Peacekeepers

Chapter 83: A Picnic

August 23, 1893

Linus was sipping tea quietly when he heard a knock at the door, looking up in surprise. He wasn't expecting any visitors today...

He went to the door and stared in shock when Natsai was there with a large basket tucked under one arm. She chuckled in amusement, looking over his outfit and seemed rather satisfied "Going more casual more often?" She asked.

"Uh-" he looked down at himself, wearing a billowy blouse and comfortable pants, a far cry from the suit he'd always worn so regularly before... and that he'd worn to the wedding. Too many people.

"I like it. You seem more at ease like this." She smiled.

He couldn't help but blush from that, looking away bashfully as she chuckled.

"Remember your promise?" She asked, holding up the basket.

He blinked a few times before he remembered. "The picnic!" He realized, groaning in dismay. He ran a hand along his face. "We'd said a few days..."

"We were both busy with the wedding." Natsai shook her head. "It's no big deal. I figured today is a good day for it, before the fall chill comes." She offered.

Linus looked over his shoulder wondering if he should change, put on his suit...

"Linus." Natsai said gently, turning his attention back to her. "It's just going to be us."

He closed his eyes and chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "You're starting to be able to read me pretty well."

"To be fair I think you're more expressive than you intend to be." She said, tilting her head. "That and back in Africa I had to learn how to read people well to keep out of danger."

That caught his attention, looking back to her in surprise. Danger? What danger?

"Come with me and I'll tell you the story. Maybe you can tell me more about yourself, too. It seems like you hardly ever talk about yourself." Natsai said, motioning for him to come outside.

He let out a small breath and nodded, grabbing his jacket on the way out for the cool breeze. "Thank you... I'm glad you remembered." He said softly to her as he closed the door and locked it behind him.

"Of course. You did promise, after all." Natsai grinned before starting to walk down the back road toward the spot she'd been planning on. She was taking a path away from people, looking back over her shoulder and seeing Linus tugging his jacket around himself as if he felt bare.

"Why do you wear your suit so often, anyway?" Natsai asked, watching ahead of her as she spoke.

"It's... complicated. But- it doesn't raise questions." Linus said softly.

"Are questions bad?" Natsai asked, looking back at him now.

"In this case... yes. Doing this is already risky." He said solemnly.

Risky? "Risky how?" Natsai said in confusion.

Linus shook his head again, pressing his lips together in a way that told her he wasn't going to say anything further.

"Alright, let's talk about something else. You've been studying the 12, right?" Natsai offered. "What exactly are you hoping to find out?"

"I think if we find out more about them, it will help mankind better understand itself. Think about it, every aspect of our lives originates from them. Love, death, even time itself. If we can understand who they are, how they came to be and how that magic works, won't that make research easier to better the world?" Linus smiled.