Does he like flowers?” Day asked.
“I don’t actually know,” Seymour replied with a frown. He glanced at the sunflower on his lapel and made a face. “Probably not any made from fuckin’ people. But I know he really likes baking. And cleaning tombstones at the cemetery. What ’bout somethin’ to do with that?”
“What about a new bucket? And oh! A recipe book? He does not have many books.”
“Hey, now we’re talkin’.”
The drive to the bakery started out tense. Seymour was lost in his self-loathing and trying to figure out how to fix the hurt he’d left Sariel with, and he didn’t know what to do. It was Day who’d broken the silence by coughing—loudly, often, and repeatedly—until Seymour agreed to talk.
Two things were quickly decided.
One, Seymour was an asshole.
Two, Seymour needed to fix it as soon as possible.
Day’s thoughts on repair involved a lot of apologies, some ass kissing, and gifts.
Lots of them.
“A recipe bookanda new bucket.” Day meowed firmly. “Then you must take him to a restaurant. A nice one. Not the kind with plastic trays.”
“Nope. No plastic trays. Promise.” Seymour reached for her paw. “Trust me. I wanna make this right, kitty girl. I really fuckin’ do.”
“Then why don’t we go back, hmm?” Day ignored Seymour’s hand and chose instead to snuggle against his side. “We can drive a little more so you have time to practice your apology.”
“I want to finish this,” Seymour said firmly, wrapping his arm around her. “Gettin’ that brain back is the most important thing right now, okay? It’s gonna clear my slate with Mr. Heiss, save the city and all the monsters, and?—”
“This is the part where you’re an asshole.”
“Yes, because I do think Sariel is worryin’ too much,” Seymour grumbled. “I know it’s gonna be dangerous, but if it gets too nasty, I can call back the lantern guys and you can have yourself a nice buffet. Like, we can handle this. I’ve done pretty damn all right, all things considered.”
“He is worried because he cares,” Day said softly.
“And I’ve gotta do this because I care too.” Seymour sighed.
“But you are squishy and made of soft meat.”
“Okay,yes, but any hope of a future with Sariel means makin’ Mr. Heiss happy and just maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe he’d be willing to trade Sariel’s freedom for the brain.” Seymour tapped the steering wheel anxiously. “Okay, and now that I say that out loud, I realize it sounds real dumb. Since he could just pop my heart like a grape or whatever and take it.”
“This may not even have anything to do with Sariel,” Day soothed. “It could be the need to prove something to yourself.”
“Oh? Is that an Aries thing?”
Day sighed sadly. “I know it is amething. I felt like a failure for a long time because I could not help my family. I was too small, too weak… And I would get angry. I felt like I had no power.”
“I definitely don’t have any power,” Seymour muttered. “I can’t leave the city, I can’t tell Mr. Heiss to fuck off, and I can’t figure out a damn way to help Sariel.”
“See? Finding the brain is the one thing you might be able to control. You do have the power right now to go after it.”
Seymour managed a tiny smile. “For a little kitty girl, did you know you sure are wise?”
“I am also surely old.” Day chuckled. “Oh, and you are very stubborn. That is definitely an Aries thing.”
Seymour laughed wryly. “Yeah, it is.”
