Chimera

Goodbye.

Nikolai and Travis woke up the next morning to find Genevieve and Tony weren't anywhere in the house. It wasn't until Nikolai reminded Travis that he could find them that they found the two were in town, searching for breakfast. "I'm too scared to open the envelope," Genevieve admitted. "My grandmother said that only I'd understand the message, what if that means it's something about what we are? I want to know but I'm not sure I should know." They two were in line at a cafe, obviously surrounded by humans because there was a sign with huge black capitals reading, 'NO CHIMERAS!'

The two clearly disregarded it.

Tony had his hand intertwined with hers as they waited to be served. "She wanted you to have it for a reason," was all he stated before they stepped forward to be served.

The drive back to Genevieve's newest property was just as silent and it only broke when Travis hurried to the front door like an excited dog wagging its tail vigorously. "Dibs on the blueberry muffin!" He didn't have the patience to wait for them to be completely inside when he tackled his twin for the bulbous blueberry breakfast. "Gracias."

"Please don't ever leave me alone with him, again," Nikolai pleaded as the trio ascended the stair. "I may just be tempted to decay myself."

Travis huffed with a crumb-coated face and a mouth full of muffin. "You're not exactly a trip to Yucatan, Stalin," he replied but the words were muffled by his ruffed mouth. After swallowing most of muffin he raised an accusing finger at the Russian. "Homophobe."

"Only to you."

Travis walked out of the living room, where Tony and Genevieve started sipping on their coffee. "He's gay," Genevieve asked and Tony nodded with an unexpected chuckle. She hummed as she continued to drink her coffee. Tony handed her another one of the bulbous blueberry muffins. "Thank you, guys, for sticking around. I mean, I barely know any of you but..."

Nikolai sat next to her with a cup of coffee in one hand and a breakfast burrito in the other. One would've asked why he was wearing surgical gloves if one didn't understand that the cardboard would disintegrate in his hands. "We know what it's like to be isolated, even from your own kind," Nikolai cut in. "We all have depressing stories to tell. Even if we don't seem that way."

"Still," she went on, "thank you. Come to think of it, I haven't thanked either one of you for saving me. You could've left me to die but you didn't."

Tony sat up straight in front of her when Nikolai's free hand slipped closer to hers. "Gen," he could off topic. "Travis says your mother's about to call you."

She pulled out her phone and glared at it briefly before it started ringing. "Ma?" Tony and Nikolai exchanged square glares before Nikolai turned to Genevieve. "I'm fine, promise. Tiffany went home and Veronica's in the shower," she lied. Nikolai's face faulted at the mention of Veronica's name. "Yes, ma," she replied submissively before she sighed and hung up. "I have to go."

"You know," Nikolai stated, "she's only like that because she's afraid of losing you. What your grandmother was traumatized her and she's just afraid you inherited it."

She smiles at him before Travis walked in to collect his belongings and brother while Nikolai and Genevieve strolled behind them. The three cars dispersed to their various homes. Genevieve hadn't noticed Mojo on the passenger seat until she reached her house. The spider was on top of the damned envelope  she was too afraid to open.

He scurried up her arm as she reached for the brown envelope then exited her car to find the house deserted. "This's weird," she commented to herself. "Same house but different home."