The Library

My, that was some brainwashing he did... She's deep in there... But how to get her back? I grin. If Amaya's my friend, maybe her sister can be too...

"Interesting... I remember learning about apparition. Can be difficult."

'Yeah, he can't do it so i thought id learn it better, it'd be a nice surprise.' even though her words were sincere, she Couldnt help but feel she was missing something..

like she was empty somehow, it unnerved her.

Well... First step to friendship is gaining trust...

"I'd be glad to help you if you ever need help."

she nodded, hand unconsciously travelling to her stomach with the twist of unease that formed there.

"All right then... Just let me know when you need help..."

'i dont feel so well..' she muttered, still holding her stomach, face creased with worry.

"What's wrong?"

OOC I'M SO SORRY! My mom said she'd only be "a few minutes" on her computer. -_-

Ugh, and now I need to go! Dx I probably won't be back later (at least on the computer) since there's school tomorrow. :'( Bye!

its ok, i need to sleep anyway, pause?

'i feel weird, like Im stood on the edge of a cliff and Im about to be shoved off it..' she Couldnt describe it, she just felt wrong.

Cold. Shut off. Nearly emotionless.

That's how Chase feels. Of course he doesn't want to go back to that way, but he did it without realising; self-preservation. The pain after Query's Maze was too much for him, so his mind just... shut off his emotions. Chase is like a robot. He is what he's said he is over and over - a tool of justice and nothing more, now.

Nearly silently, he pads between the bookshelves, glancing up and around him with only a vague flicker of interest. Chase takes a book down and flips through it, only half-curious; he knows about the material in there, why should he read it again?

Because he has nothing else to do. Allowing himself a weary sigh, he puts the book back and continus meandering through the library.

Chase's grey eyes - which had become so... alive recently - are now dull as he glances around. His slouch is more obvious than before, his lack of interest in day-to-day life stronger than before.

As he peers through two books, the glimpse of Ace he catches makes something flicker in him: warmth. It quickly dies again though, snuffed out by the coldness he is now.

OOC: We need these two back together. This is painful.

i know :c

'C-Chase..?' there was a definite falter in her voice, arms moving from the pages to subconsciously reach out to him, mind not even aware of this motion. There was also a large amount of trepidation in her tone, but something told her that Chase wouldn't cause her harm.

In fact, she hadn't even realised she was using his real name.

He flinches, but not from her; from the relief that begins to spread through his system at the sound of her voice. Despite the part of him that manages to escape the indifferent... thing he's become telling him to go over and hug her, he stays behind the shelves, partially hidden from view.

"... Ace...?"

He almost does. He takes a step around, half of his face now visible, but then a pained expression crosses his face and his feet seem to root themselves to the ground.

Chase hesitates, struggling to put into words what he wants to say, but then just says a quiet, "I can't."

Just this time, the justice-half of his mind allows. Just this time.

But still, he takes his time, fighting with himself and his emotions. I'm scared. I'm sorry. I still love you. I still hate him. I'm sorry.

He hesitantly goes over to her side, his face a mask of confusion and uncertainty.

He freezes, then cautiously wraps his arms around her. It's almost as if Chase has lost all ability to be social since the maze.

"... How are you...?"

-feels-

Once she knew he wasn't going to run away, she let herself relax, trying to calm down. 'I... don't feel ok. Something's wrong, with me. I'm missing something, i'm empty, i'm scared.' she couldn't formulate proper sentences, she'd been deteriorating ever since she'd left with Query.

Before, anger would have surged forwards.

Now, there's just cold dislike for Query.

But he stays silent on the matter of Query, unwilling to talk about him. "I don't know what to do," he admits after a short pause.

"I can't tell you how to feel, Ace. I never have..." Chase closes his eyes against the emotions that are threatening to rise, forcing them to stay back. His mind needs to remain crystal clear, so he can think properly. "I don't know how to help you with this..."