The parts had been obtained! Newton felt like he deserved a sticker after all that effort. One of those shiny ones of course, not those bland old paper-y ones that came off with just one scratch. The parts were second hand, a little worn around the edges, but they looked good enough- good enough to get him home at least. It was a little (a lot of) effort for the weak muscles on his arms to tug his loot back to Liesl's, but with her help they made it back in under half an hour, in time to have lunch. Which was… seared tuna sandwiches.

Newton wanted to ask why it was necessary to toast the tuna like that; it just made it hard and chewy, but Liesl seemed to like it, and remembering the coffee incident, Newton decided to just be quiet and eat it. It tasted alright. It was enough food to think on, at least.

As he had established a few hours prior, Liesl wasn't a mechanic. That didn't stop her from keeping him company, however, and singing little repetitive tunes over… and over… and OVER…

Newton had rolled up his sleeves and was examining the main bulk of the engine. It was a complete wreck. Pipes had fallen out of place, the oil had leaked… he'd need to take it all out, clean it, and then reassemble the damn thing, and with what; his head, and the screwy stash of old tools he had hiding in the back of his air ship? He tiredly rubbed at his face as his situation sunk in, and caught a glimpse of the smear of oil he had just wiped across his forehead in the reflection of the ship's panelling. So that was it. He really did look like an idiot.

His life was just one mistake after the next. He wondered if his Papa was looking for him, and what thoughts were going through his head. He was probably worrying about what small village, town, or city Newton had managed to destroy in his absence. Distracted, he managed to lose his grip on a pipe he had just pulled from the engine, and cursed as it hit the ground and sent another splash of oil smack into his shirt. That was another thing… He didn't even have a change of clothes. Asking Liesl to borrow some was a possibility, he supposed… but he'd probably end up with a dress, and wasn't particularly enthralled by the idea.

Giving a great sigh, he leant down and retrieved the engine part from the ground. How was he supposed to piece it back together when he was making such a mess of just taking it apart?

"So, you going to tell me why you're scowling at that pipe?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Liesl…"

"I mean, it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but that's not it's fault." She went on lightly, making his eye twitch.

"And you did just drop it on the floor, it's probably not in the best mood either-"

"Will you stop that?" He spun around and glared at her. "This isn't funny! You have no idea how difficult this is! Maybe not in theory, but it is for me! So just- be quiet!"

He got the silence he had asked for, but in return received a strange frown from her.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled out, not quite feeling sorry at all. His mind was a little too fried for that right now.

"Seriously, what's up? You keep mumbling about your Papa-" She frowned, "Yesterday, when you were choosing parts, and now?"

Newton studied her wearily. "I had a fight with him before I left. He… said some things that, well, hurt! So I ran off… and got myself intro trouble, again. The exact problem we were arguing about before I left." He sighed.

"Said some things…? Huh…"

"Yes… To be honest, chum, when I released the titans, that wasn't the first or the last time I've caused trouble for others and my family. Really, it seems like that's all I ever do. No matter what I do, it never works out. For me… for anyone." He sat down on the ground, elbows on his knees, chin on his hands. "I just feel like I shouldn't make decisions for myself anymore! Hah… heh…"

He came back to himself, and shook his head to clear it. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you all this."

"No, it's okay. My dad tells me the same stuff. That I can't be alone, I can't make it on my own, yadda yadda." Liesl nudged him, "I kind of believed him, but then I realised that he can say whatever he wants, but it doesn't change who I am."

"That's… that's deep, Liesl." Newton chuckled.

"It's true though!"

He recalled her earlier criticism of her town, and frowned to himself. "If you know it's true… and you want to leave… then why don't you, then?"

At this, Liesl stopped short in her tracks. "I… I don't know." She admitted. "I guess I just feel like I have to do what he says…?"

Newton smiled. "So, you know that what he says doesn't have to define you, but… you still, well, live by his rules?"

Liesl stared at the ground for so long, Newton worried over whether he had offended her. But then, to his surprise, she laughed loudly.

"Yep! I guess… I guess I do. The thing is, it's one thing to know those wise things, but actually… doing them and believing them is a different thing."

She looked at him then, and a sudden wave of what looked like… anger?! Washed over her face.

"But that doesn't mean you can't stop criticising yourself over every little thing! It's bad enough they do it, why do it to yourself?" Before he could reply, Liesl continued, "If they want to tell you that you're wrong, then fine, but… Well, I've decided to not do the same thing to myself. And I've decided- you're not going to do that either! So stop being an arse!"

Huh.

Newton watched and saw her gasping for breath. Not surprising. She had just given that speech without stopping for a single pause. No matter how wise the words were…the pure childish anger he had just witnessed was… well, it was… kind of… funny.

He started to giggle.

"What now?" Liesl's brows knitted together in a frown.

Newton sighed, still slightly giddy. "So I suppose… You've taken over from my Papa now in telling me what to do?"

"N-no! I didn't meant to- argh! It's just…"

Newton giggled, and winked at her. "Oh, I'm just kidding you, Liesl. I understand what you mean. I think. And… I think you're right."

"So… you got my point?" She placed her hands on her hips.

"That you were trying to tell me to not be my own enemy, because I have plenty of them in other people already. Carrying their criticisms along with me won't necessarily make me a better person if I only use them against myself."

Liesl blinked very slowly. "What? What kind of fancy pants language are you speaking?" She snorted, "All I was telling you to do was to stop letting other people's opinions get you down."

"Exactly." He tucked his hands in his coat pockets and beamed at her. "I just modified the phrasing slightly, you know- got rid of the rude angry bits."

"Rude, angry bits?" Liesl blushed. "H-hey! Ugh, what do I have to do to get you to loosen up and try it a little yourself?"

He scoffed, then nudged her with his shoulder. "Another heart felt speech of yours might do the trick."

Shoving him to the side, she faced as if to walk back into the house. "You wish." Then, almost shyly, she looked over her shoulder. "I'll… get more snacks. You're going to need more fuel to finish this job."

"Yes, I know." Newton replied, looking up at his ship and smiling. "Thank you, Liesl."

Damn stupid posh country bumpkin making her feel things… Liesl grumbled to herself as she closed the door to the backyard and stepped inside the house. She couldn't remember having spoken to anyone without either a- profuse swearing or, b- with stuttering.

Her shoes made a soft clicking noise against the terracotta tiles as she made her way to the cupboard where she hid all her snacks away. Being as he was, her Father wasn't really into the idea of her stuffing her face with 'junk' every so often whilst binge watching anime. A secret stash was the only way to hide her beloved treats.

"Bourbons or Custard creams…? Bourbons… Custard creams…" She weighed each packet up in her hands. "Bourbons… … … ?"

An out of place creak from upstairs caught her attention, and she had all of her snacks packed back in the false bottom of a drawer in an instant. Her eyes narrowed.

Expertly creeping across the floor (making loud tapping noises with her shoes) and sidling up the stairs silently (each step creaking as she stepped on it) and heading into the direction of the noise, she began to hear a faint mumbled voice. It kind of sounded like her Father; odd, he wasn't usually home during the day. She had assumed he had left early in the morning as he always did, before she had woken up.

"… need the money by next month. I've waited long as it is- you know how difficult things are right now."

Difficult? Since when were they poor? They were living in a mini mansion, for goodness sakes. Well, maybe one in Heatmore, but that kept mortgage low- so wouldn't that be even less reason for them to be struggling? She began to pick at the ribbon around her waist. It was a pity she couldn't hear whos voice was on the other side of the phone… it would certainly be interesting to know what kind of person her father trusted with his finances.

"If we're to relocate by the end date, I'm going to need some compensation! I don't care if the project hasn't been completed- sell what you've found already!"

Relocate?

She heard the phone being slammed down, followed by angry mutters. He was definitely in a foul mood; she'd clear out before he found her eavesdropping.

Even so, she couldn't get the one-sided conversation she'd heard out of her head. She must have been wearing quite a confused frown on her face when she re-joined Newton in the backyard, because he asked her how she was. Liesl wasn't sure whether to tell him or not. He was cute, and seemed nice and naïve enough, but… Maybe now wasn't the right time. Instead, she tried to forget about it, and enjoyed some nice bourbons with the strange traveller now staying at her house. And maybe pinching one or two of his share when he wasn't looking. And then denying it.