â Any Love of Any Kind â
Step 3: Grow connections. Enjin, Rudo, Zanka, anyone. Semiu, August, and Eishia already give you support. You need more.
âRudoooo,â Enjin groans, biting his tongue as he zeroes in on your finger. âCan you keep it down a bit? Iâm kinda busy here.â
Leaning in closer, he digs his nail into the side of your index finger, meticulously cleaning up stray bits of nail polish to make sure everything looks flawless.
âOuch, Enjin! Can you be a little gentler?â You wince as his nail digs in deeper than you expected. He lifts your finger and gives it a soft pat.
âSorry! I just want it to be perfect. Iâll be more careful, I promise.â
Zanka hovers over Enjinâs shoulder, his eyes glued to him as he paints your nails a glossy black. Meanwhile, Rudo and Riyo lounge on the bed, bickering over the most ridiculous things.
âItâd be easier if you pushed the polish to the back of the nail and spread it forward,â Zanka mutters. Enjin grumbles, wiping the side of your nail again.
âDidnât know you were a nail art expert,â Enjin fires back. âIâve been doing mine for years, kid.â
âWhy donât you ever paint your pinky?â you ask, genuinely curious.
âStyle choice,â Enjin replies, moving on to your next nail.
âRiyo! Thatâs not true! Just because youâre trash doesnât mean youâre worthless!â Rudo yells, then winces. âOw! Iâm joking!â he pleads as Riyo swats him on the back.
You and Enjin share a laugh while Zanka rolls his eyes.
This has been your routine for weeks now. You, Enjin, and the âThrashersâ have always been inseparable. Zanka, Riyo, and Rudo never strayed far from Enjin, and after that night at Dan Dulse, you found yourself sticking close to him. A heavy regret weighed on your mind for how you treated him that night, but your own anger simmered at how he treated you in return.
You never asked why. You figured it stemmed from whatever trauma he faced in the past, and you both made it clear that you were just âfriends.â
Staying friends kept things simple. No weird feelings, no awkwardnessâjust the easy comfort of being around people you genuinely enjoyed.
The Thrashers welcomed you more than you expected, making August a bit jealous of your blossoming relationship. Some days, youâd drag him and Eishia along when you and Enjin went out, but they always felt like âawkward third wheels.â No matter how many times you insisted that you and Enjin were just friends, August would always retort, âAnyone with a brain can see that youâre not just âfriends.ââ
âWell, I donât know what to tell you. Weâre friends, August. Just drop it.â
Those conversations about you and Enjin were always brief and to the point, just the way they needed to be.
It was a good distraction from the storm of thoughts swirling in your head about the âdealsâ you made not too long ago. You hadnât dared return to Dan Dulse for fear of running into Zodyl. You worked tirelessly for Corvus, not speaking much but doing just enough to keep them satisfied. And Tamsy? Well, Tamsy was still just Tamsy.
After gathering intel from Zodyl, you passed the information to Tamsy, which in turn revealed his plans. The casual way they spoke about hurting Rudo made you feel sickâbreaking him down into a âbetter personâ for their own twisted needs. You didnât care to learn anything else other than who brought him down and who helped him back up to the Sphere.
âHe wants to collect all the pieces of the Watchman series,â you tell Tamsy.
âTo destroy the Sphere, Iâd bet.â
âYou didnât ask?â Tamsy sneers.
âItâs not like dangerous people just spill their plans, asshole,â you snap back. âNow itâs your turn.â
âFine. Iâm here to break down Rudo and take control of the Ground.â
âI already know that. Why are you doing it? Whatâs the plan?â
âRudo is a Surebrec. The Surebrec family were Undertakers in the Ground, years ago. His ancestor, Canis, possessed all of the Watchman Series items. He was strong. Powerful. Just as Iâm going to make Rudo.â
âWhat happened to him?â
âWell, thatâd be too much information for you, dear. If you can find out more about Zodyl⊠or even Corvus, Iâll spill more.â
âYou forgot to mention one other thing. How do you get to the Sphere and back?â
âThat wasnât part of the deal, but since youâre so eager, Iâll tell you. They go by Skarmor. Thatâs all you need to know.â
Tamsy stands before you, caressing your cheek. You slap his hand away.Â
âYouâre a piece of shit.â
âRude.â He huffs, âI still expect you to keep your end of the bargain. If anyone finds out about this, I wonât hesitate to slit your throat.â
All you could do was nod.
Everything comes at a price. As much as he was infatuated with you, he still wanted to see how far youâd go to get more information. How far would you go to get what you wanted?
He relished watching you rot, watching you decay into someone you never imagined youâd become. Ever since you confessed your feelings for him, he had you right where he wanted youâa whisper of your name, a gentle beckoning, and the invisible thread always pulling you toward him. Youâd always be there at his call.
The thought of Rudo made it more difficult to continue, acting as if you didnât know him at all. How could you tell him that you knew his father back in the Sphere? Would you ever confess that his fatherâs murderer was always lurking nearby? Watching, scheming, just waiting to hurt the poor kid?
Would you allow it to continue, knowing what you do?
The only way to make it easier was to treat him as if you didnât know him. Just like he did to you. You both walked past each other, cleaned up trash, and did jobs, pretending you were just Cleaners who barely knew each other.
Those thoughts were relentless, gnawing at your mind, stirring your thoughts, your mental health draining day by day. You couldnât go on like this, and just days ago, youâd confided in Rudo about it.
âOh. Hi,â he replied quietly.
You settled next to him, watching as he sketched a familiar face.
Rudo sighed, covering the paper with his arm, blocking your view.
âI know who you are. You can stop pretending you donât know me. You and your dad were the traders in the Sphere.â
âYeah, we were. I just⊠I didnât know how to talk to you again.â
âAfter I got dumped?â
âWell, we werenât friends then. I donât think weâre friends now.â He scoffed.
âIâm older than you, but still young enough to be friends. I could consider it.â You joked.
Rudo shot you an unimpressed look, raising an eyebrow.
âDo you know how it happened? Why I got dumped?â
âPeople said you murdered Regto. I never believed it.â
He looked away, returning to his drawing.
âIâm sorry, Rudo. It felt like it wasnât my place to talk to you about what happened, especially since we only ever had small talk and brief conversations when you and Regto needed items.â
âYou didnât want to push a boundary. Thatâs fine.â
âDo you forgive me?â you ask.
âFor treating me like you didnât know me? Iâve been doing the same. I donât think we owe each other an apology.â
âYou havenât been doing the same. You told Enjin that you were worried about me the night I broke down, didnât you?â
You knew him. You knew his father. You knew his fatherâs killer. Yet you couldnât bring yourself to treat him as anything but a random Cleaner, even when Rudo was there for you on the day you broke down.
How could you treat him like this?
âI did, but that's not the point. I said it because you looked like a rotting corpse.â Ouch. Did you really look that bad?
âBesides, the other Cleaners are smart. If they knew we knew each other, theyâd probably question it.â
âYeah. Secrecy is the best policy around here.â You sighed, looking down at the floor, feeling ashamed.
âFriends?â you asked, hopeful.
âIâll repay you in sweets.â
Rudo perked up, staring at you. Even if his face didnât show it, gratitude sparkled in his eyes, grateful for your offer of friendship, your acknowledgment.
Another sharp pinch on the side of your finger made you pull it back, flicking it in pain.
âSorry! Iâm sorry!â he exclaimed. Zanka shoved him away, gently taking your hand and the nail polish from him.
âIâll finish it, Enjin,â he said softly. Zanka always had a soft spot for protecting those he cared about, though heâd rather die than admit it.
Enjin scoffed, plopping onto the bed next to Rudo and Riyo, who were still bickering.
In this moment, your scattered thoughts began to settle. It felt warm. Comforting. They eased the anxiety in your body, slowing everything around you down.
August and Eishiaâs presence made things better, but this felt peaceful. Slow. Calm.
You watched Zanka carefully finish your nails, lifting them to ensure he painted with precision.
âThanks, Zaza,â you said, grinning. Zanka cringed, sinking back into his seat.
âI told you not to call me that.â
âI know, I know. I just think it fits after the âJabberâ incident. He really had you tweaking out on some strong elephant drugs.â
The raiders had been invading your clean-ups more frequently, and it was easy to tell it was Zodylâs doing. You didnât know how they found you so easily, but you didnât question it.
One way or another, fate would bring you back together. For now, youâd rather wait it out.
You felt Enjinâs hands on your shoulders, looking up to see him leaning over you. You craned your head back, your eyes meeting his as he gently caressed under your chin.
âLetâs head out to the city today, yeah? Theyâre having a fireworks show tonight.â
âSounds good to me,â you replied with a smile. âItâs been a whirlwind these last few days.â You lifted your head and glanced over at Rudo.
âWant to come with? Sweets are on me,â you offered.
Rudo âsmiledâ as best he could. âIâll do anything for sweets!â
You stared at him, watching the way the corners of his mouth curled into an awkward grin, revealing the red gum of his teeth as he forced out a smile.
âUh⊠huhâŠâ You tilted your head in awe. âYouâre right, Zaza⊠heâs really bad at thisâŠâ
Riyo snickered, laughing at Rudo. âGod, you look like a gremlin! Stop smiling, Rudo, youâre scaring everyone.â
âGo get ready, meet at the entrance in an hour!â Enjin ordered, shooing them out of the room, pushing Rudo out last before shutting the door behind them, leaving you two in silence. You moved to sit on the edge of his bed, leaning over to tie your shoes.
You gasped as Enjin suddenly shoved you back onto the bed, wrapping his arms around you, snuggling his head into the crook of your neck. He inhaled deeply, sighing.
âIâve been waiting for this all day.â
He pulled you in, the heat radiating off his body warming you as you wrapped your arms around him, rubbing your cheek against the top of his head. You were confused about how to respond.
âAbout⊠going to the city?â you asked hesitantly.
Your grip around him loosened, and you stopped rubbing your head against his. He always made things confusing.
You gently pushed him away, leaning up on the edge of his bed. Enjin frowned at you as you moved away.
âIâm going to get ready so weâre not late,â you whispered. Enjin grabbed your hand, pulling you closer.
âWhy the rush? Weâve got a whole hour before we leave.â
âI just want to⊠you knowâŠâ You hesitated.
What you really wanted was to escape, to get out of this confined space, to avoid having your âfriendâ snuggled up all over you.
âI just need to clean some stuff up in my room before we leave.â
âOh, well, I can help you. Iâm basically already ready,â Enjin offered.
Great. Just great. Of course, he was willing to help. Why wouldnât he? There had to be something you could do to get him away for a bit.
âOh! Actually, I forgot,â you said, gently smacking the side of your head. âI need to talk to August about something. Outfit⊠stuff.â You cleared your throat awkwardly.
âOh, uh, can I at least walk you down then?â
You hurried over and opened Enjinâs door, and he silently followed behind you, locking his door as you walked down the hallway.
âHey, wait up! You out here running like youâve got places to be!â
You slowed down, waiting for Enjin to shove his keys into his pockets before joining you. He looped his arm around yours as you walked down to Augustâs room.
If thereâs one thing about Enjin, itâs that he was physical. More physical than others. It was his way of showing affection. If you were next to him, he wanted his presence knownâhis knee leaning against yours, his hand gently holding on where no one else could see, his eyes catching yours in fleeting glances.
He gave you a gentle nudge as you walked quietly together.
âYou alright? Youâre never this quiet,â he chimed in. âOh! Is it because of your nail earlier? Iâm sorry for hurting you like that.â
âNo, itâs fine! Zanka cleaned them up well anyway. Iâm justâŠâ You paused. âIâm a little anxious. With⊠the whole deal and everything.â
âYeah,â you whispered.
âWhatâs making you worried?â
You looked up at him, shaking your head. âNothing. As long as you still protect me, thatâs all Iâll need.â
âIâm a man of my word.â
You reached Augustâs room and knocked.
Augustâs door swung open, and he stared at you and Enjinâs linked arms. You pulled away, awkwardly laughing. âHeyyyy, August. I just wanted to talk about the um⊠lining⊠stuff.â
âFor the outfit⊠you know⊠the uh⊠lining⊠issue.â
âThe fuck are you talking about?!â August yelled. You pushed him back into his room. âExcuse us for just one moment,â you said to Enjin, slamming the door behind you.
âThe goddamn lining, August!!â you hissed. âRemember our code?!â
âOhhh⊠lining⊠lining⊠that was, uh⊠what was that again?â He thought, flopping down in his chair, snapping his fingers. âOh yeah! H.E.L.P!â
You groaned and plopped down on his bed, holding your head in your hands. August rolled over in his desk chair to face you.
âWhatâs up this time, sis? Did he finally confess his undying, everlasting, eternal love for you?â
âThey treated me to a spa day, did my nails, then had the audacity to cuddle with me afterward.â
âShut UP, August! But yes, cuddle. He just laid me down on his bed after dismissing the Thrashers and just⊠held me.â
âSo?! Whatâd you do?â
August groaned, rolling back over and slamming his head against his desk.
âThatâs like⊠the worst thing you couldâve done.â
âWhy?! Iâm confused, August.â
âThen make it clear!â he sighed. âEnjin isnât dumb, but Iâm sure he just wants assurance.â
As much as August seemed the type to not know much, he was right. A faint noise came from his choker, Semiuâs voice chiming through.
âAugust, your choker is still active.â
You yelled and grabbed his pillow, slamming it against your face. Not only did August know, but now Semiu did too. You were also a hundred percent sure Eishia would know, simply because whatever you told him, he told her.
âYo Semiu! Go to the city with them! I donât think our little Tessen can hold on by themselves any longer.â
âFine. When are they leaving?â
âIn like forty minutes!â you yelled back.
You pulled the pillow off your face and looked at August with tears in your eyes.
âWhat the hell is happening?â
August rushed over, shaking your shoulders, wiping away any tears. âCool off, sis! Itâs not too bad! Embarrassing for sure, but not bad.â
You nodded, taking a deep breath to recollect yourself. âMhm. Okay. Thanks, August.â
You stood up from his bed and walked over to his door, swinging it open. Your eyes widened when you saw Tamsy and Enjin talking in the hallway. August followed behind you.
âWhat are you guys talking about?â
âOh! Speak of the devil. We were just talking about you,â Tamsy said.
Ironic coming from him. Enjin glanced over, giving you a wry smile. âYep. Just chatting.â
Tamsy dismissed himself, striding past you, his eyes glancing away.
âSo, you guys got the outfit issue sorted?â
âYep! Gonna fix their lining right up!â August yelled.
âRight⊠right⊠Well, letâs head to the main hall and wait for everyone,â Enjin redirected the conversation. You waved goodbye to August, watching as he made kissy faces.
Time passed, and you watched as the Thrashers made their way with five minutes to spare. Rudo plopped down next to you, and you gently nudged him.
âWhat are you in the mood for today? Chocolate? A lollipop?â
âAnything and everything,â Rudo replied, glancing at you before quickly looking away. Something was clearly on his mind.
You leaned in, whispering, âWhatâs wrong, Rudo?â
You fell silent, staring down at the floor, feeling guilt wash over you.
Just tell him. Free him from this torment. Tell him Tamsy killed his father. Tell him Tamsyâs plan to hurt him, to make his existence a living hell.
But your life, your goalsâwere you willing to give them away so soon? If you told Rudo the truth of Regtoâs death, youâd be dead. You still needed to find a way back up to the Sphere to kill Caines, to end the cycle of violence that brought you both down here in the first place.
âI understand,â you said, smiling as you patted Rudoâs back. âItâs not easy.â
âDo you miss your dad?â
âMore than anything.â
âI just wish I could talk to him. I never got to say goodbye. I wonder if he's proud of me.â
You wrapped your arm around him, pulling him into a hug.
âUnder all of the anger and yelling, I've seen that there's a kid who just wants to do the right thing. I'm sure if Regto were here, he'd say the same. I know he's proud of you, Rudo. Don't forget that, okay?â
Gris clapped his hands together, smiling at the group ready to head to the city. âLetâs rock and roll!â
Riyo and Zanka groaned. Even though Gris meant well, he always sounded like a stereotypical dad.
As everyone arrived in the city, the group split up. Semiu dragged Enjin to Dan Dulse. Riyo and Zanka took off to find food. You and Rudo stumbled over to the pastry shop. Meanwhile, Gris wandered off to sightsee and to find a good spot for the fireworks later.
Semiu and Enjin settled into their usual spot at the bar, ordering their strongest drinks and sitting quietly.
âSo⊠what do you think of the new Cleaner? You guys have been getting real close lately.â
âI wouldnât say theyâre new. They've been here for a while now. But, is it that obvious?â
âWell, duh. Youâre all over her. And frankly, I havenât seen you leaving HQ to fawn over other women lately.â
âWhat can I say? Iâm a changed man,â Enjin joked.
âYeah, right. No one changes that fast.â
âI know. Iâm just bullshitting. Theyâre a good change of pace, and I enjoy being around them. Weâre just friends.â
âFriends?â Semiu questioned. âI donât see friends casually holding arms down hallways together.â
Enjin fell silent, gulping down the rest of his drink before requesting another.
âOr friends who are always touching each other.â
He sipped from his freshly filled glass, ignoring Semiuâs teasing remarks.
âOr⊠friends who make promises they canât keep.â
He slammed his glass down on the bar, making a few onlookers jump and stare in their direction.
âI told them Iâd protect them.â
âBut can you? Really? Enjin, for all the years Iâve known you, youâve never done this for anyone. You know Corvusâ rule: âNever grant protection because itâs never guaranteed!â And yet here you are, denying everything because you canât come to terms with yourself!â
The restaurant fell silent, and Semiu poked at her food with her fork.
âJust talk to them about it.â
âAbout what, Semiu?â Enjin asked, irritation laced in his voice. âThat I like them? That with every passing moment, I wish I could just tell them that I physically cannot pull myself away from them?â
âItâs not like theyâd ever listen.â He rambles on, âThey hate me. I treated them like shit. Deep down inside, I know Iâm just trying to make up for it by spending time with them and the kids, but itâs not like thatâs just going to fix everything!â
Semiu stared at him and shook her head. âIt fixes more than you think, Enjin. If you werenât so obsessed with knowing if people like you or not, this wouldnât be an issue. You quite literally have been changing them for the better, do you understand that?â
âAnd how the hell would you know?â
âBecause sheâs getting stronger. Sheâs growing connections. Theyâre living. Theyâre not stuck in the endless loop of grief and guilt anymore, and they donât look like a rotting corpse just walking around mindlessly.â Semiu stops and shakes her head, âItâs like Delman. Taking in a dead flower and watering it back to life.â
âDonât fuck this up, mophead.â She walked away from the bar, leaving Dan Dulse and Enjin in silence. He tapped on his choker, calling for you.
âHello?â your voice chimed through.
âMeet me at Colosso before the fireworks show.â
âIâm with Rudo, though. He's had a rough day.â
âThe kid can survive. Just tell him to find Riyo and Zanka. You can continue your little kiki with them later.â
âFine⊠Iâll be there in a few.â
You dropped Rudo off with Zanka and Riyo, politely excusing yourself. You told them youâd be near Colosso in case they needed you.
As you approached the building, you scanned the area, searching for any sign of Enjin.
âRah!â A voice yelled from behind you, making you yelp as you turned around, playfully slapping Enjin on the shoulder.
âGoddamn it, you asshole! Donât scare me like that.â
âI had to get your adrenaline up. Câmon, follow me.â
Enjin led you into a nearby alleyway, grabbing onto a ladder and motioning for you to follow. Reluctantly, you climbed after him. When you reached the top, he held out his hand, and you took it as he pulled you up. He walked over to the side of the building, sitting on the edge of the rooftop while you settled nearby.
âThis is the best view. The fireworks show will be just ahead, over there.â
You looked where he pointed, admiring the scenery. The city walls were adorned with graffiti and art, stunning portraits of those who lived before you.
âThis is beautiful,â you said in awe.
Enjin glanced at you, gently leaning his shoulder against you.
âCan I talk to you about something?â
âIâm sorry for earlier. Hugging you and everything. I⊠I donât want to send the wrong message, you know?â
âIâm justâŠâ Enjin hesitated. âIâm glad to have you as my friend.â
You offered him a smile. As much as it hurt to hear, it was for the best.
Enjin slumped over, staring down at the ground, watching the crowd below.
âIâm not good with this stuff, you know? Iâm more of a one-night stand kind of guy. Itâs easier that way.â
You stayed quiet, taking in your surroundings.
âIâm also not one for relationships. I donât like needy women⊠or kids⊠theyâre just off-putting. I donât think I could ever commit to someone. Not yet.â
âItâs because youâre scared, isnât it?â
âIâm terrified,â he admits.
You nodded in understanding, gazing down at your feet.
âI do like you, Enjin. Youâre handsome, compassionate, and obviously being a jokester to hide whatever trauma is deep down inside of you.â
âDamn. Didn't need to call me out like that.â
âBut, I get it.â You continued, ignoring his remarks. âItâs a lot to deal with, and I figure that you have your reasons as to why you do what you do.â
He stared at you and sighed, âTo be honest, youâre exactly my type. Beautiful, smart, strong. I just, I⊠I canât force myself to be in a relationship. Iâd need someone forgiving, which I know you are⊠I justâŠâ He rubs the back of his neck. âI canât bring myself to do it, knowing that there's a possibility of hurting you. Which is why Iâm solely offering my protection.â
âWhat about all of the physical stuff? The knee touches, the hands, the glancesâŠâ You ask.
âI canât seem to pull myself off of you.â He smiles. âMaybe that's my way of protecting you. Iâll just smother you until youâre sick and tired of being around me.â
âYouâre weird, you know that? And this⊠all of this is confusing. Youâre a confusing man, Enjin.â
âHow so? Are you seriously asking? Well, let's start with first, you touch me anytime that you get, which, obviously, makes someone feel a certain type of way, right?â
âSecond, you cannot stop flirting with me. Inviting me to the city in front of the kids, caressing my chin, almost kissing me when you wanted me to admit that Iâve known Tamsy. Seriously? That was a low blow.â
âDid you actually want that kiss?â he asked teasingly.
You continued, ignoring his comment.
âAnd Third, youâve been so good to me, Enjin. Understanding, caring, compassionate. I didnât realize how bad I was down here until Rudo admitted that I looked like a rotting corpse.â
âAnd now youâre like a flower in full bloom.â
âYeah, I suppose you could say that.â
âYou never answered my question,â he pressed on.
He wasnât going to let this down. He needed to know if you wanted it just as much as he did in that moment before it was ruined.
You lean in, placing a small kiss on his cheek. Before you could pull away, Enjin's hands grasped the side of your face, pulling you in, kissing you deeply.
This kiss felt different than the others. Tamsy was harsh and demanding, uncaring if he hurt you or not. Zodylâs felt clean and precise, like a liar covering up their tracks. Enjinâs were sloppy, but fervent, kissing you like you were the oxygen he needed to breathe.
He pulled you closer, the low sounds of his groaning filling your ears. Your hands roamed his body, holding on to his forearms for support.
You tried to pull away, âEâŠEnjin.â
He shook his head, âNot yet.â
His hand found the way to the back of your head, firmly grasping it as his own desire rose. He wanted to savor every moment of this. Wanted to remember your taste, your scent, the way your lips felt against his.
âYuck!! Others can see you, you know!â A voice from the crowd below yells up to both of you. Some onlookers whistled, and you ripped yourself away, throwing your body back to the rooftop where you couldnât be seen.
You lie on your back, your mouth and eyes agape. âOh⊠my⊠heavensâŠâ You cover your face in embarrassment, laughing at the situation. âThereâs no way that happened, right?â Enjin tried his best to hold back a laugh until he burst and fell over, kicking his feet in amusement.
You both continue to laugh, tears flooding your vision. As you gasp for air, you wipe any saliva off your lip, slowing your laughs as you calm down. Enjin looks at you, offended. He leans in to place another kiss on your lips, renewing his mark on you.
âItâs no worries. Iâll just keep giving you another kiss if you wipe it off again.â
You leaned up, feeling the cold pavement on your palms. Enjin mirrors your movements, sitting next to you.
âSince weâre laying it all out here, I might as well just keep going.â
âI knew Rudo and his dad when I was in the Sphere. We acted like we didnât know each other because he didnât want to push my boundaries. I didnât know how to talk to the kid after seeing him get dumped. Yet, he helped me when I was at my lowest. I think we're cool now.â
âWas it odd seeing a familiar face down in the Ground?â he asks.
âIt was. I didnât know if he was alive or not, and knowing what happened to Regto⊠I just wanted to be there for him. I really did. I just didnât know how to go about it. Itâs been eating at my conscience for a while.â
"What happened to Regto..?" Enjin asked. "He told me that he was accused of murder. He didn't do it." Your words made his head scramble for thoughts. It wasn't normal the way you spoke of Regto, "Do you know who actually killed him?"Â
You stay silent and nod. "I can't discuss it."Â
âItâs not uncommon, you know. People get dumped down here, know each other, and act like theyâve never seen each other before.â Enjin continues, dismissing his previous question. They weren't going to forget about it, but knew for your safety that if you couldn't discuss it, neither would he. Not now, but definitely later.Â
âMhm. It takes time for the bond to grow again, though. In all my years down here, Iâve seen it countless times. Bro and Dear Santa. Gris and Corvus. Hell, even Semiu and Delman.â
âWhat?! But Semiu hates him, always says heâs too loud.â
âCrazy, right? I don't think theyâll ever form that bond again. Apparently, she used to buy flowers for her girlfriend from his wifeâs flower shop in the Sphere. He knew her name and everything. Now, they donât even talk anymore. It's sad.â
âBut people want a fresh start, to move on. Seeing others from their past can hold them back,â he continues.
âYeah⊠thatâs what it felt like for me at first, too.â
Silence enveloped you both until Enjin spoke up first.
âI used to be in a gang. Itâs how I got these tattoos.â
You scoffed, laughing. âWhat? Were you part of the Azukay?â You paused as Enjin remained silent. âShit, are you serious?â
He nodded, extending his arm. You touched his tattoos gently with your fingers.
âI was in it before I got dumped down here. Accused by some asshole named Seniac. Real powerful dude up in the Sphere.â
âSeniac? Thatâs an odd name.â
âMmhm. Worked closely with the Azukay. Practically ordered them around.â He pulled his arm back, pointing to the side of his head. âAnd this? Got it when I landed down here. Bad, gnarly scar, huh?â
You nodded, pointing to your own scar. âSame here.â You giggled. âWho saved you?â
âA good man. No, a great one. He took me in, practically raised me down here.â
âIs that why you collect strays?â
âProbably. I was just a teen when he found me. I owe him that much. Itâd be nice to carry on his legacy, but⊠I donât know if Iâll ever amount to that.â
âComparison is the thief of joy. I hope you know how much everyone here appreciates you. Even when you can be irritating, the Thrashers see you as their dad.â
Enjin stayed silent, a smile creeping onto his face. In the distance, a loud explosion echoed. You both turned your gaze to the fireworks.
As you and Enjin sat on the rooftop, you stared into the distance. âMy fatherâs name isnât actually Illarion. Well⊠it was a name given to himâŠâ
âHowâd he get it? Names that cool arenât just handed out,â Enjin joked.
âFrom his best friend. I never met them, but he always spoke highly of the man. Iron.â You spoke quietly. âIron Horse.â
Enjin tensed, confusion washing over him.
âHe always spoke of Iron Horse as the heart of the party. So humble and caring. They grew up together as friends. Iron was like⊠really rad. You know⊠any time my dad had a fit, guess what heâd do?â You glanced at Enjin, who remained silent.
âHeâd just hug himâŠâ
Tell him to âJust make sure to be happy.â
âAnd always told him to âjust make sure to be happy.â How crazy is that?â
You sighed, continuing to gaze up at the sky.
âI never got to meet him, though it felt like I did, considering how much I heard about him. They had such an impact on my father. When he started getting better, thatâs when he gave him his name. My father wasnât exactly⊠stable growing up. But he helped.â
âHe helped him get better. Calmer. Iron had a far different upbringing than my father; thatâs why he was so mature and understanding. Then, as they grew up, my dad met my mom and had my sibling and me. I donât think Iron ever had kids, though. Ever since, my dad was always the happiest person I knew, even if he didnât show it all the time,â you continued.
âMy father said he was banished down here when I was young. Accused of shoplifting or something.â You paused and thought to yourself. âI wonder if he ever lived. If he ever found peace down hereâŠâ
âIâm sure if he did, he lived a good lifeâŠâ Enjin exhaled. He had his own limits to what people could know about him, but this wasnât one of them. It was still a sensitive topic, one he wasnât ready to fully discuss.
âThose fireworks were alright, I guess,â Rudo said, munching on a chocolate bar. You all sat in the jeep, Gris and Enjin occupied the front, and the rest of the group squished together in the back.
âIt was the best thing Iâve ever seen! So pretty! Did you see all those colors?!â Riyo exclaimed.
Semiu rubbed her head. âThey were cool, but man, they were loud. I think I have a headache.â
âYou sure it wasnât from all the drinks you had earlier?â Enjin chimed in, grunting as Semiu kicked the back of his seat.
You stared out the window, gazing into the open wasteland. As disgusting as it may seem, it was beautiful. Different trash sprawled out; you couldnât help but wonder the stories behind all of the items down here. As you look around, you squint, spotting a figure in the distance.
You rubbed your eyes, seeing a bright, glowing light as the figure vanished.
Rudo tapped your shoulder, drawing your attention back to them. He offers you a piece of his chocolate, and you accept.
âThanks for today. I feel better,â he whispers to you.
âIâve got your back from here on out, Rudo.â You take a bite of the bitter chocolate, gagging from the taste of it. âUgh, dark chocolate? Seriously?â
Rudo holds back a laugh and takes another bite, filling his mouth, âWha? Ish good.â
In the rearview mirror, Enjin glances at you and Rudo in the backseat. Your eyes meet his, and you look away, smiling.Â
âZodyl,â Cthoni spoke, emerging from her pothole. âThe cleaners are currently leaving the city. Shall we start preparing the trash beast?â
Zodyl stared blankly at a television screen, the slight buzzing of static and his crunching the only sounds filling the room. He picked up another roach, biting its head off.
He hadnât seen you, but he needed a way to draw you in. To figure out who youâd told about the Watchman series and to snatch the gloves away from Rudo. One way or another, he was going to complete his plan.
âFather,â Tamsy spoke as he approached Caines, dressed in a white, silky suit, waiting for his response. Cyrus stood at the door, bowing as Tamsy entered the room.
âTamsy,â Caines spoke firmly. âSpeak.â
âThe man named Zodyl wants all parts of the Watchman series to destroy the Sphere.â
âYouâre sure of this?â
Caines sighed, leaning back in his seat and motioning for Cyrus to refill his cup. While Tamsy was down in the pit, he wasted no time savoring every moment his son did his dirty work.
âSo? What are you going to do about it?â Caines asked, taking a sip of his wine.
Tamsy cleared his throat, lowering his head in shame.
âIâll make sure he doesnât complete his task.â
Caines stood, swaying over to Tamsy, gripping his hair and forcing him to meet his gaze.
âLook at me when you speak, boy,â he spat. âWhat about Rudo?â
âIâm still working on it. There are liabilities.â
âSuch as that little trader girl?â
Tamsyâs eyes widened. He backed away, ripping away from his fatherâs grip, his body faltering as fear and anxiety flooded him.
âHow do you know sheâs alive?â
âIâm not stupid. You donât think I knew youâd save her?â
Caines huffed, returning to his desk, flopping down in his chair with crossed arms.
âYou donât think Iâd know that my own pathetic son would go out of his way to save the only person who ever made him feel wanted?â he seethed. âI know you better than anyone, Tamsy. I know youâve told them your plan. I know youâve been fucking them senselessly.â
Tamsy kept his head raised, though shame swarmed his body.
âDo you love them? That piece of shit trash?â Caines yelled.
âNo,â Tamsy whispered.
âNO!â he yelled, âI donât love them!â
Caines leaned back in his chair, amusement crossing his face.
âYouâre a terrible liar.â He laughed, his expression shifted, focusing on his desk. âWhat else does she know?â
âIâm shocked you havenât ruined the surprise that her father was a Giver. That damned Illarion. Such a talent he was. Being able to produce any item with that worn-down bag he always carried around. â
âItâs not my place to tell them. Not yet.â
âMmm,â Caines responded, running his finger across his desk, flicking away the dust that collected on it. âHow kind of you.â
âDonât ruin this for me now, boy. Iâm close to becoming the owner of Yamaka. I donât need loose ends ruining this for me. For us.â
Caines stands up and walks towards Tamsy, pulling his son in for a hug. âI love you, Tamsy. You need to do better.â
Tamsy nodded, hugging him, âI understand, Father.â
Caines stared at his son with discontent, anger, and frustration. He knew Tamsy would betray him and act on his own interests, but saving a piece of trash like you? It was a blow to his ego.
He thought he had raised his son better than this.
âYouâre dismissed. Come back when you have more information.â
Tamsy bowed, turning to leave. He glanced at Cyrus as he opened the door for him, exiting his fatherâs office. Everything was falling into place, but fear still lingered. He should just kill you now, to prove to his father that he was better than this. Better than clinging to a piece of trash.
Or, he could make a spectacle out of you. If you changed just enough, you could prove yourself worthy of being brought back up to the Sphere. To work for Caines, to overcome the Ground, and live a happy, normal life.
Tamsy dreamt of it. You and he, living in the Sphere, wealth and riches to your liking. Living with love, growing a family, until your dying breaths.
He exited his house with a smile on his face. If thereâs one thing Tamsy was confident in, it was this: he recognized his own failure and needed to make up for it. He needed to prove himself.
You were just a flicker away from being broken down, and Tamsy was going to be the one to ignite it.
A/N: I wanna give Rudo a hug.
I also wish I was as delusional as Tamsy