The Irony

"The Irony" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
The Chief and her husband held their son tighter in their group hug as Sven sobbed into Grey’s shoulder. They couldn’t help but look at each other and immediately kick themselves for what happened. Hroar, one of Grey’s council members informed them of the attack on the Great Hall…and that the man Sven escaped Rhenco’s hotel with…Boriss…a Central citizen…was the one responsible, and that Sven was trying to stop him. 
Ingrid told them that Sven felt responsible…for the whole thing, and Sven just admitted it himself. Neither Brandt nor Grey said it out loud, but the silent conversation was as clear as day. They both shouldn’t have left for the Gods-forsaken raid… One of them should’ve stayed. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Sven all of a sudden… One of them leading the village would’ve avoided all the pressure being placed on Sven’s shoulders. Yes, the council was here, but…they weren’t Sven’s parents…they weren’t the boy’s mother. 
“Why did we both go?” Grey thought to herself. “One of us…I should’ve stayed with him…”
Another cold realization ran through her spine. Her mother didn’t give much detail, as she didn’t see the whole thing, but she said that Sven tried to physically stop Boriss…until Malak shielded him…saving his life. Tears formed in her eyes at that chilling thought. If Malak wasn’t there…Sven wouldn’t have been sitting in her mother’s hut right now…crying in their arms. 
Grey let out a shaky breath at that thought, and she knew what she needed to do. “Umm…Brandt, you mind staying with him?” she asked. “I’ll come right back, I…I just need to…”
Brandt didn’t say anything, but he nodded as he gently pulled Sven in his arms. “I can take it from here,” he whispered. 
Grey nodded and kissed Brandt on the cheek. “I’ll be back, sweetie,” she said to Sven running a hand through his hair. “I just need to take care of something.”
Sven nodded as he and his father watched his mother leave the hut.
moe-lazyeye
Malak sat in the house that his son and ex wife had once resided, and continued to treat his injured legs and back. His conversation and encounter with Darien spun in his mind, the events of what happened between Sven and Borris soured his stomach. 
He hung his head as he sat in the middle of the floor. “Gods help me…” He sighed. He knew the raid was over and everyone had returned him. Opie was nowhere to be found, but Malak had expected that. He folded his humans arms tightly…
lbigreyhound13
The Chief practically sprinted as she made her way past the villagers over to a certain house where she knew a certain half-breed would be…the very same half-breed who saved her son’s life. When she got there, she saw that the door was closed, and without hesitation, she knocked on the door. 
“Malak?” she called. “It’s Grey…may I come in?”
moe-lazyeye
Malak jumped and momentarily placed a hand on his heart, but upon hearing the Chief’s voice, he scrambled to his feet and rushed to make himself look more presentable. 
He wanted to say ‘just a minute’ or ‘one second.’ Anything that would have allowed him enough time to comb his hair, or put on a better shirt, or take a full bath for that matter. But instead he found his mouth calling her inside, after all it was the Chief. What was he going to say? No?
“Y-yes!” He said as he straightened his clothes. “Come in please.”
lbigreyhound13
Grey opened the door as soon as she heard Malak call out to her, and sure enough she found him inside the house all by himself. With all that happened as soon as they returned, she had forgotten that Opie was somehow left behind in the dungeon. She mentally promised that she would find some way to get him back, no matter what. 
“I…I’m sorry to disturb you,” she said quietly. “I…I…uh…I spoke to my council…and my mother…and…I was with Sven just now.”
moe-lazyeye
Malak nodded once stiffly. “Yeah…
How is he…?
You don’t have a right to ask that…
“I hope he’s…well…” Malak managed to say. “Or-” He hastened to add. “Feeling better at least…”
lbigreyhound13
The Chief managed a small smile hearing Malak express some concern for her eldest child. “He’s…mentally…he’s shaken up,” she began. “Physically, he’s got one or two cuts and bruises. My mother told me that it would’ve been a lot worse if…you didn’t…” The thought of her son…one of her babies being caught in the blast…and not surviving sent chills down her spine. 
moe-lazyeye
Malak’s multiple legs shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t want to dwell on his act. It came nowhere close to atonement, and there was a bigger matter at hand. 
I care not if I over step this line. It has to be said.
“Ma’me…” Malak ventured. “Your son…I have to tell you.” He paused, and then began to pace uncomfortably. “I commend his heart, its full of compassion, and pride but…but if he is not taught a better sense of danger and what to do in the face of it it’s going to kill him one day. And not a day that’s very far in the future…” 
lbigreyhound13
Grey nodded agreeing. Sven reminded her of her dangerous heroic attempts…especially Midgardsormr’s trial…and it was dangerous…especially when he was so young…only a teenager. He was far too young to deal with that on his shoulders. 
“I know,” Grey finally said after a moment. “My mom only told me so much, and Sven only said that he tried to stop it. What did he do, Malak? You were there, you protected him…”
moe-lazyeye
Malak made a defeated movement with his arms. “The same thing he did with me when I…when I put him in danger. He talked…the man had canisters and nails strapped to his body and Sven was talking to him. He was still trying to talk him out of it even as the gas was seeping towards the candle flame…”
Malak sighed. “He has so much faith in you…his abilities, his family…and people. I’m not saying his faith ought to be dampened… but he must be reminded of his own morality, and how words cannot be relied on as a last resort…”
There you go…ordering a cheif around…but it’s for Sven…she has to know.
lbigreyhound13
The Chief sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Just thinking about Sven…a teenaged boy walking up to a man with canisters of Zippleback gas and nails…trying to talk to him…when she was nowhere near the island to protect him…made her stomach churn. As much as a part of her hated being ordered around when it came to her children, she knew the half-breed was right. He looked up to her mother and was very dedicated to becoming a great Chief, but he was 17 years old…nowhere near ready to have this responsibility on his shoulders…especially after his traumatic experience in the hotel. 
“I know,” she said shaking her head, “and he still seems to think that it’s his fault that he couldn’t stop Boriss.”
moe-lazyeye
“He wants to save everyone.” Malak said,his voice full of concern. “If only such a thing were possible.” He lowered his head. “I apologize for speaking so…well…as such. I just…”
lbigreyhound13
“No…No…no need to apologize,” the Chief replied sadly holding her hand up to stop him. “You’re right. He’s far too young to take such measures. I think because my husband and I weren’t here, he got it into his head that he needed to prove himself…that he can be a good leader. I’ll talk to him about it.”
moe-lazyeye
Malak nodded. “I’m sure he’ll listen…and take it to heart.”
He lapsed into silence, and then opened his mouth again to venture further into the conversation. “I uh…I met Darien…” 
lbigreyhound13
The Chief raised her eyebrows at the mention of the former High Central mage. “Oh…I imagine that conversation went smoothly…” she simply said. “Care to tell me about it?”
moe-lazyeye
Malak eased himself down into a straight back chair against the wall. “It was…insightful I suppose.” He pressed his lips together. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my actions…my family…It’s clear that they’ve all gone their own ways to try and cope or make amends with the past. I’m…I’m hoping that perhaps this rebellion could help me to do the same…”
lbigreyhound13
Grey briefly eyed Malak’s hand remembering what Brandt and Ingrid had told her about Chelsea, Malak’s wife. Brandt and Sven had found him bleeding on a bench that night, and she was nowhere to be found. Not only that but Farris was nowhere to be found, and Opie…he was left behind… She sighed. 
“I’m so sorry that you all couldn’t find peace together,” Grey said softly. “I’ll do what I can to get Opie back, and…we would love to have another on the Rebellion.”
moe-lazyeye
“Opie didn’t return?” Malak asked, for a moment looking concerned, and then his face hardened. “Don’t bother…” He growled. “If he didn’t follow then he doesn’t want to be found…we’re better off without him anyway.”
lbigreyhound13
The Chief closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip mentally kicking herself for not being more careful around Opie not being found in the raid. She should’ve had an inkling that Malak didn’t know about his younger son. “May I ask why?” Grey asked.
moe-lazyeye
Malak looked away from her. “He’s…its…” he pressed his lips together. “He’s just not how he appears. He’s a messed up kid.” Hs shook his head. “No matter. Listen, I seek to make things right. I spent ten years harming people, I’d like to spend the rest of my life helping them. Missing people, prisoners, victims or torture and abuse. If there was ever a need for a front line man to help with such things were the risk never mattered, I want to be that man…”
Grey nodded letting Malak’s words sink in. “Well, considering that you saved the Chief’s son in an attack, I’d say you’re on your way to doing just that,” she said. Then she gave a warm smile. “That being said, we would love to have you join the Rebellion.”
moe-lazyeye
“Thank you…” He replied. “But make no mistake…I don’t wish for family.” He glanced towards the kitchen so subtly, that Grey barely noticed. “I think that is too far beyond me now. I wish to be a servant, one that’s sent out to either help those beyond help, or die trying. Under such perimeters…what would you have me do first?”
lbigreyhound13
Grey pursed her lips together in deep thought taking a deep breath. “Well, we picked up some prisoners from the dungeon in the raid,” she began. “Perhaps, we can use you to help those in a fragile mental state.” She remembered her first Rebellion…Jokul Frosti…Stonegit…even Tezz. 
moe-lazyeye
Truth be told Malak had envisioned him undergoing dangerous missions, reacuing those who had been kidnapped and taking them to safety in the dead of night. Maybe at some point that kind of life would kill him, and thus let him dying feeling as though he had died doing some kind of good.
But strangely…the idea of serving as a means to heal those who suffered like he had, talking about it, helping reintegrate them into a life even while his was in shambles, and just…living with everything…it sounded even scarier than the other ideas.
“Uh…” he shifted once. “You dont think I’m a little underqualified for that sort of thing?”
lbigreyhound13
Realization slapped Grey across the face as she bit her lower lip and closed her eyes in embarrassment. She had just returned home and found out her 17-year-old son attempted to stop a terrorist attack, and couldn’t seem to think straight. Someone who used to work for Rhenco and was going through his own trauma probably wouldn’t be suited for that.
“Right,” she said rubbing her forehead. “I’m sorry, I’m not thinking straight. How about this?” Another thought came to her. “How about this? How about we put you on the Cell Teams in future raids? You can help retrieve the prisoners and bring them to safety.”
moe-lazyeye
Am I knowing my own limitations? Or am I seeking my own, twisted version, of an easy way out?
Malak suddenly felt conflicted. But in his uncertainty, he answered. “Of course.” He said. “Yes I’ll…I’d be happy to assist that team…and anything else you may need.”
lbigreyhound13
“Good,” Grey said nodding as she leaned back in her seat. “And…if you wish…once this is over, we can look into releasing you and helping you get a life together.”
moe-lazyeye
Malak breathed in a steady stream of air. “You’ve given me room and board, and the means of a living. Truth be told ma'me I’m not so sure what more freedom I deserve to look forward to beyond that.”
lbigreyhound13
Grey smiled a little. “You saved my son’s life, Malak,” she said. “I’d say you deserve more than just that, so if there’s anything you need, please ask.”
moe-lazyeye
It would only ever be for you…
The unintended thought caused Malak’s heart to stop beating for a second, and he felt the base of his spine from where he sat slowly become rigid.
“I’m sorry I didnt mean to say-”
Malak nearly had a heart attack as he realized he was talking outloud now, and he cleared his throat harshly. “Give, I meant, pardon me. I didn’t mean to give the impression of ungratefulness…I am just not used to… well any of this.”
He carefully got to his feet, attempting to prevent his anxiety from showing in his movements. “I appreciate it though…I ought to get some rest…”
lbigreyhound13
“It’s okay, I understand,” Grey said with a small smile. “There’s no offense taken.” She then stood up. “I’ll let you do just that. Sounds like you had an eventful time here while I was gone.”
moe-lazyeye
“Indeed…” Malak nodded a few times as he watched her leave, and slowly placed a hand over his heart as he attempted to even out his breathing.
What the Hel…
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act I
Category:Malak
Category:Grey Bergman