The Perfect Combination #1

Chapter 11: Neo

Neo hated to even think about it, but he had missed Ontero a lot. He had brought Marvie here, not only to show her a small part of his life but also to maybe get a glimpse of Ontero again. 

It was good to be back.

 Marla was fortunately home in their abandoned attic and away from the alcoholic Shimera. Neo really couldn't be any happier. 

Saying that Ontero had not changed at all since the last time Neo had seen him would be a lie. Some of Ontero's long black hair was pulled back into his signature short ponytail, and his skin still had his usual tan a contrast to Neo's much paler skin. And of course... those golden eyes, but Neo hadn't seen that red scarf the last time he had seen him. 

Ontero and the others were still looking askance at Marvie, who was sipping at a drink and grimaced every so often. Maybe from the taste.

"Seriously Neo," Ontero leaned closer to him, "what's with the Pristine? And a Leandor no less." 

Neo sighed, before choosing to tell his friends with the red scarfs the truth.

"...I got caught."

"What?"

"I said, I got caught."

"I heard what you said," Ontero sighed and facepalmed. "Tell me everything. I want to hear what you have for breakfast, how the dorm is, and who did your hair." He chortled. Neo's hair-do was "I woke up this way".

Neo pouted, his tail flipped. "What else is there to tell? I got caught, and suddenly here I am, forced to work with the Crimson platoon."

"The Crimson platoon?!"

"...You know of it?"

"How could I not! Rumors have it they were the ones who caught Kana Dema."

"It was," Neo said, and sighed "I'm pretty much forced to work with them right now." He looked down at his telecommunicator and was suddenly reminded of Adarin. 

He had been so happy for Neo after the mission, constantly congratulating him and joking about him being a proper Pristine now. Neo hated it but had just laughed along at the time. 

He felt someone grab his hand and looked up surprised to see Ontero's worried eyes.

"Are you hurt?"

"No. Not rea-"

All this excitement burst out, as Elai jumped forward and loudly barked out. "Dude! Tell us the full story!", straight into Neo's face. Her tail wagged and her ears pointed forward, showing off all her fake gold rings. Neo jumped and his tail puffed up.

"Don't do that!" Neo shrieked, to which Elai just laughed more. 

Alari pulled her back to her seat. "Easy now, don't scare the cat," they said, which made Neo grumble. 

Elai calmly sat down, took a deep breath through her nose, and lowered her eyes, but you could still hear the thump of her tail hitting the floor. Alari had that effect on people. They smiled at Elai: "Good girl," they said sweetly, patting her head. Elai blushed, and everybody laughed.

"Oh please, don't say that!" Tevar huffed, pushing back some of his brown locks behind his ear while laughing, "Especially not with your voice!" 

He was right, Alari might have a weird way of talking, but when they spoke, it was like hearing a beautiful birdsong. 

Alari just shrugged, before turning to Neo, "but I am quite curious about your capture and how you came to work in the Burrow as well, do tell, Neo dear."