Chapter 23

Shadow rolls out of bed and stretches, she rubs her eyes and yawns. She looks across the room at the mirror.

Selina's black hair covers her left eye, she pushes it behind her ear and stares at her white eye, the thin scar in her eyebrow and the brand placed on her cheek bone. A small star with three dots above it.

The Star Slave Trade.

She wishes she was pretty like Toni. She wishes that she could afford to be more relaxed. She snorts at the fantasy. Not until this war has ended. She walks up to the mirror and touches the brand.

She feels so hideous with it. Toni says she's beautiful, but she wouldn't just say that, right? Why does she feel like this? That if anyone were to really look at her, they'd turn in horror.

"I'm not as beautiful as you think I am Toni." she mutters,

Selina bites her cheek hard and starts to the door, but stops herself. No, they'd never look at her the same way. She grabs her mask and puts it in, then she walks out of the room and into the kitchen where Neo and Ashe hover over a tablet.

Shadow silently walks over and looks at the screen. She rolls her eyes and slaps them both on the back of their heads.

Neo drops the tablet, letting it flop down, flat on the table. "Agh! What?!"

"I'm pretty sure they don't want you spying. Idiots." she says,

"But, aw come oooon!"

"No! Turn it off."

"We are making sure they stay safe is all."

"Neo."

"Fine. fine!"

Neo grabs the tablet and exits out of the security camera.

"Done."

"I feel like you, out of all of us would want to make sure Atlas treats her properly."

"She can handle herself, besides, I trust Atlas."

"Alright, whatever, let's get started on breakfast Kitty."

****

Toni nods and laughs, "One second Ashe was setting it up, the next, she's dived half out the window."

Atlas shakes his head, "That is hilarious. She really cares about those AC units."

"Ah, gosh. Ashe is something else, but she's one heck of a friend."

"She is, but she's not nearly as amazing as you Toni."

Toni grins and turns bright red. "Thank you." she says,

He knows that she has no idea how to react. But she still deserves to be told how incredible she is.

"You're kind and funny and beautiful."

She squeezes her fingers in her hand. "You flatter me way too much."

"No way, you deserve not to only be told that, but to believe it."

Her smile returns, "Working on it." she mumbles,

He smiles, "...so um, uh how are the pancakes?"

She giggles, "Light and fluffy, these might be the best I've ever had."

"Me too, I like the sausage a little more though."

"Ugh! They are so good!"

She takes a bite and looks at him. She can tell he's forcing the smile. She swallows and lets her smile fade.

"Is it Harvey?"

Atlas's smile disappears, he nods. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a buzz kill."

She shakes her head, "No! No. Of course you aren't a buzz kill. I feel the same way. We get to enjoy all this, he's still their prisoner."

"We might even know where he is, that's what bugs me."

Toni nods, "Totally. Maybe we could risk it. Neo is still searching. If we find him, maybe there's a chance we can rescue him."

Atlas smiles and shakes his head, "Toni, you astound me. You are truly one of a kind. In the best way."

She smiles, "Well you deserve it."

He shakes his head, "I rest my case."

She grins and rolls her eyes in happy annoyance. They finish their breakfast and leave. They walk down the sidewalk toward a large store to buy supplies for everyone.

"Toni, um...I don't know if I told you already, but...you look amazing."

She looks down at her cream sweater and black pants, then looks him up and down. "You look really hot too."

The realization hits her, her face turns beat red. Atlas doesn't even have to see her face to realize it wasn't supposed to come out like that.

He tries his best not to smile as she panics. "N-no! No! I, ugh I didn't mean it to come out like that. I mean you are hot. But it's okay if you don't feel exactly the same way, I mean if you think I'm cute, or okay."

He grabs her hand, she stiffens and looks at him as he presses his lips softly against hers. She pulls away and stares at him wide eyed.

It's his turn to shrink, "Too much?"

The shocked expression gradually but quickly turns into joy, she grins and leans forward and presses her lips against his.

Her lips are sweet and soft. She finally pulls away, leaving both of them red as tomatoes.

"Toni I think you are very hot, you wonderful and kind and gorgeous and perfect."

Her smile fades a little as she glances down at the limbs that aren't her own. He lifts her chin and stares deep into her eyes.

She opens her mouth,but no words come out. She wonders why, how can he look at her like she's such a miracle.

"Perfect Toni. You're perfect."

She pulls him into a tight hug and lays her head on his shoulder, she tries not but but she can't help it. She cries into his shoulder.

He hugs her just as tight. They stand there in silence, a few people around them stare, some smile for them.

They pull away and stare at each other. "Come on, let's go get some stuff at the store." Atlas says,

He takes her hand and interlocks his fingers with hers. She bites her cheek, trying not to smile too big.

'this is happening-this is happening-this is happening!' she thinks to herself,

They make it to the store and buy what they need. Toni wonders if this is what it will be like, after this is over, will they still be together? That is if they both make it out alive. She doesn't care, she doesn't care if it's only for today. She has never felt so much excitement and joy in her life. She would be okay if he changed his mind tomorrow.

As they leave, she takes his hand again and stops him before they enter the building. As he turns to look at her, she presses her lips against his again. She kisses him until she needs to breathe.

They both grin like little children walking into a free toy store.

****

"Awww they are so cuuuute!" Ashe declares,

The two walk in, their smiles twitch as they see Neo and Ashe looking at them all giddy.

"You saw it didn't you?"

Shadow snorts and takes Toni's hand, "Help atlas put the things away!" She cheers as she takes Toni into the other room,

"Wait-Toni!"

Shadow slams the door and locks it. They all stare wide eyed.

"What the heck was that?" Ashe asks,

Neo shrugs it off and starts putting the groceries away. "It's nice to see her be normal." Atlas says as he starts to help Neo,

"Normal? That's not normal!...Neo talk to me like that!"

Neo raises an eyebrow, "You need help Kitty."

Ashe throws her hand out, "That's normal!"

Atlas frowns and laughs.