The room buzzed with infectious cheer as they munched on the cupcakes Beryl pulled from her backpack. Though squashed into crumbs, they enjoyed picking at them from their wrappers, savoring every bite.
"Proxima and Con will be upset if they find out about this," Beryl said, her words muffled by a mouthful of crumbs.
Leora chuckled. "We won't hear the end of it," she said, her gaze shifted to Bitu, who was nibbling on a chunk of cake. He met her eyes with a playful, almost taunting grin and popped the rest into his mouth. She slipped off her shoe, pretending to throw it, making Bitu flinched.
"Who are Proxima and Con?" Varo asked, intrigued.
"Oh, you're going to love them! They're the cutest and most awesome twins ever," Beryl replied with a gleeful smile.
"They're the youngest members of the family," Leora added, gathering the wrappers to dispose of them.
"They're only twelve, and they can do amazing things," Beryl said, pinching Varo's cheeks playfully.
They spent the next hour laughing and enjoying each other's company. The afternoon sunlight cast a warm glow over the room, simmering with soft heat. To Varo, this was the most blissful he had felt in a long time.
Leora stood, the laughter fading as a calm settled over them. Her gaze shifted to Varo, then to Beryl, who sprang to her feet as if on cue.
Varo looked at them curiously. The girls seemed thrilled, their excitement barely contained. He turned to Bitu, who shrugged, feigning indifference.
Beryl rummaged through her backpack, her movements making Varo more curious. In the past hour alone, she had pulled out cakes and a fun card game he still didn't fully understand.
"There it is..." Beryl exclaimed, pulling out two wrapped bundles of clothing. She held one in each hand, smiling. "Which do you prefer?"
Varo turned to Leora, surprised.
"Pick whichever you like," she mouthed silently.
Beryl laid the bundles on the bed, carefully unwrapping them. On the right was a tunic and breeches similar to what Varo had been wearing, though of noticeably higher in quality. On the left was a black gakuran-style jacket with gold buttons, paired with sleek black trousers—almost uniform-like.
Bitu stepped closer for a better look.
"I thought you'd like to have your old clothes back," Leora said with a gentle smile.
Beryl pouted, giving Leora a playful glare. "Well, this," she said, pointing to the gakuran, "screams progress and awesomeness. Surely you don't want to wear the clothes you died in," she teased with a mock salesman tone.
Bitu tutted. "Too far."
Varo chuckled. He had spent enough time with them to realize that dark humor was Beryl's thing. He looked at the clothes as a calm breeze spiraled through the room. Although they were having fun, there was deeper meaning behind the garments.
Beryl and Leora waited eagerly for his decision. Even Bitu, pretending not to care, seemed invested.
"I'll take both," Varo finally said, lowering his head, uncomfortable with the spotlight. "I want to move forward while also accepting the past."
A quiet hush fell over the room. Varo raised his head slightly to catch their reactions. Leora smiled warmly, but Beryl's expression was unreadable.
"I told you he'd pick both," Leora said, turning to Beryl.
"Boo," Beryl scoffed. "Why choose one when you can have both?" she teased.
Varo sighed, relieved. When she put it that way, it made sense.
"Alright, now that that's settled, let's leave the room so Varo can change," Leora said.
Varo frowned. "Am I allowed to leave?"
"Of course. We'll just need to fill out some papers," Leora replied.
His face fell into worry.
Bitu noticed and approached him. "Is something wrong?"
Varo hesitated, glancing at their concerned faces before sighing. "The doctor said I'm not leaving until she finds out why I'm still alive."
"Ink," Beryl muttered under her breath, her tone dark.
Leora sighed. "Ink always did act irrationally," she said, walking over to Varo and taking his hands. "We're concerned too, but more than that, we care about how you feel."
Varo smiled at her. She's really living her dream.
"We'll handle Ink," Leora reassured, turning to leave. Bitu and Beryl followed. "Now get dressed."
The door closed behind them, leaving Varo alone. A sense of ease washed over him as he began removing his hospital gown. Standing butt naked, he hesitated, staring at the clothes.
Damn... I still have to pick one, he thought, lingering on the decision.
A knock at the door interrupted him. "Take your time, princess," Beryl teased from the other side.
"In a minute," he called back, smirking.
Excitement bubbled in Varo. He was finally leaving, free to walk the streets. With no slave mark and a new family, his future felt open. He flung the door open, stepping out with a broad smile. "Let's go," he said.
"You really are who Leora described," Bitu said, amused.
Leora hid her smile, Beryl smiled almost laughing. Beryl's smile faltered for a second, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Was it doubt? Pride? Varo couldn't tell.
Varo had paired the gakuran jacket with the breeches—a mismatched but an oddly endearing combination that left them speechless.
---
The hospital was smaller than Varo had imagined. As Varo passed the bathroom, the sensation of freedom settled over him. No more chains. No more marks. Just possibilities. His heart swelled with a mixture of relief and apprehension. What lay ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, it felt like his choice."
They made their way to the reception desk. The reception desk was small, with stacks of worn papers and a faint smell of antiseptic lingering in the air. The waiting area had faded chairs and a soft hum of distance, there was also a guard at the exit siting idly, making the place feel both welcoming and clinical.
Bitu and Beryl settled into the waiting area while Leora handled the paperwork.
The kind nurse, hurrying past, stopped when she saw them. Smiling warmly, she greeted Leora.
"We'd like to take custody of Varo. He's been deemed healthy," Leora said.
"Of course, just fill this out," the nurse replied, retrieving a form after searching for Varo's folder and handing it to Leora.
Leora began scribbling quickly as Bitu watched from a distance.
Varo approached the nurse. "Thank you for taking care of me," he said sincerely.
Her green eyes softened, glistening with warmth. "It's my job, dear."
Leora finished the form and was about to hand it. A voice, soft yet filled with authority, sliced through the room.
"That boy isn't going anywhere."