"I'm sorry things didn't go well." Vince says.

"It's ok." I should have expected something like this.

"I don't think things are as bad as they seem." Ivy sits down next to us and places a hand on my thigh. "I'd be amazed if you never see this place again."

"They hate me."

"They're afraid. That's a big difference that can often look the same. Give it some time, we can build their trust back eventually."

"I don't want to bother them any more. It's fine, I just want them to be safe." I try my hardest to force my voice to stay even, to hide my emotions.

"No one's buying that." Cassie says.

I don't know why I bother to try.

"I can handle not coming back, even if I want to. I just don't want Corax to lose his flock. Ow!" Corax bites my ear hard. "Sorry I'm worried about you! At least I have everyone, they understand me. I feel like I revealed that your entire taxological class isn't extinct, only to rip that away from you."

"Fine." Instead of another bite, he gives me a gentler peck on my cheek. "Back eventually."

"Maybe." I don't know how it'd ever happen, but I guess it's possible. So much has happened in such a short time, none of which I could have ever expected. But I'm not going to allow myself to hope that this will change too.

"I don't think it's maybe." Vince pulls up the chair, sitting just in front of me. "I've made bigger mistakes than this and still eventually got forgiven. Long as we make sure they stay safe, and we will, they'll welcome you back eventually."

I just let myself fall to the side and rest on Cassie's shoulder. She tenses up for just a moment before relaxing.

"Let's just enjoy the time we have." Ivy suggests. "If we're not going to be back soon, let's make sure you don't regret our time here."

"We can't."

"And why is that?"

"They hate us. It's too dangerous." I'm not going to make things worse by letting them get hurt too.

"Look, if someone wants us dead, a little door isn't going to stop them." She says casually. "Besides, you really think someone would be able to sneak up on us? I wouldn't be surprised if Corax has another bomb hidden somewhere."

She might be right, we've never tried to hide which room is ours. With how often Corax sits comes and goes, I'm sure everyone knows which is mine. There's another reason, although it's selfish.

"I don't want to see their faces."

"Alright, we don't have to leave." Vince reassures me.

"You can go out. I don't want to take this away from you."

"I'll have plenty of time to relax next time we come back. I'm not missing anything by staying here with you." His words carry such a certainty, I almost make the mistake of believing him.

"Ok. I-"

Cassie shamelessly draws her knife a moment before a knock on the door interrupts us. Ivy's arm retracts into her sleeve, returning with two knives and handing one to Vince. Corax's wings flare out, prepared to fight.

Cassie pushes me off of her and creeps towards the door, hesitating for a moment before peeking through the peephole. She retracts and mouths a name to us.

E-1. Alone.

"You can let her in." She wouldn't hurt us.

Nobody relaxes, but Cassie does reach for the knob and slowly pulls the door open, staying in cover the whole way.

"Oh deary!" E-1 rushes into the room, pulling me into a tight hug. "I'll talk to Kismet, they don't mean what they said."

She can't lie any better than I can.

"You think they'll change their mind?" Vince asks. "Or minds? I'm not quite sure how that works."

"If they see Blue's memories, I'm sure they will." She lies.

"You can share them. It's fine." Even if it won't change anything, it's better than not trying. "I just don't want to relive it again. Not right now."

E-1 shifts back, holding the sides of my arms. Corax stares at the nearby hand, but his distrust is entirely missed by E-1.

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"I promise, you'll be able to return one day. I'll make sure of it. No one should be thrown out by their own kind, not for something so small."

"Sure." I wouldn't describe putting everyone's lives in danger as small, but arguing won't get us anywhere. If Cassie did the same thing I did, I wouldn't blame her. I shouldn't blame myself. I don't even know what other actions I could have taken.

"I hate to change the subject, but I imagine there were intricacies in the vote we missed." Ivy says. "How much do they resent us?"

"That conversation can wait." E-1 turns her head towards Ivy, but still glances at me while she talks.

"Please don't hide things from me. I want to hear." I can handle it. I have to.

"Well," E-1 goes quiet and lets her hands drop off my arms, taking a moment to collect her words. "Emotions are high, and people are scared. A lot of old wounds have been reopened today. They just need time to realize we aren't in danger."

But they are. Maybe not immediately, but if C-1 somehow forces this location out of me? He could be here with an army two storms from now. I don't bring up that fact, we all know it anyway.

"Are we in danger?" Ivy asks.

"No, no of course not. Regardless of how Kismet personally feels, they'll still ensure nobody who wants to harm you will enter the compound. At the end of the day, you are still our guests, and a disagreement won't change that. Especially not after voting to let you leave."

"And outside the gate?" Cassie asks even though I'm sure she already knows the answer.

"It would be safer if you stayed in the compound." She says slowly.

"Fucking great." She mumbles. "When's the storm ending?"

"You'll be able to leave tomorrow."

"Good." Cassie nods a few times before glancing at me sheepishly. "Sorry. I know you like this place, and I do too, but-"

"I get it, it's ok." I quickly reassure her. "I want to go too."

"You know, it'd be easier to believe you if it didn't sound like your heart was breaking with every word." Ivy says.

There's no point talking about it again. I want them to be safe and happy more than anything. If I have to leave to do that, it's fine. I can handle it.

"Alright Little Blue, how about we do something to stop you from wallowing all day?" Vince suggests. "I'll go get us some breakfast, and we can play the day away."

"It's safer if I get the food." I force myself to stand up, my body feeling heavy. "What do you want?"

"Like hell you're going alone." Cassie jumps to her feet beside me, finally slipping her knife back into her waistband.

"Me." Corax argues from my shoulder.

"And how do you plan on fighting off a two ton bot?" Cassie asks. "I can take out some joints at least, give us an out."

Corax's eyes narrow, but he can't argue with that, not without his harness.

"Just grab me something simple." Vince says. "I don't have the biggest appetite right now."

"I can help ensure that picking up food goes smoothly." E-1 offers.

"You've seen what the three of them can do, they're not going to let themselves get hurt." Ivy says. "Sit down, I've got a few questions."

"Come on." Cassie takes my arm and drags me out into the hallway.

"Are you ok?" I ask the moment we're out.

"The fuck do you think?" She takes a deep breath, letting her shoulders drop. She starts to slowly walk towards the cafeteria, with me following closely. "I'm just sick of all the games, all the half lies, all the 'I know better than you, don't you worry' bullshit. I'm sick of every town being a fight for our life, and now home is one too. Our only option is to kill C-1, it's that simple and nobody can just say it, no matter how obvious it is that that's what they want."

I must have had a lot go over my head during the conversations. I'm not sure where this is coming from, but I can't deny that her words make sense.

"I want to talk to him first. I can't just kill him in cold blood. What if he's changed?"

"Even if he has, how are you going to convince the people here he's not a threat?" She asks, ripping open the door to the staircase. "At some point we have to pick, here or C-1. Simple as that, and if anyone would actually say that to our faces I'd be a lot less pissed."

I stay quiet as we head downstairs.

The grounds are close to empty, with just a few people scattered around. I keep my eyes off of them. The cafeteria though, that's packed, and the people are impossible to ignore. Conversation dies as we step inside, and endless heads turn towards us. Every possible emotion is on display on their faces. Pity, hatred, sadness, fear, and so many more I can't even begin to comprehend.

Don't think, just stare at Cassie. Just follow her. I don't need to do anything else.

"Great." Cassie keeps me moving, pulling me along, letting Corax keep an eye out for us. Against the wall sits a small display, which Cassie walks straight up to.

"What can I do for you?" Braise's normal, aloof voice is far more empty than normal.

"A fruit and vegetable platter, a basket of apples, and a handle of vodka."

"One moment." Just a minute later a small section of the wall retracts, revealing a waiting tray. A basket of apples and a tray of fresh vegetables, enough for three people, sit next to a bottle of alcohol and two gallons of water.

Cassie has no problem picking everything up, and the three of us quickly retrace our steps. Very few sounds are made until we're back into the courtyard, and that too is quiet.

By the time we finally reach our room, E-1 is already gone. Ivy and Vince are both waiting casually for us to arrive. They've dragged the table into the center of the room and spread out our cards and collection of mismatched dice.

"Any problems?" Vince asks, his eyes flicking between us and the alcohol.

"Things are tense, but nobody tried to stab me." Cassie places the platter on our desk and grabs a handful of carrots. "So I guess we're safe enough."

"I can see that. Well, how do you want to spend the day?" He asks everyone, but I can tell it's directed primarily towards me.

"Anything is fine." I just want to not think.

The five of us end up playing long into the day. The food we got is enough to last everyone until late in the night, although the alcohol disappears far before then. Cassie ends up drinking most of it, to the point where I'm almost concerned about her. Vince, and especially Ivy, thankfully go light on the alcohol. They'd probably still be able to fight if needed.

Vince and Ivy end up sleeping in our room. Cassie insists we give them the bed, and she ends up sleeping almost entirely on me. I'm once again glad I'm not able to get uncomfortable, I don't have to disturb her all night. Corax stays perched on our windowsill, listening to his flock perched in a nearby tree.

At least they don't hate him.

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