[Eighteen - RIght Through The Eye]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Somedays, all Katniss wanted to do was find whoever ran this playground gone mad, and shoot them through the throat with her sharpest arrow. Bad enough she had to keep around the Castle to make sure Emma stayed safe. Now, to add insult to injury -- she'd changed into one of the damned elves. With the pale make-up and glitter and the pointed ears and the ridiculously tight green leather and a cape. A frigging cape, in the middle of summer!]

[She's grumbling as she sticks to the shadows of the Castle, clearly heard through the journal hanging on her side.] ...most ridiculous ... can't believe elves wear this ... could get shot right in the stomach who wouldn't armor yourself there? ...

Comments

[unvarnished]

Then I agree, it's ridiculous. [there is a twitch of pain in his leg from the lie and he sucks in a sharp breath]

[the_effect_she_has]

[She turned towards him at that, her face scrunching up.] You say something?

[unvarnished]

It's just my leg acting up again.

[the_effect_she_has]

What is up with that leg, anyways?

[unvarnished]

Back home, my condition started with this leg. I don't know why it's acting back up again, though.

[the_effect_she_has]

Well, whatever you're doing ... stop doing it.

[unvarnished]

I can't. I don't know how.

[the_effect_she_has]

So you injured yourself, but you don't know how, and you don't know how to stop doing what you were doing to hurt yourself.

[unvarnished]

It's not an injury. It's... It only happens when I... [oh. Oh, now he gets it] It's my price.

[the_effect_she_has]

So your price is an injury that isn't an injury that only hurts you when you ... [She raised one hand towards him.] Please, feel free to illuminate me as you have been illuminated.

[unvarnished]

When I lie. Which is a problem for me.

[the_effect_she_has]

aaaah .... wait. That means you just lied to me that you think this looks stupid. [She glowered at him.]

[unvarnished]

I was trying to avoid getting punched.

[the_effect_she_has]

I might just punch you for being stubborn.

[unvarnished]

So I'm getting punched no matter what I do.

[the_effect_she_has]

Welcome to having a little sister.

[unvarnished]

You should be taking it as a compliment, you know. That outfit is just the type I've seen women wear back in the Enchanted Forest.

[the_effect_she_has]

Great. Maybe I'll win myself a Prince and finally get this royalty thing. [She snorted softly, before she walked over and punched him in the arm.] Don't. Lie. Anymore.

[unvarnished]

Ow. [he rubs where she punched him] It doesn't come easy for me, you know. I'm working at it.

[the_effect_she_has]

Work harder. [She said tartly, before going back on punching the bag. Hard.] Don't give me something new to worry about.

[unvarnished]

I wouldn't want to do that.

[the_effect_she_has]

That's right. Then I'd become even more overbearing and protective.

[unvarnished]

I'm not used to people caring so much. I've been on my own my whole life.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She looked over at him, grey eyes quiet.] Well, then I know this will be hard for you. But I think you can handle it.

[unvarnished]

[it's the same problem that Emma and Neal struggle with. The three lost children of the Enchanted Forest, growing up without a family in the World Without Magic. Learning early on that the only person they could count on was themselves. Trusting people, even a person who clearly cared about them, wasn't easy.

But August can't think about them right now, because their absense stings too much]

Do I have a choice?