TARDIS: Hallway

[multaekappae]

 Previously

The gryphon barely heard the Inspector's remarks as she left, too lost in her thoughts to realize he was following her. When she reached a crossroads of hallways, Ako stopped, sitting back on her haunches in the middle of the connecting halls. With a few nimble twists of a clawed hand, she removed the All-Seer from her swordbelt and let it rest in her palm.

"Such a pain..." she murmured softly, thinking aloud. Her claws trembled around the alien locket, eyes searching its surface for anything to distract her musings. Not finding anything, the swordsgryphon clenched it tight in her grip and raised it above her head in preparation to send it smashing it into the floor panels. Shakily holding her arm into the air Ako tried to find the strength to send it flying, but a few moments afterwards lowered it back down.

"Damned thing..." She cursed, holding it gently beside her. The bird's body slumped, shoulders and wings spreading out to lay against the floor. She put her empty hand over her face, still unaware that Sharpwit was coming up behind her as the swordsbird's body shook slightly. "Why won't you just... just go away..."
 

As the Inspector watched Ako clench his trinket in her claw, he couldn't help but feel an impulse to fly up to her and snatch away the gold medallion. However, he forced that particular impulse back down into whatever crevice of his mind it came from, and approached her with a determined look. "So, now that I have you here, I'd like to know why you want me off the ship so bad," he asked bluntly. "Seeing as I pretty much have to go anyways, I feel like I at least deserve an explanation."
 

Noticing the icy tone to his voice, he sighed and let his expression soften. "Look, I know that may have come off a little harsh, but I'm not exactly fond of the water..." A memory of his grandfather gently prodding him into the water brought a small smile to his face. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he returned a stern gaze back to Ako. "So yes, I'd like to know your reason for calling me out back there."
 

Ako jumped, fumbling with the All-Seer and almost dropping it before clutching it to her breast. Breathlessly she turned around, but the movement was jarring and uncertain, her legs shaking a little as she faced him. Her eyes narrowed for a moment but as she focused on Sharpwit's face they went wide instead.

"I just... I d.. didn't tell you to f.. follow..." She stammered, taking a fearful step backwards away from him. "I... I thought..."

The gryphon blushed, and turned to try to hide it with a wing. With an unsteady hand, Ako extended the All-Seer out towards him, swinging gently on its chain. She had turned her head aways from him, unable to answer for what she'd done.
 

The Inspector suppressed a chuckle at seeing how flustered she was. "Oh, no need to hide the All-Seer," he smiled. "You aren't exactly a master of subtlety when it comes to hiding things. Besides, I could kind of sense it under your wing..." he trailed off a bit, watching his beloved trinket dangle there. Helplessly. Tantalizingly. It was practically calling for him, with it's golden shine and it's promise of infinite knowledge... Shaking his head, he looked back at Ako with a worried glance. "Besides, I'd rather you keep it," he said quickly, as if it were a band-aid he needed to rip off his fur. "I can't trust myself with it just yet..."
 

Realizing he had gone off topic, he returned to his former stern facade. "So, why'd you put me on the spot like that?"
 

Ako shuffled her feet as she sat down on her haunches, pulling her forelegs up to her breast. She put her wing down,but as she started talking softly the gryphon couldn't quite meet his eyes.

"I... I don't know..." She grimaced, fingers playing with the All-Seer's chain. "I... I'm..."

Not finding the words, Ako instead leaned forwards into an awkward bow, her forehead touching the floor panels. She was still shaking, swords clattering a bit against the metal her body was resting on.

"I'm sorry if I dishonored you..." She said quietly, barely audible. It sounded almost like she was admitting defeat rather than apologizing. Ako was still fighting herself inside, trying to figure out what she wanted. Who cares if he messes with his mind? It's not like it has anything to do with me. That doesn't worry me in the least... does it?

The Inspector sighed in a way much too dramatic to be taken seriously. "Well, I suppose they'd be lost without me," he said with a wry smirk. He leaned against the wall in a relaxed manner. "Oh come now, Warbird, now's not the time for you to get all stiff with me. Relax a bit, I want to discuss something with you."

It took almost too long to sit up from the bow, as the gryphon blankly stared at the floor between her forelegs. She was much too quiet, looking almost sad. Inside was a different story, two pieces of her fighting over what should be done.

He's awful to us! One piece argued, mentally gesturing at the pegasus. Why should we care what happens to him?!

But he trusts us! We shouldn't betray that trust! Another piece blurted. Besides, where would he be without us?!

"Eaten in a giant slime monster..." Ako said softly, answering the question aloud unintentionally.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" he asked, his ears pricked in confusion at the griffon's comment.

Ako jumped a little, looking up at him for a moment before quickly looking away again.

"N.. nothing... I was just talking to myself..."

She gulped, letting her wings droop down and body slump.

"I... I'm sorry Sharpwit, I.. I'm messed up right now..."

Gritting her beak for a moment, the gryphon grimaced, shivering and pulling the remaining towels over her around her still slightly wet body.

Noticing how tired and wet she looked, the Inspector sighed and walked over to her. With slight hesitation, he draped his wing over her shoulders. He shivered a little at the cold touch of her fur and feathers, but pressed her firmly to himself. Great... Now my coat's going to get even more soaked, he grumbled to himself. However, he glanced at Ako with concern, both for her well being and slight anticipation of her actions. "Listen, I'm not sure if this is the most tactful thing to say right now, but I think you could use a preen," he said softly.

A small laugh escaped from Ako before she could stop it, still shaking a little even with the embrace. Why do I like this? She thought, mentally cursing herself. Not that it stopped her from sitting contently in his grasp.

"Th.. thanks... I guess I do need some time to myself, n... not that..." She gulped, shivering involuntarily. "Not that there is much time to...."

The gryphon testing putting a little bit of weight on the Inspector, seeing if he'd hold her up. Part of her was wishing he did, but another was screaming at him to let go of her.

He suppressed a smile as he felt her lean on him. "You know, back when I was a foal, my father used to preen me all the time," he smiled softly. "Whenever I'd get upset, he'd just sit right next to me and help me relax... It took me years to find out that it's normally the mother that does that for her children," he chuckled. "Funny, the more I think about it, the more I see how much my father did for my brother and I..."

The bird heaved a sigh, letting Sharpwit support her. She was still quivering a little, but it seemed to fade as he held her.

"I know what you mean..." Ako sighed. "Before I left home last, I had this huge fight with my mother. But all I can remember of her is like that, just being there for me..."

She hung her head, closing her eyes.

"That was the last I saw her... I don't even know if she survived the week, much less the years following."

Ako groaned, her happy look of barely minutes before fading to a sad grimace.

Sharp stayed silent for a while, not knowing what to say. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he nervously turned to Ako, and with an almost foalish look of shyness, pecked her on the forehead. "I almost wish I could say that I left my father," he said softly, pulling her even closer to him. "Instead, I practically had him killed..."

Ako let up on leaning on the Inspector, looking up at his face.

"W.. well, I guess we have a bit more in common than we thought?" she chuckled, pulling the towels more securely around herself. Her swords clattered against the deck from the movement, breaking her out of the peaceful moment. Taking a step back, Ako gulped as her face turned a little red.

"Um... sorry about th.. that..." She shivered, then bolted away, trying to escape down one of the hallways.

Realizing what was happening, Sharp got up suddenly, his eyes wide with worry. "Was that too forward?" he asked in nervous, concerned tone that completely broke character. "I'm sorry, it's just that the timing seemed right, and..." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Sighing deeply, he looked back at Ako with a pleading look. "Please don't go yet," he said softly. "Just stay for a little bit, before I go out there..."
 

Ako took a few more steps before slowing to a stop. She hesitantly looked back, not wanting him to misinterpret her actions but not understanding them herself. Why do I feel this way? She inwardly groaned as she slowly took a few steps back to him.

"N... no... it wasn't too forwards... I just..."

The gryphon gulped, coming to a stop just a few steps away from Sharpwit.

"I don't know h... how I feel about it..."

She tried to stay looking away from him, but glanced into his eyes several times.
 

Deciding that it was still safe, the Inspector approached the griffon cautiously. "I realize that this is all happening rather suddenly," he said slowly, "but would it really hurt to try?" He offered her a small smile, waiting for her response.
 

Ako sat there motionless for the longest time, eyes darting from his face and away. As another series of shivers shook her body, the gryphon closed her eyes and sighed.

"Oh... why the buck not..."

She stepped forwards, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. Her face was bright red when she pulled her neck back, but Ako didn't run away like before.

Sharp, surprised by her sudden action, blushed like a school foal upon realizing what happened. "Well... That happened," he said softly, never taking his eyes off of her. Slowly, he leaned in closer to her...

Ako's heart started beating faster, and her eyes widened slightly. Is.. Is he?
 

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