The Twins - Part 5

The little girl, Emmia, was having a great sleep. For the first time, she wasn't hungry. Her belly was full, all because of the weird old man. The old man was nice, even though she and her brother, Icarth, tried to steal from him. After filling her belly, Emmia didn't remember much except for a warmth that made her feel safe. And so she slept without any worries of being woken up rudely by strangers or of hunger.

Slowly the sun rose on Aster city and Enmia woke up as well. She sat up and blinked, rubbing her eyes to ease the sleepiness and slumped over slightly.

"Morning, how was your sleep?" A warm voice sounded out. Emmia turned toward the voice and found the old man right behind her.

"Ah, it's you, weird old man!" Emmia exclaimed in surprise. She didn't expect him to stay with them throughout the night, at most she thought that he would've left them after they slept.

Julian chuckled at his nickname from the young girl, "Weird old man? Now isn't that slightly rude?"

"Ah! Sorry," Emmia apologized quickly.

Julian didn't mind, well for the most part anyways. He was pretty weird after all. "My name is Julian, what are your names?"

During the conversation, the boy, Icarth, had woken up as well. For a minute that is. Deciding that there wasn't any immediate danger, he promptly went back to sleep.

"I'm Emmia," Emmia said cheerfully. "And this is Ica," she added after glancing at her sleeping brother.

"..Ic..arth." Ica corrected drowsily.

"Right, Icarth is his name, I just call him Ica," Emmia nodded in agreement.

"Well, I guess I'll also call him Ica then. So Mia what do you want to do today?" Julian asked.

"Mia? That's not...wait you're not going to leave?" Emmia jumped at the possibility.

Looking into her hopeful eyes, Julian smiled, "Well aren't you excited?"

Emmia nodded excitedly. Even if it was only for a day, she hoped that the weird grandpa would stay with them.

Emmia's excitement was contagious as Julian started to feel upbeat as well.

"I'll be staying in the city for a while, so you can stay with me if you want-"

Julian didn't get to finish the sentence before Emmia nodded furiously like a bobblehead on overdrive, while Ica mumbled his agreement. Julian laughed at the twins' differing reactions.

"Really? You're going to stay?" Emmia asked suddenly.

"Yes, don't worry about it" Julian assured the girl. On hearing the confirmation Emmia jumped in joy and hugged him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, ah, sorry," Emmia pulled back embarrassed by her actions.

Julian laughed heartily, "It's fine, stop worrying about everything, so where do you want to go first?"

"Umm, I'm not really sure, we'll just go wherever you go," Emmia said doubtfully, afraid that the grandpa wouldn't want to go where she wanted to go.

"I haven't been to this city in a long time so I'm afraid I don't know where to go honestly," Julian mused. "Oh if only someone knew the city," Julian added dramatically.

Emmia's eyes lit up, "Oh, I can show you!"

"But weren't you unsure a few seconds ago?" Julian asked looking confused.

"Ah, that... That was, I mean..," Emmia stuttered and tried to find words. Julian laughed again, "It's fine Mia, just take me where you want to go, I'll enjoy it anyways."

Emmia nodded, a bright smile adorning her face in the end.

"Let's go to the building district!" Emmia said excitedly. Julian nodded his agreement and thought 'building? Well, guess she finds something interesting over there.'

"Before we go, why did you two decide to rob me?" Julian asked curiously.

"Ah! I - um we're sorry for trying to rob you," Emmia apologised remembering their previous actions. Ica mumbled a 'sorry' as well, while trying to sink deeper into Julian's arms.

"It's alright," Julian chuckled heartily. "So how did you find me?"

"Oh, Ica found you," Emmia said turning to Ica. Similarly Julian looked at Ica as well. Uncomfortable with the two stares, Ica finally lifted his head and answered, "Your smell. You smelled familiar, so I decided to follow you." Getting that out of his system, Ica buried his head into Julian's chest and tried to sleep again.

"Smell?" Julian asked Emmia in confirmation.

"Yup," Emmia nodded. "You smell nice grandpa. I can't remember from where though."

'Hmmm, smell doesn't narrow anything down,' Julian mused. 'Robbing me based on my smell huh?'

Interrupting him from his thoughts, Emmia urged, "Let's go, grandpa."

'Weird old man to grandpa, what an upgrade,' Julian thought.

Emmia climbed down from Julian's lap and started to jump around. Julian looked at Ica to see if he would get down, but Ica just stretched his arms and hugged Julian tightly.

"Just carry me, you're strong anyways." Ica muttered.

Julian laughed heartily and stood up carrying Ica and filled Emmia. She led the way out if the alley into the streets and towards the building district.