Onyx
"It was always you." The one I always woke up longing for. The one I had presumed to be dead.
I awoke from my nightmares as I always had, expecting the emptiness to swirl around me like an empty mirage of your once-held sweetness. Yet this time was different. For the first time since I had these dreams, I woke up to another's embrace.
I slowly blinked as your sweet face came into focus. Every feature etched with an exhausted edge, and not even that could subtract from the beauty I saw in you then.
I drew closer to that feeling and cupped his cheek softly. I didn't stop to think of the consequences; I merely leaned forward and stopped just before his lips. I paused, looking up to meet his startled gaze. I searched his eyes for consent. I waited, giving him time to take in my wakefulness.
He stared at me with those deep eyes, the ones that always made me want to get to know him more. I breathed softly, hoping he would nod or give me some indication. It seemed as if he was still taking me in, calculating my intentions toward him, so I pulled away before our lips could touch.
"Are you really awake?" he asked while looking at me as if he were worried I would fall back asleep. I nodded. "Of course." He studied me for a minute, chewing his lip. "It's been weeks."
The revelation was new to me. I looked around slightly. "Weeks?" The glow of the walls within the cave-like area did little to show the passage of time. "What about Pixie? How does she fare?" Abyss looked at me and softly shook his head. "I am not sure... I couldn't leave your side. I presumed she had attendants to care for her."
I nodded, but worry still encompassed me. "I need to get back to her as soon as possible." He agreed but said, "Well, yeah, but first we have some things to discuss. And do you want Pixie to see you in this state? Are you mentally well enough?" He pointed to my chest. I looked down and saw a sticky balm of kelp and oyster stuff over my wound, blocking out the water and keeping my blood within me.
"Ah..." I realized the situation as my memories of that came to mind. Why did I do that? It was like an intense wave of unbearable emotions had washed over me, but right now I felt my head clear and my pulse steady itself. I did not feel as if Abyss was in great turmoil either as of now.
"I am okay, mentally, at least. Really, I'm fine." I tried to persuade him as he stared at me with skepticism. The water seemed to shift in an uncomfortable atmosphere as our conversation turned like this. "So... you were wanting to talk?" I had little place to move without falling off the bed, given my sheer size in this form, so I just winced as I received his sharp stare.
"You... why did you do it?" As if echoing my earlier confusion regarding my own actions, he wasted no time and started with that. "I don't know either. I felt like I connected to your emotional state somehow. The feeling on top of my own was too overwhelming. I am sorry. I shouldn't have startled you like that." He sighed. "Since when did you have that power?"
"I really am not sure of anything. Every time I try to recall some things it's like I'm hitting a blank wall. I felt the same way regarding your identity. Flashes of the truth come and go in waves. I didn't know I had that power or if I even truly do; I just felt like I needed to fix the situation somehow."
He stared at me, his face contorting. "And you thought a good way to do it was to harm yourself in front of me? Do you have no value for your life?" His voice raised at an edge as he asked the question. "I almost lost you and I would have regretted it happening like that for the rest of my life!"
I was quiet, letting him speak without interruption. I wanted him to get out all of his emotions. Abyss was the sort who, as much as he has layers to him but an honesty that shows despite it, rarely if ever confided in me about much of anything. Finally having this conversation was like unlocking a level to our relationship that we had steered clear of before. There was no question regarding who the other was, where they came from, or what their intentions were. For the first time, it felt like I was really getting to see who Abyss was.
He continued, "I know I am responsible. I know I threatened you. I'm sorry. No, I'm also pissed off. You killed my entire tribe and I get angry once and you steal my chance of proper revenge from me. You made me worry!"
He seemed to battle with what way he wanted to react, the emotions conflicting in him. It reminded me a bit of Pixie whenever she struggled to say sorry. I understood, given that Abyss didn't grow up with his parents or many elders due to my family, so he never learned how to control his emotions or handle things the same way. I wasn't upset though; I preferred he would yell at me instead of giving me those pained eyes.
"I felt so much guilt while waiting for you to wake up. I messed up with my outburst. I was just scared and angry. I didn't mean to take it that far; I didn't want to," he said with a crack in his voice.
"It's okay, but what do you mean by I ruined your revenge. Isn't it a good thing if I stopped existing?"
He shook his head slowly. "No, I admit I was against you as well, but I know you were a kid. At first I surmised that killing you would dismantle and hurt your tribe the most. The Akkorokamui love their own species. Then I saw that you were outcast by them, that you didn't seem to be like them. The ones I really want revenge on are the ones who pushed you to this point, the ones that I really believe are responsible."
He let that sink in, suddenly looking me directly in the eyes with a sharp edge. "Tell me everything you know about your people. I want to completely annihilate your tribe."