Shug-R

The contact was unknown but judging from the contents of the messages it was Shug-R, asking for his location and updates on Izzy and Riko.

< Unknown: r u okay?/?

< Unknown: dre n alt are awake!!

< Unknown: pls call izzy and riko asap

< Unknown: pick up???? They r in stable condition

Aaron glanced at the pair in his kitchen. They were sure to freak out. He texted Shug-R back and returned with a blank expression, hiding his intentions.

"Good news, bad news," Aaron began, arms crossed. Izzy and Riko exchanged long glances. "Which one do you want first?"

"Bad news first," Izzy said.

"Bad news is that you have to leave. I have an important thing to do today and I can't afford to not go."

Izzy looked as if she expected it. "Good news?"

Aaron put on a wide smile. "Your friends are awake. Shug-R just texted me. They're fine."

The switch in emotion was phenomenal to see. From the anticipation of a tragedy to pure elation and relief. Riko leaned back and rubbed her eyes, stopping the tears threatening to escape. Izzy was stuck frozen before eventually melting into her chair, laughing.

"Thank fucking god," Izzy said, breathing shakily. Elbows on the table, she put her face into her hands. "Thank god…"

The atmosphere softened. Izzy and Riko spoke with a pinch of joy and enthusiasm. They ate, they joked, and made a mess of things. Aaron didn't mind. He could see the immense burden that had left their shoulders. Their night together had been nothing more than a way to distract themselves. It didn't need to be anything more than that.

"I'm not really sure how to thank you," Izzy admitted. Hanging around his door, he simply smiled and nodded. "No, seriously. We owe you. The Robins won't forget this."

"Of course."

With that, Izzy left. Riko, however, decided to lay back. Aaron waited for her to say something. She didn't. She stood there fiddling with her fingers and staring at the floor.

"Is something up, Riko?"

He heard her sucking in a deep breath. She looked up, features firm and steady. "Can I have your number?"

He blinked. "My number."

Her confidence died a horrific ****. Her fingers stiffened and lay limply at her sides and her mouth made an attempt to say something yet nothing came out. He tilted his head, puzzled, and she quickly glanced back down to the dull white flooring.

"Sure," Aaron said, "I don't mind."

The blue-haired woman seemed shocked. Even as he supplied his number, she appeared as though she was having trouble accepting it.

Aaron had a guess as to what happened. Performance anxiety. Behind all her pent-up anger, she was a girl who struggled to perform when push came to shove. He also assumed that was what happened in the fight against Angel Breaker. Riko choked and her friends paid the price for it. And now that she was interested in him–

'Wait, wait.' His rollercoaster of thoughts stopped. 'She's interested in me. She asked for my number. That's not…that could be…romantic.'

He looked her over. She was refusing to make eye-contact and the tips of her ears were a light pink. Her breathing was a little shaky and her heart rate was elevated.

'Did…did I just give her false hope?'

Oh no, he did. Riko smiled, spun on her heel, and left. Her aura had changed completely, from depressed and anxious to happy and expectant. He didn't know what he could possibly do to rectify his mistake and watched her walk off giddily.

He swore under his breath.

'Well, at least this problem is over and done. Now I have to get ready for the party…'