The Untold Story of Texas and Lappland (Arknights)

From Pain Comes Comfort

Texas somehow managed to feel bone weary and rested at the same time as she made her way to the dining room. Her rumbling stomach was easier to focus on in comparison to the whirling mass of emotions she'd been dealing with as of late. The artificial lights were pinpricks of a headache beginning to form whenever she looked up. Her bicolored gaze was intent on the ground. After working here for so long she could walk the whole place blindfolded so there was no cause for concern.

"Texas! You're up."

Exusiai greeted her with a pleasant smile as she closed the door shut behind her. The friendly angel had an apron on over her dark pink silk pajamas. Sweat littered the top of her brow from the heat of the stove. The cheesy smell alerted her to grilled cheese while the greasy aroma of bacon led her to regarding the bacon pan hungrily. The clock on the wall read 2:40. The other members of PL were nowhere to be seen, but she still noted their past presence in the fur lined jacket strewn on a couch arm, a microphone sitting on the coffee table, and what appeared to be a polished knife sticking out of the dartboard.

"Mmmhm. Sorry I got up so late. Did anything happen?"

"Nah. At least nothing requiring your attention. Some LGD came over earlier with Monster records to talk about the stadium damages." Exusiai presented her with a plate. Texas accepted it readily, moving to sit at the bar. The kitchen island was set up with the perfect barstools to slump back into while whoever was cooking continued on with their work.

"I see. They aren't trying to pin the blame on us this time, are they?" It wouldn't surprise her. The LGD prided themselves on following the rules, whereas PL did so only to a certain degree. But anyone who was there and knew what was going on could tell it wasn't our fault.

"No. Seems they have some common sense about them this go around. Apparently hate crimes are something they despise even more than our troublemaking group," Exusiai said with a chuckle.

Texas swallowed down a large bite of sandwich, relishing the way the cheese oozed into the back of her throat. Her partner was no expert chef by any means, but the simple stuff she excelled in. "Oh. So that's what a hate crime is in their mind, hmm."

"Why? Would you consider it something else?" Exusiai asked, sliding into the seat next to hers to chow down on a sandwich of her own making. Pieces of bacon stuck out from the cheese, a few bits crackling to land on the plate as she bit down hungrily.

Texas's expression darkened. "Where I'm from that sort of behavior would be a call for treason." The admittance didn't exactly make her feel any better, but there was a vindication to it that let her shoulders relax. If this was business as usual back at the Texas Pack Land those wolves would have been tried and then punished severely. Worse case scenario they would've been hung. Was this the correct thing to do? Who could tell? Who exactly was the judge of what was right and wrong anyways in the end? No one on Terra wasn't biased towards others in some shape or form. And bias always led to skews in judgement.

Her own biases taught her as much.

She stuffed a piece of bacon in her mouth, trying to push the memories away. They were becoming even more pressing with each passing day. Sora's words last night had only served to make the need to face it all worsen.

"Guess it's a good thing they weren't then." Exusiai murmured.

Texas sighed, swallowing the last bite of her sandwich before pushing her plate away. "I know you want to ask me something Exia, so why don't you just come out and say it?"

"Hahaha you're not wrong. I just wanted to let you have some food first."

"You're too good to me Exia," Texas said.