Just A Game

"Ash?"

"What do you want, asshole? I thought you were done talking to me."

"Not yet. As much as I'd love for you to disappear from my life, you're stuck in it now, so I'm making the most of it. Where's the dagger you used on Ren?"

"Why would I ever tell you where I keep my weapons?"

"'Cause I'm currently armed and you aren't."

"If you wanted me dead, you would've killed me by now. You don't have the balls. I figured you out a long time ago, dude, you think this shit works on me? You think I'm scared of you?"

"You were at one point."

"We don't stay kids forever. I'm not so easy to manipulate anymore. Thanks for toughening me up, but I haven't needed you in years. Stay away from me."

"So, how'd your day go?" Will zoned back in and blinked at the person in front of him.

"Not good. Got it." Ash smiled knowingly. 

"Was this...a whole day? I only woke up, like, an hour ago..." Will mumbled.

"No. That was just phase one of the day. We've completed our daily tasks, now we can go wherever we want and talk to whoever we want, make allies and find weapons and food, discuss strategies...yeah. Really whatever we want for now, but you've gotta be careful; as you know, some rooms are traps and some people are aggressive."

"Who do you talk to?" Asked Will. "Who're your allies? I need somewhere to start and I have no clue who to talk to."

"For the most part, I work alone, but there are a few people I speak with occasionally. I think you've met them already. Isaiah, Bat, Raven and Clem."

Oh, shit...Bat...

Will hadn't really thought about it after he snapped at them, but he was realising now just how messed up what he'd said was.

They didn't even do anything wrong. Should I apologise? I've never been the best at that...I think I have to, though.

"Wait, Isaiah?" Will hadn't processed that part until now. "I...yeah, I met him briefly. I don't think he likes me very much. I don't think any of them do, really, though I'm not sure who Clem is."

"Well, if they already don't like you, you must've messed up pretty badly." Ash flatly remarked. "They're all pretty understanding people...well, for the most part."

That didn't make Will feel better at all. Though he supposed it wasn't meant to.

"Ash...God, I can't believe I'm asking this." Will stared at the floor, already regretting the words that were leaving his mouth. "Can I just...stay with you? Only for today. I don't know how any of this works or what I should be doing, I'd really like to talk to someone more experienced."

"Heh."

"What?" Will scowled at Ash's smirking face. "Nothing about this is funny."

"Nope. It sure isn't." But the smirk didn't leave Ash's face. "Sure, you can accompany me this afternoon. I don't think we'll accomplish anything you can't accomplish on your own, but hearing you ask for my help was quite pleasing; I didn't take you for the type that would ask for help so easily."

"Trust me, I'm normally not, but right now, I'm not sure what else to do."

"Exist?" Ash shrugged. "It's not that hard to interact with people or walk through a door."

"It sure seems to be around here." Will muttered.

After they'd been walking in silence for a few minutes, Will worked up the courage to ask the question he'd been afraid of. "Hey, uh, Ash...have you seen Andrea today?"