Birds of a Feather

Epilogue Part One - Part of the Family

...New York...

...A few weeks later...

Lyra sighed and took a gulp of her piña colada daiquiri, "It feels like forever since we've had a drink together, Kaera."

Lyra and I were at a small bar near the park. It was fairly new, so we decided to check it out.

"Yeah, I've been really busy lately..." I said.

'Actually...it's been a long time since I went to any other bar beside Kopádi Mazí.'

Lyra sighed again and seemed like she was pouting for some reason.

"You seem a little down, Lyra? Has something happened?" I asked concerned.

"It's more like what hasn't happened..." She muttered. I tilted my head looking confused. "The Birds of a Feather haven't stolen anything lately. I don't know about you, but to me it just feels like something's missing." She sighed again and pouted more. "I just wish they would stir up some more trouble again!"

I gave a quiet and slightly awkward laugh, "But isn't it good that everything's so peaceful?" I asked.

"I don't know... I feel like everyone's looking for a little excitement." She said and looked thoughtful. "I wonder what's going on with them lately though... Maybe they got arrested..." She shook her head. "That can't be it. If they were, I'm sure Leon would have told me...or we would see it all over the news. So..."

She trailed off and sighed yet again. I took a drink of my tequila sunrise to hide a small smile.

'Obviously I know why, but it's not like I can tell her...' I thought, 'I should definitely change the subject though.'

"Oh, yeah!" I exclaimed gaining Lyra interest right away. "I need some advice, Lyra..."

"Advice? You?" Lyra asked looking surprised. "About what?"

"Y-Yeah... It's about Asher..." I said sheepishly.

Lyra brightened considerably, "Oh! How is Asher, by the way? A tsundere like always?" Lyra teased.

"No, I think Asher's a far cry from being a tsundere..." I answered.

"When you're alone together, he's really sweet and lovey-dovey, right? Then when he's in front of other people, he's all cold and hostile, right?" Lyra asked with a knowing smile. "That's the very definition of a tsundere!"

"Well, he is sweet... But he's not really lovey-dovey at all..." I muttered. "Wait, why are we talking about this?"

"Ah! Sorry, sorry! So what advice did you need?" Lyra asked.

"Well... Asher's not really good at calling or texting me. It's almost like he considers it a pain." I said.

"Uh-huh..." Lyra nodded.

"Whenever we do talk on the phone or text, I'm always the one who contacts him. And when he texts me, it's like he writes the least amount of words possible." I said frowning. "I just want us to be more...couple like..."

Lyra hummed in thought, "Maybe you should appeal to him with your femininity?" She suggested.

"How do I do that?" I asked.

"Put more effort into your makeup, hair and clothes. Stuff like that." She explained.

"Well, I don't want to go overboard..." I said hesitantly.

"Has Asher ever said anything really sweet to you, like, 'you look so cute!' or anything like that?" She asked.

"...Not even once." I said flatly and sighed.