Shady

“Yes, please!”

“Yeah.” More tears dribbled from her eyes and she wiped them away shakily.

“And how do we pick that?” Aashi asked curiously.

Tadaaki smiled kindly, glancing around. “I’m afraid we’re Southerners and don’t know much about this custom. What should we know?”

Ky looked down at her hand with a wince; the knuckles were split open and bleeding. “I swung first.” And it was unforgivable.

“There’s nothing brave about violence,” she sniffed, wiping her face and shaking her head. “I’m no better than he is.”

(It’s a stupid song that gets stuck in my head but it has a line “oughter be” and Myna persistently gets it stuck in my head lol) Aeron smiled modestly. ...

Talia nodded. Ky wiped at her face, finally glancing over at him. “I don’t know what came over me; I’m so sorry.”

“Yes sir!” He dipped his head with a smile. Aashi rubbed her belly. “We hear you’re the best in the business.”

“Yep! This is Tadaaki, Aashi, and Tasia.” She patted the little girls head. “Hello!” Aashi gave a little wave and smile. “Hello.” Tadaaki nodded to him and offered a hand.

“Oh, absolutely! Life of the party right here,” he chuckled. (I am expecting the answer to be no but have you heard the song “me want bite?”)

Talia shivered. A shudder ran through Ky. Guilt. Sheer guilt.

“Yeah! Everyone loves finding an excuse to eat and drink,” he laughed. “…I don’t know that we’ve got any planned in the short term, though.”!

“Whoa!!!!” Tasia began running around. “Tasia!” Tadaaki said sharply, stopping her in her tracks. “Stay with me. And don’t touch anything.” She pouted but shuffled over to him. Ky led ...

Talia grimaced. “He’ll definitely notice… eventually.”