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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYTxCIfVNd
"Oh, I don't know, I'll eat whatever They're serving," he shrugs.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLARLS6ggld
I snort. "Yeah, that sounds like you," I say.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jkxgSw9J5
"What?!" Klef asks in mock-offence. "Oh, wow, Ride, you wound me."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0qftbRPfQ
"Good, I laugh." I wouldn't have it any other way."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0ABKxIjph
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!"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1RzSFVi2a
"Oh, Luke will definitely be here tonight," Ama says sagely.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXGGa3tTcu
"What? He likes pizza that much?" I ask.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SopPfVlld
"I imagine so, the kid loves his pizza," Bobbi laughs.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiZiU3QYVv
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28InUHOs0l
I gawk. "You're Luke?!"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCljIohBGCu
Luke grins up at me and nods. "Yeah, my name's Luke! Can I help you with something, ma'am?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISw4HJhoVi
"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?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqBLNTOBiQ
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL9y3IfBoJ
I look at Klef and shrug. "We've seen weirder," I remind him.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡef7yOrhVSX
"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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZsOk0HKpu
"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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFLrMiBAiE
"Shut up," Klef grumbles, which makes me laugh harder.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDOtnPtE7W
Luke looks between us. "You two together?" he aks.s919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FrSnJv9I3
"Yeah, though it’s not something they like to advertise," Ama explains. "So please, keep the teasing at acceptable levels, my dear."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErwjIN00Qr
"You got it, Ma," Luke says.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGdsdyggyb
"Ma?" Klef asks. "You're his mother?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqSJHr7Wq3
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDzdBLrdrd
“That’s… adorable, actually,” I say.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVLGCcIayc
Luke’s eyes went to me. “I’m not adorable!” he protested.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Lkrwd07D
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!”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJABi3m6Ef
"I am not adorable!" Luke protests again. "Don't tell me that I am!"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXiCdIo5iF
I hold my hands up in surrender. "All right, all right," I laugh. "Sorry if I bruised your ego there."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbEwZeQI4U
Luke huffs and eats the last slice of pizza, grumbling. Ama stares him down. "Luke. Be polite," she warns.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLutM2e1Wm1
Luke looks up at her, then over to me. "Sorry," he mumbles, scowling.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o47NwvXAS
I laugh. :"No, it's fine, I shouldnt' have pressed you like that," I say.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucfTmOv4VH
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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVcTqN9bxr
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyOIh9e7tc
Klef sputters. "Hey! I'm sitting at this table, and my ego is just fine!"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGfQ2qGdx9
"Sure t is, Treble," I tease. "Of course it is."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX36NjZwMl
Klef scowls. "You're patronizing me, Ride, and I don't like it," he says firmly.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVPe5KmwZ2
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?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY41cp5s8y6
"Pepperoni!" Klef chimes immediately.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyziLIRbNM7
"I like olives," Ama says, shrugging.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT9aTJPAeo
"Meat lovers is always good," Bobbi says, ruffling Luke's hair.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBP4DeYujB
"Half meat lovers and half olives?" I offer. "I'll eat anything on my pizza."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcOWZo7RI2
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc4rZ9K1N3
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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZypZZmeMJ
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZMUljqNSq
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?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsVWhxw08R
"Yeah," a small wizard says. "This is the pick-up line. And so's this: you're pretty cute."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtb2GL5MCn
I laugh. "Thanks! That was a good one! I already have someone special, though."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqBBX8w4Zw
The wizard clucks their tongue. "Ah, well. Benny. He/him. Nice to meet you."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyFzpfKXQy
"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?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhApLKqJli
"Personal pizza with extra cheese and onions," Benny says. "I love me some onions."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWSFkxF76u
"You're the oracle, aren't you?" a slender avian asks.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSbaynlMYR
I give a nervous laugh. "Yeah, my friends are all sitting at the table waiting for me to pick up the pizza."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ92SaRpedG
The avian nods. "Cool. Though if we were close, I would make sure you never had to lift a finger."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRj1LHjm4d
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIspfLuWQh
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjejE6wbU1
I smile. "That's all good. You eat your pizza, and have a good night, okay>"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bH4Xtv951
"Will do,” the wizard says, right as a cafeteria worker walks up.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9YQJAyz3A
"Small pizza with extra cheese and onions?"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbjJ05uAjI
"That's me," he says, talking the pizza and walking off. "You have a good night, Oracle!" he calls.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvkbTiAeRs
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVyUAMyUZj
"No, I don't," I say. "It makes me feel weird, and frankly, kind of sick."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ874Ub9hoMI
"Oh, that’s not good," the avian says, wincing. "I’m sorry you feel that way."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqKjf4O9UK
I shrug. "It happens to some people. It’s not a big deal, so long as everyone remembers that I was once human, too.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXXrsNvGSi
The avian shifts on her feet. “I’ll try to do that. And I’ll remind my friends as well. For your sake.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMWIbsU5k4
I can’t help but smile. It’s a consideration that I never thought I would need, but am glad to have. “Thanks!”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekAJ1Q3ji4
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4QDSw3CG2
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7eC7MpO0i
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRstRFGe2g
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo1gSVI7jD
I smack him lightly on the arm. “You know what? You can shut up.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZzL9iGEuk
Luke looks between the two of us. “So are you two getting married anytime soon, or…?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuVLfU3vig
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhATk0mRtf
Luke shrugged. “Sorry, Ma.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTdspA6vEd
Ama points at us. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDfPt2Jqel
Luke looks over. “Sorry,” he repeats.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAmRFuaXNA
“Don’t worry about it,” I laugh.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMBsqxhkIJ
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhGXVc8mOr
Luke smiles, just a fraction. “Really?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzv0Shp4cM
“Really,” Klef assures. “You’re fine.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4bMklKQoT
Luke nods. “Okay. So where are you two thinking of going?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNAjfmbomp
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMtkBFz9iH
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1g8u6aJWk
"Do you have any personal preferences?" I ask him.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1eW4UJeZK
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO05Nnsom1D
I nod. "Sage advice. Thank you, I'll try to look after myself.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyAQKw6q6I
"And of course we'll all help!" Bobbi chimes in. "We're coming with you, of course!"919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5rdEHSnmC
"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."919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrckxZ7qxA9
“I’d want to do this in the first place, what about you guys?” Bobbi asks.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0d1E3nbKD
“Oh, yeah!” Ama says.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxrlxRN1xK
Klef nods. “Of course.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59ewEOCqFK
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYOjwMkm4i
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScwslcfMtH
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwhTRk61xR
I nod. “Tomorrow sounds good. How long would it take us to get out of the mountains?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwwJxyAcOo
“Oh, give it a day and a half at most this time of year,” Luke shrugs. “It doesn’t take long at all.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF0lJLj6dx
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8fLVimtN1
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYAyWOrLMY
“You certainly know a lot about this place,” I say.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflaaAnkTr7
Luke smiles. “Well, I hope so! I was there when all of this was decided!”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtGvG7O7Qq
Ama laughs. “Yeah…” Her smile droops. “That was the day that I was…”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvrAZ0LJvN
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8W9nXi4iL
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8TXmFVRBO
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50krEdPfav
“Yeah!” Luke exclaims. “Not to mention, no one’s stopping you from adopting me anymore, because according to records, I don’t exist now!”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGha5Jvm3P
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEtkJYvkxE
“And don't you forget it, Ma,” Luke says.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT8U5M9e7d
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQCroaAqTA
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCg6yu9LVp
“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?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHai9KZIN7
Bobbi laughs. “Yeah, that’s what it was. I didn’t expect you to remember that, though!”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42GLkyBmbZ
Luke shrugs. “It was only a few weeks ago. I don’t forget things that quickly.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmOz2x9B8C
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNv58g1GJk
Bobbi looks over at Ama and shrugs guiltily. “Hey, what were you expecting?” they ask. “Like I said, I’m not great with kids.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ooep33FHn
“No, you just don’t like bossing them around. There’s a difference in there,” she points out.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbUPiOMHeE
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ229zK9BAtW
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?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGz7KEpRhM
“A little bit,” Klef shrugs. “Why? You tired?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8YYbKl9Rc
“Yeah. And if we’re going to start travelling tomorrow, we’re going to need some sleep.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDAk5zPgxc
Klef considers this. “Are you fishing for some company as you fall asleep?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnqBzxntwb
“Yeah,” I admit. “I want someone to make sure I’m all right if I find myself in the throes of a nightmare again.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfOsER3fB4
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4HdCip1Jm
I shove him lightly and he grins. “Brownie points are more important than you might think,” he teases.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOr0NF0H4W
“Shut up,” I sigh at him. “You’re utterly ridiculous.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRV7TsmMrg
“Just finish your pizza, Ride,” Klef says.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ojOitJSZ
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCrwCgGwSx
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OZHxdY0a1
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbYzKstBEJ
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?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOmAvylnPW
“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!”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89kE2qx9jb
There’s an uncomfortably long pause outside the door. “...Are you wearing anything, Rides?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5DzFpMf4r
“A towel,” I confirm. “Why, do you have to go to the bathroom?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvHppMd72O
“Yeah,” Klef says. “But I don’t want to… you know, so… um…”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmFl2KjZOf
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0ImU68fwx
“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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGYsoPy5uU
“Oh. Thanks!” I call to the closed door, changing quickly into what Klef picked out for me.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilmyyR4jdC
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNfH6jH4Yg
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.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6Q88nQTCc
I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. Klef pokes me. “Hey, Ride, you okay?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbAv8KnFHC
“Thinking,” I say. “I’ve grown these past 5 years we’ve known each other, Treble, you know?”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLyrPH2Zjh
Klef nods. “I do.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQGjncxbud
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtenBDUKlpM
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFNoQZejjg
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1470OL5rt
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMmzlxkYLx
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T92eZwJUk
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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk23LDjo3T
I smile up at him and sigh, snuggling closer to him. “I’m tired, Treble.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke774IeW3I
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xByN9NcZk
“The next days will be even longer,” I mutter.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SaJLMFfUP
“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.”919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBiPrtmsv5
“Thank you,” I murmur, falling asleep.919Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNovvsUj4o
Penana
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