Life fell into a familiar cycle.

Wake up, Eat, go to school, eat lunch with Amria, more classes, walk to the store with Amira, spend hours helping around the store with Amira, walk home, eat dinner, go to bed.

Repeat.

Snug was happier than ever. It was easy to believe oneself a good man when there was no resistance, but it was only in resistance that title was judged.

Snug was being judged, and he was being found worthy.

He finally felt like he was doing something worthwhile.

Everyday he felt like he understood more of the Sarb culture.

They were close knit and protective of each other but cold to outsiders.

That made every smile he got and every laugh he provoked that much more valuable.

He felt like Justice Man, soaring through the bones of a war torn city, smiting beasts of hate and prejudice.

Of course not all was perfect.

—----------------------

“Where have you been disappearing too boy?” Snug’s dad questioned suspiciously, “You vanish every night, and none of your friends know where you're going.”

“I told you, I…” Snug begun,

“Bullshit, you can’t poss…”

“John!” Snugs mother hollered as she emerged from the kitchen, “Leave the boy alone. He looks famished.” She set a bowl of chicken soup in front of him.

“Besides” she continued, giving Snug a sly smile, “i think I know where he’s been…”

Snug felt himself turning red as frantic denials sprang to his tongue, only to die in his lips as he really considered what she was hinting at. Were he and Amira really…

He felt himself blush even deeper.

His mother only laughed

—----------------------

The next day he asked Amira if he could take the day off to catch up with his friends.

She just smiled at him,

“I was wondering when you'd ask. Getting tired of all the work?”

“No! Of course not! It's just… I haven't seen them in a while.”

She put a gentle hand on his arm. For some reason it seemed to sear into his very skin.

Her smile nearly blinded him, amber eyes shining and he desperately steered his mind away from some more… indecent thoughts.

“It’s ok. I understand. Have fun.”

He just stared at her, wondering how one person could shine so bright.

She raised an eyebrow,

“Do I have something on my face?”

“No. No. It's just…” You’re beautiful. The words died in his throat.

Panic became him.

“See you tomorrow!” He yelled as he executed a desperate retreat.

—----------------------

Later, after a long night of laughing and messing around, Snug found himself sitting around a small fire in the middle of an abandoned steel factory.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He sighed contentedly as he took in his friends around him. It was nice to be back.

He let the heat and scattered conversation lull him into a trance-like state, basking in their presence. For a time, all was right. Then the questions started.

“Snug, why are you spending so much time with that Sarb girl?” Ricky questioned.

“Yeah” Johnny chimed in, “It was funny at first, sticking it to Amir and his thugs, but this has gone on for quite a while now. What’s your endgame?”

“Guys, I told you why I’m doing this.”

“Well, yeah.” Ricky responded, “But we kinda thought you'd be over it by now. You know you can't just fix,” he airquoted, “Years of hate and fighting. It’s been like this for decades, and it will continue to be so.”

“Not with that attitude,” Snug retorted, “What would Justice Man say?”

“Grow up Snug” Johnny snorted, “Justice Man’s not real.”

Snug quickly switched courses,

“Guys we don't need to be bound by the agendas of our parents. Look around you!” he cried, spreading his arms into the darkness, “We are surrounded by miracles that a mere decade ago would seem like magic. We have the opportunity to change. The opportunity to make something of ourselves!” His words rang through the factory

“Why shouldn't we?” he continued, voice dropping to reverany whisper, “Make peace and rise together. The world is new. We can be too.”

For a moment the world was filled with only the faint crackling of the fire and the dancing shadows it created. A moment of peace and hope, the silence in the wake of a storm.

Alas, the words of the wise are not often heeded.

The storm began anew,

“Where are you getting this stuff?” Ricky asked incredulously, “That sure as hell wasn't from Justice Man.”

“I've been reading,” Snug replied, suddenly uncomfortable. People were usually more receptive to his arguments, although it probably should be noted he’d only talked to Amira about them.

“Reading what?” Johnny chimed in, equally incredulous.

“Philosophy. Adam an Erduk. Kramer. Brawnhold.”

“Oh” Andrew chuckled from his reclined position, “That explains the sudden insanity.”

Low peals of laughter rang out from around the fire.

“Yeah man” Johnny continued, “just get the girl and get out.”

“She’s a real looker, ain’t she.” Another voice cut in.

Ricky patted him on the back sympathetically,

“Sorry, Man. It's just not how things work.”

“That's the point!” Snug snapped, “We can change how things work!”

“You and what army?” another voice interrupted.

Laughter abounded.

Something in Snug snapped. He stood and surveyed the gathered boys, his once-brothers.

“I had hoped it would be you guys.”

That shut them up, with Ricky even looking ashamed.

“Wait, Snug! Wait!”

But Snug was already gone.

—-----------------------

Snug streaked through the night, knowing not where his feet were taking him. How could they be so shortsighted? So cruel? He just wanted the fighting to stop.

He was panting when he finally stopped and looked up. His feet had taken him right below Amira’s room. The light was still shining from within.

He stopped for a moment, considering if this was a good idea, but a sob erupting deep from his chest reminded him of the stakes. He needed support. Or he could snap.

He tumbled through her window with a muted thud, sending a few of her many cats scrambling for cover.

“Snug?” she questioned, voice high with surprise, “What are you doi…”

Her questions died in her throat as she beheld his shaking. She got on her knees before him, taking his hands.

“Snug, what happened?” she asked, the worry in her voice so thick it could almost be touched.

Quiet sobs tore out of him as she took him in her arms. He loved that about her. Her willingness to care, even if it cost her. In her arms he wasn't alone.

Slowly he began to retell the events of the evening. The joy of the beginning and all the fun they had. Then what they had said, how they had laughed.

“They were my brothers,” he sobbed, “I wanted better for them. Not to fall into this gods be damned pit of hate and violence.”

He sobbed some more, accompanied by only Amira’s murmured nonsense.

When he finally stopped, he felt wrung out.

Tired.

He opened his eyes to find his head laying in her lap, her head hovering over his, beautiful amber eyes drilling into his own dull brown orbs.

Without another word she leaned over, pitch black hair cascading over his face, and he felt her lips meet his own.

For a moment all was right, then she pulled back.

“I love you.” she whispered, “Your willingness to fight for what’s right. Your endless hope. Even your stupid obsession with Justice Man. I love it all.”

Even as stunned as he was, he managed to muster up a response,

“I love you, too,” he whispered back, “Your caring presence and kindness. Your willingness to stand up for me. Even with Mr. Mittens.”

The aforementioned cat hissed at Snug from its perch on Amira’s bed and they both simultaneously looked at the scar on his hand, trying not to laugh.

Then Amira reached over and grabbed something off the bed.

She hovered it over his head,

“Mango?”

This time they couldn't control their laughter.