Labor of Living

Retrograde

The silhouette vanishes as they're exiting the car. They reach the front door and the cold wind blows maroon leaves on to the deck causing D to shiver.
''Sorry D it'll take the house a little second to warm up since I haven't been here in a while,'' she says, while turning on the heat on the thermostat.

''No need to apologize, Bella, he says, going to lay on the couch. ''But nice place nigga, I like the whole yin and yang thing you got going on in here,'' he says, looking around.

''Thank you D, I try, she says modestly while walking to the kitchen. ''Listen Setsuna. ''He doesn't need to be in this, and we can't trust that he just forgot, it's still in his subconscious, and he could be lying,'' she says telepathically while grabbing two covered insulated cups out the fridge and a bottle of water. Seeing this Setsuna gets up and grabs one of the cups along with the water.

''Fine you have a point but shouldn't he have a choice? Ms. Ethical,'' he whispers before walking away and handing the water to D. ''This shit is nasty Mira!'' he exclaims telepathically.

''Here D, take this, Mirabella says, tossing a migraine pill on D's chest before sitting down on the other couch. ''And sit up, it'll help with the headache,'' she says, dimming the light.

''Iight,'' he says, sitting up and preparing to take the pill. ''So remind me again why you brought me here instead of just taking me home or even to a hospital?'' he asks, taking the pill and rubbing his head.

''Well, you live alone so I wasn't trying to leave you alone and I don't think the injury is bad to the point that you need a hospital but if you feel like you need one I can bring you there now,'' she says.

''Nah it's cool I'm just trying to understand the situation, I don't like hospitals anyway and do you have bandages? My head is wet,'' he says, showing a small patch of blood on his hand.

''Yeah, I have some, luckily it doesn't look like it's bleeding too much,'' she says walking to the bathroom.

''Why's your clothes slashed up? And it looks like you were bleeding,'' D says, pointing at the clear cut in Setsuna's shirt.

''Nah it was shallow but there was a piece of the gate that caught on it and it ripped it open,'' he explains.

''Here, and I could wrap your head too if you want me too, she says, handing him the first aid kit. ''And for you, Mirabella says, tossing a shirt to Setsuna while sitting on the opposite couch. ''What's up D?'' she notices D's observation of her.

''Nothing,'' he says, leaning back. ''So what else does this place have to offer for the celebration?'' he says looking around.

''Well I figured it's better than spending money on a vacation since it's still a nice house and I have a little mini theater on the second floor and I could get a pool installed by the time we pick a date,'' she says.

''Nah you don't have to do that, plus you just mentioned saving money so why would I want you to spend extra,'' he says with a slight chuckle.

''You make a good point, but how can you have a celebration in the hotter months without a pool? I'll be able to afford it, don't worry D,'' she says reassuringly.

''Well alright if you say so Bella, he says looking at her. ''It looks like your leg is wet,'' he says, pointing at the small damp part of her leg.

''Oh, yeah, I wet my leg by accident when washing my hands,'' she says, shrugging it off while looking down into her phone. ''He suspicious, do you still think he just conveniently forgot?'' she says telepathically to Setsuna.

''Mind if I put a show on this giant tv of yours?'' he says, picking up the show and wiggling it side to side.

''Of course D,'' she says and he proceeds to put on the same anime they were watching in the brownstone.