Forever Ignored

I'm working on the ending of this story as it is and there's not much left. Not to worry though, there are new stories to be written and read in the future!

Traxie

 

Chapter 21

 

 

The night was one of the longest of my life as I weaved in and out of consciousness, shivering from cold. I was aware of Vasco laying down next to me at some point and didn't fight it when he pulled me close. I pressed my cheek against Vasco's firm chest, happy to share his bodyheat, when arms wrapped around me to keep me close. The day before being like this with him would have freaked me out but in my current condition, I was just too exhausted to fear him. I trusted him not to hurt me when I was this sick. He had helped me, again, when he hadn't needed to. He could have just gone back to the City and forget about me. Yet he had stopepd to help me when he had realized that I was not going to make it on my own.

It wasn't until the crack of dawn that I finally fell into a deeper sleep and by the time I woke up late in the afternoon, the fever had gone down and I was feeling better. Starving like never before in my life, but better. I lay awake with my eyes closed for a long time, a little scared that moving would bring all the pains and aches back with a vengance. I remembered curling up next to Vasco and snugglilng up against his chest, and a bright blush of embarrasement rose to my cheeks. I knew it had been because of the fever and exhaustion but still, I felt so embarrased of myself.

”We need to get going soon to get back to the farm before nightfall.” Vasco spoke suddenly from above me and my face flushed even redder when I realized that he had been watching me all this time.

I felt weak and shaky when I pushed myself into a sitting position, distancing myself from Vasco descreetly. ”I'm not going back there.” I muttered when I crossed my legs and rubbed over the goosebumps that kept rising on my arms.

”You are not fit for the trek back to the City with no supplies whatsoever. We need supplies.” Vasco said firmly and I hunched up, my eyes on the ground.

”You don't have to come with me, I can take care of mys-”

”Seriously?” Vasco snorted out with laughter. ”You seriously think that you'll make it back to BC alone? You must still be delusional with fever.”

”I'm not!” I snapped with a frown, daring a glance at Vasco. ”I'm not going back to the farm.”

We just stared at each other for a while until for once it was Vasco who turned his eyes away with a sigh. ”Fine. ”

I watched him get up and walk away and tried to ignore the way my stomach tightened with nerves. He left? Just like that? Panic wbubbled inside me until I saw Vasco return, with his arms full of wood. I watched him add sticks to the fire to reawaken the flames and flinched when an almost empty water bottle was thrown next to me.

”That's all the water left. I'm going back to get the supplies, wait here. There should be enough wood to keep the fire going but don't let it go out. And don't move, just rest. I'll be back before dark and we'll head back to the City tomorrow.” Vasco explained his plan to me and I nodded at his words, both nervous and relieved. Nervous that he was leaving me alone in the forest, relieved that he was going to take me back to the City with him. He could have just left me behind after all because of all the trouble I caused. He was in no way obligated to take care of me. He owned me nothing.

”Got it?”

I nodded and fiddled with my sweaty shirt when Vasco got up on his feet. ”I won't move.” I spoke up in a quiet voice, my eyes on the fire, and felt my heart drop when Vasco simply walked away from me. He was not happy to be spending another night in the woods and as I watched him disappear behind the trees, I couldn't help but worry that he would not come back after all.

 

 

Time ticked by slowly when I waited for Vasco to return. I sat as if glued on the spot he had left me in, knowing that Vasco would know if I had moved while he had been gone. Even if I'd return to the same spot before he'd be back, he'd somehow know, and then he'd be angry again. I didn't want to anger him, afraid that if I did, I would be left to fend for myself after all. Because Vasco had been right; I couldn't take care of myself. That much was clear by now.

I was paranoid when it came to the fire and kept adding wood to it, more than it actually needed. When the darkness started to fall around me, I picked up a stick and clenched it in my hand so tightly that my knuckles shone white. Vasco had promised to be back before night fall, yet by the time it was pitch black around me, there was no sign of the man. I couldn't relax. I kept staring at the spot in the darkness I knew Vasco would appear from, if he came back, my heart beating hard in my chest.

My heart jolted when I finally saw movement in the darkness and for a moment a thought crossed my mind that it wasn't Vasco. That it was someone else or a beast of some sort, but then the flames of the fire burning too big reached the figure emerging from the darkness and I recognized Vasco's dark features.

”Are trying to burn down the forest?!” Vasco snapped at me when he dropped a wrapped up bundle on the ground and I let the stick drop from my hands.

”I'm sorry! I didn't want it to go out.” I replied and stood up on shaky legs when Vasco let his gaze run over the ground.

”Did you burn all the wood?” He grunted and swore under his breath when I nodded timidly. ”For fucks sake! I'm getting more wood, sit your ass down.”

”I need to pee.” I whispered out uncertainly and Vasco frowned, his eyes turning to me.

”Then go pee. Or do you need me to hold your dick for you?” He asked gruffly and I shifted on my feet nervously.

”It's dark and-” I whimpered and Vasco swore again, motioning for me to follow.

”Come on then, wuss.”

I didn't like being called a wuss and Vasco's bad mood made me nervous, but I was glad to have him close by when I walked a short distance away from our little camp to relief my bladder. Vasco picked up wood while I did my business and shoved the dry branches into my arms when I was done.

”Here, take these back to the fire but don't add any yet. Got it?”

I nodded again, hurrying towards the glow of the fire when Vasco turned his focus back to collecting fire wood. I didn't get it why we needed more kindle if the fire was too big already, but didn't dare question either. I piled the wood on the ground before sitting down and holding my palms turned up towards the flames to warm up. Although the fever had gone down, I still felt clammy and shivery in my sweaty clothes, and were glad that we would rest for another night before starting the long walk back to Broken City.

Vasco returned to the fire with more kindle and after dropping the sticks over the neat pile I had made, reached for the stick I had clenched for protection while he had been gone. The fire was burning too violently and I watched Vasco poke it until it spread a little wider on the ground and the flames became more subdued. When pleased with the fire, Vasco turned his attention to the bag he had brought with him and dug into it to pull out a small pan.

I watched with my mouth gathering drool how the pan was warmed up over the flames and a can of beans in tomato sauce was opened and poured on the hot surface. A small voice at the back of my mind made me think for a moment that Vasco wasn't going to share his meal with me, but when the beans were warm, the pan was pulled off the fire and I was handed a spoon.

”Thank you.” I whispered out quietly before dipping my spoon into the steaming beans, my other hand reaching for the water bottle that had just been thrown my way.

We ate in silence, Vasco letting me eat the most of it, and I felt better once the meal was over. My belly wasn't full but I knew it was better this way; had I eaten more, I would have felt sick again and I'd rather keep the beans in my belly instead of throwing them up in the bushes. When the food was gone and Vasco had cleaned the pan and the spoons, he picked up the blankets tied to a tightly rolled up bundle and threw one my way.

”You should go to sleep, we're leaving at first light tomorrow.” Vasco grunted and I nodded, happy to wrap the blanket around my shoulders. It would make the upcoming night so much easier than the night before. I hated being cold. Instead of laying down to sleep, I sat hunched up under the blanket and stared at the fire with unseeing eyes. My mind kept drifting back to the night before and sleeping with Vasco. I hadn't been afraid of him last night and had actually felt safe sleeping next to him. Not only next to him but snuggled up against him. I felt myself blushing again and ducked my head low to hide behind the blanket. Oh, God! I couldn't believe it but I wanted to sleep with Vasco again instead of curling up by myself on the ground.

”Why didn't take a piss before, if you had to go so badly?” Vasco spoke up suddenly, breaking the silence between us.

”You told me not to move.” I replied quietly and were aware of Vasco turning to look at me.

”I meant, don't leave.”

”You told me not to move.” I repeated myself, pulling the blanket tighter around myself. He had told me not the move, I was sure of it. He had used the word 'move', not 'leave'.

”Well, I meant leave.” Vasco gruffed and picked up the other blanket, wrapping it around his own shoulders. ”Go to sleep.”

I hung my head lower and turned my eyes back to the fire.

”Go to slee-” Vasco growled lowly and I interrupted him with a barely audible voice.

”I'm still cold.”

Vasco fell silent for a moment, his dark eyes studying me closely, before pushing the blanket off his own shoulders and laying it flat on the ground. ”Come on then, let's sleep.”

Butterflies filled my belly suddenly when I crawled the short way over to Vasco and lay down on his blanket. Vasco drew the other blanket off my shoulders and spread it over us both before grunting. ”Go to sleep now.”

I turned my back to him and shivers ran down my spine when Vasco moved in close, his chest pressing over my back and his arm draping over my waist. I felt warm and safe laying there with Vasco but could't help the small blush that kept tinting my cheeks. I was so unused to being this close to another person that the physical contact made me feel flushed. Somehow the knowledge of it being Vasco pressed up against me only made it worse.

I fell asleep with the feeling of butterflies rallying in my belly.

 

 

The next morning we got up early, before the crack of dawn even, and while I sat by the now barely smoldering firepit, Vasco made quick work of packing everything up again. I stared ahead with bleary eyes, shivers creeping over my skin already after having to give up the warmth of the blanket.

”Let's go.” Vasco said, hoisting the bag over his shoulder and I rubbed at my eyes tiredly.

”You said first light. It's still dark.” I whined a complaint and scooted backwards when Vasco stepped, reaching down to grab my arm. I didn't quite escape his hold, strong fingers wrapping around my wrist, and I was pulled up in a one swift movement. I went smack against Vasco's chest and blushed so hard even my ears went red. Thankfully Vasco didn't seem to notice, in too much of a hurry to get going. I was pulled forward by my wrist and before I knew it, I was stumbling down the path after Vasco, holding hands with him.

I didn't try to pull my hand away, instead I held on and focused on my feet to keep up. After the first few minutes of brisk pace, Vasco slowled down to a more tolerable speed and loosened his hold on my hand. I held on and Vasco stopped on his tracks, turning slowly to look at me. I let go of his hand quickly and avoided the questioning look he was giving me, hurrying past him to continue forward. Oh, God! Why did I feel like this around him all of a sudden? I didn't know if I would be able to handle all this embarrasement. I wasn't used to feeling like this.

 

 

We walked in silence until the sun was high on the cloudless sky and I was starting to feel faint on my feet. We came up to the little stream I remembered us stopping by on our way out to the farm and glanced at Vasco hopefully. A small nod had relief wash over me and I hurried over to the water, dropping down on my knees next to it. The water felt cold against my sweaty palms when I scooped it up to splash over my face to cool down.

”Don't drink that, here.” Vasco said and dropped a bottle of water next to me.

”Thanks.” I sighed and shifted to sit crossed legged next to the stream, not bothering to dry the drops of water from my skin.

”Here.” Vasco said again, now sitting down with his knees bent, and something silvery was thrown my way. I knew what it was instantly but picked it up anyway.

”It's all we've got left for the trip back, eat it.” Vasco commented, unwrapping a mealbar for himself as well, and shivers of disgust ran down my spine when he bit off half the bar in one go.

My fingers shook when I tore the wrapper and I drew in a deep breath before taking a careful nibble off the corner of the bar. Ugh, it was just as disgusting as I had remembered it to be.

”Give it back if you're not going to eat it.” Vasco commented and forced myself to take another bite, a bigger bite this time. The taste made me gack but I forced the mealbar down, too hungry to even consider giving it back to Vasco. I washed the bar down with the water and rubbed my tongue against the back of my hand to get rid of the remaining taste.

”Ugh, that's so bad.” I mumbled and Vasco cracked a smile.

”Come on, it's not that bad. Plus, it's full of nutrients.”

”I've never eaten anything worse.” I complained and shook off shudders that kept running down my back. ”And I've eaten a lot of stuff gone bad.”

”Princess.” Vasco huffed and I glanced at him, surprised by his light tone. Was he teasing me? Or was it just my imagination playing tricks on me?

”Am not.” I replied with a pout, pushing my bottom lip out on purpose and unable to keep the small smirk from curving my lips. I liked this more relaxed, casual Vasco, better than the uptight, always grumpy and cold version of him I was used to.

We sat in silence for a moment longer until Vasco decided it was time to get going again. This time I didn't complain but followed Vasco down the path easily, having no trouble keeping up with his pace this time. Not because I had suddenly gotten a magical surge of energy, but because Vasco slowed down for me. And didn't even seem pissed about it.

”Do you think we'll make it to the city tonight?” I asked after some time of walking, sweat running down my achy back in small rivers.

”Maybe not by night fall but we'll make it.” Vasco replied and continued before I could say anything. ”We don't have any food and the water won't last until the end of the day.”

”What... What happens when we get to the City?” I asked carefully and Vasco glanced at me.

”I thought you had a plan when you decided to leave the farm?”

I gave a small sheepish grin and shrugged my shoulders slightly. ”Not really. I was going to figure things out while I walked.”

”Well, have you?” Vasco asked, turning his attention back to the path ahead.

”No.” I muttered and wiped sweat off my forehead with a sigh. ”I'll figure something out. Seff's-”

”You're not going back to the ruins.” Vasco interrupted me bluntly and I looked up to stare at his back.

”I'm not going back to the fur on your floor.” I said tightly and froze mid-step when Vasco came to a sudden stop in front of me. My first reaction was to back away from him but instead of running, I stood my ground and forced myself to match eyes with Vasco.

”I have a couch.” Vasco said simply and I frowned. Did he really think that sleeping on his floor was the main issue here?

”Why would you even want me on your couch? You said me being there drove you crazy.” I spoke in a quiet tone and Vasco looked somewhere past me, his jaw clenching.

”That was different. You wouldn't be a-” He begun and I felt my annoyance spark.

”A what? A pet? You say that now but then I piss you off somehow or you have a bad day or you're drunk, and you'll hang me off your ceiling or chain me up. Thanks, but I'll rather go back to Seff's old place.” I interrupted him rather rudely. Just a few days ago I never would have dared to be so bold but the time spent in the woods alone with Vasco seemed to have made any instinct of self preservation disappear.

”You stole-” Vasco begun and the tears that flooded my eyes in a split second surprised even me. He was never going to forgive me stealing from them. It was always going to be held against me, no matter what. Hadn't I been punished enough already? My eyes dropped to the ground and I started walking again, wiping at the wetness running down my cheeks now. I had thought that he didn't blame me for that anymore, that it was all water under the bridge now. But I guess it wasn't. I guess he'd never let me forget my past crimes.

I pushed past Vasco and continued my way down the path, my day ruined now. I had no idea what I was going to do once we reached the City but one thing was for sure; I was not going with Vasco anymore. I was not going back to his place to be treated like scum. I knew that he was following me and wished that he would just let me be, that he would let me go my own way.

 

The rest of the way was spent in silence and when we entered the City streets, I felt at home. I waited until we got deeper into the City, nearing the City Leader's building, before turning away from the street and darting down a side path.

”Colan!” Vasco growled and sprinted after me. He had no trouble catching me and weren't gentle by any means when he tackled me to the ground. I was pinned on the grovel on my back, strong hands grabbing my arms and pushing them on the ground next to my head while Vasco glared at me with his dark eyes. ”What the hell, Brat?! You don't just run off like that!”

”Get off me!” I spat and tried to squirm under him. I knew I wasn't going anywhere unless Vasco decided to let me up, but I was sure as hell going to try anyway. ”I don't owe you anything, let me go!” I continued with a sniffle, tears pooling in my eyes again. God, why did I have to cry all the time now? This wasn't me!

”Go where? You have no where to go to.” Vasco snorted and shifted his weight over my hips. I watched him lean closer through the tears in my eyes and pulled on my arms weakly, not fighting him anymore.

”I don't owe-” I begun again, my voice shaky, and flinched when Vasco lowered his head on mine, our foreheads resting together.

”Shh, you're right. You don't owe me anything. You more than paid for your crime already.” Vasco spoke in a hushed tone and I turned my head to the side, my eyes staring off to the darkness. I was hoping that someone would stumble down the path and see him holding me down, but then I remembered who Vasco was. Everyone in the City knew him and no one would ever dare to stop him from doing anything. They would just think 'poor kid' and walk away, hoping that Vasco wouldn't notice them.

”Let me go.” I whispered back, no strenght behind my voice now.

”No.” Vasco stated simply and let out a heavy sigh, his breath hot against my skin. He released one of my arms and for a second I was relieved, until I felt the hand against my neck. Fingers sneaked under the collar of my shirt and I went rigid under Vasco. I didn't know what I thought of him feeling me up like this but then felt the pull around my neck and my eyes snapped open. My tags!

”No!” I gasped and tried to twist my hips to get him off of me. I didn't want him touching my tags. I felt naked without them around my neck. I wouldn't get any food from the foodline without them either, the tags were my meal ticket!

Vasco pulled my tags out from under my shirt and held onto the chain, letting them dangle dauntingly above my face. ”See these? These are your ticket to a better life, Col. All you need to do, is to come with me and there will be no more cold nights slept in the gutter.”

”Better free in the gutter than a pet on a couch.” I sniffled out quietly and winced at Vasco let the dog tags drop on my chest.

”I'm not talking about you being a pet, I'm talking about you getting your own place. A safe place. With a door and a lock.” Vasco grunted and finally pushed himself off of me.

I didn't move. I just stared at Vasco standing above of me with half lid eyes while I fumbled to find my tags. I cluthched them tightly inside my fist and blinked away tears when Vasco held out a hand for me.

”What do you say? You can spend tonight at Rio's.” Vasco asked and I hesitated for a moment before accepting the offered help. I was pulled up on my feet and I tried to distance myself from Vasco the moment my feet hit the pavement. Instead of letting me go, Vasco pulled me closer and I fliched again when I saw him raise his hand. I thought that he was going to smack me for the stunt I had just pulled but instead of pain, there was a light brushing touch on my cheeks when Vasco wiped off the tear tracks staining my pale skin.

”Can't take you to Rio's if you look like you've just cried your eyes out. He'll tear me a new one.” Vasco commented with a grunt when he saw my confusion at this gentle gesture, and finally let go of me. ”Let's go. It's late.”

I felt frazzled and worn out, like I was about to collapse any second now, and thankfully Vasco walked slow enough for me to keep up. I was sweaty and pale by the time we reached the City Leaders' building and had to brace one hand on the wall to support myself when I stepped inside behind Vasco. It was so strange to be back here again and even stranger to think that this could be my future home, if all went well. I wasn't sure how I felt about the thought of becoming one of the City Leaders, one of the people I had been scared of my entire life. They were the people you ran away from, not people you begged to move in with.

”Do you regret leaving the farm?” Vasco asked when we neared Rio's door and I shook my head tiredly.

”No. I wouldn't have been happy there.” I sighed and leaned on the wall when Vasco knocked on his brother's door. ”Are you sure this is okay? I don't want to-”

”He won't be happy to be woken up in the middle of the night but he'll get over it when he sees you.” Vasco interrupted me and waited for a moment before knocking again. ”Don't worry about being on his way, he likes taking care of people. For some obscure reason.” Vasco continued with a huff and I saw his lips curve into a small smirk when we heard Rio shouting that he was coming.

I was expecting to see angry Rio when the door opened but instead of being upset, Rio smiled at the sight of his brother. His smile only widened when he saw me and Vasco didn't even have to ask if I could spend the night. I was ushered inside and into the bathroom for a quick showerd before tucked into bed. I lay awake for a while, my mind going over evertyhing that had happened in just a few days. So much had changed since I had last lied in this bed that for a moment I doubted wether or not it had all happened after all. Maybe we had never left Rio's to go to the farm? Maybe it had all been just a dream?

It was the aches and pains in my body that finally convinced me that I had not been dreaming and I rolled onto my belly before finally closing my eyes. I was nervous of what was to come but decided not to worry about it until tomorrow. So I pushed every coherent thought determinedly to the back of my mind and let myself succum to the exhaustion.