[OP: "Your Winter"--Sister Hazel]

"So," Raven finally spoke again, "that makes it fine?"

"Raven, you're not one to talk," Baby sassed her. "You are difficult to everyone just as much as I am. Can't you two mind your own business? Besides, no one cares what I think."

"I think she did," Morph said.

"I can't imagine why she would," Baby grumbled.

"Good question," Raven said. "Perhaps you should ask her. She seems to have been drawn to you, but then, every saja connects with one person in particular. Perhaps it has to do with their spiritual weakness... I don't know. But I'm considering something Shine told us about you. Aren't you just afraid to care and afraid to put in effort? But she thought you had potential. She's usually right."

"Oh, sure." Baby was sarcastic. 

"You respected her in the end," Morph said. "Weren't we right about her? Weren't we right about the other guys? You got free."

"But I was kinda right," Baby said. "Because I said Gwi-Ma would not stop trying to attack us, and he hasn't. It's better than before, I guess... I mean, we're...alive...but I was still right that it was dangerous. And it doesn't fix everything either. Mystery still has issues, Romance still is a train wreck, and Abby still overcompensates for everything."

"And you still don't trust anyone," Raven finished.

Baby didn't deny it.

"So your issues didn't disappear overnight," Morph said. "It's been months, maybe years. This isn't so bad. And we'll deal with the Gwi-Ma thing--that is why we're here. We've managed to make it so far. But I want you to work with us on this. Is that so much to ask? We need all of you. I think when you try, you do accomplish stuff. You figured out how to make a barrier without us even explaining it to you. You stopped a bunch of demons with wits instead of force. That's pretty impressive. But if you spent half the energy you put into being rude to people and pushing them away, into being at least semi-proactive, you'd be the most powerful person here."

Pause.

"You're smart enough," Raven picked it up. "And, deep down, you do care, whether you admit it or not. So what is holding you back? You can tell us. Who are we to judge?"

Baby stared at them.

He did somewhat trust them, after all this time, and Raven was certainly not the person to make anyone feel inferior to her morally.

Perhaps he was tired of denying it. It got old to lie for weeks on end.

So he made a big show of sighing in frustration, and then he said, "I never get my hopes up because then I won't be disappointed."

They nodded. They could both relate.

"Even when it looks like just a slight hope?" Morph said.

"And it could still fail, even if it works for a while," Baby said. "Being in a boy band didn't solve the problems it was supposed to for us. Neither did going human again. I doubt bringing a saja to our side is going to either. There's always more problems."

"Life is problems and the in-between," Raven said. "But, not all problems are worth caring that much about. Making everyone resent you is just creating more problems on top of the ones we already have."

"If it comes to that, I really don't actually know any other way to act." Baby folded his arms defiantly.

"Is that because of your family?" Morph said. "No one ever tried to teach you better, is that it?"

"Teach me?" Baby scoffed. "No one paid attention to me at all. I was an inconvenience for them. Raven, you know the feeling."

That jab at her past with Kurt, and her own family, was nasty, but she took it surprisingly well.

She just pursed her lips. "I see."

"So you act like one for everyone else," Morph translated. "But why do you hate girls especially so much?"

Baby hesitated. "My mom abandoned me. I mean, I can't blame her... I was unplanned, right? My grandma told me she only took me in because it was an obligation...that my mother was a failure and children were a burden."

"I think I see why your mother left," Morph said.

"I can blame your mother," Raven said. "Since I did the same, I know it always has consequences. Even if you don't see them. Perhaps though, she thought you'd have a better life with her family than with her."

"I don't know. I doubt it." Baby shrugged. "I've seen other women do the same thing my whole life. Look at Romance's girlfriend... She's not the only one, either. They're just not loyal or reliable. They don't have the mental toughness to stick to things if people are difficult. That's just how it is. Not like the Hunters are any exception--they broke up pretty easily."

"Over a longstanding secret that made it look like their greatest enemy had an agent in their midst the whole time," Morph said. "Even men would split over that, kid...but I see what you're saying about women."

"What?" Raven said.

"Not that he's right," Morph said. "But immature women are like that. But it's not like men are different. And, no offense, but isn't it possible that in this K-pop industry, you might have just been around a lot of emotionally stunted women to begin with? I doubt that lifestyle promotes maturity."

This was true enough.

"Yes, it's called a selective poll," Raven said. "Certain things attract certain kinds of people because only those people would enjoy them, mostly. It's like complaining that you'd find a shopaholic at the mall. What did you expect? Vanity is the game of your industry. Real women, who have families or obligations and have to make difficult choices about them, are drawn to more stable careers, mostly, I imagine. You've met a few now, thanks to us, and are they really the same as the ones you're thinking of?"

Baby only shrugged defiantly.

"Well, you can't talk someone out of sexism," Morph said. "Especially if they've been burned. It's a shame though, Baby. I think women are great. Many of my closest friends are women. And my wife is a woman too."

Raven rolled her eyes at him.

"Some of them are nasty," Morph admitted. "But the good ones, they're kind, sweet, smart, brave, and honest. They can be more patient than men. And sometimes a lot more understanding. You'll get your bad apples on either side, but I think we should focus on the good ones. When they're good, they're really good. And us men have our own issues too."

"But this is not really the point." Raven crossed her arms. "Even if a certain group annoys you, the ones who are risking their lives to help you are not the ones to direct that venom at. I don't appreciate it, personally, and the girls don't deserve it. And Eileen, she's a mess, but she's trying to do something extremely difficult. Did you expect her to act normal?"

"I don't actually care that she's weird." Baby wouldn't have said that in front of Eileen, but to them it was fine, since they weren't likely to repeat it, he thought. "But she's a brat."

"And you're not?" Morph said. "I think it's like getting a dose of your own medicine. She treats you the way you treat everyone else. Turns out, it's pretty annoying to have someone insult you, disturb your space and property, and make fun of you for noticing. I don't even think she's as committed to it as you are, but it's hard for us to really get mad at her for just doing it back to you."

"I don't expect we can control his behavior though," Raven said to Morph, as if he was not there. "I don't think that you can control people like that, without lethal force, anyway. If he wants to act like a child to her, it's his own choice. But he can't expect us to step in and stop her from retaliating if he's going to invite it."

"Fair enough," Morph said. "We've said our piece, and if you don't listen, that's on you. But I do draw the line at making her feel worse about her struggle with Gwi-Ma. That's too far. Apologize for that, and we'll let the rest of it alone."

"And if I don't apologize?" Baby said.

"Do you want us to get creative?" Raven narrowed her eyes, which, with her yellow ones, made her look like a snake.

Baby didn't want her to get creative.

"Fine, for that, and only that," he agreed sullenly. There was no getting out of it. He was afraid they would march him up there by force if he didn't say yes. That would be much worse.

This was how much they had taught him to respect their commands thus far--considering how he'd started off, it was pretty impressive, Morph thought to himself.

* * *

The apology was awkward though.

Eileen was calmer that morning, but she appeared to still be down, since last night was hanging over her mind--unsurprisingly.

She listened to Baby's very insincere sounding words with a cockeyed expression that didn't bode well for how much she'd believe it.

All he really said was, "They said I had to apologize for saying that thing last night about Gwi-Ma, so, sorry or whatever."

Then he just went silent.

The other guys were all listening to this from the dining room, Abby with great amusement and the others with more concern.

Eileen waited and then said, "Is that it?"

"Did you expect more than that?" Baby scowled.

Eileen tilted her head. "No."

Silence.

"Fine then, I'm done," Baby said.

"Okay, so no hard feelings about the hot sauce?" Eileen said sweetly.

"No--what?" Baby frowned.

"Oh, Morph didn't tell you? I might've accidentally dumped a couple of bottles down the sink last night," Eileen said, with a wicked smile. "But I'm sure your best friends will buy you more, so it's no big deal, right?"

"You...witch." Baby was steamed. "I told you not to touch that."

"But you didn't actually move it, did you?"

"You did that just for petty revenge?"

"Yeah." Eileen didn't even deny it.

Baby just stared, not sure how to respond to that.

"Does it bother you?" Eileen then challenged, with the same expression.

Baby realized if he said yes, she won here. She was trying to tick him off on purpose.

But...it was his precious hot sauce!

"And if I get rid of something you like?" he said finally.

"I literally have nothing. What are you going to do?" She cocked her head defiantly.

"I could shave your head." Baby fixed on the most boy scout threat possible.

Eileen lifted her blonde ponytails with a wounded look. "My hair? Really? You'd shave that?"

"Sure."

"That's the best threat you could come up with?" Eileen then started snickering. "How old are you?"

"Mentally, I'm much older than you." Baby was losing his footing here fast.

"You can't even ride a bike without training wheels yet," Eileen retorted.

Baby didn't know how to ride a bike, period, but didn't want to say so.

"You can't even speak normally," he said.

"Is that a crack about my accent?"

"Yes."

"That's very culturally sensitive. I thought you idols were supposed to be charming."

"I'm not one anymore, am I?"

"Yeah, I think I see why it didn't work out." Eileen hit his sore point there.

"That had nothing to do with it!" Baby snapped back. "You don't know anything about it."

"Well, I'm just a dumb blonde anyway." Eileen gave him a scathing look again. "And one who can't really stick to anything, right? So I guess I don't care enough to find out more about it. I'm sorry about the hot sauce, though, really. I didn't realize it was the only thing you actually loved."

"You're impossible." Baby was losing his will to keep arguing.

"What's impossible is your head size." Eileen never failed to put that in a conversation at least once.

"Least my head has a brain in it," Baby growled.

"I might need to see X-ray proof of that."

"I thought for a brain scan you take an MRI," Romance called.

"Whatever." Eileen waved it off.

"And you all don't want to weigh in here?" Baby addressed them. "She can't just take my stuff."

"I thought it was communal hot sauce," Abby teased. "Besides, you can just get more anyway."

"Your apology didn't sound very sincere," Mystery spoke, and he hadn't been paying attention to anything else they'd said. "I think she's still angry."

"Keep him." Eileen tapped her nose a Baby mockingly. "He's good. Well, adios."

She walked away.

"She is so annoying!" Baby exploded.

"She's just dishing it back, dude," Abby said. "You were a jerk to her, and she's being a jerk to you."

"You know, in case you don't realize this, she started this whole thing in the first place," Baby said. "Remember? She approached us and started trouble--last week? Are you losing your memory again?"

"That's not a very nice thing to say," Mystery said reproachfully.

"Well, it's true," Baby said.

"So she started it, so what?" Romance said. "You're the adult here, sort of. She's a saja--did you think she'd be easy to get along with? And why do you care so much? Sounds like you were in the wrong anyway, if you said something nasty to her again."

"I think she handles your bull pretty well," Abby said. "Mostly she doesn't even really get mad. If she got that mad, I bet you said something really bad this time. I kinda like Eileen though. She's fun."

"Don't let Mira hear you say that," Romance said.

"Dude, what is it with you and talking about my relationship with Mira lately?" Abby said. "I thought you weren't jealous."

"I'm not," Romance said. "I find it irritating."

"Hmrph, finally we agree on something," Baby said.

"Oh?" Abby was put out. "Well, if you both don't like it so much, maybe you should just hang out with each other and enjoy your friendship."

"No thanks," Romance said.

"I'd rather watch Zoey's turtle videos again." Baby made a face.

"Say what?" Zoey came in right then. Bounced in, really. "Good morning, everybody. Baby, did you mean that? Because I have a new compilation I've been working on..."

"Heck no!" Baby said.

"Humph," Zoey huffed. She gave Mystery a kiss on the cheek. "Do you wanna watch them?"

"Sure." Mystery didn't care that much about TV anyway.

"By the way, how did things go yesterday?" Zoey asked. "Anyone talk to Rumi about it yet?"

They all shook their heads.

"Jinu told us some, though," Abby said. "Not sure about it."

* * *

"It's ludicrous." Celine was talking to Raven and Morph about it right at the moment. "You can't hang everything on this girl's freedom. She's not even close--if she ever manages it at all--and she could still be a spy."

"We discussed this already," Morph said.

"It doesn't sound any better today," Celine said.

"And what do you suggest we do then?" Raven asked.

Celine was silent.

Before she spoke again, a box suddenly appeared in their sitting room.

She flinched.

"Shine and Wally sent something again," Morph explained.

"Your mentors can make things appear?" Celine said.

"Dimensional powers. It's not like demons." Raven went to the box and opened it. "More notes..." She lifted one. "Hmm, one for Eileen. I'm not surprised. Another care package, I suppose. She sent something for Vladimir also, I suppose in the event that he actually joins us."

"What is it?" Morph asked.

"Chess set," Raven said. "She must know the stereotype about Russian men... Mostly true, in my experience."

"That's hilarious," Morph said. "Anything for us?"

"Looks like a few more books to use." Raven didn't sound enthused about the thought of more study. "And...here, something for you." She turned to Celine.

"Me?" Celine said strangely.

"She knows you're staying with us right now. She doesn't like to leave people out," Raven said. "There's something for Bobby here too, but not sure if I should show that to him..."

The thing she handed Celine was both a note and a small box that looked like it was for jewelry.

Celine took the note. She could read English fairly well as a pop star, so she made it out easily.

"To Celine,

"Please don't be alarmed by getting this message. I know they've told you about this by now. If you're like Mira, though, you might find this a bit odd. There is not much time to explain ourselves.

"I'm including this item for you to use. We gave the others something similar, but after hearing how much they used them already, I thought you might also need a buffer. If it works, it should keep Gwi-Ma from seizing you by force for a short time. It won't last forever, unfortunately--only so much we can do from afar. But if you find yourself isolated from the others again, it might buy you time.

"Please be advised that nothing Delray has told you can be wholly trusted. Raven and Morph know this already but have asked us for our analysis of his actions.

"We've told them already, so I won't repeat it here, but for you particularly, the danger is if he convinces you to fight on his playing field. I believe engaging with him is a mistake for you. It's only giving him what he wants.

"The other guy is different. It's not personal for him. Any one of you might be able to get to him, but Delray...I don't think any hunter will convince him. Someone outside the hunters might be able to. We'll see if the boys pull it off. I've dealt with people like Delray before--when it's personal, all rationality goes out the window.

"I honestly don't know if this will offend you, since you don't know us at all. We've had a lot of experience fighting crazy and evil and demonic individuals... We've picked up a few things from it.

"Hope this helps--Shine and Wally West"

Celine opened the box and found a plain necklace with a thicker chain that usual, perhaps so it wouldn't break easily.

It had a large letter "C" on it, perhaps to make it look like a fashion statement on her part, though that had never really been her style.

She was not a fool enough to reject this gift, since the boys had mentioned using them, even if she didn't get why...and she was worried enough about Delray to accept something weird.

She put it in her pocket.

* * *

"Surprise, Eileen." Morph brought the box up the common level a short time after that. "It's your birthday."

"Huh?" Eileen said. "I don't remember what day my birthday is now...or do I?" She thought. "I think it's in March. Is it March?"

"Nope, I was joking. Shine sent you something."

"Care package time again?" Abby looked in.

"Yeah, and she didn't forget to send you all stuff too." Morph put the box down. 

"No more of the oil or something similar, I take it?" Jinu said.

"No, I think she's sticking to the position that you need to learn that for yourselves." Morph shrugged. "She's just being thoughtful this time. We didn't get any helps either except more books."

"She sent me a coffee mug with my name on it," Romance said. "Why?"

"I think it must have been an inside joke," Morph said ironically.

He'd mentioned Romance's little coffee shop crush in his letters to Shine and Wally, since everything with the boys and the outside world seemed worth noting.

Morph was like a new parent who doesn't known when to stop taking pictures.

"Oh, nice." Abby inspected his gift. "USB of video clips of different dance styles. She gets me."

"Are you planning to add more to your ensemble?" Jinu asked.

"Couldn't hurt to explore more options," Abby said. "Mira and I both like dancing anyway. Might be fun to check this out together."

"She sent me a box of cards about strange animals," Mystery said. "That does seem interesting."

"Baby, what did she send you?" Zoey asked.

Eileen looked over.

Baby was looking at a stack of papers and a large cooking pot.

"It says it's Gambit's list of spicy Cajun recipes," he said. "Whatever."

"She gets you too." Abby snorted a laugh. "But you don't cook."

"I can cook," Baby said.

"You...can?" Romance said.

"He used to make stuff sometimes when we were on the road," Mystery said.

"I thought you made that stuff," Romance said.

"No, I'm not very good in the kitchen," Mystery said. "I always got lost in thought too much, my mo--" He stopped short of saying his mom had said this.

"Wow, Baby, low-key, impressed." Zoey was in a good enough mood now to risk complimenting him. 

"Any moron should know how to cook food for themselves," Baby said. "But you don't, right, Zoey?"

"Hey, I pay people to make my food," Zoey said. "But I can make some stuff. I wasn't always rich, you know."

Baby didn't continue the fight.

As, usually, he didn't really with Zoey or Mira or Rumi.

Eileen eyed him, and then she looked back at her personal box, which had been in the bigger box.

"Why did I get this random crap assortment?" she asked.

"Good golly, what is all that?" Morph asked.

"Good golly?" Romance repeated with a weird look.

"Hairbrush." Eileen was picking up items one by one. "Earrings, makeup kit, and, like...four water guns."

"Maybe that part was Wally's idea." Mira had come in by now.

"Check this out." Abby showed her the USB and the note that explained what it was for.

"Huh...interesting," Mira said. "What? You want to learn American folk dances?"

"It sounds interesting," Abby admitted. "Want to check it out?"

"Well, first, what did I get?" Mira picked up her item and note. "'Dear Mira, please don't throw these out. They were really hard to find. Lots of poor people would love to have them if you don't like it.' What kinda message is that?"

"Because you never really seemed to like that they sent you stuff before," Morph said.

"I'm over it now," Mira said. "I've literally met them in person."

"The back says 'Just kidding.'" Abby pointed to it. 

It also said, "Love you, and you're still my favorite. Don't tell anyone", but Mira didn't read that part out loud.

The gift was just a couple silly items: polar bear slippers and a polar bear head band also.

Clearly meant for nighttime comfort.

"There's also hair ties in here." Eileen was still looking in her box. "And nail polish and... Holy cow!" She picked up the last item. "DC comic collection? How the heck did she know that?"

"You're serious?" Morph said. "You actually like DC? Isn't that Wally's universe?"

"Oh, is he into it too?" Eileen asked.

"No, I mean, DC universe...it's a real place," Morph said.

Eileen stared at him in utter amazement. "You... It is?"

"Yes," Morph said. "There are superhumans there, like Raven and me, but...different. Most of them aren't mutants."

Eileen narrowed her eyes. "Raven...Raven...mutants... Oh, gosh, I remember now. I was never  a Marvel girl, but it's the X-men, right?"

Everyone stared at her.

Even Zoey nearly dropped the turtle documentary and earrings she was holding.

"You...know who the X-men are?" Romance finally said, oddly.

"I mean, I never read it. I kinda thought the political stuff made it boring." Eileen waved her hand dismissively. "Plus, not like I could afford to buy comics. Enough work to steal the ones I actually wanted to read already, but yeah, I saw the covers. Looked pretty weird... I didn't remember who the blue woman was. What's her names gain?"

"Mystique?" Raven was here now. She'd followed Morph more slowly.

"Right, right, Mystique," Eilene said.

"That's Raven's code name." Romance looked faint.

"Comic books?" Rumi was confused. She'd only just come in and was taking her gift out of the box.

It looked like a large cat toy, perhaps for Derpy.

Jinu had gotten shades and a ukulele. He didn't know what the second one actually was.

Eileen was staring at Raven and Morph like they were fairy tale creatures. "Wait...get out...comic books are real? You guys are actually X-men?"

"Yeah." Morph nodded. "This is weird... I knew we were comic books in other worlds--Shine told us that, and DC is a line of comic books in our world too. Wally seemed to think it was funny, but no one else has ever mentioned it here."

"This is a thing?" Celine said. 

"Kinda. The comics aren't what we're really like, but our powers and stuff, I guess," Morph shrugged.

Eileen gave a fan girl squeal of delight. "So you know all the X-men? Do you know the Justice League too? What about Batman?"

"Never met him, but Wally is a close friend of his," Morph said. "Wally is The Flash."

"The Flash!?" Eileen was losing it. "Seriously? He's The Flash? I love the Flash too. He's funny. Batman, though, he's so cool. And they have the best villains. I mean, the Joker,  the Riddler, Poison Ivy, Harley freaking Quin!"

"Harley Quin?" Raven said. "I think Shine mentioned her once or twice. She's met her. I don't think she's one of her 'projects', but they've met."

"Oh...wow, do you think she could get me an autograph?" Eileen said.

"Maybe, but I'm not sure Harley Quin would like that," Morph said. "Might be weird, you know... an other-worldly person asking for that."

"Oh, oh, right..." Eileen deflated a little, but then she was back to her fan mania. "But still..."

"Eileen, you're into American comic books?" Abby said. "I only recognized Batman and The Flash out of those names."

"I'm American, you dunderhead," Eileen said. "Of course I am. There was this comic book store just a block or two from where I lived. I went there, like, all the time. Don't look at me like that. Don't tell me it's still weird for girls to like comic books."

"It's not weird at all," Zoey said. "I read manhwas. Never as much into superhero comics though."

"Marvel comics are better," Baby said.

Eileen gave him a look that could only be fan rage. "What?"

"They are. The characters are more believable," Baby said. "And they're more clever. Spiderman, Deadpool, Daredevil, they have real backstories. DC characters are lame. They're just science accidents or aliens, nothing interesting about it."

"I'm sorry?" Eileen had the tone that everyone knew meant a fan lecture was coming. "But Spiderman and Daredevil are both more lab accidents. And Batman does so have a real backstory. His parents death is, like, iconic. So shut the heck up."

"They're too cheesy," Baby went on. "Marvel is darker, more realistic."

"Batman isn't dark?" Eileen said. "Freaking...what is wrong with you?"

"A lot of things are wrong with him," Romance said. "But not liking DC comics is not one of them. I don't really get it. Why does it matter?"

"What does it...? This is very important!" Eileen said.

"Umm, but how did Shine know she liked that?" Mira asked.

"Don't we already know the answer to that?" Abby said. "She's scary that way."

"Does the note explain it?" Jinu asked.

Eileen opened it again and read over it.

"Eileen Quint, your first and last name reminded us of a comic book character from this line, so on a whim we thought we'd send it. Makes interesting reading if you're bored. Plenty of New Yorkers I know are into superhero stuff, so it was worth a shot.

"Good luck with your journey. I'm sure it'll happen for you soon.

"And also, if Baby bothers you again, you can write to us, and I'll tell you how to get him to stop."

"That traitor!" Baby cried. "I retract everything I ever said about liking her more."

Eileen looked up. "It says, 'PS: That last part was a joke, mostly. He's probably not going to fall for that, but read this out loud to mess with him.'"

Baby looked like he was about to blow a gasket.

"She knows you so well it's scary," Abby told Baby.

"I don't know this woman, but I love her already," Eileen giggled. "What a queen... But how did she get that my fave character is Harley Quin?"

"It is?" Raven said. "Why? I thought she was a clown."

"It's a gimmick," Eileen said. "You know, like the Joker? You don't read the comics, do you?"

"I'm not interested in other super villains who I'll never meet," Raven said.

"We might, honey. Wally knows most of them personally," Morph reminded her.

"So you like this character?" Jinu said. "How is her name similar to yours though?"

"Harley's real name was Harleen Quinzel," Eileen said pedantically. "Plus, she's blonde...so... She's not a comic original character though, she's from this show, but then she was added to the comics. The show is the bomb too... I wonder if you guys get it on your TV streaming platforms..."

"I'd like to watch this if you find it," Morph said. "Because Wally's stories are pretty out there, but I can't really say he's lying. Verifying it might be fun though."

"For real, this sounds interesting," Zoey said. "Just tell me what to look for."

"Justice League the Animated series," Eileen said. "Or Batman the Animated Series, but The Flash was on the other show."

[I'm in disbelief. Those shows are 20 years old now.] 

 "A junkie who's a comic book nerd," Baby said. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."

Eileen ignored him, which was unusual for her.

He didn't quite like it--felt foreboding.

She just kept asking Morph and Raven questions for at least 30 minutes straight about their super friends.

Zoey pulled up the comics fan pages on her phone and showed them all.

"I guess we should have thought to do this before," she said. "Maybe it was too weird to think about, but yeah, look...they're all here. X-men, DC comics, Marvel..."

"We could have known who Raven and Morph were from the beginning if we'd known about this." Rumi was amazed. "We'd have known they weren't demons. Unless we thought they were copying those characters."

"We're living with comic book characters..." Mira looked over at them weirdly. "This is unreal."

"To be fair, Mira," Abby said, "your powers sound like a comic book also. Before we got demonized, I'd never have thought you were real. I'm still not sure you're real now."

Mira gave him a nonplussed look.

"Too good to be true." Abby winked.

"Do you really have to say that?" Romance rolled his eyes.

"Seriously, what is your problem?" Abby asked him more sharply.

Romance just walked away.

"He does seem to be in a bad mood a lot since Hawaii," Mira noted. "Maybe you should talk to him about it."

"Me?" Abby said.

"Yeah, you're family," Mira said.

"That doesn't mean that I know how to talk to him... I've tried. It doesn't really go well."

"So you try again."

"Really? You think so?" Abby was implying that she had not done that with her family.

"Stop using that as an excuse." Mira gave him a light shove. "My family isn't like Romance... He's not that unreasonable. It's not the same thing. And that isn't what you're aiming for anyway. Just...work it out. He needs your help."

"What if I can't help him?" Abby lowered his voice.

"Since when do you not try even if you can't do anything?" Mira pointed out.

"Isn't that a bad habit I have?" 

Rumi and Zoey had already moved farther away from this conversation, since it seemed personal.

So Mira answer more honestly than she would have if they'd been listening.

"That bad habit is what I like most about you," she said firmly. "Better to at least want to help than to act like it doesn't matter. Don't start changing that now."

Abby was immensely flattered, even if he wasn't sure how to respond.

"Okay...fine, I'll try to talk to him," he said. 

Mira didn't need further reassurance beyond that. If he said he would, he would. And soon.

She privately thought she might know what was eating Romance. She was good at reading people, and he wasn't exactly subtle about it. But from her, it would mean nothing to ask about it, not if what he really wanted was to be a priority to someone who actually knew him before.

Perhaps she was picking up on that Romance often felt like a project to the girls, even if he didn't mean to make it that way, and it affected his self esteem.