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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsmpfZRRWp
"Oh, I don't know, I'll eat whatever They're serving," he shrugs.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbghePDF5pF
I snort. "Yeah, that sounds like you," I say.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WoetXUWTy
"What?!" Klef asks in mock-offence. "Oh, wow, Ride, you wound me."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ21ogeBwGO
"Good, I laugh." I wouldn't have it any other way."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVU9CfYT13
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!"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvI0W3laew
"Oh, Luke will definitely be here tonight," Ama says sagely.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72UojLtYaa
"What? He likes pizza that much?" I ask.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HQ2pV7A8t
"I imagine so, the kid loves his pizza," Bobbi laughs.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThRvRGN4dn
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JT7OCC7bH
I gawk. "You're Luke?!"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1gQdTbpe0
Luke grins up at me and nods. "Yeah, my name's Luke! Can I help you with something, ma'am?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YsX9j0aTg
"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?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO2LAnCPo6
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmg4aKUdVL
I look at Klef and shrug. "We've seen weirder," I remind him.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rd8Vf97Hg
"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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s0dIvUm2x
"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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMxGIhALLV
"Shut up," Klef grumbles, which makes me laugh harder.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjsGOKskV7
Luke looks between us. "You two together?" he aks.s1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR3qzi8ggx
"Yeah, though it’s not something they like to advertise," Ama explains. "So please, keep the teasing at acceptable levels, my dear."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNPlkwvWK7
"You got it, Ma," Luke says.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLnmP4Qa68
"Ma?" Klef asks. "You're his mother?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAklj7xDrAr
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObTJQ156ri
“That’s… adorable, actually,” I say.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF53oeTkW0M
Luke’s eyes went to me. “I’m not adorable!” he protested.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZPs3gEGkB
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!”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LiBveBD6e
"I am not adorable!" Luke protests again. "Don't tell me that I am!"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIAkCzi9ll
I hold my hands up in surrender. "All right, all right," I laugh. "Sorry if I bruised your ego there."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBS2eapnot
Luke huffs and eats the last slice of pizza, grumbling. Ama stares him down. "Luke. Be polite," she warns.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTroD219PK6
Luke looks up at her, then over to me. "Sorry," he mumbles, scowling.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdkBamoHlj
I laugh. :"No, it's fine, I shouldnt' have pressed you like that," I say.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF8qjIzats
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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUU327L2CQ
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS01IIMvLG
Klef sputters. "Hey! I'm sitting at this table, and my ego is just fine!"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSQc079aPN
"Sure t is, Treble," I tease. "Of course it is."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxHnLHDe8k
Klef scowls. "You're patronizing me, Ride, and I don't like it," he says firmly.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fBBFZEqfX
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?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYz3T0BeuD
"Pepperoni!" Klef chimes immediately.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFSDOwH0vu
"I like olives," Ama says, shrugging.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWnMNT7TOF
"Meat lovers is always good," Bobbi says, ruffling Luke's hair.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeB96uZmkVR
"Half meat lovers and half olives?" I offer. "I'll eat anything on my pizza."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpiMJyIE3t
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TJPObNS51
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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFJvEBCsw8
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsX8ZFfb0l
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?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgJk0NZ71t
"Yeah," a small wizard says. "This is the pick-up line. And so's this: you're pretty cute."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ND5NrPClI
I laugh. "Thanks! That was a good one! I already have someone special, though."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUopxlRt9P
The wizard clucks their tongue. "Ah, well. Benny. He/him. Nice to meet you."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsF2udMLpx
"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?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLPUNnnoZZ
"Personal pizza with extra cheese and onions," Benny says. "I love me some onions."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37nXnn42i8
"You're the oracle, aren't you?" a slender avian asks.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGLZP3aKqL
I give a nervous laugh. "Yeah, my friends are all sitting at the table waiting for me to pick up the pizza."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuwFnEoaAe
The avian nods. "Cool. Though if we were close, I would make sure you never had to lift a finger."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TJR8DUGNF
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l20WehwGe
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yEI9NkbdI
I smile. "That's all good. You eat your pizza, and have a good night, okay>"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1geMYDKWL
"Will do,” the wizard says, right as a cafeteria worker walks up.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSqt8ZVIis
"Small pizza with extra cheese and onions?"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSSd63nVwA
"That's me," he says, talking the pizza and walking off. "You have a good night, Oracle!" he calls.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCk2PVfdQx
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mLGjxJQsP
"No, I don't," I say. "It makes me feel weird, and frankly, kind of sick."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12MN102aOR
"Oh, that’s not good," the avian says, wincing. "I’m sorry you feel that way."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY954JYoCc
I shrug. "It happens to some people. It’s not a big deal, so long as everyone remembers that I was once human, too.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTzVVUyYvy
The avian shifts on her feet. “I’ll try to do that. And I’ll remind my friends as well. For your sake.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0iWC3en10
I can’t help but smile. It’s a consideration that I never thought I would need, but am glad to have. “Thanks!”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRlNDilWI6
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV50lx8Y6ph
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ998stnZiZz
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSr8hogQXp
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7xwnnvg8T
I smack him lightly on the arm. “You know what? You can shut up.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1adD3wZ3i
Luke looks between the two of us. “So are you two getting married anytime soon, or…?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx6vpNYdzV
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWlheY51uD
Luke shrugged. “Sorry, Ma.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqBpkki9Fc
Ama points at us. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIANUVdvjMO
Luke looks over. “Sorry,” he repeats.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzwJQVwOAA
“Don’t worry about it,” I laugh.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zQwR4jJGF
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BSxdn6QW0
Luke smiles, just a fraction. “Really?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t1DZkIwMe
“Really,” Klef assures. “You’re fine.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmewn2AA9S
Luke nods. “Okay. So where are you two thinking of going?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqX3Z233gl
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu3a4wMSyM
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV9bg4iFUG
"Do you have any personal preferences?" I ask him.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYhMjy5Oh6
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgJb0nuSP5
I nod. "Sage advice. Thank you, I'll try to look after myself.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq78tQSTSQq
"And of course we'll all help!" Bobbi chimes in. "We're coming with you, of course!"1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr9bIarSAW
"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."1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFBXQJ0aMQ
“I’d want to do this in the first place, what about you guys?” Bobbi asks.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAcVqSvmTv
“Oh, yeah!” Ama says.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyeXH01N6b
Klef nods. “Of course.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV7fUn3Ywd
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJoaCcfyrz
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryZ2owjE1B
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gOrswTtri
I nod. “Tomorrow sounds good. How long would it take us to get out of the mountains?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YPfUlatrd
“Oh, give it a day and a half at most this time of year,” Luke shrugs. “It doesn’t take long at all.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP59KzrJIM
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtisyVw09ml
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPFHuvJ3s5
“You certainly know a lot about this place,” I say.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk3ENDzqb6
Luke smiles. “Well, I hope so! I was there when all of this was decided!”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQcKPYP65I
Ama laughs. “Yeah…” Her smile droops. “That was the day that I was…”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SUUK8Suo9
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPST65iXzA
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRY9wjEZbs
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qmy3zpex8
“Yeah!” Luke exclaims. “Not to mention, no one’s stopping you from adopting me anymore, because according to records, I don’t exist now!”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5CTxeLE7C
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cq1mOf1Ge
“And don't you forget it, Ma,” Luke says.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FuFqfokcH
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBXoeXYZqI
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK29WDcUUGV
“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?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuLvrOfwUV
Bobbi laughs. “Yeah, that’s what it was. I didn’t expect you to remember that, though!”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48L8BNTRh3
Luke shrugs. “It was only a few weeks ago. I don’t forget things that quickly.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkF5w0GZDE
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtuXYonBHj
Bobbi looks over at Ama and shrugs guiltily. “Hey, what were you expecting?” they ask. “Like I said, I’m not great with kids.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdUChBW3YX
“No, you just don’t like bossing them around. There’s a difference in there,” she points out.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb0pfD69v3
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWDXgdT3iR
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?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjePOZtQCv
“A little bit,” Klef shrugs. “Why? You tired?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr71jZv9QK
“Yeah. And if we’re going to start travelling tomorrow, we’re going to need some sleep.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeYPwQINJN
Klef considers this. “Are you fishing for some company as you fall asleep?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNTchSicY0
“Yeah,” I admit. “I want someone to make sure I’m all right if I find myself in the throes of a nightmare again.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1rW8u9yLi
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaUZLUR0xU
I shove him lightly and he grins. “Brownie points are more important than you might think,” he teases.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp3dZ3x2HW
“Shut up,” I sigh at him. “You’re utterly ridiculous.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtbNWAw6BX
“Just finish your pizza, Ride,” Klef says.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF9WV3oIeQ
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGCRusckLP
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjcgvuSHDv
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54pG5TuKsK
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?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6B8Rr6Pic
“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!”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblliQvDuN8
There’s an uncomfortably long pause outside the door. “...Are you wearing anything, Rides?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1MgW8Mjlp
“A towel,” I confirm. “Why, do you have to go to the bathroom?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VGx7eZh5S
“Yeah,” Klef says. “But I don’t want to… you know, so… um…”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafTwE8m4Em
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4ANho6rIX
“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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpZr66RFGO
“Oh. Thanks!” I call to the closed door, changing quickly into what Klef picked out for me.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNpY1PM0tA
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv1kTI79Ym
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.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdRgjjpdoW
I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. Klef pokes me. “Hey, Ride, you okay?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKD1X51ldGr
“Thinking,” I say. “I’ve grown these past 5 years we’ve known each other, Treble, you know?”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO08hJvGi3
Klef nods. “I do.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNBYWrK6Tc
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnnIB723aa
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKJGqYfrVz
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA08RfdDbw
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpw7iZam4S
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzFAGG9mAs
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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSHgdBASp5
I smile up at him and sigh, snuggling closer to him. “I’m tired, Treble.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtnzrhN8j8
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaLvIZq09t
“The next days will be even longer,” I mutter.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpA1Yhtt9u
“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.”1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloiE9USNNw
“Thank you,” I murmur, falling asleep.1157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW7Uz7fhCs
Penana
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