Lucas looked up, expecting only Gianna as he heard her voice. His mind did not have the time to process what she said before he saw both Ananya and Gianna. Who each took their seat in the row in front of him and Brenna. Gianna he thought he could expect the unexpectable. Yet still, she managed to somehow surprise him. She very much looked like a goddess and it stunned Lucas. But the guy was used to having his mind stop dead in its tracks. So a mere moment of surprise his brain started functioning again. Until he looked at Ananya. His mind just gave up. It didn’t expect her and definitely dressed like that. His eyes literally had to do a double tap to make sure what he was seeing was real.
“I… wow.” It was quite clear Lucas was at a loss of words for a moment. Though he managed to get it together quickly enough.
When she took a seat in front of him, he leaned over to her right, to the side of the window, away from the other two. Softly he whispered:
“So you’re going to keep the dress on this time? Or slither out of it like last time?” The whispering its goal was not to keep it a secret from everyone. It was loud enough so Brenna and Gianna could have heard it, but the others on the bus couldn’t.
Ananya had followed behind Gianna like a lost sheep, unsure what to do. She almost felt bound to follow along with whatever Gia wanted because of her kindness, and maybe the fact that Ananya feared Gia a little didn't help. Ananya slid into her seat in front of Lucas and a gorgeous dark haired woman in a skin-tight costume, her back straight as she gazed around to see who else she recognised on the bus. Shamefully, if she didn't count Gia or Lucas, it was only Amelia that she recognised.
She was content with being left out of the conversation. She didn't know any of them enough to be able to strike up and maintain a long enough conversation with the trio of friends, but Lucas
had to surprise her.
"I can assure you that nothing will be coming off!" She spoke a little too loudly as heat rose to her cheeks, rivalling the dark colour of her lipstick as her gaze flickered between the two ladies. How could he bring up such a thing when Gia and Brenna had no idea of the context!? Ananya wanted to go home.
Oh shit. Gianna almost forgot. Her mind may have been intrigued by Lucas and Anya’s interaction, it seemed like the two were well acquainted. Good. But her mind was immediately ripped back to reality. Pulling out her key card, she turned her body over and handed it to her puppy to fetch her something… important, “
Babe, can you go to my room and get me something? I’ll text you the specifics.” There were no complaints from Lucas. He seemed to have an inkling of an idea of what he needed to get without knowing the details and so he picked himself up and left the Fear Bus.
Last Friday, Gianna had taken a trip to a place she hadn’t visited in awhile… seeing an old friend, who went by the infamous name, The Oracle. Cupid’s Psyche had dragged naive Nocturne (Virgil) with her since he had easier means on getting inside the high-security mental asylum prison. Gia would have considered bringing Lucas and Brenna with her, but she didn’t think any of them were ready to meet a woman like that yet. Perhaps that’s a story for another time.
Grabbing her phone, she quickly texted Lucas:
To: My Pup
The file. Get the picture of the masked figure. There’s notes on the back I need... I’ll tell u more soon enough.
Turning her body once more to face Brenna, who Gianna couldn’t help but feel slightly bad that there were some things she had yet to tell her. She hoped her apprentice would understand that her and Lucas had to focus on different areas for their overall mission. It didn’t help that Gianna brought a new girl into the family without discussing anything with anyone. There was something about Anya that intrigued her and she wanted to see how far she could take this girl, getting her caught up in a far bigger mess than she ever thought she’d be in. Maybe, just maybe, Anya could keep an eye on Lucas since Gianna would like to assume she had yet to be on Tristram’s radar.
With Lucas gone, Gianna could now drop a heavy bomb, making sure it wasn’t conspicuous enough for eavesdroppers but low enough for only Brenna’s and Anya’s ears, “
Brenna, I think I need to take off my pup’s leash. I’m worried he’s getting far too distracted with… someone.” Gianna’s eyes glanced over to Eliana before adding, “
And I feel… he’s too dependent on me. Space might do him some good, don’t you think?” It was obvious this topic made Gianna anxious. She cared about Lucas, but for his own good, at least temporarily, she needed to distance herself. This would also mean Brenna needed to distance herself too from Lucas, for his own protection, but as far as the Ice Queen knows, it’s for his own growth (not because some psychotic man hated Lucas’ guts).
Giving Brenna a short moment to take in this information, Gianna shook her head at her thoughts, “
This is not a request. I know this needs to be done… and unfortunately for you, this means your workload will pick up, since he won’t be as involved with us for a little while. BUT, I don’t want him completely out of the picture.” The Delphina’s Matriarch brought her attention to Anya and sweetly smiled, her eyes tender and with care, “
And that’s where you come in.”
Brenna surveyed this newcomer that Gianna had brought with her onto the bus. She was suspicious of her, even if she did seem to have Gia’s stamp of approval. Now days, Brenna didn’t trust just anyone. Oh hell, who was she kidding? She hadn’t been a trusting person even before all of this started.
As Lucas walked off, her eyes followed him, watched as he went off to fulfill Gia’s wishes. She was still reeling from that kiss, short as it may have been. It had felt strange, having Lucas kiss her, but she wasn’t altogether upset by it. Once Lucas was out of her sight, she put her full attention on Gia, and what she was saying.
Brenna wanted to argue. To say that if anything, she’d much rather be closer to Lucas than further. But Gia was adamant that it wasn’t a request, nor was it optional. It was a necessity. And so Brenna agreed, reluctantly.
”If that’s what needs to be done, then I’m okay with it. I’m guessing our new friend here will take on some of Lucas’ responsibilities?” Brenna asked, gesturing to Anya.
Ananya remained quiet, eyeing the two women with skepticism. There were too many questions running through her mind, but she felt she couldn't quite voice them out as she expected to feel lost even after she would be clued in. Plus, Ananya had an inkling feeling that if she did bother asking, then she wouldn't exactly get the whole truth from either of them. Ananya almost shrunk under the eyes of Gianna, as if it would help her get out of the mess she had found herself in.
What responsibilities? Why was
she being included in this shifty get together with three- now two Delphina students? Ananya was a Mayweather student, not a Delphina like either of them, so what made them trust her enough to involve her in their plans?
"I- I don't know who you think I am, but I'm sure you've gotten something wrong." Ananya took a risk, questioning the Delphina monarch but not without averting her eyes, knowing this was probably a bad idea. But then again, her life returning back to Mayweather has just been one bad idea after another, so how bad could one more possibly be?
"I met Lucas in that club like two weeks ago, but I don't exactly know him, or anything that is going on over here. Surely you've got someone that's... more competent?"Gianna stared out the window and softly replied to her apprentice, “
No Brenna, that won’t be necessary” Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, the Delphina senior let her gaze take in the campus, her eyes trailing to the dorm off the distance that she almost fell off of, due to circumstances, “
I just need you, Anya, to… be there for him. Don’t worry, you won’t be burdened with his work… I’ll take care of it.” Her voice was genuine and careful, it was obvious Gianna had a lot going on in her mind and she didn’t know how to approach this situation without giving too much away, “
Lucas doesn’t know how to… deal with his emotions. In a sense, I’m his safety blanket, but I can’t always be there for him. I can’t always protect him from himself.”
Turning to Anya, Gianna gave her a deadly serious look, “
You’re not involved. That’s a good thing. I’m not one to usually do this, but I can’t go cold turkey on him. I’ve already made up my mind. I need to… let him go, so he can grow. But he can’t be completely alone. I can tell you now, he won’t be easy to keep tabs on, but for me, can you do this? There’s far bigger… beasts out there. I can’t be enemies with everyone.”
Was it really worth it? Ananya sniffed, looking away for a moment as she thought things through. Prior to all this, Ananya never really spent much time with anyone else in school. It's safe to say that Anya never had any proper friends, but she didn't exactly mind. Sure, it got a little lonely, but at least she was able to focus on making herself better. But there was only so much training she could do on her own, maybe she needed someone to help her work on her weaknesses.
Maybe this won't be such a bad thing...
"If... you can promise I'm not getting myself into something I'll regret... I'll help you." She couldn't go around Mayweather, or Delphina at this point as Anya was sure she was acquainted with the villains more than the heroes - without any friends should things go wrong. Plus, Lucas was an alright person, as far as Anya could remember so... how bad could some 'babysitting' really be?
“
You know I can’t promise you anything. How do we ever know we’ll regret what we’re going to do until we actually do it? I can and will, however, make sure that this favor of yours has nothing to do with me. And, when you need aid, all you have to do is ask.” Gianna knew she wasn’t being the most ‘convincing’. She wasn’t going to tell this hero a lie. That getting involved with Lucas would lead to no regrets, but this was the only option she had to protect him. “
Ananya, if I had any better ideas I would try them out, but I don’t. Do you know how it feels to be constantly discriminated against because you’re labeled and set on a path you can’t really fight against? We, ‘villains’, support each other because no one else will and this is the only way for me to help my friend. I’m putting my pride aside and asking a complete stranger to make sure he doesn’t kill himself. So please, if not for me, for your obligation as a hero. Protect him.”
That wasn't very assuring. In fact, Ananya just felt more concern as her mind thought up of all the ways this whole thing could go wrong. Though, Ananya valued Gianna's honesty in the matter.
"Right..." When Gia appealed to her
hero side, Ananya sighed. It was probably a stretch to call Lucas a friend, when she could barely remember much of the time she had spent with him at Delirium, but she couldn't deny that she wanted to help. If she couldn't help out a 'friend', then how would she keep her people safe?
"I'll try. I don't know how exactly, but I'll try to help."
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