They had long since abandoned their boxes parked in the back alleyway of shops in the luxury district. Their path was straight through the shadows of Niveal and into Stumbler's row. Ava hadn't really remembered where Marian's was or what it looked like but Oceane knew. She lead them through the streets like she was a local.

If you have navigated one street in Niveal drunk, you could navigate all of them sober.

That is what Morgana and Cooker used to say when they were here last. They mentioned it multiple times, mostly because they had forgotten they had said it in the first place.

It was close to the docks near Stumbler's row, a prime location for business. Oceane took them to the back entrance and they stopped before going inside. They both paused for a moment before looking at each other with confused looks. There was no music, no chatter, no indication that anything was going on inside the tavern.

"They're gone? Did we miss them?" Ava asked, putting her ear to the door.

"We won't find out until we get inside," Oceane tried the handle but it was locked. She frowned and tried again but it didn't work.

"Hold on."

Oceane dropped down, pulled a pin from her pocket, and fiddled with the lock. They were waiting for a while, it was a bit windy and the cloak on her was little protection from the slightly chilled air. She rubbed her hands together as she watched Oceane struggle with the door.

"Cooker once told me I would make an ass of myself if I ever took up lockpicking as a hobby," Oceane put the pick away and stood up, "yet, I tried. Clearly, I didn't pick up much."

"We made it this far yet a locked door has stopped us," Ava found some humor in their situation.

"Also, Marian's being empty is an obstacle," Oceane noted, "we don't have much time to look for someone who can tell us where Theo might be."

"Maybe they are just sleeping. Or they closed for a break."

"Sleeping or a break at night in Niveal? Unlikely," Oceane tried to reason and Ava knew she was trying to temper their expectations.

"I'm going to go up front, see if I can see anything through the windows," Ava started walking but Oceane held her back.

"You are the heir to the Vaith estate now. The likelihood that people take notice is high, even if you all dressed up as a proper deckhand," Oceane let her arm go as she walked toward the edge of the building, "be right back."

Ava was alone.

For the first time, she was truly alone. She would have taken a deep breath of relief but she was in the back alleyways of Stumbler's Row; it smelled of shit and rotting food. She wasn't left alone in her thoughts for long, the back door to the tavern opened.

Ava spun toward it to see Oceane on the other side, a cheeky smile proudly on display.

"Sing my praises, Red," she reached for Ava's arm and pulled her inside. Ava took a moment before closing the door to pull off her wig, throw it into the dirt outside, and adjust her hood. Then, she entered.

"How did you get in?" Ava looked around but it was dark and only the lights from outside the windows provided any relief.

"Praises," Oceane requested.

"You saved us from shit alley," Ava laughed but she felt a twist in her gut at the fact that everything was empty.

"The front door was open," Oceane revealed.

The twist only worsened.

"Do you think they're gone?" Ava frowned, "if they did leave, they would at least sell the place, right? Or leave it under someone's management to generate income. That is what Cooker wanted to do to ensure they had money. It makes no sense for it to be abandoned."

Oceane went behind the bar and looked around, "Plenty of bottles back here."

Both of them looked at each other with a hint of worry, maybe they were run out of town. Ava looked over at a table in the middle of the room and walked over to it. Engraved on it were various doodles and initials, proof that the Scorned Woman drank here every night. She traced her hand over it.

Her back was turned to the door when she heard it begin to open. She turned to Oceane who looked just as shocked as she felt. They should've locked it. She motioned her to duck and Oceane followed the command. Ava froze, her hand still on the table.

"If the empty tavern and lack of lights did not hint it, we aren't open tonight," a voice called out as it entered the room, stepping closer to Ava. The voice was unmistakable, "if you have business with me or my crew, we take walk-in meetings in the mornings."

She almost turned around and ran into Theo's arms but that would not be appropriate. And Theo would not react to a hooded figure running at her very well. She heard Theo's footsteps approach and she turned around, bringing her hands up to her hood and pulling it down. Through the small bit of light, she could make out Theo's face and her chest felt light just seeing her again. Every bit of anger she had held had fled her heart for a moment.

Theo looked no different except her hair was cut a bit shorter. Nothing that would have stood out to most but the image of Theo that had been burned into her mind made it easy to tell the difference. Her hair was different, but so was her face. The last time she had seen Theo, there was a large gash on her face, and in its place there now was a scar that ran over her eye. It made her knees weak just seeing what her brother had done. Theo was staring at her in disbelief.

It didn't seem good, or bad. Nothing except shock was registering on her face. Ava couldn't say anything–she didn't know how to speak or even what to say. Instead, she took one step forward but Theo took a quick one back. Ava's chest felt like it was hit with an arrow at the rejection, a slight frown slipping onto her face. They were both still, for just a moment. She took another step forward and this time, Theo only took a half step back. But her hand went to her hip instinctually, hovering over her hand cannon. Ava paused and looked at Theo's movement.

It felt like she was being jostled by rough waves. One minute she thought Theo hated her, then the letters told another story, and now Theo was waiting to shoot. Maybe she was also lied to. Perhaps, Ava was not seen in the best light after being named her father's heir. How would Theo know she was any good or that she hadn't fallen victim to her family's ways? Theo needed reassurance.

Ava opened her hands, showing her palms as she slowly lifted them, then she undid her cape. It fell to the ground and she held out her hands to show Theo there was not a sword waiting for her inside her clothes. She tested how well she had defused the situation, she took another step forward and this time, Theo took one forward too. As she did, she removed her handcannon from her hip and pressed it to Ava's forehead as they came together.

Theo seemed sure of herself, an unwavering stare of intimidation. The mask had come up and Theo was focused on one thing, protecting herself and her crew.

Someone had definitely lied to her.

"What are you doing here?" Theo asked, but the lack of edge in her voice caught Ava off guard.

Her tone gave away a bit of how Theo was feeling on the inside and it gave her hope. Which was not a normal reaction when a handcannon was pressed to her head.

Even though Ava wanted to explain herself, she couldn't. She couldn't find where to start or what to explain first. How would she sell that she was not the villain Theo was probably thinking she was? Her words were stuck. Ava tried to get started on an explanation but Theo's patience had run out.

She heard the click of the hammer and the small bit of hope she had felt was gone. Theo could very well kill her then. It would surely be a blow to the Vaith family.

"Niveal isn't exactly the prime honeymoon spot," Theo pressed the handcannon harder to her forehead for emphasis, "so, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," Ava said, getting the nerve to stare straight at Theo, "we need to talk."

Theo's eyes were looking at hers, darting back and forth searching for some sort of clue that would help her decide whether Ava could be trusted and Ava could do nothing to contribute to the conversation.
"Oi! Get that thing away from her!" Oceane screeched as she popped up from behind the bar.

Theo swung around, pointing the handcannon toward the bar. Oceane ducked.

"Well, keep it away from me too!" Oceane yelled from behind cover.

Theo acted fast, securing the handcannon wouldn't go off and holstering it. The action was one fluid motion that was done as she was taking off toward the bar. Theo disappeared behind it and emerged with Oceane in her arms, squeezing tightly. Theo was facing Ava and she could see the genuine relief all over her body. Her eyes were squeezed shut and half her face was buried in Oceane's shoulder. The grip the captain had on her looked to be suffocating and Ava was almost jealous that she didn't get the same reaction.

Oceane didn't hug back at first but after a bit she did. It was minutes before Theo pulled away and when she did, she turned around to wipe away some tears that she thought no one caught. Ava saw it though and it warmed her heart. Seeing Theo express emotion was a good sign. Theo looked past Oceane for a moment and locked eyes with Ava.

"You got my letters about me looking for her?"

"I did," Ava nodded, "this morning."

Theo looked back at Oceane, confirming it was real and she was alive. Then her focus shifted back to Ava. She looked to be confused as to the timeline of the letters but that was not what she asked about.

"How did you know to find her, then?"

"Luck," Ava shrugged and motioned to Oceane, "Pelas gets the credit, according to O."

"It's not a question this was Pelas' doing," Oceane argued, "it was luck that found me."

Her reverence was ignored in favor of Theo staring at Oceane, trying to process her arrival.

"You're okay?" Theo put her hands on Oceane's shoulders and looked her over, "You look okay. You look great. Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"

"No. No one hurt me. I spent a bunch of cycles in the dark cold cells of Aubermasse but Red found her way to me before I could go too crazy. She made sure to take care of me. I have lived in luxury while barely lifting a finger," Oceane assured then reached out to slam Theo in the arm with the palm of her hand, "and yet you held a fucking handcannon to her head!"

"Sorry!" Theo stepped back, and held her hands up, "I'm sorry. We haven't heard great things over here."

"O," Ava walked over to the patron's side of the bar and reached out over the wood to the other side, tugging on Oceane's shirt to try and get her to back away from Theo, "last she heard, I was taking my father's position. That doesn't make me look non-threatening."

Oceane glanced back at Ava, then turned to Theo, "She has been much too forgiving of you in our time away. Treat her with respect."

"I will," Theo nodded and grabbed her handcannon, reaching past Oceane and placing it on the counter. Then she reached down into her boot and pulled out a dagger, then took the one off her belt and also put it on the counter, "there. No more weapons."

"Where is everyone?" Oceane looked around.

Theo pushed her hair back as she leaned against the back of the bar and took a deep breath, "Well, that has many answers. Gianna just had a baby so whoever is left on the island is in the hospital or at the tavern next door. Everyone else is gone. Setting up a new spot for us to set up base in Aeliz."

As Theo was talking, she had looked over at Ava and it was easy to sense there was a slight hesitation to reveal their plans but she did anyway. Theo looked to not have any more to say. She shifted against the counter and shook her head multiple times. It seemed like she wouldn't have ever imagined Ava would come back. She seemed equally as shocked about Oceane.

"Oceane, fuck, I should have started with this-" Theo stood up, "your brother. He's here. He came looking for you. He's been helping the search."

"I know. You said that in the letters," Oceane said with a large smile, "I'm never going to let him live it down. He cares about me. He came all the way here looking for me."

"He is in the blue tavern a few buildings down, other side of the street. I should have said that first. I'm sorry," Theo apologized again and Ava noted the wild departure from the last time she had encountered Theo, "I think he would love to see you."

"Red," Oceane turned to Ava.

"Go! Go right this second," Ava pointed to the door, "I will fill her in."

Oceane was out the door before either of them could say anything else. She popped back inside before exiting fully.

"Just ask the innkeeper for his room," Theo answered before Oceane could ask, and then the door shut.

Neither of them said anything. Ava didn't avert her stare, it was trained on Theo. The image of Theo in her head was not the same as the person in front of her. Her memory had dulled just how mesmerizing her old captain was. Deep brown eyes stared back at her, even in the dark they seemed to shine. Her rings were large, and ornate, and as usual, she wore them well. She looked tired, like it had been a long sun for her. Ava's eyes kept trailing back to the scar over her right eye, it almost suited her which was a horrible thing to say after the pain she must have gone through to even have a scar that large.
Whatever was going on in Ava's head was not what was going on in Theo's head. She looked to be actively torturing herself over Ava being in front of her. Her frown had grown by the second and she started to twist one of her rings. Finally, her words seemed to catch up to her thought.

"I want to apologize for the way I reacted to your entrance," Theo said.

"Why was that your reaction?" Ava pressed.

Instead of getting annoyed at the question, which is how most of her asks had been answered in the past length, she provided her with an honest answer.

"You ignored my letters, I was hinted that you and Viv were working together, and you were playing into your role at court," Theo shrugged, "at first, I figured it was all lies. The person that told me those things had no reason to be honest. Then, the more news came from Elox the less I could reasonably believe that you weren't..."

"Evil?"

"Working for them without a catch," Theo shook her head.

"So, evil," Ava smiled and sat down at the bar, the weapons still lined up between them.

Theo broke her frown with a laugh. A layer of tension broke away and Ava's grin only widened at the sound of her laugh. It was a startled one and surprise flashed over her face as she registered Ava was being more than just civil– she was being borderline friendly.

"Right. It was hard not to think you had become some sort of Vaith villain," she admitted.

"Did you think I was here to kill you?" Ava asked.

"Might have crossed my mind."

"I'm not. I am supposed to be on my way to a diplomatic mission in Safriti as my honeymoon but that is just my cover for my father. I'm here to recruit you for the revolution," Ava said as she sat up and reached over the bar for a bottle, opening it and taking a sip.

"You've got to be fucking with me," Theo laughed.

"No. Brandon Cooker is with his father right now in a luxury hotel on the other side of the island. His father knows nothing, it's all him. He has come in person, as your requests have made clear was necessary for your cooperation," Ava handed Theo the bottle who seemed too distracted to do much else except take it and hold it in her hands.

"Explains why he is here. What about you?" Theo jutted her chin forward.

"All along, you were right. Vaith is the one name that cannot be dropped. It cannot be ignored. So I am not ignoring it. I have access to the top. Which means that so does the rebellion. But I didn't climb to the top for Brandon to have the power. I did it so I could bring it back to you. You can make decisions I trust. Cooker can make decisions I trust," Ava argued, "I came to convince you to join to do just that."

"I need to see Brandon. I need to speak to him. There are too many unknowns right now," Theo's politician was being drawn out and her stern strategizing voice had emerged. Ava couldn't believe that she was back around her to be able to witness it, "As much power as you have, he seems to be the one calling the shots on the ground and I cannot trust him until I meet him."

"And you will. I am here to try and sell you on it," she assuaged.

"So, sell me on it. Do you think it's worth it?" Theo asked but before Ava could answer, Theo held up her hand to pause and handed Ava back the bottle, "I want to let you know, there are about a million things going through my head and I am just trying to get this out of the way so we can say what really needs to be said. Because I couldn't give less of a fuck about a revolution right now."

That drew a loud laugh out of Ava, she grabbed the bottle and took a swig then put it down, "You've become very bold over the short course of this conversation."

"I believe we've been over this before," Theo smiled with a slight shrug

"The revolution," Ava reminded and held out the bottle for Theo.

"Right," Theo took it and finally had a drink from it, "selling me on it is what you came to do. You've spent time with the man, I'm assuming. Is he worth following?"

"No. He is not worth following," Ava admitted and Theo raised an eyebrow, not expecting that answer. Ava shrugged, "but his revolution is worth joining."

"So, you're saying it needs work and I should be the one to put in that work," Theo clarified, with a bit of a challenging undertone.

"Everyone will be putting in work. I think your role is to shape and guide that work. Not only you. Cooker, Xyra, and the dozens of fighters and strategists that you surround yourself with," Ava explained, "I didn't come here because he recruited me to come in hopes you would come around. He said he was coming to see you and I forced him to find a way for me to come. That is because I don't think anything he could say would get you on board. I am here to deliver the request to meet with him because I need you to hear him out."

"I still haven't gotten a solid answer as to why I need to take an audience with him and eventually join the fight," Theo crossed her arms and leaned against the counter near the back wall of the bar, "Revolutions fail. Rebellions falter and get hung up on small details and implode. Insurgents are hunted down until the insurgency crumbles. It's a pattern and I would be driving my people straight into that doom. We already lost enough taking on The Center the first time."

"Things are different this time, Theo," Ava shook her head, "I know you have read up on it more than I have but I spent a half cycle in The Vaults looking at banned books about revolution. I haven't seen a more perfect time to do it."

Theo clicked her tongue to the roof of her mouth and sighed a bit. She stared at the bar in front of her for a moment, thinking through whatever carousel of thoughts was spinning around in her head. Ava watched as she pushed her hair back and finally looked up.

"We have yet to see such a perfect set of conditions for revolution to happen," Theo shook her head and closed her eyes, "that fucker is always right."

"Cooker?" Ava guessed.

Theo nodded, "It's like she has the power of visions or some bullshit. Always has these conversations with me right before they become immediately relevant."

"And she's right."

"I know she is but even if it's the best opportunity anyone will ever have, that may not be enough to secure the victory," Theo debated, "it's not up to me though. It's up to the crew."

"So, you will hear him out?"

"I will."

"Good," Ava nodded then laughed, "if you had said no, I would have been really fucked. He's not too happy with all the demands I've been making. I also guaranteed him you would say yes to joining, so I'm not in the clear yet."

"Lots of risks you took to get here," Theo noted with furrowed brows, "but you didn't get my letters until recently. You knew I would receive you? How?"

"I had no idea. I just needed to find a way to you, no matter what the reaction would be when I got here," Ava shrugged.

"Because of the revolution?"

"Because I just needed to see you again," Ava picked up the bottle between them yet again and took a bit more for herself, and cleared her throat after she swallowed. She brought them back on topic, "I haven't been told much about the revolution. I'm sure I will be clued in when you are. Or after. I have to prove myself, I think that comes in the form of delivering you to meet with them."

"Any insight as to who he is as a person?"

"I haven't gotten a good read on him. Entitlement for respect is there, but it makes sense given he is at the head of this thing," Ava crossed her arms, "I pushed him, a lot, and he snapped a few times. But, you know how I can get."

Ava said it and it was a loaded statement. She didn't realize it until it left her mouth but Theo's lips turned up into a slight smile.

"Aye, I do know," Theo teased.

"It'll help that I managed to get you to agree to show up but even then, don't think Brandon is my biggest supporter," Ava shook her head, "he also ignored my advice about not bringing Vivexa in. As of four suns ago, she knows about the purpose of the trip, the rebellion, everything. He said it's better to have her on our side than against us and she will double team until it's time to pick a side. Less risky than letting my father have her all to himself."

"Unfortunately, he's right," Theo crossed her arms.

"I hate it when men are right," Ava joked, the alcohol beginning to creep up on her.

Theo matched the joke with a laugh of her own and there was this feeling between them, tentative and unable to be named. Ava for the first time in so long felt at peace. Whatever was waiting for her on the other side, whatever outcome the trip had, whatever was to come with her father, the time she had already spent at home were all put to the side. All that mattered at that moment was that she had made it and Theo was smiling at her with the same warmth in her eyes that she had always had for Ava.

"That's all that I have for you. I will be looped into the rest when you are," Ava shrugged, "anything else we need to touch on?"

"Your time at home?" Theo prompted, seeming to be getting through a list of must-have discussions before getting to the part they both wanted to talk about.

Ava frowned, "I played the role. I went to the events, I did the socializing, I listened to what was told to me, and I became my mother's perfect daughter. Well, as close to it as I could reasonably come."

"You are in a union," Theo pointed out.

"I am," Ava chuckled, "I owe Brandon for setting that one up. Cameron is zan, I'm a nox. It works."

"Oh," Theo nodded and she almost look relieved.
"Were you jealous?" Ava smirked a bit.

"Worried," Theo almost whispered and Ava was taken aback.

It was a twist to her gut. Viv had never shown an ounce of care that genuine toward her before. Even the times she had lured Ava in by being sweet, or somewhat agreeable, were marred with manipulation and alternate reasons.

"No need to worry," Ava guaranteed to her, "Besides that, I spent the whole time debating whether you had come to your senses or not and choosing between wanting to hate you and forgive you. Viv hid the letters from me. Jona lied to me. I was sequestered and watched every minute of every sun. I managed to work my way up to be my father's successor mostly because my two eldest brothers are gone and Killian is a colossal idiot. Pelas must be on my side too because I am not quite sure how I managed that kind of promotion within my family."

"Killian is the brother you unseated as heir?" Theo asked and Ava nodded.

"The trials," Theo crossed her arms, it was not judgemental but the tone was not empathetic either. An opening of an exploratory case. The last big obstacle to explain away.

"Verdicts are passed down from the law master after having been cleared by my father. I have no choice in the matter. I know it doesn't make standing up there and participating any better but it's the reality of it. And not that it helps my case but that isn't even the worst thing I have done," Ava looked away, staring at the bartop in front of her. She still sometimes had nightmares about shooting Ivon. It was a hard thing for her to talk about.

Theo stepped closer and pushed the bottle toward her. Ava snapped back to herself.

"Have anything stronger?"

"Aye. Follow me," Theo said and pushed herself off the wall, walked past the bar, and began walking toward the back of the building.

Ava followed suit and Theo led them down a set of stairs in the back.

"Did you pass those policies? Like, where you the one behind them?" Theo struck up a conversation again.

"In a way, yes. But those policies were more my father's than mine, if we are being honest. At first, I was excited he was giving me an opportunity to pitch reform. I quickly realized he had no intention of passing my ideas as they were presented to him. He was only capable and only wanted change at the surface level. I no longer had a way to help as much as I had hoped," Ava walked and Theo led the way through the basement until they came to a cabinet under lock. She was soaking in every word. Ava needed to be honest, "The reforms were still beneficial for some of the people in need, so it wasn't all for shit, but the real intention after that was power. It was apparent early on that my brother wasn't made for political life and once the path to more power became clear, I saw my contribution not as reforms but as revolutionary access to the top. Of course, by the top, I thought it would be just having my father's ear. I pushed against being his successor."

Ava looked over to gauge Theo's reaction at the admission of her thought process and she didn't react, or judge. She was sorting through a set of keys in the low light until she found what she was looking for, "Sounds a bit scrambled."

"My time at Aubermasse was one big scramble," Ava watched Theo, "things were always changing. My goals, my ambitions, and my path were all shifting depending on the information I had. It wasn't easy."

"I didn't mean to imply it was. Or that you were not genuine in your intentions," Theo unlocked the cabinet and reached inside for a satchel then began to walk back, "in the time you were away, you managed to achieve something historic and I sat in Niveal and sent people to do my work for me."

Ava shook her head, "The first woman to be the heir to a noble. The first woman to keep her name after marriage. The first woman to send a renouncer to their death. All very historic."

Theo looked over at her with slight concern in her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"You didn't create the laws or force my father to ask that of me," Ava shrugged.

"No, but I doubted you," Theo admitted, "I didn't want to but all of the evidence was stacking up against you. But it wasn't easy for you, I see that now."

Ava didn't answer and she motioned Theo to lead the way up, in her worry about Ava they had paused at the base of the stairs. Theo nodded and followed the request.

"You seemed like you achieved much more than you are giving yourself credit for," Ava carefully took the stairs back up and trailed behind Theo as she walked behind the bar again. Ava took a seat in front of it, "I heard you've expanded. And that this place is yours. And that you've been here for a long, long time. What else has happened?"

"How did this get flipped back on me?" Theo chuckled, taking cigarette papers and a bag of herbs out. Theo pulled out a blue, wiry substance and the smell of dragon's breath filled the area, "I want to know more about your time at home."

"I'm sure you do but there is so much to cover and I have an equal amount of desire to know about your time here. So, spill it."

It seemed like Theo was trying to avoid smiling at the demand but she let it overtake her face with a slight nod of her head. Her fingers worked to break apart the weeds in front of her, "We regrouped in Corinspe for a while. I had a lot of making up to do with the crew and I managed that, by some miracle. Then, we left with a crew twice the size of when we got to Niveal."

"You took other pirates?"

Theo nodded, head down, and focused on getting the dragon's breath into small pieces, "Some crews disbanded and we took the stragglers we could trust. As a part of our contributions to the fight, we were given a handful of ships in return. Left Corinspe for good and settled here until we found a new base."

"For good?" Ava tilted her head, "as in, you are no longer a Corinspian pirate?"

Theo nodded and began to sprinkle up the broken-down substance into the cigarette paper, "Uncilo played me. He knew about Fletching—some ploy to get me closer to taking his seat. Decided we were done with it, came here. Sent out some expeditions, Navi and Tuni came back with a viable island and now it's being settled and built. That is really about it."

"Starting your own pirate haven. No big deal," Ava shrugged with a slight roll of her eyes.

Theo laughed, "Just a haven. Everyone belongs."

"Except traders, and roamers, and the army, and the navy, and nobles-"

"Right," Theo shook her head as she rolled up the cigarette with finesse, "except for the obvious groups."

"How is everyone?"

Theo handed the cigarette to Ava and took a strike box from behind the bar, lighting the cigarette for her, "Navi and Tuni were the first to go settle. Followed by too many people. Xyra's out there right now. Cook and Morgana are here with me. Iona left with Xyra. Skins made officer and now-"

"Skins agreed to responsibility?!"

"They did," Theo laughed and Ava noted the change in how Theo referred to them. She made a mental reminder for herself in case they ran into each other. Ava took a drag of her cigarette, "Navi and Xyra got their shit straightened out, I think. Mor and Tuni went through a rough patch but it's alright now. Promised to each other and everything."

Ava raised an eyebrow at that and Theo shrugged, holding her hands out. Theo had thoughts on the matter, that much was clear. She had always been protective of Tuni and it was probably ringing alarm bells for her. She refrained from saying anything else about it."

"We've got too many new people to count, including Xyra's sister," Theo divulged and Ava coughed out some smoke that she had inhaled, "she brought her kids along too. Cute girls."

"And Pearl?"

Theo swallowed and looked at the ground, crossing her arms and shaking her head, "Uh."

Ava shook her head too, "No. How?"

"The Center. At Corinspe..." Theo pushed her hair back, "I didn't know how to bring that up without bringing the mood to shit. I'm sorry, I know you two were close for a while. I should have told you that first, I was trying to build up to that."

Ava didn't say anything, she just bit her lip to keep it from trembling. She looked away, toward the right wall in an attempt to stop Theo from seeing her too emotional. She didn't even get to say goodbye. Ava thought back to Pearl's time growing up and when she was finally given freedom, it was taken from her not even four lengths later. She felt the tears slip out of her eyes and down her cheeks before even realizing they had formed.

She wiped her face, shaking her head in an attempt to clear the grief. With a shaky inhale, she faced Theo again.

"Was she alone when she died?"

"No. The crew was with her," Theo nodded and her voice shook a bit, she was trying to keep down her own tears.

"Good," Ava released a deep sigh and closed her eyes, "I'm just going to finish this real quick. I don't plan on sharing."

"I appreciate the honesty," Theo said.

Ava took a few moments before opening her eyes and bringing her cigarette to her lips. It took her a while to finish it all, and one too many coughing fits. Theo respected her silent request for a bit of quiet. It allowed her time to process just a bit. Being back with Theo was easy. Despite everything, it was like no time had passed She felt safe there, it felt easy. Not even an hour had gone by since she had set foot in Niveal and she already didn't want to go back.

Before she knew it, she was bent over the bar, head buried in her arms as she began to sob. She didn't even know what she was crying over but it was happening and she couldn't stop it. A dam had broken, and the wall she had tried to put up was no longer leaking it had shattered. She registered Theo moving from behind the bar to the stool next to her.

"Red," Theo whispered, "need space?"

Ava managed to shake her head and Theo took the hint, getting up and walking closer to her. Ava lifted her head and looked over, her lips in a frown and her eyes wide and watery. Theo tentatively offered a hug and Ava nodded so Theo walked closer and wrapped her arms around a sitting Ava. She buried her face in Theo's chest and let herself feel the weight of everything. All her decisions that had been made and those still yet to come. The relief of finally achieving what she had wanted in seeing Theo again burned. Her morning discovery that Viv had been keeping Theo's letters a secret weighed heavy on her heart.

It all came tumbling down on her and she was spent by the time she finished crying. It hadn't been too long but enough to be embarrassing. Theo was there with her the whole time. A hand on the back of her head, fingers occasionally running through her hair to soothe her, and a strong arm across her back. Ava finally pulled her face away for a proper breath and Theo stepped away, sitting in front of Ava. Her shirt was wet from Ava's tears.

"Sorry," Ava managed to rasp.

"No, don't be," Theo offered a smile, "You have always been open about your emotions. It's one of your best qualities."

"I should be stronger than this by now. Especially in front of you. I'm supposed to be acting tough," Ava felt the crying threaten to come back again, "I'm supposed to be showing you that despite what I've been through I'm fucking killing it. But here I am being a fucking baby."

She threw her hands up and laughed through some rogue tears. She looked down at her hands and shook her head.

"It feels good to be able to say fuck again so freely," she took a deep breath, "fuck! Fucking motherfuckers! Fucking shit."

There was a pause.

"Alright," Ava nodded, "it got old and obnoxious real quick."

"You are really high right now," Theo laughed, she was really high, "You didn't say it back at Aubermasse?"

"Occasionally. Didn't roll off the tongue as nicely though. Hard to explain," Ava smiled a bit, feeling her tiny meltdown come to an end.

"Feel free to say it at any time," Theo went back behind the bar and began to clean up.

"Thanks," Ava nodded and watched Theo, "again, sorry about that."

"You've been through a lot..." Theo shrugged off the apology, "I put you through a lot. I am the one that is sorry."

"I should've told you..." Ava cut straight to the point, the dragon's breath giving her the courage she had been lacking.

"I should have never turned you over to them and let them take you back to Elox," Theo dropped what she was doing to look up at Ava.

Sincerity. Pain. Regret. Her face spoke volumes.

"You were tortured to the point of near death, Theo, you shouldn't have been allowed to make that decision," Ava justified it, trying to give her a bit of slack. Theo didn't seem bothered by the mention of what Ulises did and she found that surprising.

"Even before the lightbringer I fucked up. I should've given you the right to a trial and to explain yourself. I can't just pick and chose who I uphold my rules for. I wasn't supposed to use my power like that. People were afraid to step up to me," Theo cleared her throat, "I apologize for everything. There isn't a single thing I don't regret."

Ava didn't know what to say. Theo rubbed her neck and took a deep breath.

"I became what I was always afraid of and didn't even realize how permanent my actions were until you were gone. Even with everyone yelling in my face about what I needed to make up for what I had done before I made it worse, I ignored them," Theo seemed more uncomfortable with talking about what she had done than about her torture.

It spoke volumes.

"Now, you know what you are capable of and you can try your best to avoid it," she tried to spin it into a positive, "look at it like a lesson."

"You didn't deserve to be that lesson."

"No. I didn't," Ava agreed.

"I cannot express with words how sorry I am for everything. For letting you sit in a jail cell, for not giving you a trial, for letting you go back home," Theo frowned, "I know it was in the letters and I've said it since you've been here but I did you a great injustice, Red, and I am so fucking sorry."

"I should be at your throat with a dagger. I should be exacting my revenge," Ava pointed out.

"You should be," she advised.

"But I can't bring myself to. It needed to happen. I needed to be there," Ava acknowledged with a small smile, goosebumps on her arms that were hiding under the bar. It felt like the first real apology she had received in a length.

Ava needed to come clean about The Center and what she had figured out. It was relevant to the conversation but she was afraid it would open a crate they would have rather kept sealed. It might inspire conversation only about that and all forms of connection with Theo on a personal level would cease. But it needed to be said.

Ava took a breath to say something but Theo had the same idea. They both cut themselves off when they realized the other was going to speak.

"Go ahead," Theo offered.

"I need to know can trust you."

Theo tilted her head, slightly intrigued, "You are the one that has to make that decision. You have all the evidence before you. I have proven quite recently that you could not."

Ava bit her lip and prepared herself for how to approach the issue, no matter what Theo had said, she was going to let her in on the secret, "I came because of the revolution, yes. I came because of Oceane, absolutely. I came because I needed to see you after everything that's happened between us, sure, that much is true but there is another reason. It is what finally sparked the fire of me coming here."

"I'm all ears."

"It's something I found out. It's something I know that I needed to share with you," Ava kept it vague.

"And you know whatever it is because of your time at Aubermasse?" Theo clarified, leaning on the bar as she was pulled into the mystery.

Ava nodded.

"Who else knows?"

"Less than twenty people in all of Baethos," Ava admitted and Theo lifted back up from the bar with a furrowed brow, "I don't know if you would be able to tell anyone..."

"Maybe I don't want to know then," Theo laughed but there was a slight tension behind it. She was nervous.

"I wouldn't know if we could tell anyone unless I told you and you thought it was advisable. I am so fucking out of my depth here, Theo. I needed to come to see you because I need your help with this."

"Does it have to do with her revolution?"

"It could. That is definitely the goal."

"You're killing me, Red," Theo laughed again and crossed her arms, she rocked back on her heels and took a moment to think, "Maybe I also need drugs."

"I would stay sober for this news."

"Let's take this somewhere else then. Don't want to get interrupted," Theo stepped out from behind the bar and toward the front door. She locked it and made her way across the tavern, ensuring it was locked up in the back too.

When she returned she walked to the base of a set of stairs in the far corner of the room. She nodded her head and Ava got up, following Theo to the stairs and then up a few flights. Her endurance was shit and she was almost panting by the time they got to the top. Theo opened the door at the top of the stairs to a large room that took up almost the entire floor.

"Base of operations," Theo explained and walked in, "lock it behind you."

Ava nodded and did as she was told. Then, she took a moment to look around. Organized chaos. But with Xyra gone, it bordered more on chaos than organized.

"So I can tell you?" Ava asked.

"Aye. Let's do it," Theo settled in against her desk, sitting on it as she crossed her arms in anticipation, "wait, I know you said to be sober but I think I need a drink."

Ava gave her the go-ahead and watched as Theo poured herself a shot of clear liquor then downed it quickly. She grimaced, smacking her lips and shaking her head.

"Fuck. Okay," Theo cleared her throat and looked up, "tell me."

"The Center and The Council and the classification system is all bullshit," Ava revealed and there was no immediate reaction, "it's all controlled by a group of seven nobles. The ten generals never relinquished control to third parties. They passed down power to their families and themselves, changing their names and passing it off as new leadership. Since then, it's been the same families that have been running everything."

"There are seven but they started with ten?" Theo tilted her head.

"Aye," Ava confirmed, "infighting or something."

"I don't understand how they control things," Theo said but there was no panic or explosion of concern coming from her.

"The classifiers aren't actually doing any calculations. They do some. They have guidelines and policies and all of them buy into what they do but when reclassification comes around, the Head Classifier takes direction from this group of seven on who advances and who doesn't. The system works the way we know it but in the most crucial of areas, they have full jurisdiction."

"And The Council? How is that manipulated?"

"Council votes are tallied and the appointments are announced by the Head Classifer. The seven decide who will be announced instead, the votes don't decide it all. It influences things, sure, but ultimately it is the seven nobles who decide. There is usually two or three of these seven sitting on the Council at one time."

"Who are these families?"

Ava hesitated for a second, "Why don't you seem more surprised?"

"It's not an outlandish scenario to imagine. I have sat through countless conspiracy debates where people have argued potential theories that are not far off from what you are telling me. There was no way the system functioned the way it did without some form of input from the highest on the ladder in noble society," Theo explained her lack of reaction and leaned back against her desk, her eyes searching the room as she processed the information, "although I don't think any of us would have guessed it was this organized, or static."

"What are some of the theories?" Ava asked.

"That there are a handful of nobles in charge. But people conceptualize it as a constant war between nobles, where the power to corrupt the classifiers changes hands often enough and is expanded past just seven people. This is much more centralized than I could have ever imagined," Theo reached next to her and poured herself another drink, "I think we should tell the crew, at least those that would be able to strategize how to make use of the information."

"Who would we tell?"

Theo shot back the drink and swallowed with the same sour expression as before, "Cooker, for one. Kaia could prove useful. For now, we keep it limited to just officers that are on the island at the very least."

"Kaia?"

Theo paused for a moment, "You never got to meet her did you?"

Who the fuck was Kaia? Ava's gut twisted with a fit of deep jealousy at the mere mention of an unknown name. Nothing Theo had said hinted at anything deeper but her mind jumped straight there.

"No. I didn't."

"She is the daughter of the previous head of Corinspe before Uncilo. Joined up with us just before we left and has been a good asset to the team," Theo assured her, "she can be trusted with the secret."

"I defer to you," Ava shrugged, "do you have any ideas of what this means?"

"My first instinct? This is good. The fewer people with power at the top, the easier they are to eradicate. My second? This is dangerous. They have to have infinite connections to be able to keep control of five continents and hundreds of millions of people. They will be difficult to even get close enough to touch," Theo was quick with her thoughts and Ava already felt the anchor lift off her chest.

Sharing the burden was going well.

"You think this is something we need to tell the revolution? Will it affect anything?"

Theo shook her head, "I couldn't tell you right now. We have to wait until the meeting with Brandon. Which is where and when, exactly? Cannot remember you ever saying."

"I didn't say. I don't know. The instructions I need to pass along are simply that you need to show up to Plia's Market for lunch, order the fishmonger's special, and the instructions will arrive with your order," Ava recited.

"Looks like your friend Brandon doesn't trust either of us," Theo chuckled.

"No, he does not."

"And do you trust him?" Theo asked.

"Enough for a partnership and enough for right now," Ava answered, she was still on the fence about him although, to his credit, he had helped her immensely.

Theo nodded and slipped into her head, looking lost in thought.

"I'm sorry that I unloaded this on you," Ava frowned, finally realizing that sharing the burden meant putting it on someone else.

"No," Theo grabbed the bottle she had poured a drink from and walked it over to a set of couches, "It's good to know. Not too surprising, although, having confirmation of that is not something I ever thought I'd have. We can do something with this information now. No one else has ever had it before."

Ava invited herself over to the couches and sat down in front of Theo, "Like Cooker said, perfect conditions."

"Perfect conditions," Theo repeated and leaned back on the couch she had chosen, bringing up her finger to bite at the skin around her nails, once again distracted from the conversation.

Ava let Theo sit in silence for a bit of time. Eventually, Theo picked up bouncing her foot and Ava watched it go and up down. She thought through important things to note. Things Theo needed to know in case they didn't get a chance to see each other again before she left.

"Cooker's brother knows," Ava said and Theo's head snapped back up to look at her, "Brandon. He knows that Cooker is his sister."

Theo sat up and shook her head, "How?"

"I think he just knows. He put the dots together. She isn't really subtle with her name. He can't be the first one to have figured it out," Ava said.

"You didn't tell him, right?" Theo asked but it didn't seem like she thought that, it was more due diligence.

"No. I told him it wasn't his sister. It's what Cooker would have wanted me to do, I think."

"You're right. Cooker doesn't want him knowing but it's inevitable. She is going to want to come tomorrow. She knew it would have to happen..."

"Yet you seem worried," Ava tilted her head.

Theo sighed and slumped back onto the couch, "Cook's sober. Things got a little out of hand after everything came to light and it didn't stop after it was all over and all was forgiven. So, Xyra and I forced her hand– for real this time."

"And it's been going well?"

"She has her good suns and her bad suns," Theo shrugged a bit, "I just hope this doesn't create too many bad suns for her to be able to handle."

"You'll be able to help her if she can't," Ava consoled her, she looked stressed. More so about this than anything Ava had told her.

"I'm sure she won't go to me first," Theo chuckled a bit, "she's traded me and Xy for something better."

Ava raised an eyebrow, "You've been replaced? By who?"

"Xyra's sister," Theo rolled her eyes, "Agnes and her demon children."

Ava laughed, "And their relationship is what, exactly?"

"They practically live together. Fucking, love, making a home together, all of that good stuff. Cooker is an honorary parent. She drops the oldest off at school on her way to her pirate business for the sun. Brings the small one to work sometimes, slacks off, and does nothing but chase her around all day," Theo tried to pretend she was holding a grudge but her smile was winning out, "it's cute. Cooker's happy. The kids are happy. Agnes is happy."

"I can see why you are worried," Ava noted.

"It's not that I don't have faith in her. I do. It's just-" Theo cut herself off, "I'm sorry. This isn't fair to her. I don't know that she'd want me sharing this."

"I understand," Ava smiled a bit and Theo twisted her ring and chuckled.

"It's not like you to back off so easily," Theo teased, "have you grown in your time away, Red?"

"No, it is but a temporary lapse in my compulsion to pry," she clarified and that caused Theo's shoulder to relax and a deep laugh emerged from her chest.

It wasn't even that funny.

"I have something new in from Dove Island. Supposed to be stronger than ravci but not as much as havcera," Theo commented and looked back at her desk, "I can stuff a pipe for us."

"Why are you assuming I am staying? I have told you everything pressing I needed to tell you and I have somewhere I eventually need to return to," Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Oceane wasn't back yet- I just assumed that," Theo cleared her throat, "I guess I got caught up in the moment and forgot you have other commitments."

Ava cracked a smile and stood up, walking to the desk, "I have nowhere to be. The boxes that O and I have to take back to the ship won't be ready until dawn. Which gives me a lot of time to do nothing."

"Boxes?"

"We used the empty boxes and crates that needed to be taken on land to refill with supplies to sneak out. At dawn, they will be restocked at the port and we will sneak back in with the supplies," Ava explained, "I need to be as careful as I possibly can, hence the boxes. My father can't know."

"Aye, I agree with that," Theo watched Ava walk to her desk and didn't get up to stop her.

"Where is your secret stash?"

"Big drawer, on the left," Theo instructed.

Ava opened it and looked around before fishing out what she needed. She walked over with a pipe and the special herb that Theo had mentioned. She made her way back to the couches and laid it out for Theo to do all the work and she took on the task without being asked. This time, Ava sat on the same couch as Theo.

Theo was once again breaking up the contents of the satchel and Ava leaned back, head resting on her hand as she watched Theo. Her fingers expertly moved to do what she needed and her rings made her hands look delectable. Which was not a thought she had ever really had before.

She was pathetic, not even an hour in a room alone with Theo and she was already folding. The desire was strong, heartbreak from Viv forgotten about when the person who was in front of her was who she truly wanted. It wasn't lost on her that Viv's desire for Theo was just as strong. Like Viv had warned her almost a length before, that feeling about Theo never went away.

"Jona said a lot to me about you and your time here," Ava mentioned and Theo glanced back at her before looking back at the pipe.

"Oh yeah? And what did he say?" Theo asked and sat back once she was done, handing the pipe and a candle to Ava to light it.

Ava took a hit and shrugged, "That you were being a regular Captain Theo about your time in Niveal. Sex, drugs, drinking, gambling, fighting."

"Did you believe him?" Theo asked rather than answering and took a bit of smoke from the pipe when it was handed to her.

"I didn't want to. I wanted it to be a lie but I wasn't sure. The last I had heard from the crew when they visited me in the cells was that you were not in your right mind about things," Ava shrugged, "it tracked with your previous behavior but I didn't want to believe it because the thought alone hurt me."

"He wasn't entirely off base with some things but that was most likely just pure luck and he guessed those," Theo laughed a bit, "I have been doing my fair share of fighting. A little betting on the side too."

"You've developed a gambling problem?" Ava clarified.

"To quote my wise crew members, it is only a problem when I start losing and that has yet to happen," Theo joked and Ava laughed along, "I only do it at Marian's for fun or at games with big wigs that I know I can win. It's a rush."

"And fighting?"

"I am less successful at that," Theo shook her head and sat up a bit, pulling up her shirt to show a large bruise on her side, "this was a calmer cycle and I still ended up fucked up."

Ava took advantage of the opportunity to stare at Theo's skin, which did not go unnoticed. She was laughed at as the shirt was lowered and Ava blushed a bit, shaking it off.

"That was the only thing that he was right about?"

"You're asking if I fucked around," Theo called her out and Ava nodded, no use in denying it, "I didn't lie with a single person. The only people in my bed were Cooker and Xyra and that was to sleep."

"Really?" Ava frowned, there was no way that Theo went abstinent for that long.

"Lying will get me nowhere," Theo shrugged with a smile.

Ava took a hit of her pipe to avoid the guilt that she felt for some reason.

"Jona told me you were loving your role at Aubermasse," Theo said, "which didn't turn out to be true."

"No," Ava shook her head, "I slipped back into this misery that I felt when I used to live at home. I just didn't know that is what it was before. When I was on the ship, life didn't feel like a burden and something I just had to get through. I felt free and it was amazing and then I was in borderline agony being back."

Theo frowned as she listened and eventually she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, biting down a bit as she was hit once again with what she had done to Ava.

"This isn't to make you feel bad," Ava reached out and put a hand over Theo's arm, "I just never lost the habit of wanting to tell you everything. I'm sorry."

"Please don't be," Theo put her hand over Ava's, "I like to hear what you have to say, whether or not that means I am faced with the consequences of my actions."

Ava nodded and took a deep breath, "Politics and trying to get my father's ear was a good distraction. I've learned a lot. I have grown in most areas except tact, I heavily lack that-"

Theo laughed and Ava found herself smiling despite the topic of conversation.

"My father has tested me in ways that I couldn't have seen coming. Trials, killing his advisor, endless meetings about policies," Ava sighed remembering the constant demands before things had died down after the meeting at The Center, "I found myself adopting a different persona at times, like you and Xy."

"Ah, a regular Captain Theo," she teased, calling back to what Ava had said earlier.

"Yeah. And much like Captain Theo is to you, whoever emerges when political shit needs to be done is someone I hate," Ava crossed her arms and slightly curled into herself, "it's like all my worst qualities, amplified. Morality goes out the window; politeness, cooperation, and a sense of fairness, all gone. I manipulate and lie and put my needs before others."

"But it goes away?" Theo asked.

"It does. And for now, my needs are the needs of society and the revolution and the people but what if one sun, my needs shift and I am putting on this character but nothing good comes of it?"

Theo nodded, understanding where her worries stemmed from, "There's nothing you can do except surround yourself with the right people and even that goes wrong sometimes."

"And when it does?"

"You deal with the consequences and help pick up the pieces as best as you can," Theo advised, "no one is perfect, no matter how pure our intentions may be. We all fuck up and all you can do is make sure you know how to take accountability when it does happen."

"Can you come take my place? I think you'd be better at it," Ava teased but there wasn't much of a joke behind it.

"You had me fooled thinking your father had in fact gotten you on his side and all the while you were working with the revolution to deliver yourself right to my door," Theo said and shook her head, nudging Ava's knee with her own and picking up the pipe, handing it to Ava as a token of a toast, "you seem to be handling it all just fine to me."

"You have too much faith in those you care about," Ava rolled her eyes but took the offer of the pipe, taking a few puffs.

Theo watched as the smoke left her lips and floated into the air. Ava locked eyes with Theo and didn't break their stare as she continued to smoke. After she had her piece, she handed it to Theo who began to smoke it without breaking eye contact. Ava began to giggle, the smoke getting to her, and Theo followed her lead but her laugh turned to a cough.

Ava laughed harder and it just caused Theo to continue to emit a hybrid of a laugh interrupted by coughing. It was getting to both of them. Theo put the pipe down and leaned back on the couch, catching her breath. She placed a hand over her stomach and took deep breaths until she calmed down. Theo turned her head to Ava, using the support of the couch to pivot her gaze.

"Red, can I ask you something?"

"Mhm," Ava found herself slumping back.

"Jona implied that you and Viv were sleeping together," Theo admitted, "is it true?"

Ava didn't answer right away and the silence probably spoke volumes. After a moment had passed without a clear response, Theo nodded a bit. Both of their heads were leaning back against the couch as they stared at each other with an unspoken exchange of what had happened between Ava and Viv in her time away.

"Did you believe him?" Ava asked.

Theo shook her head, "I thought he was trying to get to me."

"And it got to you?" Ava asked.

Theo nodded, short and tight.

"I don't know how he knows. It was probably another lucky guess. I didn't start getting involved with her until after he had left," Ava frowned, feeling the pit of shame in her stomach growing, "I'm sorry."

"Not sure why you are apologizing. You are allowed to do whatever you want and Jona spilling your secrets was not fair to you," Theo cleared her throat, "I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"That's all you have to say about it?" Ava raised an eyebrow, doubting Theo had wanted to drop the matter.

"It's not my place," Theo looked away, up at the ceiling, "I am not here to comment on your choices."

"You don't have anything you want to know or ask?" Ava pushed, knowing it was impossible for Theo not to have something pressing to say.

"Nothing to say or ask," Theo confirmed with a nod and crossed her arms over her chest. After a moment, she shook her head and sat up, looking back at Ava, "was it just once? Or did it go on for a while?"

"A while," Ava admitted.

Theo rubbed her hands together, "Well, from experience I know that Viv is good at what she does so I'm glad you had something to do."

"Nothing else?" Ava couldn't help but chuckle at how much Theo was squirming.

"No. No, I already crossed the line," Theo waved it off and looked down at her hands. Again, it only took a beat before Theo was looking up again, "how long?"

"Not sure when it started, like maybe five cycles after I had arrived at the estate."

"And it ended?"

"The last time we shared a bed was yestersun," Ava said, "she strung me along this whole time while keeping the letters from me and I didn't know until this morning. I regret it every time I think about getting involved with her in the first place."

Theo tensed and wiped her hands on her pants before leaning back on the couch again, it seemed like she was trying to calm herself down.

"Seems like you are struggling with something there, Captain."

"I'll be fine," Theo looked over and flashed an unconvincing smile.

"You know, if you want to make up for the horrible time I had at Aubermasse and will likely continue to have, you could always let me in on what you are thinking."

"Is this part of your persona or are you being consciously manipulative as Ava?" Theo asked.

"This is all me," Ava laughed.

Theo crossed her arms again, almost hugging herself, "I don't fucking know how I feel, Red."

"Name one feeling and go from there," she tried to help.

"Burning, seething jealousy," Theo admitted pretty rapidly, "and it's not my right. You don't belong to me. I let you go and yet the thought of her hands on you is eating at me."

Ava felt her cheeks heat up and her stomach dropped at the confession.

"And then, there is anger. Worry. Guilt," Theo went through the list as prompted, "I know what it feels like to fall into her trap. She makes you feel just special enough, makes you feel lucky to be deserving of her slightly nicer treatment. I know how much she can hurt someone and I am fucking livid with her for lying to you, for stringing you along. And I feel guilty that I prompted this by not keeping you on the crew."

"It's not fair for you to blame yourself for this," Ava jumped in, seeing where Theo's train of thought was going, "I saw what she did to you and didn't take that as a warning."

"I'm sorry you had to experience what Viv is capable of," Theo was genuine in her apology, "do we have to keep talking about this? I'm not dealing well with the whole bitter jealousy thing. My stomach hurts."

Ava laughed and rolled her eyes, "You have a penchant for the dramatics."

"Says you," Theo sat up and reached for the pipe.

"Oh! I have something off-topic but you will find it interesting. And it may possibly come up later," Ava divulged and wiggled her eyebrows, "guess."

Theo laughed, "Impossible. It could be anything."

"Maybe you're right," Ava pouted, "but try, it's about one of my siblings."

Theo gasped, "They're not all koldis? They aren't actually your sibling by blood? You killed one!"

"No," Ava shook her head, smiling at each guess, "it's about Mallory and she is alive."

"Like, Cooker's friend Mallory?"

Ava nodded.

Theo thought for a moment, "She is with you."

"Yes!" Ava clapped her hands, shocked she had gotten it right, "how'd you guess?"

"You said it might become relevant," Theo shrugged, "why is she here?"

"She ran away. I didn't know she was coming," Ava frowned a bit as she remembered the deception.

"Sounds like your sister," Theo chuckled, "you don't seem too thrilled."

"I'm trying to get better. I haven't been the best with her as of late."

"Isn't she mean or something? Cooker said she was kind of a bitch," Theo noted, "makes sense as to why you wouldn't be good to her."

"Not to me and not so much anymore," Ava picked at the fabric on the couch, "she's trying to understand the world outside of the estate and I haven't been much of a help with that."

"Ah, turning your back on her then," Theo hummed, "do your past experiences with her drive your lack of willingness to help?"

"I don't think that's it," Ava shook her head, "it's almost like I don't want her involved. This is my thing. My vision. My goals. She has always survived at home and now is when she grows sick of it?"

"So, it's the unwillingness to share. I suppose it could just be a sibling thing," Theo hypothesized, "I know it's not the same but I would get upset with Cooker and Xyra when Uncilo would put them on a project I was working on. They helped me, it went better with them, they were not imposing but I just had this fire to do it by myself. To prove something. A pathological and illogical need to prove myself alone. "

"Aye, my aversion to involving her doesn't seem logical," Ava shook her head with a sigh, "I need to get around to apologizing to her but I can't just yet."

Theo chuckled, "I'm not the foremost expert on nobility or noble siblings but maybe it is best to do it sooner rather than later. Seems like if there is anyone that understands how you see the world, it's her. Might come in handy moving forward."

"I didn't ask for your advice, Captain," Ava reached forward and pinched her arm, "I just wanted you to guess who had tagged along with me."

"And I guessed," Theo laughed, "the advice was free of charge."

Ava laughed too, going for the pipe and when she grabbed it she realized it was all ash. Without asking her, Theo noticed it too, grabbed the pipe out of Ava's hand, and began to refresh it.

"Theo? How have you been?"

She looked back at Ava and shrugged a shoulder, "In general? Busy. A bit stressed. Nothing that doesn't come with the role of Captain."

"And outside of your role? How do you feel on a sun-to-sun basis?"

"Are you trying to reprise your duty as quartermaster?" Theo laughed.

"No, I just want to know how you're doing."

Theo nodded and pursed her lips slightly before smacking them and handing Ava the fresh pipe, "You're asking how I've coped after the lightbringer."

Ava really was transparent. Or maybe, Theo just knew how to read her.

"Aye," Ava confirmed and took the pipe from Theo, taking a hit and then continuing, "what Ulysses put you through couldn't have been easy."

"No. It wasn't. And I had trouble dealing with it for a while there but it's been resolved," Theo brushed it off, "I'll get the occasional rush of fear if I'm in a dark room alone or sometimes I'll have a nightmare but I've been doing fine."

"Did you do anything to help resolve it? A healer for your mind? Or was it just time?" Ava asked, interested in Theo's recovery. It was her own brother that had done it, she wanted to be assured Theo was somewhat okay after.

Theo snorted a bit and took the pipe back, "I had Xy torture me."

"Excuse me!?" Ava frowned.

"That's the reaction I got from most people," she just smiled with a shrug, "it worked for me."

"Good to know that when given a choice between facing your emotions head-on or being tortured, you choose torture," Ava teased and Theo scoffed at the joke, a smile on her lips.

"It gave me control. The pain isn't what bothered me. I am trained to be able to handle pain. It was the fact that he had control over me. He could do or say what he wanted and I could do nothing. Doing it with Xyra gave me command of what happened to me. It helped me face pain on my terms."

"Honestly, Theo, that is one of the most fucked up things I've heard," Ava said and it was the truth.

"Fucked up solution for a fucked up experience," Theo shrugged.

"I'm sorry, by the way. If I could go back in time to kill him at any point during my childhood, I would."

"If you could travel in time, I would hope you would use that ability for something far more interesting," she joked.

"Fine. I would kill the first Vaith," Ava took it a step further.

"And then I wouldn't get you," Theo shook her head, "I'd take the torture if it meant I also got you."

Ava tried to hide her sharp intake of breath but it was noticed by Theo.

"Sorry," Theo chuckled, "hit the pipe one too many times. Shouldn't have said that."

Ava didn't answer. She couldn't. If she did, she would push Theo to share all her thoughts about Ava. Especially the good ones. Especially the ones where she missed Ava, where she was wanted back, where she was revered and held in high regard.

"What are you thinking about?" Theo asked.

"Doesn't feel appropriate right after we've discussed your brutal treatment at the hands of my brother."

"I can handle it."

"Say you miss me," Ava pressed at the urging of Theo.

"Red," Theo warned.

"Theo," she replied, "You said it in all those letters and have skirted around it in this conversation but won't say it. You admit your jealousy but won't say you miss me."

"Your lapse in compulsion to push has gone away," Theo avoided the subject.

"You said it in your letters, you are acting like it, and you were bold enough to go on a big speech about getting to the things we both want to speak about. Now is the time to speak about those things and you will avoid saying it."

"If you know it's true, why do I need to say it?"

"Because I want to hear you say it, Theo! It isn't enough to write it. I couldn't give a fuck about your sorries or your apologies. The only thing I want is you."

"It's not right, Red!" Theo turned to her, "after what I did, I just get away with everything? You come here, and I woo you with my words, and then we are back to normal?"

"You telling me what I am asking you to tell me is manipulation now? Do I not have agency?" Ava pressed.

"Gods, Ava! You are always on my mind. All the time, I dream about one normal sun with you. Just one more," Theo stood up and took a few steps away from the couch, not facing her. She threw her hands up in the air and then turned around, "Even on the suns I force myself not to think about you, I somehow miss you. My pulse has been at a record speed since I walked in to see you here. I'm terrified of going to sleep tonight because I am scared that I will wake up tomorrow morning to find out all of this was in my head. Is that enough?"

"Go on, if you wouldn't mind," Ava teased with a slight smile.

Theo licked her lips, frustration clear on her face. She hung her head and then laughed, shaking it. Theo lifted her gaze and then shrugged, looking at Ava with a softness she hadn't thought she would experience again, "I missed you. I regret my decisions every sun that I wake up and it isn't with you by my side. I wished I would have listened."

"I didn't miss you that much," Ava smirked, "I was too busy cozying up to a dictator to have to miss anyone."

Theo knew Ava was messing with her and she fought back, "I am sure it is hard to think about missing me when Viv was under your sheets all the time."

"All the time?" Ava's jaw dropped, "it was not all the time! How would you even know that!?"

"I know you. I know Viv."

"Did you know she sketched?" Ava laughed and Theo walked back over, sitting down next to her.

"Aye," she laughed, "do we have to talk about Viv right now?"

Ava ignored her, "Did you ever call her Vex?"

"Where is this all coming from?" Theo put both her arms over the couch and leaned back.

Ava turned over, "Jona calls her Vex."

"I'm killing him," Theo yawned.

"You would be doing everyone a favor. Hey," Ava nudged Theo and scooted closer, leaning into the opening her arm made, "did you ever call her Vex?"

"Aye. All the time when we were younger. It's not something I really use now," Theo answered.

"Hm," Ava leaned her head back against Theo's arm, thinking for a moment. She turned her head to face Theo who was already looking at her with sleepy eyes, "what does exal mean?"

Theo became more alert, and she shrugged, "Why do you want to know?"

More avoidance.

"Because you lied to me about what it means," Ava huffed, "you said it means something it doesn't."

Theo laughed, "What did I tell you it meant?"

"Red in Aelizan."

"I lied to you."

"I know that! Stop stalling and tell me what it means," Ava sat up and pushed her shoulder a bit.

"It's just a phrase we use in Aeliz," Theo shrugged one shoulder, "means keeper of my affection."

Ava couldn't say a thing. It was like she was frozen. Her eyes fluttered as she blinked quickly; it was so simple, sweet, and unexpected. Theo had been calling her that from the very beginning.

"Really, Red, it's nothing."

"Except Oceane told me it wasn't just nothing. She called it a borderline attempt to be promised to me."

Theo rolled her eyes, "I'm sure she didn't say that."

"Hm, I definitely remember that it was along those lines," Ava crossed her arms, "was there truth to what Oceane said, captain? And I would be careful about lying."

"Why?" Theo leaned her head back against the couch and looked over at Ava with a smile, "Did your time away give you superhuman political powers and now you can feel when someone is not telling the truth?"

"Precisely," Ava held her temples with her fingers, "my senses are honed. I've practiced."

Theo laughed, reaching over and pulling Ava's arms down, "Union ceremonies and the concept of a union is an Eloxian thing. Aelizans do it differently. For us, it's about exchanges. Exchanges of promises to each other. Exchanges of knowledge and strength, exchanges of tokens by families in attendance. The list goes on. All actions and traditions in an Aelizan ceremony is at the core about celebrating exchange; rather than a fusion or union. Keeper of my affection arises from that. It's shortened. It's not the full phrase."

"Well, what is the full phrase?"

"Exal, tia minha, ado ble'emha," Theo paused for a moment, "roughly, it means I present to you my affection and you will keep it and guard it safely."

Ava was smiling so wide her cheeks hurt and she could see that Theo was sheepish.

"Is it a call and response? Does the other person say anything back?"

"They just repeat the phrase back to the other person during the ceremony," Theo shrugged a bit, "I suppose outside of that, it can be used as a call and response– as you put it."

"Teach me."

"Alright," Theo chuckled and shook her head, her expression still one of slight shyness about the confession that was embedded in the reveal of exal's meaning, "if one person says exal and the other person wants to use a sweet name back they can say yomi'u."

"Yomi'u," Ava repeated.

"Literally it means your guardian. But in this context, it would mean your heart's guardian or your affection's guardian. That way, it uses both of the concepts in the ceremony's phrase."

"You're a good teacher," Ava complimented and Theo clicked her tongue to her teeth and waved her off playfully, "is it used often?"

"Not sure. I remember that my parents used to use it with each other," Theo admitted with a slight smile, "one of the one things I do recall about my life before they were gone."

"Oh," Ava said and her smile wiped off her face. Her father was the cause of Theo's hard life. He was the reason she grew up without parents. Theo didn't look sad though, like the memory had inspired happiness. She watched Theo for a moment then her eyes widened, "oh!"

"Oh?" Theo sat up and turned to her.

"I have something for you! I didn't bring it with me. I mean- I did. It's just not on my person, it's on the ship," Ava said and snapped her fingers, "fuck, I should have brought it. I didn't even think of that."

To be honest, the whole thing had been far down on her list of things to remember. She had almost forgotten it in Aubermasse. It was something she had grabbed but not even looked at to avoid the temptation of reading what was inside. So, it had been discarded in her mental pile to prevent curiosity.

"I went into Ulises' room in my time at home to grab something out of his room. A piece of jewelry my mother was looking for that she knew he had left in there a few lengths before," Ava added in the unnecessary detail and she should have skipped that, Theo looked so intrigued, "it's not jewelry. Sorry."

"Damn, wearing the jewelry of the maybe dead man who tortured me would be pretty good revenge," Theo laughed and motioned her to go on.

"It's one of his journals. He kept logs of people of interest and I suppose your parents were some of those people. I didn't know they had crossed paths but he has a whole journal dedicated to them," Ava explained then something clicked, "shit, it might not even be your parents. I just assumed it would be. I haven't even looked at the contents of the journal. He had this whole section of people from Lamentations and one of the journals was labeled Theo and Nhriri and I thought- maybe. I'm sorry for getting your hopes up. I should've thought before I spoke-"

"Those are my parents," Theo assured and sat on the edge of the couch and leaned her arms on her knees, "you have a journal about them?"

"I do. I don't know what's in it. I didn't want to read it. It didn't feel right to read it before you did," Ava admitted.

Theo looked away from Ava and she wasn't sure if Theo's reaction was good or bad. She was giving her nothing and her face wasn't visible. Ava watched as she shifted a bit and before she knew it, Theo was standing up and paced forward. Her arms came up, her hands locking behind her head. She took an audible breath in, she looked like she was grappling with something.

"Theo," Ava stood up too, "are you alright?"

She saw the back of Theo's head as she nodded, "Sorry."

Her voice sounded tight and Ava took another step forward, "I didn't mean to cause all this, Theo. I really apologize."

"I'm not upset," Theo turned around and while she wasn't crying, her eyes were red like she had fought with her tears to stay put, "I'm not. It just wasn't something I expected coming out of your mouth. I didn't think it would affect me like this."

"What would?"

"It used to be my biggest drive when I was younger. I was obsessed with finding out more about my parents but all mention or memory of them was destroyed by The Center. Any books were confiscated. The stories that exist are just that, stories. Anyone who knew them is now gone," Theo took another deep breath in and she seemed to be relaxing, "It was my single motivator. I would have killed ten people for a journal that even promised to describe what they looked like back then and now-"

Theo cut herself off.

"And now you have it in your reach," Ava finished for her and Theo nodded.

"All of those frustrations and crushed hopes from all those lengths ago just surfaced at once and I needed a second. I didn't mean to startle you. I just-" Theo laughed and looked up at the ceiling, blinking back her tears, "fuck."

"You seem to be hesitant to be excited," Ava noted.

"I'm wondering if I even should venture into that territory again. What if all it does is light that fire in me again?" Theo contemplated, "I just always wanted to know where I came from and who I was going to be and if I could follow in their footsteps but that isn't me anymore. I know who I am."

"Then all it will do is provide you some comfort in the limited information you can get," Ava advised, "if you aren't that person anymore, then this won't inspire those feelings again. Since I've known you, that hasn't ever been your interest."

Theo nodded, "You're right. I can't not know what your brother said about them. But I won't let it get to me. I have proven in the past I am able to expertly manage my emotions and reactions."

The last part was a joke but Ava could read the self-deprecation in it. Without thinking, she walked forward and hugged Theo once the distance was closed. There was no hesitation. Theo's arms enveloped Ava and rested her chin on Ava's head.

"Thank you, Red," Theo whispered, it was a layered gratefulness.

Ava wished so deeply that Theo would pull her face up and kiss her as a proper thank you. Which was an inappropriate thought given the context of the situation. Instead, she decided to appease her mind with some more prying.

"You never told me your parents named you after your father," Ava smiled as she pulled away from the hug slightly but kept her arms around Theo and instead just looked at her.

"They didn't. After I left Zaridios, I started to go by my father's name. I can't remember what is was before then," Theo divulged and a smile returned to her face as she looked at Ava in their embrace.

Ava raised an eyebrow, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Wasn't ever relevant," Theo laughed, "unlike the issue of who your father is."

Ava gasped and let go, "Asshole."

Theo laughed, "Sorry. The opportunity was too tempting."

"Whatever. I will get you the journal I managed to snag after I was cruelly shipped back to my hometown and make sure you receive it," Ava taunted.

Theo chuckled and bowed, "Thank you, your highness."

"I liked you better an hour ago when you were fumbling over yourself to get me to forgive you," Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, low blow, Red," Theo laughed and held her hand over her chest, "you've gone through the Viv school of how to cut right into someone."

Ava frowned, "Fuck. You're right. That was out of line."

Theo reached over and squeezed her shoulder, "I'm not upset. Don't worry about it. I was messing with you, although I wasn't lying."

"I always had to be on my toes around her. The effect hasn't worn off," Ava admitted.

"It's part of her appeal, I suppose," Theo said and nothing could be more true.

Theo put her hands in her pockets and cleared her throat as Ava stood in front of her, unsure of where else the conversation would go. While they were at a lull, Ava walked back to the couch and sat down, restuffing the pipe and taking a hit. As she relaxed, Ava was once again going through her thoughts and making sure she had covered everything she wanted but she was interrupted.

"Red, are you staying?" Theo asked and she sounded surprised; like it wasn't something that had crossed her mind until that moment. Theo walked over to the couch too and sat next to Ava, taking the pipe off her hands when it was offered.

Ava frowned and shook her head. Theo matched her expression and the deflation of her spirits was clear in her posture.

"You're going back to Aubermasse?"

"I have to, Theo," Ava said, "the revolution needs me there. And I would risk too many people by not going back."

"It's the right thing to do. The responsible thing," Theo nodded.

"But?"

"But it's obviously not what I want."

"Theo, you shouldn't."

"So, you force me to tell you just how much I missed you but you draw the line at me telling you I want you around me and I can't bear the thought of you leaving," Theo smiled a bit and Ava shook her head with a small scoff at Theo breaking her request to leave it unsaid.

"I don't want to go. I have to."

"I know," Theo nodded, "I know having you until dawn is more than I could deserve but it's not enough."

"I'm here for a few extra suns for repairs to the ship," Ava revealed which was something she had forgotten to mention.

Theo's face lit up, "Really? But won't it be complicated to see you?"

"Are you saying I am not worth the effort?" Ava teased and Theo looked away with a shake of her head and a small chuckle. She once again leaned closer to Theo, not on purpose but out of instinct and Theo adjusted her arm so that it was on the couch right over Ava's shoulders. She created the space for Ava to continue to lean in so she did.

"You're impossible," she looked back at Ava with a grin when she could think of no other comeback.

"But you still missed me," Ava rubbed it in.

"You're so mature."

"Theo?"

"Hm?" Theo turned her head to fully face Ava and they were closer than they had been at any point in the night. Their noses could touch if both of them leaned forward just a little. Ava searched Theo's face before letting her impulsive thoughts win over her tact.

"What will I have to do to get you to kiss me?"

Theo's mouth dropped open and she struggled to find the words. Ava raised an eyebrow watching Theo with a tilt to her head, indicating she was waiting.

Theo was cut off when the door opened and Cooker was standing on the other side of it. Her head darted back and forth, between Theo and Ava. She shook her head.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me."