Could Be Worse [Awesome x Mayah]

[Mayah Playah]

Awesome nerd

Michaela immediately leaned into his embrace, her face buried into his chest and one hand clutching his shirt tightly. "You don't understand, this is all my fault! They didn't trust me to go, so they went instead. If I had just earned their trust...damn it!" Overtaken by her sobs once more, the young woman stayed curled in her guardian's arms, her pain shadowing a small hint of safety.  

[Its Smiley]

"Don't you dare think it was your fault." Alcott said gently while holding her close. "And even if you had gone instead, your parents would've been devastated if you had been gone."

 

[Mayah Playah]

Awesome nerd

Tightening her fist around his shirt, Michaela shuddered, a thought pounding at the back of her head that she was forgetting something. Shaking her head, she curled further into him. "B-but it WAS my fault! If I hadn't rejected that man...if I'd just done what he wanted..."  

[Its Smiley]

"There was a reason your parents chose to go instead, Michaela." Alcott said, feeling her tears soak his shirt. He was curious as to what this man Michaela was talking wanted, but he knew now wasn't the time to ask, so he just kept holding her and tried to comfort her. Damn, if he had his cigarettes things would be a lot easier!

 

[Mayah Playah]

"Yeah, to continue the curse on our family!" she retorted, venom dripping on the word 'curse'. Pulling her head from his chest and looking up, red-rimmed, tear-filled, yet still blazingly red-brown eyes staring into liquid pools of dark blue. "You were right to leave, Alcott. Our family is cursed, happiness rarely lasts. Why would you want to stay anywhere near us when all we have is pain and suffering to describe our past?" The hand clutching the letters let go, reaching up to move the wispy blond hairs from his face. "The ones you loved are gone. So why would you come back...and stay?"  

[Its Smiley]

Alcott snorted when she mentioned a curse. "It's only a curse if you treat it as such." he said and caressed her cheek to wipe away her tears with his thumb. "I'm staying because I promised them I would and look after you. Besides, I care about you, too." he said softly as the sun hid behind purple and orange clouds.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Her eyes softened, too focused on him to blush. "You do?" she whispered, mentally begging him to keep his hand on her cheek. "Why?"  

[Its Smiley]

"Why?" he raised an eyebrow. "Why not? I always had the.." He had trouble finding the right word. "Honor of seeing you anytime I saw your parents, and even though you were an annoying doofus most of the time, you were still a pretty cute kid." he smirked. Little did Alcott know that he cared about Michaela like a little sister, not at all like how she thought of him, and he didn't realize it because he was still stuck in semi-grief mode.

 

[Mayah Playah]

On the inside, Michaela deflated at the word 'kid'. That was all he thought of her as, a kid. What was even the point anymore? Why did she keep trying? After all, he didn't want her...and he likely never would. That shadow thing was wrong. Alcott was sixteen years older than her, too grown up to actually want an immature harlot like her. Why would he? Suddenly realizing her near-nakedness, Michaela pulled away from him, standing, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and moving to the mouth of the cave. "The first tie I came here on my own, Axel had just broken my heart. I was so depressed, I just wanted to curl up and never go back down. And then the sun set, and I saw the crystals change colors with the clouds. Look up...they're stunning."  

[Its Smiley]

Alcott watched her break away from the hug with a different emotion floating around her, although he couldn't quite pinpoint it. He did, however, notice the crystals on the walls of the cave and couldn't help but gape at their beauty. They shined in all sorts of colors, teleporting them into an entirely different world filled with beauty. The only thing that ruined his moment was when he saw the moon, bright and full. Bright and full. Bright... and full... "Oh no." Alcott breathed.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Turning at his outburst, she raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"  

[Its Smiley]

He quickly looked at her. "Nothing. I... We have to go. Now."' he said and started heading to the mouth of the cave, hoping his wings weren't bulging.

 

[Mayah Playah]

The teen nodded reluctantly, then held out her hand. "I need the letters. They can't leave the cave."  

[Its Smiley]

Alcott groaned and quickly picked up the papers, he strode over and put the papers in her arms. "Done? Then let's go." he said and waited for her to leave first.

 

[Mayah Playah]

Michaela quickly shoved the papers into a peephole, then eased herself out of the cave and over the edge. Just as both her legs were over, she lost her footing. Before the scream even left her lips, Michaela's terrified eyes met Alcott's, her plea for help already reaching out for him. She plummeted towards the rocks below, screaming.