"Oh you know each other then?" Mia said while bringing over another cup of tea.

Henry stared at his sister. He didn't know why she'd let a stranger, although Henry knew him, inside her house. What would she do if it happened again? He wanted to scold her but knew that she'd reflect it with, "He's not dangerous see?" while pointing to Rainen. What was he doing here anyways?

"Yeah." Rainen took a sip from the cup. "We've met before."

"Where?" Mia asked.

The Thirteenth smiled and his eyes flickered between Mia and Henry asking for help. Despite Henry not exactly being fine with his sister's willingness to let someone in and would rather have her explain herself, it was important that he answered this question.

How do they know each other? Quite a hard one for him to make up on the spot. His sister knew that he did some work that was more dangerous than what the average person would do. So surely she wouldn't connect such a young boy with the kind of work that Henry did. He was at least glad for that much. She didn't know exactly what kind of work he did but he didn't want her to know.

Henry scratched his hairless chin as he thought of a good excuse. What would his sister believe? He didn't feel very bad lying to her, it's supposed to be a secret that Rainen's the thirteenth anyways. Filing through all the possibilities, he went everywhere from a starved boy he met in the slums, to a rich noble with a intense interest in the city's work.

"He and I go to the same restaurant." the Thirteenth nodded at this answer. "We've sat next to each other before, when the restaurant was busy. Became somewhat decent friends." Henry finished hoping that his sister wouldn't ask anymore questions.

"Which restaurant is this? Perhaps it's the new one by the square? I've heard lots of good things. You should take me there some time." She said sitting down warmly in the wooden chair.

"Isn't that something for Telcan to do?" Henry said.

"He's been having to work harder and harder you know. Being a builder in this expanding city is going to take up a lot of time."

"But he could've had today off right?" Henry liked Telcan, very much so. He was a good man, nice, humble, and cheery, the perfect person for his sister. Yet, Henry didn't like that he worked so much, they didn't need the extra money too much. Although it was true that for the baby they might want to be able to hire a wet nurse so that Mia could go to work again, Henry wanted Telcan to spend at least one day a week with her.

"Actually no. They're demolishing some houses on the northern side so that they can build newer ones there."

"I guess that's okay." Henry nodded this one time. He had seen the houses in the northern part of the city and they weren't pretty. They were old houses, the wood was rotted away, bugs crawled out of every corner and hugged the buildings, the owners all moved out long ago.

"Take a seat Henry. Drink your tea before it gets cold."

He didn't particularly enjoy tea but felt thirsty. His mouth and throat were dry from his worry earlier. He hated the feel of all the mucus in his mouth, he could swear that his breath was getting worse by the second.

He turned his gaze over to the Thirteenth who was sitting ever so quietly in his chair. Henry moved to take his tea wondering why he hadn't said anything. The conversation was personal but there were parts where he could've jumped in. He goes to the academy so there's no way that he wouldn't have seen the ugly houses that stained the city.

"Feeling a little shy now?" Henry asked while taking a sip of the tea, more like he chugged down half of it. The horrible mucus feeling died down and he let the liquid wash it all away. He could never understand why his sister and other people enjoyed tea so much. To him it was just slightly flavored water.

Realizing that he was being spoken to, the Thirteenth put down the cup, "I think that I should be leaving now."

"W-wait!" Mia said giving Henry a cold glare. "Don't leave just yet. At least stay for a little while longer."

"I don't-" he was interrupted by Henry.

"That's a great idea." he smiled. "I'd love to get to know you better." now was a good time to find out more about his masked ally. The Thirteenth had always been a mystery to Henry, why was such a young boy on the team? He understood that the Thirteenth was talented in fighting and that Carlyle recognized his strength but that didn't explain why Carlyle would think it was a good idea to have him be part of the Twelve.

He wanted to find out why Carlyle would take a gifted boy and put him into dangerous situations such as the ones they've been on. Though, to be fair, the Thirteenth hasn't been on the kinds of missions that everyone else has. Those, are much more dangerous than hunting criminals.

Making sure that his prey wouldn't get away he said, "I'm sure that my sister would too. She doesn't usually have anyone to talk to now that she has to stay home all the time." the signature guilt trip, a very effective strategy to use against those like the Thirteenth, the kind hearted ones. Only to be used sparingly of course.

"Yeah yeah!" his sister said. "It'd be nice to have someone new to talk to."

His eyes bounced back and forth between the door and Henry's sister. He knew that he had won, his sister was giving her pleading face. The one that conquered the nasty principal when they were trying to get Henry into a school. Coupled with some begging, the school relented and allowed Henry to attend. His sister opted to work to pay for his entry that was lowered.

"Alright, I'll stay here for a little bit longer." admitting defeat, the Thirteenth sat back down in the chair.

"Care for some more tea?" Mia asked.

"Yes please." he said.

"Me too." Henry added.

"I thought that you didn't like tea." she said tilting her head.

"I thought that you always wanted me to drink some more tea. Don't go and turn my new change around."

Sighing, she took both cups and went behind the kitchen counter.

Henry leaned in close to the Thirteenth, instead of asking what he thought about asking before he whispered, "Why are you here? Are you trying to hit on my sister? I didn't know that you were into married pregnant women. If you want one of those, go to Mrs. Nallay's place three houses down.

Turning his head twice to look at Mia over to Henry he pursed his lips and said, "I'm not here to hit on your sister you siscon! And I'm not into pregnant women!"

"So you don't deny you like the married ones!" Henry accused.

"I'm not into those either! You siscon!"

"I am not! I'm just very protective." Henry protested. He couldn't believe the things this kid said after all the formalities were gone. There's no way that Henry's a siscon.

"I didn't know that you were so rude to guests."

"At this point you're more like a homeless puppy that my sister took in." Henry noticed that his sister was starting to give them weird looks.

"Well, unlike you, I helped her with carrying the groceries. What kind of good brother let's their pregnant sister go out and buy food alone?"

"UGK!" he looked over to the bags on the table. How could I be so oblivious? I did tell her not to go outside so much. "S-sorry." Henry said.

"I've said this to a bunch of times before but don't be. You were only trying to protect her right? There's no need to say sorry."

-------------------

Anne dreaded this day of time where people would swarm in from all over, filling the tables to the brim and ordering so much food that the tables couldn't hold them. Sometimes, the food wouldn't be served until earlier ones were finished so that there would be room on the table for the six plus people crowded around it. There were times where they even ran out of plates and bowls for the customers.

Another part about this time of day irked her, a rude group of men. Everyday, without missing a beat, they'd sit at their little booth in the corner where they'd harass the waiters and waitresses. Luckily for Anne, today, they weren't there. Her steps were light and her and all the other waiters had smiles on their faces, each bright enough on their own to light up a room.

Each person that Anne served seemed to be in a very good mood. She wondered if they were also glad that the men weren't there today either. Unbeknownst to her and all the other waiters, the customers were able to feel their happiness rubbing off on them.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

*RING*

Another group of customers. Anne looked over, relieved to see that they weren't the group of men, yet, also very confused. Two men and one woman, her belly wasn't very large but one could tell that she was pregnant. That wasn't the problem though, Is that Henry and the Thirteenth? What are they doing here together?

Her formerly clear mind fell into a jumbled mess. She just couldn't understand why they were here. Sure, Henry or the Thirteenth, or Rainen right now, by themselves isn't anything to jump at but together? That muddled her thoughts.

The three sat over at the empty booth in the corner. It's fine. she thought. Usually no one would sit there but the men haven't come today. Should I go greet them?

Before she even knew it, Henry was waving her over. She let out an air of breath and walked over, her happy mood now replaced with a mixed feeling. "Hello. What would you like today?"

"I'll take what I had last time." Rainen said.

Anne's smile returned, "So the same as blue hair?"

"Ehaha. Yeah. Same as her."

"Not gonna look away this time?"

"Well~" Rainen looked away using his hand to slightly cover the side of his face.

"Wait? You were talking about him?" Henry nods. "So you think that Anne's cute huh?"

"What's this?" the woman sitting next to Henry said. "Young love?" she put her hands over her chest. "How sweet. I remember when I fell in love."

"Mia, please don't tell the story. Anne's gotta do her job." Henry said while resting his head on his hand.

"Fine." she said pouting.

---------------------

"Bye Rainen." Henry stands up. "I've got the meal covered."

"It was a fun time. Feel free to visit whenever you want." Mia says following Henry out the door.

Anne walks over to the table, "You're not going to go with them?" I shake my head. "How did you end up coming here with Henry and his... sister?" I nod. "Anyways?"

"I was kinda... pressured." I say. Mia kept on insisting that we go outside and do something since she hated staying inside all day. I wondered if she could actually raise her kid well.

"Ahaha." she laughs weakly. "Is that so? Well, feel free to finish whatever you have left on your plate. As you can see," she gestures at the other tables. "there isn't really anyone coming in now that the lunch rush is done."

Is she being sarcastic? It looks like there are hundreds of people here. Maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit but there are a lot. That being said, no one's come through those doors in a while. They must get paid well or love their job to be working so hard here. Watching the waiters and waitresses run around, I know that they need a decent amount of stamina.

*RING*

"Ugh~." Anne groans putting her hand over her forehead. "They're here."

Six men walk in, each one big and burly. Half of them wear sleeveless shirts, the others wear ones that enhance their muscles. One stands out, he's much smaller.

"Rainen." Anne whispers to me. "Move, that's their table. You're done right?"

They walk over.

"So, Nathaniel." My body freezes for a second, there's no way that it could be him. I look away. "How do you like it here in the city? Better than that crusty ol village your mum has you guys livin in right?"

"Yeah." he says. I don't remember the voice and my body relaxes. "It's been a great time compared to the village."

"Hahaha." they stop. "Who's the boy at our table?"

"He's just finishing up." Anne says.

"Get outta here!" the uncle says slamming his hand on the table, which makes me jump. "Hehehaha. The boy flinched."

Feeling like I just escaped a bad situation I stand up.

...It's him.

My eyes widen upon seeing their faces, particularly the boy's. My breathing almost stops, I can only barely manage short raspy breaths. He stares back at me furrowing his eyebrows. I step out of the way and bump into Anne slightly, I wanna get out of here.

"Hold on." Nathaniel says. He grabs my shoulder and forcibly tries to turn me around. I shake off his hand. "Hey!" he yells.

One of the other men pulls me by the hand and I come face to face with Nathaniel again. His eyes search my face as if all the clues are there. The man doesn't let the strength in his hand fade. Finally, Nathaniel chuckles, "Heh. If it isn't you. Our little servant boy." he says.

Break his knees.

I can barely hear it whispering to me. More trouble.

"You know this boy?" the uncle asks.

"Yeah." he nods. "He's the orphan who really really REALLY liked to roll around in the mud. We were nice enough to help him sometimes you know?"

I know you want to kill him.

What the fuck do you know? Shut up, you're only going to make this worse. They won't do anything in the restaurant. Y-yeah, they can't do anything here.

Nathaniel brushes my shoulder with his hand, "Got a little food on you there. I know that you didn't eat all this food by yourself. You never really ate much back then, almost stick thin. Who'd you come here with?"

Anne looks at me wondering what to do. I don't expect her to do anything, she'd lose her job if she did.

She'd lose her job? That's your excuse for letting her off the hook for leaving you out to dry? Look at all these people, their eyes are all on you. What are they doing to help? Nothing. They don't care about you. You shouldn't care about them. Take out a knife, that's all you have to do. Who is going to stop you? Anne? She'd lose her job.

"Shut up!" I say aloud. I realize my mistake too late. Nathaniel's face contorts with anger.

"What the fuck did you say to me you piece of shit?" he pushes me back. "You got a lot stronger now right? You wouldn't dare talk to me like that if we were still in the village. Think you're a big man now huh?"

I don't say anything, I can't say anything. My hands only twitch as he keeps pushing me.

Take your revenge. It's fine, no one will miss someone like him.

"What? You don't have anything else to say?" he pats my cheek twice. "Huh. Guess you didn't change much after all."

The men behind him laugh as he turns around. He's so vulnerable right now. But I still can't move, my body won't listen to me.

Let me take over.

I can't do anything. All that comes up are memories of being kicked around, surrounded by laughing children.

In the next instant, he turns around and launches his fist towards me. I close my eyes like I did in my memories, waiting for the pain to come. It never does. I allow my eyes to open. The sight before me shocks me, Anne's hand's in front of me, holding onto his fist.

"Get out of the restaurant." she says.

"Let go of me." Nathaniel says pulling his arm away.

"Get out, before I call the guards."

The uncle steps in, "A-"

"Shut your mouth. He," she points to Nathaniel. "attacked another customer. If you don't leave now, I WILL call them. We have enough witnesses to send you muscle brains away."

The uncle squares his shoulders, "Let's get out of here."

Nathaniel bumps me with his shoulder as they exit the restaurant. Anne comes next to me, "A-are you okay?"

"Y-yeah." I lie. "Thanks for saving me Anne."

"Why did you just stand there?" I don't answer her. "What would you have done if he hit you?"

"I, I, I would've grabbed his arm."

"I see." she sighs. "That's good."

And broken it right in front of his face. Snap it in half, show him the bone, just like that. Right?

"Right." I say.