Two weeks had passed since Dustine's unfortunate question, William called her to have Lunch in his new apartment. She was wearing ripped jeans with black pantyhose, a deep purple shirt with ¾ sleeves, a beige jacket dress, long top sneakers and tons of black jewelry. She grabbed her purse and went to the address.
William decided to prioritize dressing Blair and Caleb instead of making the food before Dustine came. As always, Blair was with a puffy dress that helped to hide her tail, a bonnet to hide the bug legs and sunglasses to hide her eye holes. Caleb, for the other hand, was a little harder, because it was almost spring he couldn't be hidden between multiple layers of clothing, and because he was a boy he refused to dress up like Blair.
Caleb is more passing then Blair, with smaller horns coming sideways, a lizard-like tail and his ears could be easily excused as "he was born this way". But his fire-like hair and the spikes that started growing on his back even if he had been in his child form for at least 6 months are a hard hide, especially with his temper. William tried to comb and fixate his bangs to hide it, but that not only does not have a hair like texture, but also literally burned in flames to go back to its original form. "What's that? Puberty? Aren't you a little too young for that?" He thought. He tried to just place a cap on top of his bangs and it stayed, so while he was putting a vest on Caleb to hide the spike volume, he said:
- Try to control yourself as much as possible, but if you can't, be far from the visit and don't let her see you, ok? -
- Sure. But why? -
- You will understand when you get older. -
- But I'm already smart enough! -
- It's not about being smart, Caleb. You're just a boy. -
- What do you mean by just a boy? -
- That means that you're not old enough. -
William gives Caleb a headpat before standing up and going to start preparing lunch.
- So I just need to have more birthdays! So I will get older faster! -
Caleb tells Blair, who was playing right next to him.
- But you need birthday cakes to have birthdays! Dad won't make that much cake! -
- So I will learn how to cook! -
- But cakes use the oven! And dad said if kids like us use the oven, the building will get on fire! -
- … Ah man! -
After some time, Dustine finally came. They ate and chatted a little until the kids went to play in Caleb's room. It's a awkward silence between the two adults that were sitting side by side.
- I barely know her. -
- What? Who? -
- Mother. -
The silence re establishes itself for a long minute.
- You mean… -
- She was almost never there, and when she was, she was… I don't have a word for her. I know I was supposed to love her, but I don't think I ever even knew her enough to even like her. -
William puts his hand on his face. Again, the awkward silence dominates the room, with only the muffled sounds from Caleb's room being heard. Dustine grabs William's shoulder.
- You know… You kinda remember me of my father. He was so lovely and joyful with me and my brothers that I never felt unsafe around him. I thought it would be ok if I came out, but… Well, I got kicked out.
What I'm trying to say is that you're beloved, maybe not by her or anyone that you met in your childhood or teenagehood. But you are here now, you have friends and family now. A real family, one made by love. I think you're amazing to be honest. -
William takes her hand of his shoulder and hugs her. Dustine remembers when they have met each other. Something similar to the under-dragon incident happened 4 years ago, but in a way smaller scale. Because of her position on the W.B.F. she was supposed just to help civilians, but she heard a noise, sounded like someone asking for help but in a way she couldn't understand. She fought against Sarah, a C ranked at the time, to go and check it.
The mine was fragile, but she found him with quite ease. William was barely conscious, completely naked, covered in wounds and blood holding something covered by a cape with all his force. She tried to pick him up but he screamed in agony and bitted her on the shoulder, but he passed out shortly after. She took out the three silver rings she was wearing and dropped them on the ground, right before picking William up and running away as fast as she possibly could until the mine completely collapsed.
Back to the present, Dustine hugged William back but right after they stopped hugging she notices there is a bandage on William's face.
- What is that? -
- This? It opened back. -
- You should get a better diet, it's probably the lack of nutrients in your body. -
William gives Dustine a smile and they continue to talk about less deep things until Blair and Caleb appear with Blair proudly showing how she teached Caleb to draw.
In Vanleven, an engagement party is happening, but one of the bride's brothers doesn't want to attend. The father tries to take him out of his tower but as the door is locked from the inside, he breaks it and throws it on the ground, entering and searching flying inside the tower, just to find him sitting in his office. The son quickly hides his communicator.
- We are going to Norma's engagement. -
- What if I don't want to? -
- You are coming anyway. -
- It's just an arranged marriage, it's not that important. -
- Your sister is engaged to the crowned prince of Vanleven! -
The father grabs his son by his neck and brings him closer.
- Listen here, Norman: Your sister is the only decent thing that came out of that pregnancy so you better at least pretend you care about becoming part of the royal family. You are the oldest son, the heir of our family, but if you weren't such a disappointment, you would probably have gotten a decent fiance instead of that idiot that can only be used to continue our family bloodline. -
The father drops him to the ground while Norman coughs. He stops at the door, not looking at his deception.
- You better be ready to leave in five minutes. -
- I am not the oldest son… -
- He is dead. Stop being delusional. -
The father leaves while Norman stares angrily at him, determined to prove himself right.