Runic

"My Runes stay only on my arm, unless I use them to heal." Kaizo frowned and looked up into the sky. "...You ask too many questions."

"I've just been introduced to something new. You can't blame me for asking questions. I'll just ask you one more, and I'm done. Mom's making steak tonight. Want to stay for dinner? I need a cover story for my hours-long disappearance, we can say I went to your house to study and forgot to tell her. Think of the steak as a thank you type thing." Sam said.

"...Very well, then," Kaizo said, shrugging.

"Well that was easier than I expected. I thought you'd be more stubborn about it." Sam laughed.

Kaizo appeared to smile for a second, before putting back on his stoic face.

Sam smiled when he did before saying "Alright then, let's go." She stood up, a lot stronger now, and started walking to her house. On the way there, she found her backpack where she had dropped it, and picked it up after a brief investigation to see if anything had been stolen.

When they arrived at a gray house with blue hydrangeas and pink roses in the front garden, Sam walked up the front path and used the key to get in. "Mom! I'm home!"

"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?!" Her mother screamed as she came in from the kitchen. "And who's the boy?!"

"Mom, this is Kaizo. He's new in school, and brilliant at math. He took me to his house to tutor me. I brought him here because I didn't have any money to pay and so I thought 'Heck, feed him'. Is it alright if he stays for dinner?"

Mom sighed. "You're lucky your father has a meeting tonight and won't be here for dinner and I have an extra steak. Yes, he can stay. What happened to his arm?"

"Oh, um... Just a couple of minor burns," Kaizo said.

"Oh! That's terrible! I'm assuming it's road biruns, boys these days, being reckless with their skateboards, if you have any issues or pain just ask." The smell of cooked steak began wafting through the room, and Mom hustled off to go and retrieve the steaks from the George Foreman grill.

Sam looked at Kaizo. "So. That's my mom." she said.

"She seems...nice," Kaizo said, unsure of what to say.

"She can get pushy and annoying, but she at least cares." Sam shrugged. "Dad is a CEO of some company, they work with the Navy and stuff like that. He's busy a lot, and at least once a week he doesn't come home for dinner. It pisses her off, but he can't do much about it."

"..I see," was all Kaizo could really say.

"Well then, until dinner's ready, what do you want to do?" She asked.

"...I dunno," Kaizo muttered, shrugging. "I don't really know what 'normal' people do, to be honest."

Sam gave Kaizo a mischievous smile. "Who said I was normal?"

"Well, you're 'normal' compared to me."

"Who says you aren't normal?" Sam said. "What is normal anyway?"

Kaizo shrugged. "I dunno. You tell me."

"Exactly. There is no normal." Sam laughed.

"Well, I'm not 'average' then," Kaizo said.

"Psh. Same thing." Sam rolled her eyes.

"Tch. Whatever," Kaizo muttered.

"Kids! Dinner's ready!" Mom called.

Sam went into the kitchen to see steak, mashed potatoes, and corn on the table. She pulled out a chair for Kaizo before sitting down between her mother and him. "Looks good, Mom." She smiled. "Rubbed or marinaded?"

"Rubbed."

"YES!" she said before starting to scarf it down.

Kaizo began to nom on his food, having just a little bit of trouble with the utensils. "...This is really good."

"I'm glad you like it, dear. You need more meat, you're too skinny." Mom said, and Sam quietly paled.

Kaizo continued to stuff his face, unsure of what to say.