It felt like hours before Katt’s door opened. Anya had been pacing around, inspecting random things and trying to focus on anything that was not what was being said behind that door. Katt kind of terrified her. And Anya didn’t even know what Katt was so angry about. Maybe she was just angry in general.

So, in a move of self preservation Anya had not done in a while she tried to shift her focus somewhere else. She walked around, she fiddled with the buttons on her jacket, she rocked back and forth and anything else she could do at least for a while. Her patience was rewarded when the door opened as she was inspecting the glasses sitting haphazardly in the kitchen cabinet.

“Oh thank god, I was getting tired of Anya’s inability to stay still,” Carla said.

“We were gone for fifteen minutes at most?” Leo answered, sounding confused.

Anya just shrugged. The only way she knew how to explain how the hell 15 minutes had felt like three hours was giving Leo her entire psychological profile and she was not about to do that. She met most of these people two hours ago at most, if the fifteen minutes was to be trusted. She needed at least 3 before they could hear all of… that. And she was pretty sure Katt didn’t want to hear it.

“We also thought it might take longer in general,” Carla elaborated, moving themselves to sit up in Felicity’s lap. “We don’t exactly know what you were talking about.”

“I can lip read!” Eliza proudly signed. Carla gave her a thumbs up.

“Anyway,” Katt said, closing her door again and moving to stand behind the couch, “We have decided it’s probably best if you stay here a few days before going back. For your safety and ours.”

“What if we want to stay and help though?” Anya said, making all her friends turn to stare at her. The only one who didn’t seem to be surprised was Lily, but then again Lily seemed to always know exactly what Anya was planning. It got to the point that Sam has started calling them soulmates. He only added platonic in front of it after Lily had thrown around 5 pillows at him. Anya still had no idea why.

“We uh. We didn’t think about that, guys why didn’t we think about that?” Ava answered.

“I don’t know, maybe because we thought not everyone is down to overthrow governments?” Katt deadpanned.

“I am always down to overthrow governments!” Anya exclaimed happily.

“You understand what we’re saying?” Katt looked even more confused, which in turn confused Anya.

“Am I not supposed to?”

“Not that talking isn’t good but it’s usually better if everyone knows what the hell is being said.” Felicity quietly said from where she was sitting on the floor, Carla laying over her lap.

“You don’t know what they’re saying?” Anya pointed to Katt, staring down Felicity.

“No, because we’re speaking Commonian, not English. You really want to help us?” Anya just stared to the floor for a bit, although she had fully heard Leo’s question.

She just wasn’t sure how to feel about being able to speak and understand a language she thought she barely knew based on her reading ability. If she just didn’t know it would have been perfectly fine, Anya would live her life happily and accept that she’d never actually know anything about her past, or her mother’s letter. That she would never get to know her mother’s last words to her. But turns out she can speak the damn language she just can’t read it and that felt so unfair. Moving her gaze to her backpack, on the bottom of which said letter resided, she resorted to glaring.

Taking a deep breath, Anya looked back up.

“Of course I want to help you. This might not feel like my home but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it freed.”

“I’m also going to help, me and Anya are a package deal.” Lily said, nodding to Anya. Anya smiled, trying to ignore the warm fuzzy feeling in her chest. Anya hoped it was from having a supportive friend. She didn’t know what to do if it wasn’t.

“If Lily goes, we all go. She’s the only one with braincells,” Sam pointed out. Carla and Felicity nodded in agreement.

“Very good! Katt, this means we can do our plan today after all!” Leo said excitedly, grabbing Katt’s arm. Katt seemed to be okay with it and very used to being pulled down so that Leo could speak into her ear.

“What is your plan today if I may ask?” Sam said, smirking a bit.

“Leo wanted to spray some security cameras and government buildings which I told him was risky but he won’t listen to me.” Katt answered.

“I’d love to see it though!” Eliza signed from where she was standing.

“Oh hell yes, I’m down,” Anya said right as Lily said, “Oh yes that sounds amazing.” They looked at each other, smiling and then giggling.

“See, Katt! They want to spray paint! Let’s go!” Leo nearly yelled, dragging Katt towards the hall.

“Uh, okay well, whoever wants to spray stuff comes with us and the rest stay here. Cora, ‘Liza and Ava, could you bring the ones that stay up to speed on what we’re trying to do?” Katt said, pointing here and there to emphasise who she was talking to. Ava and Cora nodded, Eliza gave a thumbs up, while Lily and Sam both got up to follow Leo and Katt into the hall. Anya was about to do the same when Cora grabbed her arm.

“Take this.” She said, showing something into Anya’s hand. Opening her hand, Anya could see it was a simple necklace, just a chain with a white stone attached to it. She carefully put it in her pocket.

“See you soon?” Anya asked, opening her arms for a hug.

“I know.” Cora said smiling, taking the opportunity and hugging Anya.

Anya let go, walking towards the hall. She quickly turned back to wave at Cora and the others before turning the corner and having to speed run putting on her shoes as most of the others were already going out of the door. As she walked out she let her thoughts take her away from the task at hand.

She could have sworn Cora’s eyes were a darker grey than that.