Fox Life

In his car, Gale wondered about what was the best course of action. With the couple calls he'd made on the way, he already knew all that had happened.     

Like, for example, his friend being an idiot. Why would he ever show up in a public area with Iris in her human form? It was obvious that he'd be followed as the person closest to the wanted terrorist. Even a kid could realize that.     

Yet Kyro still did it.     

'Maybe I should really leave him to rot there for some time to regain some sense.' It wasn't like Kyro was being mistreated. He was simply held for questioning and being charged with being a willing accomplice.     

'I was making headway with her case, but they just had to throw everything into disarray with such moronic actions. Kyro, are your brain cells dying while staying around her?'     

Gale twirled his phone, debating whether to tip his hand and have Kyro freed. If it was a normal occasion, he wouldn't, and Kyro would agree with him, but…     

What would he have to tell Iris, and in extension Lily, then? That he was incapable? Unwilling? Iris had ran for good seven hours to plea him for help. It was a feat he would have never expected of that easy-going and simple girl.     

There was also his sister. She believed that he was almost omnipotent, and if he said that he couldn't do something, wouldn't that lower his worth in her eyes? Saying that he was unwilling would be even worse.     

"And that's why women shouldn't be allowed in one's life," he muttered to himself, locating the number of his close friend in the internal affairs. Yet even though he was scolding the two girls, there was a gentle smile on his face. There wasn't a world in which he'd choose to let go of his little sister and not care about her.     

In three hours, he was already walking through the facility to keep the associates of dangerous criminals. He was being led by a surly officer who was sending him glares with every other step.     

"You'll regret this," he said as he moved his hand next to a fingerprint scanner.     

"Just hurry up."     

Gale found the man's disgust quite amusing. It had no basis, but the fact that Gale was an outsider interfering with country's internal affairs. It was enough for most of the officers to hate him like he was planning to destroy the whole organization.     

Or well, all the ones who were on Iris' case. They were pretty pissed to lose their only witness, even if he wasn't talking besides saying a few inconsequential things.     

"Ready to go home?" Gale asked upon entering the room.     

Kyro sat on a bench by the wall, hands on the table as he stared at it with an empty gaze. Upon the door opening, he raised his head, and his eyes widened for a fraction of a second before returning to normal. "What are you doing here?"     

"Don't think I didn't understand what you were planning. You're not taking a holiday and leaving me to deal with that mess in Dioscuri."     

"When had you grown so lazy?" Kyro asked with a laugh, standing up.     

"Lazy? I'm efficient. If I have someone I can push all the work on, why shouldn't I?"     

They exchanged glances, and Gale nodded in answer to the question Kyro hadn't voiced. How else would he have found out about it so soon if not for Iris? His contacts were indebted to him, but were not his people. There was a large difference between the two and how useful they could be in specific occasions.     

When they left the building, followed by numerous dark looks, Kyro breathed out a long sigh. In the car, he leaned against the seat and closed his eyes. "I thought they really had something, but it's all just rumor. They only have pictures of her from the gala."     

"I could have told you that," Gale said in a deadpan voice as he started his sport's car. It rushed through the streets like a bolt of lightning, scaring numerous passers-by.     

"Is that why you're trying to kill me now?"     

Rolling his eyes, Gale slowed down to an acceptable speed, maximum allowed in that area. "You owe me now. Big time."     

"They would have let me go in a couple days. Week at most."     

"Sure, and your little girlfriend would have went mad from guilt in that time." He smiled at Kyro like a Cheshire cat. "So you really owe me this time. I'm saving your relationship here!"     

The reminder stole the good mood from Kyro. "How is she?"     

"Tired, worried to death, but safe, if that's what you're asking. I asked Lily to take care of her."     

"That's… good."     

It didn't sound like he was happy, but Gale knew better than to say more. Unlike his friend, he had never pledged himself to one woman and didn't know what it was like to care about her being more than about his own.     

It sounded fascinating, but he didn't feel like he was cut out for that. To give so much of oneself to another person… How could anyone do that? He didn't even find it in himself to share everything with his sister, the one person he believed would never hurt him, but a stranger? It was impossible. The world would end sooner that he'd manage to do that.     

When they got to his apartment, Lily came out to welcome them. She said that Iris was resting, asleep in her room, and Kyro went straight there. Lily wanted to follow, but Gale pulled her back.     

"Stay with me tonight."     

"I get to sleep in your bed?" Lily asked, wide-eyed.     

Right away, a memory of him asking his parents to sleep with them after a nightmare came into his mind. He might have been three years old then. Usually, he wasn't allowed outside, but that day they had brought him out and he got to talk with other children. One of the older ones had told them a scary story so they wouldn't be able to sleep at night, and one of the younger ones said that he'd sleep with his mother that night and no monster would find him then.     

Gale had always slept alone, but that night, he got really scared. He went to his parents, but instead of a warm embrace, he got a beating. His father took out his belt and lashed him thrice on the backside. Once for believing in stupid things, second for wasting time talking with other children, and third for waking his parents in the middle of the night.     

After that, he had learned to never expect any kindness from them. Whatever happened, he had to overcome it by himself and stand up before anyone noticed that he'd fallen.     

"Brother?" Lily asked again, her voice soft.     

"Yeah, if you want. Or I can prepare a bed for you in one of the guestrooms if you prefer that."     

The girl shook her head violently, her hair flying in all directions. Gale smiled and patted her head.     

"Go and get ready then."     

As he said that, he went into his room. While he was preparing for bed, a letter on the desk caught his eye. It looked familiar, and he lifted it up. Wasn't it the one Iris had been holding when she came to them? Why was it here?     

He thought to bring it to the living room so she wouldn't forget it tomorrow, but then two words caught his attention - 'To Gale'. A weird feeling swirled in his stomach. What would Iris need to say to him in a letter?     

His eyes moved to the wall behind which was Lily's room, then returned to the letter. Should he even open it? Wouldn't it be just bringing disaster upon his head?     

Love confessions were nothing new to him, but not from…     

He massaged his temples. Why did life have to be so complicated? How exactly was he going to explain THAT to Kyro?