Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Nov 8, 2007 21:57:25 GMT
Four swords suddenly appeared from nowhere, their tips resting quickly on Levi's throat.
Oh, bugger.
That Morning
Boy's dorms, Orchid Hill.
Levi gently prodded the new gleaming white porcelain crown in his mouth, relieved to see feel that it wasn't falling out.
Things in his mouth felt so weird. He'd never had to get anything done to his teeth; they'd always been perfect, white, and cavity-free. His dental check-ups lasted less than five minutes - so having to sit for hours getting ceramics stuck to the roots of his teeth was somewhat hellish.
It was beat probably only by the humiliation of getting the bloody teeth knocked out in the first place. And it wasn't as if it were, say, Jack Trove knocking them out. That might have been bearable.
But by a Spy... and Lee Norris, of all Spies...
It was just above getting teeth knocked out by a Carer.
Just.
If he hadn't been distracted... well, the guy would probably be where Madeleine had been this time last week - and of course, Madeleine would probably be sitting where he was, holding his freakin' hand.
Even he had to admit that those two seemed like they'd been cemented together. Madeleine was even wearing a Claddagh ring, of all things, and rumour had it that she'd introduced Lee to her parents. And she'd laughingly admitted that her new lack of fear of spiders was down to being with him in the forest...
It was so cute it was disgusting.
Levi clicked on his inbox and frowned as he found an email from Orla there again. The usual tug-of-war ensued in his mind, but as usual, the brother side won.
Before he clicked on the email though, he started thinking about Orla.
Even though his parents had done something with all the photos, and though he hadn't seen her for so long, her image still came easily to his mind. Orla laughed a lot, and he could still see and hear his sister's laugh. With her brown eyes and bright, sparkling personality, she was always set apart from the rest of them. Always the black sheep.
Drat it.
He knew that it would be his downfall, if she was ever pitted against him in a battle. He couldn't shoot her. He knew it. He knew that he'd have to... but that was his limit.
He also wouldn't want Orla fighting him. Orla had complete and total control over the mind, and could bring about the illusion of torture at the slightest...
His thoughts stopped for a moment, and his tongue tapped against the new crowns.
Oh. OH.
Now there was an idea.
He needed revenge... and Orla was more than capable of doing it without being caught... and she'd be more than thrilled to do it for him...
It wasn't betraying the school, because it was only the one person.
It was just revenge...
Present
Entrance, Enemy Camps
He raised his hands, showing that he meant no harm.
"State your name and purpose," a low voice snarled at him.
Levi bit back the sharp retort rising to his mouth, knowing it would get him nowhere. "Levi Ryder," he said calmly. "I'm Orla Ryder's brother. I'm here to see her."
There was a silence. He could tell that they hadn't expected anyone to know Orla's real name.
That would make sense.
"You're from the school?" someone demanded, his sword putting a little more pressure on Levi's throat.
"Yes."
There were a couple of laughs. "Oh, well, aren't you a smart one, working out how to get in here?"
Levi restrained from rolling his eyes with great difficulty. "Could I please speak to Orla?"
He knew that it wouldn't have been that simple. He knew that he'd be threatened. But Orla would recognise him.
"Why are you really here?" the voice demanded gruffly. "Are you a Spy? Come to try your luck?"
I'm a Warrior, dumbass!
"No, I'm here to see my sister," he replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Can't you get her, and she can prove that I'm who I say I am?"
There was a pause, then the voice said, "Search him. I'll bring her now."
Two of the swords left his throat, the bearded man who'd asked him the questions leaving, and the other standing in front of him and simply looking up and down.
X-ray vision, he guessed. What a cliché.
The man looked disappointed and shook his head, before returning his sword to Levi's throat,
The bearded man came hurrying along beside a fantastically beautiful woman with wavy hair and big chocolate brown eyes, currently torn between excitement and concern.
It was awful how beautiful she was - he was her brother, and he could still see it.
"... just shows up. This him?" the bearded man was saying.
Orla's beautiful eyes were round with disbelief. "Levi?" she asked hollowly, her voice slowly filling up with hope.
He grinned, his white teeth flashing. "Hey, sis."
She smiled briefly, before frowning gently. Levi had a second to brace himself before he felt the familiar finger-like tendrils of his mind protrude into his.
It only lasted for a second, before they pulled back, and Orla breathed a sigh of relief. "It's him."
Levi rolled his eyes. "Of course it's me. Can you get them to take these off me now?"
She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up. "Lower them," she said impatiently, waving the swords down.
Then, her face shifted into annoyance. "Hold on, what are you doing here? Are you crazy? Or suicidal? For the love of-"
He held up his hands, interrupting her with his laughter. "So much for a hug then."
An indescribable expression flickered on her face, before she smiled radiantly and jumped towards him.
With a rush of affection for his sister, Levi found himself reflecting fondly on how exuberant she'd always been, contrasting so much with the reserve of the rest of them. She'd been the black sheep in so many ways...
She pulled back excitedly. "Oh, Levi, I was so worried-"
She stopped suddenly, glancing about suspiciously. "Come on, let's go to my office."
The bearded man (who had been ogling her, Levi noted, tempted to crack his knuckles threateningly) looked alarmed. "Miss Ryder, are you sure-"
She waved him off imperiously, motioning to Levi to follow her. He hid a grin as she led him into the building, through a maze of corridors, to an unmarked door.
She opened the door for him, ushering him inside.
He blinked when he was in their. It was light and airy... with a huge window, a vase on a desk filled with winter roses, photo frames, throw cushions...
It was so unmistakably Orla.
"You really do make yourself comfortable here, don't you?" he asked, trying and failing to keep the impressed note out of his voice.
She smiled tightly, and he could see from her eyes that she was worried.
"Why are you here, Levi? I mean, not that I'm not glad you are, but you must be crazy," she said, sitting down in the leather chair behind her desk.
He sat down opposite her, on the other side of the desk. "I came to talk to you."
"About?" she said, her big and hopeful eyes flickering towards a photo frame before jumping back to him.
"It's been a year," he reminded her, in a low voice.
"I've been emailing you every month and you haven't replied once," she said darkly. "Why now?"
He opened his mouth to answer, and her frown just got deeper. "What did you do to your teeth?" she interrupted.
He grimaced. "You noticed?"
She shrugged. "Only because it's me."
Again, that made perfect sense. Orla was such an image of perfection and flawlessness, every flaw was too noticeable in comparison to her.
He smiled. "Well, that's actually what I was here to talk to you about..."
She sat back in her chair lazily, her white legs crossed and her arms resting on the arms of the chair. "Knocked out?"
He blanched. "You guessed."
"Who?" she demanded, sitting up, suddenly slightly outraged.
"Take a look," he muttered, opening up his mind to her again and remembering the scene.
The protrusions were more gentle this time, but she scowled after a second.
"I recognise him. I've seen him in Cardsdale, with that short pretty girl..."
Levi suddenly felt a guilty pang as he recognised this description of Madeleine.
"No offence or anything, Levi, but ... how did he knock your teeth out? He looks like a weed."
He had to laugh. "I think I have to blame it on my ex's catsuit."
She raised an eyebrow. "I saw her in that memory. She's your ex?!"
"You sound surprised!"
"I am," she replied honestly. "So she left you for him?!"
Levi chuckled. "Love you, sis."
"I know you do," she smiled. "Want me to take care of him? I take it getting your own back is still against the rules."
"Well, yeah, but he's always with... my ex, and while he'd be easy to crush, she'd be a bit more of a challenge," he admitted grudgingly.
"But she's tiny."
He shrugged.
Orla pondered it for a minute. "She looks familiar..."
"Probably because you've seen her in Cardsdale."
She shook her head. "No... it's something else..." After pondering it for a minute, she glanced at Levi. "What's her name?"
He bristled. "I'm not here to give you inside information on the school, Orla."
"Warrior, then."
"Orla!"
She sighed. "Sorry." Then she suddenly clapped her hands to her mouth.
Levi narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Nothing, nothing," she said, brushing it off. "So how have you been?"
"Fine," he said, suspicious at the sudden change of subject.
"I've been so worried," she said softly. "You've no idea. You're a Warrior - you're out in those battles. I'm so scared that something will happen to you."
"Haven't you been fighting?"
"Yes - that's why I'm worried." She sighed. "By the way, thanks for killing another 26 of my soldiers. Really appreciated."
26? Woah...
"Sorry," he said, not meaning it at all.
"Hmm."
There was a pause.
Levi glanced at his watch. "I think I'd better be going back up to the school now."
Orla sighed. "I guess."
He checked at her sad tone, and wanted nothing more than to hug her.
She rose from her chair. "Thanks for letting me do this for you."
He grinned, also rising. "Call it a present."
She laughed. "Sure," before walking across to him and hugging him tightly.
"I really miss you, Levi," she muttered against his shoulder.
A lump rose in his own throat. "I miss you too. But it doesn't change anything."
"No," she sighed. "No, it doesn't."
She pulled back, and showed him out the door.
"Any time you want to meet me," she said, the hint of tears showing in her voice. "Just, email me first and get me to meet outside here, okay?"
"I did email you," Levi said honestly.
"Well, wait for me to reply, next time."
They walked through the corridors and out to the gates in silence.
"How are Mum and Dad?" she asked tentatively.
Levi turned to her. "They're fine," he answered. "They miss you, though they'll never admit it."
The tears did rise to her chocolate eyes this time.
He sighed. "They're still mad, Orla," he said, brutally but honestly.
"I know." One pearly teardrop fell from her eye, rolling down her cheeks now.
"But you're still their daughter," he reminded her.
Orla closed her eyes for a second. "I know."
Levi reached out and rubbed her arm gently. "See you round, sis. And ... thanks."
"My pleasure," she whispered, moving around him and opening the gates. "Bye, Levi. Love you."
He smiled wryly. "Love you too."
More than he'd ever allow himself to tell her. Because, for all he missed her, for all he loved her, she'd still betrayed them all.
As if she'd read his thoughts, she lifted her head and asked, as he walked through the gates, "Does this mean you've forgiven me?"
He turned to look back at her, a little sadly. Looking her up and down, he shook his head and said, "You always were the black sheep, Orla. I'm sorry."
And with that, he left, without looking back at the lone figure watching him go.
Oh, bugger.
That Morning
Boy's dorms, Orchid Hill.
Levi gently prodded the new gleaming white porcelain crown in his mouth, relieved to see feel that it wasn't falling out.
Things in his mouth felt so weird. He'd never had to get anything done to his teeth; they'd always been perfect, white, and cavity-free. His dental check-ups lasted less than five minutes - so having to sit for hours getting ceramics stuck to the roots of his teeth was somewhat hellish.
It was beat probably only by the humiliation of getting the bloody teeth knocked out in the first place. And it wasn't as if it were, say, Jack Trove knocking them out. That might have been bearable.
But by a Spy... and Lee Norris, of all Spies...
It was just above getting teeth knocked out by a Carer.
Just.
If he hadn't been distracted... well, the guy would probably be where Madeleine had been this time last week - and of course, Madeleine would probably be sitting where he was, holding his freakin' hand.
Even he had to admit that those two seemed like they'd been cemented together. Madeleine was even wearing a Claddagh ring, of all things, and rumour had it that she'd introduced Lee to her parents. And she'd laughingly admitted that her new lack of fear of spiders was down to being with him in the forest...
It was so cute it was disgusting.
Levi clicked on his inbox and frowned as he found an email from Orla there again. The usual tug-of-war ensued in his mind, but as usual, the brother side won.
Before he clicked on the email though, he started thinking about Orla.
Even though his parents had done something with all the photos, and though he hadn't seen her for so long, her image still came easily to his mind. Orla laughed a lot, and he could still see and hear his sister's laugh. With her brown eyes and bright, sparkling personality, she was always set apart from the rest of them. Always the black sheep.
Drat it.
He knew that it would be his downfall, if she was ever pitted against him in a battle. He couldn't shoot her. He knew it. He knew that he'd have to... but that was his limit.
He also wouldn't want Orla fighting him. Orla had complete and total control over the mind, and could bring about the illusion of torture at the slightest...
His thoughts stopped for a moment, and his tongue tapped against the new crowns.
Oh. OH.
Now there was an idea.
He needed revenge... and Orla was more than capable of doing it without being caught... and she'd be more than thrilled to do it for him...
It wasn't betraying the school, because it was only the one person.
It was just revenge...
Present
Entrance, Enemy Camps
He raised his hands, showing that he meant no harm.
"State your name and purpose," a low voice snarled at him.
Levi bit back the sharp retort rising to his mouth, knowing it would get him nowhere. "Levi Ryder," he said calmly. "I'm Orla Ryder's brother. I'm here to see her."
There was a silence. He could tell that they hadn't expected anyone to know Orla's real name.
That would make sense.
"You're from the school?" someone demanded, his sword putting a little more pressure on Levi's throat.
"Yes."
There were a couple of laughs. "Oh, well, aren't you a smart one, working out how to get in here?"
Levi restrained from rolling his eyes with great difficulty. "Could I please speak to Orla?"
He knew that it wouldn't have been that simple. He knew that he'd be threatened. But Orla would recognise him.
"Why are you really here?" the voice demanded gruffly. "Are you a Spy? Come to try your luck?"
I'm a Warrior, dumbass!
"No, I'm here to see my sister," he replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Can't you get her, and she can prove that I'm who I say I am?"
There was a pause, then the voice said, "Search him. I'll bring her now."
Two of the swords left his throat, the bearded man who'd asked him the questions leaving, and the other standing in front of him and simply looking up and down.
X-ray vision, he guessed. What a cliché.
The man looked disappointed and shook his head, before returning his sword to Levi's throat,
The bearded man came hurrying along beside a fantastically beautiful woman with wavy hair and big chocolate brown eyes, currently torn between excitement and concern.
It was awful how beautiful she was - he was her brother, and he could still see it.
"... just shows up. This him?" the bearded man was saying.
Orla's beautiful eyes were round with disbelief. "Levi?" she asked hollowly, her voice slowly filling up with hope.
He grinned, his white teeth flashing. "Hey, sis."
She smiled briefly, before frowning gently. Levi had a second to brace himself before he felt the familiar finger-like tendrils of his mind protrude into his.
It only lasted for a second, before they pulled back, and Orla breathed a sigh of relief. "It's him."
Levi rolled his eyes. "Of course it's me. Can you get them to take these off me now?"
She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up. "Lower them," she said impatiently, waving the swords down.
Then, her face shifted into annoyance. "Hold on, what are you doing here? Are you crazy? Or suicidal? For the love of-"
He held up his hands, interrupting her with his laughter. "So much for a hug then."
An indescribable expression flickered on her face, before she smiled radiantly and jumped towards him.
With a rush of affection for his sister, Levi found himself reflecting fondly on how exuberant she'd always been, contrasting so much with the reserve of the rest of them. She'd been the black sheep in so many ways...
She pulled back excitedly. "Oh, Levi, I was so worried-"
She stopped suddenly, glancing about suspiciously. "Come on, let's go to my office."
The bearded man (who had been ogling her, Levi noted, tempted to crack his knuckles threateningly) looked alarmed. "Miss Ryder, are you sure-"
She waved him off imperiously, motioning to Levi to follow her. He hid a grin as she led him into the building, through a maze of corridors, to an unmarked door.
She opened the door for him, ushering him inside.
He blinked when he was in their. It was light and airy... with a huge window, a vase on a desk filled with winter roses, photo frames, throw cushions...
It was so unmistakably Orla.
"You really do make yourself comfortable here, don't you?" he asked, trying and failing to keep the impressed note out of his voice.
She smiled tightly, and he could see from her eyes that she was worried.
"Why are you here, Levi? I mean, not that I'm not glad you are, but you must be crazy," she said, sitting down in the leather chair behind her desk.
He sat down opposite her, on the other side of the desk. "I came to talk to you."
"About?" she said, her big and hopeful eyes flickering towards a photo frame before jumping back to him.
"It's been a year," he reminded her, in a low voice.
"I've been emailing you every month and you haven't replied once," she said darkly. "Why now?"
He opened his mouth to answer, and her frown just got deeper. "What did you do to your teeth?" she interrupted.
He grimaced. "You noticed?"
She shrugged. "Only because it's me."
Again, that made perfect sense. Orla was such an image of perfection and flawlessness, every flaw was too noticeable in comparison to her.
He smiled. "Well, that's actually what I was here to talk to you about..."
She sat back in her chair lazily, her white legs crossed and her arms resting on the arms of the chair. "Knocked out?"
He blanched. "You guessed."
"Who?" she demanded, sitting up, suddenly slightly outraged.
"Take a look," he muttered, opening up his mind to her again and remembering the scene.
The protrusions were more gentle this time, but she scowled after a second.
"I recognise him. I've seen him in Cardsdale, with that short pretty girl..."
Levi suddenly felt a guilty pang as he recognised this description of Madeleine.
"No offence or anything, Levi, but ... how did he knock your teeth out? He looks like a weed."
He had to laugh. "I think I have to blame it on my ex's catsuit."
She raised an eyebrow. "I saw her in that memory. She's your ex?!"
"You sound surprised!"
"I am," she replied honestly. "So she left you for him?!"
Levi chuckled. "Love you, sis."
"I know you do," she smiled. "Want me to take care of him? I take it getting your own back is still against the rules."
"Well, yeah, but he's always with... my ex, and while he'd be easy to crush, she'd be a bit more of a challenge," he admitted grudgingly.
"But she's tiny."
He shrugged.
Orla pondered it for a minute. "She looks familiar..."
"Probably because you've seen her in Cardsdale."
She shook her head. "No... it's something else..." After pondering it for a minute, she glanced at Levi. "What's her name?"
He bristled. "I'm not here to give you inside information on the school, Orla."
"Warrior, then."
"Orla!"
She sighed. "Sorry." Then she suddenly clapped her hands to her mouth.
Levi narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Nothing, nothing," she said, brushing it off. "So how have you been?"
"Fine," he said, suspicious at the sudden change of subject.
"I've been so worried," she said softly. "You've no idea. You're a Warrior - you're out in those battles. I'm so scared that something will happen to you."
"Haven't you been fighting?"
"Yes - that's why I'm worried." She sighed. "By the way, thanks for killing another 26 of my soldiers. Really appreciated."
26? Woah...
"Sorry," he said, not meaning it at all.
"Hmm."
There was a pause.
Levi glanced at his watch. "I think I'd better be going back up to the school now."
Orla sighed. "I guess."
He checked at her sad tone, and wanted nothing more than to hug her.
She rose from her chair. "Thanks for letting me do this for you."
He grinned, also rising. "Call it a present."
She laughed. "Sure," before walking across to him and hugging him tightly.
"I really miss you, Levi," she muttered against his shoulder.
A lump rose in his own throat. "I miss you too. But it doesn't change anything."
"No," she sighed. "No, it doesn't."
She pulled back, and showed him out the door.
"Any time you want to meet me," she said, the hint of tears showing in her voice. "Just, email me first and get me to meet outside here, okay?"
"I did email you," Levi said honestly.
"Well, wait for me to reply, next time."
They walked through the corridors and out to the gates in silence.
"How are Mum and Dad?" she asked tentatively.
Levi turned to her. "They're fine," he answered. "They miss you, though they'll never admit it."
The tears did rise to her chocolate eyes this time.
He sighed. "They're still mad, Orla," he said, brutally but honestly.
"I know." One pearly teardrop fell from her eye, rolling down her cheeks now.
"But you're still their daughter," he reminded her.
Orla closed her eyes for a second. "I know."
Levi reached out and rubbed her arm gently. "See you round, sis. And ... thanks."
"My pleasure," she whispered, moving around him and opening the gates. "Bye, Levi. Love you."
He smiled wryly. "Love you too."
More than he'd ever allow himself to tell her. Because, for all he missed her, for all he loved her, she'd still betrayed them all.
As if she'd read his thoughts, she lifted her head and asked, as he walked through the gates, "Does this mean you've forgiven me?"
He turned to look back at her, a little sadly. Looking her up and down, he shook his head and said, "You always were the black sheep, Orla. I'm sorry."
And with that, he left, without looking back at the lone figure watching him go.
