Jon rolled to the door as Luther drained his current cup of liquid.

He was about to open it when Mercy pushed open the door herself and walked inside.

Luther was in the midst of removing the dark bottle from the table.

“It’s rude to listen in on other people’s conversations,” Luther noted.

“It’s rude of you to put your nose in other people’s lives,” Mercy replied.

Jon got the feeling that Mercy had come in here ready for a fight. Would she get it? Macy was one thing, but Hector’s father?

“I thought the Ninja clan were known for their respect for their elders,” Luther responded.

“They lost their respect when they married into the Highlanders,” Mercy said with her arms crossed.

“Wasn’t it the other way around?” Luther asked. “I mean, usually, the mother takes the name in front of the father, right?”

Mercy growled, an unusually Hector move for her.

“Did I hit a soft spot?” Luther asked. “Too bad. Your family business concerns my family business.”

“You’re just someone’s father,” Mercy replied. “Nothing more.

Luther sighed. Jon, after much internal debate, began to roll out of the room.

“No, you stay,” Luther said to him. “You need to see this.”

“What does he have to do with anything?” Mercy asked quickly.

“Do you want him in the room or not?” Luther asked.

“...Sure.” Mercy crossed her arms.

“Take a seat,” he said.

“No thanks,” Mercy responded. “I prefer to stand.”

“In that case…” Luther stood up as well.

Now Jon felt incredibly lonely.

“What is it?” Mercy asked again. “I already know you don’t like me. Why drag me-”

“I don’t like a lot of people,” Luther said. “You see, that’s not what this is about.”

“Then-”

“Don’t cut me off!” Luther yelled. “You assume you know everything, don’t ya? Did you know that those men would attack that boy’s farm? That they would follow you?”

He said this as he pointed to Jon.

“I…” Mercy’s eyes suddenly became charged with guilt. “That wasn’t-”

“You think people wouldn’t notice if a Highlander, heck a Ninja traveled all that far away by themselves? People aren’t blind or stupid or dumb.” Luther gestured hard with his hands this time. Gone was the low brimming growl that Jon had spent the last few minutes with.

“I know you lived behind a mountain your whole life,” he continued, “but you need to learn about the real world. You need to learn about the baggage you bring with you everywhere.”

“It wasn’t my fault!” Mercy said. “It was because-”

“You’re not thinking correctly,” Luther said. “They wouldn’t have traveled that far if they didn’t know that you were there. Whether they wanted to kidnap you or not. They probably weren't even trying to kidnap you in the first place.”

Mercy went silent. Jon was surprised that she didn’t respond more.

“Tell me this... why do you let this farmer boy travel with you?” Luther asked. “Why not leave him home, to protect his farm from other threats.”

“I…”

“Is it because you feel guilty for him?” Luther said. “You want him to adventure with you? So that he feels that this life is just a common occurrence, and so that he don’t blame you for the shit you carry around?”

“That’s… that’s... “ Mercy began to scratch her arm. “That’s not my…”

“I know it’s not your fault you have such a huge family name riding over your shoulders,” Luther said. “Hell, two. But you knew that before going in. And I don’t exactly see you renouncing the Ninja name.”

“...That’s my home,” Mercy said. “I can’t. It’s who I am. But I left home because-”

“I don’t care why you’re gallivanting around everywhere!” Luther yelled finally. “And I don’t even care what you do with my son behind closed doors. I don’t even care if you make him happy! He could’ve gotten married, then you could have come back for him after!?

“I… I can’t do that…” Mercy said.

“What you can’t do is dig your nose in other people’s business,” Luther said. “You try to break this system that we have in place here, to protect people from ourselves and each other, and guess what? Before you know it, it’ll all come crumbling down like glass on you and your friends, and it’ll be too late to pick up the pieces.

He picked up the dark bottle and began pouring himself a glass again.

“Well, I’m done. Enjoy the rest of the party. Have a good night.”

Luther threw back the cup of his drink, wiped his mouth, and passed the gobsmacked Mercy.

Mercy didn’t move for a few minutes. Jon didn’t know if he should reach out for her, or how.

“...Mercy…” Jon finally said.

“Sorry, Jon… I screwed up.”

“You didn’t,” Jon said.

He rolled up to her and tried to grab her hand, but she walked away and sat down at the table.

She picked up the dark bottle and opened it, looking inside.

“Good.” She drank it from the bottle.

Jon frowned. “I like being with you, Mercy.”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t your choice to have your farm attacked,” she said. “I… I should have never met you. It was my fault.”

“...then it was my fault too,” Jon said.

“No, Jon!” She slammed the bottle on the table. “You can’t do that! You can’t take responsibility! Jon… I can’t…”

She looked down to the table. “I can’t protect you from me…”

Jon rolled up to her at the table. He grabbed her hand.

“We protect each other,” he said.

“...Thank you.” She leaned forward and grabbed him, hugging him from the chair.

The hug felt warm, and Jon wrapped his hands around her, wanting her to feel warm too.

“Since we’re here…” she leaned back. “Can you pass me another bottle of this stuff?”

Jon nodded. He went to the corner where Luther was and grabbed another bottle.

He brought it back to the table. Mercy grabbed it.

“Thanks,” she said.

There was knocking on the door.

“Now you knock?” Mercy yelled.

Hector opened the door.

“What happened with my Dad?” Hector asked frantically. “And-”

He stopped upon sight of the bottle. “Is that Harris’s secret stash?”

“Probably,” Mercy said. “Want some?”

“Should you really be drinking now?” Hector asked. “With the fight-”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Hector, do you want some or not?” she asked.

“...Sure. This day has been pretty stressful.”

Hector went to the table and sat down while Mercy poured him a glass.

Jon was beginning to be reminded of when his parents would occasionally bring out a bottle and drink together on specific nights.

“This day has been so stressful,” Hector muttered.

“Aren’t they all stressful?” Mercy asked.

“Yeah… I…” he looked at Jon.

“Are you drinking?” Hector asked him.

“No,” Mercy said. “He shouldn’t drink.”

“Jon can do whatever he wants,” Hector muttered. He then turned to Jon.

“Jon, don’t drink,” Hector said.

Jon nodded.

“Except for tonight.” Hector went and got another glass. He came back and started to pour it.

"You should get two more," Mercy stated.

Hector didn't get to ask why as there was more knocking on the door. This one was less loud than Hector’s.

“Come in, Mallory!” Mercy called. “You too, Tallow!”

Mallory and Tallow walked in as well.

“Is that for me?” Mallory asked. He went up to the cup made for Jon and took it.

“No more spells for me tonight!” He took a swig.

“Ah jeez. I’m not carrying any of you to bed,” Tallow noted.

“Hector will carry us,” Mercy said, pointing to him.

“I didn’t agree to that!" Hector remarked.

“Deal.” Tallow walked up to the corner and picked up another glass.

“...How can you tell who’s behind the door?” Hector asked Mercy.

“I can hear the footsteps,” Mercy said. “Everyone’s different. Most people sort of lop side to side. Hector, you stomp everywhere.”

“Of course,” both Mallory and Tallow remarked.

“Mallory takes a lot of smaller footsteps, and his robe drags on the floor.” Mercy turned to Tallow’s feet. “Tallow walks incredibly light, like a mix between a dignitary and a Ninja, honestly. She’s very slow and deliberate and-”

“Alright, I don’t need any expositories on the sound of my feet,” Tallow responded. She had filled her own glass.

“Don’t drink too much, guys,” Hector said. “Tomorrow is the day before-”

“That’s why we drink now,” Mallory said. He pointed at Mercy.

“Except for you,” he remarked as she rolled her eyes. He then turned to Jon.

“Jon, you don’t have a cup?” Mallory asked.

Jon shook his head.

“Good.” He took a swing. “Don’t drink, Jon.”

Hector looked at Mallory. “Did you know that Liz is here?”

While they began to talk, Tallow walked over to Jon and handed him her glass.

“Here, have a sip of mine,” she said quietly.

He tried a bit of it. It was different from Grave’s drink. It still sent a shock down his body, but it was more subtle. The flavor was still too strong for Jon to have any taste for it. He preferred water.

He did feel inspired to go back to his food on the table and finish eating.

Eventually, after much talking and mild drinking, everyone decided it was time for bed.

“I’ll take Jon back to his room,” Mallory said, wiping his forehead.

“Alright, I'll be back soon,” Hector said. “I gotta take care of some more stuff.”

He stood up.

“Me too,” Mercy said. “I have to get ready for tomorrow. Mallory, can you get me before I stay up too late?” Jon could see that her face was slightly red.

“Sure, I’ll come back,” Mallory said as he grabbed Jon’s chair. He looked at Tallow.

Tallow had fallen asleep on a chair leaned against the wall. She was snoring like usual.

“I’ll come back for her,” Mallory said. “I’m sure I can borrow Jon’s chair.”

“I’ll watch her,” Mercy said. She leaned her elbows on the table and propped up her face. “Good night, Jon.”

“Good night, Mercy,” Jon said. He yawned after.

Hector had left first, and Mallory grabbed Jon and pushed him out after.

They made their way back to the room they were staying in.

“Uhh… Jon…” Mallory looked at him with worry. “I’m pretty tired. Maybe if we-”

“Can you get the covers?” Jon asked.

Mallory raised his eyebrows in surprise but wasn’t awake enough to ask any questions. He simply walked up to the bed and lifted the covers.

Jon grabbed his gun, pointed at the floor and in angle, and fired, launching him directly onto the center of the bed.

“...That works…” Mallory said sleepily while putting the covers over Jon. “You’re really resourceful with that thing.”

“Thanks, Mallory,” Jon said.

“Jon, that’s not a compliment, that’s a fact. Now let me make sure everyone makes it back…” Mallory yawned. “...to their beds without destroying too much stuff.

Jon nodded. He understood.

“By the way,” Mallory said, his tone picking up a bit, “did Luther give you the talk?”

Jon hesitated, before nodding with a grimace. He was sure that was the talk.

“It’s his way of treating you with respect,” Mallory said. “Instead of being like a nice normal person…”

He yawned again.

“He gives them all the talk if he really cares about their future. Liz, who he sorta thinks like a daughter, Amalia, and even me… even though to be honest I think he went easy.”

Jon nodded.

“Lester never got the talk, you know?” Mallory replied. “Or, maybe he did way before when they first met. I don’t know… I don’t like conjecture.”

He shrugged. “Anyways, no matter what Luther says… I think you’re doing good… and I think that he’s scared… but there’s a good way… where all of this works out… and he doesn’t have to burden…”

He yawned, then lazily waved the thought away. His shoulders were drooping underneath his cloak.

“No more soliloquies for me today. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jon… good night.”

Jon didn't get to say good night back as Mallory had already closed the door behind him.

Mallory suddenly opened the door again and poked his head through. “Hector’s probably walking his sorrows away, so he should be here soon, alright? Don’t wait up.”

Jon nodded.

“Good night, Jon.”

“Night, Mallory.”

Mallory closed the door behind him.

Jon went to sleep not so far after that. His stomach was full of weird food, and just being a part of everything had made him exhausted.

When Jon woke up the next morning, he realized that he could move his toes.

My toes! He flexed them excitedly, happy to have some control again, even if the rest of his legs seemed void of feeling.

He then heard snoring. He turned over. In the bed where Hector usually slept was Mercy, who was the source of the snoring. She was face-first into the pillow, still on top of the blankets. Jon was impressed that she could snore that loudly, though he never remembered it being a thing before.

On the side of her bed, there were several of the black bottles from yesterday littered around it. Jon could tell due to the fact that there was no spillage despite some of them being tipped over that they were empty.

“Mercy?” Jon asked.

“Huh?” Mercy looked up from the sheets. Her face was still slightly red.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure.” Mercy sat up. “I’m fine. Honestly, I haven’t been drinking in forever. My metabolism is also incredibly high, and I have a high resistance, so I don’t really-”

Her leg brushed against one of the standing bottles, making a large clink.

She looked down.

“That… is a lot…” Mercy said to herself. “Sorry about that. I’ll clean up immediately!”

She dropped to the floor and began picking them up.

“I hope I didn’t make a lot of noise last night,” Mercycontinued as she cleaned. “I’m so sorry.”

Jon slept through last night with no incident, so he had no problems with her.

“It’s fine,” Jon said, although he doubted that she could hear him through the bottles.

“The more stressed out I am, the higher my tolerance goes,” she explained as she kept collecting. “But the less stressed out I am… you get the idea. It’s all very confusing.”

She shook her head, but she stood up with all of the bottles.

“How are you?” she asked with a warm smile. It reminded Jon of when she was standing at the windowsill of his room back on the farm.

“It feels like we haven’t gotten any time to talk,” Mercy noted. “Just us.”

Jon agreed. He was about to speak more when the door swung open.

“What the hell?” Hector yelled.

Mallory came in behind Hector, already trying to calm him down.

“Hector, wait, wait, wait-”

“You fell asleep in here?” Hector asked with an incredulous tone.

Mercy immediately dropped all of the bottles back onto the floor. It was loud, but Mercy’s voice managed to come above it.

“I did.” She replied. “Got a problem with it?”

“Of course I did!” Hector yelled. “You were supposed to go to your room!”

“Hector, we already explained that!” Mallory said. “You-”

“You’re gonna get Jon in trouble and ruin everything!” Hector continued.

“Nobody else knows about me and Jon,” Mercy said. “And what’s wrong with you? And why weren’t you in bed last night? You sleep right there!”

She pointed at the last bed on the end where Hector slept.

“...I was at Amalia’s-”

He dodged a bottle thrown at his head.

“I can’t believe you!” Mercy yelled. “You… hypocrite!”

“Don’t worry about me!” Hector yelled. “Just worry about Jon-”

He dodged another bottle.

“I know about Jon,” Mercy said. “It’s you I’m concerned about.”

“Jon can worry about himself,” Mallory said, clearly trying to calm everyone down. “But you two-”

Hector caught a bottle heading towards Mallory’s way.

“Sorry…” Mercy said. “I… That slipped. That was meant for Hector.”

“Of course it was,” Hector said.

“He just started talking,” Mercy started to explain. “And-”

“You’re a danger to everyone around you,” Hector interrupted. “Like always.”

Jon saw the color drain out of Mercy’s face. Hector probably had no idea about the conversation from yesterday with his father. Jon had no idea what he could say to change things. Except…

“You’re not-”

“I’m gonna beat your sister’s ass, then we can talk about this later!” Mercy leaped over Jon’s bed and pushed past Hector to get outside.

Hector looked outside of the room towards the hallway windows, tracking the sun. “Is it time already?”

“Just about,” Mallory said simply.

Did I sleep towards noon? Jon must have really been exhausted.

“Hector-” Mallory began.

“I don’t want to hear anymore,” Hector said. “I’m tired of taking others' advice. Even yours.”

He left the room.

“...He’s never said that before…” Mallory said quietly. “Maybe I’ve pushed him too far.”

Jon didn’t think Mallory did anything more than usual. Maybe it was because Jon was giving too much advice as well.

“It’s my fault…” Jon said.

“No man… I don’t know. Everything’s getting loopy. It’s like…” Mallory turned away from the hallway back to Jon. "Maybe Luther’s trying to divide us up on purpose, you know?”

Oh.

Mallory put his hand to his chin in wonderment. “I mean, that’s a bit cruel and obsessive, but I don’t know.

He continued his train of thought, pacing as he spoke. “...Maybe, it’s all one plan. I mean, Luther may not be making things harder for everyone… but he’s certainly not making it easier.”

Mallory leaned back on the door with his arms crossed. “Maybe he knows that everyone’s gonna crack. Like, who did he bring with him? Not Charlotte. Not Major. Not Lana, God knows how more she's involved she is with it. Macy. As if he wants her to cause trouble.”

Jon didn’t know what to say. He thought about Macy’s conversation with Lana. She talked about having to hurt Hector before her father did. Jon didn’t really understand what that meant at first. In fact, he didn’t think Macy was hurting Hector at all. Unless…

Jon voiced his thought. “Macy… doesn't want to hurt... Hector..."

"She'll do it if she picks up that's what Luther wants," Mallory explained.

Jon continued. "Macy... wants to hurt Hector… by hurting Mercy…”

Mallory’s eyebrows raised in shock. “Jon! Holy crap! That’s so simple it makes sense! It doesn’t matter what happens to Mercy because…”

Mallory’s expression became saddened and he groaned. “Why does everyone in this family have to be this damn clever?”

Jon and Mallory decided that they had to get to the barracks as fast as they could.

“Let’s go, Jon!” Mallory said when they were in the hallway. “I can use my mana to-”

Jon held his gun up and cocked it.

“Okay! That too!” Mallory grabbed the handles of Jon’s chair.

A magic circle appeared under Jon’s wheelchair.

Tentacles rose from the back of the chair and tied themselves to Mallory’s arms and hands.

Jon could already tell that the small blues shields were keeping Mallory’s feet in the air.

Jon pointed the gun over his shoulder, ready to launch.

“...What the hell are you doing?” Tallow asked.

Both Jon and Mallory turned to see her standing behind them.

“Uhh… We’re going to the barracks,” Mallory said. “Wanna come?”

“Sure.”

Tallow jumped on the handle of Jon’s chair, landing on it without making the chair buckle.

“Strong chair.” She commented.

“Only the best for my boy!” Mallory added.

Now, with Tallow’s wind magic to aid them, Jon pointed the gun back and fired.