Fionn nodded when Jak said that she wanted some water to drink. He left Jak with Reiner and Maria once again, but he knew that Reiner wouldn’t bother her much anymore. Maria was there to calm him down if he got too out of hand again. Not to mention that getting a glass of water wouldn’t take long anyway. [i]Jak looks bruised and battered.[/i] Fionn thought as he went to the fridge to get a bottle of water. [i]Reiner knows it too. But I hope that he doesn’t mention anything. Then again… I don’t think he’s that much of an idiot.[/i]

Greeting his father as the tall man entered the kitchen just as he left, Fionn made his way back to the trio in front of the television. He caught Jak’s question as he handed her the bottle, and looked to Reiner as he opened his mouth to answer her. “Well,” he began, scratching the back of his head. “I fell in love with her when she was vacationing in my country. I begged her to stay, but she decided that Wales wasn’t the place for her. So I followed her back here.” The man grinned over at his wife, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and bringing her in for a hug. She sighed and returned his grin before glancing back over at Jak.

“When I met him, I thought he was just some dumb old countryboy that didn’t know anything.” Maria added. “I guess I was right. But I couldn’t reject such a sweet face.” 

Reiner huffed in annoyance. “I’m not dumb.” 

“Sure you aren’t.” Maria joked as she ruffled his hair. “Hey, Fionn, did your mom look like she was almost done baking the cookies?”

[b]”Uh…”[/b] Fionn shrugged. [b]”Dunno. I didn’t really check.”[/b]

His older brother groaned, rolling his eyes. “Fionn’s as useful as a teeny pebble.” he commented. “He was always the runt of the litter. Pushed to the side and rarely looked at, even at school.”

Fionn’s eyes ruffled in anger, but he made sure that his mouth stayed shut. There was no point in arguing with his brother, who had a few nuts and bolts for brains. While Reiner had brawn, Fionn had smarts. They would make quite the team if they didn’t argue half as much as they did. He turned to Jak again, sighing in exasperation. [b]”My mom’s cookies are the best. That’s why my brother gets so impatient over them.”[/b] he explained. [b]”Especially when they’re fresh out of the oven.”[/b]

“[i]Mooooooooooooooom-![/i]” Reiner whined loudly, enough to make both Fionn and Maria wince. “Are the cookies almost done?”

“Almost.” It was Fionn’s father who answered from the kitchen, his gruff voice making Reiner fall quiet. “You should leave your mother be. She’s working on them as fast as she can.”

Reiner’s shoulders sagged in reply, and Fionn chuckled. Maria, however, wasn’t as amused as her brother-in-law. “Honestly Fionn, do you [i]really[/i] think it’s funny to see your brother get in trouble?” she murmured, tossing him a glare. 

[b]”S-sorry.”[/b] Fionn blushed. [b]”I didn’t mean to laugh.”[/b]

------

A loud screech ripped Cyril from his thoughts, making him visibly cringe. The blond-haired Sun Guardian candidate was demanding for him to give her some of his food, even though she made no effort to get to the table whatsoever. Abby’s voice only irritated him even more, and he was about to turn around and tell her to get food herself when the door suddenly opened. Sonya stood in the doorway, shaking off raindrops from her umbrella. Thankfully, the older woman silenced Abby’s nerve-wracking begging. Cyril sighed in relief as he turned back to his food, making his tired and aching arms clumsily slice his food with the kitchen utensils. 

Sonya’s words made Cyril’s anxiety only worse. That hellish run was only something to get them started..? He could only imagine how the real training was going to be like. [i]I have a feeling we’re going to be too tired to fight Vincente…[/i] Cyril sighed, glancing down at his meal once again. His appetite suddenly vanished, and he pushed his plate away. [b]”Thanks for the food.”[/b] he told Naoto’s mom as he mustered the courage to get out of the seat. As he expected, pain washed up and down his tired limbs, making him wince. 

Before he could flop onto the living room floor, Sonya addressed him. Cyril glanced at her, spotting the blaze in her lavender irises. He had to admit, she was quite intimidating. Yet, if he thought that she was… how would he react when they faced Vincente? If Sonya scared the crap out of everyone in the living room, then would they flee at the sight of that devil? He grunted in response and made his way to the rest of the group. 

It annoyed him to no end to see that Ben had taken the couch. Then again, Cyril decided that he shouldn’t be surprised. Ben was like that. Sighing again, he laid down on the floor, deciding that laying down on the floor was better than asking Ben to move his lazy ass. Cyril stared at the ceiling, trying to preoccupy his mind. He just couldn’t stop thinking about his aunt. What was that bastard doing to her? Vincente could be torturing her that very instance, and all they were doing was laying down and whining about how much their bodies hurt.

[b]”I’m not getting you any food.”[/b] Cyril told Abby bluntly. Frustration and worry brought forth words from the normally quiet teenager. [b]”If you’re so hungry, why don’t you get up and eat it?”[/b]