136
The beeping sound was aggravating, and as Rook opened her eyes, she decided that if this was going to be a constant feature of the Departed Realm, she wasn't going to last long in this whole death thing. However, the room she woke up in didn't exactly seem departed-realm-like, and if she was dead, there shouldn't be so much pain everywhere, right?
The beeping continued, and Rook glanced over. Her blood ran cold as she caught sight of the living windows—the same that she had been connected to when the Buyer had attached her to the horrible machine that exposed her emotions and needled into her mind. She immediately lurched upright, and the beeping noise began to increase as she realized that there were wires connected to the pit of her arm.
"Not today, you dung-eating, sniffer-worshiping..." Rook yanked at the cords connected to her, but as she fought, she was aware of a great pain in her middle. She winced as she looked down, and she realized she was dressed in some kind of tent. Ancients...were they trying to make her one of them?
"Ma'am! Lie still!" Someone came running into the room. Rook took in the long white coat the woman was wearing and snorted.
"You should have restrained me when you had the chance!" She ripped the cords out at last, wincing as they stung horribly. "You're not sucking the life out of me again!"
Wind was starting to whip around the room, and Rook wasn't sure if the little spurts of purple light around her shaking hands was her imagination or not.
"Ma'am—"
More of them came in, all wearing the same evil fashion. Based on her foggy last memories, she had thought that the Buyer had been defeated, but it seemed his hoards had not. Rook tried to fight them off, but she had no weapons, and her middle was hurting horribly and making her moves sluggish.
"You'll pull out the stitches. You must lie flat," a man ordered, grabbing her arm.
"Hands off, before I lop them off!" she snapped, ripping her arm away. Her mind was becoming fuzzy with pain, and her words slurred. "You haven't won...your leader is dead and I'm going to make short work of the rest of you metal freaks..."
"100 ccs, Janet..." one woman said.
"Right," another answered.
"I'll go call her contacts—maybe they can calm her down when she wakes up again..."
"Ma'am, you need to lie still," the first woman insisted. "Your family will be here shortly."
Her family? How stupid did these people think she was? She began laughing bitterly, and she barely noticed the sting in her arm. All at once, her mind sank back into the soft blackness it had been in before, and then she was waking up all over again.
"Crown of Kahzym, if someone doesn't stop that infernal beeping..." she muttered as she regained consciousness, the irritating noise making itself known again.
"Rook?"
She opened her eyes fully at the word, and she stared at the ceiling for a moment before forcing herself to turn. Theodynn was standing a few yards away, studying her with a look that was hard to read. For a moment, they just stared at each other, and then Rook spoke.
"Quick...they left you unrestrained. Check the hall while I get these wires out of me again..."
"No, don't touch those." He quickly moved to her bedside, his hand resting on hers as Rook weakly tried to pull at the tubes that were now back in her arm. She looked up at him, and he met her gaze calmly. "We aren't in danger, Rook. We aren't in Estyeer anymore. This is a hospital—these tubes are here to help you heal."
Rook frowned. "What?"
"You're safe," he repeated, lowering himself down into a chair next to the bed. "But you've got to lie still so that your body can heal. You...took a big hit."
Rook looked back down at where his hand was resting on her arm, and she finally stopped trying to pull the tubes out as she relaxed. "They were wearing the same clothes as the Buyer's army."
"What?"
"The people who are keeping me here. Are you sure they aren't with the Buyer?"
Theo's expression twitched, and she realized he was trying not to smile. "They're just wearing lab coats," he offered at last. "It's a very versatile piece of clothing, worn by healers and mad scientists alike here in Ninjago."
Rook snorted softly. "This realm is so weird." Silence fell, and she saw Theodynn shift in her peripheral vison.
"How do you feel?" he finally asked.
"One time, I dreamed I was getting eaten by sniffers and I couldn't move to stop them," Rook offered. "Like, it was horrifying, but I didn't actually feel anything, because it was just a dream. But I think this is what it would have felt like. Everything hurts."
"Well, you shot yourself."
"I don't even know what that means," Rook pointed out. "I was just trying to get that weapon away from the Buyer, and he somehow stabbed me with it."
"It wasn't a knife, Rook. It was a gun."
"What in Kahzym's tragic name is a gun?"
"Um..." Theodynn ran his hand through his hair. "It fires things, like a crossbow...but much, much faster, and with much better accuracy."
"Oh." Rook pondered that before looking back at him. "Can I have one?"
"No."
"But that sounds much more efficient than a sword, or even shuriken."
"You're not ever going to get a gun, Rook. Can we just focus on getting you out of the hospital and back home?"
She studied him and finally glanced away. "I'm glad we aren't dead," she offered at last. "I was pretty sure we were going to die. Surer than all the previous times that I've been sure I was going to die."
"My mother found us and transported us to safety," Theo offered. His voice was quiet, and when he continued, there was a strain to it. "I'm sorry that I didn't get us out faster."
"You did take your sweet time with the Buyer," Rook mused. "I was torn because yes, he deserved it, but also the room was collapsing on us and I was bleeding out..."
"I lost control." Theo's confession cut Rook off, and she glanced back at him. He was no longer looking at her, and she was surprised to see him looking ashamed.
"Hey...it all worked out," she pointed out at last. "Point your face to the future, Theo...not the past."
He scoffed, but he finally glanced up at her. "You're good at that, aren't you?"
She shrugged a little. "In the south, we have this saying: 'keep your face to the sun, and your back to the moon. Be aware of the light you allow to guide you.' It sounds stupid, but basically it means to keep your mindset on the days that are coming, not the nights that have passed.
Theo scanned her face for a moment. "You shouldn't have run off, Rook. Why didn't you just wait for me at the hospital—the one at Bembay? Zerek could have killed you. He would have, if he didn't think he could get something from you."
"I know, I know," she sighed, closing her eyes. "I went running headlong into danger by myself with no thoughts of my own welfare, in the hopes that maybe I could make a difference." She opened one eye to meet his. "I wonder where I got that from?"
He flushed slightly, and Rook smiled.
"I'm just teasing. I know I shouldn't have tried to take on the Buyer alone. It's just...I'm so good, and he was so old. I did that whole thing you're always yelling at me for—the one where I miscalculate and my opponent ends up way better than I thought and I get screwed. It's really starting to be an annoying habit of mine."
"How can you be joking right now, with everything that's happened?" He leaned forward, studying her critically.
"How can you be so serious?" she countered, but then her smile faded. "I don't know. Maybe it feels like I can pretend I didn't almost end up in the departed realm, if I can joke about it."
Theo's expression wavered, and Rook realized his thumb was stroking her arm where his hand was still resting. "Well...I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too. There's still so much I want to do in this life. Like get a gun."
He smiled at last—a real smile, and she felt a stir of victory. "It's non-negotiable," Theo said flatly. "I am not trusting you with a gun, Rook."
"Why?"
"Because you've already proven you don't know how to use it without hurting yourself."
"I didn't even know what it was!" Rook said. "What are the chances I shoot myself on accident again?"
"Way too high." He was chuckling a little, and Rook wished she at least had the energy to sit up. It felt weird, just lying here like a doomed rat in Deilie's traps while Theo looked down at her. After a moment, Theo's smile faded again. "Rook...why did you grab that gun? You had to have known you didn't have much of a chance to succeed."
"I didn't know what a gun was..."
"But you knew how strong Zerek was, and how little of a chance you would have to stop him." Theo studied her closely. "I guess I've just been stumped these last few days. It wasn't that long ago you were willing to trade me over to Zerek yourself, no questions asked, in the name of self-preservation. Then you go and nearly get yourself killed trying to prevent that very thing from happening only a few weeks after."
"I tried to tell you, Princey," she said, her smile fading. "I changed."
He swallowed. "I'm...sorry I didn't believe you," he said at last.
"Yeah...you should be," Rook pointed out. "Maybe next time someone tries to murder you and sell you for a profit and then promises they'll do better, you'll believe them." She shrugged flippantly, but when she continued, her tone a little more serious. "In all honesty, though...you're the one who made me realize I had to change. That night you let me go...it forced me to realize I was wrong. Which probably sounds stupid, because of course I was wrong. I mean, I was betraying you. But it wasn't until that moment, when you kept your word, that I realized how unforgiveable my actions were." Rook finally had to glance away, not wanting to see how he would take her attempt at an apology. "I'm a stubborn person, though. I guess I couldn't help but try to earn forgiveness anyway. Or, if not forgiveness, then to at least prove that I could be better than what I was." She scoffed weakly. "For once, reputation felt more important than self-preservation. I just wasn't sure how I could make you realize that I was serious about changing."
"I did realize, when my sister came back from Estyeer," Theo offered softly. "She told me about how you saved her, Rook."
The young woman frowned. "Saved her?"
"When Zerek still had you both captive, and told her to erase your memories."
Rook blinked. "I would love to take the credit, but I literally didn't do anything. Your sister saved herself."
Theo's eyes scanned Rook's face. "She said you told her to leave without you."
Rook took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Yeah...I figured you'd be happier if she made it out than if I did. Besides, I promised I would help you get her back. If I failed, then you would definitely never forgive me." Theo's expression clouded, and Rook swallowed as she decided to change the subject. "Do me a favor?"
He lifted an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
"Help me sit up?"
"You're not supposed to move too much, or—"
"Please? It's awkward, trying to have this talk while I'm staring up your nose," she said. He smiled a little at that and finally moved closer to her. Goosebumps raced up Rook's back as one of Theo's arms slipped behind her shoulders, his other stabilizing her as he gently helped the aching young woman into a sitting position. Rook put her hand on the back of his neck for support, but even after she was upright, she didn't release him right away. Theo's arm lingered as well, and he glanced at her face from where they were looking at each other, only inches apart now.
"You know...I don't regret it," Rook finally murmured.
"Regret what?"
"Any of it."
Theo raised an eyebrow. "Even the part where you stabbed me in the back?"
"Well, obviously I regret that," she said. "What I mean is, I'm not upset about the way it's all turned out. I mean...granted, my lifelong career as an assassin is over, so I'm going to have to pick up some new hobbies. Not to mention, I'll probably be in prison for life after your parents finally put me on trial, so then I'll really need some new hobbies..." She trailed off, her fingers fiddling with his soft, curly hair as she held his gaze. "But if nothing else, I think I finally learned how to care about somebody other than myself. That's a win, right?"
Theo didn't answer right away, and Rook's smile faded as she realized that she couldn't interpret the look on his face. Had she said the wrong thing? Hadn't he said something similar about caring about her in that room with the Buyer before everything dissolved into chaos? Did she make that up? Was he thinking that she was a total idiot right now?
"Rook?"
"Yeah?" she breathed, trying to hide how hard she was panicking inside. His eyes flicked across her face, and when he didn't respond for a few moments, Rook shifted in his hold. "What do you—"
"I think this is the part where I finally kiss you back."
Rook froze. Did she make this part up, or had he actually said that? All at once, Theo was leaning in, and her heart was pounding as quickly as the annoying beeping nearby. Rook noticed Theo hesitated for a split second just before his lips touched hers, but then his eyes closed as he kissed her gently. Rook's eyes snapped shut, and for a few seconds, she couldn't even kiss him back because she was still too shocked. Did this mean he didn't hate her? Did this mean he forgave her for all the horrible choices she had made? She finally forced herself to reciprocate, and her insecurities melted away as the kiss started becoming more forceful. Rook would have been all for it, except that as Theo pulled her close against him, the wound in her middle flared painfully. Rook lurched back with a gasp, and Theo's eyes flew open.
"It's—" Rook tried as Theo said, "What—"
They separated, and Rook's hand went to the fierce pain on her side. He noticed the gesture and she watched the shame cross his face. "I forgot," he finally said.
Rook couldn't help but laugh through the throbbing. "Me too." She closed her eyes for a moment as she waited for the pain to fade, but she was still smiling. "I always wondered if you were a good kisser."
"I just injured you."
"I wouldn't mind a round two...if you promised to be a little more careful." She cracked her eyes open as she smirked. Theo's expression was full of conflict, and Rook's smile faded as she tried to interpret his look. "I'm fine, Theo. It was just a twinge." When he still didn't answer, she felt a flash of uncertainty. "Do you...regret kissing me?"
"No, it's just..." He sighed, glancing up at her again. "I don't want to give you the wrong idea."
Bad sign. "Okay. So give me the right idea," she tried, trying to hide her panic.
"I don't know how to explain it. There's so much in my head..."
"Let me try to help you find the words: Wow, Rook! That was the most inspirational, mind-blowing kiss I've ever experienced..."
"Rook..."
She swallowed, her hope beginning to flicker. "Or maybe the kiss wasn't pleasurable and you realized you'll never like me in that way?"
"Well." He was blushing again—she didn't remember him blushing this much since they had first started working together, all that time ago. "It's...it's not that I don't like you in that way. It's..."
He trailed off, and Rook raised an eyebrow. "That you don't think you should?" she supplied.
He covered his face with his hands, but then he finally looked up at her. "I think what we have is always going to be complicated," he said at last. "I have a lot of things I need to work out. Personal things, that may take some time. I just don't want you to think that I'm in a position to jump right into a relationship. I..."
"Hey." Rook smiled a last, reaching out to touch his arm. "It was a kiss...I'm not going to be holding my breath waiting for you to propose just because you kissed me." Theo broke eye contact, and Rook continued. "I won't lie. It may have come to my attention that I feel a little attached to you... or, a lot attached. But I'm also not an idiot. I messed up colossally, and if you can't forgive me for what I did before..." she trailed off, not really wanting to finish the sentence and hoping he got the point. Theo didn't respond right away, which worried her, but then he finally glanced up.
"Maybe...I just need to keep my face to the sun," he pointed out. Rook relaxed, the stubborn hope inside gaining more ground. Theo continued, his voice apologetic. "I think I do want to see where this goes. I just don't think I'm in a place where I can move very fast into anything serious, especially considering everything that's happened..."
"Well, as someone who's been forced to move fast my whole life, I think it would be nice to actually take things slow for once," Rook offered. Theo finally seemed to relax a little then, and Rook dropped her voice conspiratorially as she continued. "Maybe we should practice by kissing one more time. We can do it slowly." She raised a hopeful eyebrow, and when he hesitated, she added. "Did you not enjoy it?"
"I wouldn't say that," Theo admitted with a slight glint in his eye. "I'll admit, it was nice to stop thinking for a few minutes. I feel like my mind is just constantly twisting and turning..."
"So how about we both stop thinking for a few more minutes?" Rook offered. She felt a thrill when he started moving closer to her once again, but instead of kissing her, Theo paused from few inches away.
"Do you ever feel like you're different than you were before?" he murmured. "Like you'll never be able to go back to the old you... and it kind of makes you sad, even though you wonder if you've outgrown who you used to be, anyway?"
"All the time."
"How do you just...move on?"
Rook slipped her hand back into his hair, her eyes flicking between his. "I just remind myself that I'm heading into something better...because in one way or another, moving on is always better." She smiled for a moment before closing the gap between them to kiss him slowly. Nearby, the beeping sound was increasing once again, but even that faded away as Theodynn kissed her back.
137
Deep down, Mia knew there was something serious going on with her brother, but after she realized what he had done to Dani, she couldn't just sit back and let him mope under his raincloud. The nurse wouldn't let anyone visit him for a few hours, saying that visitors were just causing the patient high levels of stress. Eventually, that nurse's shift ended, and the nurses that took her place allowed Mia to finally confront her brother.
Mia opened the door to the hospital room and shook her head when she saw Colby still turned sideways in the bed, curled in on himself. She crossed the room quickly, folding her arms as she stared down at his form.
"I know I'm the last person you probably want to see," she said. "But we have to talk."
"Go away."
"Not until you talk to me!" Mia snapped. "You're acting like a child!"
She expected him to ignore her, or tell her to go away again. Maybe he would even scream for a nurse to come remove her, like what he had done to Dani. Instead, her brother whirled to face her at last, and Mia was shocked at the hatred in his expression.
"Are you serious?" he hissed, and Mia found herself at a loss for words. After a moment, she shifted her weight to her other hip, tossing her hair over one shoulder.
"I get that you've just been through the worst experience of your life, but the way you treated Dani—"
"You mean, breaking up with her? Why the heck do you care? You're the one who always said she was too good for me...she's a seven, and I'm just a four, remember?"
Mia stared at him, and he turned his whole body so that he was facing her full on, his expression twisted with anger.
"So what if I broke up with her so she could go be with someone who actually deserves her? You of all people should realize that she could do better than some weak, pathetic—"
"You're being stupid—"
"I'm being stupid? For what? Agreeing with you?" Colby's voice was raising, and she could see the tears filling his eyes. "You're the one who always told me what a loser I was!"
Mia flushed, her heart pounding as she tried to get control of the conversation she had practiced so carefully before coming in. "Don't you even start—"
"You're the one who started it! Telling me for years all the ways that I'm never going to measure up—everything that everyone was going to hate about me! Well, congratulations, Mia! Turns out you were right about all of it! Everything you said about me being a horrible artist who no one would ever take seriously, or a horrible boyfriend who would never measure up... or a worthless elemental master who would fail at everything." His voice broke at the last part, and he threw his hands up in defeat. "Are you here to rub it all in?"
"I'm here to help you!" Mia snapped, tears filling her eyes as she stared at her brother, trying to process the accusations hurtling toward her. "I've only ever tried to help you, Colbes!"
"Well, you sure helped a ton," he sneered, his voice dripping with bitter sarcasm. "Now I'm everything you ever hoped I'd be: powerless, talentless, and I lost weight to boot. If nothing else, you won't have to be ashamed of your fat brother anymore."
"Stop it!"
"Stop what? Agreeing with you?"
Mia started to cry, her hands going to her head as she tried to think of what she could possibly say. She was burning with defensive anger, but her mind couldn't think of anything to use in this conversation except insults...which, in the end, would only further prove her brother's point. Colby stared at her as she broke down, his expression flickering for a moment, but ultimately remaining angry and wary.
"We thought you were dead, you idiot!" she managed at last. "Don't you dare act like I don't care about you!"
Colby scoffed. "Like you don't think I just got what I deserved," he muttered, his own tears winning out before he rolled back over.
Mia wanted to scream at him, but the door was already opening. Rather than a nurse, it was May who came into the room with a disapproving look.
"Would you quit screaming? You're going to get us all kicked out!"
"He's being—" Mia started, but her sister cut her off.
"Our brother's been traumatized, Mia—get a hold of yourself and stop yelling at him."
Mia stiffened, but May had already turned away from her, her gaze falling on where Colby was lying in bed. The older twin's expression softened, and she took a few steps closer to the bed. "I know you're hurting, Colbes," she offered tentatively. "But I wanted to share some good news. The RIFA got in touch with Mom and Dad, and they're obviously horrified about everything that went down. They wanted you to know that the offer of a full-ride scholarship is still standing, though this time it would come straight from the school with nothing to do with Matilda—"
"Tell them I'm not going to their stupid school."
May blinked in surprise, and she took another step toward Colby. "This is the best art school in the country...possibly the whole realm. Colbes..."
"I'm not going!" Colby turned around again, the tears streaming down his face. "I'm not an artist! I'm not anything!"
"You are too an artist," Mia snapped, wiping at her face as she scowled at her brother. "What, you're just never going to paint again?"
"Exactly," he said coldly.
"But...you love it," May pointed out, obviously still trying to backpedal. "Colby, your whole room is full of art supplies. You can't give it up."
"I never want to see another canvas," he yelled. "You can sell my art supplies...or throw them out or burn them. I don't care...but I've never been an artist and I'm never going to be one!"
"Colby—"
"Why don't any of you get it?!" Colby shouted, grabbing his head. "I just want you to leave me alone!"
The door opened again, and the nurse didn't even have to invite them to leave. With tears running down their own faces, the Walker twins left the room. Mia's brain was buzzing like a hive full of angry bees, but she wasn't expecting May to turn to her with a furious look of her own.
"This is all your fault!" May hissed, wiping at the tears on her face.
"My fault?"
"You're the one who was always belittling him and now that he's gone through all of this on top of it—"
"I'm not the one who freaking kidnapped him and sold him to a psychopath!" Mia screamed. "How is any of this my fault?!"
"If you had been nicer to him—"
"Oh, like you were a saint! Always pointing out his bad grades in front of Mom and Dad and how he was never going to graduate—"
"I was trying to help him with his grades!"
"I was trying to help him too!"
"Girls," the nurse said exasperatedly from behind them, her hands coming to rest on their backs as she pushed them along. "Ve are treating many patients on zis floor who need rest. Vould you be so kind as to save your screaming and name calling for after you leave ze hospital?"
The Walker twins both shut up, but as soon as they got to the bottom floor, they were quick to head off in separate directions to find places to break down in private.
Syn took a deep breath of the brisk early-morning air, heading to the well nearest their tent. Their tent wasn't very close to the others in the nearest village, as Tolan liked keeping some element of privacy, but the trek to and from the well was flat, at least.
About halfway there, she intercepted Tolan on the way back, the full bucket dangling from one hand. He raised an eyebrow when he saw her. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Just wanted to come talk with you," she said. "You were already asleep by the time I turned in last night."
"You did come to bed late," he remembered, starting on the trek back to their tent. "What were you doing?"
"I was talking to Teag." Syn scanned Tolan's face, but she couldn't really read his expression so she pressed on. "Did you really tell him that we were moving to the south?"
Tolan shrugged, shifting the bucket into his other hand. "I told him it wasn't a for sure thing. Just an inkling I had."
"Based on what? You hate the South, Tol. Why would we end up down there?"
Tolan sighed, and he stopped walking so he could turn to face her. "Ottan's going to get his title taken away, Syn," he pointed out at last. "Probably Tala as well—they both had direct ties to the slave trade. I don't think Cole and Keyda can ignore something this blatantly treasonous. It was more than just them turning a blind eye to it—they were actively taking part."
Syn went quiet as she processed that, and Tolan pushed the hair out of his face with his free hand as he continued. "The East at least has good structure, for whoever replaces Tala, but the situation in the south will probably be dicey. It's going to create a power vacuum of some sort I'm sure, and I have a feeling they're going to have to send people they trust there until the situation smooths out."
"And you think they'd send you? You already have a full time job as Theo's bodyguard..."
"Theo's moving to Ninjago." The confession came out matter-of-fact, but Syn didn't miss the way he broke eye contact.
"What?"
"After everything that happened, he gave up his title. He won't need a bodyguard anymore...so I'm guessing they'll put me where they need me most. And given what's going to have to happen...it'll probably be the south." He glanced back up to meet her eye. "If you have reservations, I could turn the position down if and when they ask it of me. If you'd rather I just blacksmith full time, or maybe I'll actually take Myrah up on her offer of teaching swordplay at that school of hers." He shuddered. "As a last case scenario."
"Well...I mean...I guess I don't have anything against the south," Syn managed. "I just was surprised you had told Teag about it before you told me."
"I meant to bring it up with you today," he offered. The tent was in sight now, and Syn reached out to touch his arm, bringing them both to a stop.
"Tol...did you mean what you told him, about coming to live with us? Because if you weren't actually serious, and you told him that—"
"You always assume I don't mean things," he murmured, turning to meet her eye. She blinked, and he gave her a small smile. "I meant it, Syn. If I move to the South, I'm going to need a few hobbies to keep me from losing my mind. I think Hot-stuff would make a good apprentice."
Syn just shook her head in shock. "I'm all for Teag coming with us, if he decides that's what he wants," she said. "But the fact that this came from you...I mean, you went from barely tolerating the boy to inviting him to live with us? What changed?"
"He's not who I thought he was," Tolan said with a small shrug.
"How did you realize that?"
Tolan's expression flickered. "He saved my life," he finally admitted. Syn's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"When?"
"During the infiltration. I...got bogged down by the enemy, and my general attacks weren't working. They tried to do something to me, but Teag got in the way." Tolan wiped at his face. "That's why he was in such bad shape when we arrived."
Syn's voice was hushed with horror. "Tol..."
"You were right about him...I was wrong," he said. "He deserves a chance." He moved to leave again, clearly not wanting to dwell on the subject, but Syn already grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop again.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Hot-Stuff took the blow."
"But are you okay, Tolan? I mean...thinking about it, you transported for the first time. You wouldn't have done that unless you were really desperate."
"Syn...I promise I'm fine."
She still didn't release his arm, her tone becoming firmer. "I'm glad you guys got out...and I'm glad Teag is all right...but if you told him he could come live with us, Tolan, then this needs to be more than just giving him a chance."
"Syn—"
"This is not a 'let's see how he does' situation. If he comes with us, you need to be all in."
"Syn."
"You can't just agree to teach him one day and dump him the next if things get too crazy down there or don't work out the way you—"
"I'm not going to dump him," Tolan cut in. He set the bucket of water down so he could turn to face her straight on, his arms coming to rest on her shoulders. "I know that I have to be all in. I'm serious about training him. I...want to pass on my insignia."
Syn studied him. "So...it really would be an apprentice situation, then. Officially."
"Yes."
"Mmm." She tilted her head. "Are you doing this because you really believe in him, or just because you think you owe it to him? There aren't a lot of people who can claim to have saved your life...do you just feel like you've got some debt you have to fill now, or you actually want to teach him?"
He squeezed her shoulders. "He's got the skills, Syn. I'm not just blowing smoke because I feel obligated." He hesitated a moment before confessing. "Though, it does feel strange, to know that I owe him. I'm used to being the person to step up...not the person who needs saving."
Syn moved to embrace him and he hugged her back as he rested his chin on her hair. "Well...I saved your life once, and you've never held that against me, I suppose."
He scoffed, but she knew he was smiling. After a moment, Tolan spoke again. "Honestly, I'm more worried about what Pippa's going to be like in the south than Teag. He's a hard worker...as long as whatever happened to him in captivity didn't mess him up too bad, I think he'll be okay."
"Oh, Pippa...I didn't even think of that," Syn realized. "How is she going to get all the way up here to train with Hershel if we move south? She's technically his apprentice. She's not going to want to put that on hold."
"We'll figure it out," Tolan said, rubbing her back before releasing her and reaching for the bucket. "No point in counting the eggs before they hatch—we don't really know for sure if we're moving south. They may want me in the east, or at the fortress. I mean, Jaqah's going to have to at least take a few months off in a little while."
"Why? What's wrong with Jaqah?"
Tolan shrugged, putting his free arm around Syn as they headed back to the tent. "Just another mess that needs sorting."
Theo pushed his way into his grandfather's house, secretly hoping that his parents had already gone to bed. When he saw them sitting on the couch, he felt a twist of anxiety. Technically, he was home when they got here at six, like he had promised, but then the hospital had called about Rook and he had gone back. His parents probably thought he would only be gone for a little while, but their visit had been longer than he had anticipated, and then he had to get some things sorted with the hospital staff concerning Rook's unique position as an Oni resident receiving Ninjagoan care.
"I'm sorry I'm back late," he said. "I had to convince Rook that she was not still being experimented on and that the heart-rate monitor wasn't out to get her, and then the hospital brought in this mountain of paperwork..."
"It's okay, Theo," Keyda offered. "We've just been up talking."
"Why don't you come join us?" Cole offered, gesturing to the chair facing them. Theo's heart immediately sank, but he shut the door as he came over.
"What were you talking about?"
"First, how's Rook? Did you manage to get her to calm down?" Cole asked.
"She's definitely doing better," Theo admitted, forcing himself not to blush as he quickly changed the subject. "The doctors said that since she's awake she should heal all the way, but it may be a while longer she's at the hospital. They want to make sure she won't develop any infection."
"Makes sense," Cole offered.
"Glad she's all right," Keyda added, though her tone was more forced. "We can wait to figure out her situation once she's fully healed."
Theo's stomach dropped, and he gripped the arms of the chair. "Is that what you wanted to talk about?" he realized, glancing between his parents. "I know that she did a lot of things she's got to be accountable for, and she hasn't had her trial, and I know you guys probably have no reason to trust that she's changed at all but I think we need to take into account—"
"Woah, Theo, calm down," Cole urged. "We weren't talking about Rook's trial. We'll definitely keep you in the loop about that, when it becomes applicable."
"You can't lock her up," Theo stammered before catching on to what his father was saying.
"We weren't planning on it," Keyda assured, though her expression was hard to read as she studied him.
"We were actually talking about you, Theo—and your future plans," his father added.
Theo blinked, and then he leaned back in his chair. "What about them?"
"I know you mentioned you wanted to move to Ninjago," Keyda said, pushing some hair behind her ear.
"The council probably won't let me do that now, huh?" Theo realized. "Because I broke probation."
"Well...we're working things out with the council," Cole offered carefully. "If that's what you really want to do, then we'll find a way to make it work."
Theo hesitated. "I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do. I mean, I thought I would just move here and take care of grandpa...but you mentioned you wanted me to take back my title. I'm still not sure that I feel like I could do that, either. I think I'm going to need some more time to think about everything."
His parents made eye contact, and his mother finally answered. "We don't want to rush you, but we've been discussing something and we want to know how you feel about it."
Theo frowned. "Okay..."
"You remember how we were talking about our dilemma with Tala and Ottan?"
"About how you guys were going to have to figure out what to do about leaders who openly committed treason?" Theo pointed out. "Did you figure out what their sentence will be? House arrest, or—"
"We're revoking their titles," Cole said flatly, and Theo's eyebrows shot up.
"You are? Seriously?"
"Well...it's like you said," Keyda tried. "They directly defied a huge law that's been in place for decades, in direct insubordination against our leadership. We don't think there's anything else we can do."
"I mean, I agree...but I didn't think you guys had it in you to drop the hammer like that," Theo admitted. "This will be the most severe punishment you've probably ever done."
"Well...It's not as severe as execution," Cole mused. "But you're right...it's pretty severe."
"Why did you want to talk to me about it?" Theo asked, looking between his parents. "Just to see what I thought about that?"
Keyda took a deep breath. "The thing is, there's going to be a bit of a power vacuum if we revoke their titles without having a replacement in mind. We're pretty sure that the East is structured enough that we'd be able to get something sorted...but, the south..."
"Oh, yeah...that's going to be a mess," Theo realized. "Ottan wasn't really one to focus on infrastructure...not to mention that most of the candidates who would think they were worthy to replace him are the people in his inner circle who are as sleezy as he is."
"The south is definitely going to need someone outside of Ottan's realm of influence completely," Cole agreed. "Someone who won't let him and his ideals shape what the south could become."
"We know that with the right person, the south could do more than just be maintained. It could improve," Keyda added.
"I mean...I guess that's true," Theo mused, resting his arms on his knees. "Ottan was the big reason the south doesn't have any schools, or orphanages. With him gone, the infrastructure could really flourish." Theo was lost in thought for a moment and finally shook himself from his thoughts. "You guys are going to have your hands full, trying to find someone who you can trust down there, though."
"The thing is, we've already thought of someone," Cole admitted.
"Who?"
"You." Keyda smiled tentatively, scanning his face like she was looking for a reaction.
Theo just stared. "What?"
"We want you to become the southern leader, Theodynn," Cole said as he reached out and took his wife's hand.
"That's...what? For how long? Forever?" It was hard for him to process what his parents were trying to say, and Keyda shook her head.
"For as long as you wanted, really, but we were thinking a few years would be enough time to start the momentum for change. You'd be able to make a huge difference there, solving issues, getting infrastructure started, weeding out the sleezy people you mentioned."
"Then, you know, if you did take back your title, you'd ultimately come back to the Central Province to take over for us, and by then we'd have someone else to take over for you in the south."
Theo dry-washed his face. "Like...you're saying you want me to go down to the south and be in charge? As in...just me, by myself?" He scanned his parents closely. "You'd trust me with that?"
Keyda and Cole turned to look at each other before turning back to him. "We know that we haven't really let you make as much of a difference as you would have liked in the Central Province," Keyda admitted. "And just telling you we want to trust you with more didn't feel like enough."
"You wouldn't be completely alone," Cole added quickly. "I mean, we'd want you to take a guard force with you—people that you could really rely on."
"But after getting you set up with a good team, we would take a step back," Keyda finished as she squeezed her husband's hand. "You've been stifled enough, with us hovering over your shoulder. We know that it's time that we stop holding you back, so you can make a difference on your own."
It was almost like an out-of-body experience. The room was quiet as Theo tried to process what his parents were proposing. After the minutes dragged on, Cole spoke again.
"I'm sorry, if this feels like a blindside. You don't have to take over the south...you can still move to Ninjago if that's what you ultimately decide to do. But we thought it would be a way you could stretch your wings, so to speak. Leave the nest and learn how to make some mistakes and grow on your own terms in a leadership role, without our constant supervision."
"But we would want to know that you're safe," Keyda added with a rush. Theo looked up at her, and she winced. "Because we do trust you...but the world itself, especially the south, is harder to trust. If you do this, we want you to take your own safety very, very seriously."
"And if you ever needed our help, we will always be available for you...but on your own terms," Cole added.
"Wow." Theo wasn't sure what else to say as he ran his hand through his hair. "This is...I mean. I wouldn't have thought you'd propose something like this in a million years. Maybe for the East, but the South?"
"Well, to be honest, we considered the East first," Keyda admitted. "It is safer, and the infrastructure is already set up...it would be an easier first step."
"But ultimately we realized that maybe you're beyond an easy first step," Cole said with a wavering smile. "And the truth of the matter is, the south needs you more. Your ideas for infrastructure, your ability to plan and delegate..."
"Your compassion," Keyda added.
"The bottom line is that we think this would be good for you, and good for the realm, but it's ultimately your choice," Cole finished.
Theo's heart was pounding as he considered the offer. Inside, everything was churning, and it was hard to latch on to just one feeling. There was insecurity, and uncertainty, but there was also this latent excitement that felt like it was coming back to life. As surprising as the offer was, Theo couldn't help but realize that the thought of running the south felt as thrilling as it did terrifying.
"How soon do you need me to decide?" he finally asked, glancing up at them.
"We still have things we have to work out here, and then there will be a lot to work on in our realm," Keyda admitted.
"You don't have to rush into the decision...but as soon as you do decide, will you let us know?" Cole added.
"I mean, yeah, I will." Theo fidgeted a moment before glancing up at them one last time. "Do you...really think I could do it?"
His parents both smiled, and this time, they didn't hesitate.
"Absolutely," Cole offered, just as Keyda said, "We really do."
Theo smiled, and for the first time in a long time, the inner uncertainty that had been growing for so long finally started to fade.
138
"It would be a very minor surgery," P.I.X.A.L pointed out softly, scanning her son for a reaction. Julien wouldn't meet her eye, still lying prostrate as he stared at the ceiling. "Research indicates that inserting a pace maker is a very straightforward procedure, and the benefit would be that it would keep your heart rate regular. With everything you've been through, I believe it a wise choice."
"I do not want any more changes," Julien begged, closing his eyes. "I do not want to have anyone else tamper with me."
P.I.X.A.L sighed, reaching out to push the blonde hair off his forehead. "I understand," she said softly. "Your father talked to the doctor, and he said that if you refused the surgery, we could take you home in a few days. They want to make sure that your heartbeat remains regular on its own." She waited for her son to respond, and when he didn't, she continued. "Are you hungry?"
"I am tired," he admitted wearily, though he opened his eyes to look at her again. "Where is father?"
"He went back to Estyeer today with the police force. He wants to ensure that Zerek truly was defeated." P.I.X.A.L did a quick scan of the room and then lowered her voice as she continued. "And...he is hoping to locate the elemental powers before others are able to."
"What do you think would happen, if the Metallonian police force found them first?"
"They would probably not even know what they found," P.I.X.A.L admitted honestly. "But our true fear isn't that the police force will find them, but someone else will."
"It never ends, does it? Selfish people, trying to further their own agendas at any cost..."
"We have faced many selfish people in our lifetime," P.I.X.A.L agreed. "They are an unfortunate reality of this word. But we have also met many genuinely good people throughout our travels as well." She smiled gently. "You have been subject to true selfishness and apathy...but I would hope you know that there is still good in this world."
"It is hard to believe, sometimes," Julien admitted.
"Or perhaps, just hard to recognize. The bad usually tries hard to make itself known. The good is often found in the background, well-acquainted with being overlooked." She hesitated before continuing. "Speaking of good people...Agatha wanted to come see you. She is well enough now to leave her hospital bed."
Julien physically stiffened, his eyes darting to his mother's in a panic. "I...I cannot."
"Julien..."
"I do not want her to see me like this." His eyes filled with tears, and P.I.X.A.L knew he was referring to his robotic arm. She resisted the urge to look at it.
"It may do you some good to see her," she prompted. "We will be heading back to Ninjago City in a few days, and you will be stuck with me and your father during recovery. Now would be an ideal time to take visitors." Julien's expression contorted, and he looked away. P.I.X.A.L continued gently. "Agatha helped us defeat Zerek so we could find you. I think she just wants to see that you are safe."
She thought Julien would continue to refuse, but after a moment, his expression softened. "I want to see that she is safe, as well," he admitted. "She can come, but please let her know in advance what she will find. If I have face one more person's horror..." he trailed off, and P.I.X.A.L gave his good hand a squeeze.
"I will," she promised before standing and heading out of the room.
Agatha was horrified by what she learned, but rather than making her less inclined to visit Julien, she felt more determined than ever. Her body was still not back to full strength, but she managed to move quickly as she followed the female android through the hallways of the hospital. As they reached the correct room, the android hesitated, but Agatha did not. She pushed her way into the room, crossing it quickly.
"Julien." The word came out stronger than she meant it to, and he watched her come closer with a strange look on his face. She realized he looked afraid, and she felt a twist of anxiety. Was he afraid of what she would think? Or...afraid of her? Had she helped Zerek do horrible things at Estyeer—things that she didn't remember?
"I...am glad you are all right," Julien said at last, and Agatha took a seat next to his bed. The chrome arm was hard to ignore, but she forced herself to not even look at it as she reached out to touch his face.
"Zat I am all right? You are ze von who vas trapped zere for so long," she pointed out. After a moment, she forced herself to add, "I must admit, I do not remember anyzing zat happened at Estyeer, Julien. I vish I did, so I could know vat exactly Zerek did, and vat I may have helped him do..."
"I am glad you do not remember," Julien offered, his good hand traveling up to hold hers where she was touching his face. "You refused to help Zerek...but I...I did help him." His expression crumpled with shame, and Agatha shook her head.
"Anything you did was under duress," she pointed out. After a moment, Julien smiled sadly.
"That is what you said at Estyeer, as well," he mused softly.
"Because it is true." She studied the young man, taking in the harrowed look in his eye and the unkempt nature of his appearance. There were so many memories of him that were missing, but she felt sure she had never seen him look quite like this. At least, not before whatever horrors he had faced at Estyeer. All at once, her eyes filled with tears. "I vish I knew vat ve vent zrough togezer, Julien. I vould not mind remembering if it meant zat I could understand. My mind feels like a corrupted file—zere are so many gaps zat make it hard to make connections." She squeezed his hand. "Ze last zing I remember vividly is our trip to Ninjago, vere I discovered zat you vere adopted by androids. But after zat, everyzing is so patchy."
She trailed off, wiping at the tears on her face in shame. She was supposed to be here to help Julien feel better, and here she was breaking down instead. Agatha pulled away as she apologized. "I am sorry. I did not mean to be so upset. It has just been such a strange veek."
"Agatha..." Julien went to lean forward, but something seemed to stop him. Both of their gazes went to the limp chrome arm—no doubt it was inhibiting his ability to move freely. For a moment, neither of them said anything as they looked at the metal limb, but then Agatha wiped the last tears off her face.
"May I?" she asked, glancing back at his face. His expression clouded, but then he finally nodded. Agatha reached out to gently lift the chrome limb, moving it so Julien could lean forward. Her eyes scanned the prosthetic, turning it slowly to take in the different features. "Ze design is surprisingly simple," she finally noted. "Vat is its purpose? Can you move it yourself?"
"It...is supposed to have that capability," Julien murmured. Agatha trailed a finger across the smooth chrome.
"I recognize zis alloy. It is durable, but heavy. I do not know vie Zerek vould have chosen it for zis function—a lighter alloy vould be easier for you to manipulate yourself."
"He managed to control it fine from his mainframe...regardless of its density," Julien pointed out bitterly. Agatha glanced up, horror filling her as she understood what he was insinuating. Julien wasn't meeting her eye, his expression full of shame once again.
"I do believe ze two of us could come up viz somezing much better, don't you?" she said at last, and he looked up to meet her eye again. Agatha smiled at him. "A functional prosthetic vould be complicated, sure...but ve are both impressive robotics engineers, are ve not?"
"I..." Julien trailed off, seemingly unsure how to answer. Agatha slipped her fingers between the stiff chrome ones as easily as if she were holding his old hand.
"Ze MIRI is facing many changes," she pointed out. "It's future is very unsure. Given everyzing zat has happened...I have started looking into different opportunities." She tilted her head. "I vas very impressed viz vat I saw at ze Ninjagoan Robotics Institution...and not just because zat is ze last vivid memory I have."
"You are switching companies?" Julien realized.
"I have already applied," she admitted. "Granted, I couldn't start for a few more months...but my fazer and I are already looking into housing in Ninjago City. He believes a change vould be good for us boz."
Julien merely stared, and Agatha's smile faded.
"I know zat you have been zrough so much zat I do not remember, and cannot understand. If...if continuing vat ve had before feels like too much for you, given everyzing zat has happened, I vill understand. But I do vant to be here for you, if you zink zat vould be possible."
"I...feel different zan before. Fragile, and unsure," Julien admitted, and Agatha felt her heart fall. However, then Julien's his eyes locked onto her. "But my feelings for you have not changed, Agatha."
The scientist sagged in relief, and she smiled again. "Zen you do not hold it against me, zat zere is so much I do not remember?"
"There were many horrors worth forgetting," Julien promised, but then he glanced back at his metal arm, Agatha's fingers still intertwined with his. "You do not think I am...less of who I used to be, because of my lessened abilities?"
"Zey are not lessened, Julien...zey are merely different zan zey used to be." She leaned forward to kiss him gently on the cheek. "You vere alvays von of a kind," she murmured. "Vie vould furzer evidence of zat fact make me feel any differently about you?"
Julien's eyes filled with tears, and for a moment, Agatha worried she had said the wrong thing. However, then the young man was leaning forward to kiss her. Agatha felt a thrill of relief, and then a thrill of excitement as she felt the metal fingers between hers tighten their hold on her hand.
"Oni-girl?" M was baffled as he caught sight of the Xinta across the waiting room, and Amber immediately whirled. She seemed surprised to see him outside of his hospital room, and she rushed over.
"M! What are you doing down here?"
"Waiting for my father to finish up the last of the paperwork," he pointed out, nodding at where Marty IV was standing at the desk across the room. "They said there's no reason for me to stay, so they're kicking me out." He studied Amber's professional appearance. "What are you doing here?"
"I...came to see you," she admitted. "I was in Metallonia to meet with the Vatta of the Trolone district, and I figured that since I was around, I'd pop by and see if you were still here. Looks like I caught you just in time."
"I don't know about just in time—Dad's been arguing about insurance or something else for the last twenty minutes. I don't know that we're actually going to get out of here anytime soon." He turned back to Amber. "Want to go grab something to eat from the cafeteria?"
Amber blinked. "Oh...sure, I guess."
"Have you eaten already?"
"Well, I just got back from a big dinner," she admitted. "But I'd be down for dessert."
"Given it's a hospital, I don't know if they have much more than pudding, but we can check," M offered.
Amber got a weird look on her face. "It's not...fish flavored, is it?"
"Uh...no? Well, I can't make any promises, I guess." M shuddered. "Fish flavored pudding?"
"I've heard it's a Metallonian delicacy."
"Well, hospital cafeterias aren't exactly renowned for serving delicacies," M mused. "You go on ahead, I'll just let my Dad know where I'm going." He jogged over to where Marty IV was still talking in heated tones. "Hey, I'm headed to the cafeteria," he tried, but Marty just waved one hand in his classic 'I heard you but don't interrupt this conversation' gesture.
M moved to catch back up with Amber, who smiled shyly at him before they headed to the cafeteria.
"I feel underdressed next to you," he pointed out. "But I guess a t-shirt and jeans is still better than a hospital gown."
"I feel weird being so dressed up," Amber mused. "But when you meet a leader, you've got to look your best."
"A leader? You sure bounce back fast, Oni-girl, if you're already meeting with Metallonian leadership." He bumped her with his shoulder, and she rolled her eyes.
"I did the sitting around thing, and it wasn't working for me," she tried. "There's too much to do, and there was too much time to think."
M's smile faded. "I feel you on that one," he offered. They reached the cafeteria and he led the way to the salad bar. After hearing about fish pudding, he wasn't sure he wanted to try out the different Metallonian dishes. You couldn't go wrong with salad, right? "What were you meeting with the leadership about?"
"Just trying to figure out what to do with all the Oni from that village in Estyeer. They don't want to go back to the Oni realm."
"Really? I would have thought they'd want out of here so fast."
"I think they're scared of the change."
"Well...change can be a scary thing, I guess," M mused. He had picked up his salad, and he gestured to the cupcakes at the end of the line. "Want one?"
"Um...sure."
M added two cupcakes to his tray. "I know that cake isn't your favorite, but I'm not sure I can trust the pudding cups.
Amber smiled a little as M got to the end of the line to pay. "I don't mind it. It reminds me of when we were first going to school together."
"They used to serve cake more back then," M agreed as he headed back to the table. "Guess what? The people at Estyeer found my stuff in Zerek's office. I got my old phone back, and my wallet. Technically, Dad already replaced the old phone, but it was nice of them to return my wallet with the cards and cash intact."
"Did you think they would steal it?"
"I mean, their boss drugged me and took me to an evil science castle for a week. I wasn't really sure what to expect."
Amber's smile faded, and M wished he hadn't brought up Estyeer when he saw her shut down.
"How's your brother?" he asked more seriously, poking idly at his salad.
"He's fine," Amber said. "I'll bet he's out of the hospital by now. He's just feeling kinda...well, you know. Like the rest of us are."
"Like we want to go back to real life but real life feels like it could shatter at any time?"
Amber pushed her hair from her face. "Something like that."
M hated how miserable she looked. The xinta looked up in surprise as the crouton bounced off her face, and he gave her a little smile. "If my dad is still wrapped up in whatever lawsuit he's threatening, we could go do something fun. Get our minds off things."
"Like what?"
"I don't know...anything but checkers. Unless you're dying to play checkers...then I will. But only because I really like you."
Amber smiled, though her expression crumpled in confusion. "What do you have against checkers?"
"Are you saying that's what you want to do?"
"I don't care what we do." Amber rested her arms on the table, shrugging as she looked at him. "I just wanted to spend a little time with you."
M got that flippy happy feeling inside, and he tried to keep his smile charming and not goofy. "I'm glad you did," he said honestly. "I mean, we haven't gotten a whole lot of time together these last few weeks, other than those rare moments in Estyeer."
Amber shuddered. "Those horrible moments, when everything felt like it was a second away from tragedy..."
"I don't know," M cut in. "I think the times I got to be with you were the best part."
The xinta looked up. "You're ridiculous," she said at last. "There was no best part of that horrible, sick situation."
"I mean, don't underestimate your ability to make even the worst situations better," he offered with a wink. Amber rolled her eyes, but he saw her blushing.
"You didn't used to be this cheesy," she accused.
"I was always this cheesy," he countered. "You just didn't used to actually listen to me." Amber didn't respond as she stood up, and M's smile faded. "Where are you going? I'll tone down the cheese..."
"Relax," she chided, moving around the table as she came to sit next to him, rather than across from him. "I'm just coming to get my cupcake." She reached out to claim the dessert, and M frowned.
"You didn't have to move all the way—" he started, but he stopped as Amber carefully rested her head on his shoulder, moving slowly as if she was afraid of doing it wrong. He felt a flush run up his neck, and he cleared his throat as he stiffly tried to recover by putting his arm around her. It took a few tries until he managed to find a way to rest it in a natural way, and Amber snorted as she ate her cupcake.
"Why are we so awkward?" she asked through a mouth full of frosting.
"Awkward? Speak for yourself, that was the smoothest move in the book," M said, though he stabbed himself in the lip with his fork in the next second as his next bite of salad missed his mouth.
"People are staring at us," Amber realized, and M glanced around the room.
"Let them stare," he offered.
"I think...people are going to stare at us a lot, M."
His heart pounded with a sudden fear. "I mean, two talented dancers such as ourselves are going to be used to people staring. We can't let something dumb like that get between us. ...Right?"
Amber glanced up at him, and he was glad to see her smiling. "Yeah. I think there's no getting around it at this point...so, I might as well get used to it."
There was a dollop of frosting on her chin, and M used his thumb to wipe it effortlessly from her face. Or at least, he tried to, but as the dollop became a smear, he realized his mistake.
"What are you doing?" Amber asked, as he began to wipe at it more furiously.
"You've just got a...hold on."
"What?" Amber reached up to wipe the smear herself, but he blocked her attempt.
"No, I got it—"
"People are staring more now, M—"
"I've got it!" he assured, wiping his whole hand across her face. She started laughing, shoving him away as she managed to wipe it herself with a paper napkin on the table. M could feel his face blazing red, but he tried to keep his cool as Amber turned to look at him again. "Like I said...I'm super smooth."
"So smooth," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, but he took the fact that she snuggled back into him to be a good sign. M smiled, enjoying the feeling of being together. It was kind of exactly the way he had always pictured it...except it turned out that he wasn't nearly as effortless a romantic as he had always hoped. I'll work on it.
"Hey, Oni-girl?"
"Mmm?"
"Are you coming back to school? I mean, technically it feels like we've just been to the departed realm and back...but we only really missed two weeks, and graduation is so close..."
"I haven't even thought about school," Amber breathed as she closed her eyes.
For a few minutes she didn't say anything, and M was afraid that she was going to say that she wasn't planning on coming back, after all. Not that he'd blame her, after everything that had happened, but still. After all her hard work to graduate early, he'd hate if she ended up having to push it off because some freak robot ruined her spring break.
"I think I should," Amber said at last.
"Should come back?"
"Yeah. I want to graduate. Get it over with so I can move on to something new."
"Do you have anything in mind? For the something new, I mean."
"Well...I thought about going to NCU, but now I think I may take a year off and do a dancing tour instead. I...was invited to do one here in Metallonia."
M blinked in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah. I think it would be a good way to further establish inter-nation communication and repour so that what happened to the oni and us wouldn't happen again. Not to mention it could give Metallonians a better view of oni since they're going to have their own community of them pretty soon. She shrugged as she glanced up at him. "And besides...I think it would be fun."
"Lots of fun," M agreed. "I'm sure you'll have a blast. And I mean, all that politics stuff sounds like a good thing, too."
"Yeah. All the more reason I have to go back to school, though."
"So you don't have to do summer school?"
"Yeah..." Amber glanced up at him, her smile becoming a little more mischievous. "But I've also got a new pair of whistle-tip dance shoes I've got to wear in."