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Quincy didn’t get many visitors, especially late at night. Only a few people knew where he lived. So when he heard a knock on his door well after sunset, he assumed it was urgent.
…Or just someone trying to bother him. Also likely.
He was not expecting to see a young woman standing before him. She had long black hair, jewelry that looked more expensive than his house, and a red dress that hugged her curves. She didn’t say anything, only leaning against the doorframe in a pose that looked borderline painful.
It was almost believable… until he turned his porch light on and got a better look at her face.
“You forgot about your mole.”
With an all-too-familiar sigh and a puff of purple smoke, the woman vanished. In her place was a much more familiar guest.
“It’s a beauty mark,” Kuya corrected, “And I left it on purpose. Just a bit of fun, old friend.” He sauntered past Quincy into his house, brushing their shoulders along the way. “I know you’re too much of a gentleman to take advantage of a beautiful woman at your doorstep.”
Quincy closed the door behind Kuya, making sure to lock it this time. “Then why bother?”
“Because it’s funny, that’s why.” Kuya was already in his kitchen, grabbing the kettle and one of his favorite teas from the cabinet. “What are you up to tonight?”
“The usual.” Nothing. Evenings were usually pretty boring for him unless he decided to sleep through them… which he rarely did. “What brings you out here?”
Kuya shrugged. “I wanted tea.”
Quincy raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
Kuya turned the stove on, then busied himself with the loose leaf tea and a pair of mugs. “That’s it.”
Quincy crossed his arms. Kuya didn’t come by unless he wanted something— something more than just a cup of tea. Quincy knew for a fact he had that particular blend at his own place. And judging by the time of night, Kuya’s expression, his usual habits… “You can’t sleep.”
Kuya finally looked at Quincy, his eyes narrowed.
He looked tired.
“What do you think of him?” Quincy tried, and Kuya started fiddling with the mugs again.
“Hm…?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
Kuya sighed as he added the tea leaves to their cups— one spoonful for him, one and a half for Quincy. “What do you think of him?”
“He’s… different,” Quincy said. Their boss was much more serious, not so… friendly. The only thing he and Eiden truly had in common was their powers.
“Astute observations, as always.” Kuya turned the stove off as soon as the kettle stopped whistling, and filled both cups with water. “I don’t think they should have let him in so easily. We don’t even know where he came from.”
There it was. It was obvious Kuya had made his mind up about Eiden pretty early on, even if he wouldn’t share his thoughts right away. “I was wondering if Huey had a child.”
Kuya pursed his lips. “Are powers… genetic?”
“Could be. I’ve heard rumors that Pyre had a kid a while back.”
“Really now?” Kuya chuckled. “Well… I’m sure if there was another little arsonist running around, we would have known about it by now.”
“We didn’t know about this guy.”
Kuya rolled his eyes. “Well, he’s not from around here, now is he?” he asked. “Plus, he’s… what, twenty years old? And he didn’t seem the slightest bit aware of his powers until the familiars spelled it out for him. I think there’s something else going on here.”
Quincy grabbed his cup of tea and removed the steeper to take a sip, his eyes trained on Kuya all the while. “Does it matter?” he asked, “Where he came from?”
“Don’t you want to know?” Kuya asked, his arms crossed. It seemed he’d forgotten his tea in favor of staring off into space. “It could give us… some insight. Answers.”
Quincy scoffed. He’d given up guessing Huey’s whereabouts pretty shortly after he’d disappeared, not seeing a point in speculation; if he left, he left for a reason. And although Quincy was getting by just fine without him… he wasn’t so sure about the rest of them.
“Bedroom. You can have your tea in the morning.”
To Quincy’s surprise, Kuya didn’t protest. He didn’t even make any snide comments as he followed Quincy to his bedroom. Once he sat on the edge of the mattress, Quincy got behind him and grabbed his head, one hand over his eyes.
Seconds later, Kuya collapsed in his arms, and Quincy lay him down on top of the blankets.
Kuya could speculate after a good night’s sleep.