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TWENTY ONE - it stained you

"Are you sure you don't see any blood?"

"For the last time," Amelia says, rolling her eyes. "I don't see any blood on you! Now hurry up and go find him."

"Fucking-" he curses under his breath. "I've smelt my own blood for the past months and I can't tell if there's any on me, but he will! Please just... is there anything we can use as a back up? Any cologne here?"

"Why does it matter if he smells your blood again? You haven't bled in ages. The motel showers probably washed any that was hidden," Amelia leans back in the front passenger seat, legs kicked up. "In any case, it's not your blood he'd smell if there was any left. Which I don't see."

"Fine, fine!" Theo turns off the car and leaves them in a cup holder. "I'll talk to him then call you over. He knew you before we were taken so it'll take time to explain and well..."

His hand gestures at her head and she smacks it away, scrunching her nose in disgust.

"Get you hands away from me you furry."

"How the fuck do you know what furry is but not-" Theo mutters and flashes his eyes before getting out of the car, closing the door. His window's down so she still hears him clearly. "Stay."

"Fuck off."

"Stay."

"Go fetch already."

Theo's expression eases, a smile sent her way before he goes to the house they parked near. Her own expression and posture soften, eyes following his tense form. She sees him freeze at the door before knocking. Someone opens it, a boy named Mason according to Theo's descriptions from the time on the road in the many stolen cars they've used.

Theo's pulled into a short hug before he's being shoved into the house. Amelia's hand goes to the gun handle as he's rough housed inside, but Theo waves a hand in the air casually and she settles back at the sign.

The door stays open before it's closed by someone out of sight, probably behind the door. It's silent for the most part and her eyes scan the hose, trying to spot the teens inside.

"You're back!"

Amelia points the gun directly out of Theo's open window, pulling the trigger instinctively and someone shouts.

"It's me!" The voice says again, and a ducking boy appears, one hand in the air and one holding his ear. "It's me, don't shoot."

"Shit," Amelia clicks the safety back on. "That's on you. Can't be creeping up on people."

"Right, you're human," the boy nods, Corey most likely. "Mason says the same thing. But you're alive and here!"

"Yes," Amelia nods, eyes going to the house before looking at the boy. "Corey, right?"

The boy blinks, "You don't... Amelia, you know me."

"I did, don't anymore."

"What- Wait who's car is this?"

"Go find Theo, he's probably explaining right now," Amelia shoos him to the house, her hand waving him away. He stares in confusion before turning away from her.

"Yeah, I'll..." he points behind him and makes his way in, tossing multiple looks over his shoulder.

Amelia rolls her eyes and slumps back but can't find a way to get comfortable. After five minutes of discomfort she gets out, plucking the keys as she does so and loiters around the car, eventually just moving to the porch of the house. Cars pass occasionally, nothing much.

It isn't until a jeep pulls up that she feels her attention sharpen. She rises, her hand moving to her gun. She stands in front of the door, ready to enter or run forward.