24 Dinner with the Family

After control class DJ, Liza, Kyrie, and James' team met Jasper on their way to pick up Centra. Thunderclouds were blocking the light of the sun, but the barrier was still casting a strong pink light from the impact of the pouring rain.

Kyrie frowned in worry as he glanced up at the barrier. How long could the barrier take the impact of a storm like this one?

DJ said, "Hey Jasper. Where were you during class?" as he slung one arm over Jasper's shoulders and dragged him towards the infirmary.

Jasper blushed and shrugged DJ's arm off as his mind stumbled for what to say. "I-I w-was t-tr-tr p-practicing w-with m-moving t-targets."

DJ smiled and said, "Good. How did it go?"

"Oh umm, I-I've m-made s-some p-progress."

Kyrie watched Jasper closely as he said, "That's good. Do you want help practicing?"

Jasper glanced at Kyrie. Was Kyrie watching him like that because he was still angry? Or was Kyrie watching him for another reason? "Uh I-I g-guess."

As the group wandered into sight of the infirmary, the door slipped open. And Centra stood in the doorway. When DJ saw her, he ran the short distance to Centra and engulfed her in his arms. Centra smiled and wrapped her arms around DJ. When Centra looked up, DJ placed a hand on her cheek and she kissed him.

James covered his face with his hand and groaned, "Please don't do this to me again." Kyrie started laughing and James spun to face him. "Kyrie this is not funny."

Kyrie grinned as he watched James. "It's really funny when you think about it. You of all people groaning over two nearly adults kissing." Another chuckle made its way past Kyrie's lips.

James blushed and retorted to Kyrie's laughing form, "I've said I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was doing. We were, like five."

Kyrie finally stopped laughing, but still smiled as he said, "It's fine."

Centra was snuggled up in DJ's secure but gentle hold. She smiled and whispered, "When did those two start getting along?"

DJ pulled Centra closer. He was still a bit worried that it was all a dream. Worried that he'd fallen asleep in the infirmary waiting room and that everything had turned out like this because of his wish for everything to be okay. For everyone to be safe and where he could protect them. DJ shook off his worries and whispered back, "I don't know. It just kinda happened at the end of Calc class."

DJ groaned at thought of all the extra homework they had and at the thought of trying to teach someone else how to do all it.

"We're okay Deej." Centra smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll help teach him."

Kyrie smiled as he looked at Centra, "I'm sorry I couldn't see you when you woke up. How are you?"

Centra slipped an arm around DJ's waist and moved so she could see her teammates and friends. "I'm good."

♢ ♢ ♢

Later that evening, the rain had slackened and Centra's team had made their way to one of the tall buildings with a display monitor on it. Kyrie was concealing his face with the hood of the black hoodie he'd put on before they'd left for dinner. Kyrie was trailing behind his teammates. Centra and DJ were holding hands and chatting.

Liza glanced back at Kyrie. She'd been watching him carefully all afternoon. She'd seen him dozing and resting his head in his hands a few times. "Kyrie, I'm glad you're okay."

Kyrie smiled, "Thanks."

The team entered the building and took the elevator to the 4th floor. The doors opened, and they made their way into the restaurant. Jasper and Centra glanced around the room looking for their parents.

"Are you looking for someone?" the hostess inquired while she held a pile of menus.

Centra turned to face the hostess as she said, "Yeah. A group of five should be waiting for us."

"Please follow me," the hostess said.

The hostess led them to a private room at the back of the restaurant. There was a large table set for ten. Corson, his parents, and Jasper's parents sat around the table.

As Jasper moved to claim the seat closest to his parents, his mom and dad got up. His mom grabbed his shoulders and checked her baby for any sign of lingering injuries. Jasper glanced at his teammates, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Before Jasper could ask his mom to let him go, his mom pulled him into her arms. Jasper groaned, but when he wrapped his mother in his arms – he was happier then he thought he would be. Happier than he would ever admit to his teammates. After all, Jasper was a teenage boy.

While Jasper was reuniting with his mother and father Centra was going through a similar experience with her parents. In contrast to Jasper, Centra was very much displaying her happiness at being hugged by her parents. And even though Corson had seen Centra yesterday he decided to give his sister another brief hug. After which Centra claimed the seat next to her parents.

Corson reclaimed the seat between Jasper's parents and his own. DJ claimed his spot at Centra's side and Liza took the empty seat next to DJ. Kyrie propped Taru's case against the wall and pulled his hood back before he claimed the remaining spot at the table.

As the hostess finished passing out the menus she asked, "Will the bill be together or separate?"

"Together," came the response from Jasper's mom, Centra's dad, and Kyrie.

"I'll pay," Kyrie added as the others turned to look at him.

"No." Centra's father said as watched Kyrie. "You're our guest. We'll pay for you."

Jasper's mom glanced at Centra's dad, "Technically, we set up this dinner so you're all our guests." She smiled as she continued, "Which means we get to pay."

Centra's father narrowed his eyes at Jasper's mom. "You paid last time. Which means it's our turn to pay."

Centra sighed and Jasper rolled his eyes. This was a very familiar argument. Rarely a week would go by without this argument happening. And the only times it didn't was because their families weren't having dinner together that week.

As Centra's father and Jasper's mom fell into their familiar banter, Kyrie turned to the hostess and said, "You can give me the bill."

"No," Jasper's father said as he glared at Kyrie. "I won't eat something bought by you. If you want to spend your money, then spend it on the families of the people you got killed yesterday."

Kyrie stared at Jasper's father in shock. After a moment of silence, in which everyone could hear the chatter of the other restaurant guests through the open doorway, Kyrie spoke, "I didn't get anyone killed yesterday."

"Is that like how you didn't nearly get my son and Centra killed?" Jasper's father said as gestured to his son.

The restaurant's hostess glanced at the doorway. Should she leave and come back after they had settled this argument or stay?

"That's different that was a mistake!" Kyrie said.

"Oh, and the twenty-something people you got killed yesterday wasn't?!" Jasper's father ground his teeth in anger and disgust at the so-called hero before him.

Kyrie could feel his nails biting into his palms. This was the second time he'd been accused of letting others die in less than 12 hours. Hearing it from a child was one thing and hearing it from an adult who was twisting his words was another. "You know that's not what I meant. I did not get or let anyone die yesterday."

"No. You just nearly let half your team die yesterday," Jasper's father said with a piercing glare. This child was as much a liar as the LegendSlayer guild. Claiming no responsibility for the lives he'd failed to protect. A protection that had failed to keep his son safe.

The hostess decided now was the time to go and quietly slipped out the door. As she left, she decided to warn the restaurant's Bouncer that he may have to throw some out.

"I miscalled the speed the Harpy returned the arrows at," Kyrie said.

"No, you miscalled the durability of Jasper's Ice wall." Liza was watching Kyrie as she spoke. "At least that what you said yesterday." She didn't like how Jasper's father was tearing at Kyrie. And wanted to help him, but she didn't pick a very good method.

Jasper's father grinned predatorily. "So, which is it?"

Kyrie grimaced and glanced at Jasper. "I'm not used to working with… young magicians. So… I expected more of… Jasper's Ice wall."

"That sounds like you. Blaming others for your mistakes," Jasper's father said.

Jasper grimaced and started to speak, "H-he-"

Kyrie replied, "I don't blame others for my mistakes. I said I misjudged it. Not that Jasper messed up. If you'd just listen to what others are saying this wouldn't be a problem."

"I don't listen to lying legends like you," Jasper's father said.

Kyrie huffed in irritation as he started to get a headache. "Where are you even getting the idea that I got people killed yesterday!"

Jasper's father responded, "I got it from a respectable news source that doesn't spout the bullshit the guild does."

"Which means you got from someone who wasn't even there. There were no reporters present when I left Sentry. And the people who died were dead before I got anywhere near Sentry," Kyrie said.

Jasper's father rolled his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and shook his head in disappointment. This kid just wouldn't admit to the truth. "You're no better than the LegendSlayer guild that my foolish children want to join."

Kyrie stood up. And his chair screeched backwards. He slammed his hands onto the table and said, "And you're a horrible excuse of an adult." Kyrie yanked his hood up as he turned away from Jasper's father and moved to grab Taru from her spot near the door. Kyrie hesitated at the doorway before deciding it would be better for him to just leave.