Chapter 30: Loyalty
"What do ya need?" Belk asked, his arms crossed as he followed Vagnis into the forest. The scout stopped before him, his back still turned to the young scientist as his question hung in the air. The breeze blew by, the soft flapping of his shirt echoing in the tense silence.
Vagnis hands tightened into a fist, the shifting trees shedding the light of the sun onto his back.
"Listen..." He spoke softly, the word barely scraping from his throat, looking back at the scientist. "I’m sorry..."
"Eh?" Belk stared at him, caught off guard by his sudden apology, although despite his reaction, Vagnis stared at him with earnest eyes, his lips parting as he continued.
"I said some things, and I was wrong—science didn’t make you weak, I was blinded by my own pride, treating you as an equal even though you’re my superior," Vagnis explained, falling to one knee before the scientist, his head hung low. "I was out of line, and I apologize!"
Belk crossed his arms, his face in a scowl of exasperation. "Come on, don’t do that! Stand up already will you?"
"Right away, sir–" Vagnis nodded, standing up before the young scientist.
"And don’t call me sir!" Belk snapped, his brow furrowed in annoyance at the sudden formality. Vagnis was caught off guard by his sudden outburst, the scout scratching his cheek lightly as he tried to figure him out.
"What should I call you then?" He pondered, the young scientist walking up to him and lightly pushing his fist against his chest.
"You call me Belk!" He smiled, his gaze staring into Vagnis’s confused one. "We’re friends, nothing more, nothing less—"
"Friends? But I—" Vagnis’s voice trailed off, looking to his fist that remained pressed against him. The young scientist finally removed it and placed both on his hips.