Saving Soul

Anja scowled. "Don't just leave him! Think of how I feel!"

Voltaire paused. Despite his words, he didn't want Adair to get drowned or killed in any other way. That would defeat the whole point of his life at the moment.

"...Whatever. I'll get lunch. You don't drown him and you don't rape her, and we're good."

"I would not-"

"Just saying."

Anja was at a loss for words. She scowled instead. "Jerk" She muttered

Adair was seething. For would to even suggest that-

Some black and white flames were coming out of mouth. In alarm he rushed a good distance outside, where he worked on suppressing the Chiaroscuro attack. It eventually worked, Adair feeling only a little tired from the effort. He noticed Voltaire nearby, who had just the faintest smirk.

"C'mon, let's go," he said, turning around. "Girl's got someone taking care of her. We need to get going."

It took a moment for things to sink in, and then Adair was angry all over again.

"You did that on purpose," the redhead growled lowly.

"Eh?" asked Voltaire, trying to give an oblivious look. It wasn't very convincing.

"You said those things because you knew I would get mad enough to go Chiaroscuro. Then I would have to leave or risk attacking her in Chiaroscuro," Adair went on, swaying slightly. "You...You..."

Voltaire's feigned innocence soon gave way to real alarm as Adair's expression suddenly grew dead calm.

------

Goddamit, Voltaire thought later, as he lay there beaten up and stained with black and white. I've got to plan out this kind of thing better...

(And maybe this will keep Voltaire out of the way for a while. He's such an attention hog sometimes :P)

(lol nice)

Anja had been cringing at the sounds of combat coming from outside the cave. She looked worried as Adair walked back in the cave. "What happened to your friend?" she asked

"Beat him up. He'll be fine," Adair said dully, plopping down on the cave floor. "...I'm a terrible person."

"You're a hero. They're all terrible, but that's beside the point. You shouldn't let him manipulate you like he does."

"That's why I beat him up," Adair stated flatly. "I found out that he tricked me, so I got mad and beat him up. That's still bad though. If it weren't for him I'd be long dead. Worse than dead."

"What's worse than being dead?" Anja asked. "You can't do anything when you're dead"

"Not having any emotions but still being alive," Adair replied. "Having your heart dead but not you."

"..." Anja looked afraid. "Is that even possible?" She whispered

"If it wasn't I wouldn't be in my current situation," said Adair. "Everything would be fine if that wasn't possible."

"What.... What is your situation?" Anja asked softly.

"...My family kills your heart when you grow up," he answered in his dulled state. If his feelings weren't still so muted, he would have known better. "They believe the desires and emotions of the heart are evil, so they kill it without killing you to make you become the perfect Hero. My...Mine's not dead, just injured. Ava helped me escape. But...my heart's still weak. That's why there's Chiaroscuro."

"chiaroscuro?" Anja asked. "What is that?"

"When I was spilling out soul before. Black-and-white stuff. What I did earlier, when you summoned the rocks," Adair explained. "I don't feel anything when I'm like that. If my heart was completely dead then it would be like that all the time. The absence of feelings, I mean, not the soul-spilling. We're not sure exactly what causes the soul-spilling."

Anja bit her lip and looked away. "Maybe its because your heart is in turmoil, and that's all the parts making you upset..." She whispered. She really didn't know but she wanted to say something to try and comfort him. He had it worse than she did...

"I guess that could be it..." Adair answered, before smirking slightly. "According to our demon doctor I should be dead or comatose ten times over, but I'm still here. Sometimes barely, but still here."

He yawned, starting to feel sleepy.

"Shouldn't you feel lucky." Anja sighed. "I guess it just means you're stronger than they think"

"I know I should, it's just I always feel depressed as hell after Chiaroscuro. More of a side effect than an actual natural depression," Adair explained. "Makes me tired too. Will probably sleep soon."

"Go ahead. I'm not stopping you." Anja mumbled. She laid down herself, curling with her back to him.

Adair decided to go ahead and sleep, laying down himself. He would feel much better once the aftereffects of Chiaroscuro was slept off some.

"Shouldn't you check on your friend?" Anja asked.

"He should be fine. This kind of thing has happened before," replied Adair, who in truth was still a bit irritated with the Hunter. "Ava should be able to look out for him. She's our familiar."

Anja sat up. "I have no idea what you mean with anything you say. You need to explain these word you keep using."