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The bus was parked deep inside a rural area of District 19 for a scheduled resupply.
"Now I do hope that you are all properly excited. Three days to do whatever you want while I take care of business." Vergilius looked out at all of the Sinner's rather neutral faces.
"What is there to be excited about doing in this podunk middle of nowhere?" Rodion complained. "When I heard we were stopping at a Nest, I at least expected to be in civilization!"
"What's wrong with a small town, exactly?" Sinclair wondered, "Isn't District 19 famous for its fresh produce? I thought you would be more excited about that, Miss Rhodya."
"Oh, such a nice young man, so excited about eating his vegetables..." she grumbled.
"Well, no one is forcing you to leave. Stay on the bus with Dante instead of Gregor, and sit right here in your seat for three days if you like," Vergilius sighed.
"I wouldn’t take it that far!" Rodion rolled her eyes dramatically. "I'm sure I have more than enough sitting around in store soon enough. Come on now everyone, time's a-wasting~"
"Just remember. Be back on this bus, in your seats, on the day of our departure, by no later than noon. Tardiness is not an option, is that clear?" Vergilius reiterated.
Most everyone nodded.
"I wonder what our hotel will be like. I can't wait to stretch out for a bit." Ishmael politely broke the tension in the room.
"When we arrive, we shall have a lively group dinner! And then on the morrow, young Sinclar will show me the shopping street where I can get a new book! And then, and then -- ! " Don Quixote recounted her plans.
The Sinners got up and gathered their bags to prepare for the modest trek into the nearby town. The mood on the bus was slowly improving, with one exception.
<"Not packing, Gregor?"> Dante asked.
"Not going." he replied.
<"Are you sure? It's not like I need any company.">
"Actually, it's me who doesn't need any company. Plus, someone with combat capability needs to keep an eye on the bus. I'll be fine, thanks." Gregor returned his gaze out the window with a sigh.
Don Quixote's ears perked up at this exchange. She hadn’t known that anyone would be staying behind - and now two people were required to do so?
Somehow that just didn't seem right to her.
"Sir Vergilius! Please! I would like to volunteer to protect the bus, as well!" She waved her hand back and forth vigorously.
"What are you talking about?" Gregor raised an eyebrow. "Don't give up your time off, I've got it handled."
"Uh, what about all of our plans, Don Quixote?" Sinclair was just as confused.
"No need for concern! I simply had not evaluated all possibilities. Now I would like to stay aboard!" Don Quixote grinned at Dante.
<"Well, the more the merrier I suppose.">
---
“Now that it is just us three fellows — it is time for dinner, is it not?” Don Quixote hopped along with excitement towards the bus canteen, like a sleepover was about to begin.
“The chore designations are useless during this special break, for none assigned are aboard the bus. To mark this most special occasion, you must cook for us to-night Manager Esquire!” she proclaimed.
<“What? Me? Uh, are you sure?”> Dante ticked.
“Oh, but I am. We, who have so faithfully stayed behind, will be the lucky ones to have this experience!” Don Quixote then leaned in and stage whispered, “Be assured, no prior expertise is required. Simply follow the recipe cards on the packaged goods.”
“Should you need any assistance, I can lend my aid to thee! But I believe in you fully from the start!” She struck a thumbs-up pose of encouragement.
“This is all a waste of time,” Gregor sighed through clenched teeth, “I’m the only one here who even needs to eat. Why bother cooking a whole regular meal for just one person? And don’t torture the fella with no mouth over it, to begin with.”
“B-But our moment of camaraderie…!”
<“I don’t really mind taking care of the cooking, even though I can’t guarantee the results. It could be fun.”>
“Listen, I didn’t stay behind because I wanted to play games.“ Gregor said with frustration.
“There’s no need to put on this show when it’s just us, and there’s no need to bother with cooking when it’s just someone like me. A protein bar and a cig will do me just fine tonight. Have fun if you want.” He dug out a cigarette and made for the front door of the bus with a frown.
Don Quixote and Dante shared a look.
"A pr-oh-teen bar..?" Don Quixote pondered.
<"It's a bar that, uh -"> Nope. Dante didn't let that thought go even one word further.
“Hmm, ’twould seem I hath taken the wrong approach with young Gregor.” she sighed, putting her hands in her pockets.
<“I agree that something is clearly bothering him. But listen, Don Quixote, he's made it pretty clear he wants to spend some time alone. I think we should let him be for a while, just like he asked.”>
Don Quixote just looked at Dante sadly.
<"... I'll still make dinner, if you want?">
---
Don Quixote turned down the offer of dinner, as novel as it would be - for there would still be tomorrow night.
There were other matters that required her attention.
She had elected to stay behind from the group excursion when she detected her dear coworker Gregor’s dark mood, of course. Something had him so down that it would seem that he wasn’t drafted into bus guard duty against his will - he hadn’t even wanted to enjoy their time off in the first place.
She paced around her room, thinking over her options.
She recalled when she and Gregor had night watch together a little over one week ago. Their philosophical conversation, and his willingness to answer her very (perhaps too very?) personal question. That night he had revealed to her a part of himself so precious that, as far as she knew, she was the only one privy to it.
They had bonded, and that bond was precious to Don Quixote.
A smile came to her heart when she thought of her… Hmm, let’s say, fellow human-adjacent friend.
It wouldn’t do, to abandon him in his time of need!
She concocted a plan that would surely cheer him up a bit.
It’s what he would do for her, after all.
---
Gregor looked up at the sky as he smoked. They truly were parked in the middle of nowhere — the stars looked so clear.
The only man made light was the soft glow from the windows of the bus and the lights of the town off in the horizon. The bus was surrounded by untilled fields and uncut grass.
The air was still and quiet. Now this was a break.
He was about to finish his first cigarette when he was interrupted by Don Quixote’s un-subtle arrival.
“Ahh, the darkness is indeed deep!”
Gregor sighed, “Goodnight, Don Quixote.”
He stomped out his cigarette and was turning to leave when Don Quixote leapt onto the roof of the bus with unnatural grace.
She sat on the edge and peered down at him with her glinting red eyes. “‘Tis a fine idea, to come out here and feel the fullness of night. How rare in the City - that we can be so isolated!”
Ach, she had traded Rocinante for her new riding shoes before coming out here to bother him. It spoke to how distracted he felt that he didn’t notice immediately. He shivered under the gaze of her unnatural eyes - the way she loomed above him made him feel like prey.
Just what was she playing at?
She gracefully leapt over him and back onto the grass. With a flourish, she created a hardblood weapon and swung at the empty space in front of her before recalling it with a burst of liquid and satisfied hum.
“Ha-hum!”
For Don Quixote the setting was perfect - the cool night, the light of the stars, and the opportunity to freely practice her hardblood arts without any obligations! Her senses were at their most heightened in this environment. She turned her full attention to her friend.
“I should like to duel with thee, if thou wouldst be willing to oblige me!” She declared with a genuine toothy smile.
“…So you think it’s fine to joke around with your shoes off like this, then?” Gregor grumbled.
“Rocinante? Whyever wouldn’t it be? And my offer 'tis no jest! Test your mettle against mine if you - ” Her smile was mischievous until she saw Gregor’s face. Then her expression fell.
”I was pretty straightforward when I told you that I wasn’t interested in any games tonight.” Gregor reiterated.
“A-ah. Have I intruded too far upon you, after all?”
”Did you even get permission from the manager to come out here in the open… like that?” His patience was waning.
“Well, not precisely, but-“
“And you don’t find any problem with this, throwing around all that blood? Just for some sparring?”
“Given that I now have some reserve supplies, there’s no need to be too concerned- I mean, no one can see us, so-“
“Did you have fun tonight messing around with Dante, who can eat even less than you?”
“Gregor?”
"Do you seriously, actually think that I can spar with you?" This time Gregor paused in anticipation of her answer.
Don Quixote happily took the opportunity to explain her idea. “Sir Gregor, know that you have no need to hold back or save face when it comes to me! You’ve already told me about your companion and the nature of your mutation augmentation, and such things trouble me not even the slightest!”
"I shall not falter, show me your true strength! Tonight shall be a unique opportunity for us to let loose... together..." she continued, but even as she finished her thought she was losing enthusiasm under Gregor’s glare.
"Let. Loose." Gregor deadpanned.
Don Quixote grew desperate to salvage the situation she had caused. "Well, I thought — since we’re both different than the others, and since we’re alone, and dueling is good for managing stress…"
"You and I are hardly alike.“ Gregor's tone was intensifying with a low rage. “If I were like you, I would have gone into town with everyone else and enjoyed the fact that I could blend in with a crowd of normal people - instead of giving up your break to hide out here in the dark with
Someone.
Like.
Me."
He pictured the citizens of some small Nest town who, if they were lucky, had never seen any of the miserable cast-offs of the old G Corp like him. If they were of the kind sort, they might politely avert their horrified stares and nudge their children away from him.
And if he was lucky, and kept himself in check at all times, he wouldn’t give them any reason to be any more afraid of him than that.
"If I really 'let loose' like you said, you'd realize how foolish it is to be so confident that things would be okay." He grabbed his mutated arm with his good hand. Even this conversation ran the risk of getting too close, too intense…
"I'm more than capable!" Don Quixote protested.
"But what if it's me that's the problem? Did you spare a thought about what happens to me?"
"T-then the manager can help!"
"Stop dragging other people into your ridiculous schemes on your behalf. The manager didn’t ask for any of this!" Gregor yelled accusingly.
He couldn’t stop his bitterness at the whole situation from overflowing. “You have no idea what I would do — What I wouldn’t give for someone to come along and give me some fucking clothes that solve all my problems!”
This time he didn’t wait to hear any rebuttal from the stunned Don Quixote. He went into the bus, storming towards the corridor entrance.
<“I heard yelling out there, what’s going on? No trouble, is there?”> Dante asked from their seat.
Gregor ignored the manager completely and continued directly into his room without sparing a second glance.
<“… Ah.”>
The door to the bus peeked open just a bit.
“… Manager.” Don Quixote weakly greeted.
Her red eyes were full of hurt.