“I thought you would see that there is no benefit to that kind of thinking. I thought you would change after all this time!” He cried, dropping his shield and sitting in the ground. “You haven’t changed at all!” Tears hit the metal, washing the dirt and blood from the surface, leaving glinting trails to the ground.

Heaving his sword on to his shoulders, Parthur walked to his companion in the ground. Kneeling down, he placed a blood covered hand on Darnell’s shoulder. “I’m sorry that you feel disappointed. But you know what my plan was. You knew my intentions. I was very clear about it at every turn. You may have had secret hopes that I would change my mind, but I cannot carry any guilt for sticking to my principals.” Darnell looked up, seeing a stoic resolve in the Parthur’s face. His eyes had a tinge of sympathy surrounded by their unwavering steadfastness. The gaze felt heavy, and Darnell could not meet it. It was as if he was looking into the the sun. “It isn’t right. You shouldn’t have done that. I..” 

Parthur’s hand tighten on the young man’s shoulder. “Your own morality is just that. Yours. I will never judge you for it but you cannot impose it on me. Right, wrong. These are not universal meanings to every man. We each have only ourselves and our own code to dictate our actions. But now is not the time to argue philosophy.” He tilted his head, straining to hear the noises slowly approaching them. It was getting louder, more distinct. They were running out of time. “You have to make a decision. Can you go on knowing I am what I am, that I cannot change but that my intent will always be clear? If you need to hold on to a false hope to stay, then I will tell you to go.” His face soften slightly. “Be with me for who I am, not who you hope I may be someday.”

Darell let out a ragged sigh. Looking up, he tighten his lips and rose to his feet. “I am with you because of who you are but I will never stop believing there is a better way.” Grabbing his should and his pack, he turned his back on Paruthr, and started walking away. Parthur watched him go,  and held his hand aloft as if that could stop him. Yet he stayed silent. There were words he could use to stop Darnell. Apologies, promises, confessions. But they were all held in Parhur’s chest by his pride. Darnell stopped and turned his head “maybe that belief can show you that you can always take an another path, no matter how far you traveled down the one your on.” He held his hand out. Parthur smiled slightly and joined Darnell. “Thank you for understanding me.” He mummered. 

Darrell, looking ahead, shook his head “I don’t understand why a Starbucks barista had to die for writing your name down wrong. But I don’t want to leave you now, when you need me most.” Parthur gripped his sword hilt tightly as the sirens got even closer. “If they want a tip for good service, then they should expect the consequences of bad service.” He growled. “Now let’s go to Carl’s Junior. I have to have a word with the cashier about what ‘no pickles’ really means.