On the surface, we haven’t changed a lot. We’ve grown up a little – started leaning towards what will make us or break us. Still trying to chase dreams if we can, even if it’s futile. After all, better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.
We need to express ourselves better. Laugh more, love more. Especially laugh. Our childhood is over now though. Now, there are responsibilities we never dreamed of, on scales we could have never imagined. We grew up fast, but still have a long way to go. More growth is needed, but we need to stay pliant, and not become rigid. We need to adjust our lives and ourselves.
We need to be like water.
~ ~ ~
It was hard to say if anyone else noticed how incredibly tired she always seemed to be lately, pushing herself harder and harder since her last breakup, and her recovery from the incident in New York.
He noticed though; he was always paying attention. It never got any easier, seeing her hurt. It didn’t matter if it was from a job, or because her heart had been broken again. Every time, it was like ninjas cutting onions in his heart. He wanted to be there for her; hold her, tell her it would be alright – but he never knew what to say, or even if she’d accept that, so he held back. The first time he’d seen her a little happy was when she was sparring with her father after he’d been announced as being reinstated to his position of being in charge of the First Teams.
After though? It was like she was trying to avoid everyone, and he couldn’t say he blamed her. She’d grabbed her lunch, and tried to eat in peace but was getting those who were fans of her father asking her all sorts of questions now, and she wasn’t happy about it. He knew she’d snapped when she got up and viciously put her chair back into place before carrying her tray off and then went who knew where.
He’d never been able to figure out where she went when she wanted to be alone. He just knew he wanted to be there for her, hold her, kiss the tears and the stress away. But he’d lost his chance nearly two years ago. He wasn’t even sure their friendship was fully intact any longer. It felt like he’d lost Asami, and now that Tony was in a relationship with Jett, it felt like there was a divide there too.
“Dave man, you okay?” Billy asked him.
“As okay as I ever am.” he said with a sigh.
“Same stuff?” Billy asked, and Dave nodded.
“You need to talk to her bro. She needs those walls to come down. We all have to try. I don’t know if she’s talking to anyone.” Billy said, frowning a little.
“Not you either?” he asked. Billy shook his head, and they both sighed.
“It’s been a year. I know what happened was traumatic, but…can’t she let us back in?” Dave wondered.
“I don’t know, man. All we can do is try to talk to her. We should get Tony and Jett in on it too – I know they worry.”
“Yea…maybe.” Dave said, then sighed heavily. “We really should.”