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Choice Words
It had taken a few days for the feeling to build, a few days since they’d faced almost certain death from No-Name. It might have been more appropriate at the time, but there hadn’t been an opportunity. They had more important things to worry about for a while. Like staying alive.
Hank hadn’t forgotten the feeling as Eric had flipped open the top of the Box, but he had let it lie. Dungeonmaster hadn’t felt the need to berate the Cavalier more than once, and Hank hoped that Eric had perhaps learned his lesson. Afterwards, everyone had been too pleased and relieved to find No Name gone to be concerned about how it had all happened in the first place.
But after only a day, the Cavalier was starting to behave just as he’d done before. Hank deliberately kept an eye on him, as he’d had the feeling Eric wouldn’t be able to help himself.
It was the same old Eric shining through; the familiar, and annoying, mindless egoism. Why hadn’t he learned?
Hank was sick of it. He’d been sick of it before the trip to the Underworld, but now, it was more than annoying, it was infuriating.
Why did the Cavalier always have to be the centre of attention all the time? Why did he have to be such a fucking great prick? Why did he have to get them into trouble all the time?
Never abandon your leadership, or your hope, that’s what the old man had told Hank. And Dungeonmaster had had the gall to blame him for Eric’s stupidity. He was the leader, he was the oldest, he was the most responsible, now responsible for them all.
But he wasn’t a fucking nanny, whatever the Cavalier was used to! He couldn’t be held responsible all the time. It wasn’t fair.
Besides, they had all known that Eric asking was just to reapportion blame when the inevitable happened; he would have done as he damn well pleased and opened it anyway!
And somehow, he still managed to avoid most of the blame.
He listened to Eric prattling on to Presto, what he would do, what he thought, blah, blah, blah.
Then Eric was boasting about saving them “yet again”, as if it was in his fucking job description.
The words exploded out of Hank, shattering the conversation into abrupt silence. ‘You stupid fucking idiot! Shut the fucking hell up!’
For once, Eric had no quick comeback, and Hank would have smiled at that, had he not felt to furious.
Hank rose from his seat on the ground, but Eric didn’t move. He looked up like a terrified rabbit caught in the glare from an oncoming truck.
No one else moved, no one dared say anything. Presto, Diana, Sheila and Bobby were all looking at him with identical expressions of shock. The Cavalier stared at him, his face drained of colour and emotion.
‘Have you any idea how close we came to dying?’ asked Hank. ‘Have you any idea at all about what you’ve done?’
Eric’s mouth twitched slightly, but no sound came out.
‘W-we’re all ok, though,’ said Sheila quietly. ‘It’s not…’
‘It is his fault!’ snarled Hank. ‘Don’t you dare defend him for being a stupid, thoughtless little b…!’
‘Hank!’ interrupted Sheila loudly. ‘No!’
Hank wrenched his furious gaze from Eric and rounded at Sheila. How could she be standing up for him, after all he’d put them through, again and again?
‘He made a mistake,’ she said with forced calm. ‘He’s said he’s sorry.’
‘A mistake? Sorry? And that’s that? We all kiss and make up, and live happily ever after and everything goes on as before?’
‘Hank, what’s got into you?’
‘Me? Didn’t you hear him? All he’s done for the past day is whinge and boast and get on everyone’s nerves! He almost got us all killed and he does give a fuck about it!’
There was a short gulp of air from the Cavalier, and Hank looked back down at him. He would have laughed at the pitiful expression of hurt on Eric’s face if he’d felt even remotely like laughing.
‘This isn’t a game,’ Hank said. ‘This real life. We’re not here as your servants or your babysitters.’
‘Hank…’ Sheila said, but he ignored her.
‘We’re having just as much trouble dealing with this as you are. So grow up, or you can just fuck right off on your own? Understand?’
Eric gave a miniscule nod.
‘Hank!’ Sheila tried again.
‘What’s it gonna be, Cavalier?’
There was a short silence, shorter than Hank had thought it was going to be.
‘I-I-I’ll stay with you guys,’ he said in a whisper.
‘Fine,’ said Hank. The anger was fading, leaving an unfamiliar drained feeling inside. ‘Then that’s finished with then. Good.’
He glared round at the others.
‘We’ve wasted enough time around here, let’s go.’
The others looked round at each other, except Eric who just sat looking numbly into space.
‘C’mon, guys! Let’s go!’
They moved, again all except Eric. Hank watched him, a tiny seed of pity growing as he did. After a few moments, Hank held out his hand to help the Cavalier up.
Eric stared at the hand for a few moments then took it tightly and Hank pulled him standing.
‘Thanks,’ the Cavalier murmured, not looking directly at his face.
Hank drew a deep breath. It was going to be a long, long walk, but somehow, the thought of finding a portal seemed to be easier than before.
‘Let’s go!’ he said.
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Fanfiction Masterlist
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