My Sister Is the Protagonist

Chapter 23: How Love Lingers

Within less then twenty-four hour's Note had been kissed twice. The first kiss had been in the dark. Sudden, needy and heated. The second kiss was in the early morning, tucked away in a quiet corner. It was gentle, lingering, annoyingly tender.

After Ravan had confessed and taken his kiss. He'd asked for Note to think on it. He didn't want him give a response right away. So, they returned to the house. Wolf and Scratch awaiting them. Ravan went inside, to start making something to feed the soon to wake troupe of drunkards. Note shuffled into the office, to sit with his thoughts. He'd already been at a loss when he got up this morning. Now he was even more so.

Scratch settled on his shoulder's giving a gurgling keen. Demanding Note's attention for pets. As he indulged the little dragonling, some of the anxiety that had started building up receded. He'd begun feeling guilty for leading character's so far astray from their original plot. But he shouldn't think like that. His friends were more then names in a book, they were making their own choices. He couldn't understand anyone falling in love with... well him. Those were their own matters to deal with though. Just because the feelings were about him didn't mean they were his to deal with.

Note decided to use the 'think on it' time Ravan had offered to thoroughly procrastinate. He wasn't sure if he felt anything other then friendship with either of his team mates.

But if that was true, why did you let them kiss you? Why did your heart ache?

Note shook his head trying to ignore the voice in his head desperately wanting to over analyse his feelings. He'd never been in love, never properly liked anyone. This was beyond him; a side character doesn't need to get involved with such plots.

A bedroom door slid open; Xian walked out. He'd already washed up but his usual straight as a board back was faintly slumped. He noticed Note out of the corner of his eye, turning to wave in greeting as he came to lean at the doorway.

"How bad was it?" Xian asked his voice deep with it's morning roughness.

Note paused his doting on Scratch, "How bad was what?"

"Last night, I remember that scam artist kept winning. Things kind of fade out after that."

Note tried not to appear relieved, nodding along.

"You lost royally. Drunk as a doornail. Luckily the kids were all out or I'd fear for your public image."

Xian sighed, giving a formal looking bow in apology. Scratch chortled at him before hoping out of Note's arms to fly over to Xian. It seemed the little dragon was teasing his biggest papa, as Xian listened to it as he headed towards the smell of food.

Brunch was soon on the table, the kids all waking as the smells of warm food drifted to them. Yuka first to catch a whiff had helped set the table. His usually perfect braids haphazardly tied back, a few of them still wound into the larger braids Anora had stealthily added last night. Anora and Lise half leaning on each other wobbled in. Note sneaking up behind them gave them a sudden greeting. Lise jumped turning to swing at her brother for his mischief. Note rushed to hide behind Yuka, the string bean would need to fill out a bit more before he could act as a proper shield though. But he tried his best to defend him from Lise's attacks.

Anora gave a proper greeting to Xian ignoring the sibling squabble. Taking a place at the table, staring at her team mates intently. As if willing them to sit so she could begin eating. Feeling his sister's counter attack had calmed, Note pulled out a seat for her. Gesturing for Lise to take a seat. She was easily coaxed forgiving her brother's naughtiness as he served her some of the food that Ravan had laid out.