Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds

The Second Cut is the Deepest

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters from the show are not mine! Any other characters and the story are mine! This revisits themes and characters introduced in the oneshot Perception Versus Reality. It takes place prior to the Crash Town arc. I'm also using the 31 Days theme for February 2nd, 2021, Everything's Eventual.

It wasn't usual for Billy to be late to the Bunch's nightly victory celebration at the diner. He always rode right near Radley in the procession, wanting to be near him. Tonight, however, Radley had found he wasn't anywhere in the group upon reaching the diner. As time ticked by, Radley grew increasingly impatient and confused. Kalin, of course, didn't care.

"He should be here by now," Radley finally fretted.

Kalin just grunted, setting his empty glass on the table.

"Oh, you're no help," Radley said, rolling his eyes. "The day I can ever get comfort from you is the day Hell freezes over."

Kalin offered only an unmoved shrug. "You worry too much," he flatly said.

"I actually have responsibilities and care about people," Radley countered. "Sometimes I honestly wonder if you care about anyone."

"What you see is what there is," Kalin said.

"That's what I was afraid of," Radley shot back.

Finally the door opened and Billy stumbled in, looking somewhat dazed. His cheeks were red and Radley quickly noticed the lipstick on his face.

Radley had to chuckle in amusement and exasperation. "Come on, Billy. . . . We've been wondering what's been keeping you and you've been out necking with Nellie Peterson?"

Billy flamed red even more. Laughing, Biff went over with a napkin and rubbed the lipstick off of his jaw to show him. Billy grabbed it away. "It wasn't Nellie," he mumbled.

"Well, it's not like there's a lot of eligible young girls in Crash Town," Radley mused. "I doubt it was Belle. She doesn't wear lipstick, and anyway . . ."

"Belle's heart belongs to you," Biff grinned.

". . . Exactly," Radley said uncomfortably. Belle had crushed on him since their arrival four years prior. She had been too young then, but wouldn't be now—only both she and Radley knew her feelings for him were still that of a child's innocent crush.

"It wasn't anyone who lives here," Billy blurted. He tossed the napkin in the trash and sat down with Radley and Kalin. "She just rode in tonight when the duel was breaking up."

Radley quirked an eyebrow. "And she corralled you?"

Billy shifted position. "Well . . . things happened. . . ."

"Boy, things sure did happen," Biff remarked. "Who was movin' so fast, Billy, her or you?"

Billy lightly swatted at him. "Stop it."

Radley clasped his hands on the table. "All joking aside, it isn't really like you, Billy," he said. "There must have been something different about this girl."

Billy looked embarrassed again. "She was real interested in what we're doing here," he said. "She's probably another Duelist for hire."

"'Real interested'? So she was asking a lot of questions about the duels and about me and Malcolm?" Radley queried. It wasn't unusual; many Duelists who passed through asked similar questions. Others, however, just joined whatever faction they talked to first. Usually it was the ones who asked questions whose motives were more than greed.

"Yeah," Billy said. "More about you, though."

"Really." Radley frowned. "You got her name, I hope." This whole situation was bizarre, but somehow he couldn't feature Billy talking to someone for as long as he had and even ending up getting kissed by her without learning a name.

"Brittany, I think," Billy said.

Radley almost dropped the glass he was holding. "Brittanie?!"

Kalin took note of how he went several shades whiter—and with his already-light skin, that wasn't easy.

"Yeah," Billy shrugged. "She was nice. Kind of forward, though."

"Gee, you think?" Biff snarked.

"She's older," Billy said. "I think she's even older than you, Radley. I don't know why she was interested in me."

". . . What did she say when she kissed you?" Radley asked.

Billy reddened even more. "Come on, Radley. . . ." He looked like he wanted to slip down and hide in his sheepskin coat.

"I'm really not trying to pry, Billy," Radley said. "It's important."

". . . She said . . . shesaidIwasreallyniceandhandsomeandIshouldgooffwithherandhavesomefun."

Radley's eyes narrowed. ". . . What kinds of things did she ask about me?"

Billy straightened up more, relieved for the pressure to be off. "She said Radley's an unusual name and she wondered who you were and what you looked like. . . ."

"I see," Radley said. "What did you tell her?"

"I said none of us even knew your last name. Then I just kind of described you. . . . Dark hair and light skin. . . . Spanish ancestry. . . . Black leather and jewelry. . . ." Billy shrugged.

"How did she react?"

"She laughed and said, 'A Spaniard named Radley?'" Billy shifted. "I don't know . . . it was all kind of weird."

Kalin silently watched the back-and-forth between the two. He didn't know why he kept staying, really. Normally he would have got up and left by now. He took the bottle of cactus cider and poured a bit more.

Radley tiredly rubbed his forehead. "Did she act like she knew me?"

"I don't know," Billy frowned.

"Okay. Did you agree to see her any more?"

"I . . . kind of did," Billy said. "Everything happened so fast. . . ."

"I don't like the thought of you being with her," Radley bluntly told him. "She sounds like somebody I knew who was bad news."

Billy frowned. "She didn't seem bad. And she liked me."

"She likes how you look, maybe," Radley said. "You just barely met! She can't know if she likes you for you!"

Kalin started to push his chair back. Radley was starting to raise his voice and Billy was growing agitated. Kalin wasn't into watching friends fall to arguing, and he was hardly Radley's friend, so it seemed better all around for him to just leave. The longer he stayed . . . the more he might start drowning in his memories of the past, and the horrific arguments and misunderstandings that had happened back then. He wanted to be alone for that.

"Okay, so she likes how I look!" Billy retorted. "So what?! A lot of relationships can start like that and then the people start to get interested in personalities after talking!"

Radley stood up so fast he almost knocked his chair over. "Not this woman, if she's who I think she is!" he countered. "She never cares about personalities! She only cares about getting laid!" He slammed his hands on the table and leaned forward. "She preys on innocent, naive guys younger than she is. That's her whole deal! She gets a charge out of taking their virginity from them and leaving them broken!"

Billy froze for a moment. ". . . You, Radley?" He stared at his leader and friend in horror. The thought of him being led on and tricked by someone hurt him deeply, enough to drain his frustration and anger from him.

Kalin paused, somewhat surprised by the sudden change in Billy's attitude. He really did love Radley.

Radley sighed. "No, not me," he said wearily. "She tried, yeah, but I didn't let her go through with it." He slowly sat back down. "I thought she really cared about me, but then I realized she didn't. I just . . . don't want to see you go through heartbreak like that, maybe end up losing things you can't get back, to trash like her. That would hurt me worse than anything she did to me. I want you to be happy, to find whatever it is you really want out of life, whether that's a lasting romantic relationship or a good job or whatever else would really fulfill you."

Billy smiled a bit. "You're always looking out for us. Right now I just want to be with you and the guys, honestly. I hope this girl isn't her, but if she is, I don't want to have anything to do with her either."

"Is she staying in town?" Radley asked. Relief flickered in his eyes that Billy was no longer making a fuss.

"I think so," Billy said. "She said she wants to meet you tomorrow. She didn't say if she's at one of the hotels or the bed and breakfast, though."

"Just to make it harder for me to find her, no doubt," Radley scowled. He sighed. "Did she decide what she wants to do with you tomorrow?"

"She wants me to show her the town in the daylight," Billy said.

"She always starts off innocently enough," Radley said in annoyance. "Then, once the guy's lured into a false sense of security, she springs her true nature on him."

"What a creep," Biff said in disgust.

"I can turn her down when she shows up," Billy said. "She said she'd find me."

"She'll probably try to catch you alone," Radley said. "But you'll never be far from me. I'll find out if it's her."

"And then what?" Billy worried.

"Then . . . we'll just see how it goes," Radley said. "If it's her, I want her out of town."

Billy gave a sad smile. "Thanks, Radley. I'm sorry I blew my stack. The last thing I ever wanted was to yell at you."

Radley just gave him a tired smile in return. "Hey, it's okay. I guess emotions can run high with anyone if the circumstances are right."

Billy got up from the table. "I won't let it happen again," he vowed. He slipped off to the back hallway, likely planning to go upstairs and just rest for a while.

Radley looked to Kalin, who was still standing there. "I thought you were cutting out on me, like usual," he commented.

Kalin shrugged. "I thought you and Billy might come to blows. I . . . didn't want to see that."

"And you didn't think maybe I'd need some help if that really happened?" Radley frowned. "It never would have, but you haven't been here long. You wouldn't know that."

Kalin didn't meet his gaze. ". . . It surprised me when he didn't attack you and calmed down."

Radley smiled a bit. "Yeah, Billy, he's . . . probably the closest thing I have to a second-in-command. Completely loyal. All the guys are like that. They'd do anything for me."

Kalin sat back down. "This woman he ran into. . . . You think she's the one from that picture you carry around?"

Radley froze. ". . . You know, I was so upset I forgot to show Billy the picture and see if he recognized her," he said in disgusted dismay. He dug his wallet out of his back pocket, but then stopped. "Nah, I'll just wait for tomorrow. Billy's been under enough stress right now."

"Why do you keep that anyway?" Kalin grunted. "You don't still have feelings for her after all you said she is?"

"No, anything I felt for her died long ago," Radley said. "I keep the picture because . . . I don't know." He shook his head. "Maybe I want to remember when I was young and naive . . . and how stupid I was. Maybe I want to make sure I never forget."

"You're not old," Kalin remarked.

"25 going on 45." Radley gave a dark smirk. "You ever feel like that, Kalin?"

Kalin looked away again. "Maybe." All the time, really. I'm an old soul like none you've ever met before.

Radley sighed. ". . . If I was like you and drank, this would sure be a night when I'd be getting out the bottle. Can't get smashed on cactus cider, now, can I?"

"You could if it went hard," Kalin deadpanned.

That brought a dry laugh. "Yeah, well, it never lasts long enough around here to go hard." Radley shook the bottle. "Not much left. You wanna go for another round, Kalin?"

"You have it." Kalin got up.

Radley frowned a bit. "It's not like you really have anywhere you need to run off to."

Kalin shrugged and just walked out.

Biff sat down in the vacated seat. "He's a jerk," he said in annoyance. "Anybody can see you wanted him to stick around."

"Yeah, that's pretty stupid of me too, isn't it?" Radley said dryly. "He doesn't consider himself one of us." He filled his glass and then Biff's. The now-empty bottle he placed back on the table. "Cheers." He and Biff clinked their glasses and slowly drank the rest of the cactus cider.

xxxx

Radley got up early the next day, hoping to show Billy the picture and find out if that was indeed the Brittany he had met. But to his dismay, Billy had already departed to wait for the girl. Radley quickly went to the town square, very narrowly missing being seen by someone approaching Billy in the street. Some of the others, he noticed, were spread out around the area, keeping a close watch on their friend as they waited for the mysterious woman to show up. Kalin, of course, was absent.

The person talking to Billy now, to Radley's utter annoyance, was wearing a biker's helmet. But it was definitely a woman, and was apparently the woman, as she promptly linked arms with Billy and led him into Fred's saloon, to Billy's discombobulation.

Radley snarled. If it was Brittanie, she must know she was being watched. He came out of hiding and stormed into the saloon.

"What is this?" Billy was exclaiming. "I thought we were going around town!"

"And where better to start than here?" She took off her helmet and shook out her red-blonde ponytail.

Radley's stomach tightened. He had already been almost completely sure. Now he knew it positively. It was her. For a moment he froze, becoming lost in the memories of six years prior.

"I . . ." Billy shrank back. "I don't drink. . . ." Pain flashed through his eyes. His mother was an alcoholic, a wound that had deeply pierced him since childhood. He had vowed for years that he would never drink and possibly end up like her. He was old enough now that he could, but he still had no desire.

Brittanie was unconcerned. "Then what better time to start?" She leered at him and then thumped the counter. "Bartender! Two scotch on the rocks!"

Billy gave a nervous laugh. ". . . One of my friends is named Scotch. . . ."

"Yeah?" She leaned back with a smirk. "He drinks?"

"No, he . . . he's called that because of his hair," Billy stammered. "It's the color of butterscotch. . . ."

Brittanie snorted. "You guys are so clean-cut it's unreal! Your leader, he's gotta be . . ."

Radley shook himself back to the present. He was just about to step out of the shadows and angrily confront her when her next words stopped him in his tracks.

"Well, nevermind. So what do people do for fun in Crash Town?" she asked.

"Oh, we . . . duel, mostly," Billy said. "Like you saw last night."

"Oh?" She leaned in closer. "What about later at night? Don't people go have some . . . private fun then?"

Billy colored. "Some do, I guess. . . ."

"Maybe you and I could . . ." She leaned in closer still. "Go have some of that private fun? I just got a little sip last night. I want more." She started to run her hand down his clothed chest. "Like a whole glass."

Billy stared at her, mouth agape, not sure what to say or do or even think.

Radley stepped into the doorway in utter disgust. "Okay, that's enough, Brittanie." His voice was sharp and cold, with no hint of humor in it at all. Billy started, looking both relieved and stunned.

Brittanie turned, her eyes narrowed. From her position, she could only see Radley in silhouette. He was quite striking, from the dark pants and jacket to the Duel Gun strapped to his leg. His hair fell loosely around his face and shoulders.

"Oh, so we've got the town's top gunslinger here too?" she purred. "And he knows my name? How efficient."

Radley stepped into the light. "Get out of my town."

Brittanie gasped, getting up from the barstool. "Radley . . . so it is you." She laughed. "It's not that common a name, especially as a first name, but still, I never thought the leader of Radley's Bunch could really be you. Not until I started talking more to this kid here."

Billy scowled. "I'm 22," he muttered.

She walked over to Radley. "Hmm. No nose ring? You're even more conservative now." She tapped his nose with her forefinger, to his annoyance. "And your hair's shorter." She took several black locks in her hand, then let them go. "Although at least I'll say you've become a flashy dresser. I always liked . . . studded leather." She purred and ran her hand over the collar of his jacket.

He brushed it aside. He was out of patience. "I'm not that naive college kid anymore, Brittanie," he told her. "I'm old enough now that I know what you are. You deliberately prey on younger men for your own sick reasons."

She gave him a cruel smirk. "I like fresh meat. It's so much more satisfying that way."

Billy stepped back in disgust. "And then you just leave them, right?! That's what Radley says."

"Oh, didn't Radley tell you he's the one who broke off our relationship?" Brittanie sneered.

"Because I realized what you were," Radley said darkly. "And if I had any doubts, I did some research and talked to some of the other guys you'd hurt. You stuck with them until you got bored or saw someone else you wanted to bed. Then yeah, you always left."

"You always were intellectual," Brittanie said.

"You make me sick," Radley spat. "I won't let you play your twisted games with Billy or any of the others. They're young, but they've already experienced a lot of the bad life has to offer. I wanted to give them a safe place where they could just be themselves and not grow up too fast. You're not going to take away the innocence they have left." Unfortunately, Malcolm and the fight for the town had already interfered with that. But at least Radley could do something about this additional problem.

Brittanie came closer to him, her lips twisting in an ugly smirk. "So you're not that kid anymore?" she said, deliberately ignoring everything else he had said. "Does that mean this is still off-limits?" She seized him, pulling him against her as he stiffened in shock. "Speaking of innocence, I loved doing this when you were just an innocent college student thinking I cared about you."

He didn't know what his eyes looked like, but he could imagine that hurt from memories of the past was showing all too clearly. This was not a memory he wanted to relive. He had been surprised when she had first done that, but he had quickly warmed up, thinking she was just being playful. Now that he knew she had never loved him, it made his skin crawl. He did not want to be pressed up against her. He tried to pull away even as she leaned in close like she was going to try to kiss him, but she held fast.

Suddenly she reached behind him and started to pull his shirt out from inside his pants to reach her hand up under it. Radley immediately grabbed her wrist, twisting it above her head while she choked in pain. "Oh yeah," he said. "That's completely off-limits. Especially to you." He flung her backwards and then stuffed his shirt back down. It was actually partially because of Brittanie's too-grabby hands that he had started wearing his shirts that way.

Billy was still there, now gaping in absolute shock at the scene. Fred the bartender just stood there, mouth open. "Should I throw her out, Radley?" he exclaimed.

"No," Radley said. "I want that pleasure for myself."

Brittanie stumbled back to her feet and leaned forward in his face. "Not a chance," she said. "Now that I know it's you, I'm joining Malcolm just to spite you. Then, even if I lose, you'll be stuck with me."

Radley glowered at her. "Oh, you'll lose," he promised. "And when you do, I don't want you anywhere near the mines. I don't trust you."

"So then what will you do?" Brittanie taunted. "Run me down with your little gang of tykes?"

"If you're really brave enough to test me, you'll find out when you lose," Radley replied.

Brittanie snorted. "A gentle guy like you could never. I'm not afraid of you."

"I'm not the person you knew," Radley insisted.

"We'll see." Brittanie turned, stalking out of the saloon in determination.

Billy gasped. "Radley, I . . . I had no idea she was anything like this!" he exclaimed. "Even with what you said, I . . . !" He shook his head. "It's hard to believe. . . ."

Radley gave a weary sigh. "I'm sorry she's like she is, Billy, but I'm not sorry you found out when you did. She doesn't care about anyone or anything but herself and her sick pleasures." He laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'd better let Kalin know what he's in for tonight."

Billy's eyes flickered with worry. "And when he wins, then what? I don't think I want her in the mines either."

"I want her out of this town," Radley said, "and that's just what I'm going to make sure happens."

xxxx

Kalin was at Mrs. Rickshaw's bed and breakfast that day. He was sitting on the porch swing, composing a melancholy tune on his harmonica, when Radley found him. He looked up questioningly.

Radley sighed. "Hey, Kalin. I'll just come right to the point." He walked up on the porch and leaned against the railing, facing his Duelist. "It really is Brittanie in town. She has it in for me and she's joining Malcolm on purpose to be on the opposite side. You'll probably face her tonight." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I don't know how good she is or anything. I didn't even know she was a Duelist."

"I'll beat her just like I beat everyone else," Kalin said.

"I believe in you," Radley said. "But I wanted to warn you beforehand, since she'll probably be pulling out all kinds of sleazy tricks. And she might come at you with everything she's got. Also, she was trying to mess around some more with Billy when I caught her. If she likes how you look, and she probably will, she'll likely try the same thing on you."

"I'll be ready," Kalin grunted. "Is there anything else you think I should know?"

"I think that covers it," Radley sighed. "I never thought my past would come back to bite me like this. I thought she was out of my life for good."

"The past always comes back," Kalin said.

"It looks like it," Radley said wearily. "Kalin . . . I know you'll win, but just . . . be careful."

Kalin raised an eyebrow, but nodded.

Radley hesitated. If Kalin would talk to him, he would really like to have a listener right now. Seeing Brittanie again, and her trying to force herself on him again, dug up so many memories and feelings and pain that he had wished would stay buried. It had been right after his family had abandoned him that he had finally realized what Brittanie was and what she wanted. He had indeed broken off the relationship, even though he knew that he would be completely alone when he did. And he had remained alone for two years until he had met Billy and started gathering the Bunch. Those years had hurt so much. He had never been alone in his life until then. Not truly alone. He surrounded himself with people now not just for their sakes, taking them out of their miserable situations, but for his own sake too. He couldn't go back to that. He could never go back to that.

But Kalin wouldn't want to hear about any of that. It was a chore for him to listen to Radley say anything at all. He made that obvious every day.

So Radley turned and started down the steps. "I'll see you tonight," he said quietly.

Kalin shrugged and returned to his harmonica.

xxxx

Malcolm was especially pleased and confident at the duel that evening. "Well, Radley, I don't know what happened between the two of you, but my Duelist today hates your guts," he sneered as he ambled forward. "She says she'll do anything she can to ruin you. I guess that means that even if Kalin beats her, you're sunk."

"We'll see," Radley evenly replied.

Brittanie shot him a look of daggers, but perked up appreciatively when Kalin stepped forward. "Hello," she purred.

Kalin was unaffected. He just stared at her emotionlessly and prepared to draw.

Brittanie was, for once, completely flustered. She had never had a man reject her that soundly before.

Radley had to smirk.

"What does your Duelist have in his veins, Radley? Ice water?" Malcolm mocked. "There wasn't a man at the Red Scarf who didn't find Brittanie appealing last night."

"That doesn't surprise me, since they're probably all either of itty-bitty brain or thinking with something other than whatever meager brains they have," Radley mused. Brittanie likely hadn't pulled her sweet act with them, so they couldn't use that as an excuse. "I'll admit she is a beautiful woman, but unfortunately, to coin a cliché, her beauty only goes skin deep. If your men actually thought with their minds, maybe they'd see her for what she truly is." He tapped a finger to his temple in emphasis.

The Bunch laughed. Malcolm snarled, humiliated to be shown up by Radley's wit again. "Forget that! Let's duel!"

Kalin and Brittanie were already drawing their Duel Guns.

The duel was long and grueling. Brittanie wasn't about to spoil her pride and admit that Radley had rejected her advances, but her voice dripped with acid any time she addressed him. And she did indeed continue to try to make passes at Kalin. He just gave her deadpan looks and didn't bite. Radley smirked, definitely enjoying her befuddlement. She had never been able to comprehend any guy not giving in to her.

Malcolm wasn't that disappointed when Brittanie finally lost. "Well, Radley, I'll be interested to see how your mines fall apart with this little number working for you," he said.

Radley watched as she was pulled into the coffin with a snarl. "You'll never know," he replied.

xxxx

Radley sent the Bunch on to the diner once the hearse left. Then in secret he rode out to the mines. He got there just as the hearse was arriving, and he quickly intercepted them as they lifted her out of the coffin. "I'll take over," he said.

The driver looked surprised. "Since when do you ever do this?"

"Are you questioning me?" Radley smoothly retorted.

The big man backed off. "No. . . ."

"Good." Radley took Brittanie, leading her into the shadows and then down the mountain to his motorcycle.

She stared at him. "You're really serious. You're going to do it."

Radley gave her a frozen look. "Get on."

She climbed on and Radley got on behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Now, drive where I tell you to."

"What if I don't?" she shot back.

"Then you have a problem," Radley said.

"I have one anyway." But Brittanie revved the engine and rode off. "Don't you have to admit it's nice to be hugging me again?"

"You weren't what I thought you were when we first met," Radley said. "You never loved me; you were only attracted to how I look."

"You should have been honored I was interested," Brittanie said.

"I can do without your kind of interest." Radley watched as they rode around the plateau. "Stop here."

"Aren't we still too close?" Brittanie wasn't about to stop.

Radley reached over and turned the key, forcing the stop. "Get off."

Slowly Brittanie swung her leg over the side and stood. Now she was actually shaking a bit. "I thought you were a nice guy. Too nice."

"I still am." Radley folded his arms. "There's your motorcycle. Get on it and get out of my town. I don't want to see you back here ever again. Is that crystal clear?"

Brittanie stared into the shadows. Her motorcycle really was there. She turned back, looking at Radley. He was still standing there with crossed arms, his expression stern.

". . . It's clear," she said. "But . . . you were the last person to see me. If no one knows about this, and I'm not at the mine, they're going to think . . ."

"I'll worry about that," Radley said. "Most people in this town actually like me. They won't believe I'd knock you off to solve a problem."

Brittanie frowned. "So you finally have what you want," she said. "You belong somewhere. And you're a real Papa Wolf."

"And you still don't want to settle down," Radley said.

"If I did, I guess you wouldn't even want to now," she said.

"Oh, that ship sailed long ago," Radley said. "No, I don't want anything to do with you now. Just get out of my life and stay out."

"Fine." Brittanie climbed on her motorcycle and adjusted the helmet. "Goodbye, Radley."

"Good riddance," Radley replied.

He watched until she drove out of sight. Then, sighing, he turned and went back to his own vehicle.

Having the past dug up had not been fun in the least. It had reawakened so much pain and hurt that he had tried to put behind him. Now he didn't even know what to do with it. He didn't want to burden the Bunch; he was the leader and he was supposed to be strong for them. He didn't want to show that right now he needed someone to be strong for him.

If only Kalin liked him, they could talk, maybe. But there was little chance of that happening.

He slowly drove back to town. Even though there were people there who liked him, when he didn't feel like he could talk, he was still very much alone.

He stopped short, stunned, when he reached the town limits and found the Bunch waiting, even Kalin. Billy had probably convinced him to come; Radley knew Kalin didn't care and wouldn't come on his own. But the others . . .

"What's all this?" Radley asked.

"It must have been so hard for you, Radley, seeing that creep again and making sure she left us alone." Billy smiled. "You're always there for us. We wanted to be here for you."

Radley stared at them in amazement. "Guys . . ."

Marty nodded. "We're all here if you want to talk." Most of the rest chorused in the affirmative.

"You guys . . ." Radley smiled. "Thank you."

Billy drew an arm around his shoulders. "Always."

Radley turned and hugged him close. He really did have somewhere to belong.