Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 9

"So, um..." Mark started, before muttering into a walkie talkie. "Right, we'll need to talk to the leaders, first."

"Why do you think I'm here?" Adeline said, shrugging. "What do you want?"

"Oh, well, we were just wondering if we could set up camp nearby, or so my boss tells me," Mark said, "But other than that I'm here to see if there's any hostilities."

Heidi smiled slightly, leaning back on her chair. "You guys are lucky, y'know? You get time to be kids."

"I don't see why not, as long as you're not too close to the village or the forest," Adeline said.

"Ah, well, you'll have to talk with my superiors," Mark said, "I'm just a messenger."

"Truth be told- I didn't get to have a childhood until I met you." Simon said, his hand reaching out to touch Heidi's.

Heidi smiled wryly, squeezing Simon's hand. "Well, at least I didn't completely screw up in that department," she stated.

"You didn't screw up in any department. You made some mistakes, but nobody's perfect." Simon replied, holdign onto the blonde's hand.

"Well, then, when can I speak with them?" Adeline asked.

Heidi frowned for a second, deciding not to comment despite how wrong she thought Simon was. "Have you ever been to the ocean?"

Luke stayed silent for a while, wondering how to help Kira get over her fear of fire. She'd already seen him in action plenty of times, so it wasn't like he could just use his flames. It seemed like they were a completely different thing to the less supernatural fire Kira was afraid of.

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Tom swore as Andrea left, the earth around him starting to quake before he regained control. That had been an unfortunate side-effect of the power boost he'd gotten when he turned eighteen.

Kira smiled slightly at Luke. "You think about it, and I'll clean up."

"They'd prefer as soon as possible, but whenever suits you best," Mark shrugged, "Or now, if you're in a hurry. We're nothing more than mercenaries and traders."

"Now would be good," Adeline said.

"The ocean?" Simon blinked. "Uh... I saw it on TV and stuff when I watched it."

"Alright then," Mark shrugged, tossing Adeline the walkie talkie.

Heidi slammed her head against the table. "But you didn't really watch TV! I swear to God, when I die, I'm going to fucking kick your father's ass. But first we're going to the beach. It'll be like a family vacation, we can bring Erika, and Elena, and I'll drag Ade along, and since shithead seems so eager to run the town, he can do it for a couple weeks."

"Alright then," Luke nodded, though his imagination completely failed to get him a solution.

"R-really?" Simon said, excitement brightening his facial features.

Kira returned several minutes later, sitting down next to Luke and hugging her knees, watching the campfire a bit anxiously. She didn't really want to tell him about the fire and explosion, but she supposed if he asked... Yeah, if he asked. She didn't want to lie to him.

---

"Nah, I'm only pulling your leg!" Heidi responded, her voice filled with sarcasm as she stuck her tongue out at Simon. "Why would I be lying?" she chuckled a second later.

"Wha's wrong?" Luke asked absentmindedly, Dublin accent resurfacing since he wasn't focusing. Kira looked a bit more anxious than usual.

"W-well, it would take a while and..." Simon was about to add something about the baby, but wasn't sure if Erika had told Heidi about the... little stranger. "B-but it sounds great! I'd love to."

"Just...the St-Storm..." Kira responded, laughing a bit nervously.

---

"Me 'n Tombo saw the ocean on our trip," Heidi smiled. "Bastard kept calling me short."

Luke smiled comfortingly, laying a reassuring hand on hers.

"I know it was a horrible time, but don't worry about it. We've made it this far, and life is really beginning to look up," Luke replied genuinely. The past few weeks had been far better than the years spent wandering on his own.