"So, how did you come to be the leader around here?" Azrail asked.

Ted turned around abruptly. "Huh?"

Azrail pointed a finger at Ted. "You're clearly in charge. I'm just curious how it happened?"

"I'm, I'm not in charge." Ted sputtered.

Azrail slowly nodded his head as his eyes focused in on Ted's face.

It felt awkward. Ted was cleaning the dishes he had made from brewing since Sentenza was bedridden. He didn't think like he was in charge. There wasn't really anyone in charge. People just did whatever they wanted. He didn't hand out work or anything. He just sort of did what he wanted too.

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"You know, I'm reminded of an old friend." Azrail said as he walked up uncomfortably close to Ted.

"Yeah?" Ted gulped.

Azrail dipped his hands into the water, and started to help wash the dishes.

"He went with me on a mission." Azrail monologued. "We hadn't known each other before then, but common enemies and the like."

Ted felt uncomfortable, but didn't want to say anything. Azrail was far too close for comfort, but he couldn't do anything. It'd be awkward to just abandon him to do the dishes now. There's now way he wouldn't be able to tell that Ted was just trying to get away from him.

So he stayed there, and scrubbed dishes with this frail man in a bathrobe right next to him.

Azrail smiled as he reminisced. "It was actually quite a grand adventure, but not important right now. You see, we were part of an eight man squad. Come to think of it, we actually were all men, haha! A rare occurrence I assure you."

"Right," Ted said.

"Well, we were making camp." Azrail explained. "And he hardly said a word. But, it was clear." Azrail painstakingly enunciated each and every word as he said, "He was in charge."

"Huh? But how? He didn't even say anything?" Ted asked.

"You see, it wasn't even this sort of aura about him. It was the way others reacted." Azrail said. "They deferred to him. He wasn't asked anything, but it was clear they did whatever he wanted. Things were prepared to make his life easier. He didn't even seem to notice. He just went about his business."

"Okay? But what does that have to do with me? Ted asked.

Azrail chuckled. "My shortest story, and you can't see it? Well then."

Azrail cleared his throat. "Alright then, let me try something a little but longer..."