Dex blinked at them, then his face broke into a wide grin and he laughed. “I don’t know whatriddancemeans.”
“I think it means the removal of something.”
“That makes more sense than ribbons,” he said, and Cya snorted, rubbing the smirk from their lips with two fingers.
And just like that, the heavy atmosphere shattered, and Dex was smiling again. His ears raised and his tail swished gently. Then he waved his hand for them to follow him as he started up the next flight of stairs. The rest of their ascent to the sixth floor was silent, save for the soft laughter rumbling through the Lupyn’s chest.
Finally, they reached the sixth floor, and Cya glared at Dex as he waited for them on the landing. Panting and sweaty, they did their best to hold their chin high as they struggled the last few steps. They swiped their hair out of their damp face and silently dared Dex to tease them for their slow pace and general lack of athleticism.
The Lupyn was smart enough to keep quiet, even if he was unable to smother his entertained grin. Climbing six floors every time they studied here was not going to be their future; they wouldn’t allow it.
“What’s your address?” they demanded as they leaned against the wall to catch their breath.
“Why?” Dex opened the door to the stairwell and held it for them.
They didn’t move through it. Instead, they pulled out their phone. “So Hemersyn knows where to pick me up.”
“Oh, right.”
Dex rattled off his address, and Cya texted it to Hemersynalong with a request.
[Cya] Can you find out who owns the building and demand they fix the lift? Bribe them if you have to.
[Hemersyn] Do I dare ask why?
It’s broken, and I refuse to climb six flights of stairs again. It’s entirely humiliating!
Ah, yes, your life is very difficult, indeed.
Eat glass.
Good to know you took your etiquette classes to heart.
Cya’s tail rattled in annoyance, but before they could text back, fur brushed their shoulder. For some reason, Dex had stepped up beside them and was currently reading their text chain over their shoulder.
“Hemersyn seems like a fun time,” he said with a snicker, and Cya shoved their phone into their bag and bared their fangs.
“Don’t you know it’s rude to read other people’s conversations without asking?”
“It’s also rude to text other people when you’re hanging out with your new best friend,” he shot back, tail wagging harder when Cya scowled deeply. “You’re so easy to rile up. It’s ridonkulous.”
“I don’t get riled up,” they lied primly.
Walking out of the stairwell and into the hallway beyond, Dex shot a disbelieving, “Yeah, okay,” over his shoulder.
At the door to flat 607, Dex stopped on a welcome mat that read,“Welcome to the Shitshow”,and finagled his key into the lock. He unlocked the door, then pushed it open.
They followed him inside and were hit with a wall of overwhelming scents. Not bad, just unfamiliar. Spicy, aromatic food had been cooked here, and someone had recently showered, judging from the humid, shampoo-ladened air. A large potted plant stood against the wall, red-petaled flowers splayed open, releasing a soft floral perfume.
It smelled like a house well-lived in. Where the walls had seen children grow and heard them laugh. Where the carpet had absorbed the stains of adventures and mishaps. Where the windows had projected life and love and loss.
A home, Cya realized. They were standing in a home.
With a sigh, Dex dropped his bags in the entry, and Cya stiffened when a door to the right opened, illuminating the dark hall. Nerves tightened in their gut as a smaller Lupyn appeared, fur nearly the same shade as Dex. She had purple bows in her hair, and her heterochromatic eyes, so like her brother’s, fell on Cya instantly. She came to a stop a few feet away and cocked her head.
Unsure what else to do, Cya lifted a hand and waved. She waved back, then she looked to her brother. Dex immediately started moving his hands, creating words and sentences Cya didn’t understand. Jasmyn responded, then pointed at Cya.
“This is my friend, Cya,” Dex said aloud, signing to her simultaneously. “They’re here to study with me.” To Cya, he said, “Cya, this is my sister Jasmyn.”
