RECOVERING
A day later, Linus was further up from a stream, standing on the pathway distant from Birchwood as his companion ran up the hill.
"You made it" he mentioned to her, "not a moment too soon"
His sister saw a view of the surrounding area, the parkland, the trail leading down, and the road back to Birchwood. From there, nearly the whole town was visible.
"Quite a view" Lucy noted, taking it in quickly, "but that's not why I'm here, and neither you, correct"
Linus nodded briefly.
"Sit down" he gestured, and she sat on the grass "…have you ever tried meditating".
"I can't remember" she answered as her eyes closed, Linus noticed she at least guessed how to start.
"Be still" he advised, walking around her, "I've meditated before, keep calm about it".
It was four minutes of meditation that had passed by, before her eyes opened.
"I can't get any progress" she muttered, "does this ever get me back in shape".
"Physically, no" Linus noted.
"Wait. But then…"
"…but it'll be peaceful. Close your eyes" he attempted to reassure his methods. She resumed her meditation.
"…how are you feeling?".
"Stuck" she said. Linus watched her squint, and tilt her head up.
"How long do you want to go for" he asked
"How long?, well I'd stop now" she exclaimed, "and then I'll get through all the stuff to make me tougher again. What's the strongest thing you know".
The young boy surpressed a sigh as he began to observe the view, and consider his way forward. She was probably going to be difficult to coach, and were they both up to getting past that.
"I'm wondering" Linus stated, "I don't know if you're that confident about being retrained…"
"but I"
"…retrained properly, I mean"
She decided to shrug at him in response, showing her disbelief.
"I can see it" he continued intently, "Where did the confidence from earlier go"
Lucy felt really surprised at how he phrased it.
"You mean arrogance"
Linus glanced down at her, "Arrogance"
Now she was sitting down, looking at some stones before his shoes.
"I was arrogant, thoughtlessly arrogant. And that drove me to do bad things. I hurt those I really had cared about, Linus. Especially my…"
"No I get it" Linus interrupted, "Believe me. You got arrogant, you thought you must always be right, even while you did what you did".
"And I found out I wasn't"
Linus sat down beside her, facing the other direction.
"I've wondered myself whether I've done the right thing sometimes."
"Is it regarding your s…"
Lucy stopped herself before she finished, knowing it'd risk revealing herself if she made the conversation refer to her too much.
Caught off guard, Linus sighed, "were you about to say my sister…it's been too complicated for a while"
She listened.
"…she's been really bossy, and the rudeness went too far. And also, I knew there was a point where it wasn't going to be excused.
"Let's not talk about her"
"But she was still good natured in a way" Linus continued to speak, "…From what you're telling me, you weren't right to do those hurtful things, not at all"
Lucy turned away. She didn't want to look at her brother.
"So if you're planning to stop, then wouldn't you be a bit less arrogant"
Lucy looked back, and he gave a faint smile.
"Was that supposed to be a test" Lucy cocked her head. Linus felt she was ready to proceed.
Linus was readied. He'd been training her more and more as the afternoon progressed, and now his new unidentified ally was getting in shape.
Lucy stared at her brother through her goggles, moving slowly back and forth. Then she lunged, and he dodged and popped up beside her.
"You put everything in one movement" Linus observed, "then what"
"How about this" she flung her arm but Linus moved it out of his way. She knocked a tree branch and grumbled.
"What's that supposed to be" Linus then had an inspiration, "you making it harder on yourself?"
She grabbed his leg, but he soon slipped out of it, "…should I've taught you how to hold things first"
"Stop talking" Lucy grumbled
"But then I can't instruct you anymore. And you really do need it"
"Linus, you bl…cementhead" Lucy was losing her temper.
"Am I making you mad?" Linus asked.
Lucy swung around him, "Yes"
Linus backed off, "That's the problem, it means I'm throwing you of your game"
He noticed her listen, "You're stuck working harder, when it's better to work smarter"
She moved at him again
"…assuming you are smarter"
Lucy, this time, listened and kept her cool. Linus saw her concentrate on his movement, as she stepped and he evaded. Then she made her own movement
A punch landed, and Linus was knocked back, landing on a high bank. He felt his chest, it wasn't really hurt, but he decided to lie there.
They had done enough, he thought. His friend had gotten back in shape.
Lucy was celebrating a bit, looking over her hands.
"I did it. I actually did it" she yelped, "and it's not like before, I feel…I feel tougher again"
On the bank, Linus chuckled and then began quietly rubbing the spot where he'd been hit, "Yes. You did it".
He was about to get off the bank, and then felt her hands on his upper arm, lifting him up. Lifting the goggles, she stared at him calmly.
"I suppose in my case, I did also have a pretty interesting mentor to get me there" she muttered, and gave him a bowed head.
Linus returned the gesture.
It had been late afternoon when the Van Pelts got back home. Or at least Linus did. Lucy didn't come back until half an hour later, if someone saw her enter her home, they'd realise who she was.
As she heard her brother in his room, Lucy took off her disguise, tossing the goggles and hood deep into the cupboard. Satisfied, she steeped back, assuming the coast was clear.
"I'd wondered if it was you with him today?"
She froze, going pale instantly. The cupboard was open, there was little chance of lying her way out.
"…don't you think Lucy"
It was Rerun, who was by the table, hand on his hip as he faced her.
"I…" the older sister began.
He moved around her, expecting her to continue what she was saying. She didn't, and he walked off.
"Don't tell" she blurted out.
Rerun bit his lip briefly, but paid attention.
…I got to know him better Rerun" Lucy explained, "as you told me I could've. I got to have this time with Linus"
"Lucy. People'll find out soon enough"
"I just need time to think of a escape" she explained, "Frieda and Patty Swanson know already, and are covering me"
Rerun was nodding, curious. Lucy asked once more.
"Just, keep this between the family, where it belongs Rerun"
"Keep what between the family?" he asked innocently
His reply confused Lucy, until she saw her brother give a sly smile, and a wink at her.
She smiled back and whispered, "Thanks".
A/N: So Lucy is getting trained by her brother, and few've realised it was her. This will continue to develop in the next chapter.