#part 91

"EVER ETERNAL" Series TWIN SOUL SCROLLS I: AN ANCIENT AFFAIR Ch.91 | THE GEEKY BARD'S CAMPFIRE TALES

'market day two'

baking was noticeably more enjoyable with duo’s help.

the kitchen was also much more of mess when they were done - but heero was willing to overlook that. they had finished late, and so there were still dishes piled up in the sink this morning. the dark countertops had dustings of white powder on them despite them having been wiped down the night before. the end result was that there were two cheesecakes sitting side by side on the middle shelf of the refrigerator.

*mission successful*

it was barely sunrise but heero needed to leave in about an hour and so he started a pot of coffee and then went downstairs to get dressed. on his way back up to the kitchen, he saw duo headed outside with two large canvas bags in tow.

‘i’ll leave one of those insulated bags up on the table for the cake,’ duo said as they passed by one another.

in addition to packing everything while heero mostly watched, duo had walked into town with him this morning. there was a lot more to carry than the previous week and heero was glad for the help – and the company.

duo left him to set everything up and wished him luck before heading back home. he had his final lesson today and the instructor was probably due to arrive in an hour or so.

he watches duo go but wishes he didn’t have to. he can do this on his own, but he knows he would have a better time if duo were here. heero debates telling him this and decides that he should; even though he is convinced that it will not be news to duo. there are other things that heero knows he should be telling him too, but he has gotten very good at tamping down those urges. the thoughts themselves are uncomfortable enough, but verbalizing them? to duo?

he does not notice one of the other vendors approaching until she is several feet away and wishes him a good morning, too busy lost in thought while he unpacks everything. she enquires about the cheesecake. he knows that duo must have tipped her off because he has not even taken it out of the bag yet. she does not hesitate when he tells her the cost and she thanks him as she walks off with it back to her own table.

it only takes another ten minutes for heero to set everything up on the table and then it is a waiting game. he hopes that like last week, he will not need to stay until the market closes. he walks around like before, buying two loaves of bread: one semolina, one oatmeal raisin and couple more jars of jam. a few people recognize him, and he exchanges basic pleasantries with them.

he heads back to his designated spot with his purchases in tow and stores them beneath the table and then rubs his hands together to dispel the early morning chill.

the weather today feels more like autumn than summer and reminds heero that the end of october will mark one year that he found duo injured outside the abandoned building not far from the grimtooth bar & bunker. he does not recall the exact date, but knows it was shortly before halloween. it feels weird to consider it an anniversary of sorts, given the misfortune that gave rise to their meeting, but heero doesn’t think he wants to ignore its… significance?

at the very least, he would be mentioning it to duo.

Everyone nodded before Vanna joined the group in the main room in her pyjamas.

“Slumber Party! I brought Dewdrop along”

Vanna tossed Dewdrop over to Char to which she caught it and hugged the plush.

“Thanks, why don’t you all settle down and I’ll put a movie or show on of your preference”

Everyone settled down onto the pile of pillows and beds as Char set the big tv up and scrolled through all the movies and shows.

“Parodian Dreama is on this tv if you guys wanna continue?”

Lumi and Sage clapped happily, Vanna and Xand nodded as Synapse smiled slightly.

“I guess so… Any idea where you guys were up to?”

Sage raised her hand.

“Episode six! I remember it clearly!”

Char blinked and set it for episode six and played it; turning the lights off as everyone settled down.

“There we go; tv is set so if everyone is asleep, it will shut off so no need to worry about any problems”

Everyone settled down and watched the show until around midnight Squishy made a squishing sound to the tune of happy birthday.

“Hm? Squishy is making sounds”

Sage looked down at Squishy as the plush finished its tune.

“Oh! Squishy always does that on its birthday! Happy birthday little Squishy”

Sage gave Squishy a hug as everyone else smiled and laughed.

“Well a happy birthday to Squishy it is!”

Everyone laughed happily before settling back down to watch the show. Rover and Raptor were the first to fall asleep on the edge of the beds.

“Yawn… I am gonna sleep now, enjoy the rest of you”

Xand yawned quietly before going to sleep on his bed.

“I’m out too, night everyone!”

Lumi was next to fall asleep, eventually everyone else fell asleep except for Char and Synapse.

“So, is your leg still fine?”

Char looked to Synapse and nodded.

“Yeah, it’s much better now that it isn’t stinging”

Synapse gave a slight sigh of relief before turning his attention back to the tv.

“We should go to sleep huh?”

Char nodded before stretching and giving a small yawn.

“That sounds like a plan, goodnight”

Char lied down on her bed and slowly started to doze off.

“Yeah… Goodnight to you too”

Synapse stretched out before flopping onto his bed and eventually to sleep; the tv shut itself off for the night.

“Oi. Wake up brat. I have a bone to pick with you!”

Char jolted up at the sound of a familiar voice.

“Oof Ehecatl… What is it now…?”

Char as usual would have the same dream state; the exception this time was there were no Receptors around.

“Wait, where are you? Show yourself!”