"Stop following me," Emily said, sitting on a park bench as Blue hovered around.
"Oh, what a coincidence," Blue smiled. "We meet again, for the third time in a single day."
He sat beside her. Emily paused, her gaze drifting toward the children playing, not on slides or swings, but glued to their phones and tablets.
She shook her head in disappointment. These brats. Why come to the park if you're not going to play on the slides?
"It's a wonderful day for a coffee, don't you think?" Blue asked.
"It's a wonderful day for my first murder," Emily replied, her tone flat.
"Ouch," Blue chuckled. "And you say I'm the hooligan?"
"Excuse me?" Emily glared at him. "What are you implying? Am I a hooligan?"
"No, I'm just…" Blue pointed toward the sky. "Look, UFO."
Emily chuckled, frustrated. "Grow up, will you? Even children don't believe in UFOs."
"Why not?" Blue shrugged. "We do fight aliens. There's always a chance to see one or two around."
"Whatever. Just don't talk to me," Emily muttered, storming out of the park.
Blue followed her casually, as though nothing had changed.
The city hummed with activity as Emily walked briskly, Blue trailing behind with effortless swagger. She shot him a side-eye but said nothing, her mind preoccupied with the weight of Alex's engagement, an uninvited thought gnawing at her.
"So," Blue began casually, "how's the whole 'not-talking-to-me' thing working out?"
"Not great," Emily muttered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Still haven't figured out how to make you go away."
"Oh, I've got a secret technique," Blue said, grinning. "It involves not talking about UFOs for an entire hour. Magical, really."
Emily shot him a look, but despite herself, a small laugh slipped out. "You're hopeless."
"That's why you keep me around, right?" Blue's grin widened, his casual charm working its magic. "So... what's going on with you? You're walking like someone who just lost their last spoonful of cereal."
She glanced at him, hesitating for a moment before looking away. "It's just... Alex. His engagement. I... don't know how to feel about it."
"Ah," Blue nodded, pretending to ponder deeply. "Was he your ex? I get it. I also lost it when my girl dumped me for getting kicked out of school."
"What?" Emily paused as a hologram flickered by a nearby building, nearly scaring Blue out of his skin. Emily smirked. "You're not as tough as you look."
"It's just... these damn things keep popping up right in my face," Blue muttered, still wary of the dissolving hologram. "Anyway, tell me more about Alex. Who is he? What does he do?"
Emily shook her head. "I don't want to."
"You sure? I might help you to kidnap him and force him to marry you instead," Blue said, casually kicking a stray soda can toward the trash can. "For the right price, of course."
"Really?" Emily arched an eyebrow. "And what do you want from me?"
"How about five minutes of your time?" Blue winked. "A coffee or tea might cover the bill."
Emily rolled her eyes, more quietly than she intended. "You're really... annoying."
"So?" Blue stopped walking, looking at her with an exaggeratedly serious face. "It's just around the corner."
Emily sighed, her annoyance softened by the strange, unexpected comfort of his presence. "Fine. If it'll make you leave me alone, why not?"
"Awesome," Blue grinned, taking the lead. "My lady, this way please."
They continued their walk, a strange truce hanging in the air. Emily, still tangled in her thoughts, found that the world didn't feel so heavy with Blue beside her. For a moment, the city didn't seem quite as overwhelming.
--
Tyson's eyes lit up the moment he saw Nancy walking through the entrance of the Rogers mansion.
She greeted him with a warm smile as he approached her. She was here for the Rogers family dinner, invited personally by Edward Rogers himself.
"I thought you weren't coming," Tyson whispered as he reached her.
"I wanted a change of air," she replied, her gaze meeting his. "And I couldn't say no to visiting the famous General's house."
"Oh, so you're here to admire the General's mansion," he teased, his lips curving into a playful grin. "Not to be with your boyfriend?"
Nancy smirked and took his hand in hers, "You could say that," she teased back before softening. "I'm kidding. I wanted to be here—with you."
Tyson smiled, pulling her a little closer. "Are you feeling okay now?"
She nodded, "I'm fine now… It feels good to let go of the burden I've carried for so long."
Tyson understood exactly what she meant. For years, Nancy had believed her father wanted her to continue his legacy. But when she wasn't chosen to host a Meta-bot, she had convinced herself she was unworthy, a failure in fulfilling her father's wishes. What she hadn't fully realized until recently was that her father had never wanted her to be part of these battles at all.
"You're doing just fine," Tyson said gently, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Nancy's smile deepened, and for a moment, the weight of her past seemed to melt away as she stood beside Tyson in the grand Rogers mansion, surrounded by the warmth of family.
"Hi! I'm Seraphina," a voice chimed in. Nancy turned to see a radiant woman approaching, her smile warm and genuine. "It's nice to finally meet you. Tyson's told me a lot about you."
Nancy shook her hand, trying to hide the flicker of awkwardness she felt. "It's nice to meet you too," she said but her mind briefly recalling how jealous she used to feel at the mention of Seraphina.
Indeed, Seraphina was every bit as beautiful as Tyson had said. But now, knowing she was Alex's fiancée, there was no need to be on guard anymore.
"Tyson's talked about you as well," Nancy added.
"Oh, really?" Seraphina raised a playful brow. "I hope it wasn't about how I'm always teasing his already foolish brother."
"Hey! I'm standing right here!" Alex's voice called out as he descended the staircase, a smirk on his face.
Seraphina bit her tongue dramatically as Tyson chuckled.
"Nancy, right?" Alex greeted her with a nod. "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Nancy replied, her tone polite.
"Alex, honey, I didn't see you there," Seraphina said, grabbing his hand. "Are you ready for dinner?"
"Aren't we supposed to be the ones asking you that?" Tyson quipped, folding his arms with a grin.
"Nah, I'm practically family," Seraphina declared with a wave of her hand. "Let's go, Nancy. I'll show you around."
Before Nancy could respond, Seraphina had already taken her hand and led her through the mansion with infectious enthusiasm. She navigated the fortress-like mansion as though she knew every nook and cranny by heart, narrating little stories about each room with a confident flair.
Nancy followed her initial hesitance slowly giving way to a surprising comfort. Seraphina's energy was magnetic, and for the first time that evening, Nancy felt like she could truly enjoy the moment, leaving behind her worries for a while.
Edward sat at the center of the massive dining table, the polished surface reflecting the soft glow of the chandelier above. To his right sat Alex and Seraphina, while Tyson and Nancy were seated to his left. Before them lay an extravagant feast of dishes, an overwhelming stretch of seafood and delicacies that seemed unthinkable to finish.
"Do you need anything?" Tyson whispered, leaning slightly toward Nancy.
She shook her head, "Do you guys always eat like this? It feels like a royal banquet."
Tyson gave a faint chuckle, lowering his voice further. "What? No, this is... kind of a first."
Nancy tilted her head,"Really?"
"It's the first time we've ever sat down for dinner like this," Tyson admitted, his voice softening.
Nancy's smile faltered as realization dawned. "Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something personal."
Tyson shook his head quickly. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing." He glanced at Alex, his tone taking an edge. "Besides, it's that idiot's fault. He never wants to sit with us."
Alex smirked from across the table, his sharp hearing catching Tyson's words. He didn't bother to respond, though his smirk suggested he wasn't oblivious—and that he didn't care, either.
Nancy smiled faintly at the dynamic, sensing both unspoken tension and a familial bond woven through the teasing exchange.
"Nancy Winters," Edward's voice broke through the hum of the dining room, carrying a calm yet unmistakable authority. "How do you know Tyson?"
Nancy straightened in her seat, her fingers lightly brushing against the edge of her plate. "We're in the same class," she replied with a hint of nervousness.
She couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. Meeting Tyson's guardian had put her on edge, though she suspected Tyson was just as uneasy.
Earlier, he had quietly suggested she skip the dinner if she wasn't feeling up to it, almost as if trying to shield her from this very moment. But she had insisted on coming—she understood what he was feeling all too well.
It reminded her of the first time Tyson had visited her home, meeting her mother. She could still remember the awkwardness in his posture and the hesitation in his voice. But for Nancy, this meeting felt different. She had met Edward before—on the day Tyson lost control.
"Do you love my son?"