"I still can’t believe how much aunty changed!" she exclaid at Erik as they walked beside each other. Ever since parting ways with Leia, she’d been unable to stop talking about it.
Smirking, Erik shrugged. "Are you really that surprised? Ankhur told you what she was like in the past, and Elora predicted her real self wasn’t hidden that deeply."
"This and that are two different things!" Naeku complained, throwing her arms wide to express her disbelief. Then she suddenly turned a little more embarrassed, a slight blush across her cheeks. "She’s such a pervert, too..."
"Hah!" Erik laughed. Using one hand resting on her hip, he pulled her a little closer and grinned at her. "Don’t pretend you’re so innocent, either!"
Naeku’s blush deepened as she glared at him... Yet, after a staring contest that lasted re seconds, she pouted and looked away. She had no good coback to that.
Unfortunately, Erik wasn’t done teasing her.
"You know, it almost makes you wonder..." he mumbled ponderously, scratching the stubble on his chin as he glanced cheekily at her.
She imdiately took the bait and glared at him. "Wonder what?!" she growled.
Innocently, Erik shrugged. "Oh, you know... You, your aunt, your grandfather, and your grandmother all have... pronounced sexual desires. Makes one wonder about Ankhur, no? What do you think? Does he take more after his mother, or his father, daughter, and sister? Statistically—"
"Enough, enough, enough!" Naeku desperately interrupted him. Shaking her head wildly, she’d covered her ears and closed her eyes, as if that would protect her from the image Erik was creating. "I don’t want to hear it!"
Opening her eyes, but still keeping her ears covered, she glared at him. "Not another word!" she demanded angrily.
Erik felt genuine anger inside her and knew he might have taken one step too far this ti. Turning his grin into a thin, barely suppressed smile of amusent, he leaned forward. Before she could respond, he kissed her gently. She quickly lost her anger, but continued to glare at him.
"Sorry, Naenae," he chuckled after pulling back. "I won’t bring it up again."
"Hmpf, good!" she grumbled. Finally, she stopped glaring and took her hands from her ears. Afterwards, they continued walking. Along the way, Naeku did her best to purge the image of her father in various compromising positions before they finally reached their destination.
"Are you ready?" Erik asked her gently.
Sighing deeply, Naeku nodded. Despite so lingering reluctance, she was determined to do this—it was just a lot harder than last ti.
Last ti, she’d been driven mostly by her anger, but now that the anger was largely gone, all she had left was awkward discomfort and a desire to fix things that mostly stemd from a belief the mother she’d never known would have wanted it this way.
Regardless, she pumped herself up and forced her conviction to blaze. Since she’d decided on her course of action, she’d see it through.
With an encouraging smile, Erik took a step backward and started leaning against the wall opposite the door. Last ti he went with her, but this ti she’d decided to go alone. Since that was her wish, Erik naturally didn’t object.
After steeling herself for the difficult conversation to follow, Naeku knocked on the door.
It was Kudzai who opened the door. "Ye— oh..." he began, but imdiately fell silent when he recognised Naeku.
"Hey, Kudzai," Naeku smirked wryly. "I think it’s ti we have another talk... Is your mother there?"
Nodding timidly, Kudzai stepped aside and welcod her in. He then looked at Erik questioningly, but the latter waved his question aside and kept leaning against the wall.
Soon, the door closed again, and Erik started waiting patiently...
***
It took half an hour for the door to open again. When it did, Naeku, Kudzai, and Nobuntu all stepped out—Naeku with a cautiously optimistic expression, Kudzai near relieved tears, and Nobuntu with a small smile across her usually stoic expression.
Naeku turned around to look at them. "Rember, we’re just in the repairing phase," she reminded them, trying to remain stern despite the obvious relief she felt. "I’m just not willing to burn bridges... After this, I’m going into seclusion, and you two back to Azania... We’ll see what happens next ti we see each other."
"Sure, Naeku!" Kudzai nodded brightly, completely oblivious to the fact she obviously wanted to take it slow. "I’ll do anything to be friends again! You’ve always been like a sister to , and I’ve hated being unable to talk to you!"
Snorting, Nobuntu quickly pulled her son behind her and looked at Naeku apologetically. "Don’t mind him, Naeku. He’s just excited. I’ll make sure he understands we’re not back to the way it was. At least, not yet."
A little wry at Kudzai’s outburst, Naeku nodded with a sigh. "Thank you, Nobuntu..." she muttered, ignoring the pout Kudzai showed from behind his mother. She wanted to restore her friendship with Kudzai, too, but it wasn’t that easy—not after all the months she’d spent furious at them.
Turning around, she walked over to Erik and pleaded him with her eyes to just follow her for now. Smiling, Erik stopped leaning and nodded. Before leaving, however, he looked over at Kudzai with a cocked eyebrow. "Don’t forget the promise you made to a certain soone, Kudzai," he reminded the man.
Kudzai paled a little... but there was also a hint of excitent in his eyes. He nodded ekly and quickly turned to enter the room again. Nobuntu raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?" she asked suspiciously, using the Bond of Service binding her to him.
"Heh, don’t worry about it," he answered dismissively. "Just know I’m trying to untangle him from the spider’s web you told about."
’And get him stuck in the web of a larger one,’ he sighed inwardly, more bothered by the fact this new spider was his mother than the consequences for Kudzai.
Nobuntu was obviously concerned, but Erik didn’t explain. Rather, he simply turned around and left with one last order. "Don’t leave yet, understood? I’d like to spend an evening with you soon, partially to discuss so important matters, partially to get to know the woman who sold herself into my service for the chance to free her people. I’ll call you tomorrow or the day after."
A flash of nervous energy appeared in Nobuntu’s eyes... Her pride baulked, but rembering her current situation, she swallowed her objections and nodded wordlessly.
Satisfied, Erik quickly caught up with Naeku.
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