But you’ve got bigger, more pressing issues at the moment.
Issues like cleaning up the mess of the cafe. And Ziros’ bleeding arm.
“Here,” you say, taking a step toward him. “Let me see that.”
“Don’t worry about it, human. I heal quickly.”
“You should still wash it.”
Before he can resist, you grab a sheet of paper towel from the roll above the sink, soaking it with hot water before dabbing his arm gently until the wound is clean.
“There,” you say as you finish, taking a step back. “Good as new.”
It’s almost true.
The line of the cut on his arm is indeed already healing.
It’s like magic.
And it probablyismagic.
“Now are you going to tell me what happened while I was taking the trash out?”
The trash that you definitely still intend to clean up where it’s scattered in the alleyway. Only, you’d really like not to get attacked by any monsters this time.
And you’re not feeling too hot about going out there any time soon.
Ziros leans back against the counter, folding his arms over his singed apron.
“It’s my damn brother’s fault.”
“Brother?” You ask, swiveling to face him, midway through cleaning up the scattered stack of cups. Now that he mentions it, hedidsay he had one. “Your brother was here?”
“Yep.” Ziros frowns. “Twin, actually.”
“Wait, so there’s someone out there walking around who looks just like you?”
He shakes his head. “Fraternal. So, no. And we’re basically opposites. Never did get along. And he showed the hell up today just to pick a damn fight. If it weren’t for him, I’d have been out there to save you way sooner.”
“Wow.” You can’t decide whether this is a cool development, or a scary one. Corrine is going to flip when she learns she missed the chance to meet Ziros’ brother. You glance at the scorch marks on the wall, the marks you’re not looking forward to having to explain to your boss. “And does he possibly also have something to do with the burned marks all over, or is that just coincidence?”
Ziros laughs dryly. “Yeah, that’d be his fire powers.”
“Ah. So you’ve got wind, he’s got fire.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what?”
Ziros shakes his head. “Nevermind.”
It isn’t until the next customer walks in that it hits you—
Corrine said the guy who saved her from being mugged was shooting fire from his hands. Could it be—could the guy who rescued her have been Ziros’ brother?
It feels like ages before the cafe is empty again and you can finally talk openly.
For a birthday where you’ve had to work, at least it sure hasn’t been boring.
