Dimming the light in the center of the room, Wave cleared the couch so Sky would have a place to sleep for the night.

Said Hawk was reading the book she bought from the market. It was some pulpy romance bound together with cheap glue and dusty pages. She didn't seem too interested but it was something to do.

"I have two clients in the morning." Wave said, putting the leftovers from Ma Masie in the fridge. "It won't do much for what we owe but it'll be something. Maybe they'll spread the word around."

Wave felt the ever daunting finality of Jax's next visit, and she wasn't sure what to do.

"Everything okay?" Sky asked, likely sensing a downturn in her mood.

"Yeah...I just need to get some sleep." Choosing a raggedy quilt and the cot in the corner, Wave must've been more exhausted than she first surmised because the second her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.

Things were quiet as darkness fell upon both of them. It was an hour or so after midnight when a clatter came from the kitchen sink. The noise woke Sky, who had fallen asleep over her book.

"WAVE!" Hearing her friend's frantic plea, Wave awoke in the pitch black to the shadowed form of an intruder scurrying by. Without thinking, she threw off her quilt and bounded, tackling said intruder to the ground while Sky fumbled to turn on the light.

"Get off me!" A voice, a male voice, bellowed. "You crazy broad!" The intruder, a green hawk, had scuttled in through the kitchen window and ended up in a headlock on the floor.

"What are you doing in my shop!?" Wave demanded, still holding the figure to the ground.

"I thought-" He gagged when she tightened her grip. " I thought the place was abandoned."

The light now on, Wave got a good look at the unfortunate soul and, against her better judgement, let him go.

Jet grumbled when getting back to his feet. "Just my luck the place I pick has an absolute nutcase living in it."

Wave scowled: "You broke into MY shop, how I reacted was justified." She crossed her arms. "If you want shelter, go into the city. This isn't a damn hotel."

Sky had settled from the excitement, sitting on the couch with her blanket across her lap. "It's pouring bullets outside, maybe we could let him wait until it let's up."

Wave sighed, sending a severe glance to her underling. "Don't tell me you're defending this dunce..."

Sky stretched, careful when moving her stuff ankle. "I mean I was in his shoes once and you took me in."

"You didn't break in." Wave said, resigned. "Fine." She gave up without an argument. "You can stay until the rain stops, then you can try your luck in the city." She was sure there were shelters that'd be willing to take him in.

"Fat lotta good that'll do me." Jet mumbled, sitting on an over turned bucket. "I'm not exactly welcomed in the city."

Wave plopped down on her cot, wide awake, and with no intention to sleep now that a stranger was in her home. "So you have a price on your head, is what you're saying?"

Jet's brow furrowed. "And now that you've guessed it, I suppose you'll turn me in."

"That's not how I roll." Wave said. "I doubt it's much of one anyway."

"300."

Wave shrugged. "That wouldn't put a dent in what I owe Jax."

Jet paused when messing with his laces. "Jax?" He was surprised she knew the Echidna's name. "You know him?"

"I borrowed money from him to save my shop and now he has me by the throat." Wave said. "And your affiliation would be?"

"He's the reason I'm stuck out here." Jet said, agitated. "Sent me to steal something that didn't even exist, like a cruel practical joke."

Sky piped up: "He does that. To lure you into his gang." She frowned. "He gets a bounty on your head, then you're in debt to him if he pays it off."

"Well that's not working on me." Jet snapped. "I'd rather rot in the desert than be under his thumb."

After another half hour of meaningless conversation, which included them finally introducing one another, Sky went to the fridge, a midnight snack on her mind. "When's the last time you've eaten?'" She asked Jet.

The hawk shrugged. "I've lost track." He'd ran out of what few rations he saved a couple days ago.

Wave didn't bother objecting when Sky offered some of their leftovers to their guest. It was futile telling Sky not to care for someone. Besides Jet hadn't had a decent bite to eat in a while and it'd be heartless to let him starve.

"I'm going back to bed." Wave said after a while longer. If Jet was gonna cause any further trouble, he would've already. "We haven't much place else to sleep while your waiting but just take a sheet on the floor."

As soon as the rain let up, their guest would be on his way and Wave could go back to worrying about the finances in peace.

At least, those were her plans.