A night at the races
A few moments later, Chloe re-joined the group oblivious to what had just happened. "The prodigal daughter finally returns… what's up with the tense atmosphere?"
Rachel took the job of filling her in on the details. "Frank dropped by. Had some freaky purple eye thing going on, a drug mix-up apparently."
Chloe frowned, glancing over at Max while remembering what she had told them about her parents' killer. "You think…?"
"All I think is that we need to keep a close eye on things from now on," the blonde hunter stated, with Victoria nodding approvingly.
"Right." Eager to take Max's mind off things and lighten the mood, Chloe motioned towards what she had been working on. "Still up for the race? If you say no, I'll cry for like a week. I put a lotta love and hard work into it."
Rolling her eyes playfully, Max moved towards the starting line with the others following close behind. She could worry about Frank later. There would be plenty of time for that. Besides, if he was really involved, he could've attacked them then and there. The purple eye thing would have made it easy, as she had seen, and the junkyard was the perfect place to do it, totally secluded. They were probably fine for the time being.
"So, you ready guys?" Chloe asked from the starting line she had marked out with an old piece of cloth along with some extra candles.
"I'll pass. I already know Max is a lot faster than me. I'll just wait on the finish line to congratulate Max when she wins," the young hunter replied nonchalantly.
"Care to place a wager on that?" Chloe challenged, determined to win something tonight.
Rachel bobbed her head from side to side, thinking it over for a second, then shrugged. "Sure, when Max wins, you're my skivvy for the week, and IF... by some miracle, you win, dinner's on me for the week."
"Dinner's ON you, or IS you?" Chloe asked, the start of a grin showing on her face.
Already having predicted that kind of comment, Rachel placed a hand on her hip. "That is open to negotiation, not that I'm worried."
"And what if I win?" Victoria asked as she took off her heels at the starting line.
"Same deal, I guess," Rachel cracked teasingly.
"Is it bad I don't need my ability to know what you're getting at, Rachel?" Maybe Kate had been spending too much time around her recently. Or maybe she was just predictable.
Rachel threw her a wink. "Nope, just means you're thinking the same thing."
Kate opened her mouth to protest and quickly clamped it shut not taking the young hunters bait, "What if Max wins?"
"I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement," the young hunter smirked.
Max shook her head letting out a sigh. 'Does she ever give up, I wonder?'
'Not from what I've seen, she reminds me a lot of me... a long time ago,' Akir mentioned with a wistful fondness.
Max stifled a chuckle. Her group of friends would probably guess she was laughing at Akira, but maybe not. Best not to look like a total loony. 'Not that you've changed much.'
'Hey!'
'Only difference is you won't actually act on anything... thankfully.' As far as Rachel went… that was a different story entirely. She was very capable of acting on her advances.
'Maybe I should... you might learn a thing or two.'
'One day Akira, one day I'm gonna find a way to HIT you,' Max threatened playfully. Maybe she could give her a mental slap or something. Worth a shot.
Reading her thoughts, Akira decided to discourage her, just in case it worked. If there was a way, Max would do her best to find it. 'Oh, I don't doubt it, just… Make sure it's not for a LONG time, ok?'
'Deal,' Max grinned.
"Well, I won't be racing for obvious reasons," Kate stated, as Max nudged her hinting to her back. "You want me to ride you?" she asked. Max nodded, hinting to her back again. "I'll just slow you down, Max. Besides, someone's gotta keep an eye on Rachel."
Letting out a small sulk, Max wandered over to the starting line with Chloe and Victoria.
"Ya know, she just wants to include you," Rachel said as she joined Kate just out of earshot of the other three girls.
"I know... I just don't wanna be a hindrance that's all," Kate sighed. She really did appreciate the sentiment and had enjoyed her last adrenaline fuelled ride with Max.
"I get that," Rachel nodded and then smirked, "you know, it would actually help her push herself. Plus, could you imagine Chloe when she loses with Max carrying you?"
"I guess," Kate mumbled, playing with the necklace Max had given her to look after.
The blonde hunter grinned to herself as she thought of another incentive to add. "If you don't go, a certain picture might make its way around the school, with a nice little caption, of course."
Kate shot her a scowl, "You wouldn't dare."
"Just three little taps and..." she said teasingly as she playfully tapped on her phone.
"Hey, Max, wait up," Kate shouted, as she pushed herself off the old car and made her way over to the starting line. She didn't want to risk it. Seeing her approach, Max laid down so the young empath could easily climb on.
"Three, two, one, GO!" Chloe shouted launching herself of the starting line, quickly followed by Victoria.
"Hey, we weren't ready," Kate shouted as she got onto Max back, holding on tight to her main as she sprung to her feet, launching herself after the two vampires at full tilt.
Approaching the two vampires, Max chuckled to herself as she watched them trying to shove each other off course, completely oblivious to herself and Kate gaining on them as they bolted over the railroad tracks into the forest following the trail of tealights. It was Victoria who got the upper hand between the pair, tripping the bluenette and sending her careening into a tree causing it to fall down. To her credit, Chloe managed to get to her feet and was hot on the blonde vampire's heels before the tree even hit the ground with an almighty crash. This turn of events caused the young Ahri to violently alter her course, throwing Kate from her back screaming as the pair barely missed the collapsing tree.
"Do those two even realize were in this… ouch?" Kate winced as she got to her feet and tried putting pressure on her ankle. Max let out a whimper of concern as she trotted up to Kate's side. "It's ok, I think it's just sprained," she reassured the young Ahri as she climbed back on. "Now, let's win this thing."
Hurtling through the woods, Max could hear the two vampires up ahead, both laughing and goading each other as they fought to get ahead of the other. In the distance, she could hear the sound of a train approaching as she weaved through the trees following the candles with Kate giggling. She rounded the bend just in time to see the two vampires crossing the train lines as the locomotive whizzed past. Undeterred, Max spotted a break in the train's carriages, a lone flatbed carrying logs. With a low growl, she powered forward lining herself up for the gap.
"Max," Kate muttered as she realized what the Ahri was going to attempt, gripping onto the thick black fur tightly as she felt her heart begin to race. "Oh god," she shrieked clamping her eyes shut as Max leaped through the air over the flatbed, the next carriage narrowly missing the wolf's tails.
Kicking up a plume of dust and dirt as she landed the on the other side, Max broke into long strides, powering along the track. She could clearly see the pair of vampires still trying to get ahead of each other. Rounding another bend the junkyard came into sight, along with it the finish line. Max knew if she didn't do something, Chloe wouldn't let her live it down, even if she did technically cheat at the start. Turning her orb a solid black she slung it ahead of her, past the two quarreling vampires. On its return trajectory, it pulsed a dim white before bursting into a bright white blinding light stunning the pair. In the second of confusion, they tripped over each other in an undignified heap laughing as Max bolted past them.
...
"Well, that was predictable," Rachel smirked as Max sprinted across the finish line with Kate still clinging onto her fur, her eyes still clamped shut and breathing heavily, "You ok, Kate?"
"Holy shit," Kate mumbled as she let herself collapse into Max's fur, exhaling a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her heart was pounding in her chest as adrenaline lit up all of her senses.
With her face buried in Max's mane, she could hear the steady powerful beats of the Ahri's heart clearly above her own. It was like she hadn't even broken a sweat. She could also sense Max's concern, as well as what seemed to be a playfulness coming from Akira. Surprising considering she was wearing Max's necklace, but Max and Akira were all she could sense.
"I think that's the first time I have EVER heard you swear."
Sitting herself up, she opened her eyes to see Rachel with an almost worried look. Offering the young hunter a smile she nodded, "I'm ok, just... that was intense, particularly jumping a MOVING train."
Before Rachel could ask, Chloe and Victoria came hurtling over the finish line landing in a heap giggling manically. "And the first time I've heard Victoria laugh in a month."
"She started it, trying to trip me up" Victoria chuckled getting to her feet only to get tripped again by Chloe.
"If I recall you were the one that started it. I've just finished it," the blunette shot playfully as she sprinted to the car wreck where all their stuff was, helping herself to a drink.
"Can you pass mine, Chloe?" Rachel asked with an appealing smile.
Chloe gave her a disapproving look. "What did your last slave die of?"
"She hasn't died of anything… yet. That might change if she starts being a smartass, also, Max won, you know what that means."
"Max cheated, she blinded us," she protested with a frown.
It was kind of ironic how Chloe of all people would be dragging others up for cheating given her track record. "And you started the race before Max and Kate were ready."
"And nearly took us out with a tree," Kate added, still on a rush.
Chloe let out a groan as she handed Rachel her drink. "I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut."
"Yes, you should, Price," Victoria added, glancing at Kate, "Enjoy your ride, Kate."
"I did, although I feel like I ran the race myself," Kate replied placing a hand on her pounding heart that was only just starting to slow down.
"Well, if it takes jumping a moving train to get you going, no wonder I struggle." Rachel winked playfully, causing the young empath to blush slightly at the insinuation.
"Well, I guess we better getting back. Mom's blowing up my phone, dinners gonna be ready in fifteen minutes." Chloe held up her phone to demonstrate the torrent of messages.
"I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow then," Victoria replied, picking up her own bottle of drink before turning to the group, "I actually had a laugh tonight. We should do it again some time."
"Victoria Chase, offering to hang out with the misfits...I 'm sure that's one of the seven signs of the apocalypse," Rachel teased with a grin.
Victoria let out an amused hmph, "I used to think being popular mattered... You guys, your something different, I can't put my finger on it, but I got a feeling about you four. I think your worth hanging onto."
Not expecting that kind of response, Chloe offered her a small smirk. "Steady Torie, I think I might puke with that level of mush."
That made Rachel laugh. "Just because you've got the emotional capacity of a brick, Chloe."
"Hey, I can be..." Chloe stopped herself seeing Rachel raise an eyebrow at her, "Ok… I'm not good with mushy crap."
"See ya later guys... And Max, it's good to finally meet you," and with, that Victoria took off towards her car.
When she had gone, Chloe turned to the rest of the group. "Don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but I can only fit two of you in my truck."
"I guess it's me and Kate, seeing as Max will probably beat us home anyways..." It was then that she noticed the flicker of challenge in her friend's eyes, "And no Chloe, you're not racing her in your truck."
"Spoilsport," Chloe pouted as she started gathering their things.
"See you at Joyce's, Max," Kate said as she started to get off Max, only to have the wolf give her a disapproving growl.
"Actually, I think you already have your ride, Kate," Rachel smirked.
"Well, I guess I won't turn it down," Kate grinned as she readjusted herself on Max's back. "Can you grab my stuff please, Chloe?"
"You got it, marshmallow. I'll grab yours too, Max. See you at home. Try not to get lost, I know what you're like with directions."
"See you at Joyce's, guys," Kate said, and with that Max turned and bounded into the woods towards Chloe's house.
Once Max's light had disappeared into the woods, Rachel began helping Chloe gather their things. "Do you think she realizes it yet?"
Chloe turned to her, a question in her blue eyes. "Huh, realize… who?"
"Kate, do you think she realizes yet?" Rachel asked again.
The addition of Kate's name didn't seem to make it any clearer for Chloe. "Not sure I follow."
"And you say Kate's clueless," Rachel snickered as she jammed Max's borrowed clothes into a bag, "Kate's smitten with Max."
"You think?"
"I do, she just doesn't know it yet." She had watched Max and Kate for some time now and that was the only logical conclusion she could reach.
Something in Chloe's mind clicked then. It was so obvious all of a sudden. "You're jealous."
"Maybe a little... I just never thought Kate was actually... ya know, into girls." Stereotypically speaking, it was unlikely. Then again, just because someone looked a certain way or believed a certain thing didn't mean shit.
"And yet, you still try".
"You know me, I'm relentless. And causing chaos is fun," Rachel replied with a smirk.
"So out of curiosity, if you had a choice between me and Kate, who'd you pick?" Chloe asked, interested in her answer. As far as both looks and personality went, she and Kate couldn't be further apart.
"That's not a fair choice, Chloe... But," Rachel let out a drawn out sigh, "Well what about you and Max?"
Having the question turned on her threw the bluenette for a loop. Who would she choose? She loved Rachel, no question, but having Max back in her life stirred up old feelings. How did one measure how much they loved someone? Was there a measurement? Reluctantly, she just shrugged unable to answer the blonde.
"At least you're in the same dilemma as me. If I had to choose, assuming both felt the same way about me, I wouldn't be able to... maybe one day we'll figure it out," Rachel sighed grabbing the now overly full bag offering Chloe her hand as the two girls walked back to the truck.
The short discussion had gotten them thinking. Whatever happened next between the four of them, both girls had a feeling it would be interesting.
...
The clatter of cutlery ceased as everyone cleaned their plates. All four girls had been too hungry due to recent events to really talk much. Even Kate had attacked her food with the ravenous hunger of a half-starved wild animal. Of course, that had gotten a few playful teasing comments from Rachel, causing the empath to blush slightly.
"Joyce, that was better than I remember," Max sighed, leaning back on her chair patting her overly full stomach.
"Definitely one of your best," Kate agreed, shifting herself to the back of her seat so she didn't slouch.
"Really Kate, I couldn't tell. I mean, you inhaled your food nearly as fast as Chloe," Rachel smirked as she put her own cutlery to rest.
Chloe rolled her eyes in an overly exaggerated fashion. "I'm not that bad," she defended, covering her mouth as she let out a belch.
"I'm guessing it gets the Chloe seal of approval then," Joyce chuckled as she started stacking the plates.
"Uh-huh" Chloe nodded, craning her neck to get a better view of the kitchen from her seat, her eyes fixed firmly on a large plastic cake cover on the side.
"But apparently, I haven't filled that hole of yours," Joyce chuckled, noting her daughter's target as she made her way to the kitchen with the stack of dirty dishes.
The blue-haired vampire grinned. "There's always room for chocolate cake, mom."
"Not too sure about that," Max mumbled, poking her stuffed belly. She hadn't eaten this well in ages. In all the years she had known Chloe, she'd never been able to keep up with that gargantuan appetite of hers. Not much had changed there.
Bringing the various dirty cups over to the sink to help Joyce, getting shooed away when she tried to help wash up, Kate turned back to the table. "I have to agree with Max on this one. I'll have mine to go please, Joyce."
Following her lead, Rachel stood. "Me too please, Joyce."
"You guys not staying the night?" Chloe asked, sounding just a little disappointed.
"I'd love too, but I, we…" Kate didn't finish her sentence, conflicted. She really did want to stay, but she had other things to attend to. Besides, Max and Chloe probably needed some time to themselves. They had five years of heavy emotional baggage to sort through between them.
Noting the hesitation, Rachel finished the sentence for her. "We have an English paper due in on Monday, so we better make sure it's done. Besides, it gives you two a chance to catch up."
Chloe seemed surprised by this confession. "Thought you two woulda had that done already."
"I almost have," Kate revealed, knowing that the young Ahri would instantly try to blame herself when she knew the reason behind not getting homework done. "I kinda stopped when I went looking for Max the other night."
"Sorry about that," Max apologized guiltily.
Kate waved away the anticipated guilt. "Hey, it's only homework. You needed a friend... I just didn't realize how much."
"It's nice to have friends," Max agreed, making her way to the kitchen as she started doing the dishes.
"Friends," Rachel said nonchalantly, passing Chloe a small smile that conveyed much more than words ever could.
The bluenette rolled her eyes at the hunter, shaking her head slightly. After saying their goodbyes, hugs included, Rachel and Kate left the house. Since Joyce had cooked them all a meal, Max and Chloe got to work on the dirty dishes. It took them longer than it should have thanks to Chloe trying to incite a splash war halfway through. Again, something that hadn't changed. One stern look from Joyce ended that potential chaos before it could begin. When they had finished up, the two of them headed up to Chloe's room for a classic sleepover, just like the ones they used to do when kids.
"So, what ya wanna watch?" Chloe asked as she rooted through her DVDs, flicking on the TV as she went.
"You're probably more up to date on films than me," Max admitted, as she got comfortable on Chloe's bed.
"Well, I'm in the mood for some mellow Blade Runner action," Chloe replied, putting the film on and joining her on the bed.
"You better not fall asleep like you always do," Max chided playfully.
"Good thing I don't need as much sleep nowadays," the bluenette replied with a smug smirk, like she had won some kind of major competition.
Max matched her smirk, amused. "Doesn't seem to stop you though."
"I won't fall asleep this time. Promise," Chloe reassured the brunette, cuddling up to her and gently scratching behind one of her ears.
This action caused the young Ahri to let slip a satisfied groan. "You have no idea just how good that feels." She hadn't had affection like this for years, and both Kate and Chloe seemed to have found a spot that just turned her to mush in seconds, not that she cared. This was better than a massage.
"I have a pretty good idea. I've seen the way it affects you when Kate does it," Chloe grinned as the film began to start. Max involuntarily relaxed into her touch, letting her eyes close for just a second before she felt a light shove at her shoulder. "Hey, doesn't mean you can fall asleep, especially not after lecturing me."
"I wasn't asleep," Max protested with a slight pout at the accusation.
"Only because I shoved you," Chloe replied, playfully shoving her again.
After a few shoves back and forth, they called a temporary truce. Despite both their attempts to stay awake until the end, both girls found themselves drifting off into a deep sleep an hour in.
…
Her eyes opened once more, met with an almost complete dark cave say for the light of a couple of flickering candles circling her. It took a good few moments to adjust to the drastic shift in lighting. When her surroundings became clear, she could see jagged walls made of stone, carved out by nature. Three or so tunnel-like structures led off from the main section, much too dark to see down with the naked eye even with her enhanced vision. Several thick, crooked pillars supported the rock ceiling above, stalactites of varying lengths poking down. Water dripped from the pointed icicle-shaped formations, the noise of each drop echoing softly at periodic intervals.
A pair of brown eyes suddenly appeared above her, shifting to a deep crimson red, the stuff of countless horror films and nightmares. The firm grip of another person holding her fast, a second of pain as she felt a pair of needle-sharp fangs pierced her neck. She could feel her blood being drained, her life force slowly ebbing away. She tried to fight it, to call for help, but her body refused to obey. This couldn't be happening. She didn't want to die, wasn't ready. She pleaded for someone, anyone to help her, but her voice was silent.
Her body struggled to remain active, mind flashing with images from her past, Chloe, Rachel, Kate, Joyce, her mom, and dad. All she could do was watch them flicker like a film before her eyes. Each breath becoming weaker, her body growing cold as her vision became hazy, with a final slow exhalation, she felt the darkness claim her.
…
Max woke with a start to a loud crash and a muffled ooof. Shifting her orb to emit a gentle glow to light up the room, she could see Chloe in a heap on the other side of the room. To Max's dismay, she found her partially embedded in what was her dresser, wearing a mixed expression of shock and uncertainty.
"Holy shit... Chloe," Max gasped, scrambling from the bed to help the blue-haired vampire up, "Are you ok?"
Accepting the help, Chloe got to her feet, pulling a large splinter of wood out of her arm. "Yeah, I'll live... remind me NOT to try waking you up from a nightmare again."
"Huh?" Max frowned in confusion for a second before it dawned on her. She had sent Chloe flying. "Oh, shit... I am so sorry, Chloe." She covered her mouth with her hands as her ears folded back on themselves and her cheeks flushed from embarrassment.
Chloe couldn't help but grin a little at how cute Max looked right now. "I'm ok, Maxaronie." She waved off the apology as she inspected the damage to her dresser. "Guess I need a new one."
"I'm a walking disaster," Max grumbled as she walked over to the bed, flopping down face first. Yelping in surprise as she felt one of her tails getting tugged. Craning her neck, she saw Chloe standing there wearing a grin.
"You're not a walking disaster, Max... I mean, ok you seem to have something against my room," Chloe chuckled, signaling to the hole her desk now covered, it being moved back to its original place. "So, at the very least, you're MY walking disaster."
"I'll make it up to you sometime," the young Ahri promised, letting her head slump back into the duvet.
"Oh yeah, and how do you plan on that?" Chloe pressed, curious to find out how she would answer that and happy to make suggestions if she couldn't think of anything. She had a few ideas.
Max wracked her brain, giving it some serious thought. "I dunno, take you out hunting or summin'."
"I dunno about that. I don't like my food quite as fresh as you do," Chloe reminded. Not only that, but animal blood wasn't anywhere near as satisfying or filling as human blood, as strange as that was to admit. More like a substitute or a light snack.
"Well, I was thinking, you eat..." Max hesitated, quickly correcting herself, "drink the blood, I eat the rest."
"Romantic meal for two, eh?" the bluenette offered, half-joking, half-hopeful.
"Was just a suggest... wha, Chloe, no, I mean... grrr." Letting out a frustrated sigh, Max buried her head back into the duvet. Thankful that Akira wasn't actually around right now, she'd have a field day with this.
Wanting to press this some more, Chloe smirked. "So, is that a no, then?"
"It's a maybe," Max mumbled into the blanket.
Climbing onto the bed, the bluenette sat next to Max, cocking her head to one side, "Ya wanna talk about the nightmare?"
Propping herself up on one elbow, the young Ahri looked up at the other girl shrugging a little. "Not much to tell really. It's just the same dreams over and over, each time I see or feel a little bit more, either I'm killing everyone around me or I'm... being killed." An involuntarily shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the sensations. They felt so real it was unnerving.
Chloe seemed to ponder this for a moment. "Not surprising really after what you've been through. You're bound to have a few nightmares but... you're not killing anyone, Max."
"I did the other night. I killed two vampires," Max reminded her, the harrowing memory clear in her mind.
"No, that was Akira. Besides, you, she did it to protect us," Chloe insisted.
"And I let her, she would have killed Victoria too if I hadn't have stopped her. One was on the run. I didn't have to…" Her voice cut out, unable to finish the sentence.
"Max," Chloe said, placing a hand on the young Ahri's shoulder and looking her in the eyes, "but you did stop her, and no one's gonna miss those assholes anyway," she reassured, not taking her eyes from Max's.
The young Ahri pondered this for a few moments. She knew if Akira were here, she would be in agreement with her blue-haired friend. Then again, she and Akira rarely saw eye to eye, usually due to Max's reluctance to 'actually live' as Akira put it.
It was then that she noticed Chloe looking at her intently, as if studying her, "Do I have something on my face?" She blushed, looking away.
The question brought Chloe from her trance. "Huh... no, sorry, it's just... your eyes, they're blue."
"You've known me HOW long, Chloe?" Max asked in disbelief. "I know you haven't seen me for a while, but… really?"
"Very funny, such wit. I mean there COMPLETELY blue, no green," Chloe clarified, rolling her eyes.
"Oh that, you noticed, huh?"
"Well, duh, kinda hard not to notice, they're pret..." she stopped mid-sentence, clearing her throat, "It's pretty difficult not to notice."
"Just means Akira's not about." Max shrugged as if it was common knowledge. 'Wait a sec, was she about to say my eyes were pretty?' She could feel her cheeks heat up at the thought
"So, the greener they are... the more Akira's in control?" Chloe asked with a frown. She wasn't sure how she'd feel if that were the case.
Seeing the concern in Chloe's eyes, Max stepped in to ease her worries. "More like, the greener they are, the more I let Akira influence me. When she's about she can see, hear and feel what I feel. When I let her... help, or when I freeze, that's when she steps in... she's only forced herself once, and that was to get me to eat."
Chloe thought it over some more, trying to find a tangible comparison. "So, bit like a guardian angel."
Max might not go THAT far, but Akira had been guiding her all this time. "Yeah, an overly suggestive one, that loves trying to embarrass me. I swear to dog, I'd combust if Rachel and Akira ever met... thankfully, that ain't gonna happen."
Just thinking about the possibility made Chloe smile. "Never say never, Max. If I've learned anything, it's weird crap can and probably will happen. You're living proof of that."
"No, I'm living proof that fucked up shit happens. We all are." Max corrected, curling herself up and hugging one of her tails.
"I like to think of it as were living proof that fucked up shit can be beaten, and we will find a way to sort this out, Maximoo," Chloe reassured, lying beside the young Ahri. She propped herself on her elbow so she could easily reach over and scratch behind Max's ear, causing her groan happily. "Besides, you coming back has been a turning point, definitely in my life. You've helped Rachel move on from her past, and me, heh, well I got a new lease of life. Not to mention you seem to have had an effect on a certain blonde empath."
"Hmm, maybe. I like Kate, she's nice to hang around," Max admitted.
"Oh thanks," Chloe pouted, as she ceased scratching Max's ear, eliciting a small whine from the girl.
"I didn't mean it like that. Kate's calming, your chaotic, and Rachel... she's mischievous. Together, it's a balance I guess," Max explained, tugging at Chloe's arm giving her her best puppy dog eyes.
Chloe rolled her eyes smirking as she resumed scratching behind the Ahri's ear. "And what about you? Where do you fit in"?
"When I figure that out, I'll let you know." Max shrugged, letting out a deep yawn as she let her eyes slowly close.
Chloe sat for a while as the young Ahri drifted off, her orb gradually returning to its blue state, giving off a subtle blue glow. It didn't light the room up much, but it was pleasant. Once she was gently snoring, Chloe carefully untangled herself and made her way off the bed. Checking the time and seeing it was barely midnight, she decided to go have a smoke. She should probably pick up some food from the blood bank too, couldn't rely on her mom to do it all after all.
Picking up her supplies, she passed another glance at the sleeping Ahri, was about to say something, then simply left via the window, disappearing into the night.