Portia stared at the door from across the street, glaring at the house. How dare Leela saunter back into her life. It wasn't enough to have been a nuisance when they were children; now she had to rob her of Apollon's affections.
Portia would have serious words with her. Leela had better back off or else.
Suddenly, the door opened. "Portia!" Leela called. "Hi there!"
"'Ey, Leela," said Portia.
"Hey, come here!" said Leela. "I want to thank you!"
"Thank me?" Portia snarled to herself. "What do you want to thank me for?"
Portia walked through the gate to Leela's beckoning hand. "Thank you," said Leela. "For saving my papa."
"I didn't 'ave anything to do with that," Portia said coldly. "Apollon did that."
Leela frowned. "I thought…"
"You thought wrong," Portia snapped.
"Well, Apollon also told me you helped him find me!" Leela clasped Portia's hands. "Thank you so much! I was so glad to find out he wasn't a spy."
"You're welcome," Portia muttered. Leela didn't seem to be picking up on her tone.
"Come in!" Leela said brightly. "I'm sure we have a lot to talk about!"
Portia glared at her. "Yeah," she said. "We do."
Leela led Portia into the house. Portia's father looked up briefly from his datapad and raised two fingers in greeting. Portia followed Leela upstairs.
"This is a nice 'ouse," said Portia enviously as they entered Leela's room.
"I know!" Leela beamed. "I adore Pasir."
Leela frowned. "I suppose you haven't been living in the best of conditions here. I'm sorry. That must be awful."
"I get by," Portia muttered.
"Nice jacket, though," Leela smiled. "I like it."
Portia looked down. "Yeah. Pollon gave this to me."
"Aw," Leela sighed. "He's so thoughtful."
"Thoughtful an' clueless," Portia muttered. Leela didn't hear her. She sat down.
"So…" said Leela hesitantly as she sat on her bed, "how did you your family come to move to Pasir?"
Portia chewed her lip. "My pa wasted all 'is money on sabacc. That moulee-rah your dad dropped on us? All gone." Portia spat. "My parents could never be content with what they 'ad, even when they 'ad it all. When we 'ad it all. Selfish sleemos."
"I'm sorry," said Leela, touching Portia's arm. Portia suppressed a recoil.
"I don't want your pity," Portia growled.
"But I don't pity you," Leela replied. "It's your parents I pity. I can't begin to guess how the Force allowed such horrible people to exist. But you… You're not like them."
Leela shook her head. "It's not pity. It's sympathy. I know what it's like to live with them."
"Well, they did treat you a fair bit worse," Portia pointed out. Then she stopped. She remembered her parents hadn't been the only ones to make Leela's childhood a living hell.
And yet here she was, speaking to her as a friend. It was as if Leela had forgotten Portia's part in her misery.
And Portia meant to accuse her of ruining her life.
Portia's eyes began to water. Leela looked at her with concern. Wordlessly, she offered her arm. Portia accepted the hug and let the tears fall on Leela's shoulder. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry for everything. For 'ow I treated you."
Leela patted her back soothingly. "It's alright. You were a kid. You were acting by your parents' example. But you've grown past that. You're a good person, Portia. I can feel that."
Portia began to sob. "No I'm not!"
Leela squeezed Portia tight as she bawled into her shoulder, shushing her gently. "You poor thing," Leela murmured. "It's okay now. Everything is going to be alright."
Portia lifted her head and Leela let go. Portia wiped her leathery nose. She was at a loss for words for Leela's kindness, how easily she had forgiven her.
"The bucketheads seized your home," said Leela.
"It wasn't 'ome," Portia murmured.
"Where have you been living?" asked Leela with concern.
"'Ere an' there," Portia mumbled. "Qualdo's got an ol' tower 'e's livin' in. 'E lets me come over whenever I want."
"Qualdo?" Leela furrowed her brow.
"You know," said Portia. "The baby. 'E's eight years old now."
"I didn't know his name was Qualdo," said Leela.
"Mom an' Dad didn't give 'im one," Portia said disgustedly. "So 'e gave 'imself one when they kicked 'im out."
Leela put a hand over her mouth. "How old was he when they did that?"
"Two," Portia replied. "Dad said we were too poor to 'ave five mouths to feed."
"That's the worst thing I've ever heard," Leela whispered. "He was two?"
"Yeah," Portia mumbled. "I was the only one 'o cried. But 'e just waved at us and walked off down the sidewalk."
"Aw. I hope he's doing okay."
"Better than me," said Portia. "'E's as 'appy as can be on 'is own. Me… I just wish I wasn't poor."
Leela smiled. "Well, my Papa still has the donation he was going to give to your family," she said. "I bet he would give it to you! And you wouldn't have to share with the rest of your family."
"I couldn't!" Portia gasped, but Leela was already dragging her by the hand. They rushed down the stairs to where Leela's father was working at a desk. "Papa," said Leela, "where's the donation you were going to give the Banquos?"
"In the charity safe, of course," he replied. "What f- Ohhh." He smiled at Portia. "Leela has a good heart. But I'll do you one better. The Empire took your apartment, right?"
"Yeah," Portia mumbled.
"And you don't have anywhere to stay?"
"I mean I've got an old tower my-"
"Why don't you stay with us?" Leela's father smiled. "We have everything you could need here and there's plenty of room for a long-term guest."
Portia caught her breath. "I couldn't. I don't deserve-"
"Consider it repayment for your part in saving my life," Leela's father said. "That is, if thinking of it as charity offends your pride."
"Thank you, sir," Portia whispered, clasping his hand in both of hers.
"Call me Com," said Leela's father. "And your name is Portia, if I remember correctly?"
"That's right, sir- Com," Portia nodded.
"Well, Portia, the guest room is upstairs, just next to Leela's room," said Com. "You're welcome to check it out. Leela will be along shortly to help you with your clothing situation."
Portia smiled and went upstairs. Com turned to Leela and smiled. "So," he said, "tell me about your date."