Shards of Kairos

XIV - Fethi The Conqueror

Julian didn't show up right away. And he wasn't waiting for them at the abandoned condos. Evie wasn't sure what was worse - the not knowing or the fact that something had been wrong with Julian before they'd all left the police station in a hurry. Both, Evie decided. Both were intolerable.

Evie quickly called Rei, deciding it was well worth the risk. The answer she got right away was a relief but nothing that the other girl said afterwards was exactly.

"Evie." Rei said, a brief but unmistakable hesitation in her voice. "I was just about to call you. Julian's here and he's fine. But he's going to be staying here tonight."

Evie felt a twinge that was purely reflexive. What on earth was wrong with Julian that he couldn't be with her?

"Rei I can't do that." Evie said immediately. "You know I'm not going to stay away. Not after tonight."

There was a smile in Rei's voice when she replied but her tone was also pensive. Hard to read. Like she was worried about something and that the 'something' had to do with how Evie might react to it. Evie was far more worried about what was wrong with Julian and how he was going to react to Adam's second appearance and all that they'd learned in the wake of her confrontation with the other Guardian.

"I thought you might say that." Rei said. "But I have some explaining to do first. Can you meet me downstairs in the kitchens? Just go through the back door. Toshi is working late tonight."

"I'll meet you there."

Evie ended the conversation and looked to Mitch. "We're going back to Nishio Ramen. I guess nothing's seriously wrong with Julian but-" she frowned in concern, grabbing her jacket, anything she might need, thanking Mitch when he handed her the backpack she'd bought this morning. Well, yesterday morning technically now. "He's staying with Rei tonight and I love Rei. I'm not jealous but if he's hurt-"

Mitch reached out and put a hand on Evie's arm. "Hey." he said gently.

Evie reminded herself to take a breath, and did it. "I know Julian and Rei are just friends." Evie said, meeting Mitch's eyes. "I just wish he would have come to me if he was hurt or something was wrong."

"What's going on with him?" Mitch asked, frowning in concern. "Because something was. He just wouldn't say what."

"Rei wouldn't say either but she's going to explain it to me while we're there."

"I'll take you." Mitch nodded. "But I'd like to stay here and guard the fort. Adam is way too close for comfort now-"

"Which is exactly why none of us should be alone right now." Evie said. "There's no way I'm letting you stay here without us."

"And there's no way I'm leaving this place unguarded."

"We'll pack up everything again and-"

"Evie." Mitch said firmly. "I'll be fine. And if I'm not, I'll call you. I promise. Come on, let's get going."

Rei was waiting for Evie in the kitchens when she got there. Toshi let her in, Rei looked pensive, but no one looked overly concerned. Whatever was wrong with Julian couldn't be that serious or Evie knew they'd look a different type of worried. She didn't like the idea that it had something to do with her. Like they were afraid of just how Evie was going to react to whatever it is they knew that she didn't.

"Julian doesn't know that you're here." Rei said, reaching out and resting a hand on Evie's arm. "But thank you for coming."

"Of course I did." Evie said, reaching out to Rei as well but when the other woman glanced over at Mitch hesitatingly, Evie exchanged an unsure glance with Mitch. "What?" she asked Rei, glancing between the two.