Tap. Tap. Tap.

The coffee is still too hot for her liking, and sleep the previous night had been nonexistent. Julia is staring out the kitchen window in Nick’s house, watching a few errant orange leaves fall from one of the trees when a light breeze blows by. The sky is dimly lit and gray–overcast today. She gazes down at the coffee, unfocused. For the first time in a long while, she just doesn’t know what to do at all.

Levine’s words to Drenar had devastated him. Finding out his mother’s dagger belonged to a Valkyrie–an order of ancient knights who fought for the well-being of the world, and all Kin, was a revelation no one in the room had seen coming. And watching that spark fade from Drenar’s eyes, bit by bit as the truth sunk in, hurt. It felt like the whole universe was punching down at him right now–and by proximity, her as well.

And there is nothing she can do about it–there is no monster to punch in the face, or fry with elemental plasma. At least, not yet.

Or unload Matilda into. She rubs her shoulder, still bruised from firing the weapon from her half-braced position on Nick during that chaotic flight. The bruising has faded, but it’s an ugly mark on her pale skin. One of many, now. Drenar was pretty scuffed up too, but the emotional damage is far deeper. He’d just walked away in silence after they’d wrapped up and he’d said very little to anyone.

Even her.

Which is why she’s sitting alone while everyone is catching up on much-needed rest. The school is closed for the next couple of days, thanks to Jonaleth incinerating the main hall, the damage to the gym, and the bunker of infinite evil.

SAF had been right pissed with Nick when he explained that attempts to do damage control had ultimately failed, and the fault was purely on the Talons. Now, people had to go clean up that massive mess.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

And her mother is stonewalling. She wouldn’t pick up her phone, other than a brief twenty-second video call. 'Trust Dillenger, and do not do anything reckless. I love you my dear, but there are some problems you shouldn’t have to solve on your own. I will be home once I am done solving a crisis on my end.”

At least she’s alive. Doing who the hell knows what. Valkyrie things, likely, even though she wouldn’t explain more than that bare-bones instruction. She wouldn’t even address that she is a freaking dragon, when she got pissed at her in the first fifteen seconds. She’d almost smashed her phone down on the floor when she ended the call.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“You alright?” She sighs softly and glances over her shoulder. Angela is at the doorframe of the kitchen, looking bruised, miserable and dressed in a dark shirt and jeans. She looks like she needs a cup of coffee, too. “Of course you’re not. Dumb question to ask.”

“Yeah, I…Drenar’s not okay. Not even close right now. Which means I’m not okay, either, by proximity. Last I checked, he went to the training floor downstairs super early , and was busy with that broadsword. Doing water dancing with blades, I suppose.”

“Poetic,” Angela demurs, and she pokes at faint score marks and stenciled words by the door frame. “He’s going through the same rote I do every morning, the same way we did our martial lessons, back before Laresten passed away. She smiles faintly when she examines the score marks. “Huh. Nick did keep the score marks from when he was growing up. Elaine, Scarla and Maribeth…and little Nicky here, too,” she adds as a tease. Julia isn’t smiling, though. “Okay, you’re in a bad way, Julia. When even you can’t laugh, I know it’s bad.”

“Coffee, then?” Angela hesitates before dipping her head in acknowledgment, and Julia pushes away from the breakfast bar and starts another cup. “Did you and Drenar talk about your guys thing yet?”

“We...did talk about it. He actually brought it up. He insisted, maybe just to take his mind off of that giant bomb in his life." Julia shakes her head in disbelief. "I think he's sorting a lot of stuff out between him and Alex, too."

"You guys are good for each other, though." She was sure that Angela, of all people, could get through to him.

"Julia. He still isn't ready for that kind of thing. For anyone. Not in any serious kind of commit, because he's terrified of losing someone close again. Well, with us, maybe." She rubs as a bruised shoulder, and sighs. "I like Drenar. I really do. He's funny, he can be steadfast, calm under duress...and he can also be a little emotionally compromised and a tad too heroic. Much as I don't want to give James credit for that one."

"So, where'd you leave off?"

"We stay friends, and...we just tally it up as something of a...messy, teenage year thing." But, her mood isn't somber. It's even a slight bit of relief. "He's still someone I'd want as a confidant, and always want in my life as a friend. I'll still have a dueling partner, from all the way back when we were training under Laresten. But...beyond that...I think he needs more time. Maybe I was trying to push him to be more..." She sighs. "Maybe I was trying to push myself, too. Like it was this thing we're supposed to do, and explore."

"Maybe we've all pushed the lines a little too far?" This quiet moment gives Julia time to reflect on her own thoughts. Has she been pushing him too hard? And for how long? Would she even want something like that with Drenar? More than friends?

She's drawing a blank when she gives the question a good long thought. "Spinning the wheel?" Angela asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Little bit. So, what about Nick?" Angela lets out a loud exhale and throws up her hands.

"I don't know. I think right now, we need to focus on important matters. I need to mull that one over. I like Nick, but sorting out feelings...sucks."

"Welcome to the teenage years, Angie." Her friend lets out a heartfelt laugh that this room needs right now.

"You are the same age as me, Tsundere. Ugh. Me, without having firm answers is rare, isn't it?"

"It is. Let's focus on actual problems we can solve. Like King." She still can't believe that man had managed to slip out of their hands, while handling the mug. She wants to break the coffee mug in her bare hands, or throw it at the wall. “That son of a bitch. We had him. Then he takes off like he was toying with us, and leaves us with a dangling hint. And before he does that, he goddamn blue screens Drenar’s entire life again. He is dead the next time I find him.”

Angela takes the finished cup of coffee out of her hand, and steadies Julia's own quivering arm. “Julia, I know. No one saw this coming.”

“We should have. I was stupid for never talking to my mother about any of this, and we put ourselves in harm's way because of it. I did so, because I was pissed at my mom for hiding her whole damn life from me. We did the exact same thing right back at her, and look what that did.”

She scoffs bitterly at this notion. “How high up is she in their organization? She won’t speak more than two words to me right now. She’s still trying to have her cake and eat it, too.”

“Alright. Take a step back. I understand how this feels. We haven't had a solid 'win' this entire week, and my mom's indifference is about as cold as the space between stars. But we've done damage to the Talons.” Angela gives her that firm look with her solemn eyes, her voice barely over a whisper. “I hate seeing you guys like this. I really do. And Samarina has been saying some truly strange things of late inside my head that…that make me think something bigger is at work. C’mon, I think we need to find you something to destroy, first.”

“We don’t have any Talons mook soldiers to destroy, so what’s left?” she grunts. It gets her out of her funk a little. She growls playfully at Angela. “How do you always know what I need?”

“Julia, you aren’t that hard to figure out. At least when it comes to things like this, where you need to vent some anger. We’ll figure this out as we go, Nick’s got a couple of punching bags in that little workout area down the hall.”

“Fine. Hope he’s got extras, because I have things to destroy.”

Five minutes later, she’s taking her anger out on a punching bag after taping up her wrists. Not using her elemental plasma is a measure of restraint, because she doesn’t want to destroy the thing prematurely–or set it on fire, which would probably not be the best way to wake the rest of the house. She’s swinging at the hanging target, aiming for a small painted-on dot as a focal point.

“Okay Julia, now that you’re all sweaty and pent up at this poor dummy, let’s go over a few things.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Girl,” she grunts as she lands alternating blows on the target with quick strikes, “Name it.”

“Well...Sam's being weird."

"How weird is weird?"

"The weirdest parts?" Angela has finished her coffee and grabbed a small staff, and is going through motions. Almost like rote memory. She talks as she continues with blows, thrusts, and blocks against an invisible enemy. "She called Drenar a child of a champion."

Julia stops, and peers at her curiously. She has no idea what those chatterbox drakensouls are saying, and she needs to fix that blind spot somehow! She needs a psionic or a magical fox girl! Or something. Nick had mentioned that humans and Kitsune could read thoughts in some capacity, but he hasn't elaborated.

"Think that means something? That's been bugging me, too, I think King is crazy."

She gets back to pummeling this helpless target. Angela shakes her head while she focuses. "Sam knows things. She has a super weird intuition. Maybe it's another draconic ability? Like it's tied to danger sense?"

"Aren't those different? Unseen threat detection isn't the same as omniscience."

"No, but...Amaranth's guide doesn't trace every dragon species. Nick showed me there are three others I have not even opened yet. But this one..." She trails off. "I'm going to figure this one out between her and me. Yes, dear, we don't know everything." She assumes that last sentence is aimed at Samarina. "Question. when you grab the dagger, does it hum in your hands?"

Julia takes a moment to think about it. "Its weird, its a vibration that feels like it goes through the fiber of my body, without shaking itself out of my hand. I have no idea what it is." She manages to gouge the dummy, much to her frustration when a little sand spills out. “Whoops.”

Angela grabs a small patch of tape from a roll in the drawer–based on the state of it, this was a thing Nick had happened fairly often. Julia relents for a second. In her head…she realized she didn’t know what Drenar really wanted. He’d been cagey about it, every time she teased him about it. But, Angela might be the easier one to solve at the moment. “Alright, you know what, I might have been teasing earlier, but you and Nick? I think you two might make a cute couple. But Angie…he’s going to need a lot of support. I just don't get your interest in him."

"I think I have a bad habit--or a good habit--of trying to piece people back together." The subtle nudge isn't lost on her.

"You'll always have my thanks, Angie. I was a wreck after my dad died."

"Nah, no thanks are needed, Julia. You guys are my closest friends. I think we'd all do that for each other," she adds. It helps alleviate her mood, at least a little. "Anyway, going back to your question, Nick's got a good heart. And, we do have some common interests. There's something about that absolute calm he has under fire. I want to be able to do that, too."

"Or, maybe you just have a thing for dragons?" Julia suggests in a slight tease. Angela pouts.

"Ouch. That would not be a very solid foundation for a relationship in any circumstance."

A few more blows at the dummy, and she decides to cut the poor stuffed victim a break for a minute, and she grabs a bottle of water off the counter. “Just be prepared for some hurt along the way, Angie. I’m looking out for you, but Nick…I’m all but sure he’s got some ghosts. Just be tactical about it, okay?”

“Noted. Your turn, stuff you want to unload? I could think of a couple.”

“Nah, I want to hear from you, Angela.” She sets her coffee mug down, and grabs a training staff and casually gives it a whirl. Almost like her swordplay.

“Well, I could pick one that's bothering both of us. Drenar’s mom is Valkyrie. Or was. I don’t know how we don’t make that conclusion now, based on what we’ve seen out of the dagger alone.”

“Okay, that one’s rougher, you’re right,” Julia acknowledges. “She was kicking ass on the Talons and eldritch horrors, long before we were born. I'm slightly envious. If mom had come clean when she should have, I'd have signed up, day one. There's nothing more noble than kicking ass for the safety of others.”

“Noted. But it's not a job for just anyone, Julia. They pick the best and the brightest. We're barely Awakened, and we've nearly died quite a few times by now.” Angela stands up straighter. “So if we want that, we've gotta work for it. I think they're already aware of us.”

“How?” Another series of sweeping strikes. It's all about speed now. Grappling has its advantages, but sometimes that might not be an option.

“The dagger responds to all of us. Even Drenar. Supposedly, that dagger can only be used by a Valkyrie.”

“Or, someone badass enough and determined enough to want to make the world a better place.”

She alternates a few kicks and is quickly breaking out in a sweat again, a cool breeze on her skin. She’s felt stronger ever since her Awakening last night. Like her strength in her human form is grossly amplified now. Punching a sandbag feels like child’s play, there’s a springiness to her kicks that belays increased power. Which means greater control is going to be important. “First time I used that dagger, it shattered Crosomer’s trap rune. It gouged the concrete.”

“Didn’t even dull the blade. Drenar says when he goes to sharpen it, the blade edge is never dented, dulled, or fretted.” Angela leans in a bit, smiling. “Bet you’re wondering about some stuff.”

A few more blows leave the sandbag flailing back, and Angela steadies it. Julia takes a readied pose, before dodging and diving while alternating blows. She needs to have her close game ready, having an anti-material rifle as a primary weapon is probably not the most helpful all-around weapon, even as much as she loves that beastly contraption. “Really, Angie, what am I thinking about?”

She commits to a series of body blows on the training dummy and can hear it creaking–maybe she should tone it down a bit, but she’s never felt this strong before. Training her body should be earned, it should be progress carefully measured and earned, just like every bulls-eye hit at the target range. Angie leans in, grinning.

“Bet you’re thinking what Drenar would be like in the sack.”

She whiffs and jars her hand on her last impact, and she winces before she lets out a frustrated groan. “Girl, he’s like a brother! That would be like…weird!”

On the other hand…he probably would be quite a contender. Strong, but gentle-mannered. Guess I’d have to fix that second part–

She puts her hand to her mouth and groans. “Angie, I’m gonna kill you later, stop putting infectious thoughts in my head, thank you. I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment.”

“Well, just saying! You might have competition!” Angela is grinning like she has some profound secret over Julia, and she grabs a towel hanging up and drying herself off. Her breath is coming in steady, her chest rising and falling in controlled measure. Always in control. Lack of it leads to mistakes. Mistakes that could be deadly or get other people hurt. Even as cheery as she can be, she knows the seriousness of where this whole endeavor is going.

She runs the towel briefly over her face–her hair is damp, and she’ll have to shower later. “What competition, exactly?”

“Joey.” Julia tilts her head to the side and is out of words for that bizarre statement. Julia frowns and stretches her arms lightly.

“That boy can’t tie his shoes sometimes, and I’m not convinced he’s not gay or something.”

“Oh no. Drenar is very much not gay. I confirmed as much.” Julia stares at Angela. “Look, past his anxiety with intimacy...pretty sure he prefers the fairer gender."

"Oh, you did hold back! Spill it, Water Dancer!" Julia cackles. "You went past kissing, I knew it!"

"Maybe a little," Angela admits. "Look, here's something I did notice, and I'll preface this as just my observations. Drenar was being so adorably awkward with Joey over the golem call."

“They just met. Hell, we all just met her. Call me not convinced.” she crosses her arms and sighs contently at her friend. “Look, I know you got the emotional sleuthing down to an art, but seriously, Drenar is currently occupied at the moment with our continued survival, and you guys just broke up. I think you're seeing patterns where there are none. Actually, I’m glad he’s shaken up enough to go back to the training floor. I remember his deadliness on the training floor at Laresten’s place."

That thought brings back memories–good ones, too. “Damn. We really could use that guy, now. Put it on my bingo card, Laresten’s not dead,” she scowls. “That would be so typical for the situation we’re in right now. I can't wait to unload on every damn adult that held this Rubik's cube of secrets over us."

“If Laresten’s not dead, he will be. Fates Julia, he was more of a dad to me than my own dad these days,” Angela says, and her composure breaks just the smallest amount with a trembling lip. “I don’t think I would take that kind of news well at all. But don’t be distracted, why have you and Drenar really never get together?”

She doesn’t answer. Angela steps closer. “Julia. I need to know something that's been bothering me. Drenar keeps rubbing at his wristwatch all the time lately. Like it’s a nervous tic. And I have a theory.”

“Angie, it’s his dad’s wristwatch. It’s his…reminder.” She doesn’t buy it, and steps away from the training set.

“When Drenar Awakened, he took his wristwatch off. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen him with it off. And he had a scar–”

“Angie I don’t want to talk about this one, he’s got tics from what happened. Just like I try to bury deep down what happened to my dad. Why do I obsessively train with firearms, and weapons, to try to make my body into a living implement? We all have them.” Angela is trying to push for something she doesn't want to bring up. Ever.

“Julia…did Drenar hurt himself?”

She tries not to react. But it’s impossible not to. And in that quarter second of a gasp, Angela has everything she needs to know the truth.