Darker Than Black
Copyright© 2025 by Aurora Borealis
Chapter 7
His hand held out to her, holding a bottle of water from the cafeterias vending machine. She blinked down uncomprehending for a second before he shook it and her brain jumped into gear.
Grasping the bottle, she cracked open its lid so fast that she crinkled the bottle and it splashed on her arms and legs. The blast of cold made her jump but it helped center her. When she glanced at Skotadi, he was biting back a smile and, instead of making her uncomfortable, a laugh bubbled out. He then snorted and that made Luna follow suit, the tension rushing from her in a slightly manic giggle. Soon she was laughing in a way that had nothing to do with actual amusement at the water. More just a rush of relief of tension flooding her system.
Skotadi crouched down next to her and tilted the water bottle to her lips. “Please drink before you pass out” she scoffed and waved his hand away.
“It has been a whole ass ... hour since I passed out last. I am as healthy as a horse.” She took a sip of the water.
“Horses are prone to becoming lame and then get shot by their owners” Luna spewed out water as her laugh wheezed out of her. This began a coughing fit that brought her asthma out to play. Skotadi looked truly alarmed as Luna hacked and coughed until her face was bright red, but Luna couldn’t control it. Her lungs were basically at their limit for the day and she needed her inhaler ... which was with her bag, in the cafeteria.
As if sensing her thoughts, Skotadi yanked what turned out to be her backpack off of his back and handed it to her. She didn’t even question why he had it, she just tore into the side pocket, retrieved her inhaler and took three deep breaths before sucking in the medicine with a click of the mini tank. She did this twice more then sat back and tried to even out her breathing.
Both students sat in silence for a while as she focused on the pain in her chest and the tightness in her throat and lungs. She felt like a fire had been lit there and was burning her up from the inside out. She took small sips from the water bottle and closed her eyes. As soon as the albuterol took effect, she knew that she was going to be left shaking and feeling like someone just shot adrenaline straight into her veins but it was better than the alternative by far.
Skotadi shifted and made to stand up, his movements oddly slow for someone with such an athletic build. When he finally straightened, he reach out his hand. She reached out to take hit but he tapped her hand instead and motioned to her backpack. She tilted her head and then shook it.
“I’ve got it” She made to stand but in one smooth motion, Skotadi grabbed her hand, pulled her to her feet and grabbed her back up off the floor.
“Are you always this stubborn?” Luna tried to bite back her sarcastic retort but it popped out anyway
“Only on days that end in ‘y’. Are you always this ... chivalrous?” Skotadi slipped his arm through the straps of her bag and hoisted it onto his shoulder then gave her an amused look before motioning her to walk ahead of him.
“Only on days that end in ‘y’” Luna felt a small thrill as she laughed again. She started walking back towards the cafeteria with a mounting feeling of dread but he turned her in the other direction.
“Where are we going?”
“The bell is about to ring and you and I have chemistry together” Luna fell into step beside him and nudged his side.
“That’s a bit presumptuous of you” when he looked down at her with a quirked eyebrow she grinned up at him. “ Just going all out and stating we have chemistry. Gunna get down on one knee next? I thought only lesbians moved that fast.” That earned her a full on laugh and it felt very pleasant.
“Well your ex’s attack dog did tell me that with my hair this long, I look like a woman.”
“Hmm what a sexist cunt.”
“My thoughts exactly. How dare she state that I look like a man who looks like a woman” Luna joined in with a scratchy rendition of “Dude Looks Like a Lady” by Aerosmith. When Skotadi joined in, Lunas breath caught. His voice was so amazing that it sealed her throat around her own scarred vocal cords and she had to chough and swallow to clear them.
She had a scene play in her head, a happy one from before the fire. It was a rare day where Luna didn’t have school and Rebecca hadn’t been working or on call. Both were in the kitchen, in their pajamas. Luna was making pancakes and her mother was fixing them both coffee. The C.D player that sat on the counter was blasting a mixtape that Rebecca and Maria had made. It had everything from P!nk to Aerosmith to Eric Clapton on it.
Luna specifically remembered pulling the whisk from the bowl and using it as a microphone. A very sticky microphone that was dripping batter down her hands. The held it out to her mother as she sand the verses then joined her on the chorus. But that was well before the fire burned Luna’s throat and smoke inhalation scarred up her lungs. Before the fire took away the things that made Luna feel powerful and human.
She blinked back tears as the memories turned black and angry. She then realized that she had fallen silent at a weird time and nervously glanced at her companion, expecting him to have a comment. Instead he was looking forward, silent and relaxed with this very tranquil look on his face.
This allowed her to relax to and they walked on until, just before they hit the classroom, Luna thought of a question. “Hey Skotadi ... How did you manage to get ahold of my backpack? Normally A.J and Brandon would guard my stuff like a bear guards its cubs”