29 Understanding Gen

After signing the last letter to his correspondence within the fifth field army, Aether placed the fountain pen onto his mahogany desk, carefully so as to not create a click. Possibly hearing something, Gen glanced at him then returned to staring at the ceiling. Her legs hung over the couch's arm, and her back lay against its cushion.

Aether gently opened a drawer and retrieved his phone. For the past week, something weighed heavily on Gen's mind; he wasn't sure what: Ascending, or maybe the current state of the Compass Constellation. Either way, it resulted in her needing a quiet space. Anywhere else Drake hounded her with questions and Reya attacked with insults.

Using a phone application, he sent a small bonus to Drake, whose useless prying proved to be not so useless. His thumb hovered over another send button—gift Reya or not? She didn't need it, but she liked receiving gifts and they kept her quiet. He closed the app, choosing not to fuel her psychotic tendencies. Instead, he signed into the Love Kitchen.

Treating each word with the gravity of a former general, Aether reread Fridgewarmer's advice and the man's "The Seven Ingredients of Utmost Importance":

1. Be kind to the crush's sister and brother.

2. Never, ever talk bad about either her or her siblings.

3. Don't be a creepy stalker.

4. Don't take secret pictures and/or videos of her.

5. Don't come on too strong or she'd think you're either crazy or joking.

6. Don't be mean to her or she'll push you off a five-hundred-story skyscraper.

7. Most importantly, you're not allowed to say "I <3 you."

Fridgewarmer had yet to log in since the day Aether had joined, so there was no knew advice. Disappointing.

MsChef: @Fridgewarmer are you ignoring me? Has anyone seen him come online?

Toastie: :(

CrazyStrudel: Nope. Maybe he died?

MsChef: Don't say that! Strudel, how is your darling doing?

CrazyStrudel: She's well, I think. She complained about all her other suitors, saying they had fought each other and ignored her.

MsChef: I think she wants more attention and care. It's good you listened to her. You must have made her happy. I think your relationship is coming along well.

CrazyStrudel: Actually, this was more of a memory from when we were kids. She was scolding me for starting the fight.

MsChef: Oh... Well then, did you apologize?

CrazyStrudel: Was I supposed to? I thought she wanted someone to argue with her.

Toastie sent a short video of a cartoon toaster facepalming itself.

CrazyStrudel replied with a steaming strudel.

...

Useless and no Fridgewarmer. Aether tossed his phone into the drawer; it clacked against his old wrist watch. MsChef was good, but she lacked the concrete ideas and recommendations that Fridgewarmer sometimes gave. He rubbed his temples.

Gen was still staring at the ceiling, her fingers rhythmically tapping her stomach.

Knock! A single knock meant Joule.

"Come in," Aether said, and Gen leapt to her feet. A smile graced her lips, and she charged to the door, swinging it open with a yank.

"Finally! Man, you're so slow," she said. Her figure leaned too close to Joule for Aether's comfort.

His teeth clenched, and the room cooled. Why was she so excited to see Joule but never him?

Joule, after meeting his eyes, drifted away from Gen. He shirked as he put space between them. "Don't compare me to Phantom Mind."

Gen's body stiffened. "Phantom Mind? Don't know him. Did you get the information I wanted?"

Joule nodded, pushed a piece of paper into her hands, then fled. The door clicked shut.

"What did you want from Joule?" Aether asked.

She flicked the paper with her finger, as if she was the star prince and it was her most important document. "I need to teach someone a lesson."

"Who?"

Gen squinted at it. "Apparently an 'Ember Nestling.' He was mean to Dessy."

"The elite with the power to instill aggression?"

"Yeah, him, and unfortunately his purple-loving lady friend has disappeared." She tapped his desk. "Want to help me?"

Aether's aura warm, and he nodded despite the suspicions swelling within his stomach. Why would she ask for his help? Gen either avoided him or came to chat about Dessy.

"A few words and I can tarnish the elite's reputation," Aether said.

"Too boring." Gen grabbed his paperweight and inspected the laser image within—an armored seal swimming within a vortex of stars. She plunked it onto his papers. "I was thinking about something more fun."

Aether nodded then abandoned his letters, following her to his indoor car dock.

————

Aether peered through the Nightingale's windows as Evergreen City came into sight. Like metallic walls bearing vertical cracks, its monstrous skyscrapers blocked their view of its inner districts and darkened its insides.

Instead of entering the city, however, Gen took them to the city's train station, or port station as some people called it. It rested a ways outside Evergreen City, safely distant to prevent the disaster of a train failing to slow and dock.

Whether it crashed or not, the passengers would be safe—the surrounding city, not so much.

The station's platform resembled a traffic pier, but its rectangular width and length surpassed the size of a typical pier. It attached itself onto the side of a lone building, and its metal appendage hung over an artificial meat plantation, whose rancid smell seeped into the Nightingale.

Gen drove into the building, and choosing one of the many docks crisscrossing its innards, moored the vehicle between two other cars. A small metal arm extended from beneath the Nightingale, grasping the nearest post. A superfluous action, but Aether suspected she just wanted to manually control the arm.

"Don't get separated," she said, stepping onto the docks. Travelers and day workers strode past them, most carrying briefcases and wearing long coats. Scanning her wrist bracelet at the entry gate, she followed them onto the platform.

Aether stayed close to her, delighting in their proximity. Other people, however, avoided Gen and stepped around her, their eyes watching her holstered pistol.

Aether happily dismissed them as fools and leaned closer to Gen, but not close enough that Fridgewarmer or anyone would call him creepy—he hoped. Gen had no scent; his nose wrinkled.

Another sniff. Odd. He had expected cologne, or at the very least, the smell of the brown sugar shampoo supplied within the estate. The two smells suddenly assaulted him, and he stumbled.

Gen grabbed the sleeve of his coat. "This high up, don't look down. I heard it makes it worse."

Aether took a small step away from her, but the pungent cologne clashing with the shampoo still burned his nostrils. "What cologne do you wear?"

"Me? Nothing. Do I smell delicious?" she said, head down, sniffing the inside of her wrist. The smell of cologne suddenly vanished, leaving behind the scent of brown sugar.

"Aura side effect?" he mumbled. Either she didn't hear or didn't want to respond.

Her eyes avoided his, and still holding his sleeve, she pulled him onto the port's platform, which expanded two hundred meters in both directions. Although the train wouldn't arrive for another twenty minutes, commuters filled the benches.

Aether and Gen stood next to a vending machine, whose silver, streamlined body juxtaposed the platform's rustic planks. Gen faced the direction from which the train would approach.

Wanting her to face him, Aether asked, "What's your favorite food?"

She didn't turn. "Steamed buns filled with berkan meat."

"What about color?"

"Orange."

"Animal?"

"Berkan." She still wouldn't face him.

"That's a monster. What animal?" he said; the aggravation within his own voice surprised him. He whispered, "Sorry."

"So what if it's a giant, man-eating worm?" Gen spun, revealing red cheeks. "It's still cute, hence it's an animal."

Why was she so red? He began unzipping his coat. "Cold?"

"Don't you dare." She glared. "I'm not a typical woman. In fact, right now, I'm a dude. So say it."

"Sorry?"

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm a guy, say it."

"You're a guy," he said, re-zipping his coat.

She flashed a smile then turned to watch the train's airway, no longer facing him. What could be so great about a train? Or had he done something to infuriate her?

"You like trains?" Aether asked, hoping it wasn't the latter.

"Yeah."

"Want one?"

Her head shook.

He asked, "What's your hobby?"

Facing him again, she leaned against the side of the vending machine and crossed her arms. "What are you doing?"

His aura warmed at her attention. "I want to know more about you."

"That's not how you do it," Gen said. He gazed at her, and they remained silent for a while. Eventually she sighed, and her words sounded more of a question than a statement: "Somebody mentioned you had people problems?"

"What?"

"I'm not really an expert." Gen fiddled with her sideburns. "In fact, you shouldn't be asking me. I'm...gah...you know what? Just hold a conversation and spend a little time with the other person. That will tell you more than any question. Like Drake, Fenri, and Joule. You know them, right?"

Aether nodded.

"Then"—her gaze turned towards a small boy playing with a plastic sword—"tell me something about each of them."

"Drake specializes in both hand-to-hand combat and—"

"No." She shook her head. "What are they like?"

He didn't give much thought to the answer. "Drake is nosy, Fenri loves Reya, and Joule is odd."

"You fail," Gen laughed. Aether's hands, which he hadn't realized were clenched, loosened to her voice. "Like really, man, I discovered that within a week. You've had, what, years? Okay, what about your previous girlfriends? How many have you had, and do you remember their names? What stood out to you?"

"I've never had a girlfriend." His brows furrowed. How did this turn into her asking him questions?

The distant boy swung his sword at another boy who screamed for him to stop. Gen scoffed. "So you don't remember them?"

"Never had any."

She gave him an indifferent nod. "You are self-centered and possibly prideful, egotistical, and uncaring. Hedonistic, too. And pushy."

"No, I'm not." Aether towered over her, his head tilted downward to look at her. His tongue scraped against his molars, abating his frustration through the sensation of light pain. His fists balled, and the whole port seemed to tilt. He was light-headed. How could Gen have such a low opinion of him?

"I'm none of those things," he said, "and I'm the opposite of hedonistic. Maybe a bit prideful, but that's it."

"Sure." She blandly raised her brows. He bit his tongue; the pain shot through him but not as much as her gaze.

How could she incite such emotion within him? Why did he continue speaking? It wasn't like him at all. The normal him would remain indifferent and silent.

"I'll prove it to you." He took out his phone, and she clicked her tongue.

"Please tell me you're not tossing money at something."

Aether jolted then shoved the device back into his pocket. He kept his fingers inside too; they had begun to quiver. "I'll treat you to dinner."

"Wow, just wow." She turned away from him, and her shoulder leaned into the vending machine.

"Gen," he said. And she didn't respond. With her back to him, Aether pulled out his phone and signed into Love Kitchen. Sweat covered his palms and greased the screen. He glanced at Gen then garnered the courage to send an embarrassing message.

HotJerky: I made her really angry.

CrazyStrudel: Hey! I forgot you were here. Welcome!

Toastie: I remembered Jerky ^-^

HotJerky: @MsChef I need help.

MsChef: How did you make her angry? Tell me a bit about her so that I can give you some recommendations.

HotJerky: I don't know.

CrazyStrudel: I can help, too. You know I'm pretty lonely when my darling doesn't come visit.

MsChef: You don't have any idea? Then, I guess we need to take this step by step. What's she like?

HotJerky: I don't know what she likes.

MsChef: You don't know? As in you know nothing about her and have no idea how you angered her?

Toastie: O.O

HotJerky: She's boyish?

MsChef: This is a job for Fridgewarmer. Unfortunately, I think he's angry at me, so he's ignoring the whole group. Sorry :\ But, at the very least, you can try speaking to her. Listen to her complaints. That might help.

CrazyStrudel: I wish you both luck. If I angered my darling, she'd murder me when I'm not looking. Isn't she a sweetie <3

Aether put away his phone and sighed. He stood beside Gen, positioning himself so that his shoulder was beside hers and that he faced the same direction.

"What did I do?" he asked.

She shifted. "What do you mean?"

"You're angry, aren't you?"

Sighing, she faced him with a complexion far more flushed than before. "I just have a lot on my mind. And...conflicting thoughts"

"Ascending will wake up, and before then the healing pod will preserve his body and prevent muscle degeneration."

She nodded then went to the front of the vending machine. Scanning her wrist bracelet, she bought a can of water then gestured. "Want something?"

"No, thanks," Aether said.

Gen continued watching the two kids, and he followed her gaze. What was so interesting? First Joule, then the train, and now two children. Aether's aura turned frigid.

The kids ran about the platform, one waving his sword while the other yelled for him to stop. The surrounding bystanders ignored them, but Gen pointed. She said, "Your decision. What do you want to do? Stop the boy with the toy sword? Ignore the other one's pleas? What?"

"I guess I'd stop him."

Gen laughed. Her hand still held her can of water. She had yet to take a drink, and she waved it at his nose. "Come on. I know you noticed them. If you wanted to stop them, you would have already done so. See, you're vain. You only said you'd stop him because I asked you."

"Then, I guess I'm ignoring them."

"I'm watching for the train. You see how there's no garbage near the boys but there's garbage around here?" She pointed at a few scraps of metal—mainly crushed cans and cups. "In my estimates, when the train arrives, the wind will throw them off balance."

"So you're ignoring them?"

"Nope. I think a little roughhousing is beneficial, but I'm not going to let the boy with the sword get away without any scratches. Just wait..."

Aether observed her: the slight smile on her lips, the excited eyes, the strong fingers gripping the can, the relaxed manner in which she stood...

Handsome and beautiful, albeit for the redness of her face, which brought him concern.

Eventually the droids, who stood near the posts on the edge of the dock, released a loud whistle. The train was coming, and the air vibrated. White wind—created by technology Aether didn't understand—cloaked its form, but as the train approached, the wind thinned and the train's elongated, spherical segments grew more defined. It reminded him of a stained-glass snake hidden within mist, one that had swallowed more than a dozen eggs, with a gently swaying tail.

At five hundred meters, the train decelerated, and the sharp smell of char filled the air. Its origin was unknown to Aether—but Gen might know. He gazed at her, watching her every movement.

Her hand, which held the can, recoiled then flexed, her wrist flicking. A wave of aura, which formed the shape of a crescent, blasted from her palm the moment her fingers loosed the can. The pulse boosted the force of her throw, hurtling the can through the graying wind that threw the children off balance.

So graceful.

The can smacked the hand holding the plastic sword, and the boy yelled and fell. He crashed into the platform while the other boy, who struggled against the wind, regained his balance. The gusts subsided, and the latter boy laughed, pointing a finger at the one who had fallen.

"Come on," Gen said with a large smile. She strutted to the train's last segment—a large glass bulb reminding Aether of a gecko's clubbed tail. The crowd parted ways for them, and she boarded the train. She chose the most unpopular seat, which was one of the three seats at the very end.

Aether sat beside her, his eyes scanning the immediate surroundings for vomit. No one else had entered this particular train car; the travelers jammed themselves into the cars closer to the front.

Gen brushed the dust off her pants. "You know, you don't need to sit here with me. I can text you our destination, and we could meet up at the city's port."

"I'm fine."

"Just don't barf on me." Gen grinned and lightly elbowed him. "Prince or not, I'll pummel you until you have no more vomit."

He smiled and leaned into her. Their shoulders touched, causing aura to escape his body and warm their train segment. "If that's what you want."

"Please don't let your aura fracture the glass. Trust me, it really hurts the ears if there's a crack when we start moving. No wind stabilizer." She nudged him, a strange expectation within her smile. "So what did you learn about me?"

"You like the back of the train."

She laughed, but her dry cadence hinted of disappointment. Her words were more vibrant, yet something about them struck Aether as discordant. "Did you just see what I did? I hit a kid—a kid—with a can of water. A grown person hitting a kid! And oh, did I enjoy it, man. I didn't like how he was bullying the other boy."

"You could have stopped him," he said slowly, each word holding more confusion than conviction.

"They were brothers." Gen slicked her hair. "They look alike, and there was only one other person watching them. The mother, I suppose, or maybe an older sister. She held a toddler and looked exceptionally tired. A night worker, maybe, who for some reason needed to bring them to another city."

"To welcome home their parents," Aether added. His finger trailed their seats, feeling for slime but finding none. "It's approaching the end of the month when certain divisions let the aura knights with children visit home. It's a regular occurrence on South Star."

Slumping, Gen nodded then said, "Stopping them would do nothing. They would still fight, but by smacking him, I get to delight in trivial vengeance and so does his brother. I have nothing against the boy, but when there's someone you really want to beat down but can't, you start to enjoy the smallest acts of avenging others—and of yourself. It gives hope that maybe there's someone out there who would return the favor and deal with your problem." She smiled, wearing an air of pride. "Nah, I might do it myself one day if Ascending doesn't awaken. Plus, I'm petty. That's what you should've learned."

"I'll help you," Aether said then mimicked her slumping. Usually such an informal pose would make him feel out of place, as if his grandmother would scold him or if the action shamed his dead parents. But Gen's presence let him relax, soothing him yet also quickening his pulse.

Brown sugar. She smelled of home.

"I'd sit straight and buckle the harness if this is the first time riding the tail. There is a reason it is called 'the death pod.' " Gen crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and splayed her legs; her thigh and knee touched his. Was it purposeful or not?

Aether loosened his muscles, letting his leg relax and gently push against hers. She didn't move, and he suddenly found his palms sweating.

What could her actions mean? Hadn't Fridgewarmer mentioned something about a pressure test within his long list of recommendations?

Unfortunately, his phone rested in the pocket beside Gen. He'd rather not disturb her.

She yawned. "Sorry for being rude. Like I've said, I've been stressed. But now, it's time for fun. I think it'll be great to mess with that Empty Nest, or whatever his name."

"Ember Nestling." Aether smiled, and the train lurched, taking them from Evergreen City. Before the tail began swaying, he said, "You're very sharp but too quick to make judgments. I'll prove to you I'm a reliable man."

She shrugged. "Good luck."