Shady

"That's good." Tasia nodded and glanced back at Gaius. "Can we go get mine and Baby Raina's heartboxes now?" (I just randomly remembered she was doing that so gonna give ...

"As a human."

"I... admit it's not quite what we were, um... expecting, sir," Talia said with a nod, still not quite sure what to make of it all. And it was fucking ...

"Can he read?"

"Thank you, sir." She nodded to him, obediently sitting down even though she didn't want to in the center chair still directly in the center of attention. The other girls ...

"Hmm..." Aeron glanced at them then away. "Are you proud of yourself, though?"

"Is he gonna bring more flowers?" Tasia wanted one.

They both shook their heads as well.

Aeron grinned, glad he'd pegged them right and nodded. "'course."

Talia had a little pang of fear, afraid that she'd made the wrong choice by admitting the truth. She wasn't allowed to say goodbye anymore? She wished she wouldn't have ...

"Where is he?" Tasia asked.

"And sometimes you are," Aeron said with a chuckle and a shrug. "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do... or person. Whatever."

Talia hesitated, not sure if she was supposed to admit the truth. But she tentatively shook her head. sir. He got taken with the rest of us."

Tasia giggled at that.

"Yes sir." She nodded timidly.