraction. "But even so, I refuse to let a tycoon like Jacen Lancaster take it away from me," she continued, staring steadfastly out the window. "I've been fighting against his kind ever since I could remember. My father. And Kaidou. They don't get to win."
"You know, that kind of stubborn thinking will get you really hurt someday."
She snorted. "I'm already screwed up." Her voice was light and self-deprecating, but the black streaks ran the curve of her cheek, rounding her chin, dripping onto the white of her skirt.