True Colors

"Let go!"

"No!"

"I said, let go!"

"No!"

Sahara groaned. Her body ached all over and the noise wasn't helping.

"It's mine!"

"Nah uh. I found it!"

"You didn't find it you twerp! You took it out of my fridge!"

Sahara sat up. Groggily, she rubbed her eyes. As her vision blurred into focus she found herself staring at none other than Terrell and Naomi. Naomi was clutching a carton of strawberry milk which Terrell was trying to pry from her grasp. Half asleep, Sahara's eyes followed as the two tugged the carton back and forth.

"You have no right to rummage around my things!" Terrell finally managed to pull the carton away. He held one hand out, placing it on Naomi's forehead and keeping her at a distance as she wailed, trying to snatch the carton back. Terrell turned to look at Alegra, who was calmly sitting with her legs on the table, sipping some sort of drink.

"Keep your child under control!" Terrell told her.

"It's hard to tell which of the two is the child," Alegra replied lazily.

Sahara blinked a few times, trying to wake up. She got to her feet and stumbled towards Alegra. Naomi had given up on the carton. However, as she made a beeline for the fridge, Terrell raced her to it. He stood in front of it, holding his hands out to either side protectively.

"Oh no you don't!"

"I'm thirsty!" Naomi put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"So?"

Sahara sat down in the chair beside Alegra. She put her elbow on the table and propped her head on her hand. "Should someone stop them?" she murmured sleepily.

Alegra snorted. "Don't worry about it. Naomi can handle herself."

Terrell let out a yelp in that moment as Naomi vengefully stomped on his toes.

"You little...!" Terrell made a lunge at her.

Naomi evaded him and then took a moment to stick out her tong. When Terrell ran at her again, she ran away squealing. She scampered up to Alegra, hiding behind her. Terrell paused as Alegra shot him a meaningful glare.

Grumbling, Terrell turned away.

Sahara watched as, with a sly smile, Alegra pulled a carton of strawberry milk out of her pocket and handed it to Naomi. The little grabbed it eagerly. Wrinkling her forehead, Sahara wondered when Alegra had gotten a hold of it. Not dwelling on it too long, she turned her attention back to Terrell who didn't notice the exchange.

"Are we training today?" Sahara asked.

Terrell grunted in reply.

"Training?" Alegra's interest was perked.

"It's none of your business," Terrell told her. Sahara scowled at him in disapproval, yet Terrell simply ignored her. "And aren't you and the twerp supposed to be out of here already?"

"Terrell!" Sahara was horrified at his rudeness.

"Alright, alright," Alegra raised a hand calmly. "I can take a hint." She leaned back in her chair comfortably. "We'll be gone before noon."

"Not soon enough," Terrell muttered. He abruptly walked over to the hover boards and grabbed one. "Let's go," he told Sahara as he marched to the door.

Sahara's eyes widened. "Now?"

"You want training or not?"

"But...what about work?" Sahara asked.

"Flexible hours, remember?" Terrell replied as he disappeared out of the door.

Sahara watched him go in disbelief. She was sure Jack wouldn't appreciate her simply bailing on him, and she was also certain that not turning up for work whenever Terrell felt like she should be doing something else, was not what Jack had in mind when he had agreed to flexible hours.

"You'd better go," Alegra broke into her thoughts, "he still seems to be pretty pissed."

With a sigh, Sahara got up. Naomi was playing quietly in the corner, slurping up strawberry milk all the while.

"See you later," Sahara told Alegra as she walked from the warehouse.

"Uh huh," was Alegra's response as she watched Sahara go.

Alegra had been right, Terrell was still angry. He snapped all throughout training and nothing Sahara did seemed to be the right. Sahara wasn't sure if it was because she had brought back two strangers, or if perhaps it was to do with Naomi finding the strawberry milk. She didn't rule the latter out, even though it seemed somewhat silly to think that someone could get upset over such a small thing. Then again, she didn't understand the way Terrell thought at all, so it could be possible.

"Let's stop," Terrell suddenly announced after getting Sahara to go somewhat higher than she had before.

Sahara didn't protest. She was tired of all Terrell's yelling. Besides, I really should go to work. She didn't want to let Jack down.

She followed Terrell back into the warehouse. To her surprise, they found it empty. There was no trace of either Alegra or Naomi.

"They're gone," disappointment filled Sahara's voice.

"Finally," Terrell said under his breath. He also seemed to cheer up immediately as he began to whistle a merry tune. However, as he neared the table, which was usually filled with gadgets, he trailed off. "What the..."

Sahara watched as Terrell started to sort through the objects on the table, as though looking for something. He turned and hurried to a chest of drawers. As he pulled open one after the other he became more and more frantic. Suddenly, he slammed his hands down on top of the chest.

"W-what's wrong?" Sahara asked curiously.

Slowly Terrell turned to face her. "We've been robbed."

Sahara didn't react right away as the words sunk in.

"Damn it," Terrell kicked the drawers.

"Wait...what?" Confusion filled Sahara. "But who would..." she trailed off.

"I knew there was something off about them!" Terrell had turned around, his eyes filled with anger.

"Wait...you think Alegra did it?"

Terrell turned to glare at her. "Who else would it have been?"

Sahara bit her lip. There were only two people in the warehouse while she and Terrell were outside. She hated to admit it, but things really did look like it couldn't have been anyone else. "Everyone's innocent until proven guilty," she attempted

Terrell snorted.

"You didn't see them take anything," Sahara tried again.

"So?" Terrell asked.

"Maybe it wasn't them."

Terrell turned and stormed towards the boards. He was about to pick one out when he froze. "Where is it?"

Sahara turned to see what he was talking about. It took her a moment, but then she realized that the sleek, marble, black hover board was missing.

"Heck no!" Terrell grabbed another board.

"What are you doing?" Sahara asked.

"They messed with the wrong person," Terrell glowered as he marched towards the door.

"Terrell, wait!" Sahara grabbed the board she used and followed after him. "What exactly are you going to do?"

Terrell turned to glare at her. Sahara could see that he was fuming. "Take a few things, I'll be mad. Take my board and I'll kill you."

Sahara swallowed hard. He sounded serious.

Turning, Terrell switched on his board and hopped on it.

He's going to kill them! Sahara panicked at the thought. "Wait," she quickly switched her board on too. "I'm coming with you!"

Terrell let out a short laugh. It sounded particular scary. He turned his eyes on Sahara. "Of course you are. It's your fault after all."

Sahara shivered. Yet, if she wasn't mistaken, she thought she saw a spark of excitement in Terrell's eyes at the thought of a chase.

They boarded in silence. Sahara didn't ask Terrell if he knew where he was going. His movements alone gave her the suspicion that he knew where he would find Alegra. When they got into the inner city, Terrell pulled Sahara into an ally.

"Stay and keep watch from here," he told her. Before she could reply, he was off.

Sahara didn't know where he went after that. She also wasn't even exactly sure what he wanted of her, but she was obedient and stayed where she was. Getting off her board, she let it hover. She sat on it. Her eyes roamed the courtyard before her. She watched vendors sell food and other items and teens simply hang out.

Propping her chin on her hand, she watched while trying not to get to bored. Did Alegra really steal? An image of Alegra passing the strawberry milk to Naomi flashed through Sahara's mind. Maybe there was more to the girl than she first thought. Was that the only reason she came with me? To steal something? Sahara let out a miserable sigh. She didn't want to believe it.

The sun was already past its peak when a familiar figure entered Sahara's vision. She blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness that had descended upon her. With disbelief, Sahara watched as Alegra slid up to one particular stall filled with gadgets. Naomi was nowhere in sight.

As Sahara watched, she took note of the sleek black board under Alegra's arm. Her heart sank. There was no doubt as to who the culprit was.

Why? she thought.

Alegra and the guy at the stall exchanged a few words. The guy shook his head and Alegra motioned angrily. Reluctantly, the guy turned and headed towards a building nearby while Alegra stayed behind, waiting.

I'll kill you, Terrell's words flashed through Sahara's mind. Her eyes widened. She couldn't let that happen. I have to warn Alegra. Not taking time to think it over, Sahara hurried from the ally. Her board followed at her command. She was almost upon Alegra when Terrell appeared out of seemingly nowhere. He grabbed Alegra's arm and whirled her around.

"You," Terrell growled.

Sahara froze not far from them. Am I about to witness a murder? she thought in horror.

The surprise disappeared from Alegra's face. "Oh." She looked Terrell up and down. "It's you." Her eyes suddenly softened as she stared behind him. "Naomi!"

Terrell turned to look.

Alegra took that moment and tried to duck to the side and make a run for it. Terrell was faster. He caught her arm and twisted it behind her back, making her helpless. In the commotion she dropped the hover board.

All around, people were shooting glances over at the unfolding scene, yet no one made a move to do anything about it.

"You're so dead," Terrell told Alegra loud enough so that Sahara could hear.

"No!" Sahara ran forward, horror filling her. She broke Terrell's grip on Alegra and stood protectively in front of the girl.

Alegra watched, her expression blank.

"What are you doing?" Terrell asked Sahara coldly.

"I...I won't let you kill her!" Sahara told him defiantly.

Terrell's forehead wrinkled. Alegra raised her eyebrows. Surprisingly, she made no move to run.

"Now look here..." Terrell began.

"You can't do it!" Sahara told him. "You can't become a murderer! Besides, who would look after Naomi?"

From behind her, Alegra let out an amused snort. Terrell's face was filled with confusion. He shook his head and then roughly shoved Sahara to the side. Stumbling, Sahara whirled around to see that Terrell was standing face to face with Alegra. They were both staring at each other, Terrell glaring and Alegra retuning the look mockingly.

"I offer you a safe night and this is how you repay me?" Terrell asked.

"You didn't invite me," Alegra shot back. "In fact, weren't you the one who kicked me out?"

"And yet you still couldn't keep your paws off my stuff?"

"Excuse me, but there was no sign on it saying 'do not take'!"

"What are they doing?" Sahara jumped at the voice beside her. She looked down to see Naomi had come to stand next to her. She was eating a popsicle while watching Terrell and Alegra screaming at each other.

"They're arguing," Sahara informed the girl.

Naomi turned her eyes to Sahara. "Alegra said that's what happens when you get caught," she said wisely.

 "You're nothing but a common thief," Terrell was telling Alegra angrily.

"Who are you kidding?" Alegra snorted. "This is Regona." She spread her hands out. "Taking other people's stuff is what most people do. In fact," she leaned in closer, "want to bet that most of what you have belonged to someone else first?"

Terrell didn't have a comeback.

"How'd you know I'd be here?" Alegra asked him curiously as she proceeded to pick up the board. Terrell placed his foot on top of it, stopping her from being able to do so.

"When you take something you usually aren't stupid enough to stay in the same area," Terrell told her.

Alegra's eyebrows rose. "Speaking from experience?"

Terrell ignored the comment. "However, you struck me as the particular stupid kind. So why would you move on?"

"Hmm...I would prefer clever."

Terrell snorted. "I'm guessing staying in the same area worked in the past."

"Of course," Alegra shrugged her shoulders. "Normally everyone thinks that you'd be long gone after taking something. They never check in the area closest to them."

"Not everyone," Terrell told her.

"Yes." Alegra sighed. "It seems so."

"Alegra," Sahara took this moment to interrupt. Alegra turned her gaze to her. "Why did you do it?" Sahara tried not to show her disappointment.

Alegra looked somewhat taken back by the question.

"Why take something that isn't yours?"

Alegra snorted. "Everyone needs to make a living one way or another." Naomi scurried over to her, beaming as she contently continued to suck on her popsicle.

"You're doing it for her..." Sahara realized as she shot a glance at Naomi.

Alegra didn't reply.

"Then..." Sahara shot Terrell a look. "What if you had lodgings that were safe...if you didn't have to worry so much about Naomi? Would you stop?"

Alegra's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?"

"Why don't you stay with us?" Sahara asked. "Permanently."

Terrell's eyes widened. "Heck no!" he clamped a hand over Sahara's mouth before she could say another word. "You didn't hear that," he told Alegra.

Naomi raised a hand. "I did."

"The un-hear it," Terrell glared at her.

Alegra's look of surprised was replaced by a grin. "I appreciate the thought, really," she told Sahara. "But you see, I don't just do what I do because I have to."

"Of course you wouldn't," Terrell muttered as he took his hand off of Sahara's mouth.

"They why...?" Sahara asked.

"Because," Alegra's grin widened. "It's fun!"

"Even if it's wrong?" the words were out of Sahara's mouth before she could stop them.

Terrell rolled his eyes. Alegra's smile dropped. Something seemed to flash through her eyes, yet it didn't look so much like anger than surprise.

"I..." she didn't get any further as an angry voice interrupted.

"Hey, you!" They all turned to see a guy storming towards them. He was glaring right at Naomi.  "You didn't pay for that!"

Alegra shot a look down at Naomi. Her eyes landed on the almost finished popsicle.

"Huh...would you look at that," Terrell commented. "The little twerp's growing up to be just like you."

Alegra didn't reply as she motioned with her fingers. Her board shot towards her. "Time to go," she informed her Naomi as she lifted the girl onto the board. She followed.

"Hey!" the guy began to run as he realized that the girls were making their escape.

Alegra looked like she was about to set off when she paused. She turned to Sahara. "Thanks," she told her softly.

For what? Sahara thought in surprise.

"Oh, and before I forget." Alegra shot a look towards the approaching guy to make sure she still had time. He was almost upon them. "I don't know what you're up to. But I saw him," she jabbed a finger at Terrell, "teaching you to board earlier. Something's telling me you're looking to join a crew."

Terrell tensed.

"If you're looking for one, best place to start is at a moonlight gathering." Sahara's blank gaze made Alegra raise her eyebrows. "I'm guessing he hasn't exactly told you."

"Look here..." the guy was two steps from them.

"Well, got to go." Alegra leaned forward and shot off.

"Hey!" the guy sprinted after her.

Sahara stared after her. Moonlight gathering? She turned to Terrell to find that he had calmly picked up his board and was looking it over.

"Hey, you." The guy whom Alegra had spoken with earlier had returned. "I was looking to buy that."

"It's not for sale," Terrell replied. Without another word, he began to leave.

Sahara hurried after him. "Didn't Alegra take more?" she asked curiously as she realized that they had only retrieved the board.

"Most of it was useless junk," came Terrell's reply.

Sahara's forehead wrinkled as she remembered the fuss Terrell had made about it earlier. Yet, now that he had the board back, he didn't seem to care as much.

"What was the whole episode with you yelling at me and all that?" Terrell asked as he gave Sahara a curious look.

Sahara's eyes widened at the memory. "You were going to kill her!"

Terrell stopped in his tracks. "Said who?"

"You!"

Terrell's face split into a grin. "You really take everything literarily, don't you?" He chuckled. "So naïve." With that, he resumed his walk.

Sahara stayed for a moment before she hurried after him. "Wait...so you weren't going to actually kill her?"

Terrell burst into laughter. Sahara's face went beetroot as she remembered the way she had tried to protect Alegra.

"It's not funny," she muttered as Terrell continued to laugh. He suddenly paused and whirled to face her. Before Sahara knew what was happening, he leaned down s that they were face to face.

"You," he breathed.

Sahara's breath caught.

"Amuse me," Terrell finished with a grin. Turning, he motioned for his other board. It zoomed over from where it had been waiting.

Sahara scowled. "I'm glad you think so." She paused. "Terrell. What's the moonlight gathering?"

Terrell froze.

"Alegra said it was the place to start if I wanted to join a crew."

Letting out a sigh, Terrell turned back to face her. "It's a gathering."

Sahara waited for him to explain more, yet he remained silent. "Gathering of what?"

Terrell brushed a hand through his hair. "Fine," he muttered under his breath. "Of crews from the area. It's where they meet to formally challenge each other. They sometimes also scout new members from there."

"So that's where I could find a crew to join?" Sahara asked hopefully.

"Yeah right," Terrell snorted.

"Why not?"

"Seriously?" Terrell asked. "Look at you." Sahara's confused expression made him roll his eyes. "You can barely board, what do you have to offer any of them? They need good people...decent people. Not someone who can just stand on a board. You've got to be able to actually race. You're nowhere near that level yet."

"Then...then what have we been doing all this time?" Sahara asked desperately. "We've been training, haven't we?"

"Yes, we have." Terrell adjusted the board he held under his arm. "But rushing won't develop any talent. It takes time."

Sahara felt frustration fill her. "How much time."

"Lots."

"I don't have that. I do want to get home, remember?" Sahara told Terrell somewhat angrily.

Terrell simply looked at her for a moment. "No crew would be willing to accept you, not at this level," he repeated.

Sahara tried to contain her anger. "What about starting one?" she asked.

Terrell snorted.

"Is it not possible?"

"I don't know anyone willing to follow someone who can't board," Terrell told her honestly. "As the leader, you've got to be good."

"Can't I at least try? Maybe there is someone out there," Sahara argued.

Again, Terrell was silent for a moment. "I guess," his reply surprised Sahara. She had expected him to argue again.

A smile spread across her face. "Great. When's the next moonlight gathering?"

Terrell got on his board. "Tonight," he didn't sound happy about it.

Sahara's eyes widened. "Do you know where it is?"

"Sure."

"Can you take me?"

"No," his reply was instant.

Sahara scowled. "Why not?"

"What are you going to do? Simply march up to people and ask them to join?"

"If that's what it takes," Sahara replied. She was getting tired of arguing.

Terrell eyed her for a moment. "It's not that simple," he murmured. "People there aren't that..." he trailed off, a mischievous look entering his eyes. "You know what. Maybe I'll take you. It'll be amusing to watch, after all."

"Gee, thanks."

Terrell shrugged. "Just don't get all upset when it doesn't work out."

"I won't," Sahara told him confidently.

"Right," Terrell didn't sound convinced. "Shouldn't you be at work?" he suddenly asked.

Sahara felt her heart drop. "Jack!" she exclaimed as she remembered she had wanted to go right after practice.

"I'm sure he won't be too happy with you missing so much of the day," Terrell told her innocently.

Sahara glared at him. "Wasn't it you who stopped me from going?"

"Me?" Terrell pointed a finger at himself. He snorted. "Don't start blaming me for something you didn't do." He whirled his board around and started to leave. "I'll pick you up later from work. That is..." he turned, a grin on his face, "If you still have a job."

Sahara's eyes widened. I won't get fired over this, will I? She turned and motioned for her board.

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