They walked together, Aena with her arm slung around Cassidy's, like a drunken duo returning home after a boisterous night out. Cassidy was just a little bit taller than her, so the height difference didn't bother her too much. It was relatively quiet on that section of the streets since it was a weeknight, and most of the obedient students were back in their dorms or at one of the facilities studying or training.
Any few stragglers which the duo came across quickly moved to the side, giving them a wide berth. Cassidy's piercing glare was very effective. Aena thought such an ability was quite convenient. No one wanted to mess with Cassidy. She had that sort of imposing look.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" she breathed. Aena felt oddly satisfied beside Cassidy, and this was the first time that she had gone on an outing excluding the occasional trip to buy necessities from the nearby convenience store.
While she didn't like fighting, she had to admit it was quite cathartic in a way. In the heat of the moment, everything was simplified—her fists against theirs. No politics. No extraneous thoughts. She would let her tomorrow self worry about the implications.
"What a night, huh?" She looked at the traces of stars shining in the night sky like dust spilled across the clouds. There used to be so many more before light pollution had faded their brightness away, and Aena wondered how amazing it would have felt to gaze upon such a sight. Stars that lasted eons made her life feel so fleeting, insignificant, letting her unleash the tether from her worries.
"Hey," Aena spoke amidst the call of the bugs in the night, her voice swirling together with their evening song. "Thanks back there. That was quite the sticky situation. You really saved me."
Cassidy stayed quiet. She dipped her head, her chin tucking close to her body.
Not bothering to wait for a reply, Aena turned her head back forward. They continued walking for a while. Aena enjoyed the ambiance of the night.
"I'm sorry."
Aena startled. Cassidy whispered those words, so quiet that Aena would've never heard it if she wasn't essentially attached to Cassidy—and the fact that Cassidy currently had her pointer fingers put together in that iconic egirl pose; which she had to admit was devastatingly kawaii. She stared confusedly at Cassidy, wondering if she had heard correctly, but seeing that her lips were pursed in hesitation, it seemed so. She let out an exasperated sigh.
"What for? You haven't done anything worth apologizing for," she reassured. The slight… pout? Aena didn't know if that was the right word, was still upon her face. Aena wracked her brain, but couldn't think of anything major offense that the girl had made. Aena had ended up (mostly) unscathed, and the best part was she didn't have to pay a dime.
"I was the one who made you go there. It wouldn't have happened unless for me."
Ehhh? It seemed like this girl had quite a strong sense of responsibility. Aena couldn't help but reach over with her free hand and flick lightly at Cassidy's forehead. The girl flinched but didn't do anything. How precious.
"You silly idiot, that doesn't even make any sense. It would have happened eventually, and tonight just happened to be that day," she gave Cassidy a sidelong glance. "However, you could have helped a little bit earlier, you know? Maybe before I got my stomach smashed in? That would've been nice."
Cassidy's usual smirk crawled back onto her face, the girl visibly comforted by Aena's words.
"I was just… trying to calm myself," she worded carefully. "I didn't want to cause any serious injury or anything, otherwise there might have been… serious consequences."
Aena remembered the way Cassidy had swiftly dispatched the guys like some video game—especially the last one. Was that not a little in the range of being serious? If so, she didn't want to think about what was actually considered "serious," in Cassidy's dictionary.
"I think the," she made a stabbing motion with her hand, "was a bit excessive."
Cassidy sniffed. "He should be fine?" Cassidy gave a questioning look back. "They weren't dead, were they?"
Aena stayed silent. 'I don't think that's the issue here…'
"Be a little gentler next time, alright?" Aena managed at last, laughing nervously. Cassidy nodded. Aena wasn't sure she really took that into mind, but didn't press the matter any further.
"That saying," Cassidy said, "the table flip was pretty creative." There was amusement on her face as she gave Aena a full grin. Aena looked away, pouting.
"Don't make fun of me."
"I wasn't."
Aena looked back. She couldn't tell if Cassidy was teasing her or not. Cassidy unblinkingly stared at her with her dark, bewitching eyes, and Aena stared back into those depthless voids.
"At any rate, I promised to take care of you," Cassidy said, not looking away. Right. Instructor Willowsage had mentioned something like that.
"I don't need taking care of," Aena protested. While she was thankful for the offer, she wasn't sure exactly what it entailed considering it was Cassidy, and also didn't like the fact that someone else was responsible for her.
However, Cassidy didn't relent.
"You do," she said simply. "Just look at tonight."
Aena kept her mouth shut. She had nothing to say to that. It was true that they probably wouldn't just give up after she and Cassidy completely mauled them.
"I don't want to trouble you any further."
Cassidy inched closer.
"It's no trouble" she whispered, her face so close that her breath tickled Aena's face. Her eyes darted like they were examining every molecule on Aena's face. When Aena was starting to get abashed by the pressuring look, Cassidy leaned back quickly, making Aena wish for the moment to have lasted longer.
"Also, if you need anything, I can give it to you. So you don't have to rely on that Barnold guy."
"... then why did I even accept his offer," Aena said in a flat voice.
"You looked like you were having fun—I didn't want to steal your thunder." She smiled. Aena wanted to facepalm. Thinking back to how she had behaved, a slight flush tinted her face.
"Well, if he doesn't behave, I'll just have to take care of him, she said simply. Aena shuddered. 'Good luck bro, hope you don't regret it,' she silently prayed for the boy's safety.
"But don't take it lightly Aena. They're gonna be after you now. You won't be safe." she said with a guiltridden expression, then looked back to Aena, genuine care upon her face. She looked like a child who had just found a solution to solving a Rubix cube.
"I guess I'll just have to protect you from now on."