We pulled up to the motel and Kobra put a hand on his gun when he saw other people.

"No, it's okay, they're killjoys," I said. "They may not all be friendly, but they're not threats."

We got out of the car, walking inside where people strolled around.

"Oh, when you said the motel I thought this was gonna be an abandoned motel, not a store inside a motel," Kobra said.

I smiled as I walked up to the counter.

"Hey, Ghoul, how've you been, haven't seen you or Jet around here in this zone lately," Kick Bone said.

Bone was short with black hair that went down his forehead in a slant, streaks of red in it.

"Yeah, been doing a lot of scavenging," I said.

"Who's this firecracker you've got here?" He asked.

"This is Kobra Kid," I said. "That's why we're here, you got any mattresses for sale?"

"Let me check," he said.

He went through a door that led to the back and I walked around as Mikey followed. I picked up some food, deciding it would be a good idea to get it while I was already out in this zone. Bone came out and I walked up to the counter, setting the food down.

"We've only got full sizes left," he said.

"That would be perfect, actually," I said. "We'll take one and these too."

I looked on the counter where there were some items displayed and saw a little tiara. I picked it up, setting it with the other items. He put our items into a cardboard box for us that we put into the backseat before driving around to the back. We got the mattress and tied it to the car.

"Alright, we should be getting back to the diner around dusk," I said.

Kobra nodded, looking out the window.

We ended up making good time, getting back to the diner around sunset. Kobra and I passed the time easily as we talked, we got along pretty easily.

"Hey, Jet!" I called when we parked.

Ray came outside, Poison following with Lady B on his hip.

"We were able to get a full size mattress for you and B, Poison," I said.

Poison smiled, setting her down. They came over to help bring them inside while B watched. We set them down and I grabbed the box of supplies next, setting it on the bar before grabbing the tiara out. I smiled, kneeling down in front of B.

"Look, I got you a princess crown," I said.

B stared at it blankly.

"Does she know what princesses are?" Kobra asked.

"She might not," Poison said. "Her mom wasn't big on princesses. She didn't like the old stories of girls being helpless and waiting to be saved by a man or her only goal is to find her prince. I guess I never brought it up."

"You wear it on your head, B," I said, putting it on my head. "And then you dance around and have fun."

I tried showing her by getting up and imitating some ballerinas, making B giggle.

"Me!" She cheered before spinning around, showing me her own twirl.

I smiled, handing her the tiara. She put it on her hand and continued to try and dance around, falling over a lot but she always got back up and kept going.

"We've already got the curtains up for their rooms," Jet said. "We did it while you two were gone."

We got the mattresses in place, Poison was in the room next to me and Kobra was next to him.

"I was just about to warm us up something to eat right before you got here," Jet said. "I was gonna use the firepit out back."

"I'll help, I can use some outside time after being in the car all day," Kobra said.

I unpacked the box before turning, noticing the way Poison watched his daughter with a smile. I sat across from him, smiling softly.

"Hey, how've you been?" I asked.

"Bandit had a fun day of digging holes," he said. "Which meant I had a fun day of watching her dig holes."

I chuckled, looking over at her.

"I have a question," I said. "Well, not so much a question as much as it is an offer. An offer to follow our death routine."

Poison looked over at me with a frown. I went through explaining the mailbox and the Phoenix Witch to him this time. He didn't say anything for a long time as he looked down at the table.

"I'm sorry if I brought up something that hurts," I said. "I know it must be hard talking about her."

"It's okay," he said. "It hurts, yeah, but it hurts more knowing that she believed in the Witch, she's mentioned her. It hurts to know that she would have wanted her mask to be put in the mailbox and I never did it. Her soul is lost."

"I can take you tomorrow," I said.

Poison looked up at me and I saw his eyes full of tears.

"Is there any chance we could go tonight?" He asked. "Now that I know about it, I can't wait. I need to help her."

"Yeah, we can go tonight, it isn't far," I said.

"After we eat it'll be time for B to sleep and I'll put her to bed," he said. "Maybe we can go then."

I nodded. "It's gonna be okay, Poison. She'll be with the Witch."

He smiled softly before sniffling. He looked over at B and sighed.

"I've never really been away from her at all," he said. "Ever since I came to the dorms, we've been with each other almost constantly. Flash usually was the one to usually go out and get supplies, sometimes Kobra would go with her. I always stayed back and watched B. I was her protector while Flash protected me. Tonight will be the first time I ever go somewhere without her."

"Is there anything I can do to make it easier?" I asked.

"No," he said softly. "I guess it had to happen at some point."

Ray called us for food and we sat outside as we ate. Poison fed B, blowing on each spoonful of chili before giving it to her.

"I'm going to put B to bed after she eats," Poison said. "Kobra, if she wakes up at night can you get her? Ghoul is gonna take me to give Flash's mask to the Phoenix Witch."

"Yeah, of course," Kobra said.

It was quiet as we ate before B was done and Poison went in to put her to bed.

"Thank you for taking him," Kobra said. "I think he needs this."

I nodded, finishing up and going inside to wash my dish before putting it away. Poison was singing in his room to B and I tried to be as quiet as possible as I got ready to leave. I didn't want to interrupt and disturb B while she was trying to fall asleep. The other two came in and I signaled for them to also be quiet.

Poison eventually came back out and sighed. He talked with Kobra privately on the other side of the diner.

"You okay out there at night?" Ray asked. "We didn't teach Poison to use a blaster yet, you'll be on your own in terms of protection."

"We'll be okay, I'll keep an eye out," I said.

"Be safe," he said. "If you need to stay somewhere overnight then do it, don't take the risk of coming back during dusk."

I nodded and Ray handed off his gun and holster to Poison.

"This is the switch to power it on," he said. "Point and shoot the best you can. Hopefully you won't need to."

"You ready?" I asked.

Poison looked over at his room where B slept before he signed and nodded.

"It's gonna be okay," I said. "I'll get you home to your daughter safely."

He smiled and nodded. He gave Kobra a hug before we walked out. We went outside where it had gotten a lot cooler out. I got in, starting up the car. Poison looked back at the building a little nervously before getting in. Poison stayed looking out the window and I took that as a signal that he didn't want to talk. I turned on the radio, filling up the silence as I drove.

We arrived at the mailbox and I turned off the engine. Gerard got out and we walked until we stood in front of it.

"So, I just put the mask in there?" He asked.

I nodded. "I can give you some space if you want to say a few words first."

I went to a rock that was close enough to protect him in case something bad happened but far enough away so I wouldn't hear and could give him privacy. I didn't sit directly facing him, but still glanced over occasionally. He was looking down at a small mask in his hands as he spoke. I reached down, plucking some grass that was growing. I ripped the blade, watching the pieces fly away in the soft wind.

I heard the squeak of the mailbox door opening. I looked over and saw Poison hesitating before finally dropping the mask in. His shoulders were shaking as he cried and I walked over slowly. I put a hand on his shoulder and he turned away.

"You okay?" I asked. "I know it's hard saying goodbye."

"Have you ever been married? Been in love?" He asked.

"No," I admitted.

"Then you don't know what it's like," he said.

Poison walked off, sitting on the rock I had been on. I knew he needed some time so I sat on the hood of the car until he would be ready to come back. There was the sound of another engine and I froze. Killjoys don't typically travel at night, it wasn't safe. The car was blocked by some rubble from the road but Poison was out in the open.

"Poison!" I hissed but he didn't hear.

I could see the light from the headlights now as the car got closer. It was going fast, he would see him any second. I ran over and tackled Poison, laying on top of him and covering his mouth. The car sped by and I pulled my hand away, rolling off of him to stare at the sky.

"Sorry," I said.

"It's okay," he said. "You probably saved me."

I didn't say anything as I watched the stars sparkle.

"Do you think you're ready to head back?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "I miss B already."

We got back into the car and headed back to the diner in silence.