Aura’s expression at first was amused, excited to get a peak behind the walls that Kieran probably built up years ago.  But, as he continued to open up, her smile started to fade. Had the room gotten colder? Her arms wrapped around her cup clutched to her chest, her lazy gaze switching from his eyes to his mouth and back. 

Why would his parents just leave him here? Why wouldn’t they take him outside too? And why would he keep serving a society that's failed him so many times?

Her head was swimming with what it all meant, and how Kieran had survived. Aura released her grip around herself and straightened her posture. The alcohol was clearly in effect; when she looked to Kieran she nearly saw double. 

“Now [i]that’s[/i] fucked up.” The words practically tumbled out. “Sorry,” she sighed, throwing her head side to side in disapproval. “I’m not great at stuff like this. I never know what to say.” Aura looked up to him and nodded. “But I’m sorry. I’m glad you turned out okay. A lot of us wouldn’t.”

Too soon to ask about his parents leaving Apex?

Aura cocked her head in thought as she studied his face. 

Yeah, too soon.

Though that wasn’t the only thing Aura was holding back that night. Aura never intended for them to try to get into the laptop. She’d be bringing it in the middle of the night to Gregor. A peace offering to the cause before she went back in hiding. She knew Kieran would never would go for it, and if Gregor saw them together, she’d be dead before she could hit the ground. 

She would need to wait until he went to sleep.

“My family is pretty average. Ma, my father, my kid brother Ion and I.” Aura knocked back the rest of her drink before continuing. “Ma left a couple years back to work as a live-in servant. Somewhere in A by the beach.”

Her fingers kept finding their way to her hair, letting the long, dark strands weave around them in mindless movements. It was most likely the fact that she’d be cutting it all off that night.

“My, uh, [i]evil lair[/i] I took you to the night you were my hostage was my dad’s farm. Ion’s turning eighteen soon and will probably be joining the AE for enforcement training.” This took a big sigh out of Aura. “His mother’s gone. He thinks his big sister’s a criminal. My dad probably does too at this point.” 

Realizing the conversation was turning dark, Aura scrambled to change the topic.

“I turn twenty five next week,” she admitted, grinning from ear to ear. “Gregor and them were gonna have a party at Mae’s. They promised to find a way to get me some chocolate. Chocolate’s my favorite, especially the -”

It wasn’t happening now. What was the point of talking about it anymore? It wasn’t like Kieran cared.

“It was gonna be after a meeting. Next week in the corn fields, a hundred paces north from the gate, three hundred west. If you get close enough, you can listen in.”

That’s what he cared about. Taking down the cause and getting a gold star from the AA. That’s all this was.

“I think I’m gonna turn in soon. I’m taking the floor.”

Aura grabbed a blanket in the corner and wrapped herself up in a cocoon before tumbling down to the floor. “That’s quite the strong drink in your cupboard, Kieran.” 

She writhed around as the worked the blanket up around her neck, holding a nail she had picked up early enough in the palm of her hand. If all went well, the nail would jab her hand at some point and wake her up so that she could slip out of the house. 

Once comfortable, with sleepy eyes, Aura glanced back to Kieran and smiled lazily. “Do you plan on being a runner forever? Do you ever want a family of your own to take care of?”