Push Arabella off of me [Continues Delilah's path.]

“Arabella,” you snap, finally finding the strength to push her off of you entirely. “Get off of me.”

Arabella wakes up and looks up at you, looking confused and then embarrassed. “I’m so sorry.”

You look at her and find it amusing for some reason. You smile and then laugh slightly under your breath. “You’re like a puppy when you’re asleep.”

A harsh scarlet color comes to her face that is so prominent you can see it in the dark. “What?”

After stepping off the bed, you continue to chuckle. “You’re always wrapping yourself around me when we’re under the sheets. I would have thought you were able to retain heat better since you’re part-fox or whatever.”

Arabella bites her upper lip and looks away. “I’m as human as you are, but with ears and a tail.”

“You smell like the forest,” you announce, turning on the light. You see Arabella on the bed, wearing the blankets like a cloak as she watches you. She has a cute expression that makes kills your morning wood. “Hey, I’m leaving today to make a contract. Would you mind getting me set up for a 2-day trip?”

Arabella crawls off the bed to walk over to the desk where she and the twins had organized almost all of your equipment. “When do you need it ready?”

You shrug, plucking your watch off the dresser. It was 7 in the morning. “I’ll need it ready by 1 pm today. Think that’s manageable?”

Arabella smiles. “Of course.”

You get some clothes ready and push open the bathroom door. You pause and then go over to Arabella. “Be careful, would you? While I’m gone?”

She nods, not saying anything. You had a feeling she was annoyed getting the third degree every time you left her at Tiny’s Tavern. You pucker your lips to one side before sighing. You needed her to do more than just stay hidden. “Would you watch over Delilah while I’m gone?”

“What?” she looks back at you with her brows slightly arched. “Watch her how?”

“She’s got a few guys stalking her, and I’m not going to be around to watch over her as much as I want to. I obviously can’t trust anyone else to make she’s safe while I’m away, so would you somehow…you know…keep her in check while I’m off?”

The gears in her head turn. She realizes this is a big request from you. “You really trust me to do all of that, master?”

“I’m counting on you,” you say.

She brushes back her hair and clears her throat. “How…?”

“I’m not asking you to shoot anyone or get physical, but just keep your ears open when it’s late to ensure there’s no shouting and screaming from Delilah. If you have to use ****, then…”

“...I’ll know what to do,” Arabella trails off, eyeing the hardware and bullets on the desk. Pistols, rifles, and even the prized MPL.

You follow her gaze, reading her thoughts as they are produced in her head. “Again, I trust your judgment. Just consider the outcomes. I don’t know what difference it’ll make. I’m sure someone has already made it known you’re here.”

“I know,” Arabella stands up and sits next to the bed. “I just don’t want to make things harder for you, is all.”

“As long as you don’t do something to spite me on purpose, I won’t get mad at you. Mistakes always happen, and the more complicated the situation, the more likely it is. Sorry to dump all of this on you.”

She shakes her head. “Don’t apologize, please. I can be tasked with a lot, master.”

You run a hand over your hair, looking at her differently. You spend the rest of the morning getting ready for the day. You intended to talk to Delilah before leaving, but she isn’t working yet. The person at the counter is Miranda. You know by her pale skin and vibrant purple eyes. Thalia is in the lobby, eating breakfast and drinking what you assume to be coffee. Before joining her, you decide that perhaps you should get some coffee too.

You knock on the counter, and Miranda turns to face you. “Good morning, Warren.”

A smile replies for you before you request a coffee. Miranda nods and grabs a pot of black coffee and a yellow mug. “So, what's the big and bad contractor doing today? Two days before Christmas.”

“Taking that girl in the lobby up to Highlight for a music rehearsal,” you take the coffee and eyeball it. “And then helping her earn some title or something by playing the guitar with her.”

Miranda gives a loose smile. “Aw, how adorable. No killing or name-calling, then?”

Her comments make you smile slightly. “No. I’m afraid not,” when you drink the coffee, you find it black and bitter– the same as it always was here. You look up and see Miranda looking at you idly. She looks away when your eyes meet. “Something wrong?”

“No,” she replies. “Hard to find people these that can talk is all. I’d like to talk to you more. Delilah’s been gushing all about you whenever we’re working together. I’ll admit I had some of my suspicions, but you seem interesting.”

“There are more other interesting people to talk to in town.”

“Thought I noticed some new faces come in earlier this week,” Miranda smirked as if she was hoping this subject would open up. “A blonde girl and her partner, right?”

The subject peeks your interest, but you can’t allow yourself to get distracted now. So, all you do so look at Miranda over the lip of your mug as you swallow another gulp of the bitter-tasting substance that is posing to be coffee. “I think you’re referring to Scarlet? She came in with an outfit known as the Automatic Rifle Syndicate. You familiar?”

“Everyone that has been here long enough is familiar with the ARS,” Miranda looks at you and leans into the counter. “It’s whether or not the ARS becomes familiar with you that’s interesting.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You both stare at each other. Miranda slightly starts to grin and then winks. “I’ll watch over Delilah for you while you’re out. Unless you got someone else on the task,” Miranda produces a rag from her waist and starts to clean the counter.

“I’d appreciate the gesture,” you down the rest of the coffee with a cringe and then place it on the counter. “How much do I owe you for this?”

Miranda looks up. “Nothing. It’s shit coffee. I’d be a criminal if I charged a long-time occupant to make them pay for that.”

Miranda looks up at you and then looks at Thalia in the background. “Be careful Warren. I think you’re about to find out wandered into the middle of a minefield. The question is…is it easier to go back or to continue forward?”

…

…

You sat across from Thalia in the coach. You can hear the banter of the driver and his shotgunner as Thalia holds onto her bags. Her eyes are downcast as she thinks in silence. Your knee bounces subconsciously as you try to keep your mind focused on the task at hand.

It isn’t until the coach hits a bump and Thalia yelps in surprise that you decide to talk to your client is needed.

“So, Thalia,” you try, adjusting your rifle under your pit.

“Hello?” Thalia looks up, bewildered you’ve decided to say something after this much time had washed over in silence.

You laugh. “Hello.”

She looks down and then chuckles. “I’m so sorry. I’m nervous.”

“Why? You sound great, and we went over this last night for an hour and a half.”

“I used to do this with someone I knew very well, and now I’m depending on a contractor,” Thalia is looking at you again, but her expression is less awkward. “I mean no offense, Visser, but this is my first time working with someone new in the last three years.”

“You worked with the **** user for that long?”

She smiles. “I actually usually do these things with my husband,” you didn’t notice a ring before and chose not to bring it up. However, Thalia sees your curiosity and takes off her glove, flashing you a modest golden ring.

“Yes, I’m married. But, he’s sick right now. I tried to stay with him, but he told me to do it anyway. So, I feel a little conflicted right now. I’m happy I’m here singing and whatever, but it doesn’t feel not being there for him while he’s unwell.”

All you can produce is a simple “oh,” before trying to make the sentence in your head.

“You love him, right?”

“Of course,” Thalia looks at the door and sighs. “I wish I didn’t go at all. But, unfortunately, he’s the only thing on my mind right now, so I’m probably going to screw up and make an ass out of myself.”

“Well, with the kind of attitude….”

Thalia looks at you, somewhat annoyed by your response. So, to ensure you don’t stay on her wrong side, you quickly follow up with more. “If it makes you feel any better, Delilah isn’t in a good place either, and I left so I could do this contract. She’s the only thing on my mind right now.”

“So,” she leans back. “How are we supposed to do this without making any mistakes?”

You consider her question and think. “You wouldn’t screw up if you were here with your husband, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, how about this…I’ll pretend you’re Delilah, and you can pretend I’m your husband.”

Thalia snickers through her nose. “You look nothing like him.”

You sigh. “I said pretend, Thalia.”

“Whatever,” she says, smiling, looking at you harder as if she’s trying her hardest to take your suggestion to heart. “I’ll try. We’ll have plenty of time to practice even after we get there.”

“You know what to do when we get there, right? I’d hate to arrive and stumble through the process of getting accepted into this gig.”

“Just leave everything to me. I know how the process goes. I’ll get us penciled in, no worries.”