Episode 15: Waffles versus Pancakes

***Cyan***

Ame descended the stairs. "Hey, Cyan. I'm going to take off. I changed my godchild's clothes and gave his puppy a flea bath. Let me know if you need anything."

"Is there anything I can do to make him feel more comfortable when he wakes up? He was really agitated when you put him to sleep," Cyan asked, furrowing her brow.

Ame sighed. "Probably not. We're probably going to have to leave it to Honey to soothe him."

Cyan nodded. "I wish it didn't have to be that way, but I'll depend on her cuteness."

Ame gave her a pat on the back. "Please let me know if you get overwhelmed, alright?"

"I will." Cyan smiled. "Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you." Ame waved and left.

Cyan waved back. Once Ame was gone, she went upstairs to check on the boy. It probably would be a while before he awakened, but she wanted to make sure. Chances were he would wake up frightened. She had to be there to smooth things over.

The brown-haired girl poked her head into the boy's room. As expected, he slept peacefully. It was a relief after watching him run and try to squirm out of Ame's arms.

The puppy raised her head when she saw Cyan. She barked.

"Calm down, puppy. I just want to check up on your friend. You can go back to your nap if you want to."

Honey sat back down by the boy's side and continued to stare at her.

Cyan waved and slowly closed the door, leaving it only a crack open so that the puppy could get out of the room if she needed to go.

Sighing, she went back downstairs. What now? She couldn't leave the boy home alone in his current state.

Loud banging at the door shook the house. Was someone trying to break in?

Cyan got a pan out of her terminal. She couldn't let someone hurt that kid without a fight.

She looked through the peephole and saw Maggie was on the patio.

She groaned and opened the door for her friend with her free hand. "Sweet Minicha, Magenta! Are you nuts? I was worried you were a burglar."

"Cyan Iris Sinclair, what were you thinking?" Maggie shouted, stomping past her. "I can't believe you actually agreed to stay in a strange lady's house!"

Cyan rubbed the sides of her forehead. "Would you stop yelling? You're going to wake up the kid. He's still asleep. I don't think he can hear us, but we can't be too careful."

Maggie facepalmed before sighing. "I guess that's reasonable." She clicked a button on her terminal. Her belongings materialized from her watch onto the floor.

"What are you doing?"

The redhead girl smirked. "Isn't it obvious? I'm moving in with you."

"What? Shouldn't we discuss this first?" Cyan said as she shut the front door. "I know. I'll make us some tea, hot chocolate, or coffee and we can talk over it. You must be cold too."

Cyan grabbed Maggie by the wrist and yanked her into the kitchen.

Maggie slapped her hand away. "Stop that! I can walk just fine. I'm not a little kid. Also, stop talking as if I'm a customer."

"And you wouldn't offer me sweets if I visited you?" Cyan put on a pot of tea.

Maggie's gaze burned into Cyan's skin. "If you're staying here, then I want to be by your side in case things go sour."

"Hold up until the tea is done before we talk, okay?" Cyan said as she made a pot appear from her terminal.

Maggie crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll give you a few minutes to do your little hospitality routine."

Cyan smiled as she made a bag of tea leaves pop out this time. She poured half of the bag into the teapot and let it boil. Once it was done, she poured some into a cup and sat it down in front of Maggie before serving herself.

"I don't actually mind you staying over with me." Cyan laughed. "It'll be like our old days in the dorm."

Maggie pulled a packet of sugar out of her terminal and poured the sweet powder into her tea, mixing it slowly with a tiny spoon. "I'll pay that lady rent if I have to. Plus, she did offer the same thing to me. I simply wasn't crazy enough to say yes, but since you went ahead and did it, I might as well join. To make sure you're safe."

Cyan sighed. "You're such a worrywart."

"You did see the news, right?" Maggie gazed into Cyan's eyes. "That boy ended up hurting a lot of people while running away from who knows who."

Cyan squeezed her hands. "Thanks for worrying, Mag."

Maggie smiled and blew on her cup of tea. "Don't mention it. We're friends, aren't we?"

She chuckled. "Yeah, best friends!"

*Alastair*

Alastair rubbed his eyes with his good arm when he woke up.

Why was he in a bed? He never went to bed. Did Del bring him to bed? He sat up. Wait. Where did this huge bed come from? Del's bed was gone, too!

Honey yawned. She licked Alastair's nose. 'Do you feel better now, Collin?'

He stroked her back. "I told you to call me Star."

'But the other humans call you Collin.'

That was true.

'Oh! How about I call you Coco?'

He snickered. "Okay. You can call me that."

Alastair got up and picked up his sling off the nightstand. After he put it on, he put on his mask.

'Coco, what are you doing?'

"Ame's nuts if she thinks I'm just gonna stay in her house."

Honey growled.

He scowled. "Don't growl at me!"

'Sit. Stay.'

He crossed his arms and scoffed. "I'm a kitty, not a puppy!" He opened the partially opened door all the way.

Honey jumped off the bed and followed him. 'I can't do anything to make your owie better! But the other humans can!'

He stared at his arm. "Fine..." He turned around and shut the door before plopping back into his bed.

Honey jumped onto the bench at the foot of the bed before jumping into her human arms. She licked his face. 'Thank you for listening.'

Alastair laughed. "Stop it. That tickles!"

The pair laid in silence for a few minutes before the boy began to cry.

Honey whined as she licked his tears away. 'Don't cry. Does your owie hurt?'

"My head hurts..."

'Should I get the other humans?'

Alastair pulled her closer and snuggled her.

She rubbed her head against his. 'I hope your owie goes away soon, Coco.'

The sudden knocking at the door caused Alastair and Honey to jump.

"Are you awake, Collin? I heard a door slam," one of the girls from the park called out.

Honey barked. 'Yep! Coco's up!'

"Maggie is making flatcakes, so I thought I'd offer you some. I can bring them to you if you want."

"No. Go away! I don't want any flatcakes!" he shrieked.

"Okay, but if you change your mind, come down and we'll give you some."

Alastair's aching head pounded. "Go away!"

"Alright! No need to scream."

"I scream when I want to!"

Honey nipped her human's clothes. 'Coco, that was mean...'

He glared at the nightstand. Was he being mean? He was just standing up for himself. She kept on insisting, so all he could do was chase her away.

'Take a nap.'

Alastair's head might have been pounding, but that didn't mean he needed a nap. He wasn't a toddler.

The boy's nose twitched. The flatcakes did smell good...

He got out of bed and followed the scent as if in a trace.

Alastair stopped when he got to the top of the stairs. He grabbed the railing with his good arm and slowly descended. The sling on his arm was messing with his balance.

A girl in a light blue sweatshirt smiled at Alastair when he got to the bottom of the stairs. "Would you like some pancakes?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. Who was this girl again?

"Do you not remember me? I'm Cyan," She looked into his eyes. "We met at the park the other day."

Oh, right. At Alastair's tree.

The redhead followed Cyan into the kitchen. It was big enough to cook in and fit a table for six and all the other usual furniture. The marble tiles were a peach color.

Maggie's apron disappeared in yellow sparkles when she took it off. "Would you like anything for your pancakes?"

"Maple syrup?" Alastair asked.

"What's that?" Cyan asked.

"We have golden nectar," Maggie said, handing him a small glass bottle. "I'll be right back. I'd like to change my clothes."

Alastair went stiff when chills ran through his body.

"Are you okay?" Cyan asked.

He rubbed his shoulders. "I-I'm okay. just a little cold."

The screen on Cyan's watch lit up when a small blanket appeared.

He looked at the watch. "Is this where your blanket came from?"

"Yeah, I have a wardrobe in my terminal. It's a ratty old thing, so don't worry about getting it dirty." Her cheeks reddened. "This might sound really girly, but I'm glad closet space isn't an issue." She shook her head. "I even have a private shower in mine. I was gonna ask if you wanted to borrow it when I found you hiding in that tree, but that'd be kinda silly now."

Alastair was surprised his eyes didn't bulge out of his head. Cyan kept a shower in her watch? How did it even work? Did the shower pop out or did she go into the watch?

She set something that looked like a paper-thin smartphone on the table. "I used this until Ame gave me a new terminal. Honestly, this place is amazing." She made herself a plate and sat down across from him. "I've been in way bigger houses, but Ame must have wealth in her to let a stranger stay in her house like this."

So, this wasn't a mansion, but it was still a nice house. How did Ame even get this place? Hannah had told him some Gatekeepers have ties with the higher ups of their world. Could Ame be in touch with some real estate developer or something?

"It's been a while since I had a house." Cyan glanced up from her food. "I've been camping and cooking to make money to rent an apartment."

Camping?

"Did your parents used to hurt you or something?"

She laughed. "Oh, no. They were very loving."

Maggie came back into the kitchen in a red blouse with black sweats. "You should have at least told me if you didn't want to bother your parents."

"But I didn't want to bother you, either."

She sighed. "I am not sure whether you're selfless or dumb."

"What about your parents?" Cy said, turning to look at Alastair.

"Mommy was gentle, and she loved me. She made my favorite breakfast with me every Saturday. She helped me learn about the things I liked."

"What about your dad?" she asked.

"Daddy was big and strong, and he was always there when I got scared. He made me some of the best things to play with."

"I can tell you love them."

"Yeah... I miss them..."

She squeezed his good hand. "Well, Maggie, the puppy, and I will take care of you until you can see them again."

He looked down. That wouldn't be until he died.

Maggie furrowed her eyebrows. "Come to think of it, when was the last time your puppy ate?"

"A nice lady gave her a steak earlier."

"Before Ame found you?" Cyan asked.

The boy nodded.

"What were you thinking of giving her?" Maggie asked. "I'll do it since I'm already up."

Cyan got a carrot out of her terminal.

Maggie then washed the carrot before cutting it up and then put it in a silver dog bowl.

Honey went to town, eating with a grin on her face. Although she soon stopped.

Alastair grinned. "Doggies don't like veggies!" Most dogs on Earth had to eat pre-made dog food and most of it tended to have some meat in it.

"Oh, right," Cyan said.

Maggie sighed. "Think I need to get some meat for her tomorrow."

"I got some," Cyan said, summoning a chunk of what looked to be cow meat.

Honey jumped and snatched it, running over and placing it into her bowl. She shredded the thing as if she hadn't eaten at all earlier.

The human trio smiled as they watched and ate their flatcakes.

It wasn't waffles, but Alastair liked the flatcakes. The only breakfast he liked anywhere near as much as waffles was the yogurt one his big sister, Violet, used to make the kids.

Boy did he miss her. It was hard to visit her when she lived in a whole other world. And a dangerous one at that. While her main mission was done, she still remained there to maintain the peace. Well that and as she'd married a boy from said world. Would he maybe meet a nice girl in this world?

Maggie put her fork on her plate. "What is your name, anyway? Your godmother never mentioned it."

"C-Collin."

Cyan ruffled Alastair's hair. "You look better without that mask on."

His eyes widened. He'd forgotten to put it back on earlier!

"If you ask me, that mask is kind of creepy," Maggie said, snickering.

Alastair nodded. She had a point. It creeped the boy out whenever he saw his own reflection with it on.

***

Alastair changed into a set of red pajamas before returning to bed. He was getting used to changing even though he couldn't really use one arm.

He blinked. Nothing happened when he clapped his hands to turn off the lights. This was a futuristic world, so he thought that would've worked. That's how Wilhelmina would turn off the lights at her place.

Alastair groaned. Was it too much to ask to get a little sleep?

Honey tilted her head. 'Why Coco mad?'

The boy ran his hand across the puppy's back. He would feel better if he could just get to sleep.

Cyan was in the hallway when he poked his head out of the doorway.

"Is something wrong?" Cyan asked, looking over her shoulder.

Alastair had tears in his eyes.  "I can't get the lights to turn off."

"Oh? Let's get that figured out then."

The light turned off when he left the room but turned back when he came back in.

Why would that happen? It wasn't like most people had motion lights in their bedroom. Alastair could power things with his powers, but he mostly did that when the power went out. It wasn't like that was an issue right now.

Cyan clapped her hands a few times. "That's weird..." She blinked. "Turn off the lights, Navy."

Nothing happened.

"I'm not sure what's going on," she said, furrowing her brow.

Alastair ran to the bathroom because he felt like he might get sick.

Cyan and Honey followed him. Cyan rubbed his back. "Is there anything else you need?"

The boy just closed his eyes.

"I think the light finally went off," she said, looking over his shoulder. It was indeed off. It turned back on when Alastair returned.

The redhead whined before throwing himself into bed. Was some ghost haunting the house or something? Mean ghost!

"Don't do that!" Cyan shouted. "You might get more hurt if you fall. Let me take care of it."

He went into the hallway and rubbed his aching head.

Cyan came out with the light bulb. "Think you can sleep now?"

He smiled and went to lay down in bed.

Cyan laid his blankets over him before Honey curled up beside her human. "Sweet dreams, Alastair. Don't let the bed bug bite."

He yelped and jumped off of bed. "There are bugs in the bed?"

"According to my sensors, there are none," a voice spoke overhead.

"Ahh! Ghost!" He hid under his blankets and hugged Honey.

Cyan laughed. "That's, no ghost, silly! It's Navy."

"Oh," he said, poking his head out. "Who are they?"

"He's the house A.I."

"Whoa! En would freak if he knew this place had A.I.! Wait, is it evil?"

Cyan blinked. "Evil?"

He nodded. "In the movies, A.I. usually turns bad and wants to kill off dumb humans."

Honey growled and barked.

"Hmm. I don't think so. Not like it has a will of its own. It's still algorithm based."

"Oh, so A.i.?"

She tilted her head. "Huh?"

" 'i', false number in math. Fake intelligence."

"Oh! Yeah, you could say that. Anyway, go to bed. I'm across the hall if you need me."

He nodded and closed his eyes. "Night, night, Honey," he whispered.

'Night, Coco.'