“You messed up, bro.” Vera said as she forced Gust into an arm bar hold.

“Just shut-up and let me go.”

Gust hadn’t seen Lucifer in two days. He’d even visited the orphanage, but despite Lulu giving him a hug, and Trevor thanking him for the replaced runes, they’d only said Lucifer wasn’t available. Astrid wouldn’t say anything either. When asked what happened after they’d left Gust dumbfounded, she rolled her eyes and said “Oh boy, you’re smart enough to get it eventually.”

Vera let him go. Gust rolled away and back into a fighting stance. “I’m still not done yet.”

She mimicked him. “Let it all out. I can do this all day.” By the time they were done, Vera was breathing hard and had a few bruises to nurse. Gust, on the other hand, was out of breath and felt black and blue all over. He lay on the ground of the Yard looking up at the sky shimmering in Quinn’s barrier. It made the sunset look effervescent. Vera dropped down across from him. The top of their heads met as they both stared into the sky.

“Aside from the multiple beatings you just got, what’s wrong?

Images of Lucifer crossed Gust’s mind. 

“I think I’ve made Lucifer upset. Like, more than a few times. I think. I make him feel different apparently.”

“How do you do that?”

“I don’t know!” Gust spread his arms. “He doesn’t like any martial training apparently, and whenever I bring up Ferek standing out since he’s a Horimir, he just shuts down and…”

“Oh, so you’re an idiot.”

“Excuse me?”

“Alright, think about this. Do you know why Heron is gone and working all the time? More than me even?”

“Well, it’s Guide work right? There’s a fairly big investigation right now.”

“True, but here’s the thing: A single Guide wouldn’t normally be on something like this. Usually it would be left to a Guardian, especially something so local. He’s proving himself.”

Gust scrunched his face. “But isn’t he a Guide already?”

“Technically, but he’s an Eruli. He may have a Guide’s seal, but in reality, it’s provisional just because he’s an Eruli. Even an Ire can’t escape that.”

“But…”

“No. Listen. He’s an Eruli. Berkan won’t accept him even if the people see his hair and think he’s the son of a hero. Heron has so much going for him, but he has to work hard just because of where he’s from. He’s seen as a threat and has to prove himself.”

After a moment of silence, Vera continued. “And so think about this: Lucifer is an Eruli. I have no idea how he ended up in Amostarri, or with Ferek, but he probably never belonged anywhere. He grew up where no one looked like him. Now he’s in Berkan and the people look a bit more like him, but everyone is wary of him anyway. And then Ferek, who can’t even speak our language well, is gonna stand out all the time no matter what he does. Put them together and you have two people who are constantly being stared at for being different.”

Gust closed his eyes. Vera’s words reminded him that in Perth, he was a stranger. He’d grown up among Eruli, thinking that one day, he would develop an affinity. But he never did. Discovering he and Vera were related meant that he must be a Faver like her. Here in Berkan, he belonged for the first time, but he’d forgotten what it was like to feel wrong for existing.

“I feel like there’s something else there.” Gust thought for a moment. “I feel like that can’t be all, right? I mean, the other night, Lucifer clung to me, and then we’d..uhh…” He felt his face heat up. “We’d slept together. I don’t get why he’d do that if I made him uncomfortable.”

Vera sat-up and sighed. “None of that matters. You should listen to him next time. If he trusts you, he’ll tell you. He’s not the type to hold-back I don’t think.”

Gust sat up. “Yea. I don’t know when I’ll see him next, but we’ve got a party this weekend. So maybe I’ll see him then.”

“Good timing.” Vera moved to give him a shoulder hug. “Heron and I have work this weekend. He’s found a good lead on our rune thieves.”

Gust smiled. “You know, you take after Quinn just a little bit.”

“I’d like to think she rubs off on me every so often.”

Gust leaned into her. He knew that he would always have this place with his family.