Chapter 10 - Trust

Aloe stared at me with a strange expression on her face, like she shifted between relief and shock, to even fear. She stood at the doorway not quite letting me in, and remained still without saying anything at all. The silence completely put a halt to all the chaos that filled my mind, to the point where I can only focus my eyes on Aloe, and wait for her to speak to me, or move aside and let me into the door; she appears as if she is considering just shutting the door in my face completely. The silence is broken by Bastion clearing his throat out of my view, but he walks into view of the doorway; Aloe still has her gaze completely fixated onto me.

“So how was work?” Bastion says with a snarky voice as he turns and walks out of view from the doorway again.

Aloe chuckles almost instinctively at the snarky remark from Bastion. She looks towards the ground as she gets her laugh out, then looks back up to me, the expression on her face once fearful is now soft, and calm.

“Well, can’t say I didn’t warn you. Hurry in.” Aloe says while making space for me to walk into the apartment.

I partly feared that I would just be thrown to the curb, I was burnt, and I have become a danger to just be around, so the logical thing to do would be to abandon me and let me fend for myself. But these two aren’t doing that, they are welcoming me as if I had not just escaped the entire police force, and as if I haven't become the most wanted person in Eccacia, and especially the Capital City.

That makes me feel strange, I have not felt this kind of strangeness for a while, not since Paul back in The War, and not since Angela way before him.

“Thanks, Aloe and Bastion.” I say as I enter the apartment with my eyes glued to the floor.

“For what? We are all in the same boat now.” Bastion says

I look towards Bastion and then to Aloe, they both have understanding looks on their faces, full of compassion and kindness, and that alone provides me with enough security to at least trust them for the moment.

“I guess you’re right about that.” I say while letting out a light laugh.

Aloe’s expression suddenly shifts into concern, she looks at me as if she is analyzing my movement, or my face.

“Zee… I have to ask.” She says and pauses again.

“W-well?” I ask in response to her silence.

“On the news, they said you killed a policeman…” She says, not exactly a question but still seeking an answer.

“What?!” I yell.

Aloe flinches and I almost instantly calm down, not wanting to scare her. Still I am sure I didn't kill anyone, I would never kill someone who didn’t deserve it. Still the doubt is creeping up on me. Did I go too far? Did my fight with the two police officers result in a death and I didn't realize? No, that can’t be, that has never happened before, I have never unknowingly taken a life, but still. What if?

“No, I didn’t.” I say, my voice carrying the same doubt I have in my mind, and Bastion along with Aloe don’t exactly look convinced.

“Well, I suppose that’s good enough.” Bastion says as he lightly shakes Aloe by the shoulder.

Aloe’s expression is particularly unsure, she is doubting me, and I don’t blame her for it.

“Aloe.” The voice of Shira calls out from the only bedroom in the apartment.

I look at Aloe, the look on my face probably a mix of shock and confusion and she forces a smile.

“She woke up not even 5 minutes ago.” Aloe says as she turns and walks to the room, she closes the door behind her.

With Aloe gone it is just me and Bastion in the living room, a shadow of awkwardness dawns upon the room.

“She may not believe you, but she wants to trust you, that should be worth something.” Bastion breaks the silence.

“What do you think then? Do you think I killed an officer?” I ask almost aggressively.

Bastion squints at me, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

“What do I think? I think Aloe has hope when you are with her, I think despite the obvious fact that you are a psycho product of war, she still wants to believe you aren’t capable of killing an innocent.” Bastion says.

I look towards the ground and Bastion continues.

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“I think you’re dangerous, I can see it in your eyes, you enjoy this kind of chaos, even if you don’t wanna believe it… but, I don’t think you killed that police officer, I know the way this country works their magic, that announcement was practically a theater performance.” Bastion says, he walks towards me and I look up toward him, that same compassionate look in his eyes as before.

“Son, you’ve been disgraced by this country.” He says and I look at the floor again.

Suddenly I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. I realize that no one has ever recognized what me, or any other person who went through Early Development and The War, has had to go through after it was all said and done. The scars it all left are not like physical ones, they don’t just fade over time, they stay in the same state forever. For the first time someone told me, out loud, the truth.

“Disgraced.” I say under my breath while trying to hold back the tears.

“Hey! Don’t use it as an excuse! Just like me you were disgraced, but you have a responsibility to people now, don’t go dying or causing chaos!” Bastion says in reference to Aloe.

His words snap me out of my chaotic mindset before it can even take form, he is right, I can’t just go down the deep end right now. Aloe needs me, and I need her, we both need each other in order to make it through this fucked up situation.

“You’re right. Sorry, sometimes I need someone to snap me back to reality. Thank you, Bastion.” I say while looking at the floor.

“Son, you need to start snapping yourself back to reality, do not force that responsibility on Aloe, she doesn’t deserve that burden.” Bastion says with a stern voice.

Bastion, despite being a compassionate person, is rightfully more concerned for Aloe’s well being.

“You’re right, again.” I say while letting out a defeated chuckle.

Bastion puts his hand on my shoulder and smiles, and for some reason I think back to my Dad. I have not seen him in so long, he went to fight in the war a few months before I got drafted into Early Development, and I never saw him again, but Bastion just reminded me of him. He would always pat my shoulder and reassure me with a smile, and I would always burst into tears. Before I knew it the tears started to flow freely.

Bastion has a satisfied look on his face.

“The hell. Why are you crying, Zee?” Aloe says from behind me.

Aloe stands at the doorway looking confused, and behind her I can see Sheera sitting up on the bed, also looking towards me, but she doesn’t look as confused as Aloe.

“H-huh? Oh! No reason.” I say as I turn away from her and wipe my tears away.

Bastion lets out a light chuckle before he begins to speak.

“Aloe, there is something you need to hear.” Bastion says.

Aloe’s expression shifts from confusion to a look of concentration, as if the tone of Bastion's voice has a hint of authority.

“I know you want to spend some time with your sister, her just waking up and all, but Zee here has caused quite the stir.” He looks at me.

“He has got to go, right now. And you’ve a choice to make, young lady.” Bastion says.

Though I am slightly surprised by his words, I kind of already knew this was the reality of my situation.

“You can stay if you want, but Zee cannot, there is too much heat on us if he stays.” Bastion presents Aloe with the choice to stay or go without directly saying it.

I know that she probably will choose to stay, she has her sister and herself to worry about, and I am the bigger burden. Even so, Aloe seems to be slowly processing what Bastion is saying; she comes to a realization a few seconds after Bastion speaks. Before she says anything, she looks towards Sheera, and Sheera nods while flashing a soft smile. Aloe walks towards me with a look of conviction in her eyes, and as if out of instinct, I take a few steps back in response. Before I can take even more steps back she grabs my hand and pulls me only a few inches from her face. I extend the posture in my back to get some space from her and she looks into my eyes as if she is trying to see into my mind.

“Zebedee.” Aloe says, and I am taken aback from her using my full name.

“Y-yeah.” I say nervously.

“I don’t like to get hurt, and I keep getting hurt whenever I am around you.” She says.

I can feel myself deflate at her words, I can almost hear her telling me that she cannot go with me before she says it, and she would be totally right to say it.

“If I go with you, will you be able to protect me?” Aloe says.

My eyes widen at her question, and my mind goes blank before I let out an instinctual response.

“H-huh? Y-yes of course!” I say loudly.

As the words leave my mouth I can help but feel like I have given her the wrong answer, but before I can even take it back she is already speaking.

“Well it's settled then.” Aloe says.

I have a urge to tell her to stay, I know that things will only get harder from now on but the words won’t leave my mouth. At this very moment, the only thing I really want more than anything is for Aloe to go with me, despite the assured hardships that lie before me, and despite me not being totally sure if I can protect her, all I want is for our time together to continue. Still I feel like I have to tell her that she should stay.

“W-wait-” I stutter and Aloe cuts me off.

“I know what you are gonna say, so don’t. I made my decision, I am no use to anyone if I stay here, so let's get the hell out of here.” Aloe says to me while looking directly into my eyes.

I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes again, and Aloe smiles.

“Well that certainly settles it. I really want to let you have this moment but time is of the essence, if you’re gonna go, you’ve got to go now.” Bastion urges us to leave.

“W-where do we even begin to escape though?” I question him.

Bastion lets out a frustrated sigh.

“I swear, why cause so much trouble when you are so clueless?” Bastion says to the both of us, but seemingly more to Aloe, as she looks away from him.

“Okay, a few blocks from here to the east there is a restaurant called ‘Cow Head Diner’, there is a big guy there who should be wearing a trench coat and a fedora, a real shady looking fellow, sit next to him and say the words ‘Summertime left as fast as it arrived’ and he’ll understand.” Bastion says.

Aloe nods and seems to buy his advice at face value, but I am not totally convinced.

“Bastion, who even is this guy? How do you even know he will be there?” I question him.

“He isn’t there right now, you have to go during the night, there is a criminal hideout along the way to the restaurant, there is a knife marked on the door, wait there until nightfall. It’s his job to help people disappear, trust me.” Bastion assures me.

“Why can’t we just wait here?” Aloe asks.

“Because you aren’t safe here, you think that you are the only one who knows I am still alive and living here?” A sense of urgency echoes through his voice.

As if seemingly right on time there is a knock on the front door.

“M-mistah B-Bastion please o-open up, t-tis an emergency!” The familiar nervous voice of Hippie can be heard on the other side of the door.

Aloe has a conflicted look of relief and fear in her eyes, I imagine I share the same look as I come to the same realization. Another knock on the front door echoes throughout the apartment.

“Hurry up ya old fool! Miss Angela says ya might be housing a couple troublemakers in ur humble abode!” The scratchy voice of Eppie says.

The two voices I was once relieved to hear that night a couple weeks ago now instills a sense of fear deep into my very core. If Angela really ordered the death of her sister, they surely must be here to finish the job.