Driving Lesson
Murderers! Imperial pigs! CAF Whore! Fuck you! Cunts!
A crowd of protesters were using some of the only weapons they had left -insults - to pepper the CAF convoy that was assembling. Ishara flinched at the one meant for her. CAF whore. She’d heard it before.
☙ ☙ ☙
She was being childish. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so light. She wasn’t even thinking about the war. She gathered her skirts up high on her legs and ran. Keys jingled in her other hand.
She was being childish. And he was letting her.
Darcy was letting her win their race. He was only pursuing with enough vigor to grab at her arm but he let her snatch herself away. She giggled.
“Ishara!” There was only a half-hearted warning in his voice. There was more laughter than anything. It was like he didn’t want to ruin it for her. One moment of fun after months and months of blood.
She jingled the keys at him tauntingly as she continued to run towards the humvee. She was busy watching him over her shoulder. He was almost smiling. She loved when he looked like that. She was too busy watching him and -
“-Oof!” She ran into the humvee door. “Ow…” She rubbed at her hands and arms which had hit first when she crumpled against the vehicle.
“Ishara - are you oka -”
A fit of shaking giggles was answer enough. She twisted around and pressed her back to the hard metal door. She presented a toothy grin to him. Giggling still bubbled up for the man who was trying to look stern. He didn’t seem capable of hiding that glimmer in his eye.
“Give the keys back.” His palm waited for the requested item.
She clenched the keys tighter in her fists and shoved at his chest playfully. “Teach me to drive.” She insisted shoving harder as if to move him backwards. Darcy was a solid wall. Tall and sturdy against her efforts. “Teach me, pleaseee.” She softened her touch to run her fingers over his uniformed torso. That made him take a step back to stop the exploration of her hands. His mistake. She had enough room to open the driver’s door, slip inside, and pull it shut.
His hand was pumping the door handle to no avail. She had pushed the lock down inside and wagged her finger at him. “You promised.”
His arms crossed over his chest. He actually looked kind of pissed now. The heat in his eyes sent a thrill down her spine. “I said I would teach you to drive. But not one of the armored trucks.”
“Guess I’ll teach myself!” The keys went to the ignition and she cranked the engine to life with a roar. “Gee I sure don’t know what I’m doing!” She sang as she began pressing buttons, twisting knobs, and flipping switches. The headlights came on, the wipers made lazy arcs over the windshield, and the horn tooted once.
He was looking so frustrated with her now that she acquiesced and rolled down the window. He didn’t budge probably because he assumed it would be a trick and she would roll it back up as soon as he moved.
“You - ah!”
Something hard and sharp thunked against her forehead at her hairline. She immediately reached for her face as blood leaked from the wound that had opened. Eyes wide searched the darkness behind Darcy for the source of her sudden injury
“CAF whore!” A woman she knew from the hospital was standing some paces behind Darcy with another rock in her hand. “You let them fuck you, eh? Is that your secret? Huh? Spread your legs and they don’t kill your brothers? Traitorous slut!”
Darcy stepped to the side and let a second rock graze his shoulder to block it from hitting her. He was yelling, “Hey - He -!”
She was being childish. And he was letting her.
Darcy was letting her win their race. He was only pursuing with enough vigor to grab at her arm but he let her snatch herself away. She giggled.
“Ishara!” There was only a half-hearted warning in his voice. There was more laughter than anything. It was like he didn’t want to ruin it for her. One moment of fun after months and months of blood.
She jingled the keys at him tauntingly as she continued to run towards the humvee. She was busy watching him over her shoulder. He was almost smiling. She loved when he looked like that. She was too busy watching him and -
“-Oof!” She ran into the humvee door. “Ow…” She rubbed at her hands and arms which had hit first when she crumpled against the vehicle.
“Ishara - are you oka -”
A fit of shaking giggles was answer enough. She twisted around and pressed her back to the hard metal door. She presented a toothy grin to him. Giggling still bubbled up for the man who was trying to look stern. He didn’t seem capable of hiding that glimmer in his eye.
“Give the keys back.” His palm waited for the requested item.
She clenched the keys tighter in her fists and shoved at his chest playfully. “Teach me to drive.” She insisted shoving harder as if to move him backwards. Darcy was a solid wall. Tall and sturdy against her efforts. “Teach me, pleaseee.” She softened her touch to run her fingers over his uniformed torso. That made him take a step back to stop the exploration of her hands. His mistake. She had enough room to open the driver’s door, slip inside, and pull it shut.
His hand was pumping the door handle to no avail. She had pushed the lock down inside and wagged her finger at him. “You promised.”
His arms crossed over his chest. He actually looked kind of pissed now. The heat in his eyes sent a thrill down her spine. “I said I would teach you to drive. But not one of the armored trucks.”
“Guess I’ll teach myself!” The keys went to the ignition and she cranked the engine to life with a roar. “Gee I sure don’t know what I’m doing!” She sang as she began pressing buttons, twisting knobs, and flipping switches. The headlights came on, the wipers made lazy arcs over the windshield, and the horn tooted once.
He was looking so frustrated with her now that she acquiesced and rolled down the window. He didn’t budge probably because he assumed it would be a trick and she would roll it back up as soon as he moved.
“You - ah!”
Something hard and sharp thunked against her forehead at her hairline. She immediately reached for her face as blood leaked from the wound that had opened. Eyes wide searched the darkness behind Darcy for the source of her sudden injury
“CAF whore!” A woman she knew from the hospital was standing some paces behind Darcy with another rock in her hand. “You let them fuck you, eh? Is that your secret? Huh? Spread your legs and they don’t kill your brothers? Traitorous slut!”
Darcy stepped to the side and let a second rock graze his shoulder to block it from hitting her. He was yelling, “Hey - He -!”
☙ ☙ ☙
“- Hey!” Renly’s voice this time.
She was vaguely aware of a throbbing at the side of her head. Her fingertips dabbed at the spot and came away wet with blood. There was a rock at her feet. Something stung when it hit her shoulder. She was knocked to the side as another one clattered to the ground.
A stunned surprise clouded her senses as Renly’s body shoved her up against the humvee. The protesters had picked up rocks and were throwing them at the convoy.
Everything happened too quickly.
Gunfire. From where? A young man on the civilian side had pulled a gun and fired randomly at the CAF soldiers. The soldiers were firing on the crowd of rabble rousers and were mowing them down. A ginger haired boy was shot in the face.
She tried to push past Renly. To help them. The war was supposed to be over. Renly lifted her up and was pushing her into the vehicle. He trapped her inside the truck and held the door closed as she banged with futility on the window. “Leave them! Leave them - Please! Please Renly!”
She was vaguely aware of a throbbing at the side of her head. Her fingertips dabbed at the spot and came away wet with blood. There was a rock at her feet. Something stung when it hit her shoulder. She was knocked to the side as another one clattered to the ground.
A stunned surprise clouded her senses as Renly’s body shoved her up against the humvee. The protesters had picked up rocks and were throwing them at the convoy.
Everything happened too quickly.
Gunfire. From where? A young man on the civilian side had pulled a gun and fired randomly at the CAF soldiers. The soldiers were firing on the crowd of rabble rousers and were mowing them down. A ginger haired boy was shot in the face.
She tried to push past Renly. To help them. The war was supposed to be over. Renly lifted her up and was pushing her into the vehicle. He trapped her inside the truck and held the door closed as she banged with futility on the window. “Leave them! Leave them - Please! Please Renly!”
☙ ☙ ☙
“Just leave her!” She begged Darcy. She hung herself out of the window to cling to his arm. He was turned towards the woman and Ishara couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t hurt her. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
The woman wasn’t backing down. She already had another rock in her hand. “What are you going to do soldier boy?” She taunted.
“Come on! Teach me to drive, Darcy. Please. Just -”
He reached inside the window and flicked the lock upwards. She would have spilled out when he opened the door if not for the strong hands that caught her and pushed her back inside. “Scoot over.” His tone of voice showed no room for argument. He kept his body positioned to block the next rock the woman threw while Ishara moved into the passenger’s seat.
The woman wasn’t backing down. She already had another rock in her hand. “What are you going to do soldier boy?” She taunted.
“Come on! Teach me to drive, Darcy. Please. Just -”
He reached inside the window and flicked the lock upwards. She would have spilled out when he opened the door if not for the strong hands that caught her and pushed her back inside. “Scoot over.” His tone of voice showed no room for argument. He kept his body positioned to block the next rock the woman threw while Ishara moved into the passenger’s seat.
☙ ☙ ☙
She could feel every bump through her whole body as the truck lurched through rubble filled streets. A splitting headache coursed through her forehead. She had stared out the window watching the long convoy snaking behind and in front of them for as far as she could see. The CAF had broken another nation. The men with the blood on their hands poured from the country, replaced by others who would maintain the order they had established.
She - a fleeing traitor - rocked with the staggering of the truck over rough terrain as she dozed against the arm of her husband. A man with blood on his hands.
He was shaking her. “Ishara. Wake up. We’re here.”
She blinked against the sun that glinted off the sea. An obsidian, formidable warship towered stories and stories above the water. It would be home as it bore her over the ocean and back to the country she had visited a long time ago when she was stupid and young. America. Now she didn’t know if she wanted to go.
She didn’t move. He collected her in his arms and carried her aboard. A new curiosity for bored sailors to stare and wonder at. One of their own had taken an Eskran wife. How odd.
You’ll get to see Darcy, she reminded herself as she shied away from the gazes of the men.
She - a fleeing traitor - rocked with the staggering of the truck over rough terrain as she dozed against the arm of her husband. A man with blood on his hands.
He was shaking her. “Ishara. Wake up. We’re here.”
She blinked against the sun that glinted off the sea. An obsidian, formidable warship towered stories and stories above the water. It would be home as it bore her over the ocean and back to the country she had visited a long time ago when she was stupid and young. America. Now she didn’t know if she wanted to go.
She didn’t move. He collected her in his arms and carried her aboard. A new curiosity for bored sailors to stare and wonder at. One of their own had taken an Eskran wife. How odd.
You’ll get to see Darcy, she reminded herself as she shied away from the gazes of the men.
☙ ☙ ☙
She laid her head in his lap while he drove. How long had he driven her around? She didn’t know. Long enough that blood and tears from her face had stained his pants and dried. She didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to lay sprawled across the front seat of that truck with her head in his lap forever. He could drive her to the edge of the world and over. She would have gone with him.
She nuzzled against his leg when his hand brushed at her hair. “Hey.” He shook her shoulder gently. “We’re here.”
She sat up and blinked at the light that poured from the front door of her parent’s home. Her father’s frame was a black silhouette that moved forward and merged into the darkness. The truck door opened and she could hear the baritone and bass of two men’s voices. There was some tension. Her father didn't like Darcy. Didn't approve of him. Wouldn't ever. Because of the uniform he wore. Not that it mattered...
The voices stopped.
Another truck door opened and someone was gathering her from the seat. “You were supposed to teach me to drive.” She complained to him.
“Next time.” He promised as he carried her inside. There was a sadness in his voice as if he knew there wouldn't be a next time. Maybe not for a long time. Maybe not ever.
She flinched away from the disapproving stare of her mother who always warned against friendly acquaintance with certain CAF soldiers. Look what it got you, her gaze said.
“It was worth it.” She said to her mother without explanation as Darcy carried her to her room. It was worth it to have laid her head in Darcy's lap as he drove her around the country side outside the city for hours in hours for no reason at all.
She nuzzled against his leg when his hand brushed at her hair. “Hey.” He shook her shoulder gently. “We’re here.”
She sat up and blinked at the light that poured from the front door of her parent’s home. Her father’s frame was a black silhouette that moved forward and merged into the darkness. The truck door opened and she could hear the baritone and bass of two men’s voices. There was some tension. Her father didn't like Darcy. Didn't approve of him. Wouldn't ever. Because of the uniform he wore. Not that it mattered...
The voices stopped.
Another truck door opened and someone was gathering her from the seat. “You were supposed to teach me to drive.” She complained to him.
“Next time.” He promised as he carried her inside. There was a sadness in his voice as if he knew there wouldn't be a next time. Maybe not for a long time. Maybe not ever.
She flinched away from the disapproving stare of her mother who always warned against friendly acquaintance with certain CAF soldiers. Look what it got you, her gaze said.
“It was worth it.” She said to her mother without explanation as Darcy carried her to her room. It was worth it to have laid her head in Darcy's lap as he drove her around the country side outside the city for hours in hours for no reason at all.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
The following 1 user Likes saronym's post: megs
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 08-26-2015, 10:08 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 08-26-2015, 10:12 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 08-30-2015, 10:49 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-03-2015, 04:44 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-30-2015, 05:42 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-18-2015, 08:05 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-12-2015, 11:03 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-21-2015, 04:52 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-03-2016, 05:44 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 01-24-2016, 07:47 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-11-2016, 10:47 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-16-2016, 11:44 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-17-2016, 02:16 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-21-2016, 09:14 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-26-2016, 06:37 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-28-2016, 08:56 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-07-2016, 09:12 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-25-2016, 05:09 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-03-2016, 05:28 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-15-2016, 10:43 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-30-2016, 02:52 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 02-11-2017, 10:22 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-13-2017, 04:16 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-30-2017, 08:27 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 05-14-2017, 06:30 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 05-29-2017, 12:07 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 06-01-2017, 08:13 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 06-17-2017, 07:24 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 06-21-2017, 07:06 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 07-30-2017, 09:04 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-19-2017, 12:31 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-25-2017, 11:59 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-18-2017, 01:45 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 12-08-2017, 06:21 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 03-04-2018, 09:16 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 03-30-2018, 10:28 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-05-2018, 02:45 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-30-2018, 04:38 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 07-17-2018, 02:57 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 01-12-2019, 07:09 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 02-08-2019, 11:42 AM