Her eyes light up like polished emeralds. The excitement has a smile tugging on her glossy lips. Kassandra gestures to come over to her. Zye doesn’t hesitate in the slightest. He’s up off the futon and by her chair in the next second. She pushes her cup aside so that he can sit on the table. If only so they can be almost at eye level.

“Oh my boy, I’ve missed you so much.”

She draws him forward into a tight embrace. Clinging onto him, she lets him return the hug. His arms hang loosely around her waist at first, unsure. Kassandra chuckles against his hair.

“My poor, foolish boy. Just because you did that doesn’t mean I don’t want you back. I wish you would have at least called. I’ve missed our dinners together.”

Zye smiles against her shoulder. “Only because I cooked them.”

“Hah! Still can’t help yourself, hm?” She pats his head and lets him pull away. “You owe me a <i>lot</i> of dinners. Especially since Lyra told me all about how you’ve been overworking yourself again.”

Yanking upward, Zye’s wide eyes stare at her. “How?”

“Just because we didn’t agree doesn’t mean I don’t go see her.”

“No, I…That makes sense but why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Kassandra stands up. She strides over to the dresser and plucks out one frame in particular. She pops it open enough to pull out a copy that had been hidden beneath. It’s folded and a little worn on the edges.

“I didn’t want to put any pressure on you or make you think I thought you were wrong in what you were doing. I believe in you, Zye. I only want to see my children do well regardless of if they do it my way or not.”

She pats his cheek with one hand then extends the photo to him with the other.

“And you also remind me quite a bit of Vega. In fact, you’re looking more like him these days. He had a silly knack for trying to do everything himself, too.”

The mention of his father has a pang going through his chest. Even more so when he looks at what she’s handed him. It’s a photo worn from the weather and torn toward where two people are sitting. Lyra is like the sun in it. Her smile could brighten any room. Only made possible by how she curls up against his father, Vega. His arms are wrapped around her as they stick out their tongues at one another.

Innocent. Filled with love. Feeling invincible despite how the world inevitably tore them apart.

“I’m sure you don’t have a copy on hand. Keep it with you for good luck.”

He takes that as his sign that their meeting is over. It almost has him feeling sour. He’s missed her and it’s been such a short time to talk. His thumb brushes over the face of his mother. “I really am sorry. I just…don’t know what I’m doing anymore. If it’s even right or not.”

A deep sigh has him raising his head. “Try. If you don’t then you’ll just regret it. I’m proud that you’re trying to find your own way.” She begins toward the door. “You’re welcome to come back, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. But you’re still not working the rooms. It’s one of two conditions.”

Zye chuckles. “Yes ma’am, I understand. Thank you, for everything.”

“Of course. You’re welcome to stay and have tea as well. I have something to attend to but next time you’re cooking for me.”

Turning, he watches her open the door. Just as it closes it opens again. There’s a crafty little smirk she dons as she winks at him.

“Oh, the other condition. Anyone you date goes through me, that still stands. That other guy didn’t count.”

A blush creeps up onto his face. The reaction is exactly what she hopes for. Kassandra’s boisterous laughter fills the void she leaves as the door shuts. He remembers what she used to tell him— that exact condition for when he’d ask why he gets to live here with her. It was such a silly notion.

Still is, to him. Yet it always put his mind at ease.

Even so, it’s an embarrassing thought that he’s glad he can digest alone before leaving to meet back up with Shae. Zye returns his attention to the photograph. He ambles to the futon and collapses onto it.

“Just a little longer,” he whispers to himself.

He doesn’t want to leave any time soon. She did say to finish the tea. So he’ll do just that before he leaves. A few more seconds in the space that’s always been so safe. In his mind’s eye, he can go right back to when he was little. The nights Lyra would work late were the ones he’d spend curled up in Kassandra’s bed.

She’s always known the best fairy tales. If he thinks hard enough he can remember them all. Can see all the pages of words and pictures.

Zye chuckles to himself, “I really am an idiot…”

For a moment he sits there with himself. The tea gets drank and the picture is folded up then tucked away in his jeans. Leaving is difficult yet he manages it just fine. For now at least. He’s surprised at how easy it is to slip back down, around, and outside where Shae waits for him. Shae smiles over at him the second he lets the door shut.

“So? How did it go?”

“Good. I’ll try to get things on my end straightened out so I can come back.”

Shae pushes away from the wall. Zye is right beside him as they begin to head back. All the while Shae is rambling away.

“That’s great! Actually, I already talked to Boss. If you want you can just come live with me. I’ve been meaning to get a roommate and I can get furniture or stuff if you want.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Pff, really? I’d be honored if you’d grace me with your presence.”

“You’re full of it aren’t you?” Zye shoves his hands in his pockets with a shake of his head. “But thanks…I’d like that. I can always find a place later.”

Shae stops walking, feigning hurt. “You’re planning on leaving me already? What will I do without my knight in shining armor?”

Zye glances back and the second their eyes meet, they’re bursting out laughing. An action that feels so good, feels so cathartic, that Zye can’t believe he’s doing it. Once they’ve calmed down they begin across the street back to Shae’s place.

“I mean you are knight-like. Remember when you took that guy down to the ground? Not even the bouncer on duty could believe you pulled that off?”

“Really?”

“Well, I mean you were pretty scrawny. Still look it too.”

“Coming from the guy that needs help opening jars?” Zye shoots him a look. One that doesn’t last as he reaches his motorcycle. He fishes the keys out of his pocket and the helmet out of the compartment. “Shae?”

“Hm?”

“Thanks for tracking me down.”

“Hey, when one door closes I’ll just break down the wall for you to crawl through.”

“You’re an idiot.”

Shae grins wide and saunters over dramatically with a wink. “But you love me.”

Zye scoffs. He tugs his helmet on, climbs on the bike, and is just about to start it when Shae gets a little closer. There’s concern written on his face. Zye knows exactly what it’s about before he can even open his mouth. Yet, he’s surprised when Shae doesn’t voice the worry.

A worry that can reflect off him. It’s hard to talk about even among them.

Instead, Shae punches Zye on the shoulder. Not that it hurts in the slightest. It’s the weakest hit he’s ever had to take. Shae smiles, something soft and real and warm.

“Stick around longer next time, okay? I’m glad to have you back around. I was really worried when you stopped returning my messages.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I know how it is, I did side with Boss. I had my own shit going on, too. That didn’t help. But next time I’ll make you come looking for me, sound like a deal?”

Zye chuckles. “Yeah, promise I’ll find you before anyone else.”

The engine starts up. Shae takes a few steps back and gives a wave. He doesn’t go inside until Zye is out of sight. He can only look on as he hugs his arms around himself. There’s nothing inside of him save for the agony of wanting to be there for his best friend.

If what Kassandra told him is true, Shae’s terrified he can’t help. All he can do is try to cling to Zye with all he has and be there for him while he’s caught in this landslide of a life. The thought of death has him dragging a hand up over his face, trying so hard to push it away.

His phone buzzes in his pocket and he’s thankful. Tugging it out, he swipes a reply that he’ll be there right away. Anything to distract from the inevitable.