Disclaimer: I do not own Ib.

Colorless

Chapter 4

He stopped at the entrance and looked down at Ib. She met his gaze with excited eyes and a smile. She looked happier than she had in weeks, eyes sparkling and rosy cheeks. All he could feel was guilt because, regardless of her happy expression, the image looked incredibly lonely. Little Ib who could not go to school, who needed to stay cooped up in his dingy apartment. A tiny excursion, if this could even qualify as that, and she was glowing.

"You work here?"

He nodded in reply. He could delay no longer and moved to push open the door. The restaurant was small but warm. As always, there were few customers. Regulars who came for good service and the welcoming quiet atmosphere away from the fast-paced life outside. Nervously, he crouched down in front of Ib, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles on her shoulders. She had opted to wear her best outfit, the only clothes from before they had escaped. Hand now free from Garry's grasp, she had moved both of her arms to clutch her bunny and book to her chest.

"Time to meet the boss," he said, trying and failing to sound confident.

He placed a hand between her shoulders and led her behind the counter. The large male dressed in a button-up and slacks was turned away from them, speaking to a waiter. Garry trembled slightly as he waited for their conversation to end. Finally, the waiter nodded and, with a quick glance spared to gaze at Garry and then Ib, walked away. The boss turned to find himself looking straight into the eyes of Garry.

"What?" he asked, voice gruff.

"U-umm...," he stammered. "I want you to... I mean... This is..."

Ib moved forward, shifting her things into the cradle of her left arm. She smiled up at him reassuringly before bringing herself to the heavy set man's attention.

"Hello. My name is Ib," she stated in her soft, confident voice.

She held out her right hand. His boss stared at the offered hand, a perplexed look upon his face. He looked to Garry briefly before returning his attention to the child. Ib continued to look up at him expectantly. After an uncomfortably long moment of staring at each other, his boss finally grasped her small hand in his and shook it.

"Tony Burton."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Satisfied, she stepped back so she was once again beside her companion. They both turned to Garry for the necessary explanation.

"Good morning, Mr. Burton," he said, wincing as his voice squeaked. He cleared his throat and continued, "I'm taking care of Ib here and I would really appreciate it if she could hang around here during my shifts. I'd hate leaving her at home alone."

He conveniently left out the fact that he had been doing exactly that for a while now. Mr Burton regarded him with narrowed eyes and he tried not to squirm. Then, he gave a curt nod and walked away. Garry let out a relieved exhale and led Ib to a small table beside a window. He picked her up and placed her onto the too tall chair. She grinned up at him, placing the bunny on her lap. From its seat upon her legs, it's black button eyes barely reached over the surface of the table. Apparently she deemed that good enough and set the book into the table with a small thud. She opened it up to the first page. Garry smiled at the sight. Ruffling her hair, he excused himself and went to begin his work for the day.

It was almost time for lunch when Mrs Burton came out of the kitchens to greet him. She was the polar opposite of her husband. Petite and openly kind. The welcoming sort. She would often soothe the staff's frazzled nerves from working with her intimidating husband.

"Hello, Garry. How are you today?"

"I'm doing well, Mrs Burton. And you?"

"Fine, dear. Just fine."

"Can I help you with anything?"

"No, no. I'm fine," she assured him. "But I'd love to hear about the little one sitting at one of our tables."

"Oh, umm. That's Ib. I'm taking care of her for a while."

"Yes, I gathered that from Tony."

"Her parents are out of town. I was the only one available to take her. Sorry for the inconvenience."

"No inconvenience at all, dear. But shouldn't she be in school."

"O-oh. Umm," he floundered. He didn't have a lie for that.

Her smile dropped. "I won't ask too many questions, but please tell me you're supposed to have her."

He sighed, "Her parents are missing. No other family to speak of. No records of her either. I can't enroll her without some sort of record. They might take her away from me."

"Oh my." She nodded slowly, processing the new information. "Okay, Garry. She's welcome here anytime."

He smiled in relief. "Thanks."

She waved off his gratitude. "Why don't you go on your lunch break? I'll take care of her. I'd like to get to know her since I'll probably be seeing her often from now on."

He nodded and pulled off his apron. "I'll be back before my break is over. I want to spend some time with her too."

He was sitting on the same bench as usual. He had begun to doze off when he was startled awake by a hello. He looked up to see the woman he'd met the day before. She was in a long dress again, though this time it was yellow. Her red umbrella was open, shielding her from the sun as before. She at beside him, shifting her umbrella to provide shade for them both.

"How are you today Garry?"

"I'm fine. How are you Miss... I'm sorry, I don't think I ever caught your name."

She laughed, a tinkling sound like wind chimes. "I'm fine, thank you Garry. As for my name, I don't have one."

He sat up in surprise at the odd answer. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I have a title, I suppose. But me, as I am right now, I don't have a name."

"Oh. That... makes no sense at all."

She merely laughed.

"What's your… ummm…. title then?

"My title is exactly what I am."

"I still don't get it."

Grinning playfully, she replied, "In either case, think of one for me. People need names. Maybe you'll have one by the next time we meet. Ask your little friend even."

"Little friend?"

"Last time we talked about the sweetest child who had done me a great service. You said that you could relate. I assumed that meant you had a precious little friend of your own."

"...I do," he admitted reluctantly.

She seemed to know too much. He did not believe her assumptions were such at all. His name and now her knowledge of Ib. Not to mention the riddles she brought forth. There was something odd here.

He told her, "I'm not sure I trust you."

She looked him in the eye, more serious than he had ever seen her yet. "Good. Be careful who you trust."

He sat up, alarmed. "Who shouldn't I trust?"

She did not answer his question. Instead, she posed one of her own. "Isn't it about time you returned to work?"

Looking down at his watch, he was startled to realize she was right. He jumped up and mumbled a hasty apology. He ran back to work, leaving her sitting on the bench alone.

A/N: Well, I'm very happy to have been able to pump out another chapter. Things of importance happened but I've also established some setting here. Thank you all for reading this!

Until next time friendlies,

Dfsemina