"What... Are those..." I asked, completely baffled.

"Battle suits," Huck proclaimed very proudly. "These are my babies and I am their papa." He walked over to the grotesque looking suit and patted its arm. They were huge. At least two and a half metres tall, all made out of brown iron. A metal net was covering where the heads of the people steering them would be.

"Don't ever refer to yourself as 'papa' again," Dy said and joined Huck in front of one the suits. "So, how do they work?"

"Do you really wanna know, or do you wanna know what they can do?"

Dy snorted.

"Thought so. They have a maximum speed of 40km per hour. So they're awesome for speed. And then they have these built in weapons. Like this big-ass gun." He patted the arm. Or what was probably supposed to be an arm. Instead it looked more like a canon.

"They can crush a person if they hit true."

"I think they are scary," Barr murmured and glanced down at me. "I think this Huck is crazy."

I couldn't help but smile. "You're right about both."

Both Barr and I approached the suits with more caution than Dy and Huck.

"So what I'm thinking is these babies will be what gives us an edge."

"How long have you been working on these?" Dy asked and ran her fingers over the massive gun-arm.

"A couple of years, give or take. The first one didn't work properly, so I kept working. Anyways, I sent the blueprints to a friend at the factory here and they mass produced them. I mean, they started when the explosion happened in Andahavn. I don't know. I had a bad feeling about it and so did my friend."

"Who's this friend then?" Dy glanced down at her friend.

"Uhm, he's just a friend."

"Uh huh. Then why are your cheeks all dark?"

"They're not!"

Dy circled her arm around Huck's neck and brought him close, grinding her knuckle into his head. "Tell me who it is so I can ask him out on a date for you."

"Dy! No! Let go!"

Another person entered the factory but neither Dy nor Huck noticed. He was a very large man and Barr's eyes widened in awe. He grabbed my arm and kept staring at the man.

"Is that one of your mythical creatures?"

"Uh, no. I think that's just a regular lad." I glanced back at the man and waved a little at him.

"Hey, I heard you guys were here. Looking at Huqqa's creation, huh?" He smiled and came to us, holding his hand out. I grabbed it with my metal one and he looked down, his smile widening. "Damn, no matter how many times I see Huqqa's work, I'm always amazed. That's a piece of art."

Dy and Huck had realised we had company and they detangled themselves. Huck was smoothing down his hair almost furiously and Dy came up on my other side, putting her arm around my shoulders.

She sent a pretty challenging look at the newcomer and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. As if the guy was even remotely interested in me. He seemed a lot more in love with my arm.

"Regin, hey... I was just showing my friends the suits," Huck said, apparently done struggling with his hair. It was pointing in every direction as it always was. But he straightened his back and kept his shoulders back.

"They're incredible, aren't they?" Regin asked and smiled at us, nodding towards the suits.

"They're definitely something," Dy murmured and pulled me a little closer.

"Hi, I am Barr," Barr said and smiled, holding his hand out towards Regin. Regin regarded the blue-black hand Barr was holding out before he shook it. "Did I do it right this time?" Barr asked and looked back at me.

"Yeah, that was perfect."

Barr was a moron. It was very clear. But there was something about his naive innocence that made me wanna protect him with every fibre of my body.

"I'm Regin. It's really a pleasure to meet you all. Huqqa has told me so much about you."

I glanced up at Dy. "Who's Huqqa?"

"Huqqa is Huck's actual name. He doesn't usually go by it though."

"It's nice."

Huck must've heard me because he glanced at me and smiled. "You can call me Huqqa then."

"Does that mean I can too?" Dy asked and smirked.

"When I can call you Dina."

"Never."

"Exactly, bitch." He smiled widely, showing that gap between his teeth.

All refugees were giving hangars to reside in. Dy's and Huck's family all lived closely together in a tent-like construction made of blankets. Just to get a bit of privacy. It was cosy and reminded me of when Quinn and I would make blanket forts when we were little.

And sleeping there had been nice. It was just nice to not sleep outside on the ground, to be honest. It was warm here and soft. I got a proper pillow.

Huck's parents were so nice. Neither had ever been interested in mechanics. His father worked in the mines with Dy's father – whom I finally met – and his mother had a little convenience store back in Aatskina.

"We honestly don't know where he gets it from," his mother, Iiluuna, laughed and smiled fondly at her son.

"He was tinkering with mechanics before he turned two. At four he had dismantled the radio and fixed it, so the reception was better," his father, Oqi said, and proudly patted Huck on the back.

"So it was a calling," I said.

"You could say that," Huck said with half a shrug. "I just like to figure out how things work and then improve them. Machines always makes sense."

I glanced up at Dy sitting next to me. "And what did you do?"

Dy chuckled. "I wanted to be a crime fighter. Always."

"She never talked about anything else. We couldn't get her to even sit still for dinner. She had bad guys to catch." Makaja rolled her eyes and sighed deeply.

"And she always forced me to be the bad guys," Huck chimed in and shot Dy a tired look.

I couldn't help but smile. Nothing was more cute than the image of little Dy and little Huck playing. I bet Huck had been fat when he was little. And the minute he started growing, he got that skinny.

While sitting here, I realised the only person in this entire world who could tell things from my childhood was Quinn. And I was the only one who could tell stories from his. We were so alone when it came to family. I got a little jealous at Dy and Huck. Dy had amazing parents and then a smaller sister named Juuli. Huck had the cutest parents who just supported whatever made him happy. And then of course his bigger sister, but she wasn't there. She was with her own family in a nearby "tent."

It was touching to get to observe, but it also left me hollow. I had had such a big family. Two brothers and two parents. And now one brother was left, but he was caught what seemed like a world away. And I hadn't seen him in almost a year.

I pushed the envy down and just enjoyed the dinner. Hot food and good company. What could really be better?

I yawned and scratched my hair, pulling back a blanket. I had just been to the toilets and it was way too early for me to even stand. Or apparently find back to what was Dy's and my "room."

Huck screamed and hurried to grab a shirt, covering up his chest. "What the fuck, Al!"

"I'm sorry!" I hurried to say and was about to leave, but I stopped.

His chest was wrapped in bandages.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, just..." He groaned and pulled me inside, pulling the blanket back so it covered the opening. "I'm not hurt. And I need help. I wrapped it too tight and now I can't get the damn knot to loosen."

I swallowed something and nodded. I was relieved. I didn't want him to be hurt.

I gently tried to loosen the knot, but it had gotten really tight. He had probably been pulling on it like a mad man.

His back was tense as I struggled with the knot and I looked up to find his jaw set just as tight.

"Huck-"

"You really don't have to say anything," he interrupted and looked down, catching my gaze. "If it's just gonna be some dumb question, I'd rather you just didn't."

"No, I was about to ask for scissors, actually."

He loosened up a little and walked over to his satchel, rummaging through it. He came back with a pair of scissors and handed them to me. He put it in my hand and then covered my hands with both of his.

"I'm sorry," he murmured and met my gaze.

"No, you don't have to apologise."

"I just don't like questions." He let go of my hand.

"Totally fine."

"But uhm... I can tell you things, right?"

"Of course, we're friends. And you gave me an arm. I'm in like a life-long debt to you now."

He smiled. "And it only cost you and me an arm."

I snorted and nodded. I got Huck to sit down on a stool, while I knelt on the floor, so I could better see what I was doing.

"I uh... I really like Regin. He's really nice. But uhm... I thought I only liked women."

I moulded that over for a moment and made a 'hmm' sound. "Does it matter he's a man?"

"I don't know. Do you think it matters?"

"I mean, I don't care. My brother has only ever had boyfriends. And my oldest brother had a girlfriend. Don't think he liked men like that."

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

"No, I don't like men like that." One piece of the knot finally got loose, but it just showed there was another tight knot under it. "Dammit Huck, you really got this knot tightened."

"Yeah, I don't wanna have to adjust it during the day. Or have it fall off." He shrugged a little and I hit his bare shoulder for moving.

"He's just... Like really hot. And I don't wanna make things weird because we work really well together. Not to mention, we're in the middle of a war." Huck sighed a bit dramatically.

"We've in the middle of a war for as long as I've been with Dy," I pointed out. "Sometimes the timing is just not very good. But it's not like you should limit yourself, even though there's a war. You can multitask."
"And... Do you think... This is an issue?" He tapped the bandages.

"If Regin is half-decent, then no. It wouldn't be a problem for me. You know, if I were into men."

Huck looked over his shoulder and smiled. "That's reassuring."

"Hey, it's not like physical stuff matters to me. Well, I say that, but I definitely have a type. I like tall girls." I snorted.

"And Dy is very tall. I've always been so jealous of her. Why did she have to get that tall?"

I finally got the knot untied and the bandages loosened.

"Shit, it's like I can breathe again," Huck groaned.

"Do you want me to help you?"

"Uhm... Yeah. That'd be great. I usually have a mirror so I can see what I'm doing, because I always end up with the knot in the back, but yeah. I don't have a mirror here. And it's hard to get it even without one, you know?"

"I guess. You could also sow something tight that you could just slip on, then you wouldn't have to bind it like this."

He slapped his forehead hard. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because I'm really the innovative inventor here? And because I actually wear brassieres."

He laughed out loud and lifted his arms, so I could wrap the bandages around his chest. We were quiet for a bit while I worked, and then he looked down again.

"I'd never let Dy do this."

"How come?"

"She'd find it weird. Like seeing her sister naked."

I snorted. "I can understand that. I wouldn't wanna see Quinn naked."

"I wouldn't let Dy do this," he repeated quietly.

I bopped my head from side to side. "No, I probably wouldn't ask Quinn to help me bind my corset or anything either."

"A corset? Really?"

"Yeah, I used to wear only dresses. And I used to hate them. But now I miss them. I miss feeling like a girl. I wanna feel pretty and I kind of... Don't."

I finished and then put the knot on top of his ribs, so he could easily reach it when he needed to get it off again. "Is it too tight?"

"No, it's perfect."

I gave him a nod and prepared to leave, but he very softly cupped my cheeks with both of his hands, stopping me.

"You're very pretty, Alvina. Like ridiculously pretty. It made me super nervous. It still does."

I circled my arms around his neck and pulled him to me, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Huck."

I didn't know how much I had needed that. I mean, I had Dy telling me all the time, but it was just different when it came from him. I knew Dy liked me. She loved me. Huck didn't have anything invested in me like that, so he didn't have to compliment me. He really didn't. But he had and it might've been vain of me, but I just really appreciated him for it.

"Okay, now this feels weird," he said and pulled back. "I need to get a shirt on."

"Oh yeah." I nodded and turned around, giving him a little privacy to get dressed. "I'm sorry I walked in on you. I really didn't mean to."

"So you didn't wanna see a little skin there? I bet you've been peeking several times."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You make me sound like such a perv."

"Maybe you are. Hey, who am I to judge. Anyways, speaking of peeking, I need to check out your arm anyways, so good thing you totally by accident stumbled in here."

I rolled my eyes. He'd never let this down, I was sure.

Dy found us in Huck's "room." He was hunched over his little desk, fixing some things in in my arm. Apparently, the thumb needed to be changed and some of the finer details needed to be mended. He had gone into details about it, but I had long forgotten what he said. And I didn't understand it anyways.

"What are you guys doing this early?" Dy asked with a yawn and dumped down next to me on Huck's bed. She lied down on her back, her head resting on my thigh and closed her eyes.

"I needed fixing up, apparently," I said and smoothed my hand through her hair. She for once didn't have it up in a messy bun on the back of her head and I loved it. It was longer than I remembered. It touched the bottom of her back and it was stark black, thick and very straight. I envied her so much for her hair. It was so beautiful.

"You need regular maintenance. Otherwise you might be out and about and pop! There goes your arm. Or movement in your fingers. It can be very frustrating."

"I bet," I murmured and Dy opened her eyes, smiling up at me. "Has that ever happened with your leg?"

"Oh hell no. I take very good care of my leg." He turned around and pulled his pantleg up, showing off his mechanical leg. "See? It's pristine."

I nodded and then grimaced down at Dy when he turned back around again. I had no idea what to look for in a pristine leg.

And then Barr found us. He smiled very widely and then walked over to the desk, hovering over Huck.

"I like your machines. They are very scary," he said, giving poor Huck a heart attack. Or it looked like it.

"What is it with people just creeping up on me today?" he exclaimed and shooed Barr away from his work.

Barr looked a little hurt and I held my hand out to him, offering him a seat next to me. He sat down but still looked a little hurt.

I leaned in so I could say something only he could hear. "Tell Huck about the dragons."

"Oh, that is the friend that got bitten by a dragon?" Barr asked loudly.

Huck turned around and widened his eyes. "Yes! Yes I did!"

"I believe you. Dragons have a temper. They do not like people." Barr pointed to his bird, who seemed like it had just made a nest on top of his head. Why he was pointing to his bird? It seemed odd.

"I told you, Dy! I told you!" Huck pointed very accusingly at Dy and she turned her head, opening her heavy eyes.

"Yeah, sorry about that, mate. Apparently, dragons are real, according to Barr."

"He's a damn spirit, he'd know if there were dragons," Huck growled back.

Dy shrugged and turned her head back the way it had been positioned before, closing her eyes again. She fumbled for my hand, which had slipped off her head and put it back into her hair. I snorted and went back to playing with it.

"I have a dragon here." Barr pointed to his head again.

We all widened our eyes and looked at the bird on his head.

"That's a bird," I said slowly.

"Oh no, they look like birds because of the feathers. But this one is gonna grow up to be a big dragon one day." He smiled and picked the bird or... Dragon... Off his head and petted it with his finger. "At least a metre tall I reckon."

Huck very slowly came closer and knelt down in front of Barr, looking intently at the bird-dragon.

"Where's its teeth? The one that bit me had big teeth."

"They grow in when this little one grows up." Barr smiled and held the dragon out to Huck, so he could get a closer look.

"It doesn't look that scary."

"It is not right now. It will be later, I reckon. I like dragons though. They are always kind to me."

Huck glanced up at Dy and me and then back at the dragon. "What's its name?"

"It can't tell me yet. It is too young. It will tell me when it is ready." Barr smiled and put the dragon back on his head. "For now I call her Baby."