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“Met a h Good on hier than you It was before the Legion Ward House got ahold of h, when I heard they were selling ice frizeé down by the Light Plaza You know that mound Heroes’ Plaza or whatever now” He nods “Anyway Got caught stealing said frizeé and was gonna get cuffed real bad by the local urbanes, when a ave hi salute, and went on their way He was a Gray Looked such a legend, leaning on the fountain like he owned it Had a Titan Rain badge on his chest, a shattered Rhea beneath, a shower of golden teardrops on his face, inky in Legio XIII blacks You weren’t around then, but even Golds gave that sort a nod” I roll my burner in my hands “Sod I reaveyou yours I asked him if he was a hero, and he looked me dead in the eyes”—Pax looks over—“and he said, ‘Fuck heroes, kid It’s all about being slick enough to squeak through That’s the last ’ Took that to heart And here I bloody am”
“And what’s that supposed to teach me?” he asks “Be an asshole?”
“I dunno Don’t be like your folks, I reckon It ain’t on you to save the world They were so you’re not But they was them, and look where they are” I set a hand on his shoulder “I want you to get old, that’s all”
“Why? I’m just a mark to you”
“Everyone’s a mark to someone Bet you a pretty credit, Sefi’s sohten “Guess I’ood on ood on you That’s all That’s the pep talk”
He looks back down at the braves “You’re shit at pep talks”
“Yeah, well, ’s ring” He plays with the chain “He was as good as we get Just a shish kebab in the end”
“My father wishes he knew him better,” Pax murmurs
“You don’t have to pander”
“Truly Say what you want about my da, but don’t ever think he doesn’t notice his o, it breaks him”
“Well, he’s the one givin’ the orders”
“Someone has to” He looks at the fire of the burner as it works its way through the tobacco “I don’t hate him I mean I do, but I don’t If thatfor Venus, but not for Mercury At his best, he’s how men should be So maybe that means it’s the world that’s flawed”
“That’s the damn truth”
We lean and sive a shit about Sefi’s instructions to brown-nose him If she tells me to use him, I’ll pop her between those black eyes
“Grarnir It is tiard sneak up behind us For once he’s not in good humor The shaman’s eyes are rimmed with ash “The kjr assemble for the Kjrdakan As aefe, you must join”