Author's note:

You are warned: Songs will be sung. And mischief sprung.

Chapter 20 - Be Prepared

"What?" I asked with a purity that would have burned the devil.

Singing that abysmally unfortunate meat song was like the mental equivalent of dropping a nuke in the middle of this normal atmosphere. It did wonders to making everyone's expressions dumbfounded.

Of course, my brother, from the many years of conditioning, was unaffected.

Makin? Not so much.

I couldn't help but let my gaze pause at his eyes, and then take in the features of his face as they were paused into a discernable though adorable confusion. I want to touch his face.

Woah. Remember the boundaries, girl.

My brain kept me in line. Once again.

However, that didn't stop my hands from getting sweaty and my breathing to hike up as he stepped closer, laughing. I made him laugh. The idea of being able to inspire any sort of mirth made me want to cherish this as a personal achievement. Darn him. He needed to stop looking at me with those eyes.

I felt the blush fill into my cheeks and tried to pawn it off as the heat. "WOW. It really is hot today." I doubted I was convincing.

My head looked away for a moment, to the side, up towards the sky, anywhere but to the young man in front of me. And suddenly, I felt him hugging me, his well-built arms around me in a kind gesture. He was so close then, his breath on my skin…This is not helping. This is not helping…

But it's so nice.

NO.

Right. Friends.

DAMN RIGHT YOU ARE.

He was saying something to my brother, laughing some more after he stepped away. Acting like it was nothing and being frustratingly casual. It was like recovering from the shock of being knocked off your feet when I finally heard him speak to me.

"Should I ask what manner of song that was?" He was looking at me but I could tell it was almost as though he were asking himself. What a culture shock for him. And how unbelievably random, out of all the songs it could have been. Suddenly, I was feeling embarrassed. What the heck am I thinking?

You're not.

Oh…right.

"I think the real question is: Do you really want to know?" I asked back as I tried to distract my mind from his handsome features, which, unfortunately for me, was many.

There was this uncomfortable fluttering that kept doing things with my stomach. Did I unknowingly swallow that flock of pigeons that keep flying up around here?

"I will let you keep your secrets then." Makin shook his head and chucked, which proved to be the perfect combo to set my heart into a panic.

STOP.

BEING.

SO.

FREAKING.

CHARMING.

I closed my eyes tightly trying to fight off the feelings despite how unequipped I was for it. I was severely disadvantaged. He just had to look even more wonderfully attractive when he smiled (if that was even possible).

With timing that could not have been more perfect, a couple recognizable figures caught my eye and I more or less bolted towards the distraction. Stopping short before Khairiya, I noticed that it seemed that she was glowing. And as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Rashid had his hand around hers.

I would not be surprised if someone told me that Khairiya was a fairy. Just a beautiful fairy that came from a magical land of kindness and rainbows. She is beautiful. This woman is beautiful. And I could see that Rashid knew it.

His eyes lit up as though he had just noticed me. It must have been the the shining halo around Khairiya that distracted him. I didn't take it personally. "Kay-len! You are here!"

"Yeah." My eyes rapidly switched between them. "Seems a natural thing since I sleep and eat here."

He laughed. "Your witty quips. I love it! Haha!" All of this positive reception coming from the normally solemn man was almost shocking. Khairiya was a a very beneficial influence. For me. And everyone else (I suppose). "Tell me, how fares the company of your brother and Makin in comparison to our companionship?"

"Hmm." I played at contemplation and crossed my arms. "In my final consensus...you two are far superior."

Khairiya was giggling as my brother pointed and shouted, "Traitor."

"An unfair advantage based on favoritism." Makin deduced most expertly towards Rashid and the man couldn't help but start laughing again.

I shrugged. "At least I'll never be accused of nepotism."

"I respect your priorities, Kay-lin." Rashid said.

Nodding, I responded. "Thank you, sir."

A mischievous thought took me then. It hijacked my mind with the intention of acting as childish as possible. I was high on the positive atmosphere. How safe it felt here. How awesome everything was.

Yeah. Everything is so fricking awesome right now. You know what else I categorized as awesome? Singing.

"Let's get together…" I turned to Rashid in time to see the smile drop off his face. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"No." He sounded very strongly about this input.

"But-"

"No." He repeated sternly. And that. Was that.

Staring into his dark eyes, I mentally sent my challenge of disobedience. I think he read it clearly enough. He attempted to reply with a look equivalent to "Don't you dare do the thing". It was very older brotherly of him. Kind of adorable.

It was even more adorable how he thought that I would actually do what I was told. So I was going to do the thing.

Naturally, I let out a bellowing whale song of: "You can't STOP THE BEAT!"

Ryan thumped his fists to his chest. He replied to my whale cry with a roar. "EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A CAT!" A clear display of dominance...I think.

Not about to outdone, I sung back. My arms flung back as though ready for God's graces to rain down on me. "AND I JUST CAAAN'T WAIT TO BE KING!"

Ryan nearly conceded, pointing at me and mouthing, Good one. But then, like a warrior underdog at his last ounce of strength, he was back in the game. "I WANNA BE LIKE YOOOU! HUMAN TOO!"

"GIRLS. JUST WANNA HAVE FUUUNNN!"

He paused. "I thought we were sticking strictly to Disney."

"I don't recall that being a written rule." I shrugged. "And I think this means you lost since you broke our momentum."

He crossed his arms, mirroring me. "I don't recall that being a written rule." What a little shit. Though I couldn't help but be almost impressed at how quickly he turned the tables on me. Our interactions weren't always like this, you know.

Though I was correct in the fact that our patterned running gag was now over because of his timing in commentary. Such a shame. I was such a stickler for karaoke. Unfortunately, karaoke wasn't a well known thing here. As were electronic screens. Or microphones.

I was gazing off into the distance and heard my brother sing softly, "Sing, sweet nightingale. Sing, sweeeeet nightingaaalee."

"You're going to need bubbles for this number." I thought on it. "And possibly a soprano voice." And a cat named Lucifer to ruin all your hard work.

"I can sing it however I please." He sounded like a sassy indignant teenager being told they couldn't eat thier birthday cake a certain way. Oddly specific, but it fit nonetheless.

Especially when he added: "Don't hate me cause' I'm perfect." If his hair wasn't cropped short, I'm sure he would have attempted a hair flip. I was almost disappointed. It would have been glorious to behold.

There was a silence then. Khairiya, bless her heart, the was the one to break it. "We should head inside."

Everyone practically stumbled and tripped on their way out of the awkwardness. "Uh, yeah. That's a good idea." I was saying in chorus of the other sounds of approval.

You find out early on that when Faridah cooks, the air feels heavy and laden with smells. The humidity is thick and uncomfortable. Usually, it wasn't so bad. I didn't mind because food. But this time, the occasion was something that involved a little more than just Ryan, me, and her tonight. Faridah had this sort of sixth sense of constant awareness of her surroundings. Particularly when it involved her long missed son and her future daughter in law.

I don't know when she figured that the two would be making a visit, but I could tell she was prolonging this "visit" into a "stay for a while" or "stay forever". I mean, I know I planned for this get together but I wasn't even sure that Khairiya and Rashid were actually going to come.

They were so caught up in each other. Love was the spider that spun the web and they were the caught up in all of it. I'm surprised they actually came on time. Or even had a perception of time.

We all noticed. And pretended not to. They weren't constantly displaying affections towards each other, but the conversations they were having with their hand holding and eyes were enough. Believe me. Even when you had your back facing them, you still knew.

Still, as long as Khairiya was happy (and I guess Rashid too), that was what mattered. That's what I kept thinking to myself while we all walking in awkward discomfort. Faridah, upon seeing her children, was elated. Look at that woman. Acting like she is surprised they came.

"Oh my! Visitors!" She threw her hands up and turned to me. "Kay-lin, you did not tell me they would be coming." This was said by the woman who had spent the past couple of hours preparing a truckload of food. We all know that wasn't just for the three of us. Let's be real, now.

(I love food. But that's just overkill.)

"Oh gosh, it completely slipped my mind." I said, hand to my forehead. "This must be so embarrassing."

"Silly girl, you will be the end of me." I highly doubt that. The end wouldn't come for her unless she allowed it to. She tittered like a disappointed parent and then turned her maternal wiles onto Khairiya. "Come in, my dear. It was been too long."

"But...you only saw me just yesterday...mother." Khairiya was unused to people being so pushy in their affections. This, at least, was something that I think she would enjoy getting used to. For a long time, she had no family and now she was reunited with her own and had another to add on very soon.

Rashid was unable to guard Khairiya from his mother as she firmly drew the Khairiya inside and insisted she sit down. He was smiling. It had been a long while since he had been home too.

Ryan, Makin and I found our seats just fine without Faridah's help. Ryan sat across from me and Makin, all too consciously for my taste, sat beside me. I went out of my way to stare ahead to Ryan only, making only small glances at Makin when he spoke out of consideration.

Our legs were so close. Nearly touching.

Calm down. It's not like you guys are going to immediately start making out the moment you touch. Or burst into flames.

What's the difference?

"I think we're being ignored." Makin was commenting with a smile. A perfect smile. Damn.

Ryan shrugged. "Hey, as long as we get to eat, right?" Good to see that my brother's priorities were in order.

"I wonder if Nadir is actually going to show up today." The comment came out a little more bitter than I intended. I was a little too desperate to distract myself and keep the conversation going.

"Aw, come on, Kaylyn. I know you don't know him that well, but he is a really good guy. He saved me, you know."

I nodded. Ryan told me before. Still, it was hard to sympathize from an outsider's perspective. So far, Nadir was always too "busy" to come and have dinner with his wife. More than often.

"His work is important. He does not enjoy being away from the people he cares about but...the work he does goes into protecting the people he cares about." Makin added.

"And this sort of work is what you're training for, correct?"

"Yes." He sounded proud.

"But you can't tell me the specifics of exactly what job this is, correct?"

"...Yes." At least he had the consideration to sound hesitant.

"Sorry, Kaylyn." My brother looked at me with a sympathetic smile.

I nearly lost it. "Oh for fudge's sake. Ryan knows?!" Was this a guy exclusive thing? Was there a "no girls allowed" policy pertaining to this job? What the fuck.

Ryan back pedaled so fast. "I don't know everything." He was shaking his hands at me as though to stop the impending anger that was bubbling over my head. "It's just that working for Khairiya's dad involves sometimes doing stuff with Nadir's people."

"Oh my god. You guys are doing shady stuff, aren't you?"

"What? No. I would never." He gestured to Makin who was too much in shock to speak. "We would never."

"Is it drugs?"

"It is nothing of that sort." Makin finally responded. Though I think I heard a little bit of laughter in his voice.

"But it's illegal, isn't it?"

Looking at Makin, I judged I was right. He almost looked nervous. And then his expression turned to something that looked so desperately self righteous. It was like a kid trying to prove he was an adult. "What we do is for the good of everyone."

"I'm sure that is what Hitler said at a certain point."

"Kaylyn!" Well, I just scandalized Ryan. I finally broke him.

"Who?" Makin asked.

Ryan intervened before my snarky comeback. "No one you guys ever need to worry about for a long time."

I tapped my fingers together. "Now you just sound ominous. Don't be pulling a Nostradamus, Ryan. People take prophecies seriously here."

"Stop with the abstract name dropping." Ryan gripped my hand as though trying to pull me from perdition. "Trust me when I say that these people are bad." Maybe I was blowing this out of proportion. Wouldn't be the first time.

"But they need personalized weapons?"

"People commision weapons all the time."

"That's different." I persisted, pointing a finger. "That's obviously for personal reasons. But you and Angry Man are taking multiple orders from an obvious organization."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and tried not to die from the surprise human contact. "Kay-lin, at least trust my word. Nadir and I would not be involved with an group that was committing atrocities and are questionable in morality."

I almost couldn't hear what he was saying, too distracted by the warmth coming from his palm. It felt nice. I had to grip my hands from touching him back.

What is wrong with you?!

"S-sure." It was like taking a pie out of the oven and tripping and falling into it just before you got it to the window will to air out. "Okay." Not one of my most graceful responses.

Ryan noticed. "Sure? Okay?" He looked offended. "You're willing to argue with me until the ends of the earth about this and all Makin has to do is tell you it's okay and you're up for it?"

"I never said that." I snapped. But then I softened, looking down at my hands. "But I know Nadir and Makin are good people so...I guess we can just leave it at that."

Ryan was looking expectantly at me. I didn't know what he wanted. Being siblings didn't give us a mental psychic connection that allowed for brain conversations. Unfortunately. "What?"

"You still want him to come though, don't you?"

I sighed. "Yeah. That'd be nice." We all turned to look at Rashid, sitting beside Khairiya and catching up the day with his mom. He looked really happy. And Nadir was missing out on it.

"If he comes, he needs to be punished though."

"What? Why?" Ryan was stretching his arms out towards me like a cat. Listening, but not really. "I thought we were going to be happy if he even bothers to show up."

"Because he hasn't been here for the longest time already." He wasn't going to get away with that. Work may be work, but family is forever. Family moments were supposed to be priceless and crap. I don't know why I suddenly took on the mantle of family counselor, but being reunited with my bro did things. Emotional stuff.

"So...help me think of a theme song for him." If the son wasn't so keen on it, I figured the father wouldn't be either.

"You. Are evil." Ryan pointed with a smirk.

"It's not like it's illegal or anything." I countered. "It's a prank."

"You can't excuse everything by saying it's a prank, Kaylyn."

"Who said it was an excuse?" I grinned. "It's a reason."

Ryan turned to Makin, leaning forward. "I tell ya, she's evil."

"She doesn't look evil." I blushed as he looked at me.

"Yeah well, Lucifer was the most beautiful of the angels before he fell from heaven, you know."

"Ryan!" My eyes went wide with shock. I grabbed his hands and wrenched him towards me so he could see the whites of my eyes. "I had no idea you knew Bible stories." And then I realized the implication that my brother insinuated that I was beautiful and chose to ignore it. Besides, he compared me to Lucifer. That's hardly a compliment.

He pulled back. "I learned it from you." That tone sounded a bit mutinous, but I let it slide.

Mostly because I was in awe. "I'm...so proud." Is this what teachers feel like when they students actually listen and are able to forward the lessons they learned? Beautiful. But now it was time for specifics to be clarified. "I should have you know that Lucifer is technically not evil. He isn't really the advocate for evil as he is the purger of what he thinks is evil. He hates sinners."

"So I guess that makes him the perfect judge when it comes to those who go to hell?"

"Yup. Merciless." And then I remembered. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Nadir's swan song? What is it going to be?"

It was hard to throw Ryan into a loop. He changed lanes flawlessly. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking The Lion King song list."

Makin was looking on, thoroughly confused. Took a wrong turn and lost down reference street where he didn't recognize anything. And the further he went, the deep the chasm from which there was no escape. "The Lion King? Is this a story?"

"A children's story." Ryan surmised. "I think. Disney is kid stuff, right, Kaylyn?"

I paused. Somehow I found myself thinking of Mufasa being thrown off the cliff by Scar. "Uhhhh...yeah...technically. I mean, yes. Yes, it is."

"You were thinking of the death scene, weren't you?"

"Yeah." I answered. Turning to Makin, I found it easier to talk to him about fratricide in a children's movie with anthropomorphic lions. "King gets killed by his brother and makes the son feel like it's his fault." And that was how I summarized the main conflict of the The Lion King.

"How dishonorable." Makin looked genuinely disturbed. "Does the villain get punished in the end?"

"Yes." Ryan and her exchanged a look as we remembered simultaneously. Remembered how horrifying of a death Scar received at the hands of his starved goons. "Eaten alive by hyenas."

My brother's line of thinking was malicious. "Be Prepared." He turned to me, his head resting on his hand casually. "That's the song. That's his song."

I gaped. "And you're calling me evil?" I lightly slapped his arm and he moved away with an impish grin. What happened to the honor student? The angelic treasure child? But I had to admit the brilliancy did shine. No matter how malevolent a glow it was.

"I am almost curious." Makin commented.

"You're going to be full up curious, my friend." Ryan slapped his hands on the table in his excitement.

Ryan was always disappointed he never had the guts to officially join Drama during high school. And when he stood up, I could feel all that pent up energy was finally being let out. I suspected he suggested this song with this ulterior motive in mind. "I know that your powers of retention, are as wet as a warthog's backside…"

"But thick as you are…" He faked a swipe as me. "PAY ATTENTION!"

"Oh dear!" I mock gasped.

"My words are a matter of pride." Oh hell, I never realized the puns in this song before. "It's clear from your vacant expressions…The lights are not all on upstairs.

But we're talking kings and succession…" He pointed to me. "Even YOU, can't be caught unawares."

The energy was becoming infectious and I was standing too as we sung the next lines in sync. "So prepare for a chance of a lifetime! Be prepared for sensational news!" Ryan was clearly absorbed…no, drowned within the song. We were past the point of no return. "A shining new era, is tip toeing nearer…"

A solo line. "But where do we feature?"

He patted my head. "Just listen to teacher. I know it sounds sordid but you'll be rewarded, when at last I am given my dues! And injustice deliciously squared! BE PREPAREEED!"

Skipping the speaking part, I started singing. "It's great that we'll soon be connected, with a king who'll be all time adored!"

"But of course, quid pro quo, you're expected…To take certain duties on board." He's in a trance. Lost to the musical arts.

"The future is littered with prizes, and though I'm the main addressee, the point that I must emphasize is…" He paused as he quickly turned to me. "YOU WON'T GET A SNIFF WITHOUT ME!"

And then in sync again. "So prepare for the coup of the century! Be prepared for the murkiest scam!" This is impressive vocabulary for a kid's movies. "Meticulous planning! Tenacity spanning! Decades of denial! Is simply why I'll…be king undisputed, respected, saluted and see for the wonder I am! Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared! Be PREPARED!"

A short breath. "Yes, our teeth and ambitions are BARED! BE PREPAREEEEEED!"

We sat in our seats and I could feel the tingle of excitement start to wear from my body. The tickling feeling was still numbing my fingers. Little shakes, twitching as though ready to tap dance on that table.

For some reason, we were both heavily breathing as though recovering from a marathon run. Ryan was rosey, and I could feel my face possibly looking the same shade of red. We were looking at each other incredulously. Did we really just do that?

I could hear the stunned silence. Faridah, Khairiya and Rashid were no longer talking. Fuck. We did. We done fucked up. Shit.

I just relived my childhood through a performance of embarrassment. Ten out of ten would not recommend.

Surprisingly, I was the first to speak. It was easier to talk to my brother, so I chose him. "What? No maniacal laughter at the end?"

"I thought it would have been overkill." He was putting his hands on his face and then tousling his hair.

It was my turn to laugh. "Don't you think we're way past that?"

"Good point." He gestured to me and laughed again in return.

"What is the meaning of this uproar?" And there he was. Nadir on cue. "Surely no laughter is being made without my aid."

That was when I realized that the swan song wasn't a theme. It wasn't background music. It was a summon song. "We must use this power for good." I whispered.

"Nadir, you actually came!" Ryan exclaimed.

"Actually?" An eyebrow was incredulously raised. "But of course. I could not deny invitation so insistently sent by your lovely sister."

"Don't even bother flattering." I waved off the compliment, though I could still feel the heat in my cheeks. "Besides, shouldn't you be talking to a certain someone you're lawfully wedded to?"

Whatever I kept throwing at him, Nadir was able to catch it and juggle with ease. He was a ballerina on a trapeze with a winning smile. I wanted to be angry at him, but you just couldn't. He was flouncing towards his wife like a bird about to court its mate. "My darling."

"Don't darling me, my husband. You have been away." I could always count on Faridah being blunt. She didn't even bother cutting him slack. Even Rashid knew better than to try and save his father from the fire I tossed him in.

Yet again, he acted as though he were dancing on clouds instead of coals. As his wife began taunting and making pointed remarks about his "uselessness" and his repeated absences, everyone was cringing. Nadir, though being the actual target of these insult arrows, didn't flinch once. His calm demeanor remained unbroken, and his wife's cruel words were nothing more than wind blowing against a mountain. What the hell. How are you human?

After a few minutes passed, he finally spoke. Still full of endearments. "Sunshine of my life. As usual, you are not without truth with your daggered words. All of these I deserve." He whirled around her and touched her shoulder just briefly. "I apologize for my lateness, my absence and my uselessness. You deserve a far better husband than I."

He drew closer. "Let us enjoy the company of our new daughter and our reunited son alongside treasured friends."

It was then that Nadir gently kissed his wife on the cheek. It was the ultimate weapon that caused her walls to crumble before our eyes. Though when he was in front of her once more, she hardened. Though it was not the same. Her heart was no longer in it. "I accept your apology, husband." She drew away when he tried to embrace her. "But only if you will help with the setting of the tables. You bring more guests, you be responsible for them."

"I would not have it any other way." Nadir insisted. I almost liked him. He was genuine in his feelings. And you could see in the way he adored her. This woman was someone he was still deeply in love with. Was someone he was more than happy to come home to, even if she insulted him all the way.

There were too many cute romantic relationships in this room. None of them involving me. I couldn't help but feel a little insulted. Just a little.

Makin began walking forward, towards the doorway and it was finally then that I realized that Nadir actually brought more than just himself. Aren't you perceptive?

Shut up.

Two people stood at the door that I never anticipated ever really showing up cause'...well, I didn't know them that well to be honest. We had only met briefly. Still, I could feel my throat tighten in response, my body telling me to shut up for once and let things unfold.

Malik gripped Makin to him with his one arm in an embrace. "Look at you. Growing so fast." He laughed as Makin shyly swayed from one leg to the other, trying to look modest.

"Hah. You act as if the boy can take credit for growing." Abbas was looking on, his arms crossed, ever the social maker. "Unless you speak of him growing sideways, I do not think him talented in height." Abbas was still so charming.

Of course, Makin shot him a burning look. And of course, Abbas shrugged it off because Makin's level of fire look wasn't yet high enough. Regardless of his aloof manner, I could still sense he was somewhat pleased to be here. I think. I couldn't tell, he always looked miffed. Like a cat.

And like a cat, he seemed to type to never really openly admit when he was happy or when he was pleased with someone.

I would have never figured Malik and Abbas to be interacting with one another. Mostly because their personalities didn't seem to click, but when you were both from the same group...cult...thing (I don't know, Ryan still refuses to tell me), I guess there is a sort of brothership that forms.

"Don't make me regret bringing you, Abbas." Malik warned. Even brothers did not always get along.

Abbas smirked. "I only came to help you, my brother. Should you ever need assistance."

Malik flinched at the word "brother", but said nothing to chastise him. His face was no longer friendly. At least, in direction to Abbas. "Perhaps you could assist less with your mouth and more with your actions."

I'm sorry. This sounded like an opening to a bad porno. I had a really inappropriate need to burst out laughing. Don't. Laugh. This is serious stuff, Kaylyn!

"Please. Both of you, sit down." Faridah stepped forward.

She was like a lion ready to pounce. Anyone who knew her for a good amount of time could tell that though she looked friendly enough at this moment, she was actually very displeased. An argument was occurring at her doorstep and she wanted things to be perfect for her boy. Her son and her new daughter in law. And this was just ruining the moment.

The two men looked at the average set woman going into her fifties, grey hairs assimilating and forming in her tight bun. And then they finally realized that they had crossed the line and this lioness was not happy. I was impressed at their receptiveness.

Though I think Nadir standing behind his wife and giving the two of them a warning look probably helped a lot.

"We apologize for our squabbling, mistress. I hope you will still accept us into your lovely home as guests." Malik even bowed. Abbas repeated similar apologies and bowed as well. It did not feel out of place. I found that Faridah responds well to suppliance when it is genuine. From personal experience, unfortunately.

Her hands were on her hips as she looked at both of them as though judging them at death's door where they should go to the afterlife.

This was supposed to be a normal dinner. A normal get together between friends and family. Did other families and friends do this? Probably not. They were normal people who didn't get involved with weaponry and running around and singing spontaneously on the fly. For fuck's sake, this is terrifying. We are terrifying.

It was starting to make sense why the neighbors avoided us.

Her pause her purposefully long. She watched those two grown men. Men who were probably skilled in fighting. Men who probably killed a man their lifetime. But she watched them. She was the predator. And she wanted them- dared them -to show weakness.

But Malik and Abbas were stronger in countenance than what she assumed. Their faces were immovable. Their bodies still bent forward in respect. How long is she going to make them hold that position?

And then, it finally happened. Just when I was beginning to believe this woman was going to go for the finishing move and strangle her prey with her lean muscles. Her arms relaxed in her normal neutral state and she said, "Well come in then." And that was it.

Malik and Abbas walked in as though nothing odd had occurred. As though it were normal. Though I saw them give looks to Nadir. It looked to be a mild hint of wariness. They seemed to be clearly aware of the fact that they had more or less stood at death's door and was spared.

Nadir only shrugged with a smile and then turned to his wife, giving her another kiss on the corner of her lips and then her forehead. Unapologetic for his wife's actions, he almost looked proud. This was, after all, her territory.

Faridah swiped at her husband for his public displays of affection, but did so with a slight smile before heading back into the kitchen. "Swipe that smile off your face, husband."

"Of course, sunshine." Nadir replied effortlessly.

The atmosphere was feeling more calm, as though finally at rest after a storm. Everything was falling back into place with a more comfortable silence that trickled into cordial talking. Makin was talking more with Malik, Abbas and Nadir. Man talk. Probably. I don't know. I don't care.

I figured it was likely to do with their secret organization business. Whatever.

Ryan looked at me and we stood to go help Faridah set up in the kitchen. On the way, Ryan tapped Nadir on the shoulder. "Dude, you said you were going to help."

Ryan. What the fuck. You can't call everyone "dude". But if Nadir thought it an odd mannerism, he did not comment on it. He responded with the same usual friendly smile. "I will be there in a moment." Apparently the secret stuff was super important.

By the time Ryan and I were setting the first two plates of hot food, Nadir had returned beside his wife, setting up what was left. He was quick. And admittedly, he was also able to carry more dishes than us with insane skill in balance. I wasn't comfortable with carrying more than two. You know, because I only have two hands.

But Nadir had everything set and balanced on his slender arms, somehow managing to set the food down without spilling anything. "It's not a contest, Nadir." I muttered. I was unused to the big plates and copious amounts of food that weighed far more than our usual humble meals.

When the food was set up and ready, things really started to lighten up. Everyone was less tense. Conversations started to flow more naturally.

I even found it easier to look people in the face while we talked.

Of course, the conversation eventually came to Ryan and me singing. And naturally, Abbas charmingly asked if we were drunk during this performance. To which I replied that we were underage. And then remembered that age limits didn't exist.

Before I could explain what I meant, Faridah burst at Abbas. Something along the lines of "Just what are you implying? You think me irresponsible a caretaker of these children to allow such consumption?" Something like that. We all knew she wasn't that serious though and laughed as she joined in with us.

Faridah leaned over and touched me cheek. She told my brother and I how, if we wanted, we were more than welcome to try the alcoholic "sweat" that her husband was so fond of. To which her husband indignantly responded that he was no longer drinking that dribble anymore.

Overall, it was just a lot of laughing. I was comforted being beside my brother. Eventually got used to Makin sitting beside me. Eventually got used to him touched my shoulder friendly and speaking to me while looking me in the face.

I think, during that time, we were finally acting like normal people for once.

At times, I would doze off a bit and feel a tingling sensation rush over me. Was that the sound of glass bless chiming near my ear? A rush of vivid sounds would ripple within my hearing range. I think I heard an unfamiliar woman speaking. Saying something. I don't remember it now.

No. I am imagining things.

My mind felt lighter.

...It was a good night.