Never has Zye been on time when they’ve met up. Shae is well aware of this. He’s not surprised in the slightest when he gets a text an hour after they’re supposed to meet that he’ll be late. Not that it matters considering he has nothing else planned. He is surprised when Zye looks like death warmed over on his doorstep.

There are bags beneath his eyes that seem red at the corners as if he’s been rubbing at them. To which, he has. Zye didn’t get any sleep with the emotions raging most of the night. Even then the nightmares settled in like water soaking into a dry sponge. To the point where he slept in through going to see Lyra even.

Despite that, he still made himself presentable. Zye gives a small wave of his hand. “Hey, sorry for being late.”

Shae laughs at that and stands to the side. The rasp in Zye’s voice worries him, he knows something must have happened. “Already told you it’s no big deal.”

Zye nods and begins to head inside. If anything it’s only for a shred of privacy. This rundown part of the city isn’t anything special. However, he feels far safer here than he does in the bustling areas of the city.

The apartment is more or less a two-story house. Those above never walk through Shae’s ground floor level and vice versa. They have a separate entrance entirely. Which leaves the open floor plan up to Shae’s design. From what he can see it looks clean and easy to move around in. He can only assume the hallway off to the side leads to the bedroom and bathroom.

Shae gestures him to the couch. Zye takes a seat next to him instead of the recliner, both angled toward a decent-sized screen beyond the coffee table. His eyes sweep through the area as he sits down. It looks no different than the last time he saw it.

Zye relaxes and sighs. “So how is Ruby’s Light doing?”

“Eh, we’re doing fine. Get some assholes in every now and then. Could always use someone like you helping out again.”

“Geez, man. I just got here. Butter me up first.”

Shae turns, bringing one leg up onto the cushion. “I mean you’d get to be around me more, isn’t that a good enough reason?”

“You’re so full of it.”

Zye takes a breath. He knows this isn’t just a pleasure visit. They both do and there’s no sense dancing around the issue until he has to leave. Not that it quells the nervous butterflies fluttering around in his stomach. It’s making him feel sick on top of not having eaten a real meal yet.

“So…I actually do want to. I just don’t know if Boss would take me back. I mean I left pretty sudden and I haven’t kept contact, especially about Mom and—”

“Are you stupid?”

Shae laughs, slapping a hand onto his leg. Although he does wince when skin hits skin from the khaki shorts riding up. “She misses you and Lyra like crazy. Boss takes care of everyone, no matter what. The door is always open, you know that.”

“Are you sure? I just…I don’t know. Our last conversation wasn’t great.”

The blond jumps to his feet. “Come on, Zye. She was only against that because she practically raised you. No one wants someone they care about to spread their legs for money. Besides, we all want what’s best for Lyra, too.”

“I…Yeah, I know.” The change of tone has Shae rustling Zye’s hair. To which Zye immediately swats his hand away. “Stop that! It won’t stay up if you do that.”

Shae only grins. “That’s the point. It’s better down, I think.”

“Says the guy with hair that looks like it got hit with a weed whacker.”

They laugh at each other for a moment. No different than when they were kids. Just two idiots getting along like they always have. It’s never mattered what happens. The kind of friendship they have transcends that. If anyone can help him get through this decision, it’s Shae.

“Let’s go. Boss is in today so—”

“Probably because you said you were meeting with me.”

“Don’t worry about the little details. Let’s just do it. If you want I’ll hold your hand the whole way there.”

“I’ll kill you.” He says nonchalantly while rising to his feet. “But sure.”

Shae is practically vibrating with joy as he ushers Zye back to the door. The walk itself isn’t very far. It’s imperative that those working at the brothel live close by. It’s so that they can be safe no matter from customers or if they’re a Chroma.

From the cul-de-sac, between two houses, then down the alley to where the back roads begin. The walk itself is mostly quiet. Even more so when Zye catches sight of a group of people at the mouth of the alley.

They’re nothing special and they don’t make moves to be suspicious. However, it’s the black mist-like substance hovering around two of them that has Zye trying not to stare at it. The shape of the transparent smoke is ever-changing while moving throughout the group. Yet it always comes back to the two closest to where they’re going. All the while there’s a blue crackle throughout it.

He can’t believe his eyes. As a child, he wrote it off. It had gone away. He hadn’t seen them since. But now— why now is he seeing them. He is seeing them…isn’t he?

Zye moves to walk on the other side of Shae, furthest from the group. Shae notices, he simply doesn’t say anything. He’s used to Zye’s little quirks. He’d never bring up how afraid Zye used to be as a kid, always cowering behind Shae and pointing to thin air that there was something bad there.

Instead, he moves a little closer to Zye just in case. Their arms bump together. Knowing that Shae still has his back is more than just comforting. It has the remainder of the walk filled with Shae’s recounts of all the mishaps that have been happening. From ill-behaved customers to the behind-the-scenes antics everyone gets up to.

The nerves are back the second they reach the rear entrance to the brothel. It’s a beautiful old building with its pillars and steeped roof even for the overhang. The front is even more impressive since there’s a dazzling amount of tiny lights strung around the pillars. The glow makes the maroon of the building shine like a ruby— living up to its name.

Shae grabs for the handle only for Zye to take a step back.

“What if they’re busy?”

“Really?” Shae chuckles and glances over his shoulder. “It’s the afternoon. Not many people want to screw yet. We’re seeing Boss anyway, so relax.”

A sentiment that’s easier said than done. Relax? Zye doesn’t know the meaning of the word lately. Still, he tries to calm the anxiety that’s welling up. Entering only makes it worse. Yet at the same time, the nostalgia helps balance it all out. It’s like returning home after a long trip.

The hours— the days —he spent here have him doing just what Shae said. Relaxing.

His eyes can’t help but flick every which way. Nothing looks different whatsoever. It’s all the same hardwood floors and red accented furniture. The lighting is on high and it’s as blinding as the sun. This is why he’s happy Shae grabs his wrist, pulling him toward the staircase.

The large building is three stories and there’s enough room to house plenty of people. They stride up through the first two stories lined with doors propped open for cleaning. The third floor is where they stop. This landing brings him such a blast from the past that he can almost choke.

It’s where he lived for a short time as a kid. The only floor where those that need a place to stay can reside. The master bedroom at the end of the furthest corner is where he goes. Steps he’s taken a thousand times over.

Shae raps his knuckles on the wood. “Boss?”

“Come in, sweetie.”

This room is vastly different than the facade of the first two floors. It’s filled with knick-knacks, pictures, and the smell of lavender incense. A bed is off to the corner near the door to the bathroom with a quilt folded up on the end. The sitting area is the small futon next to a table with a jar of cookies on it.

Atop a chair on the other side sits an elderly woman that still exudes confidence and strength. Her short, silvered hair is styled to the right with a small flip to the ends. Glasses hang from around her neck on a chain with similar bracelets around each wrist. She gives a small wave to them as they enter, beckoning them over.

Doing so has her needing to roll up the sleeves of her green shirt. Back up around her elbows, she’s able to pour two cups of tea. The old tea set has always made Zye worried about touching it, afraid he’d break it if he so much as breathes on it. Not that he’d ever turn down a cup from her.

“I see you brought me a guest. Come, sit down.”

Zye swallows hard as he sits down next to Shae. He has a hard time lifting his eyes to meet hers, even harder when Shae nudges a knee against his. Shae leans forward, peering at the table. “Oh, I get it.” He’s standing up before Zye can protest. “I’m going to go check what client types I have tonight. Meet me downstairs when you’re ready to leave, ‘kay?”

“Shae—”

“Ask Auriel, she’s in charge for tonight.”

Shae is practically bouncing toward the door then slips out. The click is deafening in the silence that’s left. His eyes lock onto the cup that’s pushed over to him. Looking up at her, he can see just how happy she is to see him. It honestly breaks his heart. He can’t believe he walked away from all of this.

“I’m sorry. I—”

“Zye, I’ve missed you. How have you been?”

“Kass I…Not well. Mom is hanging in there but I don’t know how much longer she has.”

She lifts her cup to her lips, taking a petite sip. “Len is taking care of her, I’m sure she’s more comfortable than most at that point.”

“I’m—”

“My boy, if you’re going to apologize again I’ll take the tea away. I’m old enough to have been in your shoes before. I understand why you made the choices you did.”

Zye grips at the edge of the futon. “You were a second mother to her and I ignored your advice. Now I don’t even know what to do.”

Kassandra lets out a long sigh and sets the cup back down. She gestures to the pictures on her dresser. On it are photos of Lyra with Zye or his father. Photos he hasn’t seen since he left.

“You wanted to get her the best care. That costs money, lots of it. You respected the fact that I didn’t want you working in the rooms here and found another way.” She lifts a leg, crossing it over the other. One heavy boot taps against the table’s lip. “However, I do want you to know that I didn’t like that man nor do I trust him. If you still have anything to do with him, please keep him away.”

“No, I…that’s why I’m here.” He takes a deep breath. Hands grab onto his knees, tries to find a center to work out of. She’s so intimidating only because he values her wisdom so much. “I want to come back.”