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“So,” Arrio began as he and Lavani walked the paths around the pond. “Can I ask why you brought me here, or do you just wanna let me stew in the mystery for a few more minutes?”
“Right, of course,” Lavani replied sheepishly.
She was nervous, and Arrio couldn’t tell why. Was she afraid he was angry with her? He wasn't one to hold grudges (save any to do with Nathan), but of course he couldn’t expect her to know that.
“I wanted to apologize,” she told him, and he held his hands up as if in surrender.
“Look, Princess,” he protested calmly, “I’m way over all of that stuff. So if you can agree to leave it in the past, so can I.”
“No!” Lavani exclaimed, blushing madly when he raised an eyebrow. “I mean, yes, I would like to leave it behind us, of course, but… it doesn't seem to fair to you for me to move on without giving you a proper apology. It wouldn't be right.”
Arrio shrugged almost uncomfortably.
“I mean, if it’ll make you feel better, then sure, I guess.”
“Thank you,” she said, clearly relieved. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been treating you since I came here. Even in the face of my constant suspicion, you showed me nothing but kindness, and still I–”
“Interrogated me and threw accusations in my face?” Hm. Maybe he was more salty than he’d thought.
“... I was going to say ‘treated you with distrust, but… yes.” Lavani looked away ashamedly, fidgeting with a pink scrunchie Jackie had gifted her. “My treatment of you was unfair. I am a guest here on Prime, and I have done nothing to act like it. I’m sorry.”
They walked in silence for a moment, and for a few seconds Lavani was worried Arrio wouldn’t forgive her after being reminded of her actions. But he didn’t look angry. He didn’t even seem to be upset. Just lost in thought.
“Thanks,” he said, finally. “I appreciate that.” He smiled at her, and she felt a hopeful smile grow on her face. “We’re good, Princess,” he grinned, and Lavani felt her cheeks flush at his teasing.
“Oh, thank goodness!” she breathed, and Arrio laughed.
“You really were worried, weren’t you?”
Lavani shrugged, a tiny smile lingering on her face.
“Well, I certainly did nothing to deserve your forgiveness. Thank you.”
Arrio nodded.
“No worries.” He opened his mouth to speak once more, but hesitated before any words came out. “Let’s just say I’ve done some things in my time that I’m not so proud of either.” Then he grinned. “Most of them worse than interrogating my welcome guide. And yet, people still found ways to forgive me. It’s only fair I do the same for others.”
Lavani laughed.
“You’ve done worse than accusing your tour guide of kidnapping his best friend?” she joked, but faltered when she saw how his face fell. “I’m sorry, it is none of my business.”
Arrio managed a weak smile.
“Don’t worry about it.”
They walked in silence some more until Lavani shook her head.
“I should have trusted you when Nathan said he did. I know he does not trust easily. I should have taken his word.”
“Wait wait wait,” Arrio said, turning to her in shock. “Nathan said he trusted me? Like, our Nathan? Nathan Mun?”
“Well, yes!” Lavani confirmed in surprise. “Perhaps not in those exact words, but he said he had run a background check on you and that while your situation is certainly… unusual, there is nothing for me to be concerned about. He told me not to worry about the twins because you were with them.”
Arrio’s look of disbelief didn’t fade with the explanation, and Lavani became confused.
“Why does this surprise you? He trusts you enough to be on his team, does he not?”
Arrio didn’t bother telling her how the only reason he was on the team to begin with was because he was a liability who needed keeping an eye on. That, and Quintin had gone behind Nathan’s back and done damage (in Nathan’s eyes) that couldn’t be reversed. Arrio knew where the base was, and so Arrio stayed.
“...Let’s just say me and Nathan don’t always see eye-to-eye,” he told her. “But backtracking a bit, he did a background check on me? I mean, I assumed as much, but like. Still!” He looked at Lavani curiously, as if he didn’t believe her. “He really said there was nothing to be concerned about?”
“...Why? Is there something to be concerned about?”
“No! I mean, maybe? Not anymore, at least!” He shook his head absentmindedly. “‘Nothing to be concerned about.’ Huh.”
They walked some more, and Arrio got them both ice cream when they came to the place Jackie had ordered from when Lavani first arrived. They sat on a park bench as they ate, watching the ducks. Arrion grinned at Lavani’s infatuation with the creatures. At least she didn’t try to catch any this time.
After a while, Lavani broke the silence.
“I’m sorry about your mother,” she said softly, wincing when he froze. “I apologize, I–”
“It’s fine,” he said, cutting her off. He offered her a weak smile. “No offense, but I don’t think I can take any more apologies from you today.”
“Heh. I suppose that’s fair.”
Arrio stared out at the water, forcing himself to relax.
“Jackie told you?”
“...Yes,” Lavani admitted. “But please don’t be upset with her. She only told me so that I would realize how far I had overstepped. And… I did.” She ventured a smile, sad to see his face still so blank and serious. Far from the open and easygoing boy she was coming to know. “She is a good friend. You’re lucky to have her.”
Arrio finally smiled at that.
“Yeah. I really am.” He gave her shoulder a gentle shove, ignoring her perplexity at the unfamiliar gesture. “And now, so are you.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.
“I mean, you’re one of us now. I trust you, and so do Jackie and Quin. Heck, even Nathan came around, and well, we’ve all been on the receiving end of his… cautious side. Not exactly a fun place to be.” He sat back comfortably, enjoying the view. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, welcome to the team.”
His words warmed Lavani’s heart beyond anything she could begin to describe, and she soaked it in as best she could as the sun began to set, lighting up the pond in a vibrant mix of pink and orange.
“Thank you,” she said softly, taking in the breathtaking beauty of the unfamiliar planet. “... I think I am going to like it here.”