Aru Shah 4.5

Screw a Hug. I Really Need a Break

A/N I know the communications device is a lame plot device, don't @ me, it was all I could think of

Brynne and Rudy looked like they were trying hard to hide knowing grins when Aru and Aiden walked up. They probably would've said something snarky too, but Mini beat them to it.

The other girl looked troubled as she walked up to them, not even commenting on Aiden's arm around Aru's shoulders. "Hanuman has a message for you." She held out a device.

Aru took it. It was a little larger than a mint tin and colored gray. There were a couple buttons on the top. "What's this?"

"Communication device. Hanuman gave it to me before we left. The way it works is fascinating, really! It uses a current of light and--" She broke off, blushing. "Sorry, it's just cool. But you don't want to hear me go on about it."

Rudy tilted his head, studying the object. "I've never seen anything like it before. You could tell me about it later?"

Mini's face lit up but she quickly lifted her chin. "Oh. In that case, I may."

"I'm surrounded by lovebirds," Brynne grumbled. But she smiled.

Aru rolled her eyes. "So how do I turn this thing on?"

"Just press that green button."

A hologram sprang up in front of them. The monkey demigod grinned back at them. "Hello, Pandavas!"

Rudy looked like he wanted to correct Hanuman, but Brynne elbowed him in the side.

"I'd like to talk with Aru at this moment, but I'm very glad to see all of you nonetheless."

The dismissal in his voice was clear.

The Potatoes exchanged confused and worried looks.

"Okay," Aru said. "Sorry, you guys. I'll catch up with you later."

Aiden was the last to move away. When he did, she missed the weight of his hand on her shoulder.

"Aru," Hanuman said carefully, "are you ready for this?"

Aru stared at him. "For...what?"

"Can you face your father and defeat him...and if you must, vanquish him?"

Aru felt cold suddenly, even though the sun beamed on her skin. Something lodged in her throat and she couldn't manage a reply.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to stop the world from spinning around her. She wished she didn't have to answer questions like that. She wished the world could be uncomplicated, black and white. Instead, it was filled with gray. The kind of gray that asked a daughter if she could kill her father.

Could she do it, though? He threatened everything she worked for. If he hurt anyone she loved, she would retaliate. If he did worse...her blood boiled at the thought.

Aru looked Hanuman straight in the eye and gave him a small but unmistakable nod. She hated herself for it immediately.

What kind of daughter would kill her own father? a vicious voice in her head whispered.

A desperate one with no choices left, another replied.

Hanuman didn't seem to notice her inner turmoil. He gave her a nod of his own. "Thank you, Aru. I've never had any second thoughts about your loyalty. Some of the devas, though..." He sighed. "They're having doubts."

"About me?"

"I tried to convince them that you're not like your father. I've won most of them over, but...well, I'm still trying to make progress."

Aru bit her lip until she could taste blood. She could only nod again.

The truth was, she'd reconsidered her stance on the devas many times. They had lied to her, her family, and her friends, had abandoned and ignored them. They didn't care about the asuras or anyone else who stood in their way. She didn't really want to side with people who were so selfish.

Aru might have been fighting for the devas, but she was fighting for everyone else too. The Otherworld was made up of so many more beings than the devas. Aru would fight for them too, no matter what the devas had to say about it. No matter the cost.

"I'll see you soon, Aru," the monkey demigod said warmly. "Know that I'm proud of you and your friends, no matter what."

With that, Hanuman vanished. 

Aru sat down on the ground heavily, feeling more tired than ever.