“You’re back?” the healer asked, startled.

“Heal him,” Kaidu ordered, holding out a limp Rowan. His head drooped, and fresh blood poured down his shirt and pants.

“Holy fuck. Is he still alive?”

“Hurry up. I can pay.”

“Alright, alright, calm down.” The healer vaulted the counter and jogged to them.

“If I could’ve stitched him up, he’d be fine in a week or so, ‘long as infection don’t get him,” Ikara muttered under her breath.

“What did you do?” the healer asked, glancing from one to the other, alarmed.

“Healing. Now.”

Twisting his lips, the healer pressed his hand onto Rowan’s forehead. Boneless, Rowan’s head lolled back on his spine from the slight pressure. “‘Heal’ might not be enough. Do you have enough for—”

“I can pay. Heal.”

“Alright, alright. Jeez. Heal!”

White light suffused his hand and poured into Rowan. Rowan shuddered, stiffening. The white light faded, and he sagged back down again.

“Mmm… not great. He’s out of the ‘imminent death’ zone, but… I wouldn’t leave him here. Infections and all. You can pay?”

Kaidu gave him a disgusted look.

“Alright, alright, I get it.” He raised his hand again. “Healing Light!”

Bright light filled the room. Rowan bucked in his grasp. With a jolt, he grabbed the healer’s arms and fought his grip.

The last of the light faded. The healer released Rowan and staggered back, then shook his head and held out a hand. “There! Good as new. That’ll be fifteen thousand credits.”

Kaidu nodded and pressed two fingers into the healer’s hand. A faint chime rang out as the credits transferred.

Awake again, Rowan blinked, his blood running cold. How… how many credits?

He startled, then glanced down and patted at his stomach. Fresh blood stained his hands, but neither plant nor wound remained. Gone. Thank goodness.

“You wanted the plant? Here.” Ikara thrust a bloody plant into his hands.

White roots dripped blood. Dark blood splattered over the dark green, heart-shaped leaves. He inspected it, then held it awkwardly. Where am I supposed to put this?

Kaidu turned and headed for the exit. Cradling the plant, Rowan jogged after him, ignoring the headache that slammed into his head the second he pushed himself to move faster. Ikara tagged along at their heels, a bounce in her step, bloodstained hands tucked behind her.

Halfway down the road, Kaidu rounded on them. “I’m going home. Go home.”

Rowan grimaced. “I don’t have a home.”

“We don’t use credits in the Great Southern Exclusion Zone. I can’t afford a hotel,” Ikara added, giving him puppy eyes.

Kaidu glared at them. “No.”

“Kaidu, please? I’m broke too. Friends don’t let friends sleep outside in the cold on the lonely streets, all alone…” Rowan said.

“Yeah, it really sucks. Concrete is way harder than dirt. It’s hard to stake a tent. Please?” Ikara pitched in.

Kaidu’s eyes narrowed further. He pointed at Ikara. “You just got here.” He turned and pointed at Rowan. “But you, where were you living until now?”

“Home. My parents’ house. I got kicked out,” Rowan said, giving him puppy eyes.

Kaidu grumbled under his breath, then sighed. “Fine. But only for one night. Only because you’re injured.”

“Yes!” Rowan punched the air, then staggered and grabbed his head. Shit. No sudden movements, got it.

Ikara giggled.

He pointed at her. “You had better be able to hold your own in the Tower.”

“Yes, sir!” Ikara saluted.

“And you’ll both owe me rent,” he muttered.

“What’s another couple hundred on top of fifteen thousand,” Rowan replied lightly.

Ikara gave him a thumbs up. “Do you take GSEZ dollars?”

Kaidu shook his head and stalked away.

--

Modern, sleek glass stretched up into the sky. Men and women in sleek business suits, intellectual classes one and all, hurried in and out. The three of them stood out like a sore thumb, Kaidu in his torn coat, Ikara in her patchwork, and Rowan soaked in blood, clutching a bloody plant. The businessfolk swerved around them, as if afraid to get dirty.

Ikara gaped, amazed. “Whoa… a real skyscraper.”

“You live here? This place is expensive,” Rowan asked.

Kaidu grunted. He flashed a card and strode inside. The two of them hurried in, Rowan barely catching the door before it shut. At speed, Kaidu marched to the elevator and flashed his card again.

Halfway to the elevator, a hand caught Rowan by the shoulder. A businesswoman glared at him, her long-in-front, short-in-the-back hair bristling. “Excuse me, but do you live here?”

“I’m—I’m with my friend.” He pointed at Kaidu.

She glanced at him and scoffed. “I knew we shouldn’t allow support classes in here.”

“And I don’t allow that haircut in my shop,” Kaidu replied.

Her eyes went wide. “You—”

The elevator binged. The three of them stepped on.

The businesswoman stepped close to the doors. Teeth gritted, she hissed, “I will tell management about this. When they hear about the trash you’re dragging in, I will—”

The door shut. Kaidu slouched against the back wall and huffed out a breath.

“Uh… is that a problem? Sorry,” Rowan muttered.

Kaidu waved his hand. “There’s always people like that. Doesn’t matter. When she finds out who my dad is, she’ll come by to kiss my ass and apologize.”

“Your dad, who disowned you?”

“Doesn’t matter, to people like that. On the off-chance he comes around, better kiss my ass anyways. Unless our falling-out goes public, and then they’ll swerve around me like the dogshit I am.”

Ikara glanced from Kaidu to Rowan. “Uh… who’s your dad?”

“No one,” Kaidu grumbled, at the same time Rowan said, “Satoru Mizue.”

Ikara’s eyes went wide. “No way. The Satoru?”

Kaidu clicked his tongue and glanced aside.

The elevator binged. Kaidu hurried out. Ikara jogged after him, hustling to keep up. “Wow, no wonder you’re loaded! Damn. Let us stay for free! You don’t need the rent.”

“Shut up.” One last time, he waved the card. A white door swung open.

Ikara skipped in. A step in, she stopped and stared. Her jaw dropped. “Whoa!”