ArchivedLogs:What Could Have Been

What Could Have Been
Dramatis Personae Anette and Akihiro
In Absentia	2016-07-12 "He's the best thing to happen to me since you."
Location <BOM> Training Center - Main Lodge - Ascension Island
Down a short flight of stairs off of the common room, this room is a departure from the homier stone and wood upstairs. Its bare concrete walls are clearly basementy in feel, though its floor has been refurbished in gleaming synthetic flooring marked out like a basketball court. This spacious gymnasium includes a variety of punching bags -- of several compositions (for normal strength mutants or mutants on the high end of the spectrum) -- a boxing ring, a wall for climbing, several lengths of rope, and many, many training dummies for people to practice their powers on. Someone's dressed up one of the training dummies as a police officer, and scrawled a dopey smiley face on it; the sign on his chest declares him to be 'OFFICER SHITS-HIS-PANTS'. Officer Shits-His-Pants has seen better days; by the look of him, he's been set on fire and lost at least one of his limbs. In the back room is more training equipment -- everything from boxing gloves, medical tape, sports equipment, and even some unusual customized equipment for the more 'physical' mutants. The infirmary door stands near the stairway leading back up. It's been a rough few weeks for Anette and she looks it. Her face is a tad paler than normal, dark circles linger under her eyes. Still, she seems strangely energetic, especially as she takes out her frustrations on a rather innocent punching bag, the chains creaking with each punch. Messy hair pulled into a low ponytail, wings pulled tightly against her body. She wears a black sports bra, black shorts, and worn out athletic shoes. She works mericlessly at the bag, one punch after another, no break, no rest. Akihiro may just be the root of that roughness, but if you think about the devil enough he's bound to appear. He's not in a business suit or toting a pitchfork though, he's in sweatpants and a sleeveless black t-shirt with his hair pulled into a man-bun. When he catches sight of Anette he pauses, worrying his lower lip. Anette's punch connects and her arm freezes in that outstretched position, her back suddenly straightening, head up as she's suddenly alert. Her head suddenly twists to face Akihiro, her body turning after a few seconds. She says nothing, not a word as she turns again, this time to walk away from the bag toward the ratty towel and gym bag. She slips the bag over her shoulder and begins dabbing the sweat off her face. It's pretty clear: she's leaving. Akihiro notices that and heads straight over, "Wait, please?" He holds his hands up in a peaceful manner. "I just want to talk." He doesn't proceed to say what it is he wants though, rather giving her an opportunity to respond. "I thought I made it clear we have nothing to talk about," Anette yells, dropping her bag to the floor but holding onto the towel to continue sopping at sweat on her face and neck. "What could you possibly want to say?" Akihiro is a touch taken back at the outburst, actually flinching. "I.. Never mind. You're right." he decides. "I get it. I shouldn't have even had to ask for fucking advice. You don't want shit to do with me." Anette, despite everything, seems equally taken back by his reaction. "I just...I can't...fine. But make it quick. You weren't wrong about that last thing," she says, draping the towel over her shoulders while she leans up against Officer Shits-His-Pants. "Advice? About what? And to who?" "No. I'm fucking done." Akihiro says, "I fucked up. I know I did. But I left to get myself straight for you. I didn't do that shit for me. I /liked/ not caring. It was so much fucking easier. I changed for you and for Hiro, and all that did was fuck shit up. My son doesn't even exist anymore." He clenches his fists and turns away. "I was confused. About all of this, and everything that's happened. The advice I got was to talk to you about it. I shouldn't have listened." "Your son never existed. He was a dream of a future in a world that isn't this one," Anette says, rather dryly. "At least, that's what everyone kept saying when I wanted revenge for everything that happened." She takes another deep breath, trying to remain at least a bit rational. "What exactly are you confused about? And if you want to talk, then talk." "It may not have happened, but it all could've. We could have had that child, and if we did I didn't want him to grow up looking to how I was." Akihiro doesn't turn around, but it's clear from his tone that he's upset. "Do you need to ask what I'm confused about? All of this. That mistake of a kiss. My feelings for you. Part of me just wants to give up trying to get over it and start drugs again, to react the same way you did. I still may." "A lot of things could have happened. This was the same future I died in. I don't know, maybe if things were different. But they're not," Anette says, her voice softening a bit. "But there's noting to be confused about. Whatever we had is over. I don't know how much clearer I can make that. Whether we still have feelings for each other is irrelevant. And yes...that kiss was a huge mistake. Which is why we can't let anything like that happen ever again." At his last sentence, she chuckles darkly and hangs her head. "The idea is to do the opposite of what I do. I'm the one that's going to get herself killed, remember?" "I don't want to live in that world. Regardless of what happens between us." Akihiro's tone softens slightly too, "I'd rather fry myself and die than go through that again." "I'd rather stick with this one as well," Anette says, nodding slightly. "So...why do I get the feeling there's still more you wanted to talk about? I promise I won't gouge your eyes. I just....I'd rather get all this over with." "I think that's it." Akihiro finally turns around to face Anette, and his eyes are red. He just may have turned away to cry. "It's just hard, loving you still. Especially after I did all of that for you. I come back and you're even more addicted to drugs and with Killian. I don't have anything to fall back on, no drugs, no alcohol. I reacted so badly the other day because I've been thinking about doing heat again. It's hard feeling so worthless." "And you don't think I feel the same way? Aki-...Daken. I loved you. I may not have agreed to marry you but I seriously thought about it. I know you did this for me and I'm not even saying you were wrong but...you were gone. You broke my heart so I moved on. And believe it or not, I've changed, too. Before, we wouldn't even be having this conversation." She takes a deep breath, crossing her arms to hide the very visible, fresh looking trackmarks. "I was actually doing good when you were gone. But when you came back, I didn't want to deal with my feelings for you. I'm just weak...." she says, voice beginning to crack, betraying the tears of her own threatening to break free. "And can't you see Killian makes me happy? He's the best thing to happen to me since you." "I guess that's why we're always running into each other rather than you being with him." Akihiro clenches his jaw for a couple of moments. "I made a mistake coming back then. I'll be sure to let you get better then." And then he's turned around once more, whatever he planned on doing down here forgotten as he heads quickly for the exit. "Akihiro, wait!" Anette calls out, trying to catch him before she leaves. "What do you want me to say? I still care about you. Look, I...I don't want you to leave. I just...think we need some distance. Give it some time and slowly ease ourselves back into...whatever this is. Friendship?" "But you don't want to see me. Don't want to talk to me. Why should I stay?" Akihiro asks, slowing to a stop. "As long as I'm on the island I'll run into you. I'll see you somewhere. And I don't think I can keep doing this, it tears my insides up." "I just need time," Anette says, a bit sharply. "Seeing you like this hurts me just as much as it hurts you. And I don't...I don't want to never see you again. But I just need some distance to clear my head. Maybe I should leave." "No." Akihiro says firmly. "I've got business to attend to anyway. You stay here where Killian should be. I'll go where you two don't have to run into the past, and I can handle some things." "Fine. Whatever works for you," is all Anette says, picking up her gym bag and slinging it over her shoulder.