Moe looked around, confused, before meeting Finn's gaze again."We always sit together."
"Not anymore."He stepped closer, resting a hand on the table, leaning in until Moe finally registered the tension.
"It's okay," whispered Kallie, moving behind him.
She slid onto the bench on the other side of the table.It only made his possessiveness spike, and he sat beside her, blocking her in the booth so Moe couldn't get to her.
Moe stood slowly, still frowning, and instead of leaving, he dragged a chair over and sat at the end of the table, facing them.
Finn exhaled through his nose."What do you want?"
Moe folded his hands and gazed at Kallie."Where did you come from?"
Finn stiffened."Don't answer that."
Kallie looked at him, surprised."Finn—"
"No."His voice came out sharper than he intended."Don't."
Moe blinked again, confused."I'd like to know."
Finn slid out of the booth."Kallie, stay here."
She opened her mouth to protest, but he grabbed Moe's arm and pulled him away from the table.Moe didn't resist, just stared at Finn with a blank, unblinking expression.
Finn spoke slowly."You don't ask her questions."
"Why not?"Moe asked."She's gone through the rift."
"Because you don't need the answers she'll give you."
Moe frowned."But—"
"Go home," Finn said.
Moe hesitated, then nodded once and walked out of the restaurant.Finn watched him until he was gone, sure he wasn't coming back.His chest ached with tension.
When he finally returned to the booth, Kallie studied him with wide, worried eyes.
"Finn," she said softly, "what was that about?"
He slid into the seat beside her and took her hand again, needing the contact."Moe doesn't understand things outside Everstill.None of them do.Asking questions like that...it'll only confuse him."
She studied him."You think he can't handle the truth?"
Finn shook his head."It's not about handling it.Deep down, he knows.It's what knowledge does to them.They're not like—" He stopped and drew a deep breath."They're not like me."
Kallie's thumb brushed over his hand again, slow and soothing."Are you scared for him?"
He looked at her—at the softness in her eyes.She was the one real thing here, untarnished by whatever held them in control.She made him feel alive.
He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a kiss across her knuckles.The others would survive.Whatever kept them emotionless would continue protecting them.He had other worries.
"I'm scared for you," he murmured."Everstill doesn't like change.And your being here is changing everything."
She squeezed his hand, her voice barely above a whisper."I could leave.We can both go."
That was impossible.He wasn't going to risk losing her.She could die going back through, and even if she made it, he wouldn't survive.
