When we have played several rounds of hearts, it's about time for dinner and all 4 of us head to the cafeteria. "What do you feel like for dinner tonight," I ask Klef.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3K1EFV3mK
"Oh, I don't know, I'll eat whatever They're serving," he shrugs.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDOCtHwKYO
I snort. "Yeah, that sounds like you," I say.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmG1KqO2xE
"What?!" Klef asks in mock-offence. "Oh, wow, Ride, you wound me."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrIuGEv84L
"Good, I laugh." I wouldn't have it any other way."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCd8QqIM1r
Klef sticks his tongue out at me, but soon gets busy inhaling the scent of food wafting from the cafeteria. "Oh, it's pizza night!" Bobbi exclaims. "I forgot that it was pizza night!"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCv4afOceg
"Oh, Luke will definitely be here tonight," Ama says sagely.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONGhuF9Qg4
"What? He likes pizza that much?" I ask.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDSLeqoPyI
"I imagine so, the kid loves his pizza," Bobbi laughs.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLPjqSHAtP
We walk over to a table, where there's a spirit child already sitting and eating a whole pizza pie. "Hey, Like! Got enough to share?" Ama asks.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Yvd8MgEeY
I gawk. "You're Luke?!"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF9CsEv4yp
Luke grins up at me and nods. "Yeah, my name's Luke! Can I help you with something, ma'am?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEK9yUtmX5
"Uh, yeah," Klef says, speaking up. "You can help both of us. We're looking for travel to the ruins. Um...not to sound rude, but...you're just a kid. How do you know the planet so well?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDuPgV3oZ7
"I fly with the dragons all the time as a messenger," Luke says. "It's nothing special for me to fly around up there, and pretty soon you get to start memorizing places and people and things from up high. And once you do that you start making connections between places, and viola! You have a mental map of the quickest routes to anywhere! That's sorta how it works for me."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebIkMcj2iD
I look at Klef and shrug. "We've seen weirder," I remind him.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXWvniEZ8f
"I guess you're eight," Klef says, sitting down at the table, and I follow suit. Klef points to the pizza. "Could I have a bite?" he asks.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tkyjgrXjM
"Yeah," Luke says, passing Klef the smallest slice on the pie. I laugh. "You know, Klef, I think this kid might have an appetite and an attitude to rival yours," I says.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5mc2vMTbN
"Shut up," Klef grumbles, which makes me laugh harder.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKlLFZRCf4
Luke looks between us. "You two together?" he aks.s921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILnn9Wjz1s
"Yeah, though it’s not something they like to advertise," Ama explains. "So please, keep the teasing at acceptable levels, my dear."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR50UOV8O4
"You got it, Ma," Luke says.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcDGv45BHB
"Ma?" Klef asks. "You're his mother?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIBhmPhqzg
"Uh, kinda? I'm in the process of adopting him," Ama shrugs. "Or at least I was, until I died. And he started calling me Ma, in honor of what we could have had and as an abbreviation of my name, and it stuck."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRZRwWT9Y0
“That’s… adorable, actually,” I say.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4jhak84Lj
Luke’s eyes went to me. “I’m not adorable!” he protested.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzDBK0JbWH
At this point, I just want to see what he would do if I keep pressing. “Yeah you are,” I say. “That’s beyond adorable, really!”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwK3sDRsYP
"I am not adorable!" Luke protests again. "Don't tell me that I am!"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yZFuzip6y
I hold my hands up in surrender. "All right, all right," I laugh. "Sorry if I bruised your ego there."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVPp0ioBGH
Luke huffs and eats the last slice of pizza, grumbling. Ama stares him down. "Luke. Be polite," she warns.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMIRlucMQm
Luke looks up at her, then over to me. "Sorry," he mumbles, scowling.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCiNUgwLwD
I laugh. :"No, it's fine, I shouldnt' have pressed you like that," I say.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPMKosNRcE
Luke looks up at me in confusion. "You know, you're like, the first person I know to admit they're also in the wrong when I'm asked to apologize for being rude."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXiLIvXWnT
"Wow. Well, I guess the people here ALL have their egos, eh?" I ask. "Including everyone at this table, I'm willing to bet, mych as we might hate it."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAves30TSN
Klef sputters. "Hey! I'm sitting at this table, and my ego is just fine!"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRxfOiWukf
"Sure t is, Treble," I tease. "Of course it is."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkpWAwSGBK
Klef scowls. "You're patronizing me, Ride, and I don't like it," he says firmly.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pm8ns3eeP
I rolls my eyes. "Well, tough. Maybe you can put up with a little teasing after how much teasing you put me through." I stand. "I'm gonna grab another pizza for the rest of us. Any suggestions on what I should get?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7pasjwCOj
"Pepperoni!" Klef chimes immediately.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5FG8w4pYt
"I like olives," Ama says, shrugging.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRvYEdoBEi
"Meat lovers is always good," Bobbi says, ruffling Luke's hair.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKv8qDOH5r
"Half meat lovers and half olives?" I offer. "I'll eat anything on my pizza."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmRZ3EzGcd
"I'm okay with meat lovers, so long as pepperoni gets put on it," Klef says. "And since pepperoni is meat, I'm perfectly happy with that."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgAbbdapqN
I roll my eyes and make my way up to the lines where people are picking up and ordering food. When it comes my turn to order, I say, "One large pizza, half olives and half meat lovers, please."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFIfAT3WqL
The worker nods and yells my order behind them, presumably to some worker or another. "It'll be ready in 10 minutes, we just have to get it ready for the dragon's breath," they tell me.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30ZtTVnmI0
I blink but nod. I never considered using a dragon's fire as an oven, but it would make sense. I move to wait with other people who are chatting by the other line, but don't have food and aren't eager to talk to the workers. When I walk over, their talking quiets and they stare at me. I smile. "Hi. You guys are waiting to pick up your food, right?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhliaptqNnX
"Yeah," a small wizard says. "This is the pick-up line. And so's this: you're pretty cute."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m6tijVeeN
I laugh. "Thanks! That was a good one! I already have someone special, though."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGKVLZenyw
The wizard clucks their tongue. "Ah, well. Benny. He/him. Nice to meet you."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCMglJilay
"Rides. She/her. Likewise," I say. It feels weird, going around and talking about pronouns, but it seems to be commonplace, and the last think I want to do is tick out like a sore thumb. "What did you order?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgabaE81toU
"Personal pizza with extra cheese and onions," Benny says. "I love me some onions."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHAZCeQpXY
"You're the oracle, aren't you?" a slender avian asks.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBasS2pmQIv
I give a nervous laugh. "Yeah, my friends are all sitting at the table waiting for me to pick up the pizza."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6rBW4K3vI
The avian nods. "Cool. Though if we were close, I would make sure you never had to lift a finger."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKVSDqUpQR
"I would break yours in order to use mine," I say on reflex. "Sorry. It's just, I'm not one for special treatment. Never have been, and never will be. Nothing against you, understand."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMydgTU1rP6
"I'm sure she does," Benny says. "It was nice getting to talk with you, Oracle, but I smell my pizza being cooked, and I think I will have to take my leave to my room and eat this all up before I get put on the night shift again."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ55XZcDGSa
I smile. "That's all good. You eat your pizza, and have a good night, okay>"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruU0AEd87A
"Will do,” the wizard says, right as a cafeteria worker walks up.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5ub16ks6j
"Small pizza with extra cheese and onions?"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf3KYdfmz1
"That's me," he says, talking the pizza and walking off. "You have a good night, Oracle!" he calls.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jzA4QGcOz
I shake my head with a smile. "It's Rides," I say quietly, but the avian hear me and turns to look at me. "You really don't like special treatment, do you?" she asks.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBtkkUwww3
"No, I don't," I say. "It makes me feel weird, and frankly, kind of sick."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgukLHxVbk
"Oh, that’s not good," the avian says, wincing. "I’m sorry you feel that way."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFeMZGorHs
I shrug. "It happens to some people. It’s not a big deal, so long as everyone remembers that I was once human, too.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dfzKc0bsh
The avian shifts on her feet. “I’ll try to do that. And I’ll remind my friends as well. For your sake.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpSYU4Tw8y
I can’t help but smile. It’s a consideration that I never thought I would need, but am glad to have. “Thanks!”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnlSm3dAlU
The avian smiles, before turning to answer one of the cafeteria workers’ calls, taking her food and leaving. Soon after, my own food arrives. I pick up the pizza and walk back to the tabe where everyone is waiting. “Who were you talking to?” Ama asks.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5baVG0vLWa
I shrug. “Just a few people who were also waiting for their food. None of them tried to kill me, if that’s what you’re asking.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5BapdkYPl
“I wasn’t, but that’s good to know,” Ama says with a slight smile, taking a slice of the olive pizza in her hands. Klef and Bobbi each snatch 2 meat- lovers slices, and I go for the last meat- lovers and one olive. Folding them over to make a sandwhich, I take a bite. “Hm. They make pizza well. I never would have thopught that a dragon’s breath could make pizza cook so effectively.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxn040LlXp
“Get with the times, Ride,” Klef teases. “You can use magic to cook things, you can use anything if you can use magic. I thought higher of you than to not expect such an obvious thing. We’re in the joint territory between basilisks, dragons, and werewolves. Come on.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY4ugqxCFt
I smack him lightly on the arm. “You know what? You can shut up.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHO0ClBwrd
Luke looks between the two of us. “So are you two getting married anytime soon, or…?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXrFFHCDdY
Ama blushes and immediately scrolds him. “Luke! That is something private between a couple to decide! Not something you go around asking people willy-nilly.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozA2zf4taI
Luke shrugged. “Sorry, Ma.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pYy8xEk4o
Ama points at us. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP4WufjvVd
Luke looks over. “Sorry,” he repeats.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtNTNDPxD8
“Don’t worry about it,” I laugh.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY9WkvUZ15
“Yeah, really. We’ve been getting asked that question for 5 years now,” Klef adds. “One more person isn’t going to kill us, even if we get sick of the question.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IyKStsQWn
Luke smiles, just a fraction. “Really?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezaE5ukQZR
“Really,” Klef assures. “You’re fine.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93GfK0pg6I
Luke nods. “Okay. So where are you two thinking of going?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWb06fr6pb
“The Ancient Ruins,” I say. “To that new base out in the middle of the woods. It would be a nice place to inform others of what’s going on, and it satisfies other people’s requirements of being immediately out of harm’s way.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju6fd5Bdk7
Luke considers. “A boat would be the fastest way to get there. First you would travel by land to the other side of the continent, and then a boat would pick you up at the nearest port, taking you to the Ancient Ruins. From there, you could either fly or walk, it’s up to you.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUjgOFAbhf
"Do you have any personal preferences?" I ask him.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUV38SEMsm
"Not really," he says with a shrug. "Just do whatever makes you the most comfortable, and you will be golden. Watch out for traitors before you go, though, because you know you'll be sharing a boat with these people for the minimum of a week to get off this island."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVogrk0YRp
I nod. "Sage advice. Thank you, I'll try to look after myself.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfSuBUViCn
"And of course we'll all help!" Bobbi chimes in. "We're coming with you, of course!"921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALNdGlh2gc
"Oh, that's not necessary, " I say. “Please, don't rush yourself into and thing you wouldn't want to do in the first place."921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQHztmb3jy
“I’d want to do this in the first place, what about you guys?” Bobbi asks.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzqLBSyyxG
“Oh, yeah!” Ama says.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RTPILqXvc
Klef nods. “Of course.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRMkauUd3g
“I’m sure Flo would too,” Ama says. “And Rythe. Both of them want to ensure your safety, and need to network with the other Crusader bases anyway, so they’ll be coming along for the ride.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kgJmOMz7K
I look around at everyone and smile, feeling the uncertainty in me diminish somewhat. These are all people who, despite only knowing me for a few days, are willing to put it all on the line, not just for me, but for everyone in the world. Genuinely good people. “Okay, then,” I say, nodding. “When’s the next ride out of here? I’m sure Hibiscus can round everyone up within the next day or so.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LnPvcE3A4
Luke considers. “Um… next ride out is… tomorrow afternoon. I’m going to the Island of the Yeti, but the caravan goes the same way through the mountains no matter which side of the island you’re travelling to, so you could join in tomorrow for at least the first half of the journey, and when we’re out of the mountains, you could head to the eastern ports. I’m sure being the Alpha’s daughter would get you places, Oracle.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zL0RApgwG
I nod. “Tomorrow sounds good. How long would it take us to get out of the mountains?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGhiDuxnkr
“Oh, give it a day and a half at most this time of year,” Luke shrugs. “It doesn’t take long at all.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKHfsoM2RQ
“Huh,” Klef breaths. “I thought it would be longer than that, considering it took us half a day to get here from the chief Basilisk’s home. He lives closer to the edge of the mountains than I thought he would.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C4HcWoZBW
“We’re in the heart of the mountains right about now,” Luke says. “In the Lizards’ territory, before they merged, they didn’t like to put any one person on a pedestal and give them the absolute best of the best and demean others in the process, so no one got the center land. So when the Crusaders needed a base that wasn’t vulnerable to attack, this place was brought up pretty quickly.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhDdAMQzOs
“You certainly know a lot about this place,” I say.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQslumj6td
Luke smiles. “Well, I hope so! I was there when all of this was decided!”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo0oMrUPpv
Ama laughs. “Yeah…” Her smile droops. “That was the day that I was…”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIWo36GkU5
Luke frowns and puts his ghostly hand over Ama’s. “You’re not to blame for me not getting adopted, Ma. It’s the people who didn’t want anyone with a Deuxlife to adopt a human child who are to blame.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCZ7lpHNnZ
“Maybe, but I still could have looked after you. No one was there looking after you when you wandered to that construction site, and that is my fault.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfQp8VYfZj
Luke shakes his head violently and Bobbi wraps an arm around her shoulder. “You got them away before anyone could realize what was happening, Ama,” Bobbi points out. “You saved his Deuxlife.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktdNqAqiQ9
“Yeah!” Luke exclaims. “Not to mention, no one’s stopping you from adopting me anymore, because according to records, I don’t exist now!”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AduekZqPk
I watch this back and forth, torn between smiling and frowning. Ama pushes her curly hair out of her face and gives a small smile. “I love both of you. You keep me right.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3ElSHdjKi
“And don't you forget it, Ma,” Luke says.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYF6SS0sNT
I smile finally and give Klef’s hand a squeeze, looking over at him. He looks back at me and returns my smile. “You guys make one happy family,” I say.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgwfro3BFY
Bobbi looks over and offers a sheepish smile. “Actually, I don’t think I’m all that great with kids,” they admit. “But Luke for the most part, seems to like me, and he’s not like a lot of the kids I can’t stand, so we’re better than we would be if we were any other pair, but we’re not great.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdfQ59P2iA
“You just can’t stand younger kids,” Luke says. “I’m 10. Of course you’re gonna like me better, because I have a… um… coherent thought process, I think you called it?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifNDvaSGRf
Bobbi laughs. “Yeah, that’s what it was. I didn’t expect you to remember that, though!”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4JUjDBVHk
Luke shrugs. “It was only a few weeks ago. I don’t forget things that quickly.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC4cubW3Je
Ama looks between the two interacting and laughs a little bit. “You two get along more like siblings or cousins than a parental figure and their child.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiZs4B2TTT
Bobbi looks over at Ama and shrugs guiltily. “Hey, what were you expecting?” they ask. “Like I said, I’m not great with kids.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfqfeNZzuY
“No, you just don’t like bossing them around. There’s a difference in there,” she points out.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41NI7UtNfV
“There is,” Bobbi says, “But it’s easier to just say I don’t like kids. The little ones bother me and don’t listen, and the older ones I get along with too much to be responsible around.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM24RULop2
I look at the pizza and take another slice, chewing thoughtfully. I;m tired. After this, I’m going to want to go to bed. “Hey, Klef, do you still feel like socializing?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT4u0LjFwn
“A little bit,” Klef shrugs. “Why? You tired?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp5O7NLQLK
“Yeah. And if we’re going to start travelling tomorrow, we’re going to need some sleep.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b6OETVnD1
Klef considers this. “Are you fishing for some company as you fall asleep?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvLCW8auF6
“Yeah,” I admit. “I want someone to make sure I’m all right if I find myself in the throes of a nightmare again.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4iLhF1jUx
“I’ll go to sleep with you, Ride, if you want to sleep after this,” Klef says. “Not really any reason not to, and tons of pros for doing it.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t3VtR5HFk
I shove him lightly and he grins. “Brownie points are more important than you might think,” he teases.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKgpFiIKYP
“Shut up,” I sigh at him. “You’re utterly ridiculous.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBWmFuviXd
“Just finish your pizza, Ride,” Klef says.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdloKYlF2k
I roll my eyes and take another bite. The conversation now is about arrangements for tomorrow. Bobbi says they’ll work through the night with Hibiscus to find and capture the traitors and sleep tomorrow morning once the ones we haven’t gotten yet are captured, and then when it’s time to leave everyone can take turns sleeping in the caravan and watching out for attacks. Apparently they still sometimes happen to Crusaders, even out here, where the most rich and wealthy are the dragons, who don’t mind you as long as you don’t steal any of their jewels, which isn’t what we’re interested in any way. I eat the slice and Ama sneaks another as well, leaving an empty saucer on the table where the pizza once was. I polish off the crust of my pizza and tap Klef on the arm as I wipe my fingers clean on a napkin. “I’m gonna go take care of my business in Dad’s room, seeing as how that’s probably the safest place for me to be right now. Feel free to join me when you’re done talking about semantics.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eSHwYVyya
Klef nods distractedly and I stand, saying goodnight to everyone, and walking to Dad’s room. The letter is still on the floor, which makes my heart hurt just a little bit. I look around, and find that the ensuite bathroom also has a washing machine for clothes. Convenient, I can wash my clothes while I take a shower.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwuo1lDXt9
I put my clothes in the machine and start it up, before turning on the shower. The water is cold, as a matter of fact it’s freezing, but it gets the job done, and as soon as I’m done I hop out, turn off the water, and reach for an untouched towel sitting on a stool next to the shower. I dry off and check how my clothes are doing in the washer. They're clean, albeit still sopping wet. I debate putting them on anyway, but no, I don't want to be cold after I just took a shower in ice water to begin with. I could get sick, and where would that leave us? I pull out the clothes and hang them over the top rail of the shower to dry, and look around to see if there's anything I could use to speed up the process, like a hair dryer. Checking under this sink, I find a small one. I shake my head, knowing it’s Dad’s, but also knowing that he probably only ever used it on his tail, and just stood over or under an air vent to dry off most of his fur. Because that is honestly something that he would do.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqtAXf5kQi
There’s a knock at the bathroom door, and I don’t respond until I hear Klef call out, “Hey, Ride, it’s just me out here. You done?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3E6Es0991
“Gimme a minute, I was washing my clothes and now I have to dry them out at least to the point where they won’t drip water everywhere!”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JP9rIJTfE
There’s an uncomfortably long pause outside the door. “...Are you wearing anything, Rides?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUEkrE517J
“A towel,” I confirm. “Why, do you have to go to the bathroom?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftrVx0HJJ6
“Yeah,” Klef says. “But I don’t want to… you know, so… um…”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq47Z7XXvK1
I roll my eyes and walk over to the door, opening it and walking past Klef, who has his face in his hands. “Still wearing that towel, Treble, go in, do your business, and let me know when I can dry off my clothes.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo70TjCG4Hf
“I… I brought you a pair when I realized you were going to take a shower. They’re on the bed,” Klef says, embarrassed, before he rushes into the bathroom.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfbRO0jfAa
“Oh. Thanks!” I call to the closed door, changing quickly into what Klef picked out for me.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus9p8Fw6iH
I don’t always agree with his choices, but today he got something right with leggings and a baggy T-shirt. Sleepwear. I lay back on the bed and sigh. It’s been a long day, and the coming days are only going to get longer. It doesn’t give me a good feeling to think about. But at least you have people who will back you up, I think. And it’s true. I will trust them to at least do their jobs. If Klef has taught me anything over the past 5 years, it’s that most people will at least do their jobs to the letter if nothing else.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOWCUuyMrn
The door to the bathroom opens and Klef pokes his head out. “Glad I guessed your sizes right,” he says, walking over and laying down on the bed next to me.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHliWA1stuE
I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. Klef pokes me. “Hey, Ride, you okay?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iHx6AlD4x
“Thinking,” I say. “I’ve grown these past 5 years we’ve known each other, Treble, you know?”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLTUy4gvbK
Klef nods. “I do.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ22rPn2rWK
“I’m not that kid who just wanted revenge for her death anymore. I’m an adult. But this feels like that revenge mission I went on all those years ago. And I don’t like that feeling, that all I’m doing is just going out and killing people for my own selfish reasons.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34WvROfL70
Klef wraps his arms around me and kisses my temple. “That’s not what this is, Ride,” he murmurs. “This is protecting who knows how many people from who knows what. We’re doing this for the greater good.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySrdS3OC1P
“People could argue killing Latro was for the greater good, too,” I sigh. “Doesn’t make me feel any better about anything I’ve done. I was naive, and counted on others to justify my actions. But I’m having a hard time justifying them to myself.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjk2iWbntp
Klef sighs. “You’ve gotten older. And your problems are getting more complex. Look, Ride, you’re not the one who killed him. That’s on me. And you know what? I will get nightmares over it. That’s something that you don’t come back from whole again, not really. Any trauma changes you. But when I’m with you, I remember why I did it, and that it was for protection. I was making sure an innocent didn’t die. And that’s what you’re doing now. I know it might seem like something petty, especially since we’ve done similar in the past for petty reasons. But this is something good, all right? We’re doing this to help people. Try to cling to that.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNClXzdgZ1H
“What if I can’t?” I ask him. “What if I can’t cling to the good? The bad is in me, Klef, and it’s all I can see some times.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHwFCSUFWJ
Klef shushes me. “Hey, nome of that,” he says. “If you can’t see the good I’ll force you to. Don’t go around blaming yourself for things that are out of your control. I won’t let you.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylKl8XTZ0p
I smile up at him and sigh, snuggling closer to him. “I’m tired, Treble.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHboxnlsA8
“I know, Ride. You only get this down and dirty in philosophy when you can barely see straight you’re that exhausted. It’s been a long day.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTYsNZ6GnB
“The next days will be even longer,” I mutter.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MHF4CMaFU
“All the more reason to sleep now. I’ve got you, Ride. No one will hurt you here if I have a say in it.”921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs74zqgSyMn
“Thank you,” I murmur, falling asleep.921Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2dseLXIAL
Penana
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