I am totally in love with this trilogy, and couldn't help but write at least one fanfiction for it. This is set in the middle of The Ask and The Answer around the part where Davy and Todd have finished banding the women, and before when Davy gave Todd his mother's book. I mostly wrote this because when I was re-reading it I was so frustrated that Todd was so emotionless! He should be roused a little bit more[an I'm a sucker for Davy. He's a good friend, once you get around the name calling and need for father's affection].

Ok, note over. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Todd or Davy. They are the marvellous creations of Patrick Ness *tear of admiration* [as is the first line, which I borrowed from the text itself]

"What the hell am I saying sorry for? Yer the stupid can't-read pigpiss all getting on ma pa's good side. Who cares about you?"

I still don't say nothing.

And then I feel a flash of red in Davy's noise, and I'm losing my balance in the saddle.

And he's just slapped me.

"Why don't you care, Todd? What's with all the unfeeling crap?" he says, his noise raging red, but there's also some wavering in his voice, some distress. He's stopped moving. So have I.

I am the circle-

"Will you stop that? What would you do if it were yer girl we were banding like animals back there?" He's really distressed now, and his voice is shaking. I don't say nothing, but something comes up in my noise. And he sees it too.

"Yea? That got through that calm noise of yers?' He questions, grinning at me like he's accomplished something.

(but she left me)

(she left with them)

(but did she do it?)

(did she do it?)

(shut up)

(but it don't matter)

(cuz I'm dead)

But that still doesn't stop me wondering if maybe she didn't kill the spackle. Didn't plant those bombs. Maybe she's still looking for me...

Todd? Angharrad's noise asks, wondering why we've stopped. Then Davy sends me a picture-no, a scene in his noise.

I wouldn't have looked, but something got my attenshun. Davy notices this.

"Yea Todd, I know that circle crap, and it don't work for me. And now Pa won't-" he cuts himself off, choked on his words. The scene of him, back in Prentisstown, chanting I am the circle and the circle is me, and I remember how I used to wonder what the mayor was doing in there.

"Ah screw it" he says, but I catch a glimpse of what he feels. His jealousy for me being his pa's favourite, his wondering of his pa's power (and I think of yernothingyernothing right in the middle of yer soul and I'm no longer dead, I'm alive and I know how he feels and my noise starts to rage and glow red...) and my ma's book...

And I remember Viola reading it and I'm reminded of her.

But she's gone.

She left me.

She promised.

She promised.

And now-

I am the circle and the circle is me, I think. And even though I'm calm again (dead) Davy heard my noise.

"Yer a ruddy mess, and I don't get you and yer circle crap, why you can watch the women when-"he stops and breathes to hide the quiver that started in his voice. He starts again, "Yer the only friend I have, Todd," he admits, only loud enough for me to hear. But I've already tuned out. Ignoring him.

I feel Davy sigh a sad sigh that I don't really get, and we carry on.

But what does it matter?

Cuz I'm dead.