#reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

ordered dinner through door dash and well it was a big order i can imagine one item getting lost happening but

they only delivered One Item

out of like

That was how Ariadne had broken her leg and the Nihilis family had an extra guest. The twins had been tight lipped, but the boy less-so. A former slave of Niflheim on the run, though the story was a mess. The boy blamed their daughter and their daughter blamed the boy.

Regardless, Lazentis couldn't turn the boy out to the streets in good conscience. He was of similar age to his twins... and though he didn't speak in great detail, it was clear that he hadn't lived a kind life. He only knew cruelty. Trust still had to be earned, but basic hospitality came free of charge.

It would be a great disappointment when he learned all three teenagers had snuck out not one week into their grounding.

"There, up ahead." Ariadne nodded, leaning on her crutches as she came to a stop. "That's the stall. And that's the Virkow we spoke about."

"Oi, you lot. Can't ye read? Kitchen's closed for cookin' — ah. Fuck it. I know yer order, silver-haired shits for kids. Yer friend'll be gettin' the same, an' no complainin'." It was all leftovers anyway. Not fit to be served up to customers the following day, Bo might grouch about a missed hot breakfast but he could suck it up.

Enok was... reserved. This was strange. He had wanted to hate that girl - she had fucked up his life. His chances to find his family via the Empire's knowledge. Maybe his only chance... but she also had not intended that. And she had helped him. Taking him to her home. Her family.

That was a lot more trust and good treatment than anyone else had given him these past ten years.

And then she mentioned that girl. Or rather woman.

A Virkow.

There were so many of that name. But that one ran a stall with her family. A food stall. And she had a loose mouth. Beads and braids down the left side of her head. And there was a scarily big dark skinned guy at her side with eerie grey eyes.

He had to check that out.

No grounding could even try to matter in that.

Enok tried to not get his hopes up at all. Because he had gotten them beat down so often in the past. It was better to not feel the pain of another disappointment. Just shrug it off. This wouldn't be her. This wouldn't be them.

He trailed behind the twins. Hood shoved into his face. He didn't want to see that woman really. A glance was all he needed. And then he could hide his face better and they could leave again.

That voice though - no, more her use of words, her tone. It had Enok look up a little more. Sidestep the twins a little.

There stood a woman. Brown hair in beads and with beads showering her side and shoulder. Enok could recognize some. How often had he tugged on them or gently tried helping braid them into her hair? She had explained the meaning of them.

'This I got for my bravery - of course lookin after a lil shit like you!'

'This one for winning races against the other kids in sailin - I'll teach you one day!'

'This one? My Ma gave it to me, it's my fave…' 'I made that one - and I made you one, too. Here, lemme help you put it on.'

And her eyes were the same colour as his. The one their family shared. Eyes like the sea. Not the sky. Because that's where they belonged.

Ariadne truly was lucky that Enok had half a mind to turn to the side to get past her. Otherwise he would have steamrolled her. There were no other thoughts in his head anymore.

This couldn't be. Rika. It was her. Rika!

"Rika...", he couldn't yell her name, even though he wanted to. It felt like his throat was strung shut by a rope trying to choke him. Dizzy and lightheaded. With shaking hands that reached for her, clung to her jacket.

His eyes scanned over her features again. Her face. Her hair. The way her eyebrows creased in anger at being grabbed by a seemingly stranger. The way her nose scrunched. The way there was fire in blue irises. He could see her smile, though. Last time she had looked down onto him. Now he was the taller one.

"Rika...?"

He wanted to say more, explain it to her.

I found you! I finally found you! It's you! I'm Enok! Remember me? Rika! I missed you...

But nothing came over his lips apart from choked sobbing. A howl that sounded like a wounded animal as he clung to that poor confused Galahdan. Enok felt so weak. As if the weight of all his fears and worries the past decade were lifted... and yet that took his strength away, too. Never had he shown many emotions in public regarding this. Because it made you a target. But now? Now he could be vulnerable. He was home again. He had Rika.

And Enok could only bury his fingers deep in her clothes as he sank to his knees, crying into her.

I'm home.