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“Nah, the most we did was play poker to pass the time,” Griffyn says.
I don’t know how to play poker but I’m going to look it up in case it comes up in the future. I spend half my time researching and learning things to catch up to modern times anyway so what’s one more thing?
“We’ve spent more quality time together since meeting you than we ever did before,” Felix admits.
They have?
“Why?” I ask before I can think better of it.
Aksel surprises me by being the one to answer. “We were a team who worked well together but we weren’t all really friends. Griffyn and Felix got along and Blaze and I were close but I’m pretty sure Griffyn hated me. I’ve been told I’m difficult to be around.” He gives Anna a pointed look.
She throws a hand up to cover her laugh.
“You’re just so fun to annoy,” Griffyn says.
“We are all better off with you around, Spark,” Blaze adds.
I can practically see her joy radiating from here.
The rest of dinner passes with a light conversation that helps me feel like I know them all better. Little antidotes from their past missions or childhoods. Blaze and Aksel avoid talking about their childhoods but join in where they can.
I don’t pry into why. After everything that happened with Joka, it’s clear why Aksel would keep quiet. I don’t know about Blaze’s past but it’s obvious he’s steeped in pain.
“We should do this again,” Anna says as we all stand up from the table.
“I agree,” I say.
Aksel’s eyes are locked on me.
Griffyn and Blaze volunteer to clean up and Anna sticks around to be with them. I’m about to go to my room and give them some time with her since I got to cook with her earlier. I just want to say one thing first.
“This was a great idea, Anna. I think it did help everyone grow closer,” I tell her. I want her to know her idea paid off.
“Thanks, Rion. I appreciate you participating.”
“Maybe you can teach me how to cook something else next time?” I ask hopefully.
I’ll be reading up on cooking between now and then but could always use the practical instruction.
“I would love to.”
I go up the stairs to find Aksel waiting outside his room, leaning against the wall.
When I get close enough, he says, “I’ll work with you. You clearly care about Anna and she deserves that in her life.” Then he just walks away, leaving me standing in the hallway by myself.
I’ll take the win. It feels like progress.
Ten
Anna
“I finally found the items in the archives.” Aksel drops a pile of images down on the kitchen table in front of us all.
We were all eating breakfast together.
“I guess taking some time off was helpful,” I say playfully.
Aksel glares at me but it doesn’t have any heat.
