fatealteration | (no subject)

“They insulted you.”

Hitomi shook her head. "I don't even care about that!"

“I do.” Doppio was expressive with every part of himself no matter what was happening, but now—he was so still it was eerie. His face was a controlled mask but his eyes gave him away. They were fixed on the road back into town, his expression dark.

“They insulted Father, too.” They could despise him all they wanted, but Father Serra? There was no excuse.

"Do you think he would want you hurt for his sake?" she insisted.

Doppio winced. “I won’t get hurt.”

"You can't guarantee that!"

“They didn’t look like they’d be on their feet for awhile.” Doppio made to step back. “I won’t get into a fight with them, okay? I promise.”

Hitomi bit her lower lip. "What are you going to do?"

Doppio smiled as though he were suddenly calm. "I'd just like to talk."

"Okay." Hitomi said it as though she had no problem with it, but she really did. But at this point, she knew there was no way she could convince him otherwise.

She still planned to follow him secretly, just in case something happened.

Though Doppio was ready to stride straight back into town, he hesitated.

"...Maybe you'll tell me not to be, but I'm sorry about this."

"Please... don't do anything that might put you in danger."

"I won't." Doppio stepped forward to hug her, hoping it was okay to do. "The house isn't far. If anyone is still up, tell them I'll be back soon.

With that, he took off running back up the hill into town.

Hitomi hugged Doppio in return, watching as he retreated back where they came from. When she felt it was safe to do so, she stealthily followed behind him.

As Doppio ascended the hill, gone was his usual fidgety and meandering gait. He was possessed by a certain focus in spite of his injury--or perhaps because of it.

When he came upon the scene, he paused. The two young men were gone. He touched the limestone exterior of the building and took a deep breath. He looked up at the sign hanging above the door that had nearly broken his nose and identified the text right away. It was a pub.

He grabbed the handle and entered and the door creaked closed behind him.

Hitomi quickly scrambled over to a window. There was no way she would be able to slip inside without being spotted. But at least she could watch.

"If you don't mind me saying so, you seem a little young to be drinking," Lisa Lisa observed from a slight distance.

Hitomi jumped backwards, taken off-guard by the sudden interruption. Had she been noticed this quickly?

"Y-yeah," Hitomi managed to stammer out to give her enough time to figure out what to say next. "I'm looking out for a friend."

Lisa Lisa hummed, taking a good look at Hitomi. Even in the dark she could tell this girl was new. It wasn't exactly a big town. "Your friend inside?"

Hitomi wet her lips. "Yeah."

"People gather and drink their woes away. It's not odd for tension to boil over into fights lately." Lisa Lisa nodded towards the door. "If you're concerned, I can go inside with you."

"I don't think he'd like it if he knew I followed."

Lisa Lisa got the sense that this girl wasn’t speaking lightly. Maybe time in the village was making her soft-hearted but she didn’t care to simply walk away from her dilemma.

“What does your friend look like?”

"He has pink hair in a braid." There was no need for any further description; there was only one person in the bar that would fit the bill.

“I’ll go and take a look inside. Wait there.” Without further comment, Lisa Lisa strode elegantly into the rustic tavern. The door swung closed behind her.