And I Said: What About Breakfast At Hayeli's?

## September 10th, Halcyon City, Local AEGIS Headquarters, Staff Dormitory

The on-site staff dormitory for AEGIS headquarters was often quiet. Too quiet. The people who worked at AEGIS that lived on-site were not large enough in number to fill up the entire building at all times. Many worked at different hours of the day from each other, leaving them few moments to run into their neighbours. To live here was to make work at AEGIS one’s life. Most had chosen it out of single-minded passion and dedication. One had chosen it out of a desperate attempt to not end up in a situation they believed to be much worse for them.

The position of “Agent-On-Parole” was a rare and curious one, allowing a repentant supervillain to work for AEGIS under tight restrictions. For Agent-On-Parole Hayeli Gorgon, this meant that the custodial staff of the dormitory had orders to keep watch on her at all times. Not quite in the literal sense, they didn’t have cameras everywhere, but she knew that there was one on each possible exit, and one that kept track of her while she slept. Plus, she wasn’t allowed any large reflective surfaces.

Hayeli sighed as she scrolled through her phone--a luxury she had been allowed after helping bring in Teal Talon and Pretentious Blackwood--waiting for a message she’d been hoping for hours would pop up.

…

*`Hi! Hey, it’s me, Shade. Uh, I mean, Hana. Well, both. Um, I’m here! I’m not sure how I’m supposed to like, come up there, do I gotta check in?`*

Hana walked up to the doors of the building she’d been directed to after going through the checkpoint. It was annoying, having to bend to AEGIS like that, but, at least Hayeli wasn’t in jail anymore? That was something. Hana came inside, looking around for any signs of where to go. She was dressed casually, an unzipped hoodie over a cropped t-shirt with the logo of the drum brand she used on it. Fairly short shorts and her low top sneakers. It was still a decent temperature out and she was enjoying the weather as long as she could. Her hair was tied up, the pink tips at the end fluffed out somewhat. Even dressed casually it had taken her a while to settle on it. The strong girl was a mix of nerves and excitement about this...date? Meeting? She wanted it to be a date, hoped it was, hoped that it wouldn’t end badly.

She was glad the team seemed to be at least neutral about her for the moment, now that things were more settled and Hayeli was here and working with AEGIS and them. Trying to date someone everyone else hated or mistrusted or whatever would be super difficult. They trusted her, at least, so today should seal that all in, ideally. Who knows what she was about to learn now that they would actually be talking things out. She was nervous to talk about her own stuff and the things she’d learned in the past couple months with Hayeli, with the weirdness around her powers and her parents. Hana shook her head to cast away the bad thoughts. She was getting to see Hayeli again, this was a good thing! Yeah. It would be awesome.

Hana was met by a person dressed in business casual attire, wearing an AEGIS badge and nametag around her neck that said ‘custodial staff’. They approached her as she walked further into the lobby of the dormitory building. “Hello there, you must be Miss Kerrigan? I’d heard from the guys at the entrance that you’d be arriving here. Do you have any items to declare, before we go through the metal detectors?” They gave Hana a smile that looked practiced and professional. Pleasing, but not pleasant.

Hana glanced over as the person approached, blinking a few times. “Uh, hey. Yeah, I’m...Hana” she said, feeling awkward about calling herself ‘Miss Kerrigan.’ Metal detector? Dang, they were really uptight. “Uh, I got my phone, some other electronics, uh, do I gotta mention like, any metal on me? Like my clothes have buttons and stuff. Or is that cool?” she asked, holding her phone in one hand and her random collection of wires and a small computer in the other.

“Any metal you have as part of your person or your clothes can stay, everything else--what’s in your pockets and any bags you have--you can put on there.” They pointed at a conveyor belt to the side of the metal detectors, which fed into a scanning machine. The wall next to it had a large mirror on it. The AEGIS employee walked through the metal detector first. It made no sound. They turned around and gestured for Hana to follow.

“Uh, cool, okay” she said, walking cautiously over to it. Hana set her phone, her bundle of electronics that were used for entirely legitimate, non-hacking purposes, and her keys on the belt. This would be annoying to do every day. She looked to the agent and nodded. “Uh, okay, coming through” she said, then stepped through the detector, slowly. She didn’t have anything else, but even so, panicked it would go off. Things needed to go smoothly today, at least everything up to her talk with Hayeli.

Some small yellow lights lit up on the metal detector on the other side, but no red ones, nor any sounds came out. The custodian nodded. “All clear, it looks like! No problems. You’ll be good to go!” They looked at the scanner, and waited. Hana’s devices were spat out after a few drawn-out moments of the conveyor belt standing still, a few lights lighting up on the machine. “No problems there either. Perfect! I can take you up to her rooms then. Unless you know your way around here?”

Hana looks around her as she passes through, blinking a few times. Nothing seems to happen, so she releases the held breath and sighs. “Cool, okay” she said, looking to the belt to grab her things. “Uhhh, yeah I got no idea where I’m going in here, so being shown up there would be good. Is it like, just apartments in here?” She said, walking to the agent and looking around the area. Hopefully the place wasn’t too crappy, she didn’t want Hayeli to have to stay somewhere bad, even if she was technically on parole.

“I’ll take you up there then.” The custodian said, turning and setting off towards a staircase. They talked while they walked. “Yes, this building is just personal quarters for AEGIS employees. Each floor also has some communal space allocated to it, to allow them to mingle with their neighbours! We have cleaning staff rotate for different floors throughout the week to ensure everything stays in the best possible condition, and the ground floor has offices for a doctor, psychiatrist, plumber, electrician and so on. Any emergency that comes up will be handled. There’s an intercom system in the communal spaces, should you require emergency service.”

The spaces they walked through all looked immaculate and modern, with simple colours and sleek lines. After eight flights of stairs, the custodian opened a door and led Hana through a thick door that opened into a hallway with an archway to one side showing a seating area with a TV and a minibar. The hallway had seven doors. The one nearest to the archway had a nametag, employee number and their position in AEGIS mentioned. The other doors seemed to have the same. In the corners of the hallway, hanging from the ceiling, were a few semi-spherical black cameras. “It’s the third on the left.” The custodian pointed and smiled again at Hana.

Hana followed after her, her gaze moving around them constantly as they walked. Since they were fairly cool with AEGIS at the moment she tried not to look at it as somewhere to break into, even if her mind went there first. She was lucky she was even allowed in here, after the whole thing with Smoke. She did note the cameras, and assumed they had others that were less obvious.

“Oh, cool” she said, continuing to follow them, catching sight of the common area. It really was like a dorm. Was everyone in here on some kind of probation, or was it regular agents too? Eh, the markings on the doors would tell her. She was not a fan of the place. So little privacy. After being pointed, she gave the custodian a nod. “Uh, thanks! Appreciate it” she said, walking down the hall to the third door. She took a deep breath, then knocked.

## Inside The Apartment

Inside the apartment, it was quiet, aside from stomping noises, of fists hitting something soft and heavy. Agent-On-Parole Hayeli Gorgon had taken to a habit of treating her anxieties by way of physical exercise. It had been a tip from Agent Rider, her partner--though she’d rather refer to them as her “free-range prison warden”. She’d taken off her button-up shirt, leaving her with a sports bra and black pants. She put on padded gloves and began to punch a sandbag that hung in her room. She could get some time in while she waited on the message.

Distracted, Hayeli missed the passage of time until there was a knock at the door. She grabbed the sandbag to stop it from swinging and stood frozen for a few seconds. She listened for another knock, thinking that she might have just imagined it. When none came, some of her anxieties returned. If she had just imagined it, then checking the door wouldn’t be a huge deal, right? But if she hadn’t, then not checking the door definitely would be a huge deal. She hurriedly pulled off the gloves, dropping them on a small table and pulling on her button-up shirt while she ran towards the door. She stopped in front of it, took a deep breath, and managed to button two buttons before she gave up on the rest and pulled open the door. Upon seeing Hana, her face didn’t know what to do anymore, and it scrunched up between relief, joy and possibly terror. “Hilo! Uh, hi! Hello!” Hayeli coughed awkwardly as she had crossed greetings and corrected herself.

Hana stood at the door, nervously tapping her foot as she waited. Should she knock again? Would that be too pushy? Maybe she didn’t hear her though. Maybe she wasn’t going to answer at all. Ugh, not knowing things sucked. The door opened in front of her, her eyes widening as she saw the girl behind it. Hana blinked a few times. Holy crap. How did she always look so good? Barely closed button up over a sports bra? Wow.

“I, uh, you, um, h-heya. You, uh, it’s good to see you. I, uh, you, you look great. I mean, uh, how are you? I’m...I’m really glad I could finally come over” she said, her face doing the usual thing it did when she sputtered out words, lots of blinking, blushing slightly, shaking a bit to try and get back on track. As she took the sight of Hayeli in again, she just smiled lightly. “I, I’m really glad you’re here and like, okay. I...I was really worried for those couple of months.”

Hayeli smiled, back in control over her face. “It’s good to see you too. I’m glad I could finally receive some company here.” She shifted her stance as she relaxed and crossed one arm over her chest to grab hold of her other shoulder. She laughed awkwardly. “I guess I haven’t really received much company here or in my previous--uh--’quarters’, other than AEGIS agents.”

Down the hallway, the custodian still stood by the entrance, giving a thumbs up in their direction, along with the same smile as before. Hayeli looked from them to Hana. “Uh, do you… do you want to come in? I can offer you a drink.”

“S-sure, yeah, sounds good” she said, glancing back to the custodian. She gave a wave, then stepped inside the apartment. “Yeah, I guess it makes sense, with the last place being...what it was, and this place gots like a checkpoint and a metal detector and agents all around and cameras and everything. I was freaked out I was gonna set it off and get tackled by agents or something” she said, chuckling as she came in and looked around the place.

The rooms were similarly modern in design. White walls, smooth pillars, black hardwood floors and stone countertops in the kitchen. The building seemed almost entirely monochrome, with only the carpets and furniture adding splashes of colour. The carpet in the center of Hayeli’s living room was a faded bright pink and white with distorted black circles, as if someone had turned the Pink Panther into a floor decoration. There were a few shelves with scattered books, a small TV and a large rack of workout equipment. A sandbag hung in a corner. Hayeli gestured at it. “Sorry it doesn’t look very welcoming here. I just had to cram everything I needed in here, along with everything AEGIS wants me to use. I guess they want me more in shape for work.”

“Oh, no, it’s cool, it’s nice! I’m actually glad to see it’s like, you know, a regular place and they don’t have you stuck in some crappy tiny room. I like the carpet with the like, pink and stuff. For some reason I’m getting weird deja vu about coming in here and like, cleaning the place up or something. Weird” she said, walking in and nodding in approval at the equipment. “You being in shape is good. Uh, I mean, like, for health reasons. Yeah” she said, blushing fiercely, then hiding it poorly by looking up and away from the girl til her face cooled down.

“Um, so, uh, like, uh, drinks? Whatcha got?”

“I’ve got, uh, lemme see,” Hayeli walked towards the fridge to check. “Bepsi, Brawndo, black ice tea, ice coffee, mineral water, pineapple smoothies and some new Heimdall-branded sports water.”

She looked over the door of the fridge back at Hana. “Plenty of choice in hydration for the in-shape lady. At least you wouldn’t be so easily thrown against a wall by Agent Rider. You’re way too strong for that. You could probably break their face on your abs.” She caught herself staring at Hana and her face grew flush. “Uh, nice band shirt!” She pointed at it. “Is that your band?”

Hana came around into the kitchen to follow, nodding at her choices. “Uhhh, Bepsi sounds good. Oh, Heimdall, my friend is modeling for them now. They mentioned it on Chitter” she leaned against a counter and blushed slightly at the mention of her abs. “I, uh, oh, it’s the brand of drums I like. I got Flex Girls merch too but this is just cause I like these drums a bunch. Good sound and they’re easy to tune,” she said, nodding a bunch. “Uh, so, is that going alright? Rider’s not too much of a jerk?”

Hayeli took out a can of Bepsi for Hana that she handed over to her and some ice coffee for herself that she put on the counter. “I’ll uh, be right back, gonna put a clean shirt on.” She excused herself. She walked to her bedroom while she continued to talk. “Oh right, you’ve mentioned being a drummer. Agent Rider’s been… a pain, but I’m managing. At least I’m here at AEGIS and not at the Consortium.” She rummaged through her closet and some drawers, sorting through a few different shirts before finding one that seemed appropriate. “Do musicians usually have a preferred brand of instruments?”

“Thank you!” Hana said, happily taking the can and opening it. She sipped, then nodded, watching her head off. “Sure thing” she said, staying at her spot on the counter as she waited for her to return. She exhaled deeply. This was going well. Mostly small talk, none of the big big questions yet, though. She was lost in thought for a bit when she realized Hayeli had continued talking. “Oh! Uh, yeah, definitely good that you’re able to be here, guess an annoying boss is better than...whatever happens at the Consortium” she said, looking over to where she’d gone. “Uh, not always, I just like this one. The first used one I was able to nab was made by this brand, then I upgraded a little while ago and it’s been pretty reliable the whole time” she said, nodding and taking another sip, then chuckled. “I brought that one home and my mom got super pissed and told me I couldn’t have it, so I took it to a storage place and begged the owner to let me keep it there and practice”

“Oh, that sucks. That you couldn’t practice at home, I mean. Music practice can be loud, so I understand, but you gotta compromise when you live together with people, right?” Hayeli said, coming back wearing a red V-neck shirt that had some lyrics from a recent musical film printed on it. “Much better.” She said, giving a pull on it to straighten it out. “At least they let me buy stuff with an allowance from the work I do. Paying off my debts is gonna take a while, but at least I won’t be dressed in a hair shirt the whole time.” She laughed.

Hana sipped from her drink, looking up as Hayeli returned, a smile returning to her face. “Oh, yeah, I guess. I dunno if it was about the volume or just being herself, you know? Eh, doesn’t matter now, I guess. Not like I’m gonna go ask her or anything” she said, glancing at her in the changed shirt. “Yeah, I like it. I mean, you’d look great in anything, really. I mean, uh, um, th-that’s good that you actually get paid still and can get stuff” she said, nodding quickly in agreement. Hana blinked as she read the lyrics. “So, do you actually like musicals and stuff? I know you said so on our date but I wasn’t sure if that was...you know…”

“Huh?” Hayeli stopped and looked down at her shirt. “Oh. Uh. Yeah, they’re okay. I like this one. Imina Denzel is great, I like the song about burning down the past, and the symbolism in all the scenes with the Catholic priest are a lot more subtle than I would’ve expected. I haven’t watched a lot of films before coming here, but now that I’m stuck here whenever I’m not on a mission, I’ve got a lot of time to work out, read books and watch the ‘silver screen’.” She laughed at her own joke, before trailing off in the realization that she hadn’t told Hana everything yet.

Hana nodded, smiling slightly. “Cool, yeah, glad you like it. I never got symbolism stuff, real bad at it in like, school and stuff” she said, chuckling. When Hayeli said her joke, Hana didn’t really get it, but gave a chuckle even so. “Heh, cool, yeah, bunch of free time to do stuff like that is great. Sucks that you gotta be stuck here though. Maybe when you’re like, free free we could...I dunno...well, if you even wanted to or whatever” she said, glancing down at the floor. Hard conversations were hard, but she’d just keep feeling weird about this until they hashed things out. Hana gave a sigh, then glanced up to her with a slightly sad, but determined look. “Uh, c-can we like, talk about...stuff? Like the big stuff? Like...you know, the stuff I learned about, where you’ve like, actually been the last few months, and stuff? I wanna know. I wanna hear it from you and get your side, everybody gots their own opinion on it and now you’re here and...Yeah. S-so, uhhh, can we?” she asked, glancing over to the living room and whatever seating was there.

Hayeli picked up her ice coffee off the kitchen counter and leaned against the stone. “Um, yeah. We can.” She twirled the cup around in her hand as she looked down at it, avoiding Hana’s eyes. “I guess that’s something that really should come out into the open, huh. I did kind of make you worry a lot with just abruptly ghosting you, and then the whole…” She makes an awkward gesture, as if it first looks dismissive, then stops midway through and then turns into a motion of throwing out some trash. “Betrayal thing. I’m surprised you still wanted to talk to me after that.”

Hana frowned. “Of course I wanted to talk to you still. LikeI, I was really worried. I didn’t think you would just ghost me, like, that would be the weirdest flex ever, to go out on a kickass date, keep talking for a week, and then ghost me and Smokescreen and the Club and everyone else in Halcyon. I knew something was up, it’s why I kept looking for you. I really wanted to talk to you again. I, like, I dunno. It really hurt when I learned about the whole break out thing, but like, I dunno. Maybe I was being an idiot but you didn’t seem like the kind of person that would want to free Mirror and all those other villains just cause. I figured there was something else going on. I dunno. I, like, it, well” she said, blushing and looking away. “I really really liked our date. I felt like you wouldn’t tell me the things you did if you were just gonna ghost me or like, didn’t care at all” she added. Her blush deepened as she looked down at her feet, grumbling the next bit. “I really liked when you showed me that spot at the reserve and we kissed under the stars and stuff or whatever and you don’t do that if you wanted to betray that person, unless you like, just, really really suck, and I don’t think you really really suck I think you’re a good person” she got out. Hana let out a sigh, knowing she was motormouthing through all of it but just letting it happen. “So..um...was I right, or was I just being a dumbass? Was there something more to all of it?”

Hayeli managed to work up a shy smile as Hana rambled. She punctures a straw through the lid of the ice coffee cup and sips at it, glancing at Hana, but avoiding looking straight into her eyes. She cleared her throat. “Well, you are a dumbass,” she starts, “but not for all of that. For thinking I’m a good person and liking me in spite of all that I’ve done. But you were also right. There was more going on and I didn’t just want to ghost you. At that… date? I kind of… did think about never seeing you again, and thinking that, while at the same time taking a gamble in trusting you, that made me feel like I could tell you all those things I did when we sat together on that hilltop.”

She shifted her stance awkwardly and looked antsy. She moved around Hana and sat down on the couch, huddled into the corner and leaning her arms on her legs. Guarded. She sipped her coffee. “A lot of this stuff is not easy to say, and even less easy to explain. It can also be dangerous--for you and for me. It’s why I don’t want the Consortium to get their hands on me. So, uh… what… what have you already figured out? What do you know about me?”

Hana chuckled, nodding at being called a dumbass. “Yeah? You did?” she said, surprised at both of the things Hayeli said. Not seeing her again, and that she’d actually felt like she could trust her. The first one kinda hurt, but the second one felt nice. As Hayeli moved to the couch and sat down, she waited a moment, then followed her over, sitting next to her, giving some space on the cushion in case she didn’t want her right next to her. “Yeah, yeah, uh, take your time and stuff. I, huh. Well I know the reason you were on the breakout job is cause the Black Magic Club set it up. The point was to get Mirror out. Uh, then after our date, the night the cop coup and all that other stuff happened, the Club tried to do a thing, and you were there, then whatever happened happened, and you disappeared, like, from everything. So then I waited a while and texted a bunch, eventually Sledge and I went to an AEGIS jail to talk to Smokescreen so I could ask him stuff about you, pretending it was just like, Big Team looking into stuff after the fact. That’s when I found out he hadn’t heard from you either, and learned about your profile on iSupe, so I saw that you got like, some tech abilities, you do magic, and like, you got some kind of teleporting power. Heh, I even made an account and messaged you on it in case you like, lost your number but could still access that. After that it wasn’t long til we talked with Misery, and that was like, an accident that we found out about the Black Magic Club stuff, she was acting like she knew things and then brought you up like just out of nowhere. I, I had a hard time with it and didn’t really want to believe it, but then I started thinking about how there had to be more to it. So...I don’t know a whole lot about, like, you you, just kinda the situation. If the Consortium wants you, it’s gotta be some weird magic bullshit. I don’t know a lot about them aside from that. Uh, just, like, I guess, so, uh, I wanna know everything, like, anything you’re willing to tell me about, like, uh, I don’t wanna have to try and figure things out without all the information anymore. I’ve been trying to figure things out and the past few months have been a lot of questions with no answers and it kinda sucks. I just, I wanna know. I wanna be able to actually decide something because I know the truth instead of just having more questions” she said, finally stopping and sighing. She looked back up to Hayeli and gave a sad smile. “If, uh, if you wanna tell me, or whatever, like, you don’t have to”

Hayeli sat in silence for a few moments. “Wow. I knew it wasn’t going to be pleasant, but that sounds extra shitty now. I really do owe you an apology, Hana. I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I didn’t want to break Mirror out of prison. Her being there suited me just perfectly, honestly. It’s just… Vic needed Mirror out of prison, so he ordered me to do it. Contacting Smokescreen was the start of that plan. As soon as I would’ve gotten her out, my purpose would have been served. There never was a plan to keep going afterwards, to keep interacting with Smokescreen or the Big Team. But then you asked me out on a date, and all those plans fell to ruin. In--uh--in a good way! I mean, okay, if I hadn’t said yes I wouldn’t be who I am now, I wouldn’t be ‘Hayeli Gorgon’, and I certainly hadn’t planned on being an AEGIS agent in any capacity ever, but… but it’s been… good.”

Hana cringed at hearing Vic’s name. “He...ordered you to do it? Like you just had to do what he said and that was that?” she asked, turning in her spot on the couch to face her more. She had a confused look on her face as she took all that Hayeli had said in. “Your purpose? Whatcha mean? Were you just like, planning on leaving Halcyon permanently until we went out?” she said. It was good that she was still here, at least Hana thought so, but if she’d never even wanted to stick around, there would definitely be some conflicted feelings about being the reason she’d stayed.

“Basically, yeah.” Hayeli nodded. “I had a goal and I accomplished it. I wasn’t needed anymore. Vic considered retaining me for longer, to use the connection I’d made with Smokescreen, but he didn’t think of Smokescreen as useful. ‘Old man in prison, what good is that for?’ he said. So I didn’t plan on anything else. I just followed orders.” She folded her hands around her coffee cup and stared blankly at the empty TV screen in front of them.

“Gotcha, so they just planned on hiring you for the one thing, but then it ended up being a longer thing” she said, nodding. Hana frowned, scooting closer. Hayeli looked sad and that wasn’t a good thing. “Uh, well, I’m glad you’re still here. I’m sorry it’s been like, a whole thing with the club and whatever jail you ended up in and now being under AEGIS and stuff. Uh, are you, like, happy with things now, even with the crappy bits? I want you to be happy and liking where you are, and if you don’t wanna be here then I’ll do what I can to help you, like, I dunno, get outta here or whatever. I, heh, uh, I really want you to stay cause I, uh, I like you and I wanna spend time with you and stuff, but, like, you being happy is more important”

Hayeli gave an awkward smile. “That’s very kind of you. I’m… I would say I’m happy now, in a way. I’m not free to do what I want, which I hate, but beyond that I’m in a better place than I otherwise would be.” She managed to look at Hana and meet her eyes. She turned her eyes away again when she felt her cheeks getting warmer, and she slurped the last of her coffee.

Hayeli fiddled with the cup in her hands to keep her hands busy. “I didn’t get hired though. By the Black Magic Club, I mean. I, uh, I did get hired. By Smokescreen. Just not Vic. Or anyone in the Club. I, you see, um, I was… I was made.”

Hana nodded. “Oh, yeah, totally, that has to really suck. Not being able to just, like, do what you want, since you’re kinda stuck here. That’s good though, I’m, uh, I’m glad you’re happy and in a better place than you might have been. Guess it’s hard to say what might have been, like, I think about that sometimes myself, if I hadn’t ended up with Sledge or things ended up different. It’s weird” she said. Being happy was good. She’d have felt terrible if Hayeli was miserable here.

Hana glanced back up at her with the next words. Her head tilted in confusion. She wasn’t hired by the Club? Was she just a member of it, then, or like…”Wuh, wait, wh, you, made? Like in a different way than people usually get made, like with babies and stuff? Are you a robot too? It’s starting to be a pattern now that people end up being robots” she said, the sheer confusion causing her to motormouth some.

“Wh--huh? No!” Her answer came more strongly than she’d intended. Hayeli broke into laughter. Hana’s question had inadvertently broken the tension for her. “No, I wasn’t made like ‘babies and stuff’. And I’m not a robot either. That’s a funny question.” She shook her head with a smile and reached over, giving Hana a light shove. “Silly.” It sounded affectionate.

“No, I mean as in made, crafted, created, formed like a character on paper in a writer’s screenplay or an actress changing her looks and personality to suit a role, but more in a… in a literal sense. I, uh, I kinda, um… gosh, this part is hard. Really hard. I, uh, I share my body… no, that doesn’t sound right. I share my… brain? Yeah, I share my brain. I share my brain with someone else. There’s another person in… this brain. This body. Someone not me. Someone not Hayeli.”

Hana giggled as Hayeli shoved her and laughed. “I’m just saying! It’s happened more than once now! That’s like, a pattern, right?” she said, grinning as she went on. The grin became confusion, causing her to tilt her head again. “Uh, so, like, wait. You, you’re Hayeli but also not Hayeli? Like, uh, uh, I don’t have a good thing to compare it too. Fearless is like a combo of Elena and Maria but that doesn’t sound the same as this. Uh, who made you? Is ‘Hayeli’ like, a role that became real, or something? How does that work? Is it like one of those secret agent movies where they’re undercover and like, get ‘activated’ and then they’re all super awesome and badass? Cause that would make sense, you’re super awesome and badass”

“Ahhh, aha, heh, um, I--maybe? Yes. It’s maybe sorta like that. A little.” Hayeli laughs awkwardly. “Okay, so, I may have read some stuff on your teammates and there’s this… Luna person? Who also is sometimes a sun person? From my understanding, it’s more like that. Like sometimes I’m in charge of this body and I look like this, but sometimes they are and this body looks different.”

Hana blinks a few times. “Uh huh. Right. Okay. Uh, yeah. I think I get it. So yeah, I know they are kinda like, different people, so if it’s like that, then...yeah...I dunno how that all came about but, yeah, okay. Cool. Yeah. Uh, so, uh, yeah. You’re you, and they’re them, and sometimes you’re the person that’s like, being the person talking and doing stuff, like now, and sometimes they are. That makes sense” she nodded. It kind of made sense. She was still confused, but at least she was working toward getting it. “So, uh, I don’t wanna ask if you’re not comfortable and you don’t gotta tell me, but, like, can I ask who the other person is? Or not, that’s cool too, you’re you and that’s all I care about. My biggest thing is like, wanting to know where you were that whole time and what was going on, but I guess if this whole thing is part of it, were they the one in charge during those few months?”

“They were, for a large part.” Hayeli admits. “Not always, but before we made this deal with AEGIS, they’ve been the main person in charge of our body. I can tell you about them, but I don’t think you should meet them. Not now, at any rate. I think if I leave, then I won’t be back until after you’re gone.” She smiles sadly at Hana and moves a hand closer to her.

“I can get along with them fine, so there’s nothing to worry about, but they are a little intense. They’re moody and obsessive. They’re great with magic, much moreso than me, but they’re not cut out for secret agent field work. No skill at sneaking around, not a very physically adept or athletic person, but a great actor.” Hayeli explains, putting down her empty coffee cup.

Hana nods a bunch. “Oh, okay! Sure, yeah, I don’t want you to be gone until I leave. All good!” she said, returning the soft smile. Her hand slides a bit closer in response, her posture was opening up now that they were talking and getting through things. Knowing all this really helped. She’d still trusted Hayeli, just, had some confusion and doubt about everything from the summer. This was better, she wanted them to be okay. “That’s good, then. Cool. Glad you can at least get along with them alright. Okay. Cool. So, like, they made you? Or Vic? Is that why you had to follow Vic’s orders?”

“They did. It’s not why I had to follow Vic’s orders, though.” Hayeli pulled up her legs onto the couch and turned towards Hana, shifting herself as she tried to make herself comfortable enough to explain. “Basically, I learned a lot of what I know and can do through mirroring, and at first the only person I could do that with was Vic. So, uh, like, ‘baby Hayeli’ basically was a huge bitch. It took a few tries and being the one in control for longer periods before I could connect to other people too, without Vic around. Some people who became my friends, like Jemma and Misery, and others who didn’t, like Mirror. Then I went on my missions and I met even more people, like your friend Maria, like Smokescreen, like… Like you.” She blushed a little.

Hana scooted closer as Hayeli moved more onto the couch. She nodded as the girl explained. To some degree it made sense, even if she was still confused about the whole thing. “Okay, okay, g-gotcha” she said, matching the blush when she was mentioned. It was good she had other people aside from Vic, that would have sucked if she just became, like, another one of him. “Sure, okay. So, I, I don’t really get how it works but I like, understand the basic stuff, I think? So like, you share a body, kinda, and have different people in control sometimes, and you’re like, newer than the other person, and learned how to act by mirroring people and made like, who you are out of that. Cool. Uh, I, um, you’re pretty great so like, you did a good job mirroring people to become who you are now. I, well, so, okay, uh, I think that kinda explains the stuff from the summer then, like, it hurt and it sucked but it makes sense and you’re here now and, like, the situation could be better but you’re here, and, like, I’m really happy about that. Uh, is there anything else you wanna mention with all that? I’m, like, I’m okay with it all. I’m glad to know now and, uh, yeah, like, I’m just really really glad to be able to see you and talk to you like this again” she said, the blush staying on her face through the motormouthing.

Hayeli laughed softly. Seeing Hana like this was adorable to her. It amused her and made her feel better about her situation. “Um, yeah, I guess one thing you should know. I may appear human, I may feel human, but I’m obviously not. I’m tough, but not super tough, and I might crack or break. I am basically made out of magical glass and silver, like a mirror, and that means I am as fragile as glass and I tarnish like silver. So, uh, while on our mission and our date I acted all tough and strong and a little intimidating that one, when compared to you I really am… not? I really am not.”

Hana nodded more. “Ohhh. Magical glass and silver, that’s, that sounds awesome!” she said, then continued listening. “Okay. Wow, that’s like, okay, I’ll keep that in mind. So you’re tough but not as tough as me. We’ll just make sure we got helmets when I take you out on my bike again” she said, grinning to her. “Guess I gotta be gentle with you then, if that’s the case. I can do that”

Hayeli snorted. “A helmet would be good, definitely!” She laughed at Hana, the tension that she had felt before now gone. “Yes, be gentle. You’re sure you can do that?” She moved slightly, her hand coming to rest on top of Hana’s.

“Heck yeah I can!” Hana said, the grin hanging on her face. Her hand turned under Hayeli’s, giving a soft squeeze, like she had in the arcade, and on the overlook. “I’m like real strong but I can hold back when I gotta” she added. The girl chuckled, feeling happy in the moment, the relief of finally knowing the stuff that had happened over the summer, that she wasn’t just being an idiot, that there was something bigger going on, definitely helped her mood. “Uh, so, like, uh, I dunno if this is gonna sound dumb or anything, but, uh, so, I was kinda wondering about something. I guess it might be harder with the whole AEGIS thing and being stuck here though, so like, I get it if you don’t wanna, totally, like, you got a ton of stuff going on and a lot to do and worry about and me getting in the way would probably just be annoying. Uh, but, just, so, like, do you, uh, maybe, wanna date again? Or like, more than just another one, like, uh, being dating with me, maybe? If you even, like, you know, like me like that and want to, or whatever” she asked, her face getting more and more red as more words came out, before looking to Hayeli with a hopeful glance and wide eyes.

Hayeli blinked. Did she just hear Hana correctly? She’d been laughing along with her, happy to be rid of secrets and tension, but now it felt like an entirely different kind of tension hung in the air. “So, uh, yeah, ‘the whole AEGIS thing’, that, uh, definitely makes it harder to do things together.” She acknowledged, nodding. “But, uh, yeah! I enjoyed our last date--our first date?--and I wouldn’t mind having another. I mean, I would like having another. To have another date, I mean. Is… is that what you want? Is that what you wanted to ask me? To have another date?”

She realized her hand was squeezing Hana’s and she forced herself to relax a bit, softening her grip. “Wait… is this a date?”

A smile crossed Hana’s face as Hayeli spoke, glad to hear she’d enjoyed it and would like another one. At the question of this being a date, she blinked and looked up in thought. “Uh, hm. I dunno. Is it? Does this count? I guess if we both want it to be a date then like, that makes it one, right? Is that how it works? Uh, I, well, I’m fine with it being one, like, it’s both of us just here hanging out and stuff, that’s, like, that can be a date, right? Yeah. Totally” she said, looking back to Hayeli. Her thumb made idle movements as she held the girl’s hand. “I, well, so, yeah. I wanna do more dates and stuff, and like, talk with you a bunch and, like, I, yeah, I like you a lot and stuff. You’re awesome” she said, a slight flush on her cheeks and smile on her lips.

Hayeli looked down at Hana’s thumb trailing circles across her own. Her throat felt dry. She swallowed. She could hear her heartbeat, loud, and a little faster than usual. “Uh, well, if you want this to be a date, then this can be a date. Yeah. Totally.” She said, looking back at Hana. She licked her lips. “I… I like you a lot too, Hana. If you, like, um, want to date more often, then I think I would be open to that idea. Or--” she shifted on the couch, moving closer to Hana “--or even, like… kiss you.”

“Really? It can?! Uh, I mean, like, cool, yeah, sounds good, or, whatever” Hana said in response, her blush and wide eyes betraying her attempts to keep it cool. The big grin that swept her face now didn’t help either, but either way, Hana was happy. As Hayeli moved closer, Hana gulped and bit her lip. “Um, y-yeah, me, me too” Her thoughts in the moment were a mix of ‘This is amazing’ and ‘Why are you freaking out you already kissed her?!’ but even with the latter her heart fluttered a bit as she leaned closer. Her other hand moved to her waist as she leaned in and kissed Hayeli, soft and gentle.

For Hayeli’s part, she felt like she had no thoughts she could comprehend in the moment. Everything up until then had felt calculated. Awkward, sure, but calculated. She had rehearsed a few things she had known that she would likely need to tell Hana eventually. Now that was over with. The maths exam had passed. Calculated.

Soft. Gentle. Calculated. Soft. Lips. Warm. Hayeli’s thoughts were less in words now and more in emotions and sensations. When she pulled away from Hana, she realized she was holding her close. Her face ran flush and she scurried backwards back to her spot. “Um, uh, so, yeah! That was good. Nice.” She cleared her throat and managed a smile. “You’re a good kisser. I can say that with certainty, because you’re the best kisser out of all the girls I’ve kissed.”

Hayeli managed to act confident, but neglected to add that her humorous tone came from the fact that Hana was--in fact--the only girl she’d kissed.

Hana’s eyes opened once more as Hayeli pulled away, blinking a few times to collect herself. She chuckled, a tinge of red on her cheeks still. “Uh, heh, thanks, I’m, uh, I’m glad it was nice, and that you liked it, I, I really liked it too” she said, giving another awkward chuckle from all the giddy feelings fluttering around her head. Hayeli had been right, even if she was created out of magic silver and glass, she felt totally human, the softness of her skin, the warmth and taste of her lips.

“I, uh, so, dating more, I, I really like that. I like you. Cool. Yeah. Uh, so, does that mean we’re like, dating now?” she asked, tilting her head, unsure of what the rules were beyond ‘if you both want it to be, it’s a date.’

“Oh! Uh, hm. If we go on regular dates… I want to say yes? Yes. We are…” Hayeli paused and swallowed, feeling like this was a dramatic moment. “Dating. That’s what we are. We’re dating.” She took a deep breath. Saying that felt like a shift, and she felt her pulse quicken again and her blush not leave her face. “Do… so, does that mean we call each other something? Dating is just dating, right? Like, feeling things out? Is that what we’re doing? Feeling things out and just having fun and… and enjoying each other’s company? I do like your company. Like, you just… being present. Your presence. It’s good.”

Hana grinned sheepishly, giggling a bit. “Uh, cool, awesome, that’s, I, ugh, okay I’m trying to just play it cool but I’m like really happy and stuff” she said, blushing through her grin. Her hand squeezed Hayeli’s as she listened to her talking, nodding as she spoke. “Uh, well, like, yeah, definitely like, enjoying each other and feeling things and stuff. I like being around you too” she said, her eyes glancing down as nerves hit her at what she was going to say next. Her voice murmured some. “Like, uh, we don’t have to call each other something if you don’t wanna or whatever but like maybe now or sometime after we’ve been dating we could, like, I dunno, call each other girlfriend or whatever, if you’d want that”

Hayeli turned her head and held her hand in front of her mouth, trying to cover her blush. The thought of calling Hana her girlfriend was an altogether more advanced romantic prospect than she’d ever considered before, but the idea was… not unpleasant. “Yes, that sounds good. We can reconvene the meeting on names and terms at a later date.”

The word hung in the air for a few quiet moments, before Hayeli burst out laughing at her own accidental joke. “I’m sorry! I’ve just been feeling so tense about this and a lot of other things, it feels nice to just have an awkward time.” She let out a long, satisfied sigh. “I’m happy to have another person here who isn’t just another AEGIS agent. I’m happy you came by. Do you want to do anything? I don’t have a lot of stuff and can’t go very far, but we could figure out something fun.”

Hana giggled lightly when she said it sounded good and they could figure out words and stuff later. “Cool, yeah” she said, then laughed along with her. “Hey, it’s cool! I’m, uh, I’m glad I can give you an awkward time” she said, giving a grin. Her seating shifted, sitting closer to Hayeli. “I am too. Uhhh, yeah, totally, let’s do something! Uh, if we gotta stick around here, we could, like, watch a movie together, uh, oh, I could like, talk about other stuff I’ve been up to over the summer. I’ve learned like, a lot of crap that I’m still trying to like, deal with. Uhhhh, we could like, oh dang I shoulda brought my Bintendo Verse, could have had a rematch with some more games. Next time” she said, giving a grin. “I’m just, like, I’m good with whatever, getting to be here with you. Anything sound good?”

Hayeli tilted her head. Her expression was one of curiosity and confusion. “Bintendo Verse? What’s that? Sorry, there are a lot of things I’m not familiar with. A rather different life path is to blame for that, but I’ve had some time to get familiar with books and movies. Oh, and I definitely would love to hear about your summer!” She smiled and squeezed Hana’s hand again, then stood up. “You can tell me all about it and I can make us some breakfast in the meantime? You can pick something for us to watch on TV while we eat. You probably know better than I how all the remotes work.” She said, walking towards the open kitchen area.

## Making Breakfast

“Oh! Right, duh. So, like, how we went to the arcade and played games there and stuff, it’s like that but you play at home. Or wherever, technically, since you can like, pull it out of the little dock thing. But yeah, basically the same thing” she said, then grinned and nodded. “Ohh food sounds real good right now, thanks!” she said, getting up to follow her over to the kitchen. She leaned against a counter, jamming her hands into her hoodie pockets. “Uhhh, so, let’s see. Oh, on Father’s Day we helped GAIA out with some stuff and delivered some gifts, and I, like, found a grave that I’m pretty sure was my dad. Or, well, sorry, spoilers. Dr Lewis Kerrigan, I guess? He apparently helped work on GAIA, enough that they consider him like a father to them, so like, we might kinda be siblings? It’s weird, so I’ve been trying to look into his whole deal for a few months. Oh, then our band went out to Lake Winnemuck and won a battle of the bands, and also found out the principal of the school there was like, embezzling a bunch of stuff? It was weird. Those were the big things from June, well, aside from stopping the cops from trying to do a coup against the mayor, but you knew about that one”

Hayeli listened to Hana as she got busy working in the kitchen. She fired up the stove and out some pans to fry up some mushrooms and sausages, filled another pan with beans and tomato sauce, and put down a few eggs to the side. “Oh gosh, that sounds like a lot. I’m sorry to hear about your dad. That must’ve been a shock, even if you didn’t really know him. It’s cool that you got to connect to a new sibling and do all that stuff with your band though! Do you have any music released? I’d love to listen to it. Oh, how do you like your eggs, by the way?”

Hana’s eyes got wide as Hayeli started to get the food going, the smell hitting her and making her feel even hungrier. “Ooohhh yum, this is like, fancy breakfast, nice” she said, looking over all the things being cooked. “Oh! Yeah, uh, well, it was a lot, but the good stuff was good. We totally got stuff out! Uh, there’s a few things from before I joined, then we’ve recorded some other stuff, here lemme just text you a link to our page, it’s got downloads and stuff on it” she said, pulling out her phone. Hayeli’s phone would get a message soon after with several links. “There you go! Uh, heh, hope you like it. Eggs, right, food. Uh, I’ll eat em any kind of way, over medium or over hard is totally fine by me” she said, leaning back over the stove to get another whiff.

“Yummm. I like you even more now, this looks amazing. Oh! Right, summer stuff. Okay, so, uhhhhhh, oh, Sledge and I interrogated Smokescreen so I could try to see if he knew anything about you. That’s how I got your username on iSupe. Uhh, I hung out with people a bunch, a friend of mine from when I was younger joined the team, she’s like, uh, time, tentacle, eyes, being, person girl, she’s awesome. Oh, you mentioned Maria, after the thing with the magic stuff we chatted and got our stuff in check, so we’re cool now. Another friend of mine, Gwen, the bassist and singer for the band, can like, retrocognitize you and show you your past so we checked out my memories and stuff. This is what I meant by ‘spoilers,’ heh. Uh, it’s kinda heavy so maybe after you’re done making food I can tell you about it when we’re like, sitting down”

Hayeli responded to Hana’s egg-based wishes immediately and silently, switching between checking on the food and looking at Hana to show that she was still listening intently throughout her cooking activities. She gave a grin when she was praised for the ‘fancy breakfast’, she nodded along when Hana explained how she got her iSupe username, and she quirked an eyebrow at the mention of Maria and Hana’s other--apparently--friends. “Wow, you weren’t kidding about having an eventful summer. It’s good to see you have people supporting you, like your mentor and your friends.”

She took a spoonful of beans out of their pan and taste-tested them. “Hm, yes, looks like we’re about ready. Baked beans, sausages, mushrooms, eggs, I’ve got some bread if you like. A full English breakfast.” She turned off the gas and looked quite satisfied with her work. “One upside to not having much else to do, but still having plenty of resources available, means I end up learning to make the most of this little household. And, uh, I’m glad you like me. Like it, I mean.”

“Heh, yeah, it’s been a lot. Having people around to help has been, like, really good actually. For a while I didn’t have a lot of friends, like, ones I know I could ask for help, but people showing me they will has been, uh, it’s cool” she said, giving an embarrassed chuckle. Hana looked over as the food was finished, eyes getting wide again. “Ohhhhh yum. This looks amazing! Bread, yes please”

Her gaze moved to Hayeli at the last part of her words, a smile on her face again. “I, uh, yeah, I really like you. The food, I mean. I mean, both, really, you both look really good. I mean the food looks good. Not that you don’t. I, uh, it looks tasty. The food. Uh, or, well, uh, so, where do you keep plates?” she said, turning as the blush rapidly forming through her motormouthing reached its peak, pretending to look around for plates as her cheeks cooled.

The fact that they could have this conversation in a place like this was bliss for Hayeli. The fact that Hana was still the same bashful and yet forward mess that she was during their first date together was even moreso. “The plates are in the corner cupboard, right beside you.” She said through a broad smile. “The cutlery is in the drawer below it. Oh, I have got some trays for eating on the couch, actually.” Hayeli opened another, larger drawer and took out something that looked like a tray from a cafeteria that was fused with a decorative pillow below it. “This way I don’t have to awkwardly balance a plate in my lap, my legs don’t burn from hot plates and if I drop food it will just drop on my tray. Who knew such simple inventions existed? A colleague of mine recommended them.”

“Got it!” Hana said, getting out plates and silverware for each of them. She set them on the counter to be loaded with food, eagerly awaiting. “Ohhh, awesome! That’s smart for like, using them when you make your own food, and stuff. I don’t make a lot of stuff at home, hehe, so like, usually don’t go all out with that stuff. I’m super excited to eat like this with you though, it looks amazing” she said, getting some of all of the things. “A colleague, so like, another agent? You getting along with them?” she said, taking a tray and flipping it around to look at it, then nodding and putting her plate and silverware on it. “Cool, handy”

“I get along with some of my colleagues, but only insofar as much can one be expected to get along with people who were not too long ago their wardens, basically.” Hayeli grimaces a little at the thought. “There’s still some weird kinda animosity under the surface with some people, I guess? Most of the agents seem fine, or professional enough that it doesn’t come up. Like this Carson guy. He just seems like a professional, thinking, y’know, I’m his coworker now and that’s what matters. Plus he’s into arts and crafts, so he had some good tips for those pillow things in case I want to make my own.” She laughed, embarrassed. “Before I bought these I tried to make some, I failed too often to want to continue for now, so I just bought them instead.”

“Huh, yeah, I get that. Like, probably weird to see people in such different ways like that” she said, nodding. Hana took hers and moved away from the kitchen, waiting for Hayeli to join her so they could head for the couch. “Oh yeah, Carson, I’ve met him in some Big Team stuff. Bolt swears they’re buds but I dunno. Carson seems like anything not by the book just pisses him off, but then does artsy stuff, I think him and Melody’s mom are in some crafts club together? Dunno. But yeah, like, it’s good they’re not all being shitty. If anyone’s like, really bothering you, lemme know, I’ll have a word with em” she said, narrowing her eyes and nodding.

Hayeli piled on the baked beans next to her egg and sausage, took plenty of buttered bread and a tall glass of milk that she all put on her tray. She followed Hana back to the couch. “Oh, you know him? I guess you would have met some of my current colleagues, huh. At least Agent Carson wasn’t at my arrest. The ones that were have generally been a lot meaner.” She said. “Thank you for the offer, at any rate. It’s nice knowing that I have someone here who wants to protect me.” She sat down with her tray, her legs crossed under herself as she sat on the couch. Hayeli grabbed a spoon to dig in and smiled at Hana. “Bon appetit!”

“Yeah, just through random hero stuffs and all” she said, moving and sitting cross-legged on the couch. “Jeez, that must be awkward, yeah. They shouldn’t be making it that way though, they should like, appreciate that you’re doing this and trying to amend for it. Jerks” she said, shaking her head. As she talked, she took some of the bread and piled up food onto it, then started digging in. She immediately nodded and gave a thumbs up to Hayeli, quickling chewing and swallowing it all. “Oh yeah this is so good, you’re amazing” she said, sipping at her Bepsi and going in for more. “Oh, uh, I guess I can talk about my other stuff now. So, like, my friend showed me some of my past with her powers, and, uh, I kinda learned that the guy who I thought was my dad, and my mom, are, uh, actually not even related to me at all. So, like, I was just adopted. In a way. Actually that Lewis guy brought me home after like, uh, I guess I was involved in some kind of weird, creepy experiment for some shady group. Uh, so, yeah, that’s something kinda big that I learned, and, I’m like, still feeling pretty weird about it”

Hayeli stared at Hana. That was a lot to take in, even though it wasn’t even about her. She swallowed a piece of sausage and reached over to Hana to pat her on her arm. “That sounds like it sucks pretty bad and I can understand completely that you’d feel weird about it. To find out that your family is different from what you’d always believed is one thing--being adopted by good people would be all fine and perfect--but to have that with your mom and then find out the other stuff? That’s… that’s next level crappy. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with that. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Hana nodded, giving a small smile. “Thanks, I appreciate it. Uh, I don’t think there’s anything to help with it, just, like, still figuring it out. I should probably like, talk to her at some point? Right? I just don’t know. It’s weird. Like, knowing she treated me like she did, but she never wanted me anyways, but even so that’s like, she kinda really treated me like crap. Ugh. Thanks for listening, that helps, I’m happy to talk about stuff with you” she said, chuckling. “Uh, I think that’s it. The week after is when we met you in the weird wrench future world. So, yeah, kinda eventful summer. It’s been good, mostly. I’m really glad I was able to see you again, that’s made a lot of the crappy stuff not so crappy” she said, taking a bite of some food, swallowing it before looking back over to her.

Hayeli blushed and tried to hide her embarrassment over the compliment by stuffing another scoop of baked beans and tomato sauce into her mouth. She just quietly smiled for a bit while eating, before she spoke up again. “Well, I’m happy to be here for you to talk to you about stuff and make this eventful summer feel less crappy. That weird wrench world was not a place I would like to revisit anytime soon. I honestly didn’t expect my savior to be you, but it was good to see you again.”

Hana nodded a bunch, the grin still on her face. “Yeah, heh, I’m happy about it too. Guess we kinda did save you and the others, hehe. Well, I’ll be there to save you from whatever you need saving from, if you do even need it. Like, you can handle a lot, but if you need something, I’m there. Even with all the stuff going on I’ve been feeling pretty good about like, how I’ve been doing with the whole team stuff, actually. Guess all that Sledge mentoring is finally kicking in or something” she said, chuckling. Her eyes moved to the remote on the table. “Oh, crap, I was supposed to pick something for us to watch! Right, uh, well, that’s all my summer stuff and pretty much what’s all been on my mind. You wanna talk about anything else or like, we could just eat and watch a thing together? If you want?”

Hayeli laughs at Hana’s grin and her confidence, and her happiness sounds like silver bells. “I should thank your mentor. Saving me from a bleak future and getting me out of a nasty situation with a wizard cult? It’s starting to be a pattern and I haven’t even had the chance yet to properly thank you or reward you for your efforts.” She shook her head and let out a satisfied sigh. “Right! There are some new channels and film channels, plus sports? I don’t know much about sports, but if that’s your thing, I don’t mind watching with you if you can explain it. There’s also a channel that seems to mostly have cartoons. It seemed fun, but I haven’t taken the time to check it out yet.”

Hana blushed and nodded. “I, well, I’m, like, I’m happy to do it” she said, the smile staying on her face as she reached for the remote, then turned the TV on and started channel surfing. “I’m cool with sports, but I’m not like, super duper into them? Like I’ll play or watch if it’s on or whatever. Cartoons?! Awesome! I mean” she cleared her throat, trying to keep looking cool. “Those can be fun, I guess” she said with a nod. Nailed it. Flipping to the cartoon channel, they were coming back from commercial to start the first episode of The Magpie Estate. “Oh! I’ve heard good things about this, supposed to be funny and good and diverse and gay. Wanna watch?”

“Oohh, yeah! That sounds cool!” Hayeli perks up and sits right up. “They probably won’t have mirror-people, but it’s good to see shows with more brown people. The older shows I watched seemed to be sorely lacking there. I could stand to watch something funny and gay.”

She gave a side-glance to Hana and almost continued on to say ‘like you’. Her mouth was open in freeze-frame for a second, before she just stuck some bread in her mouth instead and quietly nodded with enthusiasm. She hadn’t had this sort of domestic situation before and was trying to think of what the proper way to respond was. The only thing close to it in her past life had been the hangouts with the Black Magic Club, which usually had revolved around making plans or executing them. The times where they’d just spent time together was small, but precious. Even then, her relationships with the other members had been largely focused on their common goals. Vic was domineering, Misery worshipful, the A Girls mostly distanced from her. Only Jemma had been someone she’d actually call a friend. It was nice to now have more people she could refer to as such. Hayeli took another bite of bread and choked on her laughter as The Magpie Estate began and immediately murdered her with a joke.

“Yeah! They super are, it’s awesome that like, more recent stuff is better about that” She said, nodding happily as the episode started. Hana continued stuffing her face as it went on, laughing a bunch, smiling over to Hayeli as she laughed too. The girl was happy she was enjoying it, just being able to have a nice time like this, after they’d gotten everything off their chests, felt really good. Her food was finished quickly, being a fast eater and basically always hungry. Hana set the tray on the table in front of her, then scooted over to be closer to Hayeli while they watched. The food tray being there kept her from getting too close, really wanting to lean against her, hold her hand, lots of things with her. For now she could be patient and just near her, watching the show as it started to get into the more fantastical parts of the Quaking Archipelago.

As their plates cleared and the episodes continued, Hayeli leaned against Hana and intertwined her fingers with hers. Today… was a good day.