Warm Like Blood

[Anonymous]

He thought he might be able to manage having a good day, considering this morning he did not find himself waking up on the floor due to his unconscious mind really not liking the bed he slept on. Well, his conscious mind didn’t much like it either. It was lumpy in some places. Oliver did not want to think of how exactly it got that way. And his mind was able to find rest from the near constant anxiety berating it, he did not need the obsessive comfort of a wash bucket and the face of the bathroom floor in the middle of the night. All that had woken him up was his roommate leaving early like she usually does and the regular 5AM start required of candidates. It seemed like everything was starting to look up.

   And then he was reminded that nothing ever looked up for him. Lest he be hit in the face by a piano. Which didn’t actually happen, mind you, he didn’t even know if there were pianos in the ATC. But he did know that his day started to go down hill when he was making his way to one of the recreation rooms. Because what else was he going to do in his free time than stand in a corner and hope no one notices him?

   The sleeve of his candidate uniform was getting ruined by blood as he pressed it up against his nose. He could feel the taste of iron running down his throat. Ugh, that was going to make him sick later, he just knew it. Oliver slumped against a wall near him, his head spinning and beginning to take on a dull throb.

[Anonymous]

She was always up early. Of course due to the required starting time for candidates but also because she just woke up around that time naturally. Her body just wouldn't let her stay asleep very long, even if she went to sleep later than she liked. Sleeping apparently was a waste of time for her body. Besides, she had better things to do.

Like finding where Oliver was!

He had to wake up early as well and there was nothing more fun than seeing what misfortunes he was having that day. He was just so adorable when things happened and he got flustered because of it. At least that was what she thought it was even though it was more of frustration than anything. Either way. It was adorable.

So when she had managed to find him and notice that he was doing his typical candidate things, she smiled a bit. He always stood out of the way but he also always managed to have something happen to him. Today apparently it just happened to be a nose bleed. It was probably bad that seeing the little bit of blood made her a little more excited than she needed to be. Every time she saw blood it was just an adrenaline rush. Thankfully, it wasn't a large amount because there would be a big chance of her other type of personality coming out. And that would be no good for Oliver would it.

That didn't matter though. Oliver was sulking against a wall. That was all that mattered. That obviously meant he needed some attention and who just happened to be there? Her of course! She practically skipped out of her little "hiding" place and strolled over to Oliver, a happy bounce in her step. "Hi Oliver~! Are you having a problem?"

[Anonymous]

Oh gods. Don’t swallow don’t swallow don’t swallow. Oliver should’ve known about now that saying the mantra in his head was not going to accomplish anything. He would still swallow the blood down by instinct. And he did. Regretfully. The dredge of dizziness washed over him in a wave, he pressed his shoulder to the cool wall of the building. Or rather, the bones of his shoulder, it was an unpleasant feeling when one didn’t have enough muscle or fat to cushion up against anything. It was a real wonder why he had not been broken in half yet by the drills. He squeezed his eyes shut tight.

   He needed to get to the infirmary, for he had absolutely nothing to stop the bleeding other than the sleeve of his uniform and he could already feel it seeping onto his hand. It was an unfortunate circumstance, considering how far away he had to travel. And he could not seek help from his fellow candidates in the recreation room. That would be like throwing a wounded animal to a pack of lions. In a cage. Oliver only managed to avoid large confrontations because he could slip in and out of sight when he needed to and no one truly cared to notice that he existed. He doubted it would last long, however, he was Oliver after all. And the past tended to repeat itself. He was a beacon for bullies.

   Ultimately he thought his time was over when a ginger haired girl slid up to him. And apparently knew him. Oliver’s eyes opened with a jolt, hitting his back against the wall with more force than he wanted and basically hitting his nose with the hand that was trying to stop it from bleeding.

   She was a Stage Four. He could tell by the colour of her uniform. His eyes widened. She was going to kill him, he just knew it. And string his body up around this very rec room as an example. An example for what? Did it matter?

   “N-no miss.” He said, his voice nasal from holding his nose. And nothing else. He didn’t have it in him.

[Anonymous]

Now it wasn't really odd for a Stage Four to know the names of the lower staged candidates. Many of them in fact took it upon themselves to know them for one reason or another. She herself knew a few of them but none of them were really interesting to her. They were nice to have small conversations with. However, Oliver was of course a special case. She went out of her way to know who he was. Well..that wasn't too hard to do though. His named floated around a bit because he was rather pathetic. So it was safe to say most of the things added onto his name weren't exactly good things. Still though, she found the misfortunes talked about were just adorable. Things that were pathetic or weaker always were to her. Except for her brother. Quincy was just adorable because he was her brother and she couldn't help but be attached to him.

When Oliver jumped, Felicity just smiled and acted as if the reason for him to do it was not because of her but because of something else. "Are you sure? You're bleeding an awful lot." she stated, motioning to the fact that blood was starting to show as it seeped around his sleeve. That really was a lot of blood.

"Here let me help~" She wouldn't allow him to protest. Instead, she gentle took a hold of the hand that covered his nose since she had moved closer to him then and moved it away from his face as she easily clotted the blood to stop it from flowing. "Look~ No more bleeding. Aren't you happy now? You don't have to cover your cute little face with that awful uniform sleeve now."

[Anonymous]

He tried to squirm away from her, much like how a worm would try to when stuck in a crack in the sidewalk. Not actually going anywhere but trying their hardest. She was far too close for comfort. Oliver could feel the blood in his cheeks pounding and it all added to the growing flight or fight instinct common in threatened or wounded creatures. But for him it was just flight. His fight was simply a sore attempt, unless someone was terrified of pathetic fluffy things.

   Oliver’s voice caught in his throat, he couldn't even form the words of protest on his lips much less give them strength and sound. The girl dragged his hand away from his nose, and he could feel the blood slipping down over his lips and dripping off his chin. And then  it stopped.

   Stopped.

   He didn’t quite hear what she said, other than the obvious, he stroked his face with his hand wiping off the blood and realising that nothing new was appearing. Perhaps it was a good thing that he didn’t catch her calling his face cute. He might not have been able to take it. Oliver began to speak and in a rush of dizziness he put his hand on the wall beside himself.

   “H-h-how did you do that?” He blurted out without a shred of politeness. Not even stopping to thank her for what she did. His thoughts weren’t entirely getting past their second processing. The amazement was still striking him.

[Anonymous]

He really was just too cute for words! he was trying so desperately to squirm away but was failing horribly at it. She didn't entirely understand why. She wasn't going to hurt him..though maybe he thought that. The higher up candidates did have a bad tendency to pick on the first stage candidates. She had done no such thing...yet. Yet..because she couldn't say what would happen if she ended up getting too excited for one reason or another. That side only usually came out at the sight of extreme amounts of blood though or of course if she herself was in trouble. So no worries about that..for now.

A small giggled escaped her lips at Oliver's bafflement. Was he clueless too? "I have hemokinesis." she said proudly. It was a bit of a rare ability and she had it so she'd willingly flaunt it. Even if it was a little terrifying for others to think about. "I can sort of from blood into things and of course stop the blood flow from wounds and start it as well." she stated. And as if to make her point she simply unclotted the blood that had been leaking from Oliver's nose for a moment before stopping it once more.

[Anonymous]

“H-hemokinesis?” He echoed. Oliver heard the term before. He hadn’t needed to make it a question. Those words reached his ears, despite the ringing that was now developing in them. She was one of those rare psychics who possessed a tier three psionic? Obviously, as she already demonstrated it by stopping his bleeding nose. Oliver was secretly thanking the poor unfortunate god that got stuck looking out for him, that is if there were any, for sending someone his way that would help. But perhaps it was a bit too early to be doing that.

    He was standing, semi-hunched over with his hand barely away from his face, his heterochromatic eyes wide and staring directly at the girl. A shiver ran down his spine. It was rather unnerving, the way she spoke about her ability with no restraint. And giggled.

   Oliver made a gagging noise when she started the blood flow in his nose, cupping his hands against his face. It was stopped soon enough. Albiet it changed the impression Oliver had been developing of the girl.

   This wasn’t good. She was toying with him. Why wouldn’t he expect anything else from a stage four candidate? Nerves clenched at his stomach and he backed himself as far as he could go up against the wall. His face went paler than it had been from the blood loss and an expression of terror snaked across his features. He kept his hands on his face, expecting the blood to come rushing out like a faucet.

   “P-please.” He muttered out, “I-I’m s-sorry for a-anything I-I did!”

[Anonymous]

When he repeated pretty much what she had said, she simply nodded. There was no need to say anything more. The smiled remained on her lips as she could practically see the gears in his head turning. An open pathetic book. The best kind of adorable person ever! She would enjoy this much more than she originally thought since this was really only the first time she had actually approached him...

It took a minute for her to notice that he had stopped being so lax and was completely tense again soon after she had started and stopped the blood flow from his nose. Oops. She had frightened him a bit too early. Though she had to admit even this look on him was horribly adorable. Enough to make her inwardly squeal a little like a fangirl. His hands were on his face again too. Did he think she was going to make the blood start flowing again? That was silly. She had said she was going to help him after all. That meant keeping his nose from bleeding. Which she had done.

"Sorry?" she questioned before covering her mouth with one hand. "Oh no. I frightened you." Not that she needed to state out loud what she already knew. "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to. You don't need to say sorry. I'm not going to hurt you."

[Anonymous]

Didn’t mean to. Those were the magic words, right? He had heard those words many times after he had been pummelled. Laying on the ground with his body and soul battered to the point where those scars still remain on both. But it had been his fault. He did something wrong to antagonise them. Even if it was just breathing in the same air. Yet perhaps this wasn’t like those, perhaps this girl wasn’t like them. But now his mind was rushing towards that conclusion without looking to pointedly halt. Oliver wanted to run. Hide. Disappear. Instead he remained frozen to his spot, with the smell of blood, his own blood, closing in on his senses.

   Like so many times…

   The lights above him flickered in response.

[Anonymous]

Complete silence. Well she hadn't been expecting that. She had expected him to say something. Well that was no good at all. Was he just going to stand there and stare at her?

Yes...yes he was..

However she did notice that the lights had started to flicker a bit. She glanced up at them for a moment before looking at Oliver. It was probably a good idea to calm him down a little now. If that was even possible.

"We should go get you cleaned up. You look really pale after all. I can help so you don't pass out while walking." Felicity said, smiling again. She then put her hands up a little, much like someone would do when they were giving into an argument or something. "And I won't bite or do anything. Promise." After that was said she let her hands drop down to her side before holding one out to him. "Lets go~" Leading him around by the hand like a little kid or a puppy..that would be great for calming him down.

Yea right.

[Anonymous]

He didn’t hear her. Oliver didn’t want to hear her. That voice of hers was too sweet, too forgiving. Too terrifyingly cold. And she acted like she knew him. His silence didn’t deter her, the odd cheerfulness that embodied the psychic still remained. Oliver caught murmurs of her words, small glimpses, and watched numbly as she raised her hands up in surrender. He felt his shoulders sagging, his heart rate dropping, but his nerves still clenched like white knuckled fists.

   Oliver let his hands drop from his face, a vulnerable move that he instantly regretted. The girl latched onto his wrist and moved to drag him away from the wall. An action that she succeeded in. Panic gripped him and he felt like he was being plunged into frigid waters. If he didn’t do something, he’d drown.

   “N-no!” He said, managing to wrestle his hand away from her. Why did she think it was a good idea to do that to a person that was obviously distressed because of them? He couldn’t begin to understand what was going on inside the girl’s head. Oliver didn’t even understand what went on in his. Even less now as he stood cradling his hand to his chest, unaware that he stood up to someone. “I-I-I mean…”

   Actually, it just looked like he was about to cry.

[Anonymous]

Felicity blinked when she felt Oliver's wrist slip out of her grasp as she had started to walk off and drag him along. At first she thought maybe he had tripped and fell which could be a reason why she hadn't been able to keep ahold of him. When she heard his voice though she was a bit surprised. He had done it himself. She turned around to look at him and tilted her head a little. "No?" she questioned. That was no fun at all. She had already said she wouldn't hurt him so why was he so afraid? There was no one else coming to help him so he should be happy she was willing to. Other candidates her stage would've probably just taken advantage of him or hurt him a little more.

She then noticed that he was getting ready to cry. She inwardly squealed again. If only he knew how adorable he looked at the moment. Okay he probably wouldn't think that was adorable but that didn't matter really. "Ah..you're going to cry. Did I hurt your wrist? I'm sorry." she said quickly, her hands covering her mouth again as a way of showing she knew she had done something wrong. Or at least pretended she had done something wrong.

"But besides that..we really should get you fixed up and make sure your nose won't start bleeding again." Felicity said, one hand dropping away from her mouth to reveal a slight smile there again. That statement was more like before she started to make it bleed again. It really wouldn't be good for him but every time she turned to look at him the first thing she always saw was the blood on his sleeve and the little bits dried up on his face from where the sleeve wasn't working so well at absorbing it anymore. There was already that little annoying voice in the back of her head saying go ahead and do it but he was lucky she was good at some self control. If this had happened during a training session or something she really wouldn't have been able to hold back.

He really was lucky she hadn't just given in yet but he was making it a bit hard still to continue doing that.

[Anonymous]

Ohgodsohgodsohgodsohgodsohgodsohgods

Whatdidhejustdo.

    Oliver's last wish was to yank his hand away from a stage four candidate whom was showing she was one of those who could play the I-have-more-power-than-you game. And win. However, he did. The consequences were swimming viciously fast around in his mind. No matter what reason he had for his actions, it should not have resorted to what he did. Even if it was a compulsion grown from years of being stagnant to those memories. Oliver had seen the result of talking back to others higher than yourself, every Gracie did soon after coming to the ATC. It was part of the learning process. This is you, it said. Be better than this. Only, he wasn’t.

   Shouldn't this be one of those moments were his life would be flashing before his eyes? His terribly embarrassing life? Surely fate would want him to relive those moments before he died a horrible death by blood draining. Just for kicks.

Ah no. All he did and all he saw, as he stared numbly ahead of him, was that girl. Oh gods, were the lights really warm in there? He could practically feel the sweat starting to bead on his forehead. Or it was his hair awkwardly brushing up against it as he shook like a leaf. Nothing like having a wave of nausea hit him full force either. He swallowed hard against the lump forming in his throat. Oliver gripped hard on his own wrist as he held it to his chest, still. Maybe if he if he just stood still and didn't make a sound she'd go away. But, that may work just for sharks. Not girls.

"I-I-I-I'm o-o-kay!" He sputtered out, shakily taking a step backwards from her. He might be able to run if she moved in to kill him. And he wasn’t going to cry. It might seem like it with the teary look in his eyes and feel like it from the prickling sensation from behind them. But he was not going to cry. Totally not. "Y-Y-you patched me up just fine!"

Another step. Careful...Careful.. .

"I-I-I'll just be g-going..."

Careful...

Then he caught his shoelace and stumbled amazingly backwards. The end to the world's greatest getaway.

[Anonymous]

"Really?" Felicity asked with a tilt of her head. His step back didn't go unnoticed of course. He was really obvious in his efforts of getting away wether he realized it or not. It was actually pretty much and also adorable..still.. He was shaking like a leaf after all. How could he be more adorable now? She didn't know but he somehow kept adding to the factor. Which for him was probably not a good thing at all. He really was like a little kitty, all fluffed out and trying to hide. She just wanted to give him a little collar with a jingle bell on it and take him for walkies.

That thought was quickly pushed back when she realized exactly where it was going.

Oops. Imagination got a little carried away.

"But its only temporary, Oliver. It could still start bleeding again. I mean if I'm with you I can fix it again but really its better to just get someone to fix it so it doesn't do that anymore." Felicity stated. It really was a good idea..for his own well being anyway...

Another step back from him and she still remained standing where she had been when he pulled away. "But Oliver.." she said, pouting a little. And then it happened. His misfortune struck again and he was tumbling backwards. Her expression went blank and she quickly reached out to grab his arm or his shirt or anything. Too bad she missed. Okay not too too bad. Part of her wanted to let him fall. Let him get hurt again and bleed a little-

Oops..there she went again.

She walked over to him and peered down at him. "Are you okay?"

[Anonymous]

It would be considered lucky that Oliver managed not to fall against some object, which could have resulted in him hitting is head on something, despite the only things around them were the grey stale walls of the ATC and the floor. Oh he landed on the floor, but simply on his backside. He could feel the start of a bruise on his tailbone as the sudden flash of pain washed through him.  
   
           He wasn't lucky. What would have been lucky was if his own clumsiness was his demise. Knocking himself out, or worse. That would have been preferable. Anything was preferable than the sheer uncertainty in the motivations, the actions, the very thoughts running through the stage four candidate he didn't even have a name to place on. He looked up at her as she peered down on him, his eyes regretfully locking with her green ones. Oliver found himself stuck.  He could crawl away with his hands, back himself up against a wall and be right where he started. Instead, he stayed to suffer under her gaze and the hollow voice of concern.

   She didn’t even offer to help him stand up.

   “Y-yeah.” Oliver said weakly and maybe perhaps too quiet, though in the hallway it sounded, to him, to be louder than the speaker phones and echoing forever. He stood up on his own, wobbly on his feet and raw from the shock and impact. But no less desire to get out of the situation he was in. She was a bully. And not the middle school or highschool type, a Pilot candidate. They could do things his old enemies couldn't even dream of.

   “Y-you s-said it was temporary.” He said. If she had clotted the blood properly, it wouldn’t be temporary. Unless, she was referring to how she could make him bleed again with just a flick of her mind if he didn’t do what she said.

[Anonymous]

Oh..he didn't bleed. Not fun at all..With one thought she could fix that and have a little-

No! No no no. That was bad. She'd get in trouble and well..he could die. Oh then she'd really be in trouble. And..she'd be out of an adorable person to stalk. That was no fun either.

She tilted her head a little when she realized he was just staring at her. Sitting in place and staring. Well was he going to get up? She could pull him up but then he'd freak out again wouldn't he? So it was probably best if she didn't touch him. Though...

No no. Another bad thought.

"That's a relief. It would have been bad if you hit your head." Only sort of.

"Of course! The blood flow could start itself again. Nose bleeds..they're like that. I mean it shouldn't since I fixed it for you..but just in case. You don't want to get blood everywhere on your uniform do you? It's horribly hard to wash out."

[Anonymous]

Oliver bit down the urge to ask about how she knew blood was difficult to wash out of the uniforms. It was for the best that he didn't. The Gracie stood there, wringing his hands together. He wouldn't trust her with his hair comb much less himself. The words 'that's a relief' didn't even sound genuine Oliver wiped at his nose, the sensation that something wet was trickling down his lips alerted him and the nerves clenched in his stomach. But there was no new blood.

"N-no...I-I guess I don't want that." He said, his voice quiet still and wavering. His mentor would give him a good talking to if she ever saw him in this state. He didn't know which was scarier, her or this Candidate.

[Anonymous]

"Exactly. You don't want that." Felicity said, her voice a little bit quieter than previously. It was so horribly hard to hold herself back right now. It really would be best if Oliver would just let her take him to get fixed up. That way at least walking would be a small distraction from wanting to play with him more.

"Will you come with me then, Oliver?" she asked, smiling sweetly. "I only want to help you."

[Anonymous]

That smile. That smile. The small quirk to her lips, the way the emotion did not go all the way up to her eyes, it sent shivers down his spine. Technically, she had not hurt him. Rather, she had tried to help. And he...Well...He was Oliver. That tended to sum up everything. He bit down on his lip, his eyes avoiding her gaze(and her face in its entirety), and still tasted the blood stuck at the back of his throat.

"Okay." he said. "O-Okay."

[Anonymous]

Felicity smiled and clapped her hands a little. "Wonderful!" Finally he agreed...took him long enough.

Without asking she grabbed his hand and started to pull him down the hall. "This way. This way. Quickly~"