Quadrant Feathers

chapter 52: "Vegetables.."

"...if we drop these someone is going to get bludgened by vegtables," Kwared said, Phandrin glancing at him as they flew down towards the dorms.
"Maybe be careful then... You can't go to jail right now-" Phandrin snickered landing on his balcony, Kwared following as he stepped in.

"Wow... Clean freak," Kwared said as Phandrin glared.

"You're a clean freak too, there's just... Discarded blood all over your dorm," Phandrin waved as Kwared shrugged.

Phandrin took the groceries putting them away, Kwared not minding as he sat down on Phandrins sofa.

"It's warm in here..." Kwared muttered as Phandrin nodded.

"Yeah, you're dorm is literally a frozen wasteland," Phandrin raised a brow as he opened his bag.

"By the way, Querda gave me two papers for a trip that's coming up," Phandrin hummed handing Kwared one.

"I'm not going," Kwared said quickly, glancing at the description.

"Why not?"

"I never go, and they usually stick you in fuckin groups, and last time I went to one I was stuck with people that I despised, literally anyone," Kwared said setting the paper down as Phandrin paused.

"If you go I'll guarantee you in a group with me, I'm sure it's be fun and it's only a few days," Phandrin smiled tapping the paper as Kwared glanced at him.

"I do want to spend more time with you, and I'm sure there's some people that wouldn't mind being friends with you if given chance," Phandrin continued as Kwared paused.

He snickered slightly looking at Phandrin with slight mockery as he picked up the paper.

"Everyone here despises me. You're such a strong acception, but I'll go if you guarantee I'm with you," Kwared said as Phandrin nodded.

"What about Quartz? And Ace? And Q'uerda said he didn't mind you, and that he'd be friends with you if he got to know you," Phandrin continued as he took out pans and cutlery to cook.

Kwared glanced at him from the cough staying quiet before glancing at the paper again.

It was a 3 day stay at a memorial camp, basically a history lesson but with alot of free range and different things to do. He was right, they were put into groups of 8 each, 8 per cabin.

He sighed looking at the last note.

"All cabins are chosen by councellers," Kwared muttered as Phandrin smiled.

"It's a perk of being a teacher's pet, no worries, I'll be in your cabin," Phandrin hummed as Kwared sighed into his hand.

"If I have to deal with some fuckin lowlives..." he muttered as Phandrin glanced at him, Kwareds tail whipping around behind him.

Phandrin stayed quiet, finishing up the preparation and setting the food in the oven.

Kwared was leaned back on the couch, his head leaning over the top. Phandrin noted his eyes were closed, but his tail was shifting back and forth every few seconds, so he was awake.

"Are you tired?" Phandrin asked, setting down plates as Kwared looked at him

"I'm thinking about the trip.. they're gonna talk about hunters," he muttered as Phandrin paused.

"Do you not like them?" He asked, questioning, Kwared wasn't usually so offset by this.

"They killed my family.. they got me sent to the facility, they got us all sent there," Kwared said shrugging, Phandrins eyes widening slightly as he walked over.

"I.. thought your family was out of the country.. that's what Kertia told me," Phandrin muttered to himself the last bit, standing behind the couch looking down at Kwared.

"No, it's just a cover story.. don't need people knowing I'm an orphan.." he said lowly as Phandrins chest tightened. Kwareds eyes widened for a second as he shot up quickly, his ears pressing back.

"I-its not a bad thing, I'm sorry, I didnt- I meant people already have shit to say-" Kwared sputtered grabbing Phandrins hand on instinct. Phandrin glanced to the side for a second as Kwared tightened his grip.

"Shit that came off so wrong I'm sorry," Kwared muttered wilting.

"It's alright.. I don't care too much, or think much of it," Phandrin said quietly as Kwared stuttered, obviously not aware of what to say.

"It's not alright- I came off insensetive or- or something, I don't know the word but there's really nothing wrong with people who's parents passed, absolutely nothing," Kwared rambled quickly, his face reddening at his own unrealistic behavior.

"Please don't think there is," Kwared finished, tugging Phandrin down slightly.

Phandrin felt his shoulders loosen slightly, Kwared being this reassuring is something he hadn't experienced at all.

"Thankyou, it means alot to hear it from you," Phandrin smiled as Kwared nodded quickly.

"You deserve it. Nobody should be- shot down for something unavoidable, it's not like you asked," Kwared continued as Phandrin nodded.

"I'm thankful love, and no worries about what you said, you're alright. I know you don't talk about this type of thing much," Phandrin hummed petting Kwareds ears back carefully.

Kwared nodded glancing down at the floor, Phandrin moving to go get the food out of the oven. Kwared stayed quiet after that, his eyes fixed on Phandrin preparing dinner.

"Do you need help?" He stood, pushing his hair back as he walked over to Phandrin.

"I should be okay, but I do need you to grab cutlery," Phandrin nodded towards a cupboard drawer.

Kwared nodded opening it and grabbing what he guessed they needed and set them out.

He moved over to Phandrin again who raised a brow at Kwared leaning over his shoulder.

"I have no idea what anything you're using is," he said as Phandrin paused.

"You don't know- what tenderloin is..? Or peppers or.. " Phandrin paused picking up a bag.

"Or spices?" He asked as Kwared shrugged.

"I grew up on ramen and just started seeing the outside world 2 years ago," he said as Phandrin felt a pang in his chest at the reminder, Kwared didn't grow up right.

"Ah... Well I assure you it's good, but now I'm a bit worried about allergies," Phandrin said glancing at the calender.

"After the trip, do you mind if we go to the doctor's? I wanna get you Uhm.. a checkup," Phandrin paused setting the spoon down and turning to him.

"A checkup? Like a fuckin dog?" Kwared looked at him quistionably as Phandrin shook his head.

"They'll assess your health, and I need to know your allergies and stuff, just incase," Phandrin ran a hand over Kwareds face through his hair as he paused.

"I don't mix well with doctors..." He said grabbing Phandrins wrist.

"They're all well, they're trained and specifically help us, only to our benefit love.. they won't do anything like before," Phandrin paused now.

"You don't even know what they did before.." Kwared said moving back and sitting down at the table. Phandrin turned grabbing the dish and serving it to the two of them.

"I just know it wasn't what normal doctors do,"