Wren's eyes opened as she lay in the bed, a small blanket over her fragile body; her mother's voice echoed from the other room; her mind was blank, as it always was.
Her body twitched as she gripped the blanket, trying to close her dry eyes. She rolled over, pushing her face into her mattress. The same clothes she had last night coated her.
Last night played in Ronin's head his heart running he felt warm, and his eyes met the mirror his face was a familiar image as the dark C surrounded his eye, his head pounded he gripped the sink for balance his hand stinging, he looked down noticing his raw knuckles, just then the door pushed open Ronin quickly stepping back from its radius.
His heartbeat raging again as his father walked in, his face immediately filling with a worried yet stern expression, grabbing ronin's face the tension right in the air, Ronin hiding hands behind his back before his father quickly grabbed them, and his father's eyes traveled to ronin's
"What happened!? His father's voice raising
In concern. Ronin stuttered; his answer came slowly, admitting to a scuffle with attitude; what were you doing? His father asks, looking across at his son. Ronin lied hoping his father would give in. His doubtful eyes looked up at Ronin, knowing he wouldn't get anything else out of his son he poorly bandaged his face, Ronin's stubborn expression peeking out from under his hair, a feeling of warmth spread through him as his father crowded him, something inside tore him from his father as he pushes past him "I'll be fine Ronin said wishing it came out a little different, he stormed to his room the window waiting for him as he crawled out finding a comfortable seating on the roof he looked around the fields that lined his house, his hands stroking through his hair he stops as his hands move down covering his face he tucks it in-between his legs his head still ached. He grunts, gripping his forehead and forcing a stern expression when he knew he should've cried; he licked the fat lip he couldn't seem to ignore; he then wrapped his arms around his legs, tightening himself in a small ball; he gripped his jeans, wincing.
Suddenly, his head jerks up as a familiar voice calls up to him; Ronin straightens his face quickly. His eyes were almost watery; he looked down from the roof as Ronin and Wren stood Percy's bike with them; the smile on Percy's face had already invited Ronin before Percy could say anything.
Ronin, finding his footing down from the roof, meets with Wren and Percy; suddenly, Percy's eyes widen as Ronin's face is fully visible; What happened to you? Percy exclaimed his body language was scared. Ronin glanced at Wren, her eyes drifting away from his, "none of your damn business Ronin snarled; Wren winced at his tone; Percy Stepping back.
Ronin walked to the side of the house, grabbing his bike.
The three moved quickly, the wind blowing their hair up straight. Ronin couldn't help but slip a smile. He looked over at Percy, a wide smile across his face, wrens arms tightly around his waist as she sat on the end of the seat, her thick wavy hair blown back, revealing her hidden face; the fields looked like they went on forever.
The clouds above got darker as the three slowed down.
They had taken the bike ride to a walk as the fields spread for miles around them, a small conversation or two sprouted it was mostly Percy talking and as usual wren was mute.
The loud gushing, of the creek below grabbed their attention. They walked down the steep hill Percy's and wren followed the grass grew longer as they came closer to the rushing water, ronin drops to the ground watching the fast water Percy explained something about the creek, Ronin didn't care to listen.
lighting a cigarette, he lays down Percy plugging wrens nose they sat.
Percy had tried to keep things from being awkward as he started talking again, Ronin chuckles, what is Percy asked intrigued, I'm a fucking mess" Ronin replies before exhaling, the fumes escaping his mouth, Percy was thrown off at first, Ronin had never reached out about himself before, Percy encourages it "no your not" Percy says sitting down with wren, her mind raced as she smelled what he was smoking, she recognized it immediately, disappointed in her self for the fact.
Ronin's sarcastic laughter soon turned into anger as he pierced his lips; he sat up. "And look at me," Ronin said, staring down. Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, Percy says, walking closer to Ronin. He sets his hand on his shoulder.
The warmth that echoed off of Percy flew through him; he quickly shook Percy's hand off his shoulder, regretting it immediately.
Ronin stands up. Percy Looking at Ronin, they grow silent; how fast are you? Percy asked turning towards the thick line of trees on the other side of the field.
"faster than you- Ronin says before being cut off as Percy begins to sprint through the fields; Ronin watches before quickly following, catching up, shoving Percy, and quickly flying ahead of him.
Wren and Percy disappear under the long grass, Ronin stops
looking back, a smile grew on his face as his laugh echoed through the field, Percy's head poking up from the grass wrens shortly after; you fell so hard, Ronin continued to laugh.
Percy looks at the smile on Ronin's face, quickly sending it back. He joins in laughter, looking down at Wren. A slight grin on her face warmed his body. Hey, Get off your asses if you're coming! Ronin shouted, walking ahead; wren looked up at Percy, waiting for his reassuring face, and the two quickly sprinted after Ronin through the fields.
The edge of the trees stood in front of them like a wall. These three walked in; it was instantly darker, the thick branches covering the sky.
Ronin's old shoes dragged on the rough ground. lighting another cigarette, he looks at Percy, offering him one; his quick decline made Ronin almost upset.
The tread they called a path got lighter as the sun peered through the trees ahead, Percy walking ahead, eager to see the light; his voice got ecstatic.
Ronin and Wren caught up, Their eyes widened as a beautiful small lake greeted them; Percy sat down, his legs spread over the small hill that separated the water from them, Wren sitting next to him, their hands linked.
Percy was making conversation, which had ended up going off the rails as he rambled. He stopped looking to his side where he thought Ronin had been. Ronin? Percy said, looking around when suddenly a figure dashed past him as, Ronin leaped his built stature, pushing himself off the hill, splashing into the water below; r-ronin! It's 60 degrees, Percy exclaimed, the water still in motion from his impact, Ronin's head whipped up as he paddled towards the grass, Percy watching him in amusement. When suddenly, he notices Ronin's slight swaying, which quickly escalates as Ronin fades back, into the water. Percy's heart raced as he watched the water quickly sprinting; he jumped off the edge, sinking into the water. He grips, Ronin's arm, quickly pulling him up. Struggling, trying to get him to the small shore. Grabbing Wren's arm, he pulls in Ronin and emerges out of the water, laying Ronin down,
Startled by the sudden regurgitation, ronin rolled over coughing vigorously.
Ronin's breathing calmed as he lay against a tree wren nearby. Percy stood over him, watching as ronins eyes drifted and flickered he bent down looking closely instantly, Percy's eyes widened quickly, and ran over to the pile of clothes Ronin had left, on the ground, searching through it Percy grabbed the cigarettes Ronin had stored in a bag, Percy opening it the smell wasn't strong but he knew what it was, He looked at Ronin, and back at the bag he held cautiously in his hand.
He walked back, setting Ronin's clothes next to him, I'm gonna go get Mr. Dawson," Percy informed Wren, asking her to stay with him. she nodded slowly, surprised by his confidence in her; quickly, Percy fled the other way.
Not much time had passed before Ronin stumbled to his feet; he was cold as he wrapped his arms around himself, startled as he felt his skin; looking down at his tan body, Ronin swore loudly as he asked what happened to his voice was raspy, wren getting up hesitantly.
She explained slowly. Her voice was timid, waiting on his response as the tension grew, and where's Percy?" Ronin asked, still angry; Wren answered his question, shit!" Ronin snarled before grabbing Wren's oversized shirt and quickly sprinting further into the woods, Wren's eyes widened with feet as he gripped her shirt, his toned arm tugging her; she was scared.
Ronin stopped suddenly. He could hear his father's squeaky brakes, cussing under his breath.
Wren beside him, her body language telling him she was uncomfortable; Ronin looked down recognizing it
c'mon," he instructed, walking down a slight hill. As they exited the forest, it had stopped raining, but the sky was still dark, reflecting onto the following field holding an Erie mood.
Ronin sat in the tall grass, disappearing under it; the damp grass reeked of some decrypted smell.
Catching his breath; he wiped his nose, and Wren sat a foot or two away. She avoided eye contact she griping the shirt that coated her.
Ronin looks over as he grows curious; what's your problem?" Ronin asks wishing his tone was different.
Wren looks up their eyes meeting, n-nothing she mumbles. Ronin mocks her gently, Her hand begins to tremble as he father's voice echoes in her head, her eyes slowly widen, and he breathing gets heavy.
Ronin leaning over are you crying" he asks sarcastically, wren didn't respond she couldn't hear, bending over she began sweating, Ronin getting closer he grows timid wrens behavior was scaring him,
Ronin gripped her shoulder, a wave of fear struck him as he touched her, he could feel her shaking,
What do I do? Ronin's thoughts raced. He wasn't sure how to help. He didn't know what to do, and the panicked voice in his head wasn't making things better.
Ronin looked around for anything to grab her attention, digging in his pockets. His hands felt the bag of cigarettes. His eyes widened as he grabbed it, opening it quickly, and he lit one, shoving it in her mouth. Her fast breathing slowed as she breathed it in and out several times.
Wren picked her head up. Her eyes were red, and her face was flushed with a wet texture coat. Ronin looked at her; she began to cough Ronin quickly took the cigarette out of her mouth, burning his hand. He dropped it before then stomped it into the damp dirt a number of them were missing.
Ronin could tell she had calmed. He knew tell she was embarrassed, you ok now? He asks while kicking; the bag onto the damp ground he mumbled under his
breath waiting for her reply.
I'm ok Wren replied; her voice was louder than usual, he was almost afraid of her happy attitude, he grew curious as he asked what happened, hoping he could take advantage of her current state.
He's still there, Wren said slowly. Ronin's eyebrows scrunched. Who? He asked waiting on Wren's delayed response.
Wren's words trailed as Ronin tried to understand, she was saying something about her father until he couldn't understand her anymore, he gazed up at her, and he could see her wide pupils, ronin trying to remember if that's what dilated pupils looked like when his thinking was abrupted as a gentle thud broke his thought.
Wren is falling backward into the wet grass. Ronin began to laugh as he lay down next to her, he held his hand up confused by his sixth finger that twisted and twirled he laughed again. As his eyes slowly fluttered shut.