Six Crimson Seeds (A VegasPete Persephone AU)

Chapter 41: How to Survive Where the Wolves Are

    Pete tried not to think about much as he and Porsche aired out his room and the guest room. They stayed upstairs, talking while they got ready to sleep. Pete felt restless, but he knew he had a lot to do the next day, so he managed to get a little sleep. Late the next morning, Pete found Porsche already downstairs, cleaning up the kitchen and throwing out all the expired food.

"Sorry," Pete said quickly. "Let me help you."

"I got it," Porsche said easily. "There's only one pair of gloves, so why don't you grab the black card out of my wallet on the counter and order us some food."

Pete wanted to argue, but Porsche was already almost done, by the look of things. Pete quickly called the closest local place that delivered, ordering them plenty of food so they could have leftovers.

Once that was done, Porsche finished the kitchen and helped Pete move on to cleaning the rest of the house. They took a break to eat when the food arrived, sitting outside on the steps to enjoy the breeze just as a black car pulled up. Pete got to his feet, hope swelling in his chest. He couldn't feel the warm, sinking feeling he wanted, however. It was just the static from his friends.

Kinn stepped out with Macau and Chay, each of them carrying a few small bags.

Trying not to let the brief flicker of disappointment show on his face over Vegas's absence, Pete smiled wide, hurrying with Porsche to help the others carry their bags inside. Kinn handed Porsche a large duffle, kissing him quickly as he told him he had packed a bag for him as well. Porsche smiled and led them all into the house.

"What can we help with?" Kinn asked with his hands on his hips.

"Where are the others?" Porsche chided. "Lazy assholes."

Kinn laughed, wrapping his arms around Porsche's waist. "Khun couldn't leave the house, and the others had to stay with him. Kim had business and Tay had to help him. Otherwise, Tay would have come."

"What about Time? I thought he was part of the group now."

Kinn glanced over at Pete, lowering his voice as he said, "He was called to help Vegas with business."

"Oh," Porsche said, frowning.

Macau waved his arms, grabbing Pete's attention as he said, "It doesn't matter. We still came to help. And we're going to stay a while, so let us help."

Pete sniffed quickly before tears could fill his eyes and moved to give Macau a tight hug. "Thank you, 'Cau."

Chay and Porsche joined, squeezing Pete until he laughed again. "Okay, okay!" he called, "Let's work on finding out where all of you are sleeping."

Pete counted quickly. He could give Porsche and Kinn the guest room, and Chay and Macau could stay in his room. He didn't mind taking the couch. His other option...

Pete's eyes darted to Yai's room, which was now empty.

Porsche followed his gaze. "We can tackle that later. When you're ready."

Pete took a deep breath. Without Yai, it was just a room, after all. The sooner he faced it, the sooner he could face the fact that she was gone. She wouldn't be back.

With his friends at his back, Pete opened her bedroom door. His eyes immediately fell on the quilt he had relied on so heavily in the Fields, as well.

Pete picked it up, feeling its soft, worn fabric and the familiar weight of it in his arms.

"Macau? Can you take this to my room and put it on my bed?"