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.236Please respect copyright.PENANA873KhRjDLt
236Please respect copyright.PENANAxbSr8qCzCj
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAwnKRIDZVRY
236Please respect copyright.PENANA5oyuUfnWdz
"At least... I'm on my back now."236Please respect copyright.PENANAi8vwzkgk5U
236Please respect copyright.PENANAUvtUZ7LnRO
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAN4Hr0RXGWp
236Please respect copyright.PENANAzuOCSwkesm
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAOD7YiirzNV
236Please respect copyright.PENANADBPvGP0juj
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAiZeSTQSL5b
236Please respect copyright.PENANAkaZXPSr8jD
"..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAHwq1tENKs0
236Please respect copyright.PENANAAi9OHTSkwc
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAmdC1h72F3e
236Please respect copyright.PENANAy0DVjQyv4b
I was immediately startled.236Please respect copyright.PENANANwXEjnPjG1
236Please respect copyright.PENANAFQYOPWHu8m
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAZEsFIGTzNc
236Please respect copyright.PENANA1uxuuvtOL9
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAwg2gV4UKVu
236Please respect copyright.PENANAjbKdG2IopI
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAoY6PjjZLKK
236Please respect copyright.PENANAgDiPQj0p1A
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAniujok5OOA
236Please respect copyright.PENANA95mO3vTGNt
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."236Please respect copyright.PENANApePJhyLfn8
236Please respect copyright.PENANAiJW0DfJLJu
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAYzIbNa1tnK
236Please respect copyright.PENANAl9XlajdhrD
"Do you feel any better?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAkWXO8dqYsv
236Please respect copyright.PENANARRSyZe5oln
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."236Please respect copyright.PENANANgZHRGRSHi
236Please respect copyright.PENANAwJcRT9nucl
"That's good, that's good..."236Please respect copyright.PENANA9N3saNK5kf
236Please respect copyright.PENANASvCFsMnX9M
He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.236Please respect copyright.PENANAP1TPH72xXH
236Please respect copyright.PENANAsFD2UfYBLF
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAkHRgDH0j16
236Please respect copyright.PENANAfUwrhVVoTG
"..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAJqi60SS8BX
236Please respect copyright.PENANAyibl9fqz7j
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAhQwodZxzfJ
236Please respect copyright.PENANAyLmkIc67FT
But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.236Please respect copyright.PENANAVChWCWULrS
236Please respect copyright.PENANAnT1nFlHa7R
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."236Please respect copyright.PENANAYZbne9b7jg
236Please respect copyright.PENANAtWQgXy34YM
"H-How'd you know?"236Please respect copyright.PENANA1JrJ172SxZ
236Please respect copyright.PENANAmqffF6AmG1
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."236Please respect copyright.PENANAu7auA50pvJ
236Please respect copyright.PENANAAuOYXScIHV
I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.236Please respect copyright.PENANAvbIXBNtP4E
236Please respect copyright.PENANABVPZJVGlB8
"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."236Please respect copyright.PENANArniOcFZJkJ
236Please respect copyright.PENANAwcUrH83iHr
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?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAPy1qMeIFQ3
236Please respect copyright.PENANAM12gZ94Gvj
Pars nodded.236Please respect copyright.PENANA35P9usxuDA
236Please respect copyright.PENANArCEMxIGpc0
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANAgCRc2BAEcj
236Please respect copyright.PENANAuIigpsaBvu
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.236Please respect copyright.PENANARnJc3d7mra
236Please respect copyright.PENANAuxEdYwlC17
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANA3Z3zAf9zxB
236Please respect copyright.PENANAfax6pQqdaV
"Mutual what?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAwF6IAR9jEO
236Please respect copyright.PENANAcsdnwY5H8J
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANAMFw4bDHwZp
236Please respect copyright.PENANAyqUp7xCYM7
"Is that a studied phenomenon?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAaeTrstiF0j
236Please respect copyright.PENANAjSfxEa3acM
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."236Please respect copyright.PENANAoxDQsNq0dY
236Please respect copyright.PENANAAOZNBCwxk7
"Really now..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAshhaadV84l
236Please respect copyright.PENANAVuUJTsGabl
I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.236Please respect copyright.PENANACMA4UQULYV
236Please respect copyright.PENANAn3J8vzzK6M
"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."236Please respect copyright.PENANArRrYbWPbXv
236Please respect copyright.PENANADB3YCu9JJl
"..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAYBsNeoO167
236Please respect copyright.PENANAyV3YUC9B0j
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAppw7wS5FEv
236Please respect copyright.PENANAGrniCmUa4E
"Wow... it must've been bad."236Please respect copyright.PENANAuA9kN1EMoH
236Please respect copyright.PENANA6GRaDUQdW0
"You're almost as flippant as I am."236Please respect copyright.PENANAolZPzb6rAd
236Please respect copyright.PENANA7tmSQGX6Hb
He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.236Please respect copyright.PENANAfwxSZGfA7A
236Please respect copyright.PENANAFwhAgyaeBL
"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."236Please respect copyright.PENANAXEZuxDmJlr
236Please respect copyright.PENANA0Cwh1FQwlQ
"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..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAogqLVirk2f
236Please respect copyright.PENANAJovi8L9Lbl
"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAMxT4ZZ2PM6
236Please respect copyright.PENANAGtAp0DX4kY
I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.236Please respect copyright.PENANAPTmrVd7BgQ
236Please respect copyright.PENANATGKsfdZkBx
"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."236Please respect copyright.PENANADtI8chWXCD
236Please respect copyright.PENANAjx8xD9RLjc
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAZMfaWaUbqd
236Please respect copyright.PENANAVOW18h1L8c
Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.236Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1MWHcI4yZ
236Please respect copyright.PENANAULfxZgs5Ex
"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAKtOKedD9Bm
236Please respect copyright.PENANAG4Akl36gfj
"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAcSVcg0DVvS
236Please respect copyright.PENANANLysZSBqz2
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."236Please respect copyright.PENANAu4LLtDyPXn
236Please respect copyright.PENANAz4sZEqwyCk
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANA5zrETlhmkz
236Please respect copyright.PENANALdpWfx4jZy
"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."236Please respect copyright.PENANA5Jl1WkE7q4
236Please respect copyright.PENANAbZ8I8gt06N
"I know."236Please respect copyright.PENANAxJHX2NLysK
236Please respect copyright.PENANAnalWfyXvdX
He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.236Please respect copyright.PENANA4Pz5xDLsIS
236Please respect copyright.PENANAiu1XXyABGK
"Tell you what; I can't help you."236Please respect copyright.PENANADXwjR3b8kz
236Please respect copyright.PENANAOKOolAtV1h
"...Are you serious?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAjDdlqUieLf
236Please respect copyright.PENANAx0hjg8trfi
"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."236Please respect copyright.PENANAwINDh1zjRw
236Please respect copyright.PENANAF064m5ZTJx
"What? What can?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAw3OSJRbtwc
236Please respect copyright.PENANAbjsj6v6f7A
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANAGNczXvAKd3
236Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZE7LwuMld
"..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAFxA0alvC4M
236Please respect copyright.PENANAaRShxWqWqo
A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.236Please respect copyright.PENANA3NR3rRy9nN
236Please respect copyright.PENANAgz7GZQs1yw
His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?236Please respect copyright.PENANAu5O5Ieay8s
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoqDBokVNi5
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANATP9m4ExTeo
236Please respect copyright.PENANAMNXni2ZTo2
"Give it a try."236Please respect copyright.PENANABJM0RsXIZY
236Please respect copyright.PENANA2g9Ilprger
He stood up and patted my shoulder.236Please respect copyright.PENANAldeUgZ0cPN
236Please respect copyright.PENANAvTi48wlAgX
"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."236Please respect copyright.PENANA8hyrz3in12
236Please respect copyright.PENANAu1BuMtbKN9
"H-Huh? Right now?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAGwCPO6Ewuj
236Please respect copyright.PENANAc6J3Oj6IzM
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."236Please respect copyright.PENANAbI7nPJmiqN
236Please respect copyright.PENANAcZjRH0SXfK
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.236Please respect copyright.PENANAM9AkhVxe93
236Please respect copyright.PENANAIEilipgSiT
–
–
–236Please respect copyright.PENANAwW04iborI5
236Please respect copyright.PENANArmFwWb4Fw1
"Are ya all packed up?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAv9DfmVHpM9
236Please respect copyright.PENANAYS7KZabJfX
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANABgYfwSlQj4
236Please respect copyright.PENANAffOMPyUtp4
"You're the only one who's carrying anything"236Please respect copyright.PENANAIfgWwFUda6
236Please respect copyright.PENANAmNL4dx6ThJ
"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."236Please respect copyright.PENANAfsiP72XUes
236Please respect copyright.PENANAP2CCLibxZb
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAjn23fnd1uh
236Please respect copyright.PENANAfnbDkw3UtO
"Did Pars relay our discussion?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAHg80jVdiex
236Please respect copyright.PENANAr45FcTuGwE
"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."236Please respect copyright.PENANABbqfX3noey
236Please respect copyright.PENANAzw9Jm910IV
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"236Please respect copyright.PENANALKGi1HXyTU
236Please respect copyright.PENANAl1ND10cJ9x
He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.236Please respect copyright.PENANA0esOP3j12y
236Please respect copyright.PENANAyDwucoHTzD
"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."236Please respect copyright.PENANAmc1uT3mqNB
236Please respect copyright.PENANANs4km9Gxju
"I suppose that makes sense."236Please respect copyright.PENANAJSDCLnpZrl
236Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mw1ZYcChq
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"236Please respect copyright.PENANANtnKBTHejJ
236Please respect copyright.PENANArgeg3kDfVV
"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7MHVPZ2AX
236Please respect copyright.PENANAHJPDh4hbfd
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."236Please respect copyright.PENANArGZDIsSd9w
236Please respect copyright.PENANAb437j8AaV1
I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.236Please respect copyright.PENANAnDCo6KYZoP
236Please respect copyright.PENANAAfcBRjVPTI
"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAlCaj0cRYS7
236Please respect copyright.PENANAFUms5n4sOM
"What do I think...?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAlAJG9oRqTb
236Please respect copyright.PENANAeYswePXquW
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAjuyZzyWgws
236Please respect copyright.PENANAxwhUBCNhjv
"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."236Please respect copyright.PENANA2tfVqRXe9I
236Please respect copyright.PENANAa8hzzGw1aW
"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."236Please respect copyright.PENANAuNPUifna8B
236Please respect copyright.PENANAjcJRls50fv
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"236Please respect copyright.PENANApnTtQRU0cq
236Please respect copyright.PENANAgv9830WNVG
"I'm asking ya, kid."236Please respect copyright.PENANA21CvI0wHNi
236Please respect copyright.PENANA3pLmAy2Euq
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–236Please respect copyright.PENANA1tCsN3Xqu4
236Please respect copyright.PENANAPWjnGZEQiQ
"It had to be an Endowment."236Please respect copyright.PENANAfVkpgFChr5
236Please respect copyright.PENANAMN4HM3acUf
"..."236Please respect copyright.PENANAAGQZn8WQZc
236Please respect copyright.PENANAF2eWEKI7p6
Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.236Please respect copyright.PENANAxTepEpY6li
236Please respect copyright.PENANA83vR23toGp
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANACkGzwHITtL
236Please respect copyright.PENANA2SAaDuJsPW
"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."236Please respect copyright.PENANAkVKUMh071Q
236Please respect copyright.PENANAuw85nWLSj8
I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.236Please respect copyright.PENANAxFsEjxeql0
236Please respect copyright.PENANAloJuPqc6De
"Why not?"236Please respect copyright.PENANApH7zd6m2bp
236Please respect copyright.PENANAwv03TiRiPI
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANAG7XSLAu7T9
236Please respect copyright.PENANAlDGvYESWN4
"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAm5b8qaARfH
236Please respect copyright.PENANAboOsMDQLcS
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAxWiqC65nLf
236Please respect copyright.PENANAD3G5eseVNI
"Surely, there's a better option."236Please respect copyright.PENANAkdE72FoBjv
236Please respect copyright.PENANADGAUUXk2g9
"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."236Please respect copyright.PENANASkqiYaPBgg
236Please respect copyright.PENANAvKN4Eqo0NK
I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.236Please respect copyright.PENANAXE7bC7tBUC
236Please respect copyright.PENANAGKvuajoB1I
"What if we spy from a distance?"236Please respect copyright.PENANA0YwkxEytK5
236Please respect copyright.PENANAbn95hUBN6L
"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"236Please respect copyright.PENANARYI1ZTSrxZ
236Please respect copyright.PENANAnmDfo82rsN
"...Point taken."236Please respect copyright.PENANAV2uKoTwmZV
236Please respect copyright.PENANALvtvVGPp3r
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANADU4kR6D4V2
236Please respect copyright.PENANAsztY9l9SCp
"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."236Please respect copyright.PENANAkq71rAnXWo
236Please respect copyright.PENANAxICncUeWLA
"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."236Please respect copyright.PENANASqtkaMrjQ4
236Please respect copyright.PENANAW18134xkLq
"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."236Please respect copyright.PENANAXdTugZum6T
236Please respect copyright.PENANAgLywKdtWVF
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAAEzqxu3ckh
236Please respect copyright.PENANAiMVRj42W6A
"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAHW63INagGG
236Please respect copyright.PENANA9xtLmerdKs
We nodded in unison.236Please respect copyright.PENANAnVmghnFVOQ
236Please respect copyright.PENANA26YPrenYDx
"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."236Please respect copyright.PENANAggY4RINqU3
236Please respect copyright.PENANAP80FaCTCht
–
–
–
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAHkxmm0Mvuz
236Please respect copyright.PENANAwnIjBkxLQH
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANA5wNym9hbwP
236Please respect copyright.PENANAcsnrwBnlbZ
"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"236Please respect copyright.PENANA1fUPmumIbX
236Please respect copyright.PENANAc2YQl985To
Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.236Please respect copyright.PENANAZrl84I8zNa
236Please respect copyright.PENANAglu69fqCy6
"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?"236Please respect copyright.PENANA5bXz3Sqm1w
236Please respect copyright.PENANAdlzRZA3yrK
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAHX9SLb6TRg
236Please respect copyright.PENANALrbDiSQ6ym
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."236Please respect copyright.PENANA09YSlmHgpj
236Please respect copyright.PENANARjiqaTh3hS
"Well... I won't deny that."236Please respect copyright.PENANAsRVarH5kQU
236Please respect copyright.PENANAiy3zvev34w
I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.236Please respect copyright.PENANA5YRkoZzKd1
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoqCkGEFxVZ
"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."236Please respect copyright.PENANAEsHKaMCA5B
236Please respect copyright.PENANAmpbu8JTFR7
"Again? What do you–?"236Please respect copyright.PENANApdMG3EAbdM
236Please respect copyright.PENANAEeBaXlXiuX
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.236Please respect copyright.PENANA9Cox2lDj7H
236Please respect copyright.PENANAYvrWN1Boxs
"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."236Please respect copyright.PENANAdBcyq4RWDS
236Please respect copyright.PENANAdaaG8Z04xF
He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.236Please respect copyright.PENANADsfpbGxubC
236Please respect copyright.PENANAdspjv1LO4b
"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."236Please respect copyright.PENANARqxDflxH2x
236Please respect copyright.PENANAE8w9beMdo0
"I didn't ask ya that."236Please respect copyright.PENANAaWQUKQQPXo
236Please respect copyright.PENANAlRc872JpWM
"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."236Please respect copyright.PENANAgDqvJ7b6Ei
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"That ain't surprising."236Please respect copyright.PENANAvaNgFDITdu
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."236Please respect copyright.PENANAFonj0Rzmau
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.236Please respect copyright.PENANAv6WLS8d7GE
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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."236Please respect copyright.PENANAi9cgOJ1ohd
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"Yeah? Like what?"236Please respect copyright.PENANAwXBAwwAsL3
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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."236Please respect copyright.PENANA8SPZmRTNz9
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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."236Please respect copyright.PENANA06GIFvW1ct
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."236Please respect copyright.PENANA5DqUCNQaz8
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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.236Please respect copyright.PENANArcixRjBIZj
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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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAFgQ97oxb6P
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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."236Please respect copyright.PENANA5f0aJI71RE
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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.236Please respect copyright.PENANAAk7GQaxxfJ
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."236Please respect copyright.PENANAkLXumtbGnB
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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–236Please respect copyright.PENANAwt7vsWbs2k
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"236Please respect copyright.PENANA6uLsZFl8Zv
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.