WRW

Well... This took longer than expected.

Yonder

The world is kinda going up in flames.

WRW

Eh, true. Anyway though, sorry for the wait everyone. This chapter was both a challenge to write and life is also seemed to want to get in the way at every opportunity. It's a little shorter than what I hoped to write but dragging it out any more would have been worse in my opinion. So I hope you enjoy this Neo centric chapter and look forward to the next one.

You owe me.

...

They were the last words Neo spoke to Fen, or more accurately, the last words she got a response to since two weeks ago.

Those two weeks became agonizing days of silence and depression for Neo as she was largely ignored by the only person that could provide her with any true companionship. Each day causing the ever looming question to grow more uncertain: 'Will he speak to me today?'

Fen always kept a fair distance between them, the occasional hushed mutterings reaching her ears but when she'd ask what he was saying he'd instantly shut down and cease speaking for the rest of the day. The only time she was ever allowed to close the distance between them was when they set up camp for the night, but even then Fen made sure to stay on the opposite side of the fire they'd make. Occasionally Neo would get an answer out of him in the form of a nod or shake of his head, but it was usually only about the food they ate or how long much progress they had made towards the next town; which incidentally, they were a mere week away from reaching the next town.

The strangest part of the last two weeks had been the fact that they had not been bothered once by grimm, and Neo knew well enough her own mental state alone should have brought something near them. After the first week she had realized that reason most likely lay with Fen and the Omega inside him, but since he refused to speak to her, she had no way of confirming her suspicions.

Winter was beginning to set in on the land of Vale, and each day it felt as though the bite of the wind grew more chilling. With their auras it wasn't much of an issue for their health, but that still did not make it pleasant to endure. This was simply sinking Neo's mood ever lower as she glared into the back of Fen's skull as he walked ahead of her; a gust of wind causing her to shiver as she thought to herself:

He asked me to give him space, but I don't think I would have agreed if I knew he would have become this distant because of it. Even with the occasional times I do catch his gaze, he looks away in what seems like shame… but who is that shame for?

Neo couldn't help the small growl in her throat as she thought back to that night. Something happened back in that village before I told him about my past. Looking back, he was already acting strange when he had come out from the shower; but I was too focused on my own nervousness to take notice at the time. Considering his reaction after hearing about my past, and the words he said, I can't be sure he would have told me even if I had asked him about it; he most likely would have pushed whatever it was down and acted like nothing happened. By that logic, it's probably better that he's doing whatever he needs to now and not there not be a mental break during a time when our lives are in danger.

… at the same time I'm getting very tired of talking to myself for weeks on end.

Left with her own thoughts, Neo tried to distract herself from focusing on Fen for a few moments and choosing instead to gaze at the scenery around them. But try as she might, everything seemed plain and uninteresting to her critical eyes, there was simply nothing that struck her photographer's spirit that was worth raising her scroll to capture. It didn't take long before she found herself once again staring back at Fen.

Well that passed all of, she peered down at her scroll, one minute? Ugh, this feels like cruel and unusual punishment to myself rather than respecting his wishes. If it really is shame that he's feeling, then what could it possibly be towards?

Neo pondered for a while trying to list everything that she could possibly conceive, but couldn't make it past three options. AHG! Ok, think this through Neo. Someone must have talked to him when he left the room, that made him aware of… something. It evidently unsettled him and he spent his time in the shower thinking about it. He then was on the tipping point of either denying or accepting it before I told him about my past, and something about that action tipped the scales towards acceptance. Now he's struggling to understand possibly how that realization came to be? It obviously involves me somehow, but the only things I can think of are that Fen sees his team in me, he sees me in a way he experienced in his team, or there is something about me he thinks he shouldn't be feeling. And for none of those do I know of any way that I could do anything that would resolve or even aid the situation!

In a fit of silent frustration, Neo nearly wanted to tear her own luscious hair out as she tried to think of a solution. The frantic motions caught Fen's attention and caused him to glance back, the smallest of smiles catching the corner of his lips, but he soon shook his head and focused back on the trail in front of him; this all occurring without Neo's awareness thanks to her internal tirade.

Day soon turned to night and they found themselves once more around a campfire to help deal with the stinging cold. Fen had not once left the campsite to her knowledge in the last two weeks to do his 'training', something Neo realized that what she experienced could not have been a dream and that Fen had covered up the fact that he knew she had spied on him for her own sake; though she still couldn't name a reason for why he did so. As she watched his sleeping form from across the fire, Neo continued to contemplate what she could do to change their situation.

It was after I spied on him that things changed slightly. He could have easily called me out then but didn't. Maybe he wanted me to admit to doing it myself? Well, not that I think he cares about that anymore; if it's about trust then telling him about my past told him where I stand on the matter.

…

Wait, could that be what tipped the scales on whatever realization he came to, having my trust?

Neo's gaze hardened on Fen's sleeping form. If that's the case, then what does he feel ashamed of that resulted from knowing he has my trust? His lack of control over the Omega? No, even if that's part of it, there must be more things compounding the issue. Maybe something he's doing now that he didn't when his team was still alive? But again that leaves me with no way to help without knowing what it is. Ugh! Everything about this situation is just so frustrating!

Balling up, Neo rested her head on her knees while she took deep breaths to calm her mind. Once her breathing steadied out, she looked up and reached out a hand towards the fire to where it made it look like her hand lingered just above Fen's head. Making a fist, she mimed smacking him a few times to vent her frustrations towards the man; but after doing so her hand relaxed and went to miming a gentle stroking motion.

Why do I find it so hard to stay angry with him? Besides a few similarities in our pasts, we are almost total opposites. Yes he can hear me, but I got used to not being able to be heard; that one thing shouldn't bring us so close. I suppose it could be considered natural in a way to form a more rapid connection after being constantly together for almost two months, but it almost feels as if we're closer than we should be.

An annoyed sigh left her as she retracted her hand, choosing instead to use it to rest her chin in her palm as she gazed over the fire. What do I feel for him exactly? He's more than the mere tool I first envisioned him being, but at the same time he's neither what I'd consider family or even a friend. Saying he's simply my companion or comrade doesn't fit either. It's as though he exists in a place in my mind that I don't have a name to describe him with.

All I know is that there is this desire to continue being together that I can't explain. My thirst for revenge hasn't diminished one ember since we began this journey and I doubt that will change, but if… no, when we achieve our goal of destroying those who took everything from us, I can't see us parting ways. I would almost say he's the crutch I'm using to hold myself together, but again that isn't quite right either. It's more like Fen's the tether that prevents me from losing myself in my lust for vengeance.

But what does that even mean!? Neo kicked out and flailed like a child before flopping back and staring up at the stars. If I value him enough to say he's what is keeping me grounded, then why can't I put a name to what the relationship between us is? Sitting up she looked back at Fen. And what does he see me as exactly? Is that also part of what's been tormenting him? Could he be feeling ashamed for seeing me as something he thought he'd only experience in his team, and that by feeling it for me he's betraying them? That makes more sense than my other theories, but that option is even more impossible for me to help him through; interference from me would only make things far worse if I turned out to be correct.

Hhhaaa, this scenario feels like it has no right answers. Waiting is driving me crazy, not waiting would probably only make things worse, and through it all I am forced to watch him torture himself because of reasons I don't even know about for certain. If he talked to me then I could probably help in some way, even if it was just to listen; but that seems unlikely to occur given he's already remained silent for the past two weeks.

Fen shifting in his sleep snapped Neo out of her pondering to see that it appeared he was experiencing a nightmare. There was a glistening of sweat on his brow as he murmured and rolled. Neo nearly called out to him mentally to wake him when a sob reached her ears. She couldn't help but stand up to see that Fen was indeed crying in his sleep as he clutched his sides as though holding someone close to him. Moving over to shake him awake, it was by pure luck that Neo managed to catch the choked-out words that passed his lips; her outstretched hand freezing inches from him as she leaned over him.

"T-thrud...c-c-can I...feel...this w-way? Can I...c-care?"

Care? Is that all this is about? Caring about me? Neo wondered as her hand remained frozen, just a small distance from a fringe of hair that had fallen across Fen's face in his turbulent sleep. Do I… care about him? About what happens to him?

The question lingered in the forefront of Neo's mind as she witnessed the subconscious pain that had been brought to the surface by Fen's dream. She caught sight of the glistening of a tear as it rolled down his cheek, and seeing it made up her mind.

With a gentle touch, so light that her fingertips barely brushed his skin as she moved the fringe of hair behind his ear, Neo softly projected her voice as a whisper.

Shhhh, it's okay~. It's alright to care. No one will ever hold it against you for caring about someone.

She worried that her actions would cause Fen to wake, but it appeared as though his fatigue was so great that it kept him in the land of dreams for a while longer; although Neo's words and touch did not go without effect.

Fen's tossing eased, and the arms clutching around himself went lax with one of them falling off his side. The pained look that had marred his face was replaced with one of contentment, his nightmare ended.

Neo was about to turn around and go back to the other side of the fire when she caught one last thing passing from Fen's lips, one final tear accompanying it.

"I...miss you."

A breath caught in her throat as tears sprung from her own eyes as his words brought memories of Roman to the forefront of her mind. Feelings of loss crept through her as she was forced to confront the fact that made them the most similar, their shared experience in losing the ones they loved. One single idea came to mind to at least ease Fen's burden, even if only in sentiment.

She focused on the mental image of a girl she had only managed to glimpse by accident many weeks ago when Fen was on his scroll. Letting her semblance do the rest, in a flash she stood there in a new body. A long golden braid flowed down her back with the moonlight dancing across her now slightly tanned skin. Hugging her chest was an ornate silver breastplate with a combat skirt of equal color that flowed down to her knees, a small winged circlet resting on her brow. Golden eyes combined with the soft light of the moon and stars giving her an almost ethereal presence, stood the body of Thrud Edda.

Even if she knew it was a false image, Neo hoped that she could in some way use this small trick to act in the girl's stead and impart what she would wish for him to hear through this form.

Kneeling down, Thrud's form bent over ever so carefully towards Fen's face. Feeling her heart pounding as though it would jump right out of her chest, she steeled herself to continue with what she planned. Holding her braid so that it would not dare to ruin the moment, she ever so lightly allowed her lips to touch Fen's brow in a ghost of a kiss. Then pulling back, moving her lips as she whispered the thought, she said:

"We will be with you. Always."

Then, while carefully standing and retreating to the other side of fire, Thrud's image disappeared in a cascade of pink light as Neo returned to her normal self. Looking back at Fen, she could see the tiniest of smiles at his lips as fresh tears rolled down his cheeks. She hoped that she had done the right thing and in some small way actually accomplished aiding Fen, even if he'd never know that she was the one that did so.

She'd let him have tonight to rest. After what she had witnessed, waking him later just didn't feel right. Plus it also gave her time to consider something that had occurred to her when she had sought to comfort him just then; something that might take awhile to find an answer to.

… Just how much do I care for him?

Yonder

This right here ^, this good shit. Give me more.

WRW

*Smack* Down girl! You'll have to wait like everyone else.

Yonder

*Whines*

WRW

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed and if you did make sure to let me know with a review. If you want more then make sure to follow so you get notified whenever I drop a new chapter. Until next time.

Stay awesome everyone, WRW out.