An Awkward Breakfast

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kiera timidly asked as she followed John back with the food, one of her fingers nervously tapping the plates she carried. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“It’s fine,” John tried to soothe her nerves. While finishing up preparing the meal, he woke Senka gently and relayed to her what was going on. Information she then gave to the others. The girls had no issue with the bluenette joining them, though Kiera seemed to be unable to fully accept that.

She nodded slightly but kept her eyes down on the floor. John felt a pang of renewed sympathy for her. He’d hoped that offering a hand in friendship would help her recover, or at least make her feel more comfortable with them.

‘Then again, she’s a lot like I was last week,’ John noted . 'I'd be a wreck if I was being somewhat **** into having a meal with people just one degree removed from being strangers.'

It wasn't as cut and dry as that, but John used their similarities as a starting point to think of ways to make her feel more at ease. If he was in her shoes, he figured someone bringing up games or books would work to bring him out of his shell.

‘So maybe we should try bringing up her art?’ John wondered. ‘But being too up front with that might overwhelm her.’

John chewed his lips at how hard this task was becoming. He’d never thought he’d be the one higher up on the extrovert scale but here he was. He could only hope his far more extroverted girlfriends could keep things from falling into ruin.

Their room drew closer and John’s presence must have shown it somehow as Kiera’s demeanor became more withdrawn and her fingers began to nervously fidget around the plate of fruit she carried, her body turning in on itself, making the girl seem smaller than she was.

Before he could try and offer some sort of reassurance, the door was thrown open and Vivian stepped out, a brilliant smile on her lips. Her eyes sparkled for a moment as they met John’s before she turned her attention to Kiera and her expression took on a slightly more concerned visage.

“Good morning,” the redhead cheerfully greeted, giving John a quick peck on the lips, a more amorous display both not possible due to the food he was carrying and due to not wanting to alienate Kiera. Then she directed her whole focus to Kiera and asked, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m good,” Kiera mumbled, finding the plate of fruit more interesting than Vivian. The redhead’s smile dimmed as she locked eyes with John once more. John nodded, a frown on his lips, conveying as best he could without words that this was how Kiera had been acting from the start.

“Well, let’s not let the food get too cold,” Vivian said, stepping back into the room to allow John and Kiera entry. “Although, couldn’t you have put them in your inventory?”

“Uh, I didn’t think about that,” John slowly admitted, a sudden flash of heat racing across his face. “And we haven’t tried storing food there anyway. Would kind of ruin things if it turns out hot food doesn’t react well with being put into hammer space.”

“Surprised you haven’t tested that already,” Beth jibed, a wide grin on her face.

“It never came up,” John defended his lapse in thought as he put the covered platter of eggs down. A part of him wanted to talk about his conversations with Lynn and Piper, but he decided it wasn’t the time to do so.

‘Best to keep business away for a bit,’ he reasoned, stealing a glance at Kiera as she followed his lead and deposited the stack of plates, the top most one laden with fruit, next to his. ‘Let’s try and give Kiera some sort of normalcy.’

That was a task easier thought than done, and John had no idea how one created a sense of normalcy given the circumstances. Thankfully, Vivian was clearly ready to try.

“Right,” she clapped her hands together before removing the lid from the platter of eggs, “let’s not let things get cold. Kiera, would you like the first serving?”

“Um, if that’s ok with everyone,” the bluenette muttered, her eyes kept low. “I don’t want to impose.”

“Technically, you’re our guest,” Senka pointed out. “It’d be bad manners for us to make you wait.”

“A-alright,” Kiera said as she picked up a plate and let Vivian dole out her portion of eggs. She pulled back as the redhead served the others and John subtly watched her take a bite. He felt a surge of pride when her face lit up and she quickly took another bite.

“Hmm, this is good,” Beth voiced her enjoyment far more publicly than Kiera. “Didn’t know you could cook.”

“Just a bit,” John modestly said, scratching his neck. “I’ve got nothing on my mom, or Mason and Cammie. Just enough to not starve. Can’t go with fast food and pizza all the time.”

“Maybe we can do that full on dinner party idea when we get back after dealing with the tree thing,” Aeolia suggested. “Now that we don’t have to keep things hidden from your mom.”

“Yeah, that would be nice,” John mused.

They lapsed into a brief silence as they ate then Vivian tried to engage Kiera in conversation.

“If there’s anything you need, we’ll be happy to help,” the redhead offered between bites of some of the fruit.

“I, um, appreciate that,” Kiera muttered, clearly not very comfortable with the attention. “But, I think I just need some time to sort things out myself.”

A look of brief panic flashed across her face and she quickly added, “N-not that I don’t want any help, or anything like that.”

“Relax, relax,” Vivian tried to calm her down. “We aren’t trying to **** anything to happen. We just want to help.”

Kiera muttered something that sounded like an apology and locked her focus on her plate, shutting down any chance at further conversation. John and Vivian shared a look, both at a loss at how to address this situation. An uncomfortable quiet settled over the room as no one knew how to proceed.

‘It seems this will be more complicated than we thought,’ Senka noted.

‘Yeah,’ John replied. ‘Can’t just punch this problem away. And if Kiera doesn’t want to open up, we can’t **** her to. Makes us almost as bad as Phantom Reach.’

John caught movement from Kiera and a glance showed she was looking at him, her head tilted to one side like he was something interesting to look at before she hastily looked away, her face growing more red. It was an activity John found uncomfortably familiar.

‘It looks like she wants to be more involved, but can’t work up the courage,’ he mused privately. ‘Maybe making her come here was a mistake. Too many people at once. She wasn’t as withdrawn when it was just the two of us. Hell, she started the conversation. She could have just hid until I finished.’

The depressing mood damped his appetite, something that seemed to be catching given how everyone else was picking at the eggs and fruit. Beth in particular looked most annoyed at the silence.

Right as she opened her mouth to likely complain about it or attempt some way to reboot the conversation, a sharp knock rapped against the door. A moment later, Martius’ voice was heard.

“Are you lot awake?” the gnome asked before it sounded like he began to sniff the air. “Certainly smells like you are and have helped yourself to the kitchen.”

“Um, yeah, we’re awake, and made some food,” John answered.

Martius opened the door without ceremony, only slightly taken aback by Kiera’s presence, the bluenette shirking back from his inquisitive gaze.

“Ah, good to see you up and about,” he said after a moment before sweeping his attention over the room as he walked in. “I hope the accommodations weren’t too cramped.”

“We managed fine,” Vivian answered. “How’s Harker?”

“Well enough to make the trip to the springs,” Martius replied. “Lynn just gave him the go ahead for it. Which is why I am here. There is no way for all of us to go there. It would attract too much attention. Obviously Harker needs to go and Lynn insists that Kiera go too, just to be safe.”

Kiera looked like she was going to contest that and opened her mouth to do so, but her nerve faltered and she remained quiet, allowing the gnome to continue.

“Harker also wants to talk more to you, John, about everything and work out how we’re going to go about things,” Martius said. “Beyond that, I think there’s only really room for a few more.”

“I’m not sure if you know, but I can make us invisible,” Vivian chimed in.

“It isn't a matter of hiding our appearance or number,” Martius remarked. “Access to the hot springs is heavily regulated. The Council doesn’t want to risk the innate healing magic in the water to be overused and drying up.”

“That’s a thing that can happen?” Beth interjected.

“In theory it can,” Martius answered in a huff. “The water flows through some ley lines before bubbling up. It remains in a semi-inert state without something alive to flow into. Studies have been done that concluded it would take a few years for the pools to reach full potency if completely drained. They’re a little less certain regarding how much healing would have to be done to reduce the pool to being little more than a pain reliever.”

“Makes sense your government doesn’t let too many people use it,” Vivian muttered. “Never know when such a valuable resource will be needed.”

“Or the stiff shirts just want their little retreat as unspoiled as possible,” Aria’s voice suddenly chimed in, causing everyone in the room to snap their attention to the doorway. The smuggler grinned at them as she casually leaned against the frame.

“That’s the sort of slander that could get you in trouble if the wrong sort of company overheard it,” Martius said to her once he regained his composure.

“Good thing I’m in the right sort of company.” Aria smirked. “Got the stuff you needed. Any problem paying up now, or are you going to lump this in with the whole gig?”

“I’ll settle this part of the account now,” the gnome answered. “Just to get it out of the way.”

“Excellent!” Aria exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “I’ll leave the stuff in the study.”

“We’ll be there shortly,” Martius said as the smuggler began to leave, turning his attention back to the room's occupants. "Best to sort everything with all parties present. I don't mean to rush breakfast, but the sooner we leave, the better."

"I'd say we're close to being done," Senka diplomatically remarked before looking at John and the girls. "We can be there in about five minutes."

"Five minutes. That sounds splendid." Martius nodded. "We will see you there."

He bowed his head and quickly departed. The room was left quiet for a moment before Aeolia broke the tension.

“Guess it’s a good thing you woke up early enough to make food,” she remarked. “Marching out to this spring on an empty stomach would not be good for the mood.”

“I’m sorry,” Kiera muttered suddenly, coiling in on herself when everyone’s attention turned to her. “If, if I didn’t interrupt, you guys could have been done before he came. I should go.”

The tension in her body released like a spring and she shot towards the open door. Senka, however, was faster than her and caught her wrist before she could escape into the hallway.

“Hold on there,” the spirit gently said before softly smiling down at Kiera. “This isn’t something worth getting all bent out of shape over. Given that John forgot he could stow things in his pocket space, it might have taken him longer to get the food here. Or he could have dropped it.”

John let the ribbing slide, his minorly bruised ego wasn’t important right now. Before he could say anything, Senka continued.

“You aren’t being a burden, or screwing things up,” the spirit remarked in a soft voice, her words seemingly striking at the core of Kiera’s fears, as the bluenette looked at Senka with disbelieving eyes. “I know it’s a bit much to ask, but trust us. We want to help you.”

The fight left Kiera’s body, the arrested tension fading away, even as her face remained beet red. Senka released her hold on Kiera’s wrist and the bluenette awkwardly avoided looking at anyone.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, now about her little outburst instead of a misplaced belief of ruining breakfast. “I…”

“Ya don’t need to make any excuses,” Beth spoke up before Kiera could say more. “You’ve had a pretty shit time and need to get your head back on right. No one here’s going to hold that against you. Take it from me, I was pretty bitchy when we met.”

“Now you’re our princess to tease,” Aeolia jibed, causing Beth’s cheeks to flush though she only managed a half-hearted grumble about the pet name.

Vivian moved over to Kiera and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You take all the time you need to collect yourself,” the redhead said. “We can let Martius and the others wait for a bit.”

Tears welled up in Kiera’s eyes but she wiped them away before they could fall.

“I’m good to go,” she announced after a moment to collect herself, her voice quiet but resolute. “I, um. Thanks for…”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Vivian softly remarked, gently squeezing her shoulder. “We understand.”

Vivian let go of Kiera’s shoulder and turned to the rest of the room. “I suppose that means we shouldn’t let the other’s wait. Shall we?”

---

“Ah, good. Everyone’s here now,” Martius said as John led the girls into the study. Aria and the rest of Argent Echo were lounging in the seats they had used last night. Harker looked remarkably better than he had before and was standing on his own without apparent issue, though he stood right next to a wall with Lynn not far from him with a critical look in her eyes.

‘Is Harker afraid that he’s not going to have enough strength to stay standing for long?’ John wondered. His thoughts on Harker’s condition would have to be put on hold as Martius began to explain things.

“As much as we would like there to not be anyone left behind for the trip, the reality of the situation is I was only able to procure six invitations,” the gnome explained. “Thankfully, entry into the springs is only regulated by a barrier that only lets pass holders in, so there won’t be anyone to see us and ask questions.”

“Obviously, Martius will have to go so he can truthfully say he went and be able to smooth over any issues, unlikely as they are,” Harker continued. “And Kiera and I are the reason we’re going, so that’s three down.”

“And I’m coming to make sure the healing is as effective as it can be,” Lynn said, almost in a challenging manner.

“Of course you are,” Martius quickly cut in, an exasperated tone in his voice as he stared at the alchemist. “But you are not going to take any samples.”

“You made that part very clear already,” Lynn snapped back hotly. “It was only an idle curiosity and I know enough to not make things harder for you.”

“Right, right,” the gnome muttered before continuing. “Now, that leaves two spots, and I believe we were going to discuss our plans going forward so that means John gets one and…”

“If I can interrupt,” Aria cut in and kept going, regardless of what Martius’ answer would have been, “given the extra work we’ve done, I think that last spot should be for us.”

“Extra work!?” Martius sputtered. “I paid you, as we agreed, for you to procure the supplies for this endeavor. Now you want more?”

“Yes,” Aria calmly answered with a smile. “Let’s not forget you still need us to get back to Earth. I believe you said that you didn’t want your departure on the record.”

Martius let out a strained sound like he wanted to argue but had no points he could make to sway things in his favor.

“It really isn’t a big deal that we don’t get to go,” Vivian diplomatically stepped in. “It’s more for the medicinal purpose than as a day out.”

“Knew you had a good brain in there,” Aria drawled. Her praise of Vivian caused Barbara to glare at the redhead.

“Alright, alright, no point in wasting any more time with this,” Martius grumbled. “You can have the last spot.”

“Thank you,” Aria graciously said, nodding her head to the gnome. “But I’m not going to be the one coming along.”

Then she turned her gaze to Barbara and winked.