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.235Please respect copyright.PENANArjIKnfdgsD
235Please respect copyright.PENANAcXvc92PyUJ
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAhpL1dDhPm3
235Please respect copyright.PENANASkJWYGKFbH
"At least... I'm on my back now."235Please respect copyright.PENANACb2y1aqNHj
235Please respect copyright.PENANAFbJ9TNRGr6
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAmWFULWnwBy
235Please respect copyright.PENANAYtS6C8eiYp
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAUF41LItxCj
235Please respect copyright.PENANAA1qcKbpsdB
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAqU0ADGTyWu
235Please respect copyright.PENANAAQ1btoM3nr
"..."235Please respect copyright.PENANA8wrlucrEF2
235Please respect copyright.PENANA4cYdweP6aw
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAWHMQ8sDBtW
235Please respect copyright.PENANAvoA18JnqPP
I was immediately startled.235Please respect copyright.PENANAZwYjBtOR55
235Please respect copyright.PENANAymEudwTQuy
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAyUO2g2jnwS
235Please respect copyright.PENANAWXpOZ6RrPm
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAjR667GujgK
235Please respect copyright.PENANARRjzPLmRpC
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAyyZpo1N9EK
235Please respect copyright.PENANAqD4PnqKWL5
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAVYvYRDjq7V
235Please respect copyright.PENANAPDahjWTbnv
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."235Please respect copyright.PENANAhvbyho8rTg
235Please respect copyright.PENANAm3MAPEXlC6
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAL5kiY9g18Y
235Please respect copyright.PENANA8tyodENnm1
"Do you feel any better?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAwHIZpD1M4i
235Please respect copyright.PENANAEPWL9DkCmk
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."235Please respect copyright.PENANA84py5JL06e
235Please respect copyright.PENANAaQD7ZG03z6
"That's good, that's good..."235Please respect copyright.PENANAaUADsIYGLw
235Please respect copyright.PENANAtw6oMBp65R
He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.235Please respect copyright.PENANAGwxbSw6kYT
235Please respect copyright.PENANAQjw0DpQ0h2
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAxxBTSHXwsn
235Please respect copyright.PENANAezSt02Skkc
"..."235Please respect copyright.PENANALtws4DLRwx
235Please respect copyright.PENANA3vKTtkyC7n
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAAjHDMv8WcI
235Please respect copyright.PENANAOkPupgcNNe
But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.235Please respect copyright.PENANAmKdFkfo4cV
235Please respect copyright.PENANApR0NY8qyH6
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."235Please respect copyright.PENANA3RmJND2pGk
235Please respect copyright.PENANAEqlxS0Erg5
"H-How'd you know?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAwHPQqRqRfZ
235Please respect copyright.PENANAoahNBdFiTu
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."235Please respect copyright.PENANA0ITqnSdkVX
235Please respect copyright.PENANAcNrzxBCZVz
I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.235Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZJ53AFDqd
235Please respect copyright.PENANA9nvE8iJMAc
"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."235Please respect copyright.PENANAtdS65EneAT
235Please respect copyright.PENANA9FBeWMY5Iq
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?"235Please respect copyright.PENANA71Mx4aya17
235Please respect copyright.PENANAp2jNfsoLgk
Pars nodded.235Please respect copyright.PENANAtnCLfllgEt
235Please respect copyright.PENANAav9EOvtJPo
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANATBAaoSZGIk
235Please respect copyright.PENANASLJXnWHrmH
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.235Please respect copyright.PENANAfknjaydGD3
235Please respect copyright.PENANAxZL6pGw0cH
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANAiUbAQd7GC5
235Please respect copyright.PENANAHWx5T3DE4b
"Mutual what?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAUtfLVJ3NvL
235Please respect copyright.PENANAikGHAbwo8a
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANAZDDCpE5nEf
235Please respect copyright.PENANACxsmhwLobT
"Is that a studied phenomenon?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAAmwUygmloh
235Please respect copyright.PENANAbpPW75iJqx
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."235Please respect copyright.PENANA4OeWigqGUJ
235Please respect copyright.PENANAo3grI9i7RJ
"Really now..."235Please respect copyright.PENANAj9QN5zF36W
235Please respect copyright.PENANAYDivzU8yP6
I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.235Please respect copyright.PENANAPHhaarvCqu
235Please respect copyright.PENANAyGLRolKsp9
"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."235Please respect copyright.PENANArpEDNWTLXl
235Please respect copyright.PENANAf9wCphFtgo
"..."235Please respect copyright.PENANA3XOWPbjCJx
235Please respect copyright.PENANAA1h6UknznR
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAYxJU2UQMfr
235Please respect copyright.PENANAJIL4uBkmji
"Wow... it must've been bad."235Please respect copyright.PENANAL8ieTfF5d8
235Please respect copyright.PENANA5F6Nnjb6Tk
"You're almost as flippant as I am."235Please respect copyright.PENANAP8UsQymX6i
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He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.235Please respect copyright.PENANAFuVShwyBzw
235Please respect copyright.PENANAoa8d4FlXHC
"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."235Please respect copyright.PENANAI4OnD8FfhF
235Please respect copyright.PENANAHUt9g72QLL
"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..."235Please respect copyright.PENANAqHtJ8q3YYY
235Please respect copyright.PENANAbOUQMTCT3w
"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"235Please respect copyright.PENANA9W2Ek5wW9z
235Please respect copyright.PENANAdm78DAORcP
I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.235Please respect copyright.PENANACBJKDoaDHp
235Please respect copyright.PENANA1qvzD0AmEV
"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."235Please respect copyright.PENANAiuqa8hSbRL
235Please respect copyright.PENANA92x5O40TrW
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANARHYoY6NCRx
235Please respect copyright.PENANAY2bzXcalTa
Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.235Please respect copyright.PENANAQfRk5UbhIA
235Please respect copyright.PENANA1IfwylJBIA
"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAyqutxIMAQA
235Please respect copyright.PENANAEk7ni5IsFH
"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAItpvBSuXpJ
235Please respect copyright.PENANAm7A1i2jnms
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."235Please respect copyright.PENANAcMXiUqxYck
235Please respect copyright.PENANAKlQj6MYTkK
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAlU9NEmV1UQ
235Please respect copyright.PENANAIdoi1Z9s98
"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."235Please respect copyright.PENANAqOGm9j4tmx
235Please respect copyright.PENANA87IlwyFhrZ
"I know."235Please respect copyright.PENANAt2KK5Ppw7P
235Please respect copyright.PENANAOjSfJR9dQj
He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.235Please respect copyright.PENANAXgyxHTACZP
235Please respect copyright.PENANAT2h63CCIEX
"Tell you what; I can't help you."235Please respect copyright.PENANA61xXkgkwmx
235Please respect copyright.PENANAqmbm1IheKj
"...Are you serious?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAZLDojkGrC5
235Please respect copyright.PENANAAJ98GMWhKw
"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."235Please respect copyright.PENANAXAVFc4Q5Tu
235Please respect copyright.PENANAMXLPUQNXnz
"What? What can?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAC8sKaLpltL
235Please respect copyright.PENANAGsz7hBDz8h
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANAK1JcTJUVZa
235Please respect copyright.PENANAMSmm2ApO5Z
"..."235Please respect copyright.PENANAtIWnx5V1we
235Please respect copyright.PENANAZoamofpXLH
A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.235Please respect copyright.PENANAbXtjVdR7vA
235Please respect copyright.PENANA6T8mKwO6ll
His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?235Please respect copyright.PENANA2qop8pbxPp
235Please respect copyright.PENANAUa79EeDiKk
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANASoTKkC6fk9
235Please respect copyright.PENANA20TCowJWYC
"Give it a try."235Please respect copyright.PENANAH9mprQmYOb
235Please respect copyright.PENANAwS6g1nkBh3
He stood up and patted my shoulder.235Please respect copyright.PENANAEOBpfYSyX9
235Please respect copyright.PENANA9K4nblGIvA
"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."235Please respect copyright.PENANAxnixO6xfMK
235Please respect copyright.PENANAcqxc0fy4jp
"H-Huh? Right now?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAVHfROsSRFf
235Please respect copyright.PENANACjpMGKhZL5
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."235Please respect copyright.PENANAiGilklKHUD
235Please respect copyright.PENANASkMW48u2si
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.235Please respect copyright.PENANA6e9r5ZMDd5
235Please respect copyright.PENANA3OPTS6m91H
–
–
–235Please respect copyright.PENANA63raKFjI60
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"Are ya all packed up?"235Please respect copyright.PENANA70QOWWrBv1
235Please respect copyright.PENANANI9FrlY0Li
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANADKlruWGM7K
235Please respect copyright.PENANA2IBTPnZYHW
"You're the only one who's carrying anything"235Please respect copyright.PENANAqvKC3n8T2G
235Please respect copyright.PENANAKrx1H4voL8
"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."235Please respect copyright.PENANAeFq0Hcmf3V
235Please respect copyright.PENANArhxJUyysPO
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAfDPiTooWN5
235Please respect copyright.PENANAxcKBEPWdTK
"Did Pars relay our discussion?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6zdpkNeLs
235Please respect copyright.PENANAvl1xNncK18
"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."235Please respect copyright.PENANA4rzkew77k5
235Please respect copyright.PENANAhxVYNyy1f7
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"235Please respect copyright.PENANASus0TwxuR0
235Please respect copyright.PENANAp0PnaZHx79
He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.235Please respect copyright.PENANAelkGAjhieU
235Please respect copyright.PENANAqOX1o2DwvX
"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."235Please respect copyright.PENANAz13feBM0O6
235Please respect copyright.PENANAiD8SyKcAge
"I suppose that makes sense."235Please respect copyright.PENANAHcWiEoIdvJ
235Please respect copyright.PENANAsneL0HMpoY
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAj6aHaFWAfL
235Please respect copyright.PENANA4P5IwcJ3Id
"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAlbHHr5QvRH
235Please respect copyright.PENANAfIEzCP5p4z
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."235Please respect copyright.PENANAMG5v2AtbKx
235Please respect copyright.PENANAnyYEHksYo3
I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.235Please respect copyright.PENANAPaf5Vxgd68
235Please respect copyright.PENANAwMVNiUZRHK
"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"235Please respect copyright.PENANASQBScHSr5b
235Please respect copyright.PENANAsY7NOoBoE0
"What do I think...?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAqIK0B4zry0
235Please respect copyright.PENANAqNZFzlTpgR
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAJnQQahEqrP
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"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."235Please respect copyright.PENANAnnaHNKJQsF
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"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."235Please respect copyright.PENANAB3gOpWnIom
235Please respect copyright.PENANAVwqm0ccgtZ
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAcaglv0n9Rk
235Please respect copyright.PENANASTRRFwJetY
"I'm asking ya, kid."235Please respect copyright.PENANARD5sW1hxS3
235Please respect copyright.PENANA8hjQX5zGjL
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–235Please respect copyright.PENANATenEIqRqT2
235Please respect copyright.PENANAQxLF4aEwz8
"It had to be an Endowment."235Please respect copyright.PENANAo054RtkOvW
235Please respect copyright.PENANAser34G5rSt
"..."235Please respect copyright.PENANAOUXul5IyYd
235Please respect copyright.PENANA89UZ3z6jP3
Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.235Please respect copyright.PENANAN3lbeyXjNe
235Please respect copyright.PENANAtFQESgoehR
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANAwXMkE7Xw6B
235Please respect copyright.PENANA0KqNj1nJgJ
"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."235Please respect copyright.PENANAsAaWrpT5eK
235Please respect copyright.PENANAZ034riP8MO
I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.235Please respect copyright.PENANA6pKCdsgmGP
235Please respect copyright.PENANAkl01PgKUx5
"Why not?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAGPTFxQ08yt
235Please respect copyright.PENANAggONSqdvqA
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANASFhILYq4xz
235Please respect copyright.PENANAqcWAPbbLk5
"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAMDUgAFleDi
235Please respect copyright.PENANAh9thkFIkvO
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAOgp4jkTkkL
235Please respect copyright.PENANABB4QngHxiV
"Surely, there's a better option."235Please respect copyright.PENANACeLe98VC4e
235Please respect copyright.PENANAchhH82TNLF
"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."235Please respect copyright.PENANAeOjVKb9f35
235Please respect copyright.PENANA55f4SVOKK7
I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.235Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1SSVM74Qr
235Please respect copyright.PENANAlwQ5jsNEXh
"What if we spy from a distance?"235Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ba5HSjYnL
235Please respect copyright.PENANAryecNHZdQu
"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAU3hbYeoYim
235Please respect copyright.PENANAYeQvrm49og
"...Point taken."235Please respect copyright.PENANAo3VFaxMvch
235Please respect copyright.PENANATIiy8iEx3d
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAZio3sMt5dq
235Please respect copyright.PENANAk9wzVOKwsm
"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."235Please respect copyright.PENANAVtzpLlZLVX
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"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."235Please respect copyright.PENANAEj7La6CvPm
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"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."235Please respect copyright.PENANAjMkv2mqOVB
235Please respect copyright.PENANAI8RCMFbHJM
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAnZgYpEPTpY
235Please respect copyright.PENANAGU8n0rrIAD
"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"235Please respect copyright.PENANA7CzVOiT0Q2
235Please respect copyright.PENANACQMnbGXGgq
We nodded in unison.235Please respect copyright.PENANAanvXs529Jy
235Please respect copyright.PENANAv0JA9ScVFW
"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."235Please respect copyright.PENANAbgCM5TvQ4s
235Please respect copyright.PENANAOx3QIqdVER
–
–
–
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAAaGUGpBWcA
235Please respect copyright.PENANAlB5M97xIUf
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAV8ifhZi75b
235Please respect copyright.PENANA8WE3ARzIwZ
"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAq1E5I9B5Ok
235Please respect copyright.PENANAWTGsg8PSrt
Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.235Please respect copyright.PENANAXIQIjNa1YA
235Please respect copyright.PENANAs8h8ufP88W
"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?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAij5goVTsSh
235Please respect copyright.PENANAKkfXNoufu2
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAUzQ1gweIwq
235Please respect copyright.PENANApy98EXRgvB
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."235Please respect copyright.PENANAYmRNCPROwh
235Please respect copyright.PENANAeIqyAYv5tz
"Well... I won't deny that."235Please respect copyright.PENANA5FttfkgeRM
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I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.235Please respect copyright.PENANAwvYrA6tsd2
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"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."235Please respect copyright.PENANAl7VOenQA9P
235Please respect copyright.PENANAqxEjktXAgp
"Again? What do you–?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAmswmYm2vQ9
235Please respect copyright.PENANAR0wB1l3wZL
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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAYl2IT6VacQ
235Please respect copyright.PENANAJBPLMxaRvE
"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."235Please respect copyright.PENANAGglhX1DhKK
235Please respect copyright.PENANAVmkKXt2wlm
He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.235Please respect copyright.PENANAfIxjRXZhTU
235Please respect copyright.PENANAQF7g4NInhn
"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."235Please respect copyright.PENANAvmNPtrYBve
235Please respect copyright.PENANAbHA7CWcDqw
"I didn't ask ya that."235Please respect copyright.PENANA0TKsIZdKOj
235Please respect copyright.PENANACaWzDvHmEb
"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."235Please respect copyright.PENANA4aEDddvJ5R
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"That ain't surprising."235Please respect copyright.PENANAPEJ9DxJD6U
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."235Please respect copyright.PENANAW7pJJ5oXgy
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.235Please respect copyright.PENANASTKOnO3DoJ
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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."235Please respect copyright.PENANAbZhmymNa2U
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"Yeah? Like what?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAxMosXvefj5
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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."235Please respect copyright.PENANARsmOhLXPF8
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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."235Please respect copyright.PENANAzzphA1pRDQ
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."235Please respect copyright.PENANACkAmhJv6Ly
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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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAhMySS9Jgix
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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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAA8Au7SqDD1
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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."235Please respect copyright.PENANA183pIIwUFg
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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.235Please respect copyright.PENANAmKcBgwGuav
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."235Please respect copyright.PENANAMnaPotMtaP
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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–235Please respect copyright.PENANA1y4O1zMWcd
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"235Please respect copyright.PENANAclD9YesDNa
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.