Shady

(Fully up to you! I don’t know what you have planned. I’m down for whenever you wanna do it) “Um…” No. She wasn’t remotely sure. The only thing she was ...

“I…” She sighed, turning back towards the table in at attempt of seeing how close he was to being done. “…no, it’s okay… I don’t want to interrupt your meal…”

Her legs locked. Fuck. “…I forgot about that.”

That was all the permission she needed. “I’ll see you all later,” she murmured, nodding to the table then starting for the door.

Ky nodded, but didn’t move to sit back down. She felt so sick now; she needed to throw up. Is that what Gaius was doing? Gods.

“Oh.” She let out a breath of relief, relaxing ever so slightly. “Good. Me too.”

She sprang up, too. Her stomach felt bad. Turns out the anxiety didn’t help the nausea at all. She looked at Tadaaki for help. He seemed concerned by her distress ...

“Wait, no, I’m sorry!” She was blushing profusely, too anxious to realize he was joking in return.

Ky smiled a little in return and asked playfully, “what do you mean? I was talking about Gaius…” she pulled off the delivery, but then instantaneously was swallowed by guilt ...

Ky nodded in agreement, then hesitated. “Well… the system sucks. Not all of the players.” Just most.

“Yeah,” Ky said flatly. “…I think it more has to do with rulers not wanting laborers to get too skilled, lest they have the resources to emigrate. They know that ...

“As if that’d stop them,” Ky scoffed, smirking mirthlessly. How idealistic. She’d been able to read when Makata took her; some good it’d done.

Tadaaki returned the smile. “That’s good of you.”

“We do appreciate the offer,” Tadaaki said, looking at Tomhas. “It’s extraordinarily kind of you.”

Aashi and Tadaaki had no idea if they were okay with it. It very much felt like preying upon his kindness. But also it wasn’t as though he couldn’t afford ...