A buried memory resurfaced. At least, I thought it was a memory. It might have been a part of my dream, of which I remembered very little, but I was leaning towards the former. It was a memory of my father. It was a rare moment when I was out of my room and speaking with him. He sat me down by the table and went on a tangent, as "men his age do," speaking of a phenomenon known as restless sleep. It sounded like nonsense to me, and I told him that I thought it sounded like nonsense, but he dismissed my remarks. He said that I would understand when I grew older.22Please respect copyright.PENANAR75jMEyOHU
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He wouldn't have known it, but he was a liar. Because here I was, my eyelids turned to stone, gazing at the ceiling as if I hadn't slept at all.22Please respect copyright.PENANAOVKDlyQV82
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4JXko6UoES
"At least... I'm on my back now."22Please respect copyright.PENANAdizk7r9IzK
22Please respect copyright.PENANA3bNzrKZHJi
I tested the waters. My arm rotated just fine, and I could roll from side to side. I lifted my legs one by one, then both at the same time. I wasn't sore, I wasn't in pain. I crooked my head; all the perturbing sears and tears had vanished. I heaved myself off the mattress. I tested my leg strength, and I could keep myself upright without issue. I have undeniably made a full recovery, despite how groggy I was. I didn't know how much time passed, but it couldn't have been long. I walked to the window and pulled on the blinds. It was bright out.22Please respect copyright.PENANAUvlex1AAQJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANA7VvFMNbt55
I closed the blinds and scanned the room. I spotted a cup on the nightstand and reached for it, taking a sip. I sat on the bed with the cup in hand, periodically sipping from it as I stared across the room. I had an urge to stick my finger between my teeth and gnaw. I resisted it, though. I found enough solace in the way I sat.22Please respect copyright.PENANAeZRssXrfT4
22Please respect copyright.PENANAbSPRvRHnSy
It was quiet. Inevitably, I indulged myself in rumination. I was nervous, I knew that much without even thinking. I was also relieved. I was glad that, at the current moment, I was sitting here and not outside the city walls. It freed my thoughts. It let me sip the water with a motionless cup.22Please respect copyright.PENANAn9oDcPJVEt
22Please respect copyright.PENANAlrpGDQBqCO
"..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAh88p8WVbvx
22Please respect copyright.PENANATAMXMLkcP4
But, I was nervous. I set the cup aside, rubbed my face, and stood up. Staring at a wall would do me no good. If I talked to someone, my stress would surely subside. It would help me stay awake, too. I stood up and ambled to the door, opening it.22Please respect copyright.PENANAGg4lAj4AD1
22Please respect copyright.PENANAm3NvvYj8XI
I was immediately startled.22Please respect copyright.PENANAYfIXEv7GBx
22Please respect copyright.PENANAzisJniJoSF
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAwxJuz8XWA4
22Please respect copyright.PENANAVsTN5MXkVM
I jumped silently, grasping my chest and taking a deep breath through my nose. I stepped away and looked at the man conveniently before my door.22Please respect copyright.PENANAm2DqGFYwYH
22Please respect copyright.PENANA3dcGi3EasS
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAMRdzDTIMuX
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQ38oOQfyCq
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"22Please respect copyright.PENANApu2KIUOOz0
22Please respect copyright.PENANAK34lZ0GSoV
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."22Please respect copyright.PENANAmCKflQuIv6
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfLyxkMcQNo
I let him enter the room. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms like before while I sat on a nearby chair, turning it so it faced him.22Please respect copyright.PENANAuYNESp9AdX
22Please respect copyright.PENANAxgxlhvvhpz
"Do you feel any better?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAcDBeKwgXpy
22Please respect copyright.PENANAzZx2PPgJ3w
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."22Please respect copyright.PENANAmCa00XyKJX
22Please respect copyright.PENANAv7oly439Vb
"That's good, that's good..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAx17YUxAMef
22Please respect copyright.PENANAkxbOjSnGhi
He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.22Please respect copyright.PENANAmeu5HqH6a5
22Please respect copyright.PENANAqawcbfUrtA
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA7V44nbapSh
22Please respect copyright.PENANAgjMETZibrC
"..."22Please respect copyright.PENANA7be2eWT6FZ
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9zWtMWjrbj
To my surprise, I didn't react to his inquiry. My body didn't jolt in shock, nor did my eyes widen. I just sighed, because truthfully, I was expecting a question like this.22Please respect copyright.PENANAjMiHw8Wlyg
22Please respect copyright.PENANASi1SsjsRd5
But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.22Please respect copyright.PENANAzUEsXJ6FuK
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuzV21nEsyt
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."22Please respect copyright.PENANA2QmXaijUw1
22Please respect copyright.PENANAEIZuEkMQWX
"H-How'd you know?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA0wTGP1hBHO
22Please respect copyright.PENANALptuHhNbHH
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."22Please respect copyright.PENANAYZ4540pYYI
22Please respect copyright.PENANA3N18Ly3Zgz
I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.22Please respect copyright.PENANAyglOKLbTvK
22Please respect copyright.PENANAooSlifzheS
"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."22Please respect copyright.PENANAcpCvy58ilF
22Please respect copyright.PENANAs4lVHPz2fk
I leaned back and firmly rubbed my face before returning my gaze to Pars.
"It's funny– I was just about to ask you if you happened to have seen Rover around. Is she with you guys?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAxmnk5ssFtI
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfo93gxB4wV
Pars nodded.22Please respect copyright.PENANAVp972gSxHG
22Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZbjdASP6J
"Yeah, she's in one of the split buildings. Unfortunately for you, she's in the one where we're going, since Lola's there as well."22Please respect copyright.PENANAs3LfLJ4UGM
22Please respect copyright.PENANA24I3dljwsY
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.22Please respect copyright.PENANA7iim7VZ7Mf
22Please respect copyright.PENANAYrphYjPHm6
"But I'm still lost. I don't get why you two separated at all. Last time I checked, you weren't the best of buds, but there was a bond formed there as mutual battle partners."22Please respect copyright.PENANACxD2Vj1zYc
22Please respect copyright.PENANAktR0KEKTWZ
"Mutual what?"22Please respect copyright.PENANARj2csXMOGt
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuBi4wC7HOw
"It's something you notice the longer you're in the combatant business. You can make lifelong friends in one day just by battling alongside them."22Please respect copyright.PENANAOfwVm6oGUq
22Please respect copyright.PENANAaYqM1y0xKJ
"Is that a studied phenomenon?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAhNCaadCane
22Please respect copyright.PENANAhqe1tSAVG7
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."22Please respect copyright.PENANAdhVv1td72t
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUofw5ZpRwN
"Really now..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAzBsVP6AO8N
22Please respect copyright.PENANATgxY3vDeW3
I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.22Please respect copyright.PENANA9DxxDPm7mr
22Please respect copyright.PENANA0tK6zYK3u3
"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."22Please respect copyright.PENANAylNPd7TH6V
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuiDr5s5KBT
"..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAP10zN3gmIG
22Please respect copyright.PENANAgnGPYndhly
I fiddled with my fingers. I thought back to yesterday and viewed my memories with warped eyes. Even though it was recent, the magnitude of the event made it remote, detached from my mind as if I were reading a stranger's book. I remembered the outcome but all else I could recall were caustic words, drastic actions, and weighty, suffocating feelings. My amazement rivaled the strength of my jitter; only one day had passed and I had tucked it away. Yet, I let a little piece of the memory stick out of the wardrobe that harbored it.22Please respect copyright.PENANA2b6o1X29Gs
22Please respect copyright.PENANAbfx5PyQNfi
"Wow... it must've been bad."22Please respect copyright.PENANA88pXW4YPTt
22Please respect copyright.PENANAkCOxfbkvFp
"You're almost as flippant as I am."22Please respect copyright.PENANAqma5DaARUV
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He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.22Please respect copyright.PENANAOU9wajFJOR
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"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."22Please respect copyright.PENANABoOOWVHjW8
22Please respect copyright.PENANAAADdJrAOZR
"Yeah yeah. She and I disagreed on what to do. She wanted to stay in the city, Juke and I wanted to leave. After learning of what you and Dave told us, the situation is different now, which is why we're still here. But..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAw8qpuKlRUB
22Please respect copyright.PENANAyWtAdX1hZ6
"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAl2ZJOnenWC
22Please respect copyright.PENANAwNeFY77aZV
I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.22Please respect copyright.PENANAkQqdFK6elZ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAg3MSzzppAw
"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."22Please respect copyright.PENANAOhbsf4MXIu
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWW8S3PLsX8
My gaze turned into a meek look. It wasn't a plea exactly, but I made sure my face invited advice. I had too much shame to ask what to do with my words.22Please respect copyright.PENANApBJu5vBRos
22Please respect copyright.PENANAeJWe9Y7WSU
Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.22Please respect copyright.PENANAKvqJGF0maO
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4k9hxDwAyr
"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"22Please respect copyright.PENANATMgyrMOZtS
22Please respect copyright.PENANA7ViCqBScO9
"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAIgAn0oRyLY
22Please respect copyright.PENANAKnei7x2N3z
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."22Please respect copyright.PENANAn7Eltr3Mih
22Please respect copyright.PENANAamnRlrNmQP
I wanted to correct him. After all, this wasn't my first fight. But when I looked back on the other few I had, this one was much more severe, so I kept shut.22Please respect copyright.PENANAO07ClKEnrY
22Please respect copyright.PENANAJedQgNtfRu
"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."22Please respect copyright.PENANAwHbakOwjx5
22Please respect copyright.PENANAyNVXbuJgkR
"I know."22Please respect copyright.PENANAZUYC0PEE4H
22Please respect copyright.PENANAwuY7l2Xx1b
He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.22Please respect copyright.PENANAnLdGn8iNGd
22Please respect copyright.PENANAErlS57c8F9
"Tell you what; I can't help you."22Please respect copyright.PENANAM6Lo78D1Ci
22Please respect copyright.PENANA730nhzmjoA
"...Are you serious?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAnfV91AnSuf
22Please respect copyright.PENANAR3MGRuHGK0
"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."22Please respect copyright.PENANAqoK1uzB03M
22Please respect copyright.PENANAkg7I0sNhrQ
"What? What can?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAK9p2QHlbFc
22Please respect copyright.PENANATCDeXPvbrz
"Well, I'm sure you've been told this before, but I do this with Lola a lot, so I have a bunch of experience. I just make up with her."22Please respect copyright.PENANAl8CqtMccuU
22Please respect copyright.PENANAvCpBlvlNPB
"..."22Please respect copyright.PENANA5qtWOn0r2y
22Please respect copyright.PENANAXbeDtc19QW
A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.22Please respect copyright.PENANARoariWRMtt
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His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?22Please respect copyright.PENANAJaSmNbG4gu
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When I asked myself that, the haze immediately returned, and as I skimmed through possible outcomes of speaking with Rover, I was filled with more and more apprehension.22Please respect copyright.PENANAtAwlNloc8V
22Please respect copyright.PENANALHiuNAVDBe
"Give it a try."22Please respect copyright.PENANAfCkoMRVvdw
22Please respect copyright.PENANAnlzWyEUwpF
He stood up and patted my shoulder.22Please respect copyright.PENANAlzuAm4nb2s
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"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."22Please respect copyright.PENANA4AMauCr4bE
22Please respect copyright.PENANAqE7N1c6grZ
"H-Huh? Right now?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAfE6NVyA3WJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAcHLFryEyyC
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."22Please respect copyright.PENANAeVRmYmONaY
22Please respect copyright.PENANAi59O98eVBG
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.22Please respect copyright.PENANAwKJw8A0Lhl
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–
–
–22Please respect copyright.PENANASmrEnf0EUF
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"Are ya all packed up?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAhbMCGozK3Z
22Please respect copyright.PENANAnkswB9TflT
As I made my way downstairs, I saw Juke at the bottom, his hands gripping the bag's shoulder straps. I gave him a bemused look and responded to his question.22Please respect copyright.PENANAimIAs0ngQM
22Please respect copyright.PENANAj9Tp7JFsAR
"You're the only one who's carrying anything"22Please respect copyright.PENANAJZEaHr4Is0
22Please respect copyright.PENANATBPNccJEGO
"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."22Please respect copyright.PENANAGkzrEP1OvN
22Please respect copyright.PENANAmgblNfg7OE
I made it downstairs and scanned the room. It looked the same as when I left, only Dave and Pars were engaged in conversation. Dave was rubbing his head; it was clear something troubled him.22Please respect copyright.PENANAm9xsgQXl0N
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfPcZOFXxLV
"Did Pars relay our discussion?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAcbsJO0WzHp
22Please respect copyright.PENANAMG82uql4O9
"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."22Please respect copyright.PENANAO055KgZ1Oy
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUh35IkZJOY
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"22Please respect copyright.PENANANZHeRW53J4
22Please respect copyright.PENANAQdTbHQTJnO
He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.22Please respect copyright.PENANATC3NoFCDy7
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"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."22Please respect copyright.PENANAglHSbqpOJp
22Please respect copyright.PENANANO0jc7MwoG
"I suppose that makes sense."22Please respect copyright.PENANAvUbAk4QpTx
22Please respect copyright.PENANAUX7ARW2KRk
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAU1bvt4PnKA
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9YbvoI5oQL
"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAqDLaHIoYqq
22Please respect copyright.PENANA1whGDz7fV8
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."22Please respect copyright.PENANAtKEosAjoLd
22Please respect copyright.PENANAy7l7MJOt4e
I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.22Please respect copyright.PENANAyONCjGUFR3
22Please respect copyright.PENANA4rU76H3424
"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAJbFbT21Y2C
22Please respect copyright.PENANA1IrbdTM1Ft
"What do I think...?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAZMyuQj6JmB
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfWMUijaHxV
I raised my hand and pinched my chin, gazing pensively at a random vase in the shop. Though the craze of the event made it difficult to remember the details, there were two oddities I couldn't forget: the Harbinger could strike Juke from a distance, but somehow didn't always do so, and the Harbinger dodged and blocked my attacks as if she could tell they were coming.22Please respect copyright.PENANADY3gMIFnI5
22Please respect copyright.PENANAC5xPPDDBTu
"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."22Please respect copyright.PENANAUYkPFEswNX
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9ej4hI1Wou
"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."22Please respect copyright.PENANAgZZvrpYzjQ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuSSijtaIkO
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA5SU6io4gYI
22Please respect copyright.PENANAuec7zZXU4M
"I'm asking ya, kid."22Please respect copyright.PENANAB2o4042oZl
22Please respect copyright.PENANAORZGeysw3o
I rolled my eyes and continued rumination. Since there was nothing rational about her power, I threw ideas into the world and saw how my better conscious would react. Was it wind magic? If so, Juke would know. Was it an illusion? Illusionary magic has been stated to exist, but no corresponding mana exists in this area. Was it an Endowment? Likely. In fact–22Please respect copyright.PENANAJHHpIcOZUL
22Please respect copyright.PENANA7b2l11sY0t
"It had to be an Endowment."22Please respect copyright.PENANA2gqGJUjUhz
22Please respect copyright.PENANA1qBDJvNI64
"..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAeUbusNLYcu
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Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.22Please respect copyright.PENANApmOnwv9vDT
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"It would explain the inconsistency. Endowments can have downsides, so maybe she could only strike from a distance under special conditions. I don't know what those conditions are, of course."22Please respect copyright.PENANA0PX7qLZMmQ
22Please respect copyright.PENANAT57XyH6arL
"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."22Please respect copyright.PENANAchv1R5DDd4
22Please respect copyright.PENANAhpbqwFy6HX
I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.22Please respect copyright.PENANALOg7TmnuF4
22Please respect copyright.PENANA9CIQC0nXFT
"Why not?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAOfqkdJ5a1G
22Please respect copyright.PENANA0GZziAa7L7
"It's just a gut feeling. I ain't sure. But yer probably right. It's a pain in the ass not to know what's goin' on behind her bullshit."22Please respect copyright.PENANA3T2MjzTGv9
22Please respect copyright.PENANAV94XAUZcBX
"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA1vLeE3cRmJ
22Please respect copyright.PENANA2s84qwxdHk
Juke nodded solemnly. From the tone of his voice, it looked like we both knew what that entailed. I sighed and pinched my nose, then spoke again.22Please respect copyright.PENANA8uzC5pAK6Q
22Please respect copyright.PENANA43HadjWfdz
"Surely, there's a better option."22Please respect copyright.PENANAJyAjBH2jVG
22Please respect copyright.PENANAp8E156E9NI
"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."22Please respect copyright.PENANAohgd9jmgxI
22Please respect copyright.PENANAYV3TPKuQ9Q
I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.22Please respect copyright.PENANAIZ0PTXvgnG
22Please respect copyright.PENANAMtgPnbJtWQ
"What if we spy from a distance?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAsQoEDNOHwl
22Please respect copyright.PENANAFrn1fsVHB4
"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"22Please respect copyright.PENANApEmiuRp0xD
22Please respect copyright.PENANAEUNs1whfqe
"...Point taken."22Please respect copyright.PENANAXzosnnUVKE
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As I thought about it more, the idea of leaving people to fight the Harbinger while we sat by the sidelines was sickening. I discarded it immediately, thought the reality it meant I had to face was frightening.22Please respect copyright.PENANAXnO5k45Avd
22Please respect copyright.PENANARfFuU5HXwi
"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."22Please respect copyright.PENANAIqgn2V6PN6
22Please respect copyright.PENANAKOevcWT6nc
"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."22Please respect copyright.PENANA6QXbU9fGqs
22Please respect copyright.PENANAM0ou6qRCpu
"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."22Please respect copyright.PENANAR6N4kZvrIk
22Please respect copyright.PENANAee1Wc5ndcE
I smiled weakly. I took comfort in our shared reluctance to do this. In truth, what Juke said about others finishing her off would be nice. If I could, of course I wouldn't want to fight her. But, that wasn't for us to decide; that was up to our luck. As I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, Dave approached us with Pars in tow.22Please respect copyright.PENANAEZwH932qra
22Please respect copyright.PENANA0q5iBAERY1
"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAjTvU3bgvVt
22Please respect copyright.PENANATS7VOqidUB
We nodded in unison.22Please respect copyright.PENANAAYrSLxtRIq
22Please respect copyright.PENANA68FEMvFtBV
"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."22Please respect copyright.PENANAKc7AJmRTSr
22Please respect copyright.PENANAfYhLircCCH
–
–
–
Out on the street, the sky turned ever dimmer. We went through the same motions as before, scuttling in and out of alleyways as we watched for oncoming Bringers. I no longer felt like I was always on my toes, dreading even the slightest error. It just became tedious.22Please respect copyright.PENANAdTNtHTCZPh
22Please respect copyright.PENANACuIGzfqWBC
At some point, we became comfortable enough to chat. We spoke in whispers, of course, but exchanging words at all made me think we were getting careless. I didn't voice my concerns, only chewed on my finger as I darted my eyes around.22Please respect copyright.PENANAYIr7oaY6J6
22Please respect copyright.PENANAWcnNPm8ceL
"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ9yr8r0dD
22Please respect copyright.PENANANqXE5xX7fP
Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.22Please respect copyright.PENANAqPIRQfOwr5
22Please respect copyright.PENANAAukIKvP1W2
"I feel like that's all you've been asking me today. Of course I'm nervous. Of course I'm not fine. What part about this is fine?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA2iYRbxY72a
22Please respect copyright.PENANAJ63ytv5LAH
Silence came for a few seconds, and I realized that I might've spoken too rashly. I didn't apologize, though. I felt no inclination to.22Please respect copyright.PENANA8dp6eQZZQv
22Please respect copyright.PENANAcDAsuzStrE
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."22Please respect copyright.PENANAoA8yb4kbZ5
22Please respect copyright.PENANA2BQRfFt2Yr
"Well... I won't deny that."22Please respect copyright.PENANAiwbSLasKpm
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I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.22Please respect copyright.PENANAD44eNfrl7e
22Please respect copyright.PENANAGNuM97nONU
"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."22Please respect copyright.PENANAz9Uwm3wXFp
22Please respect copyright.PENANALbHZA32lxN
"Again? What do you–?"22Please respect copyright.PENANASc6W5cSohq
22Please respect copyright.PENANA8fxMbIHEp5
As I formed my question, memories of my first mission with Juke surfaced. I kept quiet, but I could feel my cheeks curl into a smile.22Please respect copyright.PENANARSDeF0Hgtx
22Please respect copyright.PENANAULy6lSNqsG
"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."22Please respect copyright.PENANA3U40IU9cST
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He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.22Please respect copyright.PENANAjse5W1TeD1
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"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."22Please respect copyright.PENANATV4wGtG4lo
22Please respect copyright.PENANAbQqZbX97Af
"I didn't ask ya that."22Please respect copyright.PENANAomBrl8HPzg
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"Pars came into my room yesterday. He asked why I wasn't with Rover, since I was with her when I met him. It was, well, a difficult conversation, but I learned that Rover ended up joining the Retaliation Crowd."22Please respect copyright.PENANAT33eCBGKGX
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"That ain't surprising."22Please respect copyright.PENANAqhHJLepMdh
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."22Please respect copyright.PENANAar2mJFBfHp
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.22Please respect copyright.PENANAXf9PQ2Qvu9
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"It's funny. The thing I'm most nervous about is meeting her again. I realized that quickly, and then it made me think about a lot of other things."22Please respect copyright.PENANAnSmw4QnPCt
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"Yeah? Like what?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA40o0e71Hy5
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"It made me think about home, and coming back to it. Not just Buffalo Village of course, but the Capitol too. I was so caught up in the state of affairs that I forgot I even had places I called home."22Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ju8AsAEeg
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"I can't blame ya. All this is givin' me a headache, and I'd wanna head back home too if I had one."22Please respect copyright.PENANAUULRztu9bU
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."22Please respect copyright.PENANAsWiYhRpbFZ
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I stopped myself and pinched my chin. The words got stuck in my throat. They required tuning before being released, yes, but there was another thing keeping them from leaving Before chaos broke loose and the three of us separated, it was the robes of that woman.22Please respect copyright.PENANAmIBMyTFQA7
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I had terrible thoughts in my head. An abundance of worries and I withered because of them, but nothing I could do would make them leave. All I could do was shut my eyes and look the other way.22Please respect copyright.PENANA0EXpmLvPlp
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"I hope they're doing okay, is all. Flinty, Annabelle, Jackson, and even the Tea Mage. I hope they're doing better than I am here."22Please respect copyright.PENANAJE2PlQMc4M
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I let out my thoughts in earnest. A minute passed without a reply, and it never came after. I thought I would've been agitated, but I was relieved. Dave and Pars continued their conversation, but we stayed quiet. It was a moment I'd be ashamed to spoil. With how easily my mind wandered back into contemplation, we arrived at our destination seemingly instantly.22Please respect copyright.PENANAxuOENxG7dd
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."22Please respect copyright.PENANAM3uwCj9NHr
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I moved to his side, squinting my eyes to see through the darkening sky. The outline came to me quickly, and then I could make out the building's details. That of which were–22Please respect copyright.PENANAsiKpwwz4uI
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAUUuctgULHm
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.