Fallen Skies

Calm

Ahani stayed in her bed for some time, buried beneath the blankets. She was afraid to move, afraid to run into the General, afraid to come across any of the Fallen. Regardless of this, she didn't want to have to resort to going to Emmanuel. However, the growling of her stomach soon forced her to make some kind of movement. She slowly pulled the blanket back off her head, looking toward the door. It was a few minutes longer before Ahani slid toward the edge of the bed to get up. She rubbed her eyes, drying the tears that had been continuously running from them.

Her first instinct was to listen to see if she would hear the sound of the organ, and when she didn't, the alarm prickled against her skin. She wouldn't know where to go to find Emmanuel, though she did remember that he had said he would be in the organ room. Slowly, and trying to keep in the shadows of the hallway, Ahani once again left her room, trying to remember the way she had taken to get to the organ room in the first place. It was much easier when there was music playing. However, in the eerie silence, she found herself struggling to remember the way. When she did finally come across the organ room, she slowly came to a stop in the doorway. What she saw and heard beyond the open doors made her heart sink, though she still refused to comfort, or receive comfort. Her anger was too great.

Sitting at the organ, weeping softly, Emmanuel sat with his back to her, his wings completely stretched out across the stone floor. It was much different than the way she had seen him before. Instead of sitting upright, confidently playing the organ, Emmanuel sat hunched forward with his head in his hands, a look of defeat in his posture. Slowly, Ahani moved to leave, though she bumped one of the knockers on the door, the heavy thump making Emmanuel lift his head. He didn't move beyond this for a moment before he turned a little to look over his shoulder in her direction. Ahani's breath hitched in her throat, watching as the glow of his eyes just barely met her gaze from where she stood. The light in his eyes had dimmed some, the confidence and brightness that had once been there replaced with a mixture of emotions that Ahani couldn't place without seeing his face.

For a moment or two, they watched each other. Neither of them seemed to have words for the other, an uncomfortable silence settling over the room between them. Ahani finally looked at the floor when Emmanuel slowly rose to his feet, his moving of the stool calmer and more thought through this time. His wings took their place at his back once more, though they hung loosely. His posture alone showed that he wasn't in the mood to argue, his weeping showing that he was exhausted both mentally and emotionally from her arrival and the interaction with the General. In part, it was from having to keep her from hurting herself. When Emmanuel closed his eyes, he could see her leaning back on the wall, each visual sending a pain ripping through his heart. The fact that she was that scared, and wanted to leave this world that much, made his guilt rise tenfold. He watched Ahani for a moment, her head cast down to the floor so she was staring at her feet. He waited. Seeking him out meant she needed something, though her hesitance to ask made his heartache.

At the time, he wasn't sure why. He assumed it was the responsibility that made his feelings hard to deal with. Finally, Ahani looked up at him again. "I... I need help," She started, her tone of voice tight. It was as if she regretted having to ask him for help.

"What is it you are looking for?" He asked, his voice hoarse and tired. Ahani brought her arms up to hug them around her middle.

"I... I'm hungry," She whispered. Emmanuel nodded, moving toward her and the doorway. Ahani stepped back away from him as he approached the doorway; this time, he didn't reach out for her. He kept a respectable distance, though he did direct her with an arm to walk ahead of him. It would be easier to keep her safe if he walked behind her, able to hear behind him and see in front of them.

Ahani didn't argue. She wanted to get back to her room and to do that, she would need to do as she was told and go where Emmanuel told her to go. She walked ahead of the Fallen, listening as he directed her. When they reached the kitchen, the silence in the room echoed with the sound of Emmanuel's boots and her bare feet. Emmanuel stopped after a few more steps into the kitchen, motioning for Ahani to sit. She looked toward a large table lined with equally large chairs that looked like thrones compared to what she was used to. She didn't move for a moment, though the growling of her stomach urged her forward as she opened her mouth to try to protest. She had wanted to take her food back to her room to eat in silence, but it seemed Emmanuel wanted her to sit at the table, rather than carry her food all the way back to her room. Part of Ahani didn't want to argue with this. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually sat down and eaten. It could have been some time before she wound up on the battlefield, though she couldn't place when or even what it was.

Ahani walked over to the table, looking over toward Emmanuel as the Fallen made his way to a preparation area in the kitchen. Sitting down, Ahani watched as he gathered a few things from a cooling cabinet that reminded her of a fridge built into the wall. He took them to the preparation table, placed them down on the surface, and going around to the other side of the preparation are to gather a couple of small pieces of wood to start the stove. As she watched, Ahani felt some of her anger begin to dwindle down to a burning sensation behind her eyes. Now, she was more angry with herself.

"Emmanuel?" She questioned, calling the name of the Fallen, his back to her as he looked for a few pieces that would fit in the stove. His movements paused when he heard his name, his head rising a little as he waited for her to continue. "What... what am I supposed to do?" Ahani's question hung in the air as he seemed to contemplate his answer carefully.

"For now, you do as I told you. I'm not trying to be rude, it's safer that way," he said, his tone of voice soft. Ahani didn't care much for this answer, but she could see his point. Where she had once wanted to fight against anything that had been said to her, she didn't have much of a choice in the matter. When nothing was said further, Emmanuel continued what he was doing, taking the pieces of wood over to the stove and placed them into the slot under the stove top, kneeling a little to see what he was doing as he lit the fire.

Ahani watched as the orange glow of the flames lit up his mask, the shine of his eyes behind the mask seeming to grow stronger. She felt her heart skip a little in a nervous way when the white shifted from the fire to where she sat. This time, she found she couldn't look away. It was as if Ahani was captured by his gaze. The rush of blood to her face made her feel as though she were standing in front of the fire herself. She adjusted in her seat, feeling small under the Fallen's stare before he looked away, releasing her from the sudden influx of mixed emotions that had begun to well in her.

Before long, the savory smell of fresh cooking filled the kitchen, making Ahani's already growling stomach sound more furious. She shifted in her seat, looking from the grain of the wooden table back to where Emmanuel was now plating the meal he had prepared. He came over holding two plates, one for Ahani, and one for himself. Ahani waited for the Fallen to seat himself across from her before she began to curiously investigate what had been made. She didn't know what it would be similar to in terms of food she had eaten at home, but the smells that rose from it held the scents of freshly cooked meat, vegetables, and some kind of sweet yet savory sauce. Her attention switching from the food to the Fallen, she noticed he was watching her. However, he didn't seem to budge towards eating his own meal, which made Ahani a little nervous.

"Don't worry, there is nothing in it that will make you sick," he said, raising a hand to lift his mask. However, Emmanuel lifted the mask just enough to reveal his mouth and chin, leaving his features a continued mystery. Only after he took a bite did she settle enough to try herself. A nervous tension rose again when the thought crept in that it could be something that made her sick, but not Emmanuel. Pushing the thought away, she tucked into her plate of food. Soon all thoughts left her mind as she allowed the flavors to mingle, taking her into a state of ease that she had been unable to find up until that moment. It was as if he had an ability to incorporate the flavors of the food she was used to into something that was unknown.