Some more healing magic and a quick shower and laundry run later, we'd all settled in the living room in gentle, contemplative quiet, the kind that wrapped around you like the warmth from a well-loved blanket. Mismatched mugs of tea sat cradled in our hands, steam curling lazily from their depths. Jin was nestled close beside me on the couch, her tail draped lightly across my ankle. Her claws clicked rhythmically against the rim of her faded pink mug in lingering unease.

Vivi lounged across from us in the armchair, their legs draped over one side and their oversized green mug balanced in one hand. They sipped from it slowly, watching us with a look that was less teasing than usual, though a small flicker of amusement crossed their face occasionally whenever they—very visibly— decided against voicing their thoughts.

“You know,” Vivi said, breaking the silence, “if you’re done playing the world’s most depressing living room tableau, we should probably talk about that bar I told you about.”

I blinked, turning my attention to them while trying to recall what they were talking about. “The one with the... experts?”

“That's one way to phrase it,” they said, shifting slightly in the chair to sit up straighter. “I mentioned it after your little accident in your quarters the other day, remember? The place that might actually help you figure out what’s going on with the whole soul-bond thing? Or learn more about Jinny here, at least.”

Remembering exactly how I'd put that off, I grimaced. They’d brought it up a few days ago, back when the bond had first started feeling like more than just a faint thread. But with everything else going on, it had slipped through the cracks. Vi raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my lack of response. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

“Uh,” I replied wittily.

“Thought so,” Vivi shot back, their tone dry but not unkind. They gestured vaguely with their mug. “Look, I get it. You’ve had... a week, to put it nicely. But you can’t just ignore this, Raku. It’s not like it’s gonna sort itself out while you sit here drinking tea.”

Jin’s claws twitched at the comment, the faint scrape of nail against ceramic drawing my attention. I reached over and rested my hand lightly on hers, and she stilled almost immediately. Her sharp claws retracted, and she exhaled softly, leaning just a little closer into my side.

“Easy,” I murmured, keeping my voice low.

Her tail curled faintly against my ankle in response, and I turned back to Vivi. “I didn’t forget,” I said, though my tone lacked conviction, “Not entirely, anyway. Just didn’t get to it yet.”

Vivi gave me a pointed look. “Okay, sure. Let’s pretend that’s true. The point is, you should go. These people know their stuff. If anyone can help you figure out what’s happening with Jin, it’s them.”

I glanced at Jin, who had gone still beside me. Her eyes were focused on her mug, but the way her tail shifted against my leg and her pointed ears tilted told me she was listening. “You really think they’ll have answers?” I asked, my voice softer now.

“I think it’s worth a shot,” Vivi said. “What’s the worst that happens? You spend a couple hours at a weird bar among people like us and leave no worse off than you started. Maybe a little drunk.” I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was afraid of. Answers? The lack of them? Either way, ignoring it wasn’t working.

“You’ll come with me, right?” I asked, meeting Vivi’s gaze.

They blinked, their expression shifting briefly into surprise before their signature smirk plastered itself on their face. “You need me to hold your hand, Rak’?”

“Yeah, maybe,” I sighed, my tone dry enough to match theirs. “Or maybe I just think it’s easier than telling a group of strangers “Hey Vivi Vee sent me to learn more about the succubus I’ve got in my home semi-legally I’m not a cop I swear.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Vivi laughed, the sound light and warm as they leaned back into the chair. “Alright, fine. I’ll come. But only because I like watching you squirm when you have to talk to strangers.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, though the corners of my mouth twitched into a small smile. Jin glanced up at me then, her eyes softening as her tail brushed against my ankle again before she leaned into my shoulders, humming softly to herself.

“Soon,” I said, more to myself than anyone else. “We’ll go soon.”

Viv raised their mug in a mock toast, their grin sharpening slightly. “Good. Now drink your tea before it gets cold. You’re useless when you’re grumpy.”

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Twenty minutes later, the tea had cooled in my hands and we still hadn't gotten anywhere. Vivi stretched in their chair, like a cat forced to wake up from a nap. They’d switched gears to complaining about their perpetually unreliable car. “I swear, I’ve done everything short of a blood sacrifice to keep that thing working over the years,” Vivi said, gesturing wildly with their by now empty mug. “And it still breaks down the week after I get it serviced.”

Jin tilted her head to nudge my shoulder, almost purring contentedly. Speaking of cat comparisons...

“Maybe it’s trying to tell you something,” I said, smirking into my mug. “Like, ‘Stop driving me like a maniac.’”

Vivi snorted. “Please. That car should be thanking me for keeping it alive this long. I’m practically a saint for taking this experimental shit.”

“Sure you are,” I said, rolling my eyes.

They set their mug on the table with a dramatic flourish. “Alright, Rak', if you’re so full of advice, why don’t you come down and take a look? Or better yet, work some of that fancy magic of yours and give it the ol’ jumpstart.”

I raised an eyebrow at them. “You’re really asking me to help you fix your car?”

“Yep,” they replied simply, grinning like they’d already won. “You owe me, anyway. Remember when I covered for you at—”

“Alright, alright,” I said, cutting them off before they could drag out another embarrassing story. I set my mug down and stretched, my muscles protesting as I stood. “Let’s go see if we can make your fancy magitech chariot move.” Jin’s tail tightened briefly around my leg as I shifted to stand, and I glanced down at her. Her eyes followed me, uncertainty passing through them. “You coming?” I asked gently, holding out a hand. The succubus hesitated for a moment, and I could tell she was still apprehensive after injuring me earlier. She did take my hand in the end though, and let me pull her upright and into my arms for a quick hug.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell Vivi was watching us, but for once, they didn’t say anything.

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The parking lot outside the building was cold, the crisp evening air biting my skin as we stepped out. The rows of cars gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights, their metallic surfaces coated in a thin layer of frost.

Vivi’s car was parked near the far edge, a sleek new magitech combination that entirely got rid of the need for fuel, fresh off the assembly line a year or two back. Merc work pays well enough for luxuries like that, after all.

“Behold,” Vivi said, gesturing dramatically. “My noble steed."

“It’s impressive it still runs at all,” I said, leaning over to peer into the engine.

“That’s the problem—it doesn’t,” they said with an overdramatic, but not entirely feigned, sigh. Jin hovered behind me, her hooves clicking against the pavement as she watched. She tilted her head curiously, her eyes flicking between the open hood and me.

“Alright,” I said, rolling up my sleeves. “Let’s see what we’re working with.”

I ran my fingers along the wires, testing the connections and looking for anything obvious in the runes etched into the engine. Was this technically an engine? Whatever. Vivi stood beside me, muttering commentary about the car’s various issues.

“Starter’s probably fried,” they said. “Or maybe it’s the heart. Honestly, it’s a miracle it’s held together this long. That's what I get for driving the first generation of a new invention, I suppose”

I nodded absently, my focus shifting to the battery. While it was partially made of magic-touched components, it did ultimately still work like a car battery. “Got jumpers?”

“In the trunk,” Vivi replied, already moving to grab them.

While they dug through the chaotic mess in their car, I turned to Jin. “Think you can grab the cables out of mine?”

She hesitated, her claws twitching faintly, before nodding and heading toward my sedan parked a few spaces away. The sight of her tail flicking behind her as she rummaged through my trunk made me smile despite myself.

“Alright,” I said, connecting the cables to both cars after I'd been handed both. The spark of magic thrummed faintly through my fingers as I pulled power from my car into Vivi's, flooding the wires with magic along with the electricity running through them. Being part antimage had to be good for something, even if it meant your own body was constantly fighting the magic within it.

The engine sputtered, then roared to life, a loud, uneven sound that made Vivi let out a triumphant whoop. “Ha! Take that, you hunk of junk!” they said, slapping the hood affectionately. Jin stepped back, her tail curling lightly around my leg again as she watched, covering her ears.

“Try not to break it again,” I muttered warmly, disconnecting the cables and closing the hood. My hands were singed and numb from the magic, but that would settle in a bit. I did heal fast, after all.