Despite never having actually told York where I lived, the portal he had cut open for us in the cemetery conveniently opened up right outside my front door. I would ask about it later, but for now I was focused on getting what I needed.
"Nice place." I hum at York as I walk through the living room and towards my bedroom. I had lived here since I'd left home, so I'd had a while to make it my own. It was only a one bedroom, but I had been quite happy here.
I had bought a giant TV for the living room, along with an oversized couch that I fell asleep on more often than not. I liked the art on vinyl records, so I had my favorites on the walls everywhere. It helped cover up the awful oatmeal colored walls anyways.
I wasn't a messy guy, so everything was pretty dust free, even now. There wasn't an embarrassing pile of week old dishes in the sink either, and I had scented plug-ins in almost every room so the place didn't smell stale yet.
I open my bedroom door, quickly moving towards my dresser. I pull the hoodie I'm wearing off, and grab one of my gym shirts, a long sleeved one. It was even tighter now that I'd grown a little. I pull the hoodie back on and move towards my closet. I had a sock in there somewhere stuffed with cash. I wanted to buy at least one new outfit for myself, as weird as that sounded. I just felt like I was in someone else's clothes right now, which I technically was. And I just wasn't a jeans guy. I had worn them in the past to work every once in a while, but I literally own one pair. I grin in victory when I find the blue sock stuffed with at least five hundred dollars behind my laundry hamper.
"This is where the magic happened, yes?" I back out of the closet quickly, glaring at York, who is currently flopping down on my king size bed. He sprawls out and starts doing snow angel motions. I stuff the sock in my back pocket. Maybe I can convince him to take me somewhere now. He seemed to be enjoying himself, so it was safe to say convincing him to go on another side quest wouldn't be too hard.
"I didn't bring girls here. I don't like people in my space." I emphasize, raising a brow as York wraps himself up in my black comforter like a burrito.
"I find it hard to believe you never had a girlfriend. You must've been a great person in your last life, because you were very blessed in this one." I scoff a little, turning away from him to look at myself in the full length mirror I had next to my dresser.
I looked like me, but not. The mask really did help, and only then do I even realize I'm still wearing it. I pull it down, staring at myself in the mirror.
"...?" My head snaps to the left, where I hear a voice say something in a foreign language.
"Holy shit." I hear York gasping, and I can hear him leaping up from my bed.
But I can't look away from the person in front of me.
"Jazzy…?" I mutter, turning towards my sister, who is standing, pale and shell shocked looking in front of me. "Why are you…" Suddenly something is yanking me back by the hoodie, choking me in the process. I struggle against the pulling, my eyes locked on my sister's shocked face.
I want to talk to her, so bad.
I want to hug her.
Let her know I'm okay, and that she can live her life guilt free and happy.
But I'm being pulled out the now smashed window with York, who is flipping me over him so he can pull his katana out of his back.
I look up towards my apartment's four story window as we fall, glass shimmering around us in the sun, locking eyes yet again with my sister. She's watching us fall, her eyes horrified looking.
I feel York grabbing my hoodie again, and we fall through the hole he's created, and crash through onto the hard rock ground below.
"Zero? York? What happened? Are you okay?" I rolled off of York, who I had landed on top of.
"Yeah, we're good." I answer, leaning down and grabbing York's hand to help him up. He looks a little confused, but takes it and lets me help him.
"You're… not mad?" He asks once he's up and I still haven't attacked him like he seemed to think I should be doing.
"Why would I be?" I furrow my brow.
"Your sister…"
"Your sister?! You were talking to her?" Aster sounds more than annoyed. I quickly shake my head.
"No. No, not at all. We left the funeral and I wanted to go to my place to grab this." I reach into my back pocket and pull my money sock out. "And for some reason my sister showed up. Maybe one of the neighbors called her because they heard us in there, I don't know. York grabbed me and we escaped, just like he was supposed to." I nod firmly. My heart aches. I wanted to talk to her so fucking badly.
But I knew I wasn't allowed to.
I hope she didn't recognize me. I had called her Jazzy. Shit. I shouldn't have done that.
"I see." I glance at Aster, who is watching York, who is looking at me like I was crazy.
"I told you, I am not an overly emotional person." I nod again, turning then. "Were there any more tests we needed to do today?"
"Just a vision and hearing test." Aster mutters sheepishly. "But they can wait if-"
"Good. I'm going to give that obstacle course another go. I have some steam I need to let off I think." I walk off then, towards the hallway I know the training room is down.
"Sure." Aster mutters.
Neither of them follow.