Bari remembers how, shortly after Robin left for boarding school, Eugene sought comfort in the past. He remembers how Eugene dragged him along on a trip to visit a pair of old colleagues— a brother and a sister, Cole and Bonnet— who Eugene once traveled the streets with as a merry band of thieves.

Although the siblings had since settled down, they welcomed Eugene and Bari with open arms. And so they stayed with them for a couple of months, though most of it is a complete blur in Bari's memory.

However, since the nightmare that was Woodgate, bit by bit, the details return.

The more time he spends with Flint, bit by bit, the more memories of that visit return.

Bari must have initially suppressed them. He was only about thirteen at the time, and it must have frightened him as he struggled to understand it. But now, he couldn't be more thankful for the experience. He had no way of knowing it at the time, but he would come to need those memories.

... Bonnet was severely traumatized.

No one ever told Bari why, nor was he ever able to piece together what happened to her. He didn't need to know the specifics to witness the aftershock; there were the screams at night, the overt jumpiness, the sudden, almost violent physical reactions, those days where she'd lock herself in the bathroom and her brother had to gently coax her out. What Bari recalls most is how Eugene would pull him to the side and try to explain what was happening— those moments have become Bari's key. Though he wasn't conscious of it at the time, Bari began to understand Bonnet. He came to understand how the human mind can be morphed to always be alert, to always expect danger. He came to understand that fear was not weakness, nor should it be shamed.

He came to understand how scars could bleed.

He came to understand the burden of trauma.

Having become deeply ingrained despite the memory of it being shunned, this knowledge later helped Bari to understand Flint. Or, at least, it helped him begin to understand.

His memories of Bonnet resurfaced because he saw similarities in Flint's behavior— though their behavior was in no way identical. However, that constant fight-or-flight response always at the ready, so easily activated...

Bari understood it. He really did. That's the only reason he's been able to be so patient with Flint these past months, more patient than even Flint was with himself—

Bari really did understand.

That didn't make it any less painful when Flint seemed terrified of him.

There was this one day at Woodgate. Field time had just ended, and the crisp outside air was downright analeptic. Bari felt rejuvenated; when he went to Flint's cell to further discuss potential escape plans, he held nothing but positivity.

It was shot down by confusion and panic as soon as he stepped through that cell door. He did not see Flint, but he could hear his stilted breathing— the breathing of someone who was fighting to stay silent but couldn't.

Bari dropped to the ground, laying his cheek against the cement floor. Flint looked back at him from underneath his bed, eye wide and alert... yet somehow it also seemed foggy and unfocused. Though the shadow of his hiding place tried to veil them, Bari could see the angry, reddened bruises on his cheekbones and forehead. He could see the blood dripping down the side of his face.

Bari reached out to him, tried to ask him what happened, but Flint threw his arms over his face and tucked his knees up to shield his stomach. He screamed at Bari as if he were an enemy, screamed at him to go away. To just leave him alone. Even as Bari cooed "it's me, it's only me" over and over again, Flint's screaming only increased in volume and desperation.

Bari was eventually made to realize that Flint wouldn't calm down until he stepped out of that cell.

A similar event occurred shortly after their escape from Woodgate. One moment, the two were walking down a city street. The next, Bari was pushing through a crowd to chase after Flint.

Flint had abruptly taken off without any sort of warning, and Bari struggled to keep up. Flint eventually took cover beneath a bridge, hiding behind a pillar that supported it. Bari approached to see him shrinking in on himself, every inch of his body trembling as he rubbed his arms in an attempt to soothe himself.

Again Bari reached out to him, tried to ask him what happened. Again, Flint quailed and withdrew, essentially cowering beneath him as he screamed at Bari as if he were a threat:

"No! Go away! I said to go away!"

And again, Bari had to remove himself from Flint's sight for him to calm down. He had to wait for Flint to come to his senses; wait for Flint to act like nothing happened; wait for Flint to put forward that flat guise to mask his pain.

There was nothing in the world that made Bari feel more useless.

In those torturously long waits, Bari kept making the same promise to himself. He can't undo the past; he can't take away the pain Flint must carry into the future. But he can prevent further suffering. He can grab the future by the horns and do whatever he must to protect his friend.

That's all Bari wants now. The past has already broken his heart to pieces. The aftermath that persists already eats away at him. But the future remains unwritten.

He'll keep Flint safe, no matter what.

* * *

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous!"

Bari halts in the middle of an alleyway, hunching over and trying to catch his breath. Tsubasa stops in turn, standing several feet away from the boy with her fists clenched.

"I agree." Tsubasa's posture is nearly perfect. The only sign of any fatigue on her face is the beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. "Are you ready to surrender, thief?"

"Hell no!" Bari pivots to face his pursuer. "All this running in circles, and you don't even have a weapon!"

"I don't need a weapon to bring you down. Why not make this easy and simply face your wrongdoings?" Tsubasa throws her fist into her palm and cracks her knuckles.

Great. This woman is fully prepared to pummel him, and Bari has only two real options to fall back on. The first is to keep running, which would only serve to exhaust him while getting him nowhere fast. The second is to attack with magic, which could very well backfire on him astronomically... but there is also a chance that he might be able to incapacitate Tsubasa before his magic begins to take its heavy toll.

Though Bari is certain that Flint will never let him hear the end of it if he takes the gamble, he feels that gambling is his best option. He enables the magic vibrating beneath his skin to run down his arm and gather at his fingertips. A luminous white engulfs his palms.

"Yeah, no. Unlike you, I have more important shit to worry about than justice over some glorified nicknacks. So maybe you should get your priorities in check before we try killing each other over something so stupid."

"Glorified nicknacks?!" Red swarms Tsubasa's face. "I will have you know that those charms your wretched hands tried to take are important heirlooms of Yusho's royal family! They have brought my family good fortune and prosperity for generations—!"

"Lady, I really don't care."

"... You are truly insolent." Tsubasa leans her body forward, preparing to charge. "You will regret ever touching my family's—"

"Tsubasa!" A third voice intervenes.

Bari's heart plunges into his stomach as Carolina rushes toward them. She stands beside Tsubasa and draws her spear from her back, pointing it directly at Bari's chest. His magic retreats from his hands; its glow dissipates.

If Carolina is here, that could only mean—

"Carol! That other thief, did you—?"

"Captured." Carolina's eyes lock onto Bari. "Your friend was already exhausting to deal with, so I'm not in a particularly good mood. If you resist, it will not end well for you. I can promise you that."

Well, so much for retaliating with magic. Suddenly, Bari is staring at the maw of the worst-case scenario, and that worst-case scenario leaves him with only one real choice to make.

Bari listlessly threw his hands into the air. "Okay then. Take me away."

Both of the women's features go slack. They exchange quick glances before looking back at Bari.

"What? You've been telling me to give up this whole time and now that's not good enough for you?"

"But what happened to 'I have more important shit to worry about than justice over glorified nicknacks?'" Tsubasa retorts.

"Nothing. I have more important shit to worry about, and that includes my friend's well-being."

"So... you're really letting us arrest you just because we caught the other one?" Carolina asks. "Not very thief-like of you."

Bari scoffs. "The hell is that supposed to mean? I don't know what kind of thieves you've come across, but I've always been taught thieves oughta stick together. Besides, you aren't blind, right?"

Carolina's eyes narrow. "In regards to what?"

"My friend. His demeanor. His scars. His fear. You don't have the slightest clue about what we've been through, what he's been through. And I'm sure you don't give the slightest shit, either. Neither of you."

As Bari speaks, he notices something dark and almost vulnerable flit across Carolina's expression. The color threatens to drain from her face, her dark eyes soften and shimmer, her fists tremble as they clutch her spear, and her jaw clenches as a noticeable shudder runs down her back. It takes her several deep breaths to regain control over her disposition.

Something's changed. Or, at the very least, there's something Carolina is aware of. Bari can't discern what that is, but right now, it's of little importance.

"I'm not leaving him behind. He's too vulnerable," he continues. "So how about you pull your heads out of your asses and take advantage of this? Or else I might try to run just to make your lives more difficult."

Carolina draws back her spear with a long sigh. "...That won't be necessary. You're right. Whatever your reasoning is, you are making the right decision. Face the wall and—"

There's a distant, high-pitched scream.

Followed by a long, hearty wail.
And then silence.

The color drains fully from Carolina's face.

"What was that?" Tsubasa sheepishly looks to her friend. "Carol...?"

"That sounded like Sara's friend." Carolina's face controls in anger. "Goddammit, I should've known better!"

"Carol..." Tsubasa's voice goes low. "What's going on?"

"Came across the girls. They were worried about you and offered to watch the thief while I went to assist you. The boy was unconscious— I didn't think anything would happen!"

"What?! Do you mean to tell me you left my little sister with a criminal?! Carolina!"

Tsubasa's arms and fists shake as if she's holding back from pouncing at Carolina. Bari stares and blinks— his head spins as he tries to make sense of this. Carolina left Flint... with some girls? And one of them just screamed?

First of all, why would Carolina do such a thing instead of handing Flint over to some guards? Secondly, why would there be any screams? It doesn't make sense. It's not in Flint's nature to hurt anyone...

Mostly. It's mostly not in Flint's nature to hurt anywhere. Bari knows full well that if Flint is frightened enough, if Flint is desperate enough, if Flint is pushed far enough, then Flint is wholly capable of hurting someone.

A frustrated grunt escapes Bari's lips. This situation just keeps finding a way to get worse.

Carolina dashes off without a word, leaving Tsubasa's question unanswered. Without thinking, Bari darts after her.

Tsubasa snatches his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "You...! Where do you think you're—"

"To see what's going on!" Bari rips his arm from her grasp. "I'd think you'd like to do the same, since your sister's involved, apparently!"

Bari turns away from her and continues running after Carolina. It isn't long until he hears Tsubasa's footsteps behind him.

* * *

"I-I don't understand! Where were—?! How—?!"

Robin's past the point of screaming. Now she can only choke back tears as she tries to comprehend it all. Her brother's here. Her brother's alive. She's holding Flint in her arms. This is real. This is actually happening. But how—?!

"I'm sorry..." Flint keeps repeating those words over and over again. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I-I tried! I tried to escape, I really did! I tried to escape and make it back, but I— but I—!"

"Y-you're not making sense! Escape from where?!"

The image of those scars flashes across her mind. Scars that no doubt have a story to tell.

The face that those scars coat... is her brother's.

That boy who recoiled from her, who screamed at her in fear, who watched her every movement like a cornered animal, who whimpered and winced at the slightest touch... is her brother.

Pity morphs into all-consuming terror.

"W-what happened to you?!"

Flint doesn't answer. He only bites his lip to stop himself from sobbing louder, shakes his head, and lets his face sink deeper into Robin's shoulder.

Another hand taps Robin's shoulder, making her jump. She looks up to see Sara— she had nearly forgotten Sara's even here.

"... Robin, what's going on? Who... is this?"

"M-my brother," Robin stammers. It's all she can muster— she doesn't even know where to begin with explaining this. She doesn't even understand any of this herself.

"...What?!" Sara's eyes widen. "I thought your brother was dead!"

"So did I!"

She lays her hand on the back of his head and pulls him closer. This is real, but it still doesn't feel real at all. Each time she blinks, she worries she'll open her eyes and Flint will be gone again. She worries if she loosens her grip the slightest bit, he'll fall from her grasp forever.

Sara's head suddenly snaps up. A pained grimace enfolds her face. "Oh no..."

Robin peers over her brother's shoulder to see three figures approaching fast. A boy and two women— Tsubasa and Carolina.

"Sara!" Tsubasa zooms to her sister and cups her face with her palms. "Are you alright? Hurt anywhere? I swear to god if that thief hurt you I'll have his head—"

"No, no! I'm fine! Take it down a notch!" Sara brushes Tsubasa's hands from her face. "I'm fine, really! Listen, that guy is— Carolina, wait!"

Carolina storms straight toward Flint and, by extension, Robin. Robin holds Flint (who begins to shake violently) even closer, glaring up at the woman with her misty eyes. Though her tears blur her vision, she can still see Carolina's lips draw back into a snarl.

"This is an odd sight. Care to explain what's happening here?"

As Carolina crosses her arms, a green-haired boy runs to her side. There's something familiar about him, though Robin can't pinpoint what. Maybe it's the round and soft features? The coffee-brown irises? The beauty marks beneath the left eye?

The boy's jaw hangs open as he stares down at the two. His gape is incredulous as he runs a hand through his hair.

"Wait. Oh my god... Robin?!"

Flint lifts his head at the sound of the boy's voice. He cranes his head back to look up at him. "Bari..."

"Bari?!" Robin tries wiping the tears from her eyes to clear her vision. "W-why is your hair green?"

Bari pauses, taking a double-take. "...That's seriously your first question?!"

"Hold on. You know these two?" Carolina's glower mercilessly zeroes in on Robin. "... I was right not to trust you. You knew these two, and you deliberately tricked me into leaving that thief with you. And better yet, you dragged Sara into your deceit. How dare you."

"I... I didn't know!" Robin cries out. "I didn't know it was— I-I didn't know!"

Robin doesn't know why she hurried to defend herself. She doesn't care what Carolina thinks of her, and it's not false that she tricked Carolina and dragged Sara into it. But she didn't know the thief was her brother; she couldn't have known. She hadn't anticipated any of this. Her mind's still a dizzy blur. Reality still doesn't feel like reality.

For Carolina to insinuate anything different angers her at her core.

"Don't give me nonsense." There's restraint in Carolina's voice. Restraint from unbridled screaming. "I'm done listening to your lying."

"Wait, wait, wait. She's probably not lying. This situation kind of just got super complicated, so if you'd listen for a moment—"

Bari steps in between Robin and Carolina, speaking quickly yet softly. His interference is rewarded by Carolina retrieving her spear from her back and pointing it straight at him.

"Woah!" Bari raises his hands in front of his chest. "I'm just trying to talk with you here! Put that damn thing away before you go hurting somebody!"

"Carolina, please! Listen to him!"

Sara intervenes from the side, pushing down Carolina's spear with her palms. Tsubasa grabs Sara by her shoulders and pulls her back.

"Sara, stay back! These are criminals!"

"No, they appear to be Robin's family!" Sara tears herself away from Tsubasa's grasp. "I don't care if they stole some fancy baggies! They're my friend's family, so maybe you should listen to them for a second!"

"Sara, I told you not to speak of our family's charms in such an impertinent manner!" Tsubasa snaps.

"I mean, she's not wrong. They really are just fancy baggies," Bari says.

"See!" Sara gestures to Bari. "He gets it!"

"He's a thief!" Tsubasa hisses.

"He's a thief, meaning there's nothing to listen to," Carolina adds as she raises her spear. "He's a criminal, and I take criminals in."

Bari shakes his head, keeping his hands before his chest. "That'd be cruel. Listen. That girl, she's his sister. And she thought he was dead until, what?"

He looks at Sara expectantly. She shrugs. "Uh, until, like, five minutes ago?"

"Until five minutes ago," Bari continues. "And she thought he was dead for a long time. I'm talking seven years long. Are you seriously going to take him from her now? Do you have any idea how brutal that'd be for the both of them?"

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before you went stealing irreplaceable artifacts!" Carolina retaliates.

"... Perhaps we should've thought of—?!" Bari parrots, breathless and flabbergasted. "Excuse me?! How were we supposed to see this coming?!"

"Enough with your senseless begging! You're wasting all of our time!"

"You're wasting your time!" Robin holds Flint the slightest bit tighter. "You are not touching my brother!"

Carolina growls. "Little girl..."

"Carolina—!" Sara shakes her head mid-shout. She turns to Tsubasa, knowing that Carolina is a lost cause. "Tsubasa, please. Robin's a very important person to me. And these boys... I'm certain they're important to her. That makes them important to me."

"Sara, don't." Though her words are sharp, Tsubasa uses a soft tone. "They're—"

"Thieves. They stole your things, gotta pay a price. I get it, I get it. I won't ask you to look the other way and let them off scot-free. I know you'll never agree to that. But please, hear 'em out before anything else. At least let Robin get an explanation for all this."

"But Sara, Carol—"

"You're the princess here, Tsubasa," Sara huffs. "And it's our family's baggies that got stolen. You could call her off easy. So... call her off. At least for a little bit. Please, Tsubasa. For me...?"

Sara's eyes grow large and doughy. Tsubasa tries to look away, but like a moth drawn to a flame, she keeps peeking back at her sister's face. The relentless puppy-dog eyes weaken her resolve until she's left to sigh in resignation.

"Carol..." Tsubasa says, her voice just above a whisper. "We'll apprehend them soon. But for my sister... let's hear them out. Quickly."

* * *

Robin's dorm room was not meant to accommodate six people. It hadn't been tidied for incoming visitors, either. But regardless, everyone's packed into the little cramped dorm room while tension loiters, frizzles, sputters, and presses down on the tip of their skulls. A keen ache masses behind Robin's eyes.

Robin sits on the edge of her bed, sandwiched between Bari and Flint. Her arms are locked with theirs, her grip tight to ensure neither can be torn from her. Sara, Tsubasa, and Carolina sit across from her, nestled within bean bag chairs and lofty, animal-shaped stuffed pillows. Sara's expression is almost pitiful as Tsubasa and Carolina stare with such intensity that it's nothing short of a miracle that laser beams don't fire from their pupils. Carolina's impatience is just short of infectious; her foot taps incessantly as her brow twitches.

It's amazing how Sara got the women to agree to come here instead of forcing the two boys to spit out their explanations in that alleyway. Robin's grateful for it— it gave her somewhat of a chance to calm down.

Rather than the glares or the irritability of the women in front of her, Robin is captivated by the meekness of the one-eyed boy beside her. His head is down, though his eye darts from corner to corner. His gaze focuses particularly on the plushies sporadically spread throughout the room...

He gnaws at his lip as his shoulders hunch. The look on his face... it's the look of someone trying to make themselves as invisible as possible. It's a look Robin struggles to read.

Though she can't read him, she can sense the apprehension. It makes her wary to say something, but also wary to say nothing.

"...You can hold one if you'd like," she says.

Flint flinches at the sound of her voice. Something inside her wilts, but she carries on, picking up a stuffed, bean-shaped giraffe and dropping it into Flint's lap. His jumpiness subsides as he wraps his arm around it and plops his cheek straight onto the soft fabric.

Robin opens her mouth, then closes it. She's struggling not to break down into more tears— she's barely been in Flint's company for an hour, and the discrepancies between him now and her memories of him are already painfully bare. That confidence he had, the sense of self-assurance he carried himself with, the way he'd stand straight with his hands on his hips as he praised Robin before patting her head— that's all gone.

She's afraid. She's afraid to know. But she must know why he's—

"We did not come here to sit around and do nothing," Carolina snarls. "Get talking."

Sara scowls. "Tsubasa, tell your friend to give them a minute."

"But I wholeheartedly agree with her. We absolutely did not come here to sit around while doing nothing. We're here for explanations. Explain."

Tsubasa eyes Bari, then Flint, then Bari again. Robin swallows hard. She hesitantly opens her mouth again and tries to make eye contact with her brother. He keeps his gaze downward.

"Flint... a-all this time, I thought you were dead. That fire... I-I thought..."

Her throat closes as if to block the word. She takes a gasp of air.

"...Flint, where were you? Why didn't you come home?"

Flint remains silent. His grip on the plush giraffe tightens as his face disappears into the fluffy faux fur on its head.

"...I should explain," Bari says. Robin turns her head to see the dread gleaming in his sunken eyes. "It'd be easier that way."

Robin glimpses back at her brother to see how his muscles tighten like knots and shake. She nods feebly.

And Bari explains.

It's a straightforward explanation— all bones, no meat. Flint stole from the wrong person— Robin found it uncharacteristically reckless of him to steal from a prince alone, but she wasn't about to question him about it all these years later— got caught, got swept away to Zau, and was held prisoner for his crime. Bari speeds through it all, hitting beat by beat by beat without allowing anything to sink in.

"I came across him a few months ago," Bari continues. "...He was trying to escape, and he made out into the nearby city. I happened to be in the area, so—"

"W-wait! You're going too fast! Y-you're skipping past things! What happened in that prison?! I-is that where... his scars...!"

Robin is unable to finish her sentence. She grabs Flint's hand, even as he refuses to meet her eyes. His hand is exactly like his face: covered with scars, both the pale and the dark, the little and the huge.

"Flint, please...!" Both her hands enclose his. She can no longer hold back her tears. "I just... please!"

"I-I can't..." Flint murmurs, his face still buried in the felt and fur of the giraffe. "I... I can't..."

"Flint—!"

As Robin raises her voice, Flint shrinks into himself. "I-I'm sorry! I-I can't! I can't!"

"Robin..." Bari tugs at her sleeve, but Robin can't take her eyes off Flint. "Easy, easy." Bari's tone is gentle, yet stern. "It's... kind of what it looks like. That prison... wasn't kind to him. So... be gentle with him."

Robin chokes back a sob— she hates this. She hates seeing her brother like this. She should be nothing but ecstatic that he's here with her, alive, but... her heart is breaking piece by piece.

"I'm... I'm sorry." Robin squeezes his hand. "I'm so sorry."

Flint finally looks up from the plush giraffe, his eye damp with tears as it rushes to meet Robin's gaze.

He goes to speak, but before he could, Carolina's low voice cuts him off.

"The gritty details don't matter." Though there's a tough exterior to Carolina's tone, Robin swears she hears her voice lightly tremble. "Get on with it."

Despite how flushed and damp her face is, Robin shoots Carolina the dirtiest of looks. She would snap at her if Bari didn't speak up first.

"... Fine then." Bari restrains a groan behind his grit teeth. He lays his hand on Robin's shoulder as he continues. "...So, as I was saying, I came across Flint by complete chance."

More bones, little meat. Bari found Flint, purposely got himself arrested to go after him, and together they plotted a successful escape from captivity. So simple, so many things unsaid— Robin watches Bari wince as he carefully picks and chooses his words. The pained expression that engulfs her face mirrors his.

"...Bari," Robin croaks. "You—"

"Wait just a minute! Let me clarify everything I have heard." Tsubasa nearly stands up from the bean bag she sits on, but her fists latch to it as if to keep her grounded. "You two... are not only thieves, but you're prison escapees, too?"

"I can't even say I'm surprised. They're slippery and set on dodging consequences. Of course, they'd escape from a prison," Carolina remarks.

"Glad you think so highly of us." Bari stares at the women with a challenging glare. "Look, I'm going to ask you flat out. What will it take for you both to drop this?"

"Oh, we are not negotiating," Carolina retorts.

Bari shakes his head. "You're actually impossible. C'mon, you have to know how pointless this is."

"Are you saying there is no point in justice?" Tsubasa raises a brow.
"Are you trying to strawman me? I never said that. What, do you think throwing us in cells to rot is objective justice?"

"Yes," Carolina hisses.

"Not in my mind. What is this justice for? Was any real harm done? You've got the damned things back; you've lost nothing. To take us in... would mean we potentially lose everything. Does that sound remotely right to you?" Bari asks.

"So we are supposed to pretend nothing happened because you failed to steal my family's charms? Does that sound remotely right to you?" Tsubasa counters.

"Why wouldn't it? Do either of you have anything to actually gain from this?" Bari persists.

"Peace of mind, knowing that a wrong has been made right," Tsubasa answers.

"Satisfaction with the fact that I got two criminals off the streets," Carolina answers.

"I..." Bari presses his fingers against his temples. "You're never bending. I'm wasting my time."

Carolina tilts her head as her eyes squint. "So you finally figured that out?"

"...'Fraid so. You two won't quit until someone's punished. So... knowing that, I think I'll offer you a deal."

"I told you we are not negotiating," Carolina says as she watches Bari stand.

"At least hear me out before you shoot me down. After all, I'm about to surrender myself." Bari rolls his eyes before opening his arms as if to welcome an embrace. "I'll go with you, willingly. No more useless running around, no more time wasted, no fast ones, no last-minute escapes, nothing of the kind. A neat finish to this whole thing."

"Bari...?" Robin's eyes widen. "Don't you dare..."

Carolina's eyes squint further into slits. "Well, considering you're presenting this as a deal, I'm assuming there is a catch here."

"Just me. That's the catch. If you must punish someone, punish only me. Flint's been through enough, and Robin doesn't deserve to lose her brother twice. Those are my terms. If you disagree, then I'll be an even bigger pain in your asses than you could ever imagine."

"Bari, no—"

The plush giraffe lands on the floor with a soft thud. Bari keeps his eyes locked on the women even as Flint stands and closes the distance between them with a short hop.

"What are you doing? Bari!"

Bari won't look down at Flint, actively lifting his chin. His dark eyes stab at the women as they sit silent.

"Well?"

"Bari!" Flint shouts, his face flushing red. He steps in front of Bari and stands on the tip of his toes, trying to reach Bari's line of sight.

"Flint, let me do this." Bari keeps his chin lifted and turns his head away. "Just let me do this."

"No way! You think I'm letting you just throw your life away like this?"

"Flint, stop—"

"No!" Flint's raspy voice deepens in anger. "Have you learned nothing from Woodgate? Do you want to trap yourself in a hell hole like that again?!"

"Do you?!"

Bari raises his voice to rival Flint's. His twisted, equally red face lowers as their eyes lock. They stand opposite of each other, teeth gnashed and faces practically inches apart as if they were the only two in the room.

"Do you want to spend your days locked away again?!" There's audible, steadily increasing desperation in Bari's voice. "Do you want to spend hours alone in a cell again?!"

"I—!"

"Do you want to run into someone like Risha again?!"

The tension doesn't leave Flint's features— it shifts from frustration to something much closer to horror as he takes a step back.

Blinded by the same emotion that brings tears to his eyes, Bari continues. "Do you want to become someone's toy again?! Get hurt again?! You're just starting to get better, you think I'm going to kick back and let that all get thrown away?!"

The aggression melts away, leaving only the pure desperation. His next shout rings as an anguished plea.

"I'm trying to protect you, Flint! Just let me protect you!"

There's a bout of deafening silence. The soft sound of Bari panting has the volume of a siren.

Flint withdraws further and further until his back hits the wall. He mutters something methodically beneath his breath as he holds his hands over his chest; his breathing loses its rhythm.

Bari's expression softens with the quiver of his lip. He takes a tentative step forward. "Flint—"

"Why?!" Flint's head snaps up, his eye wide as his pupil flares. "Why did you have to mention him?!"

Bari freezes completely. Realization dawns on his face. His fingers reach up and graze his lips.

He stands motionless as Flint continues to mutter, shake, raise his hands to the side of his head and grab fistfuls of his hair. Robin stands and reaches for one of Flint's hands to tug it from his hair— she blinks away more of her tears as he quails from her, holding back a shriek that tried to emerge from his throat.

She catches his hand as he recoils, cupping it in both of hers as she brings it up to her cheek. She bites back a sob as he looks at her with the face of a cornered animal. "...It's okay. It's okay. Flint... it's okay..."

Flint's trembling eases as he draws his lower lip beneath his teeth. He lowers his head, eye downcast in shame. "I'm... I'm sorry."

"...Flint—"

"Carol? Carol! Friend, my friend, look at me!"

Tsubasa's panicked shrills abruptly draw everyone's attention to Carolina. Tsubasa taps at Carolina's side, but Carolina keeps her head hung as her forehead leans on her folded hands. Her complexion is a ghastly gray, her face is suddenly drenched in cool sweat. Her breaths are long, shaky, yet somehow shallow.

"Can't be... can't be... can't be..."

"Can't be what? Carol, please! What's wrong?!"

The question falls on deaf ears as Carolina's coal-black eyes glance upward. Though it's an almost alien look for Carolina, they swell with tears as they stare at the one-eyed boy who clings to his sister's hand for dear life.

"You... you are..."

"Carol, what are you saying? Look at me, friend!" Tsubasa begs as she wraps her hands around Carolina's arm. Carolina rips her arm away immediately.

It becomes too much. Without a word, Carolina leaps onto her feet and bolts out of the dorm room.

* * *

When Carolina was still in training beneath her father, it wasn't uncommon for him to take her on short excursions to foreign regions. The transport of prisoners from these regions to Andaweal was a common occurrence, and if the prisoner was high profile enough, Carolina's father would oversee the transfer himself.

The trips were short-lived, and almost always strictly business, but Carolina enjoyed them nonetheless. It gave her a taste of the world outside Andaweal and Yusho, and the various landscapes and cultures were always so enamoring. And more often than not, she'd have an opportunity to slip out and try the different cuisines. Her memories of the trips were some of her sweetest— a break from the intense, rigorous training that almost felt deliberately designed to make her snap.

...There's an exception to every rule.

Throughout the years, though her work sent her all over the world, she absolutely refused to travel to Zau under any circumstances. Her men learned not to question her on the matter, not that she had a proper answer to give anyway. Whatever gave her such an aversion to Zau... she couldn't remember it. She knew she'd been there only once with her father, knew the only thing that occurred was a run-of-the-mill transfer, but she couldn't explain why the thought of returning to that country made her sick to her stomach.

She knows why now. She remembers. Woodgate, Risha— it makes sense now.

She had always been afraid of terrified, misty emerald eyes waiting for her.

It was several years ago. Carolina stood alone in the halls of Woodgate as her father spoke to the warden in his office. Every passing second was dull. She kicked at the ground as she wallowed in her boredom, waiting for something to happen.

Then her ears picked up on the sound of screaming.

None of the guardsmen that surrounded her reacted— was this normal? Her instincts didn't care. She chased after the sound; the closer she got, the more pain she could hear in the wailing voice. The more pain she heard in that wailing voice, the faster she moved.

She found herself in the solitary hall. One of the doors was slightly ajar— she could hear the sound of whimpering and the rustle of chains from behind it.

She pulled the door open. A scream of her own rose in her throat that she kept stifled.

The first thing she noticed was a guard— looked to be roughly in his thirties, blond hair swept back, tall but slim, face slender and features delicate. With the gentle smile that added a layer of softness to his appearance, Carolina would have called him handsome.

But that was ignoring the blood that stained his uniform, the unlocked cuffs he held in his hands, and the young teen on the ground cowering beneath him.

The teen had to be younger than Carolina— by how much, she didn't know, but they were certainly younger. She couldn't see their face; their mid-long hair fell in front of it and shielded it from view. What she could see was their tattered striped jumpsuit covered in splotches of red, as well as their bare, bruised, bleeding arms.

In every sharp, exasperated breath they took, Carolina could hear their pain.

As she took in the grotesque picture in front of her in all its glory, she noticed the scattered drops of blood that littered the cell floor. She noticed the stray, lone tooth that sat inches away from her feet.

Carolina threw her hands over her mouth. It was like she had just walked head-first into a horror film... but unlike a horror film, she couldn't pause it to recollect her sensibilities. Neither guard nor prisoner noticed her, and the scene continued on without a hitch.

The teen held and cautiously rubbed their bruised wrists— the guard must have just removed the shackles moments before Carolina entered. They pushed themselves up with their elbows, their body trembling with instability and the hair falling from their eyes as they peered up at the guard. Carolina couldn't decipher whether the teen was male or female until they let out a soft, hoarse plea: they were definitely male.

"No more... please, stop..."

Before another word could be muttered, the guard stomped down on the side of the boy's face. The boy's head slammed against the floor. The dirt and blood-covered boot did not retract, continuing to press down on the boy's head and keep him in place.

"Why? Do you think you deserve better?" The man sneered as he ground his boot against the boy's cheek. "Don't start having such delusions. This is what you deserve. Besides, I'm just getting started, my little thief."

The boy let out what sounded like a moan mixed in with a sob. Carolina could see the light of his eyes shine behind his chestnut bangs.

That light fluttered with feeble hope as the boy noticed her. The guard raised his brow before looking up to see what caught the boy's attention.

"Oh, my, pardon my manners. I didn't hear you enter."

The guard put a hand to his chest like a butler, his expression tranquil and proper.

It didn't make sense.

Carolina shook her head, hands still covering her mouth. She went to speak, but her throat constricted. "What... what are...?"

The unfinished question only served to amuse the man. He chuckled to himself, removing his foot from the boy's face and tossing the unfastened shackles to the side. He lowered himself onto his knees, staring down at the boy as that gentle smile contorted into a lopsided smirk.

"I'm going to go have a word with our guest here. While I do that, you do not move from this spot. Understand?"

The boy offered a weak nod.

The guard reached forward and pinched his bruised cheek, causing the boy to groan in pain. The satisfaction in the guard's dark blue eyes, the ravenous hunger that seemed to absorb and relish in every bit of the boy's agony... was like nothing the girl has ever seen.

"Good boy." The guard released the boy's cheek and gently patted his head before standing up.

He left the boy behind him and approached Carolina with an air of nonchalance. Carolina couldn't take her eyes off the boy— she only met the man's gaze when he explicitly blocked her view.

"I can't say we've met before. Judging by your uniform, you're of Andaweal's national guard. Was that transfer today? It completely slipped my mind." There was no maliciousness in the man's tone. There was a jovial sound to his voice, speaking to the girl as if she were a colleague he'd often take out for drinks. "Funny, isn't it? No other country ever demands a prisoner of Zau's except for Andaweal. Fitting for them, they tend to stick their noses in the affairs of others."

Carolina's hands fell from her face as she tried to stand on the tip of her toes to peer over the guard's shoulder. "T-the boy..."

"Don't mind him. He's only a simple thief addicted to misbehaving. I'm giving him proper punishment, that's all."

"But..."

"You seem quite young to be in that uniform. At most, I'd assume you'd still be in training— wait." The man's eyes narrowed. His face lit up with realization soon after. "My, you must be Carolus's kid! The one he's always bragging about! You're the spitting image of him! You know, it's not every day that someone with such unnotable blood makes a name for themselves. I can't help but respect him for it."

"...You... know my father?"

"This isn't the first time we've had Andaweal's men visit, you realize."

"I realize that, but I wouldn't think..."

"Your father knows to call on me if a prisoner is... uncooperative in regards to the transferring process. More often than not, Andaweal is the last place they want to be sent." The guard snickered— a child-like glee illuminated his face in a way that made Carolina's stomach churn. "Five minutes with me, and they beg for whatever fate lies in Andaweal."

"...You're... Keres Risha, aren't you?"

"Ah, so your father's spoken of me?"

"Not to me personally..." Carolina slowly shook her head. "I overheard him talking about you with his men. He mentioned how you were reliable and... terrifying."

"Terrifying?" The guard, Risha, laughed heartily. "In the eyes of those I discipline, that is certainly true. But that's concerning murderers and thieves. You, my dear, have nothing to fear."

"But..." Again, Carolina shook her head— this time, however, the gesture was full of vigor. "T-that boy... you need to stop! H-he told you to stop!"

"My dear, that isn't how this works."

"B-but he's already— he's— he's already—"

"It's kind of you to pity him, but don't fret too much. He's not worth it. Take it from me." Risha's tone became sickly sweet. "If you're to follow in your father's footsteps, you're going to have to learn that no matter how frail and harmless they look, a crook is a crook."

"T-that's a kid—!"

A sudden weight pulling at her leg took the words from her mouth and replaced them with a high-pitched shriek. She jumped and hastily looked down.

She was greeted by an encapsulating pair of emerald green eyes.

They captured her on sight— though one of them was swollen half-shut and bloodshot— drawing her in with their deep, hypnotic color that shined bright with extreme, unbridled terror. Although they stared back at her, their pupils refused to focus on her, shuddering and convulsing as if he were in withdrawal.

"Miss..."

As much as those emerald eyes tried to distract her from it, or rather, as much as she tried to keep herself distracted from it, the sight of the blood and the bruises shook her. Blues and purples and blacks covered the boy's scarred face like colors on a pallet haphazardly blended together. Reds dripped from his nose and his lip and the multiple cuts on his cheeks and forehead.

"Please..."

His hands, as shaky as his gaze, clung to the stiff fabric of her pants. He was on his knees, looking up at her as he panted. Carolina couldn't tell if he was crying, or if it was just more dripping blood, or if his tears were mixing with the blood—

"Help me."

He threw his chest forward, preparing to put everything into a pleading shout. His begging came out in only a whimper, his voice too strained from agonized screaming.

"Help me... help me... help me... help me..."

Carolina said nothing, did nothing. Her body went rigid, refusing to bend to the will of her instincts— as if her instincts knew what to do in the first place. Her instincts, her mind, they all went numb. When she tried to think, when she tried to chase away the haze that clouded her thoughts, she was rewarded with only a dull ache in the back of her skull.

Her instincts, her mind, they failed her. They left her to gawk down at the miserable prisoner.

Amidst the numbness overtaking her, she had forgotten she and the boy weren't the only two people left in the universe. Risha clicked his tongue, causing Carolina's body to twitch as if reawakening from a long slumber.

"Now, now, Flinty boy. It is not your place to bother this nice young lady. Besides..." A toothy, venomous smile distorted Risha's face. "I believe I told you, loud and clear, that you weren't to move from where I left you."

Risha bent forward and grabbed the boy's arm as well as the back of his collar, beginning to pull him back to rip him away from the young woman. The boy, in turn, panicked, latching onto Carolina's leg while crying out to her.

"Miss...! Help me!" Somehow, the boy's broken voice managed to scream. "Please! Help me! Please help me! Miss...! Miss...!"

The effort was futile. Carolina nearly stumbled forward as the boy was torn from her leg, his hands still reaching out and trying to grasp her. Even when he was caught in Risha's grasp, even when one arm was firmly twisted and pinned behind his back, his other reached out for her.

His eyes remained locked on her.

"Please!"

"Enough, enough," Risha chided. "Why waste this young woman's time with your blathering? You know no one in their right mind would bother to help you. You're only making matters worse for yourself. Now, because you've disobeyed me, and because you've chosen to be a nuisance, I'm going to have to do this."

The man bent the boy's arm at a place and angle it wasn't meant to bend. There was a loud crack—

The scream the boy made was beyond description— as if pure anguish itself had been isolated into a single sound.

Carolina threw her hands over her ears to no avail. That sound pierced through her, echoing through each little crevice of her mind. The dull ache in her skull became sharp and ferocious. Hot tears prick at the corner of her eyes.

Through her blurry vision, she saw Risha's face. His eyes were gently shut, his smile was soft and calm. He looked peaceful. To him, the screaming must have been the equivalent of soft piano music that puts one at ease.

'Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.' The words ran across her mind over and over again. 'Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.'

By the time the screaming became low, empty wails, Carolina had finally found within herself to move. She slowly lifted her foot, slowly took her first step, slowly reached her hand out to do something. What was she going to do?— She didn't even know. She was going to do something, anything. Perhaps she would take the boy from Risha's grasp and cradle him in her arms as he cried, perhaps she would hoist him up and make a run for it— she just had to help him. She had to help him somehow.

Before she could take her second step, an arm wrapped around her waist and a hand clung to her shoulder. The familiar scent of cheap cologne and sweat-soaked body armor flooded her senses.

"D-dad...?"

"Carol, you shouldn't be here. We're out of our jurisdiction. It's not our place to interfere with matters of discipline." Her father tugged her back, his hold gentle but firm. He looked to Risha and bobbed his head in apology. "Forgive my child's intrusion. I should have warned her beforehand of your... methods."

"Oh, it's quite alright. She was no bother. I could see why you boast about her all the time, you have quite the beautiful daughter."

"...Thank you. She's my pride and joy." The man's grip on his daughter's shoulder tightens. "We should be on our way. Do you want me to shut the door for you?"

"W-wait!" The boy cried out, though every breath he took was sharp and rickety. "Please! No! Miss! D-don't leave me with him! Please, Miss! Miss—!"

"Shut him up!" Carolus snapped— Carolina couldn't believe those words came from his lips.

Risha pressed his hand over the boy's mouth to silence him. Those encapsulating emerald eyes closed in resignation, though it did nothing to free Carolina from her unending trance.

"My apologies for that. I'll be sure to reprimand the brat for pestering your daughter. In any case, I would appreciate it if you did shut the door behind you."

"Understood. Until next time, Keres."

"Until next time."

"Let's go, Carol."

Carolus led Carolina away from the door. She managed to catch one final glimpse at the young prisoner and the smirking guard before her father slammed the door shut.

"Dad..."

Carolus wasn't listening. He led her down the hall with haste, even as she kept peering back at the solitary cell. Still, though she couldn't tear her sight from that closed door, she allowed her father to pull her along—

Until there was another scream. She stopped in her tracks, forcing Carolus to stop alongside her.

"W-we can't leave him there!" Carolina pulled away from her father's grip. "That boy... he's hurting! And that man's only going to hurt him more if we don't go and—!"

"Carol, baby, listen to me. You're too kind for your own good—"

"Too kind?! That boy was in serious pain and begging for my help! Wouldn't any decent person want to go back there and stop this!"

"You're forgetting where we are, Carolina. We're standing in a prison. That boy is a criminal."

Carolus reached for Carolina's shoulder, but she withdrew.

"I know full well where we are! But what could that kid have possibly done to deserve that?!"

"It doesn't matter. Carolina, that boy is here because he wronged someone. The moment he committed his crime, he surrendered his rights and made himself subject to whatever treatment he would receive within justice's walls. There's nothing for us to do but let him face the consequences of his actions."

"But... but..." Carolina shook her head. "He asked for my help... I'm supposed to help people!"

"Not criminals."

"But—!"

"Your empathy is truly a beautiful thing, but not everyone deserves it. As I've said, that boy is just a criminal. He doesn't deserve your empathy. He doesn't even deserve your pity. It'd be a waste." Carolus reached for Carolina's shoulder again. This time, she accepted his touch. "He's just like all the other criminals we've apprehended. Scum. Not even worth viewing as people until they've paid their dues. It's just as I've taught you, sweetheart."

"But..."

Carolina had made her objection without an argument to make. She searched for one, dug into the deepest depths brain to find one, but she came out of it empty-handed and speechless.

Her silence made Carolus sigh. He smiled a somber smile.

"Come now, Carol. My men have everything under control. I'm sure we could slip out a bit for a treat. Zau has some amazing pastries. How does that sound? I know you still can't resist a good sweet, my sweet girl."

Carolus slung his arm over the girl's shoulder and continued to lead her away from the horror of that solitary cell. As she left the boy's screams behind her, Carolina began to push the sound of them into the back of her mind. Along with that sound, she pushed back the memory of the beautiful, nausea-inducing, pleading, encapsulating emerald green eyes that looked up at her with such desperation.

Even back then she knew she would never truly forget them, but the quicker they existed in only the most suppressed of her memories, the better.

In the meantime, she clung to her father's logic— he's a criminal, a crook. Criminals are bad, which means they deserve the worst. The guardsmen are good men who are only doing their jobs... right? Right. Everything's alright. Everything is as it should be.

That's what she kept telling herself that day, but she knew she didn't believe a word of it. Deep inside, she wondered if anyone deserved the pain that Risha inflicted on that boy.

* * *

"Here, breathe into this."

When Carolina's senses return to her, she blinks to see Tsubasa kneeling at her side. She presses a paper bag up to her mouth; Carolina watches it inflate and deflate in perfect sync with her breathing.

She's really fallen this low in a span of ten minutes— to a point where she's being doted on. It's humiliating to a point where it's almost rage-inducing. She shouldn't be this weak—

The memory of those emerald green eyes flashes through her mind yet again. Those desperate, pained, terrified eyes that held such power...

Because of her inaction, he's missing one of them.

She can try to deny it. She can rely on the fact she doesn't know exactly how he lost that eye. But she knows better. It had to be that man's doing...

Those scars— that word on his stomach... was that his doing, too?

Was that another consequence of her inaction?

Was that her fault?

Her mind goes foggy, black spots flood her vision, and Tsubasa encourages her to keep breathing into the paper bag. Carolina obliges, and her vision slowly clears as oxygen floods back to her brain.

"Carol..." Tsubasa murmurs. Carolina lowers the paper bag and crushes it in her hand.

"I'm fine," she says, straightening her posture.

"You're—?! No, you are not!" Tsubasa exclaims. "You collapsed!"

"...Yes, I did. But I'm fine now."

"That's absolute nonsense! Carolina, what happened?"

Carolina takes a heavy sigh. "...It's nothing to concern yourself with."

"Of course it is! I'm your friend—!"

Tsubasa is interrupted by a series of footsteps and her younger sister's voice. "Tsubasa? What happened? Is Carolina okay?"

Both women look up to see Sara, her hands folded behind her back and her head tilted. Standing a short distance behind her is one of the thieves: the boy with the green hair. His coffee-brown eyes study them, sizing them up— as if he doesn't already know they're his enemy.

Carolina can't help but stare back at him. She doesn't know where all her anger and disgust from earlier went— even as she stares the thief right in the eye, she can't muster any of that anger. Any of that disgust. All she can think about is how he was so quick to surrender in that alleyway, so quick to surrender himself in that dorm room...

A lowly thief has done more to protect the boy that pleaded for her help than she has.

Her breathing threatens to go sporadic. She feels lightheadedness inch toward engulfing her.

She has to get out of here.

"I'm okay."

Carolina stands, though Tsubasa's hands reach out for her, trying to prompt her into staying put. She continues to stare at the thief; his glare is aggressive, but she wouldn't expect anything less.

"I never want to see you or your friend ever again. Do you understand me?"

The thief blinks in surprise. The aggression vanishes from his face. "Wait, you mean...?"

"I'm looking the other way this once. And only this once. So be certain that our paths don't cross again—"

"Wait!" Tsubasa sprouts up beside Carolina. "You can't just let them go! They stole my family's—"

"I'm not your attack dog, Tsubasa," Carolina snaps. She sees the hurt in Tsubasa's eyes, but she doesn't relent. "I've made my decision. If you really want those thieves caught, do it yourself."

With that, Carolina twists around and storms off. Tsubasa looks on in confusion and concern. She takes a step to chase after her, but hesitates.

She looks at the thief with bared teeth. "You're very lucky. I hope you know that."

Tsubasa goes trotting after Carolina, calling her name. Sara and the thief are left standing in her dust, shooting each other confused looks.

* * *

For the first time since he and Bari ran into Tsubasa and Carolina, Flint's world slows down.

He's sitting alone with Robin— well, Lulu's here also, but even she's fast asleep, contently curled up on one of Robin's pillows. All is silent, and all is still.

Before he went running off after the women, Bari promised he wouldn't let them take him away or resort to self-sacrifice. Robin's friend— Sara, he believes her name was— swore she would make him keep that promise. That seemed to be enough to put Robin at ease...

Though he worries about Bari and about whatever decision those two women make, though his world should still be in an absolute panic, Flint finds everything has gone still. Robin is still holding his hand, and the warmth of her palms is grounding.

Though he accepts her touch, he struggles to look her in the eye. It's funny in a painful sort of way— this was all he ever wanted. More than anything else, he wanted this exact chance. He wanted the chance to hug her, to kiss her cheek, to tell her that he loved her as he apologized for everything. To reclaim all the precious moments he's lost.

All the escape attempts, all the punishments and the brutality and the pain, it was all for this moment.

But here he is, and he can't even meet her eyes. The pain that darkens her bright, baby blue eyes... he can't help but hate himself for it.

Self-hatred is such an easy trap to spiral into— especially when your very existence feels like a detriment. Flint never wanted to cause Robin any pain, and yet—

"Flint...?"

Robin's voice is soft and clear— that hasn't changed. Sure, her voice isn't as high-pitched, but there's still a soothing quality to it just as he remembered. Robin is so different now, yet so familiar. She's grown so much; seven years is plenty of time to mature, after all. She isn't that 4'3" little girl with a long braid and a childish laugh that was all inhales, but she still has that same gentle, kind, sweet gaze. She is still Robin.

But Flint's not sure if he's still...

"Flint...?" Robin calls again, squeezing his hand. "What is it...? T-that name Bari mentioned—"

"He's dead." The words pop out of Flint's words before they register in his mind. "He's dead, so he doesn't matter anymore."

"O-oh..." Robin doesn't sound convinced, but she doesn't press him any further.

If you knew what I did—

Flint pushes away the thought before it could take form. He sighs. "Robin... I-I'm sorry. I know this must hurt..."

"O-of course it hurts! Y-you're hurt!" Robin's thumb traces one of the many scars on Flint's hand. "All this time... I hadn't realized. You were trapped in that place... for seven years. And they... they..."

Robin wraps her arm around Flint's and leans against him.

"They hurt you...!"

Her shoulders tremble. Flint hesitates before wrapping an arm around her, trying to steady her.

"Y-yeah..." he says. There's no hiding it. "They hurt me. They... changed me. I'm... I'm not who I was, and I don't think I'll ever be. So..."

He brushes a strand of hair from Robin's face. He can see tear stains on her round cheeks— the sight feels like a gut punch.

"...If... if you want me gone, I'll go...i-it's okay."

"What?" Robin pulls herself back with an astonished expression. "Why would—? W-what on earth are you saying?"

"I-I just... I don't want to hurt you." Flint rubs his eye; the tears have already come. "I-I've already caused Bari so much grief. He keeps telling me it's fine and that he's fine, but..."

Flint shakes his head. He's fought with this ugly feeling for a long time, but in moments like these, where he watches someone close to him break down because of him... it makes him feel like the worst of burdens. He doesn't want to force that burden onto Robin. She doesn't deserve that—

Internally he tells himself that he's happy to just have these short moments with her. To see her again, even if it's for a short, fleeting moment, makes him happy. To see her living this peaceful life he could never give her makes him happy. His pains and his suffering weren't worthless. It was worth it for this short chance...

Even if she sends him away...

"I understand if you don't want me complicating things. I'm... I'm just happy I was able to see you again. I'm so happy you're okay. So... so if you want me gone, I'll—"

Robin's hands suddenly cup his face, making him flinch. Regardless, she presses her forehead against his as she fights against her sobs.

"Flint, please. Don't say that. Don't you ever say that."

"But—"

"How could I ever want you gone? I love you, Flint. I love you so much, I've missed you so much..."

"B-but... I'm not the person I was—"

"I'm not the person I was, either. But I'm still your sister. And you're still my brother. You're still Flint. My big brother. And you always will be."

If you knew what I did—

Flint forces the thought back into the depths of his mind before it can finish. He forces it back so he can indulge in the sweet words.

"You... you mean that?"

"Of course I do!... You have no idea how many nights I've dreamt of the day you left. About how I could've stopped you, saved you, kept you with me, grabbed onto you and never let go. About how I lost you. And those dreams never got easier to deal with— every time I remember that day, I just want to cry."

She pulls her head back, wiping her eyes with a sniffle.

"B-but... you've come back! You found your way back to me... and even though it hurts to see you so hurt, I'm so relieved. I can't imagine losing you a second time! D-don't even put that thought in my head!"

She lets herself collapse onto him, throwing her arms around his and clinging onto him like a koala to a tree. Her frail shoulders are still trembling.

"Stay, Flint...! I know you're hurting badly, but I want to be here with you. I'll be here with you every step of the way, so, please... I can't lose you again. I've never stopped wishing to have you back... a-and now you're here! You're here... I can't lose you again. You mean too much to me... my dear big brother who did so much for me... my dear big brother..."

Flint allows himself to melt into Robin's embrace. The sleeves of her dress grow damp with his tears. "Okay...I won't go anywhere... I love you, Robin."

He blinks, taking note of the dorm room surrounding them as he runs a hand through her hair. His baby sister... having spent the last few years in this place, striving for her future...

"I'm so proud of you," he says.

Robin can't keep herself from wailing into his shoulder.

* * *

The women are gone. The boys are safe. The three are together.

When the sun finally set on the chaotic day, there was one biting question left to answer:

What now?

Bari gave Robin the obvious answer: call Eugene. Robin agreed. As they walk through the city in search of an inn for the boys to stay for the next couple of nights, she opens her flip phone and selects Eugene's contact.

It takes three calls for someone to pick up— one would assume it'd be Eugene, but the voice that answers is distinctly feminine and not Eugene.

"Mmmmm... who is this?"

"Um..." Robin glances at Bari and Flint. They are deep in their own conversation, none the wiser about her predicament. "Eugene's daughter?"

"...Oh!" The woman seems to sober up judging by the sudden perkiness of her tone. "Sorry, sweetheart. I'll get your dad for you, hang on."

Robin hears rustling and what sounds like skin slapping skin on the other end of the line. The woman's now distant voice shouts, "Wake up! Your kid's calling! Get some pants on and take it!" There's a soft "oh shit" from a deeper voice, a thud, a woman's laugh, and more rustling.

By the time Eugene actually takes the phone, he's out of breath. "Robin, baby!"

"...Is this a bad time—?"

"No, no, not at all, not at all." Eugene forces a chuckle— Robin can only imagine how red his face is right now. She hears the sound of a door swinging open and slamming shut. "How are you? Is the semester treating you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, school's going fine. Um..."

"...Everything alright, hun?"

"Well, uh... I need you to come to Wodic. Like, ASAP."

"Oh? Well, I can be there in a few days— but may I ask why? Is something wrong?"

"Um..." Robin glances at the two boys yet again. How does she explain this?— She still can't believe any of this is happening. "Bari's here."

There's a long pause.

"Bari?" Eugene asks.

"Mhm. He happened to pass through Wodic so, uh..." Robin resists the urge to drop the phone and wring her hands. "Yeah."

Both of the boys' attention is now on Robin. Bari's brow is arched upward as he crosses his arms.

"You're mentioning me, but not Flint?" Bari asks in a whisper.

Robin blocks the speaker with her palm. "He probably won't believe me if I did. I wouldn't. It's very much a 'see it to believe it' kind of thing."

Bari shuts his eyes in thought, then nods.

"Robin?" Eugene's voice calls. Robin presses the phone back against her ear.

"Yes, yes, I'm here."

"Bari... is he with you right now?"

"Yes."

"...Could you possibly hand him the phone for a moment?"

"Oh!... Sure I can!"

Robin extends the phone out to Bari. His eyes go wide; he waves his hands to reject the phone, but Robin forces it into his hand.

Hesitantly, Bari puts the phone to his ear. "Hello?... Yeah, yeah, I'm okay... Yeah, yeah, I promise you, I've been doing just fine... Eugene, really, I'm okay, I swear—"

Bari suddenly jerks the phone from his ear. Though it's difficult to discern the specific words, it's easy to hear Eugene screaming his lungs out.

He cautiously attempts to draw the phone back towards his ear. "I know, I know, I lost the number, okay?!"

For a moment, Eugene's words are clear. "Lost the number?! What do you mean you— number! Dammit, Bari I— worried sick!"

Then his screaming returns to incoherence. Bari storms forward to spare Robin and Flint from the noise as he attempts to argue back.

"Wow... I suppose I should have seen that coming." Robin rubs the nape of her neck. "Eugene has been really worried about Bari recently, having heard nothing from him."

Robin turns to Flint and immediately lets out an elongated gasp. He looks at her innocently as if he wasn't holding a box of cigarettes in his hand.

She doesn't even think twice before knocking it out of his hand with a swat of her palm. He looks down at the box, dejected.

"So much for a smoke," he mumbles.

"Nope, nope, nope," Robin huffs as she puts her hands on her hips. "No brother of mine is smoking toxic sticks!— Hey, are you pouting at me?"

Flint stares at her with puffed cheeks. "Yes."

In return, Robin puffs out her own cheeks. "Two can play at that game."

The two have a staring match, pouting at each other like a pair of little children. Eventually, the pout falls from Flint's face as he reaches up and lays his hand on the top of Robin's head. Just like a million times before, his hand rests on her head. She remembers all the times he'd ruffle up her hair—

She can't keep up the guise. Her pout vanishes as she feels tears prick at the corner of her eyes. She throws herself forward and rests her head on Flint's chest, wrapping her arms around him. Soon after, she feels his arms wrap around her and hold her close.

She can't help but start crying again. It's miraculous. Even if he's hurt, even if he'll never be the same, she has him back.

In this one moment, that's the only thing that matters.