(Aes Sanguinem-Tinia= Tavros Nitram)

"Your fears are like an oversized wave. You can't run, because they will catch you. All you can do is face them, and let them wash over you. And when they pass, you will be able to see the ocean."

    Dreams were nice. Very nice... But, you knew you had to get up and leave them behind. With a friend sleeping, peacefully, you hoped, behind you, you walked away.

--
    "V...Violet?"

    "Oh, Aaaaaaaaes!! You do remember me!!"There she was, blocking the store counter. Your breathing was quickened, anxiety bubbling in your chest like acid. You gripped the medical dust in your hand. You knew you had to go. Your mind was telling you to run.

    You surprised yourself when you took a step forward to the counter. Then another. You walked right up to it, nudging Violet out of the way. She got in front of you, that stupid grin on her face. You looked past her, or tried to.

    "I-I need a refill for Indie Hycara."You tell this to the man behind the counter, who nods, looking as nervous as you. Who wouldn't be, with Violet Sekret mocking you.

    "A refill? Oh, is your lousy excuse for a friend still on drugs?"She was mocking him again.

    "N-no! He's past that! This is medicine!! And excuse you, but he's an amazing friend!"

    "Oh, reeeeeeeeally?"

    "Yes, because he actually cares for me and comforts me and my friends instead of, you know, paralyzing and blinding us!"You realized it was a horrible idea to say that as soon as the words exited your mouth. But it was too late, and she was pulling out her all too familiar dice.

    "Is that so, Peuter Pan? Well, if he's been so good to you, then surely you can beat me. Unless you're still as pathetic as when I left you in the dirt!"

     Any other time, you knew you would have backed down. But yet, your eyes, bronze, only narrowed. Maybe Indie really did make you stronger. His talks of believing in yourself, of facing your fears. As Violet growls, and as one of her dice becomes a shot gun. As you see her already using her semblance. As she scares you, you bring to the surface all that Indie told you. And when you bring out your lance, your hands aren't shaking. And when you charge, it's without hesitancy.

    She's caught off guard, and she shoots, but her bullets are easily deflected by your lance. You drive at her, and you relish her shocked face.

    She's driving her semblance through the roof, you can see it, and she is able to rip your lance from your hands. It's just like the last you saw her, where she used your own weapon against you, where the only reason you weren't dead was because of your aura. You felt yourself smile, and we're glad you had taken a page from Indie's book. Because when she took it, all you had to do was pull the trigger.

    She gasped, and jumped, avoiding the bullet and taking your lance with you. She stepped back, and you saw her semblance go into overdrive. Impossibly, bullets came from both weapons, and at you. You dodged, but a few pierced your arms, and your metalic legs. She was grinning like she had already won. But you took her grin as her wrakness, and you took back your weapon. But not before you were shot right in the chest.

    You fell, and you went to the ground. And as she charged at you, in a fashion too similar to you, you closed your eyes. You told yourself you could do it. Your semblance would work this time. The voice in your head became Indie's, and yours eyes opened, flames coating you. It protected you as you dodged, But you knew it was a losing fight. Not with that unfair semblance. It was hurting her to use it, to manipulate the odds so greatly. But you knew her, unfortunately, and you knew she would rather risk severe injury than lose.

    You were giving up. You knew you couldn't win. So, you took one shot as she shot at you. You waited for the pain to come. But it didn't... Instead You heard Violet's groan of pain. You reluctantly opened your eyes, just as long arms wrapped around you.

    And you were looking into dark purple eyes.

    "Indie!!"You shouted happily, arms wrapping around him in return.

    "Hey, bro. Sorry to take that fight from you, but it was just plain unfair." He grinned lazily, petting your fauxhawk affectionately. For emphasis, he tilted his head at Violet, on the floor, who groaned, murmuring about her semblance, trying to figure out how it didn't work.

    "Weren't you sleeping though?"You asked your best friend worriedly.

    "Yeah, but my Aes-in-trouble sense was all a ringing, so I woke up and went to find you. Oh, you got my meds! Nice, bro. But anyway, I could definitely go for another nap, so let's head on back."He was still grinning, and it filled your heart with warm affection.

    "Yeah..."You smiled.

    "Oh yeah! Hey store guy! I think she can pay for the damage!!"Indie gestured at the still injured Violet as he leads you out of the store, an arm around your shoulders.

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