When Ama and Bobbi get tired of doing whatever they chose to do while Klef and I were sitting on the floor reading, they inform us we should probably head out to the meeting rooms to talk about precautions after the morning’s…event. Klef winds up dragging me by the arm down the halls Ama and Bobbi are leading us through. “Treble, slow down,” I warn, alarm bells ringing in my head.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn2XoJTXrh
Klef stops abruptly and I crash into him, sending us sprawling on the floor. Did I do something wrong? I backtrack over the past day and can’t find anything other than our normal banter. Did I strike a nerve? Or is it the fact that everything has been normal that bugs Klef? Is he expecting something by now that’s not a kiss? “Treble, did I do something?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUbNM65juZ
“What? C’mon, Ride, ‘course you didn’t do anything wrong! I want to make sure you’re all right, is all.” Klef grunts and stands up, dusting himself off.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU7DyuGD0D
I stand up too, but my shoulders are more drawn inward, and my hands won’t stop twitching and wanting to move, reaching for a bow and arrow I left behind because I thought this trip would be short and peaceful. “Well, yeah. But you usually aren’t this worked up about it.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfDhut3mK0
Klef takes a deep breath. Oh boy, here it comes. “Ride, have you ever dreamed…about us?” he asks. “I don’t mean just a regular dream, either. And us as a thing, not as you and me, partners in crime.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0NGP7Bu7y
I pause. “Uh…yeah, sort of. I mean the whole partners in crime thing is there, but…there’s other things too. Romantic things, domestic things, little glimpses into a possible future.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qaFTBkQDl
“But are there…kids?” Klef asks.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlFRFymmvK
I want to say yes, to lie, to have an excuse for what I said. But the truth is I have none. “…No. No kids. Not where I can see to, anyway.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhI0DPXSNs
“So…when you say kids…you mean…?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0MepabWQ4
“I mean I can see us adopting as a couple, but not in the real way Sight lets me. Just as a stupid fantasy,” I admit, blushing. “I-I know we haven’t been together that long, but…”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhecfbpcdSJ
Klef grins, which doesn’t help my anxiety. “You like me.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxExghwWZcR
“Oh, shut up!” I snap.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOit2vRHOR
Klef shakes his head and laughs. “Iridescence,” he whispers. “I’ve loved you for a long, long time. Nothing you can say would weird me out. And kids? Kids sound good to me, too.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70cPkGkahI
Bobbi giggles from 20 feet in front of us. “You lovebirds done whispering over there?” they ask.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmilrXRos5
Ama ribs them. “Careful, or I’ll send a fluffle of bunnies at you!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBYs7PZgHE
Bobbi grins innocently and jogs to a stone door down the hall and opens it up with a flourish. I blink. It blended in so well with the walls I couldn’t see it until it was opened. A perfect secret room in a not-so-secret base. When we go in, I see Dad, Hibiscus A, and Flo, but no Rythe. “Rythe isn’t here?” I ask.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHnrK3bKCK
“Well, someone has to distract the others,” Flo says with a shrug. “And that’s actually one of Rythe’s specialties.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXKwFnRNKY
“Who knew they had them?” Dad gripes.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvqcMIK7aa
“You may be the Alpha, sir, but that doesn’t mean I’ll drop Rythe to join you.” Flo crosses her arms. “They’re nice, sir, and I love them.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIIJdEJA9G
“Something about them makes my fur stand on end,” Dad dismisses. “But if you say so…”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6MGd1oyZB
“I definitely say so,” Flo says with a smile.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINsUL9YRr5
“Then I’ll allow him a backseat pass,” Dad sighs. “But that doesn’t mean that I’ll like it.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnxw2pPfXp
“So,” Bobbi says, walking further in the room and looking around the dimly lit space. “Who forgot to turn on the overhead light again? Come on, guys, it’s not like anyone will see this room is occupied out in the hall if we turn it on, the creepy going-against-the-law look is just overkill in a situation this serious.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG8gw1Rb5u
I burst out laughing as they go to the wall and flip a light switch. They grin as they return to the table everyone is huddled around and sit in a chair, propping their feet up on it. “Glad I could shed some light on the situation,” Bobbi laughs, looking up at me. “They’re always this dramatic, I’m afraid.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1NyKOFNko
“Oh, believe me, I’m used to it,” I say. “I deal with my dear boyfriend Klef all day, every day.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuISHjotOh1
“Hey!” Klef exclaims. “That’s just rude!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rJoOSWEaf
I shrug. “Haters gonna hate, my dear boyfriend. Just let me be mean once in a while, since I do the same to you, sound good?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAsmh627QD
“No! And when am I rude?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxNK1urmnt
“Just about every time that you talk with your mouth full,” I quip. “Can we move on? There’s someone out there who wants to kill us, you know.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tKjVVF0O3
Klef rolls his eyes and playfully nudges me. “Okay. Do we know anything about who was trying to kill us? Are there any witnesses? Anything unusual?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ078JuGPoOc
Dad shakes his head. “Nothing, unfortunately. The hallway was conveniently deserted at the time of the attack. We don’t know who did this, or why. Though this isn’t the first time unusual occurrences have popped up around the base.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxLD3E5G45
“Unusual how?” I ask.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWlvUtYmPr
Hibiscus A clears their throat. “Well, several times over the years we have had reports of stolen items from several different reverse engineering rooms. It’s never things that are finished, though. It’s always the half-baked ideas and things that don’t seem to go with anything else that gets stolen, along with any notes on what the piece appeared to do, or what it could be attached to. We have no idea who’s behind it. The running theory was that it was some kids who wanted to be like their parents and grabbed the notes and pieces and simply forgot to put it back, or chose not to. But there were never any witnesses to that either, so I’m thinking that these two things are connected somehow.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NUNqzayAy
“Yeah, it’s a bit of an out-there theory, though,” Flo points out. “Just because no one thought twice about someone picking up a piece of tech doesn’t mean they wouldn’t look twice at someone stealing a weapon. Someone had to notice that grenade went missing, wouldn’t they?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYBiHOYUCY
Hibiscus shrugs. “What if they simply weren’t around? We all know there are people in the Crusaders who are good at crowd management. That’s why they’re here, we recruited them to distract the masses during huge heists. We could have several rats scurrying around right under our noses, and no one would be the wiser!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XtylAp2YR
“I know, I just don’t like the thought of one of our own going against the cause,” Flo says, wringing her hands.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xj6kFUL1p
“I don’t either,” Ama interjects. “But Hibiscus is right, we have to entertain the possibility.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIwSeNvS7I
Flo pulls a face and nods. “I know. Believe me, I know.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcaPpNj895
Dad claps his hands together and everyone’s attention snaps back to him. “Look, we have cameras around the weapons areas. We have to. If we’re lucky, the perp set off the tripwire and we’ll have a picture of who walked through there to get weapons this morning. If we’re not, well, we’re still at square 2, where at least we know someone is trying to attack us, right? That’s better than square 1. We’re not oblivious anymore.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1ePLG21AV
I nod. “Dad has a point. We’re better than we were, at least. And everyone in this room can be trusted, at any rate, so Klef and I aren’t flying blind like we’ve had to do in the past.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZsPTZoKDw
Klef shudders. “Oh, I remember those times. Those were not fun. We nearly got beheaded on one of those trips!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHVMpfyvlF
Dad growls. “You nearly what?!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPvvAM93c2
Klef pales. “Uh, nothing, sir. It’s nothing!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOrXZJ01wd
I sigh at their antics. “Will you two ever behave around each other? This is just ridiculous.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwRai3jj6L
Dad shrugs but Klef, at least, looks sheepish. “Sorry, Ride. Your dad scares me.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk54V3hnVU
“So I gathered,” I say with a grin. “It’s actually pretty funny, considering he’s a big softie.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZrtixDteW
“No I’m not!” Dad protests. “Stop telling people I am a softie! I am death wrapped in a fur coat!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiZYclTHE6
I giggle. “Sure, Dad. Sure. No one doubts that.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhFp1cuR1M
“I do,” Flo says quietly with a grin.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX91b4yvti
“Eh, I’ve seen him try to intimidate people,” Ama adds, looking around. “I’m not that impressed, to be honest.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCzYL1b7eQ
“You guys are the worst,” Dad gripes.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmlNWnP5AF
I grin. “Isn’t that what family and friends are for, though? I always assumed the point of it was to take someone down a peg or two if needed. Also, less often but no less important: bringing someone a peg up if that’s what needs to happen.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6BZ8qAcbP
“Mm,” Klef hums. “I remember doing that with you, Iri. When you were letting the town's girls get to you.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dGrql4HAt
“You obviously didn’t bring her up enough if she’s settling for you, though,” Dad quips.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EZwtfow0R
Klef grins. “Well, I couldn’t let her realize she’s far too good for me if I wanted her to be with me, right?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOye7bAYHW
I sigh. No matter what I do, if those two are in a room together than they will make life difficult for one another. “So, Hibiscus. If we have no suspects, what’s the course of action for security?” I ask.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VUoeyV3TJ
“That’s up to you,” Hibiscus says. “We could keep you safe around the base, with a stricter protection detail, or you could move somewhere safe, once we’ve established you can’t be taken out by whoever’s travelling with you and where you’re travelling, or we could act like nothing’s happened, and hope we get lucky, find your attacker before they find you… Honestly, Oracle, it’s all up to you.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7PWMDOxzz
I sigh. “I don’t want to run, much as everyone would love me to do so. After 5 years, if I don’t have more information on my dreams, I’m never going to get it. The most I can do now is fight, like everyone else. And while my fighting is good, I doubt it’s nearly as good as anyone around here who has been doing it if not most of their life, then most of their Deuxlife. My expertise is exhausted. There’s no real point in protecting me any more than there is protecting anyone else. It’s important, yes, but it’s not the end- all be- all of existence, as horrible as that sounds to an outsider.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUoEyWITht
Hibiscus nods. “Well, then, my dear, if escape is not an option, and protection is a waste of resources, what do you propose?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSwD85x1ST
“Nothing much,” I say with a shrug. “Just that if this person is so keen on using weapons against me and Klef when we’re presumably alone, just letting us sit in the library and read, and let whoever is asking know that we’re sitting in the library and reading, could be of great use to us.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBK8P0sGmy
Dad’s eyes widen. “What?! Iri, no. You can’t use yourself as bait!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLdNVnZCEE
Klef looks over at me, and lightly touches my arm to capture my attention. “I’ll do it, but only if you’re sure.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxFWSy9GjZ
“Of course I’m sure,” I say. “I wouldn’t offer the option up if I wasn’t. I wandered a forest with you 5 years ago because I was sure it was a good idea, even if I didn’t remember who you were. I only do things when I’m sure or when I can’t afford to not be.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0znJneTwa
Klef looks uncertain, but nods. “If you’re confident, then I’m going to be there with you, no matter what.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc65AQ9Cy2
“No!” Dad barks. “I will not allow it!”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKCwGVv18h
“You don’t have a choice, Dad. It’s our lives, and our decision,” I state. “The only choice you have is whether you will support it or not.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJnBkvHJo7
Dad growls, and runs a hand down his face. “I can’t support you. Not this time. I’m sorry. But if you’re going to risk your second life when you’ve already pushed your luck once before and nearly died for it, there’s nothing I can do for you. Come talk to me when this is over.” He walks around the table and out the door, closing it behind him with a firm tug.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEfSlXlRUw
I follow him out with my eyes. Klef’s touch on my arm increases in pressure to a light squeeze. “Hey,” he whispers. “This is your choice, not his. You can talk to him when this is all over.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptiFznbT8r
“Yeah,” I breathe. “Yeah, because we’re going to make it out alive, aren’t we?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvW2P04jIh
“You know it, Ride,” Klef says with that small, genuine smile of his that he only brings out when he’s really proud of someone.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDouQVmzoY3
I turn to everyone left in the room. “All right. Where are good places that Klef and I can look alone but you guys can hide for backup?”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLLhk5npnm
Everyone looks at each other, before all saying at once, “The courtyard.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZwoirdFm0
“Well. That’s settled. Where’s the courtyard, then?” Klef asks.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3ICAfpSfJ
“I’ll show you the way, while everyone else can get weapons if they wind up needing them,” Ama offers. “My magic can do most of my fighting for me, if needed.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAUX8A0Zjk
I nod. “Lead the way,” I say, gesturing to the door.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTIJvEYqJh
Ama grins and nods. “Yes, ma’am,” she says with a little salute.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVjyrGDxET
Klef snickers and I whack him on the arm as the 3 of us leave the room. He responds by snatching my arm and kissing my knuckles. “You are awful,” I laugh.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GKZg17KVT
“Yeah,” Klef says with a shrug. “Awfully fond of you.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pRrIGh78n
I groan. “Get some better pickup lines, Treble, and we’ll talk about flirting openly.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzREsgje9yY
Klef laughs, and we continue down the seemingly never-ending maze of hallways and rooms until there’s one slightly normal-looking hallway, not made of stone or concrete, but brick. And in the middle of this brick hallway there is one single, solitary door, with glass windows showing just a glimpse of the open expanse outside. Ama opens the door. “Welcome to the courtyard,” she says. “Also known as the place where new dragons come to learn to fly. Make yourselves comfortable, you might be here awhile.”896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby0welxOdX
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