Barrel nodded.

"Yeah," he said. "We're not really big on surprise visitors. [I]Especially[/i] not Shock."

Who was occupied tonight, and wouldn't be a problem. At least, he [i]hoped[/i] she was. She and Carver went to see Medusa, right? Yeah, she'd definitely be gone a while. And Lock [i]definitely[/i] wouldn't set this all up without her approval. His older brother liked to play tricks on him, but there were lines they'd never cross, such as going against Shock's authority, and their rule of the lair. Barrel felt better about bringing Agatha over...immediately followed by a flutter of bats in his stomach that he [i]had[/i] to get this right.

"We all have to agree on who comes over," Barrel explained, "otherwise it's free game for whoever [i]didn't[/i] agree. So, um, yeah. Good call."

He squeezed her hand, admittedly more for his own comfort than hers.

"But we've got the lair to ourselves for a while."

Still. Probably best to not let her linger [i]too[/i] long after dinner, just in case.

It didn't take too much longer to get to the tree house. Barrel let go of Agatha's hand as they got closer, the went ahead to the rope ladder first.

"It can be a little tricky," he said. "You have to climb down, then kind of climb around the other side to reach the opening. I'll spot you, okay?"

He went first and climbed down the rope ladder, then shifted so he could climb around to the other side of it. Barrel then climbed into the opening and readied himself in case she needed assistance.