Adolin stared at his phone, trying to make sense of the text he had received at 3:47 am. Be where? Friday, it seemed? That was his best guess, anyway. Finally, he sighed.

What?

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed. He picked it up, checking the message.

Hm?

I dunno. You texted me.

...when? Before Adolin could reply, his phone buzzed again. ...nvm, I checked. Fuck. Sorry. Was drunk.

Translation?

...Moash wants you to come out with us on Friday. You don't have to.

Adolin found himself grinning stupidly. What time?

Dunno. Let you know when I do. Now...I'm gonna sleep off this hangover.

Adolin chuckled at that. Kk. Gl.

Setting his phone aside, Adolin laid back, staring up at the ceiling. It seemed like a small thing, but to be invited out with Kaladin's friends...well, it was exciting. He found himself wondering what Kaladin had said about him to get this Moash to invite him out. More importantly, how had Kaladin introduced him? They were dating, right? They hadn't talked about it, but they had made out, and now Kaladin was inviting him out.

Whatever. He was not going to lay here thinking about this. He had exercises to do, and an appointment later to get his prothesis. He could not wait to try it out. To walk again.

He pulled himself out of bed, using his crutch to get himself to the bathroom. Before anyone could jump on him to try and 'help,' he had shut and locked the door. A chair had been left in the shower for his use, and he stripped and dropped onto it, turning the shower on.

He was getting better at getting around with only one leg, but he still needed assistance for a number of things. Part of being disabled, he was learning, was accepting that he needed some...accommodations. Like the chair. He hated that he needed it, felt no end of frustration that it was necessary, but standing on one leg and fumbling around with the shower was not worth it. He had tried it the first day he'd been allowed to take a full shower, and it just...had not been worth it.

He showered, then hurried to dress, shutting his bedroom door firmly when his father popped up to offer his assistance. The consideration was...nice, but more so it was just annoying. He could dress himself.

He opted for a pair of dark jeans and a red, collared shirt. Nice, but not overly formal. With careful fingers, he pinned up the left leg, letting out a soft sigh as he did so. Sometimes, it still felt...surreal. Like he would wake up and be whole again. Those moments were coming less and less often, though, and he steeled himself, standing and heading downstairs for breakfast.

His appointment was at two that afternoon, so he had a few hours to kill beforehand. As he was browsing the kitchen, debating which exciting cereal to eat, his phone buzzed from his pocket. He opened it, face splitting into a grin as he read the message. His cousins had come to town, and they wanted to take him out for breakfast. He quickly replied the affirmative, shutting the cupboard door with perhaps more force than was required.

They arrived ten minutes later. Stepping into his shoe, Adolin hobbled to the door—at least they knew the gate code. He should probably give it to Kaladin, he mused.

Jasnah's girlfriend, Shallan, was driving. Her red Mercedes pulled up in front of the house, and Adolin hopped down the steps with an unfeigned eagerness. In an uncharacteristic display of altruism, Jasnah vacated the front seat, holding the door for Adolin as he clomped over. Adolin raised an eyebrow.

"I'm smaller, not bigger, Jasnah; I can fit in the back."

She met his look with a flat stare of her own. "It is good to see you too, cousin."

"Adolin!" Shallan called from the driver's seat, beckoning for him to get in. "Come on, sit with me." Without further prompting, he climbed in. Maybe he should just enjoy the doting.

"How are you feeling, Adolin?"

"Fine, Elhokar. Same as I was when we talked two days ago." They meant well, but his good mood was evaporating.

"You could at least pretend to be happy to see us," Jasnah said coolly, having climbed into the back next to her brother.

"...I am, Jas. Really. It's just—I'm tired of getting fawned over," he admitted.

Shallan glanced at him, catching his eye and offering a small smile and a nod. "Well, I, for one, am relieved. With twenty percent of your body gone, I was afraid I was going to have to reduce my quips to eighty percent capacity. Rather, it seems you're overdue for some jests."

Adolin found himself smiling. "Kaladin and I settled on fifteen."

"I can work with an extra five," Shallan said.

"Who's Kaladin?" Elhokar asked, leaning forward to poke his head into the front.

"Oh, he's my physiotherapist, or something. And he was my nurse." And...? He quickly banished the last thought.

"Did you say you were getting your prothesis today?" Jasnah asked.

"Yeah, at two."

"Want us to take you?" Shallan offered. "You are, after all, more portable now. I bet even I could carry you." That, from the short, young woman, was amusing.

Adolin grinned. "You're welcome to come, but I know my father wants to be there. Renarin might be coming, too."

"Wonderful, a family outing."

"Try not to sound too excited, Jas..." Shallan teased.

"Hardly. I am overjoyed."

Adolin rolled his eyes, smiling. Coddling aside, today was starting off pretty darn well.

After a wonderful morning out with his cousins, Adolin was dropped off back at home. Jasnah had to make a stop, but they promised to meet him at the clinic after. For now, he climbed into his father's car, settling into the front seat.

Renarin joined them, sitting in the back, and they were off. Silence reigned over the vehicle for several minutes. At long last, Dalinar broke it with a sigh.

"Your nurse, Kaladin, called."

That was a surprise. Glancing over, Adolin frowned slightly. "...what did he say?"

"Well, he said you were getting a lot stronger. He thinks you'll be able to start seeing a proper physiotherapist soon."

"...oh." Was Kaladin trying to get rid of him? That didn't make sense.

"He also suggested you...start seeing a psychologist."

"...he did?"

"He mentioned—and Renarin, you need to hear this too—that we might have been...overly protective of you. I apologise, if that is the case."

"...is that true, Adolin?" Renarin asked.

"Yeah, I mean...I guess I can't deny it." Though why Kaladin had to stick his nose into that, Adolin was not sure. It kind of annoyed him to know the man had decided to meddle to that extent. Now that it was out, though, he found himself speaking. "It gets a bit frustrating. I can take care of myself a lot better than you seem to think I can."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Dalinar asked, voice soft.

"...you're only trying to help. I guess," he shrugged, "I just didn't want to seem ungrateful."

"You should have told us," Renarin said quietly.

"It's fine. It's not as bad as you seem to think it was. Just—it got frustrating sometimes."

"We will aspire to do better, won't we Renarin?"

"Of course, Father."

"And Adolin? Please, never hesitate to come to is if you need anything—even if what you need is space."

"...yeah, right, okay. Thanks, Father." His family was pretty great, he had to admit.

Dalinar reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "You have nothing to thank me for."

"Me, either," Renarin added.

"Okay, but thanks anyway."