DMAORG - Code of Conduct

« Hey ! » Tyler whispers as the crowd of members silently walks back to their respective Regions. His senses and emotions are all over the place, and he knows he shouldn't, but Tyler wants, needs to talk to Clancy. He can't stop thinking about Riko too, but Clancy is the one who prevented Tyler from saving him after all. Saving him from what? Tyler doesn't know exactly... but Clancy, weirdly, seems to know more than he does.

"Hey, you!" the boy repeats, trying to keep his place in the ranks. "Clancy!"

"Shh!" the girl in front of him turns with a scowl, and Tyler pretends he didn't say anything, his heart beating fast in his chest.

What is happening? Why is he feeling this way? Why is doubt gnawing at his insides like a sickness? His tummy hurts. He feels sweat forming on his forehead, swipes his hand across his eyebrows to prevent it from falling into his eyes.

Everything should be fine. Dema is fine. Dema is safe. Dema is everything. Tyler tries to calm himself down, repeating simple phrases meant to relax. He's used them plenty of times, but it doesn't seem to work this time because something is w r o n g.

No.

Riko was wrong. Riko was wrong, right? He shouldn't have had a c l o c k because time is an illusion. The Bishops said it. Was Riko the one who tried to escape, too? All signs point to it, therefore he should be punished for having put his fellow members at risk. Tyler firmly believes that. He has believed it for as long as he has been in Dema, and it has never felt weird. Yet, the fear in Riko's eyes when Nico's hands touched the skin of his throat... somehow changed everything. But why?

Tyler needs to know. As the rank of members finally reaches the Barracks and everyone scatters to their room, Tyler keeps his eyes on Clancy. For once, he doesn't care if anyone's watching. It's risky, he knows it and he feels s c a r e d but he does it anyway: he follows the man and barges into his room as soon as he opens the door. Tyler shuts it behind him and presses his body against it to make sure Clancy won't try and escape. But the man is the least bit surprised and even grins at his visitor.

"I've waited long enough."

Tyler frowns as Clancy calmly sits down on his bed, the mattress creaking under his weight.

"Wh- What do you mean?"

"I thought you'd come sooner."

"What are you on about?" Tyler whisper-yells, feeling slightly annoyed. "What's going on? Who the hell are you? And why did you stop me earlier?"

Clancy lets out a mocking laugh and stretches his limbs, as if all this was just a joke, a mindless act in a comedy. Tyler doesn't feel barely annoyed now. He's angry, and very much so. His hands ball up into fists and he takes a step ahead.

"Answer me." Tyler's voice is stronger know. "Why did you stop-"

"Why did I stop you from a certain death, you mean?"

"I- What?"

"Do you really think Nico would have kindly asked you to go back to your place and shut up? Are you really that naïve, Tyler?"

The boy falls silent. Clancy's words feel like a punch in the gut. Why do they ring so true? Tyler trusts his Bishops. He trusts Dema.

"I don't trust you."

"Yet you're having doubts."

"I'm not-"

"Really, Tyler? Why did you even try to do something in the first place, then? Was it not the best decision to punish Riko for what he did?"