It has been roughly two and a half weeks since my unexpected arrival into the Apex universe and I was still trying to adjust to my new surroundings. I felt like I should at least be familiar with everything around me considering how often I played the video game in my home universe but that wasn't the case, everything was foreign. There was so much more here than what was ever shown in the video game and the game trailers that were released with each season, so much for me to take in. I wasn't sure if I would ever fully comprehend it all.
After I was released from the hospital, I was taken to Ajay's home (as recommended by both Anita and the doctor). At first I was hesitant but with comforting words and a reassurance from Ajay, I reluctantly agreed, knowing that if I didn't, I would have been more than likely homeless in a world that was completely different from what I knew. In the time that I was with Ajay (when she wasn't out training) I slowly found myself becoming somewhat of a friend to her and vise versa. She was the only one that I felt truly comfortable around but even with the comfort I was experiencing around her, I was still generally quiet and kept to myself. There were several occasions where the other Legends would stop by to simply hangout with Ajay or to get checked up by her and every time someone was over, they would briefly talk about me through what they thought were hushed voices but I heard them. Pretty much every single one of them with the exception of Elliot, was cautious of me and I don't blame them... I'm a complete and utter stranger that isn't from their world.
A light knocking on the guest room door pulled me from my thoughts. "Caroline? Is it alright if I come in?" Ajay's soft accented voice called through the door.
"Of course Ajay." Who would I be to tell her no? She's shown me nothing but kindness since I have been in this world. I sat up in the bed, waiting for her to walk in.
Ajay slowly opened the door before walking in. When she saw me sitting on the bed, she offered me a kind smile, one of which I returned. "How are yuh holding up?" She sat next to me on the bed. Did I mention how weird it is to see Ajay, let alone any of the Legends, not wearing their attire we see in the game(aside from Pathfinder and Revenant)? No? Well let me say that it is a rather odd and interesting sight to see.
I mulled over my answer for several moments before gently shrugging my shoulders as I looked over to her. "I'm... managing I guess you could say." I looked down to my hands that were fiddling with the blanket. "My brain is still processing the fact that I'm actually here and that you're actually real. I-it's a lot to process." During the third day of residing in her home, I told her everything that I could remember about where I came from and what my life was like before I wound up in the Outlands. I even told her how in my universe the Apex Games and all the Legends, including herself, was just a video game that millions of people play. "And even with that being said, I don't know what to do with myself..."
Ajay gave me a sympathetic smile as she gently rubbed my back. "I can understand that. Everything here is a lot to take in." I only nodded to her statement. "But relating to the last part of what you said is why I'm here." There was a rather brief pause. "Anita suggested that you should start training with all of us while we try and figure out a way for you to get back to where you're from. It could do yuh some good. What do yuh say Caroline?"
I sat there and thought about it for a minute before nodding my head. "That sounds good to me, though I must warn you Ajay... I don't have an ounce of any kind of fighting experience. Let alone much exercise. Back home I know I was a rather lazy person." That much I did remember from where I originally came from. "And I barely know how to shoot a gun. I would need a lot of training.." I trailed off after realizing just how much training I would have to go through.
Ajay gave me a kind smile, "Don't worry about it. Everyone will train yuh because we all have different styles as yuh may know. But I must warn yuh Caroline, no one will go easy on yuh." Before she could continue on there was a knock coming from the front of the apartment. "I'll be right back." I only nodded as she walked away.
Having the moment to myself I began to think back to what Ajay said. "Everyone will train you." Even Rev... I may have a soft spot somewhere in my heart for him based on his background but that didn't stop the fear from setting in. I began thinking about Rev's background and what he's capable of and those thoughts started to cause my new found anxiety to start up. To him I was just another skin suit, I wasn't one of the Legends so that meant if he really wanted to, he could kill me without a second thought.
"It'll be fine Che, I can handle this." I vaguely heard the voice of Elliot outside of my bedroom door and before I could really start collecting myself and calming myself down, there was a light knock before the handle turned and in walked Elliot. Had I not been having a anxiety attack at this moment, I probably would have been fawning over him. The video games didn't do Elliot justice, he's truly a beautiful human being in my eyes. "Hey the- whoa! Whoa! It's okay!" He didn't even hesitate by coming further into the room after the door closed behind him and sat next to me, his large hands sitting on my shaking shoulders. His beautiful brown eyes looked into my galaxy colored ones (something that was a shock to me when I found out that my eyes were no longer a deep brown) trying to figure out what was wrong and in the next moment, his strong arms were wrapped around my smaller frame. "Breathe with me Caroline, it's okay." And for whatever reason, I did as he said and started breathing with him as he held me in his arms.
After a few moments of me breathing with him, I felt myself calm down and the thoughts of what Rev could do to me wash away. Slowly I pulled away from his hold, my cheeks surely red with embarrassment. "Uh, thank you for that Elliot... I'm sorry that our first real interaction with each other was you calming me down from an anxiety attack.." I genuinely felt embarrassed because that was not how I expected to properly meet him.
"No need to ap-a-apologize, glad I could help." I couldn't help but to let out a small laugh at his stumbling over his words. In person it was actually rather endearing.
"Who would have thought that Mirage has a soft side?" I couldn't help but let out another laugh as I playfully nudge him, which caused him to laugh with me and playfully roll his eyes. For whatever reason, I already felt rather comfortable around him.
"Yeah, well don't tell anyone. I have an image to uphold." He chuckled a bit more before looking back at me, completely serious this time but I could see the heavy concern in his eyes. "But if you don't mind me asking, what caused your attack?"
Before answering him I took a deep breath in and thought of the best way to tell him. "Well Ajay told me that Anita wants me to start training with the rest of you and how everyone is going to train me because of your different styles." I took a moment before continuing on. "I'm completely fine with going through training with everyone but then I thought of Revenant... I know his whole story, I know what he's capable of." I looked up to Elliot and saw that he was intently listening, the look of concern still present in his eyes. "I'm not a Legend like you are Elliot, to him I'm just another skin suit... he could kill me without a second thought. That's why I was having an attack." When I looked back up into his eyes again I saw for a brief moment that the concern was replaced with what looked to be heartbreak before quickly shifting to determination.
"Yeah the murder bot is pretty terrifying but I won't let him kill you, so don't worry about that! Plus I'm sure Che will say the same thing!" He flashed me his famous smile that could melt any girl or guy's heart.
I couldn't help but laugh at the last part. "Well if that's the case, thank you Elliot." He nodded with a smile and after a moment of silence, I noticed he was still staring at me. "What? Is there something on my face?"
He quickly shook his head. "Oh no! I didn't mean to stare. It's just your eyes... they're very mes-me-mesmerizing, that's it, that's the word I was looking for!"
I couldn't help but laugh. I always thought the way he stumbled over his words was adorable but actually hearing and seeing it happen in front of me was something else. "Well thank you. It's still a shock to me since I have no idea why they would have changed." I shrug to myself knowing I wouldn't really get answer.
"Now that I'm actually looking at it... your hair matches your eyes."
Once he said that I gave him a weird look. I had my hair up in a bun since I've been cooped up in my room since my arrival. "What do you mean? My hair is black." Before he could say anything I got off of the bed and walked over to the mirror that was inside the room. I let out an audible gasp as I let my hair down. My hair was no longer black like I thought it once was, it was now the colors of a galaxy. "What is happening to me..." I asked myself quietly as I ran my fingers through my long hair. I looked back into the mirror and saw that Elliot was watching me.
"For what it's worth... the hair looks really amazing." He gave me a sheepish smile, one that I couldn't help but smile back to.
"Thank you Elliot." I looked down at my sock clad feet. "And I also want to thank you for being so welcoming and kind to me. I know I've been shutting myself out here in this room but so far you and Ajay have been nothing but kind to me."
Elliot's POV
I've been waiting a long time for you, so of course I'm going to be kind to you. I thought back to those many years ago when I went to go to a Seer just for the fun of it and the one thing that stuck out most to me from that time was the Seer saying, "there will come a time when someone falls into your life, they will hold the galaxy in their eyes. Hold onto her and don't let her go, you need one another more than either of you will ever know." Could you imagine the shock and surprise I felt when I saw her there laying in that crater?
"Well you haven't give either of us a reason to not be kind to you!" I gave her another smile. I don't know about Caroline but already feel like I can call her my friend. Granted the circumstances of us meeting went differently than I expected but we still seemingly clicked without any trouble. And well, she puts me at ease.
One thing is for sure, if she get's put into the Games, I can only hope that we will be put together every single time. I need to watch out for her, to protect her. If we don't get paired together then I will spend most of my time in matches worrying about her and how she's fairing, I know that much.
Hello there reader! Hopefully this chapter was okay! As it is with most of my stories, this was all written from the top of my head with no real direction on where to go. And I decided to bring in Elliot a bit quicker than I anticipated to but again, I hope it worked out!
If you want feel free to leave any comments! Next chapter there will be a picture I had commissioned of my OC and mirage!
See you in the next one!
Posted: August 20, 2020
Word count: 2,204