Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
PANLO SCOOPED ZEA UP WITHOUT A WORD WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THEIR TRIP TO THE RESTROOM. Brandy and Tanner went as well, both grumbling to each other about the wait.
The bathrooms were separated by male and female, a challenge when it came to Zea. Panlo set her feet gently on the ground, hand ghosting over her waist to support her.
"You still shouldn't walk alone," he said, nodding over to Brandy, "Can you give her a shoulder? It might lessen some of the pressure."
Brandy agreed, taking over for Panlo and hiking Zea's arm over her shoulder. The Mays girl moaned with pity for herself, folding forward. "Honestly, I can hear my odds falling."
"You just need to rest for a day or so, then you should be back to normal," Panlo assured, hiding a wince, "maybe your mentor can get you something for the pain?"
"If they even bother with me. They've probably already written me off."
"As long as you don't write yourself off."
Zea rolled her eyes, "Okay, dad."
Panlo gave a rare laugh, reaching a hand out and ruffling her hair, "There you go, sport."
Zea whacked his arm away, "Stop that! Brandy, let's go." The two shuffled forward to the entrance of the bathroom, the dripping of a tap choking through the room. "There better be a mirror. I need to fix my hair before Lamina sees it."
Brandy groaned, shuffling further into the small bathroom. It was nicer than most bathrooms Zea had seen, clean white tiles covering the floor, the walls a crimson red wallpaper. Two stalls awaited, Brandy leading her to one.
"Thank you."
Zea and Brandy were glad for the trip, both able to wash their hands and some of the dirt off their faces. "My mentor might take more pity on me with a clean face," She proclaimed, running a wet paper towel down her neck. "Actually see me as human."
Brandy shook her head with a scoff, pushing herself up onto the counter next to Zea. "I don't see why you care so much about impressing this person, you met that kid in the truck—stuck up and arrogant, and hates us."
Zea shrugged, patting off some of the water droplets on her neck, "And I'll hate them, but they don't have to know that. From here until I make it out of that arena, I just love these refined people...and their money."
"I think Tanner will have to stop me from killing whoever my mentor is. I mean, gotta place the anger somewhere, you know?"
She nodded at that, casting a humorous smile at the District Ten girl, "Yes, I was briefly on the other side of that anger." The image of Brandy reaching out to strangle her over a mere game was not something she wanted to forget so easily. "But at least try? This person could be the key to getting back home, you know. If not you, then maybe they could help Tanner."
