The group quickly collected their things and rushed off, leaving them alone with just two other students at tables further away.
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” Kaz said. “Where’d the fun-loving, charming guy we’re all familiar with go?”
“You are meant to be theniceone,” Baikal agreed but changed the subject. “So, what are you going to do about Russ then? Does your Onus still want you to find him, or has he given up after reading these gems?” He tapped a finger against the letters.
“Personally, I say find him,” Kaz stated. “And rip his head clean off. Does Aneski paint? You could provide him with some new materials.”
“Are you suggesting he gifts him his brother's blood to use as paint?” Baikal clucked his tongue, but it was impossible to tell if he found that idea interesting or ridiculous. “What about the people you sent to find him before?”
“They’re still searching,” Flix admitted. “Apparently, Russ is better at hiding than we gave him credit for. Go figure.”
“Well, he had to be good at something.”
“I never understood why you were friends with someone like that.” Kaz grabbed a fruit slice from the open carton in front of Flix and ate it. “He always seemed like an idiot to me.”
“At first, I just felt bad for him,” Flix admitted. “Plus, Kal wanted me to keep an eye on things when he formed the Shepards.”
Baikal shrugged. “They didn’t seem like a threat, but it was worth sticking close to. Flix’s friendship with one of thefounding members made it easier, not that anything useful ever came of it. Probably becausesomeoneallowed himself to get distracted early on.”
Flix didn’t even try to deny it.
“I stuck around for Ani,” he confirmed. “He had no idea how shitty his brother really was. All those times Russ was out of the house, he’d lie and tell Aneski he was working. Really, he was just fucking around with the Shepards, trying to establish themselves on the streets. Basically, just wasting his time. At least he kept up with his studies.”
“Sure,” Kaz drawled, “which you were paying for.”
Russ had all but begged Flix to help him through school after their father’s death had left them destitute. Knowing that if Russ failed, Aneski would suffer, he’d done so with little hesitation.
“You should have removed him from that home from the very beginning,” Baikal said then. “Claimed Aneski and kicked his deadweight brother to the curb. Then all of this could have been avoided.”
“He never would have come with me back then if I tried that,” Flix disagreed, only for the cousins to both grunt at him.
“You really think that?” Kaz asked. “Even now? You’re usually more attentive. Does this mean everyone becomes an idiot when they fall for someone?”
“No,” Baikal stated, “just you.”
Kazimir’s eyes narrowed, but his cousin’s gaze shifted around him, and he turned to spot Rabbit entering the wide path. “I guess we’ll see in a moment, won’t we.”
They waited for Rabbit to reach them, quiet for a full minute. Once he had, he ended up standing at the end of the table between Flix and Kaz instead of bothering to sit in the spot across from Baikal that was empty.
“Are you finished with practice?” Baikal asked.
“Just got done,” Rabbit replied.
“You should have texted me. I would have come to get you.”
“I wanted to ask Flix if he and Aneski would join us for dinner.”
Flix quirked a brow. “That so?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to get him out of the house,” Rabbit said. “And you were supposed to come yesterday anyway. Why not tonight?”
“So it’s a formal dinner then.”
“Not really,” he shrugged. “We’re just eating.”
“Why haven’t you invited Nate and me to dinner?” Kazimir scowled.
“I’m friends with Aneski,” Rabbit explained. “It’s been a long time since he and I have gotten together. It would be nice to catch up.” He glanced over at Baikal, and even though his expression never wavered, it was clear he was silently asking the Brumal leader for help.
