In Another World
(G)
Characters – Eric the Cavalier; Hank the Ranger;
Prompt - ff100 #21 Friends
Word Count - 607
Summary – Back on Earth, Eric discovers that some relationships have changed
AN – Written as a response to a challenge from a friend. With thanks to r_scribbles :)
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In Another World
Silence.
’Stop looking at me like that!’ said Eric.
More silence. It seemed that Hank was going to give him the silent treatment. Fine, thought Eric. Two can play at that game.
But it didn't work. He had to speak.
’Look, I didn’t mean it to work out like this, okay?’ he said at last. As an apology it left a lot to be desired, but he wasn’t that good at them.
More silence. It wasn’t going to wash with Hank. Not this time. This time it seemed he’d stepped over some sort of invisible line that he hadn’t even know was there.
He’d just wanted to join in. He’d just wanted to be one of the gang, like before.
’I didn't mean to get in the way,’ Eric said, hoping this would be more successful. ‘I just forgot.’
Silence. Colder silence, if that were possible. Was contempt all he deserved for an innocent mistake?
It hadn’t worked. Hank was still not talking to him.
It seemed like Hank was never going to forgive him, and was never going to talk to him again. And that thought hurt. It hurt much more than Eric expected it too. He gulped and forced himself to look at his friend.
’It’s not the same here, as the Realm,’ Eric said miserably. ‘We’ve been away so long that I...’
How could he explain it? He had been so used to their friendship, he’d been so used to being there with Hank that he'd not thought about it properly. He had assumed that when they got back, things would just carry on the same way. It was a pretty stupid thing to assume, but he hadn’t even thought about it. Worse, he couldn’t imagine it, as life was so different now. He’d found something he wanted and something he felt he had earned. He was a new person here on Earth, there was almost nothing left of the old, arrogant, selfish and conceited Eric from before. Hank should know that. And Hank, of all people should understand.
’Stop looking at me like that, please, Hank.’
More silence.
The ex-Ranger was glaring at him, his eyes hard and empty, he looked like he was a lifeless statue. He’d rarely seen him like that, not even in the Dragon’s Graveyard, not even by the Cenotaph; but just once, one day when Sheila had said “no”.
Though it went against his pride, it was obvious Hank wanted him o say it; properly and out loud.
‘Okay,’ said Eric with a huff, ‘you win. I’m a jerk. And I’m sorry. Happy now?’
Silence. Hank looked away, as if pretending he hadn’t heard anything.
It changed nothing. His apology had changed nothing!
In the past, in the Realm, that would have been enough for forgiveness, and it wasn't like Eric had done it deliberately. But not here, it wasn’t going to work here. Not now they were back. Not now they were home.
Life was different now they were home.
But they were different too.
They had shared a life of danger and adventure and come out of the other side as new people. They had been friends.
Hank finally looked back at him, but didn’t meet his eyes. Then he stood up, and walked away, without looking back.
Eric watched in disbelief. Back at school, it was obvious that, though things were different, they were different in the way Eric hadn't anticipated. He’d thought their friendship wouldn’t change, that he meant something to Hank, even something very small, and that he had earned some amount of trust and respect.
But he was wrong.