Shady

“Even so. Home is a straight shot, not all the way to the Capitol. Why would he allow that if he’s not allowing this?”

“Nononono please ! Please sir! Please.” He followed after them but it was pleading not threatening. “I-I talk easier than she does,” he offered. “I promise. She’s — she — ...

“I already told him what I wanted,” she said quietly. “It’s hard for me to do that. To ask for favors. And he said no anyway. He doesn’t care what ...

“ I don’t know! ” Tadaaki pleaded, looking him in the eye. “I swear it. I-I-I don’t. I…” He looked at Bay and shuddered, then looked back at Ash. “You ...

“Sara said she’d talk to him,” she answered quietly.

Tadaaki stared at him like a deer in the headlights. That… how did that not work? Was he accusing him of lying about lying?

“If I’m not allowed home I’m not allowed on a road trip,” Ky said dryly.

“I-I…” that was a very good fucking question. He didn’t think fast enough to think up a good excuse so he settled for the first thing that came to mind. ...

“I’d like to meet them some day,” Ky mused.

“No!” Tadaaki was panicking now. He knew better. Panic never ended well. And yet. Ky was going to be punished for his inability to keep his fucking mouth shut. “It’s-it’s ...

“But Tomhas and Anneke wouldn’t have adopted me if so,” Ky countered. “And that’s assuming they figured the gimmick out. We pretended I was an employee, not a slave. You ...

He took a step backward, looking at him in alarm. Godsgodsgods- “Nothing, sir!” He shook his head quickly. “We-we are looking for respite, nothing more. I-I- it’s- there’s not- we’re ...

Gaius. Gods, what a terrible thing for her to think. “Any of the others?” Ky offered. “He could have easily gone with one of the other noble families up here.”

“…no sir…?” he looked at him hesitantly, feeling like a kicked puppy. Ky wouldn’t have cut him out. He was sure of it. Unless she’d thought she would be able ...

“He wouldn’t have,” Ky said. “Aleth chased money; there’d have been no money to be had up here without a war… I’m just glad he got a contract with your-our ...