Ama leaves us, walking off into the open space. Klef and I look around. The middle is a grassy field, which has some of the grass upturned with fresh earth underneath, lending itself to crash-landings of fresh dragons, if Ama is to be believed. But off to either side of this field there are dozens of trees, patches of flowers, and even some benches, rocking chairs, and a table or two, all human sized. Klef stretches his wings out, and sighs. “Oh, yeah, baby! I could get used to this kind of space!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B3Iog8qUf
I chuckle. “You had that at home, bird brain. You’re the one who decided to join me today.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekiBz5VOBC
“And I’m glad I did!” Klef says, flying up into the air a good 10 feet. “Just look at this view! This is amazing!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s04NZCCw3
I laugh. Klef’s happiness is contagious. “I can only fly if you carry me, or I’m on a swing, remember?” I tease.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe9fDbyLCQ
“Easily remedied,” Klef says, swooping down and picking me up around the waist to lift me into the air.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePtHtD9v8G
I squeal at the sudden touch and laugh. “Wow, this really is amazing!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhL6fryRTM
“I told you!” Klef exclaims, flying in a circle to see everything. “This is so cool! I wonder if any dragons would be willing to race me?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeECBdZG2m3
I smile and shake my head. “You would lose hopelessly.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnHJvKiFkt
“Maybe so,” Klef agrees with a nod. “But wouldn’t it be fun?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sXaHC8GPQ
“Only you, Treble. Only you could turn a murderous situation and make it this happy.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqh9jmxJbV
Klef grins and glides to the ground, setting me down. “We’re a good pair, that way. I show you the clouds and you make sure that my wings don’t burn from getting too close to the sun.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhkD29Uoef
“Yeah, well, the stench of singed feathers is not pleasant,” I tease.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EFbOYpcBW
Klef laughs. “Oh, you just ruined my romantic moment!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqBrLITNfY
I grin. “You do it to plenty of mine,” I point out.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgVnq8rzpg
“Shut up,” Klef says, but he’s smiling.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XZI2X2Gs6
“Or what?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVk9lbU0CF
“Or I’ll have to kiss you,” Klef responds.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXl1alemJO
“Ooh, I’m so scared,” I say.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlrbaiP9dL
Klef lifts up on his toes and offers me a light kiss, which I return with a little more pressure as my acceptance. We break apart after a few seconds, before Klef can wrap his arms around my waist or I can muss up his hair, in an attempt to look normal to anyone walking by. “Want to sit on one of the swings?” I offer.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHpOHKy2kK
“Sure,” Klef says. “I guess I can put up with some fake-flying for a little while.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTl1Ou9zu7
“Well, excuse me, but not everyone can fly,” I scoff as we walk over. “Your mocking swingsets is rude and I’m personally offended. Not all of us were tossed off a cliff when we were little.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBt7tkrJuO
“I wasn’t little,” Klef says, scrunching up his nose. “It was 5 years ago. I wasn’t little.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAuYIzkhsV
“Little enough to tease you,” I say, sitting down on a bench swing and pushing it back with my feet. When Klef sits down I let go and lean back into the seat. “How long do you think it will take us to die this time?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN8gHwbglK
“I dunno,” Klef shrugs. “Am I supposed to?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW5dXjmB1t
“I guess not, that’s my job isn’t it?” I sigh.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmZTh22LZB
Klef looks over to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Hey, sweetheart. You’re more than just your dreams, okay? I know everyone here is all focused on how you can predict the future, but people who really know you? They care about you for you. And those people are out there, don’t say that they aren’t. I, for one, cared about you since we were little kids. Even if you did forget me.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kyvZjldi8
I laugh. “Kleftis, I was, like, 3. You really expect me to remember something that happened when I was a toddler?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYKgJg9nh6
“I did, Iridescence,” he says.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa30a13FQP
“You were smitten, that’s why,” I tell him, pointing a finger. “I enjoyed being around you, but I wasn’t smitten.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpheVaixQm
“Oh, you wound me, Ride,” Klef says, grinning. “You make me sound like a lovestruck fool.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtw1damNVv
“You’re a fool, all right,” I laugh.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZmTkH1Vbp
Klef grins and pulls me closer to him on the swing. “So… I don’t want to ruin the moment, but you know, you’ve dropped a lot of hints about us having a future together lately. And I’m not just talking about the kids thing either. Are you… I don’t know what to say. Expecting something of me?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAdSauINxc
I frown and sigh. I know this was coming, but I don’t want it to be right now that we talk about it. “No, not really, I don’t think,” I say. “I just… couples sometimes talk about futures together. What they might see happening if they stay together. We never do. I mean, I do sometimes, but you don’t really join in. I guess it’s a cultural difference, or something? I mean, you were raised in Constell, I wasn’t, I was born and raised in Argentor, and most couples over there just… spoke about what they saw happening to each other if they stayed together. I wanted to share that with you.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9NHiA7CkN
“That’s all?” Klef asks. “Ride, couples in Constell would do that too. I just thought it was a given we would stay together, you know? Something that wouldn’t change no matter what. Together… to the end of the Ride. Or the Treble. Either one.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4hHbCRbIe
I groan. “Klef! You do not get to complain about my puns and then make some of your own!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAM569KFpQ
Klef pouts. “Aw, you’re no fun. You’re never any fun.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kdF7aFtd2
I scoff and roll my eyes, catching the glint of something in the sun. I freeze. Klef immediately is focused on me and tense. “What? What is it?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRe612o0kj
“I could have sworn I just say something glinting in the light,” I whisper. “Somebody’s out here besides us.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDEnSPkS9j
Klef frowns. “Well, that’s why we’re out here, isn’t it?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kIqauEij5
“I know it is, Klef, but I’m nervous,” I hiss. “I don’t exactly want to die.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LmlMPT8da
“Ride, take deep breaths,” Klef says, standing up. “I’ll go check it out. You’re probably still rattled from this morning.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqh6I7nqyE
He’s put on an act like we would do when we’re out thieving. I put on my best worried smile, which doesn’t take much faking, and nod. “Be careful,” I warn, and it’s not an act at all.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE6lrIDsfK
“I will,” he says, like he ever listens to that warning.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5PjhA9wiF
Staying still on the bench takes all of my will power. I know that it might be one of the people we can trust who’s staking out where we are, but it could just as easily be a killer. I lean down to tighten my sandals when I feel a cold cylinder press into my neck. A gun. “Don’t make me shoot ye, lass,” a familiar voice warns. “I will if I have to, but my friend’s the one who wants ye dead. I just want ye gone.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBTPtz0SyP
“And your friend would be?” I ask in low tones.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP4dECLsiA
“A concerned party, from the real Crusaders,” the voice whispers.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOuydg0ilW
I tilt my head as much as I can with the gun pressed to my neck, and see the gorgon from yesterday staring at me, willing me to look into their eyes. I won’t give them the satisfaction of turning me into stone, though, however temporary the curse may be. “The real Crusaders? We are the real Crusaders. Everyone here.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwdJPXjv9G
The gorgon laughs. “Aye, if ye believe so. But the real ones would know better.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiE00foGBC
My stomach does an involuntary flip. I don’t like this conversation. “Look, I’m sure whatever you want, we can work out something. You said you don’t want me dead at your hands? I’m sure that can be arranged. But I need to know what you want from me in exchange for my life, all right?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡondFRQZOO9
“Change your prophecy,” the gorgon whispers. “Change it away from the real location. Just for long enough that the real Crusaders can complete their mission and then you can live.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQli17xuQE1
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. “S-sorry?!” I whisper frantically.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEIfzVIu0X
“Change the prophecy,” the gorgon repeats, digging the gun into my neck. “Or I will shoot you.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHQiTDzvsW
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “How do you expect me to do that? You were there when I shared the prophecy, I can’t just take it back!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1qVyxc0Y3
“Ye’ll figure something out. Yer a clever lass. Just change the prophecy.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmRaPKdHHB
“No,” I say, waiting to feel the pain of a bullet entering my body.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT2ttokVdR
“No?!” the gorgon hisses.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtnG8NMR9G
“No,” I repeat, louder. “I will not change the prophecy. What are you going to do about that?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAiEmaHPvB
The gorgon hisses. “Just know you put this on yourself, lass,” they say, and the gun clicks.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uK5We8LHa
I throw myself off the swing and roll on the dirt just as there’s a deafening BANG that cuts through the air. I stand up and rush to the gorgon, hitting them in the waist. Both of us collapse to the ground as we wrestle for control of the gun. They make a grab for it but I slam my fist into the inside of their elbow, and they retract their arm, pulling it to their chest and hissing. I grab the gun and point the opening at their head. “What did you mean by the real Crusaders?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP22GRCaWXx
They sneer. “Ye would have better luck shooting me, lass.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRUtx3vZBS
I growl. “What did you mean by the real Crusaders?” I repeat. “Last chance, before I turn you over to my dad to deal with.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPwO3LV0iL
They laugh and say nothing. I stand up, keeping a foot on their chest and the gun trained on their head. “You brought this on yourself,” I toss to them, before turning my head over my shoulder and yelling, “Klef! Get your butt over here, you just missed me nearly getting killed… again!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcOBh9ih0P
That gets him across the field like a shot, wings bristling and ruffled from a quick flight. “Ride, I left you alone for 2 minutes, how do you nearly get killed in 2 minutes?!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5JXZlG899
I shrug. “They had a gun.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ehoKa9nCE
Klef shakes his head. “Ride… you know that’s not what I meant.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WJlBv4X9G
I laugh. “Yeah, I know. But, y’know. It’s funnier to answer like that, especially because it annoys you.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXxYgP0NRm
Klef nods. “Where are the others? Shouldn’t they have come over to protect you?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwhQoVdbvD
I shrug. Bobbi dashes up, panting. “The… armory… stolen… all… weapons!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BjOid0rIw
“They stole all the weapons?!” I ask in disbelief. “Who is they? And why are they stealing all the weapons?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpsGMaIC7j
Klef looks to the gorgon who’s still pinned on the ground. “I have a feeling this one knows. Maybe your dad could beat some sense into him and he’ll fess up.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfebCCDIuGB
“Good idea,” I say, lifting up my foot.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulBWo4ZLr2
Klef yanks the gorgon up none-to-gently. “Do you guys have a jail? Or a dungeon?” he asks Bobbi.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRUuD6cGIp
“We have something better for traitors,” Bobbi says, crooking a finger. “The interogation rooms.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQjGthDzZf
I follow behind Klef and Bobbi all the way to the front of the complex. Bobbi takes the gorgon and puts them in one room, and locks the door, before opening up a door right next to the one they threw the gorgon in, and leads us inside, where we can see through glass the gorgon banging against the door. “Woah.” Klef says.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1uBHTtW3h
“Can they see us?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoluaXt8rq
Bobbi shakes their head. “Nope. To him, this pane of glass is a mirror. He helped design this, so he knows we’re back here, observing, but he can’t see who or where we are, if we’re in here at all after a certain point in time, or hear us. We’re safe to sit back and watch in here.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6oiZ69APq
“Can we sic my dad on him?” I ask. “I’m pretty sure he’d like to take the first bite out of this guy.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mq2e2X3vL
Bobbi shrugs. “If you can find him, go ahead. He stormed out awhile ago, so he might be sulking in his quarters, which he rarely lets anyone know the location of, let alone invite them in.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLDX0AZAzf
“I’ll find him,” I say. “It shouldn’t take too long.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUuWeiqj9Y
Bobbi’s lips twitch slightly. “You know him that well?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrABooBXmwO
I grin. “I’m his kid, Bobbi. What do you expect?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBcM614F01
Bobbi shrugs. “Right. Go on, then. I’ll be here.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ChBB6aYO
I walk out and Klef follows. “Ride… could I talk to you for a sec?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcijWcEOu2s
“Sure. What about?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBxlkSjkfY
“Well, have you considered… that your dad might not want to see you?” he questions. “I mean, he said himself he couldn’t sit back and watch you kill yourself. What if that principle still stand in his mind. I doubt that clown was working on his own.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MjFNdHoOr
I shrug. “What do you want me to do, though, Treble? Not tell him? I’m sure that gorgon could give away some, if not all, of his accomplices. Once we know who we’re looking for, the both of us are as safe as we ever was, and Dad won’t have to worry over this. He’ll be happy to hear we caught the guy.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhtzMBh0il
Klef looks at me doubtfully, but nods nonetheless. “So, where do you think your dad camps out?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7JGkCVgnc
“Oh, that’s easy,” I say with a laugh. “The closest place to the cafeteria around here. He loves to cook, when he can, but he hates people finding out about it, because Mom would always tease him.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku80iG17ve
Klef laughs. “Okay! I never knew that! My intimidation from him has gone down a bit now, though.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m5V5tExri
“Don’t let on to him you know,” I advise. “He’d kill me if he knew I told you.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3yEIibkwW
“My lips are sealed,” Klef says. “So where’s the cafeteria?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3lwns1HlO
“I figured you’d know by now, seeing as how you can never stop eating,” I tease.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7UGHVVURg
Klef blushes. “Okay, I may or may not have asked around on my way to finding you in the library, so we could get a late breakfast after this fiasco was over.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8jXienYAP
“Why did you act like you didn’t know?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeijpE618Mz
“So you wouldn’t shame me,” Klef sighs, hanging his head.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRu54czVwQ
I grin. “Well, the teasing can come later. Right now, we have to let my dad know I’m not dying.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQQxAP7erZ
Klef nods. “Right. Not dying is always good.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta3381pxsk
I chuckle and follow Klef to the cafeteria. “Can I get a bite before you talk to your dad?” he asks. “I want to be moral support, but I’m starving.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmdgj82pgz
“You don’t have to be moral support,” I tell him. “Go on and get something to eat. If you see anything you like, nab one for me, too. I’m a little hungry myself.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAGZB5EdUD
Klef nods and walks into the cafeteria. I put one hand on the wall as I turn my back to it and walk down the hallway, until I feel a seam in the wall where there shouldn’t be one. I dig my fingers into it and pull it open with a grunt, finding a small but tidy bedroom inside. It doesn’t look lived in, save for a folded up piece of paper on the desk. There aren’t any clothes, the bad has been made, and while there must have been pictures on the wall based on the difference in fading paint, those have been taken down as well. I don’t think I’m in the wrong room, though. Only dad would have a secret bedroom by the cafeteria just because he doesn’t want to let anyone know he can cook. I walk over to the desk and examine the paper. It has my name written on it in Dad’s calligraphic writing. I frown and open it. What would Dad have to tell me that he couldn’t in person?805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeMV9CPLy4
Iri, I’m really sorry. If you’re reading this, it means that you have survived at least long enough in your hair- brained scheme to find my rooms and try to talk to me. Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but I refuse to stay here and watch you die, even if against all odds stacked against you no one kills you or kidnaps you or tortures you.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX0jV9qW76
“No,” I whisper, my eyes stinging.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLYgN0C2TC
I care far too much about you to watch you come to an untimely demise. I wouldn’t be able to do it the first time, let alone the second. You’ll have to forgive me, but I’ve gone pack to take care of the packs. As much as it pains me to say it, sweetheart, you are not the only one in the world who I care about. And if you don’t make it through this, I can’t sit around and mope about it. I’ll have to move on, to take care of the others that need me. So I’m skipping over the moping step and the trauma of watching you die. If you somehow survive all of this, please come talk to me. I’d love to make sure you are all right. But until you can definitively say you’re safe, I’d prefer you don’t contact me. It’s nothing personal. I just… can’t deal with that. Remember, sweetheart, that I love you always, even if you may not see it.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtvbGbVqUg
Dad805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgpt6vuIOa
The paper falls through my fingers. Dad just… left. He left without me, grieving my death, because of something that hadn’t even happened yet. I caused him to grieve my ultimate death prematurely to the point where he was throwing himself into his work as a way out of grieving. Me. He could kill himself working too hard, I had seen it happen before. If I don’t finish this quickly, and ensure Dad that I’m okay, he could kill himself with worry, and it would be my fault.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaEg9fgCbe
Someone touches me on my shoulder, and I jump. I turn to look and see Klef looking at me with concern. “You okay? You didn’t answer me when I walked in. I was gone a little longer than I had hoped I would be.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3nbunuCHd
“How long?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqKJWQbA5e
Klef shrugs. “I don’t know. 15 minutes, at least. Please don’t tell me you were standing there the entire time I was gone.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMNqrFYRXD
I swallow. “I don’t know, I guess I was.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxdIcuonqO
“What happened, Ride?” Klef asks, moving me to the bed.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSbMnSH4VM
I sit down and shake my head. “Dad’s gone, Klef. He’s gone.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbsD05tp2G
“Gone?” Klef asks. “What do you mean?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYCRa47P8y
I point at the letter on the floor. “He’s gone. He decided he couldn’t stay here and watch me supposedly kill myself, so he went to work himself to death.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIY8ZZTiLc
Klef looks at the ground. “I don’t think he would work himself to death, Ride.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdxTUuynVI
“You don’t know him like I do, it’s his way of mourning,” I explain. “He’s going to work to take his mind off it, and if he doesn’t want his mind on it, he’ll just keep working every waking moment of the rest of his life. And it’s all my fault.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxYHFgxCIL
“Hey, no,” Klef says, putting his food down and hugging me. “If he does do that, it’s not because of you. You can’t help getting injured or worse. You can work to prevent it, but it’s going to happen whether you want it or not. His reaction is not your fault.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZkxcEPU62
I bite my lip. “I just… I want him here, Klef. I want to be able to talk to him, I want to hear you two bickering. I want some normalcy in the middle of this crazy show.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8enQeHNmB
“I know, Ride,” Klef murmurs. “You’re normal to want that. It’s not unreasonable to ask for that. It does mean that you’re going to have some issues for a little while during the time it takes for you to adjust. But I’m still here, and I’ll crack jokes at the most inopportune times to lighten the mood if that’s what you need while your dad’s gone. And when we have everyone who’s trying to kill you behind bars, then we can go to him and tell him everything’s okay. And you know what he’ll do?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KU8WGLX9J
“What?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVE71Dk6f8
“He’ll hug you so tight you’ll nearly suffocate, because he’s so glad you’re okay. That, I don’t doubt for a second.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopqUaJbkHm
“You sure?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA0LnOFGSa
“I’m positive, Ride. Positive.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos5LcHd96e
I smile. Klef breaks out of the hug and points to my smile. “There she is. My favorite part of Rides. That ‘my boyfriend is the best’ look.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgAVcm4Inx
“Shut up!” I say, giggling slightly.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTACpS89HHR
Klef grins. “You wish I would.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9SBAMvdQ5
“Not really,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaHpeYhHvZ
Klef grins. “I love you. Wanna know why?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuk9KNtoao
“I love you too,” I say. “Why?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJFYkWZNTp
“Because you have a big heart,” Klef says. “And you always want to make sure everyone is happy. Even if it’s at your expense.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqUgalWLIf
I smile. “Not always. I can be pretty angry when I want to be.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5O3aMPSEc
“So? Anyone born human can get angry sometimes. Not everyone makes sure the people surrounding them are okay in the aftermath of an angry outburst.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ba7o5Ew3p
I shrug. “My anger can be pretty bad. Like the time I tried to murder a guy for murdering me?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27fhk7Y9Qp
Klef laughs. “I’m familiar with that one, yeah. Doesn’t change the facts. You made sure I was okay. That your dad was okay. That everyone you came into contact with was okay. And I’ve seen you bend over backwards since then to make sure the people who you care about are okay.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrnzu9imZF
“It’s how I make up for my temper,” I say, sighing. “The least I can do after I blow up around everyone.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrPjBgoSn9
“Maybe you don’t need to make it up every time,” Klef proposes. “When you really hurt someone, yeah, you have to do something to make up for it, but most of the time you don’t hurt anyone when you get mad. You go out of your way, take a few breaths, and vent your emotions when you need to. That’s healthy. You don’t get to tell me you don’t work towards others’ happiness because you have a few negative emotions sometimes. That’s like saying someone’s genuinely a good person because they donate to a few charities despite lying and cheating and killing their way through life. You know who did that? My dad. And he was not a genuinely good person.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ff5eT510E
“I hate it when you talk sense,” I say with a little smile. “But I’m glad you can see my good qualities, even if I can’t.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CsP4EFLIY
Klef grins. “Hey, it’s what I’m here for, sweetheart. That and being the plucky comedic relief.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6n0UITBxB
I laugh. “Shut up! This was a very serious moment!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmYVdrdVGT
“Like I said, Ride, I’m the plucky comic relief,” Klef laughs. “I brought you breakfast. Toast.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjmIIOq1RI
I hold out a hand. Klef passes me a slice of toast. I take a bite and stand. “Should we find Ama, Hibiscus, and Flo, and let them know we have someone as a suspect for the grenade and trying to kill me in general?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUDcLQmu52
“Yeah, we probably should,” Klef says with a shrug. “If Bobbi hasn’t found them already.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrKHFDXYZN
“So shall we go?” I ask.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSBays233F
“Can I eat first?” Klef asks.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRMhb2TUzD
I sigh. “Babe, seriously?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY5NipTgBF
Klef takes a bite out of the sandwich he picked up off the bed. He nods. “Seriously.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusAKq1fQKp
I roll my eyes. “Right. Right… Let’s go. Or, rather, I’m leaving, and you can join me or not.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJs02oFhYQ
Klef jumps off the bed as I walk out the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming! Cut me some slack!”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v5RqSvHMp
I grin. “Okay, let’s find them, and we can talk strategy. Sound good?”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AhNcCAgiJ
Klef raises his hand.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekEqC52kYK
I sigh. “Yes, you can eat on the way.”805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i7hingQXU
Klef cheers.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7QmVYKalD
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