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The only sounds that accompanied her were a symphony of crickets and the grainy dirt under her boots. Truly a lonely scene. At least she had the moon for a companion, illuminating her every step, not that she'd need it. She could find her way back to the restaurant blind, but it felt nice nonetheless.
It was a quiet walk, the kind of quiet that obliges you to resort to your thoughts. But that damned headache sure made it harder, for worse or for better. Probably for the better, since there aren't many nice things to think about coming back from a job empty handed.
She could almost hear the scolding she'd get. Unbelievable. Like he hadn't done worse things while being older than her. Maybe, she could get off some work if he's impressed enough. She did fight three adults all on her own, she didn't win, but she's walking back home. He has to appreciate that, right?
It didn't matter. None of it would matter, really. All she has to do is sneak in without making noise, fall asleep, and then wake up earlier than everyone tomorrow, and pretend whatever happened tonight hasn't happened yet. Is there any difference between troublemaking at midnight and troublemaking at sunrise? She’ll find out tomorrow.
Well, if she's learned anything about her previous failed attempts at sneaking in, it was that Kenji would never expect her to just... walk through the front door. So that's exactly what she did.
She stopped in the entrance to take off her shoes, so as to not leave a trace of dirt and whatnot all over the pristine floors of the shop. She closed the door slowly behind her, noting all lights were out. Finally something had gone her way today. All she had to do now was walk to the second floor, lock herself in her room, and then she would've done it. Huh, she would’ve actually done—
Click
“You still have to work on your stealth.”
Busted. The pulsing on her head came back, stronger. She pulled her beanie down, slightly over her eyes, slumping in defeat. Great, just what I needed. She could still get out of it, she thinks, id she’s ingenious enough. But she’s thought enough for the day, thoughts after thoughts, that have just resulted in pain after pain, literally. Still, she tries.
“Do you ever sleep? Or are you too shy to tell us you're a vampire?” She tried for a chuckle. Other times, she would have expected nothing, a frown at most. It was worse, he sighed.
“Come over here...”
She followed close behind him to the kitchen, thinking of anything, any excuse to give, but nothing came to mind. As she reached one of the barstools to sit on, she rested her head on her hands, boots slipping off the other one. Kenji walked over to her, taking off her beanie and stroking her hair.
“Are you going to tell me what—”
“Just send me to my room to reflect, will you?” She interrupted him, brows knitted in frustration. She was not going to have this talk, not again.
“If you keep being this reckless you’ll lose an eye.” He said apprehensively, pushing the hair out of her face and taking in the black eye and the scratches on her face.
“I’m hoping for the left one, the right is kind of my good one” she shrugged, standing from the stool and walking over to the sink, some dishes still sitting there. “Is this why you were still awake?” She asked, turning on the sink’s faucet and grabbing a cloth.
“You’re not in the position to ask questions.”
Penny looked at the dish in her hands, the water stinging a cut in her hand. “Touché” she told him, looking over her shoulder.
“What were you doing outside?”
“I was on a job.”
“Is that so? Where's the money?”
“I…” She clenched her fist around the cloth and gritted her teeth in anticipation, dreading what was coming next. “I… I couldn't get it.”
“You keep fighting me over staying in the shop, insisting you can handle the world outside, and then come back like this, just proving my point.” The tone of his voice, was it disappointment? Anger? Penny couldn't tell over her own frustration.
“It wasn't my fault those dickheads arrived before me!” She raised her voice, “I'll get it next time dad. I swear I'll be more careful.” A plea. Something she didn't do often, not to anyone.
He shook his head in disbelief. “There'll be no next time.” I would never forgive myself.
A shocked expression formed in the teenager's face, almost as if it was inconceivable to her that he would say such a thing. “Why do you keep doing this to me?” Indignation was clear on her face.
“Keeping you alive? Because that's the only thing I've been doing since I brought you here!"
“I didn't ask you to!” She confronted exasperated, genuinely hurt at the implication of her not being strong enough to stay alive herself. “I was fine back then, and i still would be.”
“It's not about what you asked or didn't ask for. It's about how things are now! And the fact that you came all beat up because you can't seem to follow simple instructions.”
“You want a fact? I’m not useless, stop treating me like it!” She slammed her hands on the breakfast bar.
She turned away from him, facing the sink once again, and her feet faltered making her fall to the floor. With her legs pulled close, she rested her head over her arms, staying in the fetal position as some tears threatened to escape her eyes.
Silence fell upon the room, no one seeming brave enough to break it now.
Kenji looked at the messed up shoes next to him, and the trail of dirt they left across the wooden floors. He walked around the bar, looking at the author of the mes from above, at the water splashed all over the counter, and at Penny once again.
He sat on the floor, keeping some distance with her, and massaged his temple, exhaustions seeming to finally catch up to him.
“I have no doubt you’re capable of… more” He started, while absentmindedly fidgeting with the bandages on his right arm, “I just don’t want to go everyday wondering if you’re going to come back home all hurt.”
“I understand you want to make yourself useful, but i don’t need you to go into such kind of crusades, or fighting with people for nothing,” He touched her shoulder, which prompted her to lift her head up. He wiped away some tears, which made her wince in pain. Quickly he retreated, and opted to hold her hand instead. “What i need from you, is to be certain that you'll be fine, but i'm not sure i can do that if this keeps up.”
A slight frown appeared on her face, something resembling understanding forming at the very back of her mind. They both stood up without another word, the pink haired girl already having resolved to go to sleep and forget about the day for good.
She took her beanie and the filthy boots in hand once again, sparing a glance to the tired man before starting to walk away.
A simple “Hey,” was enough to stop her tracks. “Don’t go to sleep yet. Take a shower and we’ll get you patched up.”
“We? I thought Bibi was asleep already.” Clear confusion present in her voice. If there’s anything she was certain about, it’s that she was not going to be happy to be woken up in the middle of the night for such triviality.
“Trust me, she won't mind.” I will mind if she makes me do all her chores tomorrow, she thought, as she resigned and left the kitchen.
“And one last thing. Did you at least shake them up a little?”
A slight chuckle escaped her. Of course. She looked at him from over her shoulder. “Heh, they left worse than me.” Was the last thing she said, before her figure disappeared in the hallway.
As Kenji looked at her go, ready to leave the kitchen himself, he glanced at the mess he’d be leaving behind in the kitchen one last time. And for once, as he turned off the lights, he realized he preferred the mess over the alternative.