Deceit- Short Story

Deceit

5- October 2004

Based on the writing challenge:
Write 400 words inspired by "deceit"

"I didn't mean for it to happen this way."

"No," Drake said, storming across the room to the wardrobe. "You meant for me to never find out. To go along blissfully unaware and... gods, do you realize I defended you?! Thanks to you I've burned bridges I may find myself desperate for one day. And for what?"

Logan crumpled into a chair in the corner of the room. The inn was small, and they'd had to share a room. "I'm sorry." The whisper was barely loud enough to be heard over Drake's purposeful packing.

He looked up from shoving a spare tunic into his pack. "Do you know what the worst part is? The worst part is that I believed in you. Trusted you, with my life!"

"I never betrayed that. I always protected you, just like you always protected me. That's what friends do."

"But you lied to me, Logan. In my book that destroys trust, not fosters it." Drake turned to glare at his travel companion. Flushing under the accusation, Logan suddenly became very interested in a knot in the floor.

"It was just..."

"What, a small lie? For my own protection? What defense have you come up with, Logan? How on earth do you justify it to yourself that it was okay to lie to me?"

The muttered reply did not go unnoticed, and Drake pounced on it. "A minor omission, you claim? That's great. You don't even consider it a lie. Well, I sure as hell do! And guess what, that's what's really important. Cause now you've upset me, and now I'm going to leave, Logan. I can't continue to travel with you now that..."

Drake turned to look out the small window as his voice trailed off. The view wasn't great, unless you like ancient birds nest built into the eaves of decrepit buildings. Logan had noticed the mistiness of his eyes, and knew to let Drake have a moment to compose himself. If interrupted he'd only lash out stronger, and then would definitely not listen any longer. Logan quickly wiped away tears as Drake turned back towards the room. In as steady a voice as could be managed while fighting back tears, Logan said, "I haven't changed. Not really. We could still travel together..."

Drake looked up slowly into Logan's eyes. "Do you really think it would be that easy for me to travel with you now?"

"But nothing's..."

"Yes, Logan, it has changed. You hurt me. I just need to go..." Drake scooped up his pack and headed towards the door.

Logan got there first, and was now blocking the way. "Don't you think this argument is a bit cliché, Drake?"

Drake glared at Logan. "Move."

"No, Drake. I'm not going to move until we get this resolved."

"You lied to me."

"Yes, Drake, I did."

Drake looked at his travel companion, trying to gauge this new tactic. Logan simply met his eyes, seemingly resigned. Drake's hand drifted to the hilt of his dagger. Logan didn't flinch. They'd been traveling together long enough for this action to be recognized for the nervous habit it was. Drake looked down to the redwood hilt. It was a dagger Logan had given him shortly after they began to travel together. He'd lost his original, crappy knife saving Logan from bandits. Now it was very likely neither of them would have the chance to pay back all the times the other had saved them.

"You hurt me," Drake said, intently interested in picking at the inlay in the dagger's handle.

Logan put a hand on Drake's, and waited for him to look up. "I'm sorry."

Drake looked into the blue eyes before him. His heart was beating just a little faster, accompanied by a familiar flutter in his stomach. He couldn't pull his gaze away. Finally he found his voice. "It can't be the same as it was."

"No, it can't"

"Because I know your secret now."

"I trust you not to tell anyone."

Drake pulled his hand from his knife, away from Logan's touch. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Would you have let me travel with you if I did?"

"Of course not, I-"

"That's why," Logan answered. "But now you know me better, you trust me, and see that I can take care of myself. And you, if needs be."

Drake shook his head. "I... I was so confused," he whispered. "I thought... I thought..."

Logan had never seen the fighter so quiet, so lost. Logan prompted "You thought..." in a voice that surprised both of them with the huskiness in it.

"I don't know how long I've loved you. But now I know you're a girl..." Drake searched Logan's eyes, silently begging for her to understand without him having to say more.

The surprise in her blue eyes was not unpleasant. "You... love me?" she asked when she found her voice. Drake nodded solemnly. Logan looked at him for a minute, then laughed. She gently pushed him back from her. "You almost had me there for a minute, Drake. I almost believed you."

Drake laughed, a sheepish look on his face. "Yeah? Really? I could tell. You actually looked nervous there for a minute."

Logan ducked under Drake's arm, grabbing his pack as she did so, flinging it onto the bed, and flinging herself down after it. "I guess it's only fair to get back at me, for not telling you sooner." She rolled over to look at Drake. "So are we okay, then? Things will go back to being normal between us?"

Drake looked down at her. "Yeah," he said, and began unpacking his bag, Logan watching, and both knowing it was a lie.