Edison is still asleep when Matt walks into the apartment, so he keeps quiet. He eats quickly and leaves both bowls on the counter, one still full for Edison, then walks over to his bedroll. He shrugs off some of his gear and neatly piles it at the end of his bed as he sits against the wall.

With a heavy sigh, he leans back, revelling in how light his body feels without the weight of his armor. Every time his armor falls away, he wishes he could keep it off forever. In the world as it is, though, it’s a deathwish to go more than a day or two without armor. So he enjoys the infrequent moments he gets without his extra pounds, stretching his arms and legs without worrying about his armor limiting the movements.

Dental floss and bone needles take up his time, fixing his patchy gloves. Since that doesn’t take long, he’s fixing his armor as the sun’s light fades away. Sun charged electric lights flicker to life as the dark settles around the district. Matt turns on the dim one inside so he can see his work.

Not five minutes after the lights come on, Edison bolts up and scrambles away from his bed without any preceding signs, giving barely enough time for Matt to shove his armor aside so Edison doesn’t crash into it.

Matt barks in surprise as Edison’s back presses against his chest and he holds Edison’s arms gingerly. “What’s up?”

Edison doesn’t respond.

“Edison? Hey. Wake up,” Matt insists, carefully brushing his shoulders. “Wake up.”

As though the words were all he’d needed, Edison sags against Matt with a heavy sigh. Matt can’t tell if the dream changed or if he’s actually woken up.

“Edison?” he asks.

“I’m awake,” Edison murmurs, but doesn’t move. “My legs locked. I’ll move in a minute.”

“It’s...okay. What happened?” Matt inquires and tries to relax around the body still pressed into his chest.

“Bad dream. Sorry,” Edison whines.

“It’s okay, Edison,” Matt assures, rubbing his arms.

Edison slowly lifts his hands to his knees and finally sits up, scooting away with shaking limbs to straighten his bed back out.

“Are you...okay?” Matt asks.

“Yes. Sorry for scaring you.”

“Stop apologizing,” Matt chuckles.

Edison hums and notices the bowl on the counter. “Is that for me?”

Matt nods. “Yeah. It should still be warm.”

Edison gets up, wincing slightly as he walks to the counter. “Have the girls come back?”

Matt shakes his head and relaxes on his bedroll again, picking up his armor. “Not yet. Ekua’s still at work and May’s hanging out with Calvin, probably still at the restaurant.”

“Oh.”

“Is that bad?” Matt wonders.

“No. I’m not used to her being out,” Edison replies as he turns to lean back against the counter with the bowl in his hands.

“Aw, now you’ve gotta stay.”

Edison hums thoughtfully and narrows his eyes as his gaze finally catches on Matt’s smaller shape. When he sees the gear in his hands, he realizes it’s the first time he’s seem Matt without his armor.

He looks down as he finishes off what’s in the bowl and cleans off the dishes, setting them with the ones he assumes Matt had cleaned. He walks back to his sleeping bag and sits down slowly.

“Something bothering you?” Matt asks.

“What?”

“You look like you’re in pain.”

“Oh.” Edison shakes his head. “It’s not real pain. It’s from the dream.”

Matt nods slowly. “What...was the dream even about?”

Edison glances up and furrows his brow, avoiding Matt’s gaze.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Matt assures with a shrug and returns to working on his gear.

“I...will,” Edison decides slowly, holding his arms.

“Are you sure you want to?”

“No, but...I should. Secrets are dangerous.”

“Does this have to do with the safety of anyone in our group?”

Edison looks up. “I don’t think so.”

Matt shrugs. “Then it’s not something you should feel like you need to tell me, or anyone. You’re allowed to have your own secrets, Edison. Things you don’t tell anyone. Everyone has secrets. The only dangerous ones are the ones that directly affect people.”

Edison is quiet for a few minutes. His eyes slowly fall from Matt’s face to his armor, then to the blankets, then down to his own lap.

“That being said,” Matt adds, earning Edison’s gaze again, “don’t be afraid to talk to me. I’m always willing to hear what you have to tell me.”

“You are confusing,” Edison states.

Matt looks up curiously, but Edison’s gaze has drifted to his lap again.

“You...want to know, but you’re okay with not knowing. So...do you want me to tell you or to keep it to myself?”

Matt chuckles softly. “Whichever you’re more comfortable with. I want you to tell me, but I don’t want that to be why you do.”

“Why else would I?”

“Because you want to.”

Edison narrows his eyes, but slowly nods. “I...don’t want to tell, but...I want you to know.”

Matt hums. “That’s always a scary decision. Give it time.”

The sound of his armor clinking as he sets it aside makes Edison sit up curiously.

“Do you still want to come to the party with me?” Matt asks.

“Yes.” Edison gets to his feet, looking up when Matt chuckles.

“You can leave your gear here. It’s kinda hot where we’re going.”

Edison nods slowly and sheds his armor, piling it on his bed. He hesitates to let go, afraid he might float into the ceiling if he does. When the last piece falls from his hand, he’s still on the floor. He looks up when Matt snorts, staring at his sweatshirt.

“What is that? Potato sack mesh?” Matt asks, pinching the sleeve as Edison steps up to the door.

“I don’t know what that is,” Edison admits and opens the door. “Lead.”

Matt nods and walks out first, locking it before leading the way. “We should drop by the restaurant to let May and Ekua know where we’re gonna be.”

Edison agrees and follows him down the ramps to the restaurant on Two. Maybelle smiles and waves when they walk in and Edison walks over to their table while Matt goes straight to the bar.

“How was your nap?” Maybelle asks cheerfully.

“Uh, fine. How’d you know?” Edison wonders.

“I’m your sister. I know everything about you,” she teases.

He cocks an eyebrow in a near challenge and she nods with a laugh.

“Good point, good point,” she agrees with his silent statement. “Matt dropped by earlier and told me.”

Edison nods.

“Anyway, I’m glad. You need the sleep,” Maybelle says as she lifts her cup.

Calvin snorts from next to her. “You sound like my mother. She was always telling people to get more sleep. She said it was the secret to a happy life, even before the modern world ended.”

“She was onto something,” says the guy on Calvin’s other side. “Sleep always makes me feel better.”

Maybelle shrugs, leaning back. “Even if it isn’t the secret to happiness, it’s not good to go without it for too long.”

“Okay, mom,” Calvin teases.

“Oh please. If either of us is the mom, it’s him.” Maybelle gestures to Edison and he blushes when the attention shifts to him.

“What are we talking about?” Matt wonders as he walks up to the table.

“Edison’s great parenting skills,” Calvin answers.

Edison’s face darkens and he shuffles nervously. “My skills aren’t great.”

“I beg to differ,” Calvin objects and gestures to Maybelle. “The fact that she can function inside a district better than a lot of people from districts without having grown up in one is evidence enough that your parenting capabilities are wonderful.”

Maybelle is blushing now, but still less than Edison.

“Alright,” Matt chuckles and gestures for Edison to step away from the table. “Whatever amazing parenting skills he has are being put on hold for the night.”

“You two going somewhere?” Maybelle asks, glancing pointedly at Matt.

“I got invited to a party Underground and invited your brother,” Matt explains.

“And not me?” Maybelle gasps.

“Maybe next time,” he chuckles.

She smiles and waves it off. “No problem. I like it here better anyway.”

“Did you guys hear that?” Calvin inquires, glancing around the table. “We’re better than Underground!”

They all laugh and Matt gestures to the exit.

“I’ll see you later, Maybelle,” Edison says, waving as he follows Matt.

“Save me some vodka if you find any,” she pleads.

He chuckles and lets the door shut between them.

Matt sticks his hands in his pockets as they walk down the ramps to ground level. He hums quietly as they weave around the shops and structures, to a ramp that leads into the ground.

“You’re not claustrophobic, are you?” Matt asks after a few minutes.

“I don’t know what that means,” Edison murmurs, reaching out to touch the rocks in the wall next to him.

“Are you scared of being underground or in tight spaces?”

Edison shakes his head. “Not at all. Unless it’s crowded. I don’t like a lot of people.”

“Hm. That...might be a problem.”

Edison looks at him.

“I suppose we can work around it,” Matt says, mostly to himself. “You don’t have to come inside.”

“Inside? There are buildings underground?”

“Yeah. It’s another level, so it’s populated and built in,” Matt describes.

“So where are we going?”

“The bar. That’s where the main party is anyway.”

“It’s going to be crowded?”

Matt shrugs. “Probably, but like I said, you don’t have to come inside. We can just hang out outside.”

“We?”

“Of course. I’m not gonna just leave you all by yourself,” Matt scoffs.

Edison almost smiles, only to be distracted by a beaded archway. Confusion replaces his expression and Matt chuckles knowingly. He reaches up and parts the beads, revealing the huge, natural chamber beyond.

Between the floor and the ceiling are several buildings, making the cave look like a small town’s Main Street. People are everywhere, but it isn’t too much yet. Decorations hang everywhere, reflecting several lights and reminding Edison of a time when he was little and his parents had brought him into the city for a movie. Everything had been so warm and alive; nothing like the cities now.

It’s warm in the tiny underground town. Almost immediately, Edison wishes he’d left his jacket in their apartment so he didn’t have to carry it when he takes it off.

Matt gently nudges Edison’s back for him to keep walking. “C’mon. The party awaits.”

Edison glances at Matt’s arm, feeling the hand against his back. He lets it stay as Matt leads him to one of the wider buildings. Despite his nerves, he follows Matt into the crowded bar and tries not to tug on the collar of his shirt. It’s even hotter in the crowd and people keep brushing into him. Instinctively, he shifts closer to Matt, mostly unaware that the action pulls Matt’s hand farther around his waist.

“Are you okay? Do you want to go back outside?” Matt asks.

Edison shakes his head. “Not yet.”

Matt nods slowly and moves his hand off Edison’s back. Edison looks down when the limb is gone, but says nothing.

There are slightly fewer people at the counter, where Matt requests a couple drinks. While the area around the counter is calm, the rest of the bar is still chaotic and loud. Curiosity has Edison watching the crowd. He hasn’t been around this many people at once in years; living people, anyway.

Anxiety and excitement mix in his stomach and confuse him as he observes this part of society he isn’t familiar with. A part of him wants to join in, as it looks like fun; but a louder part constantly reminds him what fun can turn into. He stays by Matt, confining himself to a single spot against the counter.

Matt is mingling with the people around the counter. He smiles and laughs, obviously enjoying the conversation that comes with unfamiliarity. Seeing him like this makes Edison’s chest warm.

The drinks arrive and Matt watches Edison take a sip from his. He’s slightly surprised when Edison doesn’t wince from the burn, smiling when Edison turns to him curiously.

“Why are you staring at me?” he wonders.

“I didn’t expect you to be the alcohol type,” Matt admits. “You’re handling the drink pretty well.”

Edison looks down at his cup. “I’ve had alcohol. Long time ago.”

Matt tilts his head. “Really?”

Edison nods, taking another sip. He watches Matt’s attention drift to the girl talking to him, and so looks back out over the sea of people. Some are in pairs, some in threes, and more are by themselves, intertwining with each other like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

Slowly, the heavy environment becomes too much. Edison sets his glass on the counter and walks through the crowd to the door. Outside the bar is just slightly cooler. He walks around the little town, but nothing interests him as much as the cool breeze blowing farther into the tunnel, away from the little town. Curiosity tugs him along with it.

When Matt looks up to find Edison gone, his heart jumps into his throat. He excuses himself from his conversation and searches around the bar for his companion, only realizing when he doesn’t find him that Edison would most likely not be in the thickest area of the crowd.

The few people outside the bar all point farther down the tunnel when he asks them about Edison. A gentle draft flows into the cave and Matt figures Edison just followed that. So he follows it too.

For the first while, the cave remains warm and light. Matt can see where he’s going and has no hard time finding Edison’s footsteps. Around the time he starts wondering how far Edison went, the cave starts to get darker. Worry slips into his stomach and he trots after Edison’s footprints, hoping to find him before the tunnel gets too dark and not willing to call out.

A bright beam comes from Matt’s hand when he turns on the flashlight from his pocket. He shines the light on the prints and continues following them. There come a few turns and twists before Matt starts to hear something. It sounds like water. Figuring it’s what Edison did, he uses the sound as his guide.

Somewhere up ahead, Matt thinks he sees light. He trots up to where the glow is coming from, but it fades as soon as he finds it. His flashlight shows him a small rock frame and he slips through it, keeping an eye on the edge of the rock he comes out on.

"Matt."