Murderous Intent

Aaron, at long last, was able to smile like the ray of sunshine he was meant to be in this world of gray. A weight had been lifted from his conscious, and that was the greatest accomplishment achieved in months.

“Kiko, always and forever, you will be my best friend. When I look at you now, I can only see the person who was so willing to accept the offbeat mess that came here almost a year ago…both of us were offbeat and in the midst of a great metamorphosis, and although I still feel trapped in a cocoon of insecurity, I see you riding on the wings of a better tomorrow. I strive to be you, Kiko. And with or without Lucian, I’m going to get there. Really, right now, my peace is in knowing that I have unwavering support.”

“Thanks…for everything…my best friend.”

At that sweet, sweet smile Kiko couldn’t help but pull Aaron into a warm hug, a large grin on her face, “You know that I will always be her to support you Aaron no matter what it may be. Remember it’s not like I can go anywhere really.” After a minute she pulled away, the smile on her face not dying in the least.

“Just remember to never lose hope alright?” She patted him gently on the cheek.

“Kiko…at times like these, I couldn’t ask for a better friend. When I’m at a loss for thoughts, you come and bring words that help maintain the flow. I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m not as smart as you say…it’s not all poetry and allegories, Kiko. Sometimes the words of pretension are just to make me sound like I’m grasping what can’t be grasped, and it’s just to make me feel better. Really, what I need is someone to constantly reassure me that the universe does not intentionally destroy a person, and that things do get better. I’m consistently never disappointed by you, and that reassures me a lot. You’ve never been through a long streak of fortune, and somehow, you’ve found me. Our friendship doesn’t warrant the words of pretension that I fake for myself. You’re so real to me, almost too real for me. And sometimes when my spirit is dead and the Colombian necktie of regrets hang within my throat, you let me know that I don’t have to sink in it. The pages of my past mean nothing to you, and that’s all I’ve ever needed…

It’s what Lucian was to me, and I have to remember that’s why I’m in love with him…”

“Oh Aaron...” Kiko had a small blush rush to her cheeks at his words, “You know you are truly one of the greatest friends that I could ever ask for. You’re one of the people that made me feel like I was actually a human being rather than an half hollow killing machine. You’ve never seen me for my past or the sins that I have committed...you just saw me...for me...the me that even I was barely capable of seeing.”

“It’s why your happiness means so much to me...I would to anything to see you smile and be happy. You’re my sunshine Aaron...”

Aaron listened carefully to his now-serious friend, who was surprisingly as wise as her age should’ve made her. Being immortal could completely ruin one’s sanity beyond repair and Kiko could’ve just been as twisted as she started with Aaron, but no. He was, once again, pleasantly surprised by the depths of his friend. That alone brought him comfort.

“Kiko, your dad was Little Orphan Annie before she was even a thing! You’re right. The sun will come out tomorrow, and whatever the day brings is gonna be something I can handle! If I can handle what has already been done, then perhaps just waiting out this conflict with Lucian will solve everything! All I need to do is find it in me to just…just communicate with him like normal again, because we’ve lost that…75% of all problems stem from miscommunication, Kiko…and I’m but a statistic now. I don’t know how to pull myself out of a shadow of a doubt, but I’m hoping that it’ll come…and I’m so happy I have you until then…”

Kiko gave a chuckle, “My father was one of the wisest men I’ve ever known. He taught me a lot and I’m glad I’ve been able to have half the mindset to retain some of his valuable lessons.”

“I know that it will come Aaron, I have faith in you and I know that you are beyond capable. You’re much smarter than you take yourself for you know.”

Aaron made a noise in protest and furrowed his brows, somewhat upset by what he already knew. “Hey, hey, hey, calm down. I know that it’s only the end if you want it to be, but Kiko, what if? Just literally what if? Sometimes these unexplained things happen that rip happiness away from the depression-poor youth of Sinnoh and suddenly you’re drowning in debt that you owe to the universe for being so stupid in believing that you could actually attain a happy ending. This is my economic crisis, Kiko; what if this signifies a change that can’t be dealt with? Like death?”

Kiko went silent for a moment as she stared at Aaron, “God you sound just like me before I ended up here...” She placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes, “Look...I know thinking negatively about things is something humans tend to do on instinct...but in a situation like this you have to fake it until you make it. I remember something my father once told me, ‘Even in the darkest and longest of nights, the sun will always find a way to come.’.”

“I held onto those words for over a thousand years in the back of my head, grasping onto the thin notion that maybe things would get better for me after lifetimes of loneliness and suffering -- and look at where I am now.”

“I know it seems hard and that you feel like you’re drowning...but just hold on...your time will come Aaron just as it did for me...”

“That…literally doesn’t make me feel any better. I mean, I’m not sure what direction this whole ordeal is going to take us, and since I do nothing but coast along the flow of life, this concerns me.” Aaron rolled his head back, popping his neck. “Sigh…what if this signifies the end of our relationship, Kiko?”

Kiko reached over and lightly bopped Aaron on the back of the head, “It will signify the end if you keep thinking like that.” She stated, “No matter what happens you can’t let it burn out like a candle. If you love something truly then you are going to have to fight for it eventually.”

“I…feel worse that you know now. I wonder how many other people know, too…then again, I guess I deserve every bad look or shameful head-shake that may come my way. I haven’t been okay since those Magma guys have come in, and they make Lucian angry. Lucian’s anger freaks me out, and I just told him the first thing I could think of, since he was already pissed at me for not telling him…he…I’m not villainizing him, because what I said was debatably worse, but he doesn’t know what that sentence did to me.”

Kiko pulled away from Aaron and ran her fingers through her hair, which for once seemed to be brushed down pretty well, “I think he was just hurt by what you said to him...and....I think he’s scared too, which is why he reacted the way he did...” A sigh escaped her lips, “In the midst of all this quiet I can feel a storm slowly brewing in the far distance...who knows when it will show up but eventually it will. I think that Lucian knows this as well.”

“It’s nice that you’re so willing to move on…I’m so sorry…”

“At the time, though…I just wanna try to explain…it wasn’t anyone’s fault I was angry. I was just…mad at myself because Lucian and I had a fight. Our first, I think. And…he said stuff. Actually, I’m the one who said stuff, but what he said was just as bad, even if he didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it either, I was just…well, I don’t know if I should immerse you into this stupid problem, since you had no part in it…”

“I figured as much...and don’t worry because I already know a lot of what was said. I just haven’t mentioned it because I figured that it was something that needed to be kept between the two of you...”

“I guess it’s been a while since I’ve heard such nice things like that…because I feel inclined to accept the compliment right away. Thanks, Kiko…” Aaron rested his head on her shoulder, sighing. “I…wanted to apologize, by the way…Kinda hoping I don’t have to specify for what.”

Kiko gave a soft sigh and gently ran her fingers through Aaron’s hair, “It’s okay Sunshine...we can just let that all drop with this.” She whispered.

“Well, there’s no denying you anything, since you’re gonna do it even if I say no. But when do I ever say no to a hug? We’ve just gone in a circle…hug me, I guess!”

Kiko gave a giggle before pulling Aaron close to her and snuggling him, “You’re too cute for your own good sometimes you know that?”

With a tiny smile, Aaron inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and eased his tension.

“Ehe, I said ‘like’ Kiko; ‘like’ is a preposition, I was making a really vast association. It’s a joke. I think. Anyways, I’m glad you’re okay. Me, on the other hand…I’ve seen better days and they were all about seven months ago. Things could be better.”

“You know what....it sounds like someone needs a hug...” Kiko looked at Aaron before giving a small grin and stepping closer to him.

“I seriously keep forgetting you’re Sinnohan. I seriously had no idea that there was actually a really big oriental demographic at some point surrounding that otherwise super Anglo region. I also sort of forget you’re like, a million years old.”

The teen shifted a little and looked down, feeling a little awkward. “So…how are you?”

“Yeah, mostly because we kinda wiped out our own culture for the most part with constant civil wars. Then you anglos showed up and finished what was left, aside from the shrines and a few other things.” She paused for a moment before crossing her arms, “And I’m not a million years old you nugget.”

There was another small bit of silence before the immortal gave a smile and walked over to Aaron, ruffling his hair, “I’m doing pretty good kiddo. How about yourself?”

“I like rain, but it’s been kind of nonstop…it reminds me of spring in Sinnoh where it would rain and rain continually around Eterna City…it’s a little sad, I guess.”

“Also, hey, Kiko.”

“Ah yes, the rainy season in Sinnoh. I remember one year in my village the rains got so bad we had to build makeshift drainage trails to keep things from flooding.”

“Also hey there Sunshine~”

“Quiet AND rainy. This weather is probably bumming people out. I guess.”

“Probably. I happen to kind of like the rain though.”