Sicily has not stopped eyeing her scarf since they left. The longer he did the more she wondered how noticeable it was. Her parents were yet to catch on. So were her friends. Shaliver was the only one who was aware. Note to self get more or better concealer before heading home today. Pulling her scarf up tighter she continued to feign her ignorance.

“Where did that come from?”

She gulped.

“The scarf? That was a gift from my friend. She makes these cool outfi-”

“You know what I’m referring to, Miss. Barker.”

“...Do I?” Her voice cracked at the last letter.

Sicily shimmed his free arm from the backpack he tugged down her scarf. Upon closer inspection there were not one but two large bruises. Purplish in color and curling around both sides of her neck. He pokes it, “This. Where.”

Slowly her thin line of a smile had changed into a tightlipped frown. The sudden anxiety emanated from her. Frankly, she acted as if he had caught her burying a body.

“D-doesn’t matter. It’s over now.” She spoke as if in a whisper. A comment more to comfort herself than Sicily. The little snake was shocked; and angry.

“Who?” He yanked at her scarf, “For the short time we have known each other you are the last soul someone should strike fear into.”

Birch didn’t look at him, “Allow me to return your kindness with vengeance. My venom will surely have them wishing for their unbirth.”

“No point,” she huffed, "They're dead.”

Like a midnight tombstone, ice cold. In the few seconds after, the words hit him with the force of a semi. Dead? Her friendly features were overshadowed with grimful gloom. She became uncomfortably still bowing her head. He recalled the strange happenings of recent times involving the people marching through Old Fate. That combined with the short lived food craze…

“Okay. Well if they did that to you they surely deserved it.” Birch turned to meet his gaze. It was a sad mix of uncertainty and nervousness. He hoped she was not feeling bad for such a crook, “Guilt like that is undeserving of you.”

His little snake arm patted her pale cheek. The adorable display had her let out an amused snort, “If you met him you would know how right you are.”

As the streets became more lively they turned their discussion of the ever chillier weather to hushed small talk. Sicily seemed more bright as they got closer to the inner circle. Some people even stopped to question and pet the reptile. Obviously she excused it as “taking my friend’s pet snake for a walk,” much to everyone’s amusement. If snakes could blush he would be rosy red.

This didn’t distract from the task. Unoccupied alleys were harder to come across. And as she was proven right the local pets were quick to notice him. Thanks to his elevated position most couldn’t reach him despite the few’s valiant efforts. Even in the glow of such friendly people something in the back of his spine made him shiver. This persisted just as much when they were alone.

Who preys on me?

~~~

“Why don’t we stop by the Arcade?”

“What for?”

Birch leans on the cool brick, a backdrop of graffiti painting a rainbow of profanities. They had stopped to see if it could work but there appeared to be no place to take shelter. Unless your ideal place to live inside was a dumpster. 

 “You haven’t eaten as far as I can tell. Wouldn’t hurt to grab a bite.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

The anonymous voice broke the private moment. Snake and human alike search around the absent backstreet, no one in sight. From above a figure drops to meet them, “Was wondering when we would see you again.”

“Cat.”

Shaliver laughed the comment off. Birch could vividly recall how Shaliver first pounced on the innocent reptile. He certainly wasn’t expecting the killer left hook he got for it. 

“I’m sad to see you still associate with that ugly thing,” Sicily hissed.

“Not as disappointed as the thought that you haven’t been made into some dog’s chew toy yet.” Shaliver growled.

“No need to fight boys. Shaliver, I would think with your background you would have better manners. Sicily, He’s the one to thank for helping stop ‘him’.”

Just mentioning ‘him’ switched his anger to the dead man. Sicily was able to catch a few words but found they were passionate french. Such a classy tongue for such a barbaric thing, how crude.

With the two settling to just insult this apparition rather than each other things calmed. After cooling off they went on their way to the arcade cafe. Birch made sure to not forget to cover Shaliver’s horns, this time with a cute hat made by Presely. Sicily laughed at the little decorative fish but Shaliver held his head high. The trio enjoy their walk, stopping to take in the sights and smells of Fatemore. 

Shaliver’s mouth watered from the smell of Dale’s Fresh Breads. People gathered in the lines for his loaves, pastries and other baked goods. Birch was almost tempted to stop herself to get some for home. Sicily ogled the wonderful clothes on display at Madame Rosie’s store. He was fixated greatly on the evening blue suit that posed proudly in the window. It shimmered with the glow of the night sky.

And it was not just the outfits in store windows that caught his attention. On occasion he was struck with awe at the many outfits present in the crowds. Some had decorative beads on their earrings and necklaces with colors so beautifully bright. Not even their long locks of dark hair could hide them. There was the handsome fellow who wore his blue leather jacket on his shoulder as though a cape. Some barely showed their faces yet their inner beauty shines beyond physical barriers. He could only surmise their lives through the clothes they wore and in the way they smiled. 

Maybe that friend could make me some clothes of my own.

~~~

Fated-Arcade, either due to weather or recent events, was packed to the brim. Thankfully there were two available stools, still warm to the touch, as they sat. Tessa took some time before being able to make it to them. The words did not even make it out of her mouth as she stopped, eyeing Sicily.

Her mouth hung open, her brows raised up.

“That wasn’t a joke?”