Outbreak

Opening Up

Day 4̷͔̮͂6̴̪̋̈́

Sabre's P.O.V.

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M is one of my best friends, but sometimes he has terrible timing. Teleporting away right as my frantic therapist showed up, for example.

"Sabre?" The Colorless Guards posted outside hurry to get out of Thera's way as the Green Steve comes barreling closer. I stand awkwardly in my bedroom as he sprints up the stairs and tackles me in a hug. "Oh thank Origin! Don't do that again!" He shakes my shoulders a little, looking like he wants to slap and hug me at the same time.

"Sorry?" I try.

"You just disappeared without warning!" he scolds. "I turned around, and there was lightning everywhere, and you were gone! Honestly, Sabre, how would you have felt if that happened to one of your friends?"

Guilt crawls its way into my chest, remembering all the times my own friends have been kidnapped or hurt. I hang my head.

"Sorry, but I had to come here and check!" I plead. Thera pauses.

"For... Green?" he asks, trying to remember our conversations. It's clear from his tone that his memory hasn't improved. I nod, deciding not to mention the portal or the weird fiery dimension. I had just promised M I wouldn't, and besides, it definitely wouldn't help Thera think I was sane.

"Um, sir? Is everything alright?" One of the Colorless Guards worked up enough bravery to call from downstairs.

"We're good!" Thera replies, grabbing my arm and starting to drag me out. "Just on our way to do some trading." He shoots me a smug look, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I can tell he just wants to help, even if sometimes my friends only want to distract me from the real issues at hand.

"Mhm." I agree quietly, keeping pace with Thera and ignoring the curious glances from the steves on the streets.

"Oh, Sabre!" I glance to see the Former Yellow Assistant, who has been politely hovering outside my house, waiting for a good time to talk.

It's not a good time to talk.

However, Thera pauses, and his grip on my arm means that I have to stop as well, facing the very bewildered-looking Yellow Steve.

"Hi Former Assistant!" Thera smiles warmly. I force a smile onto my face.

"Hey."

"I saw you fall out of the sky." My friend reminds me. "Are you okay? Because you look kind of..." he gestures to my clothes, and I look down, confused. For the first time, I notice the inky black scorch marks trailing up my hoodie and jeans. The bottom of my boots are entirely blackened. I go pale. How had I not noticed that earlier? No wonder so many steves are staring. Thera's eyes narrow.

"Fall from the sky?" he echoes.

"That's complicated."  I mumble.  Honestly, I have no idea how to explain, or even come up with a believable lie.  "But... I'm okay?"

"You look like you just escaped a burning building."  Thera points out.  "Do I have to kick a steve's butt?"

"No!"  I say quickly.  

"What about that cloaked steve?  The one that just teleported you away?"  Thera frowns, looking back toward my house.  "Where is he, anyway?"

"You mean M?"  It takes me a while to realize that Thera hasn't actually met M yet.  He's been living in the middle of nowhere for so long that he wasn't around when M helped me fight the Corrected Sun.  While LC might have told him about M while Green was staying there, he wouldn't remember that, either.  "No.  He's a really good friend of mine, actually.  He might come back soon.  He promised to update me on something."  Thera's lips quirk into a tiny smile.