Ama leaves us, walking off into the open space. Klef and I look around. The middle is a grassy field, which has some of the grass upturned with fresh earth underneath, lending itself to crash-landings of fresh dragons, if Ama is to be believed. But off to either side of this field there are dozens of trees, patches of flowers, and even some benches, rocking chairs, and a table or two, all human sized. Klef stretches his wings out, and sighs. “Oh, yeah, baby! I could get used to this kind of space!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqmfZJ2xEv
I chuckle. “You had that at home, bird brain. You’re the one who decided to join me today.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUxoL3cMqr
“And I’m glad I did!” Klef says, flying up into the air a good 10 feet. “Just look at this view! This is amazing!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNvPN8MZzm
I laugh. Klef’s happiness is contagious. “I can only fly if you carry me, or I’m on a swing, remember?” I tease.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNBbNCvfkU
“Easily remedied,” Klef says, swooping down and picking me up around the waist to lift me into the air.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07n7XiAGfh
I squeal at the sudden touch and laugh. “Wow, this really is amazing!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJXazP0nih
“I told you!” Klef exclaims, flying in a circle to see everything. “This is so cool! I wonder if any dragons would be willing to race me?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogtX9TiqAM
I smile and shake my head. “You would lose hopelessly.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R5R5uGlOy
“Maybe so,” Klef agrees with a nod. “But wouldn’t it be fun?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHuhv2CN6k
“Only you, Treble. Only you could turn a murderous situation and make it this happy.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiIf3SBl80
Klef grins and glides to the ground, setting me down. “We’re a good pair, that way. I show you the clouds and you make sure that my wings don’t burn from getting too close to the sun.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaEUU0zY92
“Yeah, well, the stench of singed feathers is not pleasant,” I tease.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAkRkLCmJj
Klef laughs. “Oh, you just ruined my romantic moment!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA3HbOLcz9
I grin. “You do it to plenty of mine,” I point out.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxWEDCHXAR
“Shut up,” Klef says, but he’s smiling.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yTXXaeI8Q
“Or what?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N8Rhs0MzV
“Or I’ll have to kiss you,” Klef responds.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9Mv70HgL0
“Ooh, I’m so scared,” I say.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNgBEGQXB9
Klef lifts up on his toes and offers me a light kiss, which I return with a little more pressure as my acceptance. We break apart after a few seconds, before Klef can wrap his arms around my waist or I can muss up his hair, in an attempt to look normal to anyone walking by. “Want to sit on one of the swings?” I offer.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtt84lCBEm
“Sure,” Klef says. “I guess I can put up with some fake-flying for a little while.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW13i7w9iwT
“Well, excuse me, but not everyone can fly,” I scoff as we walk over. “Your mocking swingsets is rude and I’m personally offended. Not all of us were tossed off a cliff when we were little.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX1trJNICI
“I wasn’t little,” Klef says, scrunching up his nose. “It was 5 years ago. I wasn’t little.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG0thlSsgK
“Little enough to tease you,” I say, sitting down on a bench swing and pushing it back with my feet. When Klef sits down I let go and lean back into the seat. “How long do you think it will take us to die this time?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEdBmdmlCL
“I dunno,” Klef shrugs. “Am I supposed to?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEktNL9Mp4
“I guess not, that’s my job isn’t it?” I sigh.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREYB3hWiws
Klef looks over to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Hey, sweetheart. You’re more than just your dreams, okay? I know everyone here is all focused on how you can predict the future, but people who really know you? They care about you for you. And those people are out there, don’t say that they aren’t. I, for one, cared about you since we were little kids. Even if you did forget me.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsJuPRUim0
I laugh. “Kleftis, I was, like, 3. You really expect me to remember something that happened when I was a toddler?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdamsFSo2i
“I did, Iridescence,” he says.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRXpdjCEfn
“You were smitten, that’s why,” I tell him, pointing a finger. “I enjoyed being around you, but I wasn’t smitten.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19MTrwsxOS
“Oh, you wound me, Ride,” Klef says, grinning. “You make me sound like a lovestruck fool.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0fxbB0Zxa
“You’re a fool, all right,” I laugh.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQiAQ5q9Oa
Klef grins and pulls me closer to him on the swing. “So… I don’t want to ruin the moment, but you know, you’ve dropped a lot of hints about us having a future together lately. And I’m not just talking about the kids thing either. Are you… I don’t know what to say. Expecting something of me?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrcROOV7j0
I frown and sigh. I know this was coming, but I don’t want it to be right now that we talk about it. “No, not really, I don’t think,” I say. “I just… couples sometimes talk about futures together. What they might see happening if they stay together. We never do. I mean, I do sometimes, but you don’t really join in. I guess it’s a cultural difference, or something? I mean, you were raised in Constell, I wasn’t, I was born and raised in Argentor, and most couples over there just… spoke about what they saw happening to each other if they stayed together. I wanted to share that with you.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO6rew46YN
“That’s all?” Klef asks. “Ride, couples in Constell would do that too. I just thought it was a given we would stay together, you know? Something that wouldn’t change no matter what. Together… to the end of the Ride. Or the Treble. Either one.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL7rOgNpNQ
I groan. “Klef! You do not get to complain about my puns and then make some of your own!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRAXTA0Z7n
Klef pouts. “Aw, you’re no fun. You’re never any fun.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvFPLR7SpH
I scoff and roll my eyes, catching the glint of something in the sun. I freeze. Klef immediately is focused on me and tense. “What? What is it?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJX5vAtzjX
“I could have sworn I just say something glinting in the light,” I whisper. “Somebody’s out here besides us.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvWSzwJLJP
Klef frowns. “Well, that’s why we’re out here, isn’t it?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDYWnAgioH
“I know it is, Klef, but I’m nervous,” I hiss. “I don’t exactly want to die.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXgXHDOoG8
“Ride, take deep breaths,” Klef says, standing up. “I’ll go check it out. You’re probably still rattled from this morning.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLeFfvP8nA
He’s put on an act like we would do when we’re out thieving. I put on my best worried smile, which doesn’t take much faking, and nod. “Be careful,” I warn, and it’s not an act at all.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFr1HFckwM
“I will,” he says, like he ever listens to that warning.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhc2Gdz3Ek
Staying still on the bench takes all of my will power. I know that it might be one of the people we can trust who’s staking out where we are, but it could just as easily be a killer. I lean down to tighten my sandals when I feel a cold cylinder press into my neck. A gun. “Don’t make me shoot ye, lass,” a familiar voice warns. “I will if I have to, but my friend’s the one who wants ye dead. I just want ye gone.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTobb1aBFr
“And your friend would be?” I ask in low tones.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYHrtbeJ0i
“A concerned party, from the real Crusaders,” the voice whispers.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5lwx1j5wZ
I tilt my head as much as I can with the gun pressed to my neck, and see the gorgon from yesterday staring at me, willing me to look into their eyes. I won’t give them the satisfaction of turning me into stone, though, however temporary the curse may be. “The real Crusaders? We are the real Crusaders. Everyone here.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmZUzX5Pe5
The gorgon laughs. “Aye, if ye believe so. But the real ones would know better.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM97oyYx3Wh
My stomach does an involuntary flip. I don’t like this conversation. “Look, I’m sure whatever you want, we can work out something. You said you don’t want me dead at your hands? I’m sure that can be arranged. But I need to know what you want from me in exchange for my life, all right?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhRaUCfi4D
“Change your prophecy,” the gorgon whispers. “Change it away from the real location. Just for long enough that the real Crusaders can complete their mission and then you can live.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QZrXNTRc3
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. “S-sorry?!” I whisper frantically.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSBRN5izxx
“Change the prophecy,” the gorgon repeats, digging the gun into my neck. “Or I will shoot you.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8glohL7SvB
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “How do you expect me to do that? You were there when I shared the prophecy, I can’t just take it back!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGuOIXD2G1
“Ye’ll figure something out. Yer a clever lass. Just change the prophecy.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4n7MyMjYy
“No,” I say, waiting to feel the pain of a bullet entering my body.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlYDN4AoNF
“No?!” the gorgon hisses.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6ifMw7teW
“No,” I repeat, louder. “I will not change the prophecy. What are you going to do about that?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WfiIcPj5z
The gorgon hisses. “Just know you put this on yourself, lass,” they say, and the gun clicks.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3HKzTerXi
I throw myself off the swing and roll on the dirt just as there’s a deafening BANG that cuts through the air. I stand up and rush to the gorgon, hitting them in the waist. Both of us collapse to the ground as we wrestle for control of the gun. They make a grab for it but I slam my fist into the inside of their elbow, and they retract their arm, pulling it to their chest and hissing. I grab the gun and point the opening at their head. “What did you mean by the real Crusaders?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxqDykZoxx
They sneer. “Ye would have better luck shooting me, lass.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8M1MoH6cL
I growl. “What did you mean by the real Crusaders?” I repeat. “Last chance, before I turn you over to my dad to deal with.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qNXsJ6WOz
They laugh and say nothing. I stand up, keeping a foot on their chest and the gun trained on their head. “You brought this on yourself,” I toss to them, before turning my head over my shoulder and yelling, “Klef! Get your butt over here, you just missed me nearly getting killed… again!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5v7ItNw8m
That gets him across the field like a shot, wings bristling and ruffled from a quick flight. “Ride, I left you alone for 2 minutes, how do you nearly get killed in 2 minutes?!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHkufAMWZO
I shrug. “They had a gun.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9yScHJmuu
Klef shakes his head. “Ride… you know that’s not what I meant.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuyisaSTjz
I laugh. “Yeah, I know. But, y’know. It’s funnier to answer like that, especially because it annoys you.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJG6M0pGY6
Klef nods. “Where are the others? Shouldn’t they have come over to protect you?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnB9gvqnUb
I shrug. Bobbi dashes up, panting. “The… armory… stolen… all… weapons!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdnCsOzBIk
“They stole all the weapons?!” I ask in disbelief. “Who is they? And why are they stealing all the weapons?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDFesUXPY0
Klef looks to the gorgon who’s still pinned on the ground. “I have a feeling this one knows. Maybe your dad could beat some sense into him and he’ll fess up.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTxFRpfrpF
“Good idea,” I say, lifting up my foot.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPYBADzrt6
Klef yanks the gorgon up none-to-gently. “Do you guys have a jail? Or a dungeon?” he asks Bobbi.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7Dbk6YydG
“We have something better for traitors,” Bobbi says, crooking a finger. “The interogation rooms.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr2vc0RbXN
I follow behind Klef and Bobbi all the way to the front of the complex. Bobbi takes the gorgon and puts them in one room, and locks the door, before opening up a door right next to the one they threw the gorgon in, and leads us inside, where we can see through glass the gorgon banging against the door. “Woah.” Klef says.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOgoT8qeBf
“Can they see us?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffFfcWOy0Y
Bobbi shakes their head. “Nope. To him, this pane of glass is a mirror. He helped design this, so he knows we’re back here, observing, but he can’t see who or where we are, if we’re in here at all after a certain point in time, or hear us. We’re safe to sit back and watch in here.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CqtKJ5Web
“Can we sic my dad on him?” I ask. “I’m pretty sure he’d like to take the first bite out of this guy.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZRWVc8HxG
Bobbi shrugs. “If you can find him, go ahead. He stormed out awhile ago, so he might be sulking in his quarters, which he rarely lets anyone know the location of, let alone invite them in.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEfhYInTz7
“I’ll find him,” I say. “It shouldn’t take too long.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iFRO1bhwG
Bobbi’s lips twitch slightly. “You know him that well?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y62Bw5g5w
I grin. “I’m his kid, Bobbi. What do you expect?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPWGfyr7Ua
Bobbi shrugs. “Right. Go on, then. I’ll be here.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaUYa3Ajg1
I walk out and Klef follows. “Ride… could I talk to you for a sec?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzath434jYc
“Sure. What about?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV14Y45I5CN
“Well, have you considered… that your dad might not want to see you?” he questions. “I mean, he said himself he couldn’t sit back and watch you kill yourself. What if that principle still stand in his mind. I doubt that clown was working on his own.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6iCHbFU2B
I shrug. “What do you want me to do, though, Treble? Not tell him? I’m sure that gorgon could give away some, if not all, of his accomplices. Once we know who we’re looking for, the both of us are as safe as we ever was, and Dad won’t have to worry over this. He’ll be happy to hear we caught the guy.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWcR3tt6kc
Klef looks at me doubtfully, but nods nonetheless. “So, where do you think your dad camps out?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRptEOWQbrw
“Oh, that’s easy,” I say with a laugh. “The closest place to the cafeteria around here. He loves to cook, when he can, but he hates people finding out about it, because Mom would always tease him.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWbLlAeW5P
Klef laughs. “Okay! I never knew that! My intimidation from him has gone down a bit now, though.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTZGps6aVM
“Don’t let on to him you know,” I advise. “He’d kill me if he knew I told you.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbLn07KwdN
“My lips are sealed,” Klef says. “So where’s the cafeteria?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta5kGV5pDd
“I figured you’d know by now, seeing as how you can never stop eating,” I tease.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oK8czq67i
Klef blushes. “Okay, I may or may not have asked around on my way to finding you in the library, so we could get a late breakfast after this fiasco was over.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji6cVFuP3j
“Why did you act like you didn’t know?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRW0Za1LYj
“So you wouldn’t shame me,” Klef sighs, hanging his head.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRUcNCGjH5
I grin. “Well, the teasing can come later. Right now, we have to let my dad know I’m not dying.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU6M6HlVHA
Klef nods. “Right. Not dying is always good.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVz2J6DELM
I chuckle and follow Klef to the cafeteria. “Can I get a bite before you talk to your dad?” he asks. “I want to be moral support, but I’m starving.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwK5WJr5QE
“You don’t have to be moral support,” I tell him. “Go on and get something to eat. If you see anything you like, nab one for me, too. I’m a little hungry myself.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7D6rqowRY
Klef nods and walks into the cafeteria. I put one hand on the wall as I turn my back to it and walk down the hallway, until I feel a seam in the wall where there shouldn’t be one. I dig my fingers into it and pull it open with a grunt, finding a small but tidy bedroom inside. It doesn’t look lived in, save for a folded up piece of paper on the desk. There aren’t any clothes, the bad has been made, and while there must have been pictures on the wall based on the difference in fading paint, those have been taken down as well. I don’t think I’m in the wrong room, though. Only dad would have a secret bedroom by the cafeteria just because he doesn’t want to let anyone know he can cook. I walk over to the desk and examine the paper. It has my name written on it in Dad’s calligraphic writing. I frown and open it. What would Dad have to tell me that he couldn’t in person?918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SvHJsRb1o
Iri, I’m really sorry. If you’re reading this, it means that you have survived at least long enough in your hair- brained scheme to find my rooms and try to talk to me. Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but I refuse to stay here and watch you die, even if against all odds stacked against you no one kills you or kidnaps you or tortures you.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24QSEOwOlx
“No,” I whisper, my eyes stinging.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSNiGYJ6Qo
I care far too much about you to watch you come to an untimely demise. I wouldn’t be able to do it the first time, let alone the second. You’ll have to forgive me, but I’ve gone pack to take care of the packs. As much as it pains me to say it, sweetheart, you are not the only one in the world who I care about. And if you don’t make it through this, I can’t sit around and mope about it. I’ll have to move on, to take care of the others that need me. So I’m skipping over the moping step and the trauma of watching you die. If you somehow survive all of this, please come talk to me. I’d love to make sure you are all right. But until you can definitively say you’re safe, I’d prefer you don’t contact me. It’s nothing personal. I just… can’t deal with that. Remember, sweetheart, that I love you always, even if you may not see it.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcq7m8j29i
Dad918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuTDinz3WD
The paper falls through my fingers. Dad just… left. He left without me, grieving my death, because of something that hadn’t even happened yet. I caused him to grieve my ultimate death prematurely to the point where he was throwing himself into his work as a way out of grieving. Me. He could kill himself working too hard, I had seen it happen before. If I don’t finish this quickly, and ensure Dad that I’m okay, he could kill himself with worry, and it would be my fault.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7UtMVl4vS
Someone touches me on my shoulder, and I jump. I turn to look and see Klef looking at me with concern. “You okay? You didn’t answer me when I walked in. I was gone a little longer than I had hoped I would be.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE601RWhxW
“How long?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kdtlfHfaM
Klef shrugs. “I don’t know. 15 minutes, at least. Please don’t tell me you were standing there the entire time I was gone.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06qXTtjSF8
I swallow. “I don’t know, I guess I was.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMrZFBfjTJ
“What happened, Ride?” Klef asks, moving me to the bed.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGSWstcuoz
I sit down and shake my head. “Dad’s gone, Klef. He’s gone.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV1F0j1V7o
“Gone?” Klef asks. “What do you mean?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdAxOJkGXD
I point at the letter on the floor. “He’s gone. He decided he couldn’t stay here and watch me supposedly kill myself, so he went to work himself to death.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcyCJQ0d0N
Klef looks at the ground. “I don’t think he would work himself to death, Ride.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnX2kxr2i1
“You don’t know him like I do, it’s his way of mourning,” I explain. “He’s going to work to take his mind off it, and if he doesn’t want his mind on it, he’ll just keep working every waking moment of the rest of his life. And it’s all my fault.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L5u5i1hx0
“Hey, no,” Klef says, putting his food down and hugging me. “If he does do that, it’s not because of you. You can’t help getting injured or worse. You can work to prevent it, but it’s going to happen whether you want it or not. His reaction is not your fault.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x5tLdzWS8
I bite my lip. “I just… I want him here, Klef. I want to be able to talk to him, I want to hear you two bickering. I want some normalcy in the middle of this crazy show.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXu17LOFEu
“I know, Ride,” Klef murmurs. “You’re normal to want that. It’s not unreasonable to ask for that. It does mean that you’re going to have some issues for a little while during the time it takes for you to adjust. But I’m still here, and I’ll crack jokes at the most inopportune times to lighten the mood if that’s what you need while your dad’s gone. And when we have everyone who’s trying to kill you behind bars, then we can go to him and tell him everything’s okay. And you know what he’ll do?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTVGs2Nnqs
“What?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfaSiU44Nu
“He’ll hug you so tight you’ll nearly suffocate, because he’s so glad you’re okay. That, I don’t doubt for a second.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdjof07NlN
“You sure?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWjJbRFQ5t
“I’m positive, Ride. Positive.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwgOkFbwPf
I smile. Klef breaks out of the hug and points to my smile. “There she is. My favorite part of Rides. That ‘my boyfriend is the best’ look.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGUyzViSRU
“Shut up!” I say, giggling slightly.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt964DyWMF
Klef grins. “You wish I would.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7AlVlVnTL
“Not really,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdEuCHm5p5
Klef grins. “I love you. Wanna know why?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy8vyiIarv
“I love you too,” I say. “Why?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELrEnB0FJH
“Because you have a big heart,” Klef says. “And you always want to make sure everyone is happy. Even if it’s at your expense.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qYBLRXbCT
I smile. “Not always. I can be pretty angry when I want to be.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GrnyLwKqs
“So? Anyone born human can get angry sometimes. Not everyone makes sure the people surrounding them are okay in the aftermath of an angry outburst.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TGusudvvK
I shrug. “My anger can be pretty bad. Like the time I tried to murder a guy for murdering me?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDmUp1IbqN
Klef laughs. “I’m familiar with that one, yeah. Doesn’t change the facts. You made sure I was okay. That your dad was okay. That everyone you came into contact with was okay. And I’ve seen you bend over backwards since then to make sure the people who you care about are okay.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W2ezLqnTP
“It’s how I make up for my temper,” I say, sighing. “The least I can do after I blow up around everyone.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeqjCZMBnQ
“Maybe you don’t need to make it up every time,” Klef proposes. “When you really hurt someone, yeah, you have to do something to make up for it, but most of the time you don’t hurt anyone when you get mad. You go out of your way, take a few breaths, and vent your emotions when you need to. That’s healthy. You don’t get to tell me you don’t work towards others’ happiness because you have a few negative emotions sometimes. That’s like saying someone’s genuinely a good person because they donate to a few charities despite lying and cheating and killing their way through life. You know who did that? My dad. And he was not a genuinely good person.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYfmFzaVcC
“I hate it when you talk sense,” I say with a little smile. “But I’m glad you can see my good qualities, even if I can’t.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oUEYz2RvL
Klef grins. “Hey, it’s what I’m here for, sweetheart. That and being the plucky comedic relief.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRTaRnaHl4
I laugh. “Shut up! This was a very serious moment!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIRCpqEZ6Z
“Like I said, Ride, I’m the plucky comic relief,” Klef laughs. “I brought you breakfast. Toast.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvvyKYPe3E
I hold out a hand. Klef passes me a slice of toast. I take a bite and stand. “Should we find Ama, Hibiscus, and Flo, and let them know we have someone as a suspect for the grenade and trying to kill me in general?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP32ks4RP6
“Yeah, we probably should,” Klef says with a shrug. “If Bobbi hasn’t found them already.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNio5bPAdvs
“So shall we go?” I ask.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlQB2uk88R
“Can I eat first?” Klef asks.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NiVQtSPIp
I sigh. “Babe, seriously?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsS6SkQJdB
Klef takes a bite out of the sandwich he picked up off the bed. He nods. “Seriously.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRdnMH99Dz
I roll my eyes. “Right. Right… Let’s go. Or, rather, I’m leaving, and you can join me or not.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6nEtiv1KD
Klef jumps off the bed as I walk out the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming! Cut me some slack!”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI1HxqcGxw
I grin. “Okay, let’s find them, and we can talk strategy. Sound good?”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkFBOnB7zo
Klef raises his hand.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa1TIciWna
I sigh. “Yes, you can eat on the way.”918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduvHnWdRcf
Klef cheers.918Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1tylAb9e0
8964 copyright protection914ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnW5fjzj0O 維尼

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