“Tunnels?” Day gasped.
“Yeah! Now, here we go. Just hang on tight and let me show ya’ how this is done.” Seymour climbed up the slide and sat at the top. He urged Day down into his lap. “Are you ready?”
“Yes!” Day clung to him and wiggled. “Let us slide!”
Seymour pushed forward, letting gravity take over so they whooshed right down the slide.
Day yowled frantically and clung to Seymour.
Seymour chuckled, cradling her close as they came to a stop at the bottom. “Aw, you okay? Too fast?”
Day stared up at him, her pupils blown up again like saucers. “I wish to slide again!”
“Okay, we can?—”
She was already gone.
Seymour got out of the way and took a few steps back, grinning as he watched Day frantically climb the ladder.
Day slid down, squealing when she came off the end of the slide and hit the ground face-first. She shook it off, got up, and raced back to the ladder once more. At the very top, she cackled and declared, “I love to slide!”
Sariel smiled—the most genuine one he’d shown in hours.
Day’s delight was infectious, and Seymour couldn’t stop grinning either. He gave Sariel a nudge and laughed. “Look at her. Her new favorite thing.”
Sariel beamed. “Yes, she is very happy.”
“She’s gonna hate us when we gotta leave.”
“We can always return. We will reassure her of that.” Sariel’s smile had a sad curve to it now. “At least…Youwill.”
“What are you talkin’ ’bout?” Seymour knew it was stupid to ask, especially when he was already confident of the answer. “Is this ’cause of that shit Mr. Heiss said?”
“Please. Let us not discuss it now.” Sariel took Seymour’s hand. “I am all right.”
“You’re a shit liar is what you are, Daddy. Come on. You ain’t been right since we saw that asshole.”
“There is nothing to say except that I wish to enjoy the time we have together,” Sariel said earnestly. “Please?”
“But—” Seymour cut himself off. He wasn’t able to keep quiet for long, griping, “Look, fuck him. Okay? Not literally, but fuckin’ seriously. This is bullshit.”
“Thisbullshitis my life and has been for a long time. It was foolish of me to hope that I could keep this,” Sariel said, his voice a low, pained whisper. “Mr. Heiss will not allow it. Once you complete the task for the twins and Mr. Heiss gets what he wants, you will have to leave.”
“What about what you want?”
“That does not matter.”
“Well.” Seymour huffed. “Pretty sure me and kitty girl over there say it does.”
“I will eat him!” Day called out, panting as she raced around to take another spin on the slide.
“Eavesdropping is rude!”
“It’s not my fault you both whisper so loudly!”
Sariel smiled, but it was still dim compared to his usual sunshine ones. “I believe she is a Leo. Feisty, proud, and generous with those they care deeply for.”
“Yeah? Am I still a solid Aries?” Seymour bumped their shoulders together.
