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Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Aug 26, 2007 16:51:05 GMT
"Oh no," he answered, without even a blink. "I'm not saying what you say doesn't matter. I'm saying that I just have the choice of whether or not to listen to you." Her voice had thrown him. It was a perfect reflection of his. Cool. Calm. Collected. And enough to give anyone frostbite. It was terrifying. He didn't want to argue. On the inside, he was shaking like a leaf. But she could turn herself off, so why couldn't he? But he still didn't like it. Just a few hours ago, this had seemed so simple...
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Aug 26, 2007 17:05:16 GMT
"Well, I really wish you would would choose to listen to me," Madeleine answered fiercely. "And Lee, I'm sorry about this, but I'm Head of the Warriors. I choose who goes into battle with me. I don't want to have to force you not to fight, but if you push me to the limit, I'll do it. I don't want to, and it'll hurt doing it, but I can. So don't push me, because you'll not get anywhere." Now, she was choosing to get angry. If it worked, then good, but she felt guilty doing it. This was Lee, for goodness sake. She shouldn't have to shout at him. "I can't let you fight, I'm sorry, but I ... I just... can't," she finished lamely.
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Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Aug 26, 2007 17:40:56 GMT
"No, you can," he replied, his frown deepening. Something within him was cracking. "The real question is why aren't you letting me go?! You're perfectly capable of letting me do so. Go on then, what's that wonderful little reason of yours? Why do you so dearly wish to cut me out of this?!" The words sounded harsh; bitter; sharp; cruel. They felt like barbed wire, twisting their way around his throat and choking him. But he was getting frustrated now. This wasn't fair. This wasn't fair.
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Aug 26, 2007 17:48:58 GMT
At the harsh edge in Lee's voice, Madeleine lost it. Self control vanished, and all she could say was the reason: "Because I lost my brother to this war, and I don't want to lose you as well," she said, glaring at him defiantly, in attempt to make up for the noticable quaver in her voice.
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Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Aug 26, 2007 17:52:53 GMT
Silence. A terrible roaring silence. But even now, the cogs in his brain kept whirring. Logic. Merciless. Cold. But he didn't want these words to fall out- "But what about me?" His voice was quiet, still distant and cool. "What if I lose you? What if you die, and I knew I could've had the chance to stopped it, had I only gone and fought by your side?"
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Aug 26, 2007 18:06:59 GMT
She was shivering now; she couldn't help it. The flash of temper had gone now, and was replaced by this, a false calm. Only, she wasn't sure how to answer, again. She was stuck for words. No one had ever said something like that to her before. No one had ever expressed concern that she might die. Especially not a guy. It was just something that the guys she'd known would never do. It was further proof that Lee was something special. "I can look after myself, Lee," she said quietly. "I'm not going to die, I promise." She'd said it before, and she hadn't died that time, had she?
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Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Aug 26, 2007 18:12:28 GMT
Lee took a step towards her, staring her straight in the eye. She had to understand. She had to know that he meant every word that he said. Whenever you looked at people, and forced them to look back... it would work. By looking away, you were hiding from what you felt. But by looking at the person... it was almost like facing them, and confronting whatever it was. "You can't promise that," he said calmly, not blinking once. "But by letting me fight, there's an extra chance that you'll survive. Not just you- everyone on the battlefield is helped by just one extra person being there."
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Aug 26, 2007 18:19:11 GMT
No. He was looking her in the eyes. No, that wasn't fair. He had an advantage over her there because of his blue eyes. She'd give in. For goodness' sake, Madeleine, stop shaking. "No," she said, aware that her shaking was audible in her voice. "You'd distract me; I couldn't focus if you were there. I'd be worrying the whole time in case you ... I can't switch myself off if you're there."
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Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Aug 26, 2007 18:25:27 GMT
She was shaking madly now. Automatically it seemed, he took another step towards her, his hands reaching out to hold her arms, and to hold her frame steady. He wouldn't look away. He had to get through to her. She wasn't going to stop him from doing this. She wasn't there. She didn't... she didn't know what that terrible waiting was like... The waiting and the watching... and the constant drumming of your heartbeat as you counted the seconds as they dragged by... He couldn't go through that again. "Madeleine," he said quietly. "Of course you could switch off. You're a fighter. It's in your blood. Your... your brother was lost to this war. So please, let me help you end it, before anyone else is lost."
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Aug 26, 2007 18:49:55 GMT
Though he was holding her arms, Madeleine was still trembling. She didn't know why, but she couldn't stop. He was still looking in her eyes, darn him. She knew that she was being selfish and ridiculous - even Shaun would have told her that, albeit in decidedly stronger words. She shouldn't be doing this; she shouldn't be trying to stop Lee from doing this, what he wanted to do. She couldn't keep him in a place where he didn't want to be. She sighed, and looked back at him. "Fine," she muttered. "I'm not happy about it, but fine. Though I'm not letting you in the front line, and don't even bother arguing; that's as good as you're going to get."
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Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Aug 26, 2007 18:52:09 GMT
Success. "Great," he smiled at her, then chanced a quick kiss on her lips. He stepped back, his hand running down her arm to squeeze her hand. "Thanks, Madeleine." Thank you so, so much...
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Aug 26, 2007 19:02:24 GMT
Madeleine returned the squeeze, and sighed as she walked back over to Kira with him. She wasn't happy, she didn't want to let him fight - but who was she to tell him that he couldn't? She had no right to tell him what to do. She had no right to tell anyone what to do. But still... duty called... She went up to the stage and clapped her hands, aware that she was slightly late in doing this. "Alright guys," she said, loudly and clearly. "We have two new members to our 'army', Lee and Kira Norris. Be nice, all of you, I know they're Spies, but still..." This got several laughs from the crowd. Madeleine didn't have to right to tell anyone what to do. But still... they listened. "Right, so you all know the drill. If you could all pair up..."
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