The Division: Hestia

8

T’ibebi Solace

I see Zemmie shivering in the chilly, dark night. She tries to hide it from under her hoodie, but it’s no use hiding. I take off my hoodie and offer it to her. Before she can refuse I smile and shake my head. “I’m immune to the cold, remember?”

She sighs and takes it and wraps it around herself. A gentle cool breeze passes us. Her hair shifts a bit, the rustling of leaves being the only other thing moving and making noise. “I’m going to stick with you no matter what. You know that, right Tibe?”

I look at her. Her chocolate eyes fixate themselves on me with an obvious objective in mind. “I know.” I stuff my hands into my pockets and focus my concentration on the steps I take and the shadows that appear each time my feet lift the ground.

Zemmie gently nudges my shoulder with her hand and smiles. “C’mon. Dinner is waiting and I’m starving.”

I know the conversation isn’t done, but she knows me like the back of her strong hands. She knows pushing me now won’t help at all. Instead we both approach home. By the time we reach the door, I see my aunt and uncle waiting for me. My aunt quickly wraps her arms around Zemmie and me and buries her face in between our shoulders.

“Trinity gave us a call and filled us in. I’m so happy you two are okay!” She shares her relief openly. “Let’s go inside to eat. You know the twins are waiting for you.” She offers the same smile Zemmie does when she’s worried but doesn’t want to show it.

“I made spicy turkey burgers tonight.” My uncle tells us.

Zemmie grins and practically runs in as fast as the Flash to the dinner table. I smile too and go to join her, and just as my aunt had told me, the twins awaited my presence. We all take our seats around the burgundy-brown table. We begin to eat and I listen to them all talk about their days.

“How about you, Zemmie? What happened with you and T’ibebi?” My uncle asks as he bites into his food hungrily.

“I beat up a boy today.” She says nonchalantly, copying her father like a mirror.

“Nice.” My uncle nods, but only for a few seconds before my aunt shoots him a look. “Uh, violence is not the answer? Um, I mean, what did he do to deserve it?”

“Trinity told me too. So I did.” Zemmie shrugs.

“If it helps I did tell her to hold back on him.” I added gently

“And I did. For the most part anyways” Zemmie snickered

My uncle looks at my aunt to see her facial expression, waiting to see what to respond. They communicated with their eyes and my uncles nods in response. “Oh, that’s great, sweetie.”

“And you, T’ibebi?” My aunt asks me as I poke my fries. I guess I have a bad habit of playing with my food when I have long days.

“They have... um. They have decide to...” I struggle to find the words and look at a Zemmie for support

She pitches in “Trinity states that, Tibe should be the captain of this squad of ours” she grins with a little pride

My aunt and uncle look at me wide eyes. I feel my cheeks flush and I stared at my plate.

“That’s amazing T’ibebi” my uncle was about to make the gesture of clapping me in the back but stop last minute and gently patted my shoulder.

My aunt gave me an approving look “I’m so proud of you, it’s rare for someone your age to be not only this talented but to lead a squad, it is truly an honor. And Tibe” she held my hand gently and look me with a soft smile “I want you to know that your parents would have been proud”