Aramora

Chapter 25: Fallible

"I was... screaming?" she asks and tilts her head.

Lavern lifts a brow. "Uh yeah, hence why I'm here. Looks like you were crying, too," he reaches over and flicks his thumb across her cheek, wiping away a tear that she doesn't know where it came from. "Everything okay?" he asks.

Naomi slowly nods, not sure of the answer herself but not knowing what wouldn't be okay. "Yeah. I guess I just had a nightmare is all," she says and eyes him suspiciously. "Did you really come down here just to wake me up?"

Lavern sighs before leaning back against the wooden wall of the cabin. "Well yeah. Typically when someone is screaming it's a cause for concern," he says and nods to reassure himself that he should keep going.

"And... I also wanted to apologize," he starts. "Back in Ecrin I... I said a lot of bullshit that I didn't mean and you didn't deserve that. I know you were just trying to help not only Aramora, but me. And I guess I just didn't know what to make of that," he says with a small smile.

Naomi slightly shrinks in on herself. "But do you still believe that everything we're doing is pointless?"

Lavern shakes his head and crosses his arms. "No, of course not. It's just that after everything that happened in Balmoral, I guess I started to have these... doubts. And then adding the whole thing with Ana was just... It was the last straw," he explains.

"Doubts?" Naomi asks and loosens up as she sees the sincerity in his eyes.

Lavern nods and takes a deep breath. "Yeah... seeing how easily everyone turned in favor of the whole 'Exer'Valan' bullshit made me seriously doubt the standing basis of most people's mentalities. How an entire city known for their 'sophistication' and 'solemnity' turned so... 'barbaric' at the drop of a hat," he looks down at her.

"I guess it was just hard for me to cope with seeing how fallible humanity is. But I think I've come to realize that's ultimately what we as people have to connect us. Our fallibility. Some people attempt to come off as good while some others don't even try," he explains.

He continues with a sigh, "So it was kinda hard for me to understand why you ran heart-first into this continent and became so passionate about helping fix our problems. While most people try to be good, you don't. You just do what you think is right. It doesn't even need to be world-saving. You do what you feel is best with people, too. You're... a good friend, Naomi," he smiles at her again.

She smiles back and stands up. She can't express how happy she is to be hearing all of this. Not only because he is clearly in a much better mindset, but because she was right and he admits he was wrong. She can be a good person while still reveling in successfully spiting him into friendship.

"Lavern, your own father made your sister try to kill you. I think I'd have been shocked if you didn't have some kinda lasting damage from that. But you came around and proved that you are just as fallible as everyone else," she says and gently nudges his shoulder with her fist.

He chuckles and nods slowly. "Yeah... You're right—"

"Wait, what was that?" Naomi throws on a shocked face and leans closer with a smirk.

Lavern huffs. "Really?" he glares at her.

She nods with a playful wink. "I think I've racked up some pity points of my own after the werewolf thing and the 'unholy' things you said back in the church..." she makes sly eyes at him.

The Adaliaen groans and rolls his eyes as he steps away from the wall. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you; the duality of man," he says with a stifled grin.

Naomi laughs and grabs her backpack, turning around and making sure she has everything before pulling the straps over her shoulders.

"Heading up to the deck?" Lavern asks and Naomi nods.