Chapter 73: But Why Should I Care

Forgotten, Linkin Park

---

Previous | Chapter Listing | Next

Drake was almost afraid to ask. Most recently, Ezio had been quieter more frequently, and for much longer than usual. Drake had only been there for a few hours, but the silence felt stifling and uncomfortable. Ezio had laid against him, and seemed to have decided he wasn’t moving from that spot. Ezio hadn’t moved, nor said anything.

Drake figured out that he had a habit of overthinking things, and it merely served to work him up into an internal frenzy for nothing. As much as it felt like he should be able to do so, Drake had never proven capable of guessing what Ezio was thinking. In this situation, he should most likely want to ask about it, preferably before his mind ran away with it and came up with a thousand conspiracy theories.

He was afraid to ask. Some of the things in Ezio’s head, he didn’t always want to know. On the other side of the coin, he didn’t ever want to be left in the dark. The things in Ezio’s head were important to him, just as Ezio always insisted that the things in Drake’s were important to him.

At some point, he must have started fidgeting. Ezio looked up at him, pulling away from him just slightly to see him better. His head tilted just slightly to one side. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Drake shook his head. “It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he said.

Ezio was quiet for a moment, and then he let a breath out and raised an eyebrow. “It’s nice to talk about these things,” he said, “you know? Besides that, I do care.”

Yes, Drake knew that. Ezio always did. That was likely a good bit of what had drawn him to Ezio in the first place. Even as the rest of the world was ugly and broken, Ezio had a beautiful heart. And thinking of it, he imagined that was what had drawn Jean to him, too. Drake tried not to think too hard about things like that. It wasn’t like he wanted to understand Jean.

Ezio was nothing if not stubborn, however. He wouldn’t let it go until Drake had said something. “I’m just thinking about the house,” Drake said, one shoulder rising in a shrug.

Ezio didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t challenge what Drake had said either. He nodded instead. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s on my mind a lot. How are we ever going to repay Kassander?”

Drake asked himself that, too. For as long as Drake had known him, Kassander had always been the sort to give sudden grandiose, and unexpected, gifts. They were always things people really had a need for, but when he did these things, he never wanted anything in return. It was strange to Drake back when they’d first met, and it was strange now.

“I don’t think he wants anything in return,” Drake said. He understood the want to repay him, but he’d never known Kassander to accept such things.

“If you say so,” Ezio answered. He shifted around in Drake’s arms and laid back down. “He seems the type I guess.”

Drake shrugged. “He does,” he said. “Though it goes against everything people usually expect from him.”

Ezio snorted. “Yeah, he’s kind of intimidating,” he said. “I think your crush’s dad is supposed to be intimidating. I wouldn’t know, I don’t make a habit of having a lot of crushes.”

Drake glanced down at Ezio’s hair. “Kassander called himself my dad, too,” he said. “It’s odd to hear you repeat it.”

Ezio looked up at him for a moment, and then settled back down. “Of course I did, though,” he said. “Kassander adopted you a long time ago, didn’t he? It’s always been Kassander that’s here when you need someone. He took you in, taught you things where I couldn’t, and got you standing on your own. He taught you how to defend yourself, how to control your vampire abilities. Kassander’s always been your dad, Drake. Maybe you’ve never called him that, but he certainly acts in that capacity.”

Drake supposed it was possible. He had no idea what a father was supposed to be like. After all, he’d never had one. Drake’s father didn’t claim him, whoever he was, and Jean had never operated as one. He’d never known Ezio’s father either, nor had he gotten familiar with anyone else’s.

This was all strange to think about, but he supposed Ezio was right.

Ezio sighed, raising his head and resting a hand on Drake’s cheek. “It’s okay,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know what a father is like. It doesn’t mean anything that you don’t.”

Drake wondered about that. Ezio remembered it, when Drake had been Matheo and their lives were very different. Drake still didn’t know why it was that Ezio was so willing to stay with him. Logically, Drake should’ve been the last person Ezio wanted to associate with, and if at any point Ezio had walked away from him, Drake would’ve understood.

“What’s wrong?” Ezio asked.

Ezio would know better, so there was no point in pretending there wasn’t anything on his mind. How did Ezio always end up seeing right through him? “It’s just that you seem different around me,” Drake answered with a shrug. “I guess you’re quieter. It feels like I’m upsetting you.”

“What?” Ezio asked. He shook his head. “Drake no, it’s never anything like that. It’s just that-” Ezio went quiet, his words trailing off. As he chewed on his words, his grey eyes narrowed in thought.

Drake was used to this. Ezio often thought about what he said for a long time before he said it. If he needed the time to think about it, Drake could spare it.

“I don’t show that side of me to just anyone, you know,” Ezio said eventually. His tone stayed even and steady. “I trust you with that side of me. I trust you with the me that isn’t entirely okay, and maybe spends a little too much time in his head. You give me peace, Drake. I’m sorry that I lean on you so much, it’s not fair-“

“No,” Drake interrupted. “It isn’t unfair. Or, I guess to some people it’s not fair, but I like being able to help, even if only a little.” Anything he could do to make Ezio’s burden a little lighter was worth it to him.

Ezio’s expression saddened. “You shouldn’t have to keep dealing with it,” he said. “It isn’t fair of me to keep asking you to. I still don’t understand why you’re still here, after all this time.”

“I told you, didn’t I?” Drake answered. “I chose to say, because I chose you.” He always would.

It was hard, of course it was, watching Ezio fall apart a little more every day and not being able to do anything about it. All Drake could do was hold his hand through it. Drake had accepted a long time ago that Ezio was going to leave him someday, whether because he changed his mind and left, or because his mortality finally won. Sooner or later, Drake would be alone with only his memories.

Drake didn’t want Ezio to be alone too, and Morgyn was terrible at staying. It was funny, wasn’t it? It was Morgyn that should’ve been here through all this, Morgyn that should’ve been here for Ezio. Instead, Ezio only had Drake. Morgyn had other problems now, to be fair.

Still, that couldn’t have been enough. Drake was never enough.

“I love you,” Ezio said. “So much so that it hurts sometimes. I know that you may not ever understand why. I just hope that you know it, instead. You’re the light I use to find my way home.”

* * *

What had always been striking about this place was how much Roman architecture had made it into its design. Given who Kassander was, it wasn’t surprising, but it did add to the foreboding and unwelcoming impression it made. Kassander could often give off the same impression. It was rare that Drake saw that side of Kassander, but he was aware it existed.

In thinking of it, Drake realised that Kassander had never been harsher with him than was necessary. It was almost as if he had a soft spot for him, just like Ezio had said. It still didn’t make any sense to Drake, but it was possible it wasn’t meant to.

“Hey,” someone said from one side. “Look who it is! Haven’t seen you around in a while.”

Drake turned to look towards the sound of the voice, but it wasn’t anyone he recognised. It didn’t mean anything. There were a number of people that lived and worked in this complex, and many of them Drake didn’t recognise.

The restaurant was a part of a larger complex of buildings all connected together. If Drake remembered correctly, you could reach one building from another by following tunnels underground.

The complex was protected by a half-technology, half-magic security system called Apollo. Kassander had begun creating it sometime before the start of World War I. Drake was around for that, and had seen a lot of the work that had gone into it, but he didn’t entirely understand what Kassander had done. He supposed he didn’t need to, but it was a curious thing.

It wasn’t surprising that there were others in this complex that recognised him. The Drago di Napoli remembered those that were theirs. Kassander did, too.

“Kassander’s upstairs,” someone else said from the other side. “Just head up there, he probably knows you’re here already.”

Yes, most likely. Kassander had a strange knack for knowing things long before he logically should. Drake had never asked about it. Okay, he hadn’t asked Kassander, at least. Sandalio had simply smiled at him in that way that said he knew something no one else did when Drake had asked him.

Drake murmured his thanks, turning and heading up the staircase. The restaurant, called the Leones et Lupi, was the business-front for the Drago di Napoli. Ever since Drake had known about them, they operated halfway as a vampire coven, and halfway as a mafia.

As far as Drake was aware, they’d been mistaken for the Sicilian mafia a few times. That wasn’t right. If anything, they were more the Roman mafia, and most would tell you that didn’t exist.

Mortals knew nothing.

Drake made it to the top of the stairs, and then turned to the right, following his instinct. Finding Kassander was never so hard, because there was always something that led you right to him when you got close enough. Kassander was a lighthouse for vampires. They found him, quite easily, even when they weren’t looking for him.

Turning a corner, Drake headed into a room to one side. As he suspected, Kassander was there, playing with a Jenga set made of crystal. Drake wondered how Kassander managed not to break it. A Jenga set made of crystal seemed like a bad idea.

Drake tilted his head. Kassander carefully set one of the crystal blocks onto the tower that he’d already built, finishing the structure.

“Don’t breathe,” Kassander said with a smirk. “You’ll knock it over.”

Drake didn’t think it was possible to knock the tower over by simply breathing. That was probably the joke. “If you say so,” he said.

“Of course I do,” Kassander said. “You have a bit more effect on things around you than you think.”

Drake looked perplexed, but he didn’t expect that to make any sense. Kassander often said things that didn’t immediately make sense, but were rather intended as things you were meant to think about.

He wondered about what Ezio said, about how Kassander was in effect his father. He wondered if he should ask about it. The more he thought about that, the more daunting the idea became. He’d wait.

“How long have you been doing this?” Drake asked instead, narrowing his eyes.

Kassander laughed quietly under his breath. “You don’t want to know,” he said. “But you are here for a reason, yes?”

Yes, he did have a reason for being here. Sometimes, it was nice to just talk to Kassander, too. When had he started feeling comfortable around him? Maybe it didn’t matter.

Instead of saying anything about that, Drake smiled softly. “I just wanted to say thank you,” he said. “For the house, and the help paying the hospital bills. You didn’t have to, we would’ve figured it out.”

“Of course you would’ve,” Kassander said. “That wasn’t ever a question. But it was just as easy for me to simply help you out. You don’t need to worry about things like that right now.”

Maybe he was right. It didn’t make Drake feel any better about it, but he also knew that arguing with Kassander was an exercise in frustration. “You’re right I suppose,” Drake said. “I just feel like we’ve incidentally taken advantage of your kindness.”

Kassander raised an eyebrow. “It isn’t as if you asked me to,” he said. “I decided to on my own. This certainly doesn’t constitute taking advantage of someone.” Kassander had that look in his eyes he got from time to time. It was indescribable, and Drake had never figured out what it means.

“If we can repay you in any way,” Drake said, “just let us know.”

Kassander smiled. “I consider the fact you’re here payment enough. It’s been a while since you came by.”

It had been. That was primarily because Drake had been caught up with other things. Now that he was here, though, he realised he’d missed it. “Since I’m here,” Drake said, “I was hoping to make a reservation at the Leones. Ezio, Cassandra and I were planning on a night out together, when he’s released from the hospital.”

“Speaking of which,” Kassander said, “do you know when they intend to release him?”

“They’re thinking a week or two,” Drake answered. “Ezio’s busy doing physical therapy, and learning to work with his leg brace and his wheelchair at the moment.”

Kassander frowned. “How’s that going?” he asked.

“It’s going,” Drake said. “Ezio likes to pretend that he’s not upset, but I can sense it. I think Cassandra can, too.”

“That wouldn’t be surprising,” Kassander said. “Considering she comes from a long line of seers and mediums, I would be more surprised if she couldn’t sense it.”

Drake nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “Ezio started to teach her how to manage being a necromancer, but I don’t think he got too far. I don’t think he can help with the seer thing, though.”

Kassander smiled. “I could help with that,” he said. “But more importantly, you three were going on a date. Though, I have a better idea, if you’re willing to humour me.”

“What’d you have in mind?” Drake asked.

“Don’t worry about it too much,” Kassander said. “All you need to do is be here Friday night or Saturday. Bring a few changes of clothes.”

Drake made a face, looking confused. Kassander simply smiled, and Drake thought better of asking for clarification. Doing so was always an exercise in frustration.

Kassander and his secrets were going to be the end of them all.

* * *

“How is he doing?” Drake asked.

Cassandra looked up from what she was doing as Drake came in. She shrugged slightly. “I haven’t been in there recently,” she said, “but he seems to be stable at least. Troi said they’re going to start on walking tomorrow. I’m not sure how Ezio’s going to take it.”

“Neither am I,” Drake admitted. It was hard to predict, especially given Ezio’s moods were awfully chaotic anymore.

Cassandra frowned. “I guess we’ll see,” she said. “I hope it turns out a lot easier than he thinks it will.”

Drake snorted. “He does tend to build up these monsters in his head,” Drake said. “But I do the same thing.”

“I was going to say,” Cassandra said, “I don’t think it’s fair of you to judge him for that.”

“I don’t think I could judge him if I tried,” he said. “He’s never judged me. It would be a poor way of repaying him for that.”

Cassandra smiled. “How’d the visit with Kassander go?” she asked.

Drake released a breath. “Better than I was expecting it to,” he said. “Somehow. I wasn’t expecting it to go badly, it’s just-” He was unnecessarily nervous around Kassander, now that Ezio had pointed out Kassander may as well be his dad. That was strange to think about. “Anyway, Kassander had another idea for our date.”

“Oh?” Cassandra asked. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know,” Drake said. “He said we should show up Friday night or Saturday with a few changes of clothes.”

“That’s an odd request,” Cassandra said.

“Yeah,” Drake said. “I was thinking that myself. I was going to ask him why exactly, but asking would be pointless. Kassander doesn’t tell his secrets until he’s good and ready to, if ever he reaches that time.”

“He sounds like a headache,” Cassandra said. “You know, the good kind.”

Drake snorted. “I wasn’t aware there’s a good kind of headache.”

“Sure there is,” Cassandra said. “Much like how Ezio is the good kind of headache.”

That was true. Ezio could be a bit of a headache, but he was always the good kind. It was the kind of headache that Drake never wanted to be rid of.

“I’m worried,” Cassandra said.

Drake raised an eyebrow. “Why?” he asked.

“Ezio’s just so quiet,” she said. “I know you said that’s how he deals with upset and hurt, I just feel like there’s more to it. I can’t stop worrying about it.”

Drake nodded. “I know how that feels,” he said. “Every time he does this, it worries me too.”

“You’re the paranoid one,” Cassandra said, smirking. “Of course it does.”

“Thanks,” Drake said. “That makes me feel loads better.”

“I’m not sure it was meant to make you feel better,” Cassandra said.

At least she was honest. Drake glanced over at Ezio’s room door, and then looked down at the floor instead.

Cassandra reached over and patted his hand. “It’ll be okay,” she said. “We just have to get him through this rough patch. Things will get easier from there.”

Drake wasn’t so sure he believed that. There was a limit to how much someone could handle before it all became too much. Ezio had been toeing that line for some time now. If anything else pushed him just a little bit further, Drake was afraid that Ezio would give up.

He didn’t want to tell her that. Cassandra didn’t need to think about things like that.

“Yeah,” he said. “I guess it really is that simple.”

“Of course it is,” Cassie said. “Have you figured out the move?”

Truthfully, he hadn’t been thinking about the move. There were plenty of other things to worry about that were ostensibly more important.

“Not exactly,” he said. “I figured we would figure that out when we got closer to Ezio’s release.”

Cassandra smiled. “Yeah, that’d be easier I guess,” she said.

Drake thought it would. Or perhaps he simply didn’t have the mental capacity to fit it in there right now. That was possible.

“Everything’ll work out,” Cassie said.

The hard part was believing it, in both the conscious and subconscious ways. Drake tried to pretend there was nothing to think about. He tried to pretend that things were normal, and maybe somewhere along the way, they’d start to feel that way too.

“Did you want me to go talk to him?” Drake asked.

“I don’t know,” Cassie said. “If there’s nothing wrong and I’m being paranoid, I don’t want to annoy him. But maybe someone should talk to him.”

“He doesn’t tend to talk about things until he’s ready,” Drake said. “I mentioned that before. It’s possible that even if someone does talk to him, he won’t say anything.” It was likely, even.

“I know,” Cassandra said. “Or at least, I figured that out.”

“You could always ask him yourself,” Drake said.

“I don’t think he’d talk to me,” Cassie said.

Drake snorted. “I wouldn’t be so sure,” he said. “Ezio cares about you, too.” One had to be blind not to see that. Drake knew it. He’d known it for a while, but it wasn’t like Ezio had been trying to hide it, either.

“I know he does,” Cassandra said. “But caring about someone and being willing to talk to them about things, those aren’t inherently inclusive of one another.”

He couldn’t argue with that. She was right. He knew it. “All the same,” Drake said, “I think it’s worth a try. There are things he doesn’t want to tell me because of who exactly I am. It’s possible he’ll tell you some of those things.”

Cassandra frowned. “That seems weird,” she said. “Backwards? You two have so much more history than we do.”

“Exactly,” Drake said. “That’s why, sometimes, he can’t talk to me about things. Because there’s too much history between us. It’s the same with me. There are things I can’t tell him for the same reason.”

Cassandra seemed even more confused, but Drake figured she might.

“It’s okay if you don’t get it,” he said, smiling slightly. “It’s complicated even for us. Just know that, depending on the subject matter, you may have a higher chance of getting him to talk to you than I do.”

Cassandra smiled slightly in return. “I can try,” she said. “But I can’t really make any promises.”

“I wouldn’t suspect you would,” Drake said.

* * *

She was getting better at this. Morgyn was sort of jealous. Between learning her magic from Morgyn, Liberty was also learning from the book her mother had given her. Morgyn had seen it once or twice, but hadn’t spent a lot of time looking at it. It was in Chinese. Morgyn didn’t read in Chinese.

Morgyn had intended to stay in magic realm, but eventually felt like it was unfair. Morgyn wasn’t sure what to do about Melanie, though. She was right, and Ezio needed Morgyn now more than ever. Whatever it was Ezio was getting into could be even more dangerous now that Ezio had gone and gotten himself injured this badly.

This wasn’t what Morgyn was hoping for, but it was better than what Morgyn was afraid of.

Today, Liberty seemed interested in talking about something else. Usually, when they met up like this, they’d talk for a bit about magic and the sorts of things she’d learnt from the book. This time, though, they were talking about a sword.

Of all the things Morgyn had been expecting to have set on the table, a sword was nowhere on the list.

“Mother says it’s a special sword,” Liberty said. “It’s supposed to do something fancy, and it’s presumably pretty powerful. But I don’t know how to use it. She said if anyone can figure it out, it’d probably be me. That feels like a lot.”

Morgyn smiled. “I believe that,” the ginger said.

“I’m glad you two have faith in me,” Liberty said. “I think she might’ve been reaching a bit far for that one, though.”

“I don’t think so,” Morgyn said. “You’ve proven very intelligent so far. I have no reason to think you can’t figure this out at some point or another.”

“I feel like I should be insulted, and I’m not sure why,” Liberty said.

“Maybe I worded that weirdly,” Morgyn said. The ginger tended to word things weird.  “Anyway, the point is, I think you’ll figure it out eventually. The thing about magical artefacts is that they tend to keep their secrets to themselves. At least, until they’re ready to reveal them. Usually in the most dramatic fashion possible.”

“So, it could take me forever to figure this out?” Liberty asked.

“Something like that, unfortunately,” Morgyn said. “In the meantime, it’s probably looking for something. Or waiting for something.”

“Like what?” Liberty asked.

“I’m not sure,” Morgyn said. “I don’t know anything about Chinese magic, and even less about Chinese enchantment and how it works. I’ve never needed to know that before. All I know is Chinese magic is some of the oldest magic in the world, and there are things even spellcasters in China don’t know about it.”

Liberty didn’t seem to like that response, but Morgyn didn’t have a different one. Morgyn had heard stories of varying objects, some of which were weapons, enchanted for specific purpose. The problem was that Morgyn didn’t know what that purpose was, nor did the sage have any idea how to activate these objects.

It was a question of whether or not they could unravel the sword’s mysteries, and perhaps a little of whether they were meant to or not. Morgyn wasn’t concerned with the sword, but Liberty seemed to care a good deal about it. It was possible the sword was the last bit of her family’s legacy remaining, besides the book. Of course that would mean a good deal to her.

“One thing at a time,” Morgyn said. “You will figure it out someday.”

“I’d like that to be today,” Liberty said.

“Yeah, I’d like a miracle too,” Morgyn said, raising an eyebrow. “But I’m fresh out.”

Liberty snorted. “How are you and Caleb doing?” she asked.

Morgyn had been ignoring that whole situation. It wasn’t how you were meant to deal with situations like that. But it was less stressful, and Morgyn needed to focus on what the sage knew how to deal with.

“I haven’t thought about it,” Morgyn said with a shrug. “We haven’t spoken in a few days.”

Liberty frowned. “You’ll need to talk about it if you want to solve it,” she said.

“I know,” Morgyn said. “And now you’re going to tell me to go talk to him, right?”

“If you already know,” Liberty said, “there’s no point in me saying it. But, you probably should talk to him. It’s hard to work things out if you don’t voice what’s in your head.”

“I think that’s the problem,” Morgyn said, glancing away. “I don’t really know what’s in my head. How can I explain to someone something that I don’t even understand myself? I don’t even know why either of us is so upset!”

Liberty tilted her head. “It’s fair,” she said. “I just think the silence is causing trouble for you. Maybe tell him that you’re not sure what to tell him. Ask him how he feels.”

“Is that even allowed?” Morgyn asked. “Saying I don’t know what to say?”

“Of course it is,” Liberty said. “I’m sure he probably just wants to hear something from you, rather than trying to figure it out in his head. I know things are hard right now Morgyn. No one’s going to expect you to do something you can’t, but I think you need to be honest about that inability. Caleb doesn’t know these things. He’s not in your head.”

Morgyn sighed. She was right. But everyone that knew anything about Morgyn knew the sage had trouble wording things. After so long of them knowing each other, it just seemed right that Caleb would automatically know that. Morgyn had so many feelings, and understood not a single fucking one of them.

“Sometimes,” Morgyn said, “it feels like Caleb thinks I’m just making excuses when I say I don’t know what to say.”

Liberty frowned. “Maybe,” she said. “But the only thing you can do in that situation is be honest and hope that he believes you. You can’t make him change his mind, any more than he can change yours.”

Morgyn knew she was right. But it didn’t make this any easier to deal with. What was worse was that even when Morgyn didn’t try to talk about all those emotions, it was still difficult to put things to words. Often, Morgyn just gave up. There was no sense talking about anything if Morgyn couldn’t come up with words to explain it.

That was probably why the sage never liked talking about feelings, or even thinking about them. Morgyn never had words for them.

“Caleb asked me out,” Morgyn said, “this Saturday.”

“That’s your opportunity,” Liberty said. “Time to tell him how you feel.”

Morgyn nodded. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

* * *

Morgyn was so nervous. There was every reason to be nervous given Caleb seemed to need solid answers, something more stable and less one-sided than things were between them, and Morgyn had nothing to offer. As far as Morgyn was concerned, remaining in magic realm would’ve been a better idea. If things had turned out the way the sage wanted, Morgyn would still be there, likely rummaging through books on dusty shelves and trying to figure out what Ezio was up to.

Some would say that Morgyn had bigger problems to be concerned with. If Morgyn lost Ezio, then everything else was a mere footnote. Certainly, the sage tried not to make it obvious, but Morgyn depended very heavily on Ezio, even now. Maybe that was unfair, just like it always had been, but Morgyn didn’t need Ezio any less.

The ginger had tried on about seven or eight different dresses, a few things that weren’t dresses, before finally deciding on one. Then it was another 20 minutes before the sage figured out what makeup style to go with, how to manage the reddish-gold mess of waves. Making decisions for this was more difficult than Morgyn imagined it might be, but typically the sage had Ezio to help.

Morgyn didn’t want to bother him for this. Ezio had plenty of other things to worry about, and Morgyn didn’t want to put more on him. But sometimes, it still felt like Morgyn was falling apart.

Fiddling with a sleeve, Morgyn wondered when the last time they’d gone out was. Thinking of it, the ginger had no idea. Morgyn didn’t tend to think about it, and time had gotten away from them all. The sage thought it’d been some time now, at least. Maybe a few months.

Caleb was waiting. Morgyn didn’t want to make him wait for too long, but neither was Morgyn in any particular hurry to get there. All the same, the red-head backed away from the mirror, smoothing the dress down one more time, then turned and teleported.

As Morgyn stepped out of an alley, idly fiddling with a bracelet, it only took a moment of scanning the crowd to find Caleb. He wasn’t as dressed up as the last time they’d gone out, but somehow he still managed to make Morgyn feel underdressed. Maybe anything would, now. Morgyn never felt like the ginger had enough clothes on.

“Hey,” Caleb said, as Morgyn came up to him. “I was starting to wonder if you’d stood me up.”

Morgyn ducked slightly. “I’m sorry,” the sage said. “I spent a little too much time fussing with what to wear.”

“You could’ve worn just about anything,” Caleb said. “I’d be happy with it. It doesn’t matter what you look like.” Gently, Caleb raised one of Morgyn’s hands and kissed the back of it. As Caleb lowered their hands again, a flash of pink went off as the morganite sparkled in the light.

“I worry about strange things sometimes,” Morgyn said. Particularly now, things suddenly meant something even when they didn’t before. It was vexing. It was difficult to adjust around. Between that, Morgyn’s chaotic moods, and the strange cravings, even simple things were more difficult than normal.

“Okay,” Caleb answered. “Shall we go in, or do you want to stay here for a while?”

Morgyn’s head shook. “Going in sounds fine,” the ginger said. It felt strangely exposed out here, and Morgyn wasn’t sure why.

Caleb smiled, gently leading Morgyn into the restaurant. It wasn’t anything fancy, at least not any fancier than they’d been going to originally. Caleb was particular about his restaurants, and didn’t tend to make reservations at restaurants that weren’t at least somewhat classy.

This restaurant had a pianist in the back. The entryway was covered in red carpet, featuring stairs that went down on either side into the dining areas. The bar was on the right, with the bulk of the dining room to the left. Another staircase led up onto the balcony to one side. Behind the host was the kitchen, and a small lobby.

Caleb went up to the host, informing them of the reservation. Within a handful of minutes, they were taking a seat at the table and handed menus.

Morgyn sat down, carefully tucking the dress beneath the sage’s legs, and looking over the menu. Caleb cleared his throat. Morgyn looked up at him.

“I really am glad you made it,” Caleb said. “I was afraid you wouldn’t have time around everything else.”

Morgyn smiled. “Of course I was going to make it,” the ginger said. “You asked.” Morgyn would do just about anything, if Caleb asked it. Even come back from magic realm before the sage had intended to, it’d seem.

Caleb glanced down at the table. “It feels like we’re falling apart,” he said. “I’m not sure what I even feel anymore.”

Morgyn’s eyes narrowed, and the sage looked down at the table, too. “I’m sorry,” Morgyn said. “I’m just upset, I think. I’ll get over it.” Of course, Morgyn was upset with none other than Morgyn. Unfortunately, it tended to express in strange ways, but Morgyn’s emotions generally did.

Caleb frowned. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” Morgyn said. “But I think I should, at least, about a couple things.”

“We don’t have to talk about it right now if you don’t want to,” Caleb said.

Morgyn’s head shook. “I want to talk about it,” Morgyn said. “If I try to ignore it, even just for now, it becomes too easy to ignore it forever.”

Caleb’s head tilted. “Okay,” he said. “Then what did you want to talk about?”

“First,” Morgyn said, drawing in a breath, “I wanted to apologise again. I’m still not very good at this feelings thing. It seems like I keep messing everything up, like I can’t do anything right even if I’m trying. It feels like I always say the wrong things, even if they sound right in my head, and I’m sorry for that.”

Caleb was quiet. Morgyn wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to say or not, but maybe in this situation, nothing was really correct anyway. It was stupid. Every time Morgyn tried, everything only ended up worse.

“I’ve forgiven you, you know,” Caleb said. “It’s okay.”

No, it wasn’t. That was a stupid thing to argue about. Morgyn decided not to even say it. The idea was not to ruin this date, unlike everything else Morgyn kept ruining.

“Caleb, there’s something else,” Morgyn said. “And I don’t want to tell you this right now, but it’s another situation of if I don’t, I won’t ever tell you at all.”

“What’s that?” Caleb asked.

Morgyn paused, taking a deep breath in, and let it go. “I’m pregnant.”

Previous | Chapter Listing | Next