When Greed’s second show came to a close, both Ben and Thera were able to give a much grander applause than the first, having loved it when they themselves weren’t a part of the subject matter.

Only when the crab and his performers gave their final bow did things really come to an end, with Greed waving for Ben to climb up the stage to grab him.

“So, what did you think then?”

“It was great,” Ben laughed. “Way more than I’d been expecting when you first offered this.”

“Ah, well, I’ve got a few more resources now than when we’d first met, Legs, and seeing as how you played a part in making me a whole lot richer, it doesn’t hurt to put some of them towards giving you a performance, does it?”

“Well, you were right, a personal performance from the one and only Greed made for a hell of a memory,” Ben laughed as he picked up his friend and went back down to Thera, who shared her own thoughts.

“It was all great,” She spoke brightly. “I can see why you’ve become such a talking point.”

“Ha, plenty of performers like to say they put their experiences and feelings behind their work, but not a lot can say they spent months trying to not get murdered. When it comes to personal experience I’m way ahead.”

It was obvious he was proud, but then, when his music had become famous enough that people were singing his songs the world over, he had every right to be. Anyone in a city on the gate network had to know the music he’d made by then, with it slowly spreading out to other towns and communities too. He deserved to feel good about his masterpiece.

“Anyway,” Greed went on. “Let’s get going. It was a bit last minute but after seeing you both came, I rented us a place for dinner so let’s go enjoy.”

Ben carried him out as the three went down the streets, with Greed directing them to a fancy establishment that seemed surprisingly empty.

It appeared that when Greed had said he’d rented a place, that meant he’d rented it out completely, leaving it empty for their enjoyment as they took their seats, with a waiter bringing waters and menus as they enjoyed some light chit-chat about how things had been since they’d seen each other last.

During it though, one thing was becoming more and more apparent. There was something on Greed’s mind he wasn’t saying, but rather than prying into his head, Ben did his friend the courtesy of at least asking first.

“So when are you going to say whatever it is you want to talk about buddy?”

“Ah, I suppose it helps cut the crap since you’re a mind reader but I’m not exactly a fan.”

“Hey, I haven’t read your mind yet. But I’m going to if you don’t just tell me already.”

“Alright, alright already. So the thing is, I kind of invited someone else to join us a little later. A woman.”

“Ah, I get where this is going,” Ben nodded wisely. “This entire thing’s a trap to catch her trying to kill you in the act. Okay, don’t worry about it buddy, we can keep you alive and grab the city guards after.”

“Not even close.”

“Then did she already know you’d be coming here and pay off someone to poison your food? Lucky you, Thera can have you healed in no time flat if you want to make it look convincing and fake your death.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Also no. Why are you so insistent that she’s going to murder me?”

“Because I know you. And I remember that someone tried to murder you not too long ago.”

“Someone tried to kill you too!”

“That was an oracle, it’s different.”

“That’s worse! You know that’s worse, right?”

“It is what it is. But anyway, if this isn’t about your impending death then what’s up?”

“Ah, well that’s the thing,” The crab began, suddenly sounding a lot more bashful. “So when we were at warriors’ tower, I met a lady, Legs. A real fine girl, make’s me feel things I never had before.”

“Didn’t you swear off women and romance, Greed?”

“I did before I met her. Years without it washed away in an instant when she came into my life. I’m in love, Legs. Love like I’ve never been before. There’s just one problem.”

“You’re worried she’s secretly trying to kill you?”

“Can you get off the whole killing me bit?”

“Okay, if not that then what’s the problem?”

“Well, it’s like I said, I’m crazy about her, but I don’t know if she really feels the same about me. Look at me Legs, I was a big name even before my current show. I’m rich, I’m famous, and I’m good-looking to boot. I’m everything a woman could want-”

“And humble too,” Thera added.

“Sparkles, when you’re as big as me, it’s ruder to pretend to be humble. But that’s just the thing, I’m a big deal. I’m such a big deal that I can’t be sure if she really feels the same about me, or if she only sees me for what I could provide. No matter how much I like her, I don’t want to be anyone’s blank cheque, you know? And since my good buddy Legs can read minds…”

“You want me to check for you, got it.”

A part of him was questioning the ethical concerns of having someone read the mind of someone they loved, but a larger part didn’t really care. Greed was famous, it wasn’t wrong for him to want to be sure about something like that and even more, Ben understood from the perspective of someone who people had tried to seduce in the same way. It still annoyed him that people had been sent to win him over when he’d been making braces in the past along with when the world had found out about his skills, it was easy enough for him to see where Greed was coming from.

So with no concerns from him, they carried on talking from there, waiting for the last guest to join them as after only a little longer, someone was led to the table.

Thera had seen her before, having noticed when Greed had run off the last time they’d seen each other, but it was a first for Ben, getting a minor surprise from who he saw.

Based on Greed’s son, along with the one person he’d seen in the memories of the official who had tried to get both of them killed by throwing them at a more difficult gate, Ben had been expecting someone with a crab-like body plan since those were so common, but instead it was a hominid, specifically some sort of dark elf mix, telling Ben that his friend either didn’t place value on appearances or else the crab’s tastes were far broader than he would have expected.

“Baby, I’m so glad you could make it,” Greed told her happily. “Sorry for the last-minute invite.”

“It’s fine Greed, I’m just happy to get the chance to meet your friends. It’s a pleasure, I just hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all,” Ben told her, giving his hand while he was already digging through her mind and memories. “The pleasure is ours. Anyone who can make my buddy happy without wanting to kill or eat him is okay in my books.”

“Ha, well he does look like quite the snack.”

She mimed biting as she said it, getting a laugh from her lover as she joined the table and they all put in their orders, chatting as they did.

Throughout it all, Ben felt Greed’s eyes moving to him more and more, the question clearly weighing on him until Ben finally moved to put the worry to rest, connecting to his friend to speak into his mind.

She isn’t with you for the money. He thought at Greed. She really seems to love you so stop worrying about it and enjoy dinner.

Really? The crab thought back. Like, really really?

I’d even go so far as to say really really really, meaning your only worries in life at this point should be your exes and children. And I guess treating her well enough that she won’t try to kill you if you break her heart.

Absolutely not. You really are the best, Legs, you don’t know how much of a weight this is from my mind.

He did know actually, he could feel the overwhelming relief in his friend's thoughts but left things at that, happy to have given his friend a small sense of peace as they all enjoyed the rest of the night together.