As Trip approached her shop, a few thoughts passed through Su’s mind. This would be the first time Miha had served customers – some of the colourful locals at that – and she was interested to see how he’d go. She was also wondering if Trip would help her out in a tough spot. She’d known him for nearly two years as a regular, and a bit before that… but was it enough? If one of the companies or one of the families came knocking with a briefcase full of money, what would he do? She shook her head as the bell tinkled. Her recent experiences had really come to prey on her mind. She should have more faith.

“Yo, Su!” Trip, was one of the exterminators - otherwise known as pest control - that lived out in the wastelands, hunting monsters, and who frequented her establishment. He was young and, she thought, vaguely hyperactive. But deadly. She’d seen him in action, and it was impressive to watch. He pulled down his mask.

“Hey,” Su called, frying eggs and bacon. “What’ll you have?”

“Whatever you got, thanks,” he called back,

“Easy”

Miha walked over and poured him some water in a glass, Trip looked wide eyed up at Miha

“What the fuck, who’s this?” he asked, eyes wide, looking at Miha with a hint of betrayal

Miha stepped back and swallowed, uncertain about how to approach being addressed in this manner.

“This is Miha, Trip; Trip, Miha, he’s living and working here now.” She paused for a second “play nice kids” she smiled. Miha looked questioningly at her.

“I haven’t even started playing yet” he shot back, “why’s he here for?” he asked, curiosity writ large across his face. He really did look like a kid, Su thought.

“I took him in, he’s a runaway I guess, though you’d have to ask him”

“What, she adopted you?” he cackled, pointing at Miha, who was at a loss “you’re a bit young, mate”

“No, she’s just putting me up,” he said evenly, the straightforwardness that was his style made Su pray he’d be okay.

“Ooooh, what sorta deal you have to strike to get that close?” he asked teasingly

“He needed some help, he was suffering from an illness”

“An illness? Is that all it takes for you to take care of me? Quick man, kiss me, give me whatever you got. I want to live at su’s too!”

“No” said Miha, sounding much too serious.

“Why not?”

“What I had wasn't contagious” God, thought Su, is he always like that!?

“Well that’s your loss then, isn’t it mate. I’m a real good kisser you know, I been told - the best they’ve ever had, on the lips and in the sack, isn’t that right Su?” he said smiling at her cheekily,

“Are you? I wouldn’t know. I think you might need help translating what your pillow says for others to understand”

“Oi!”

“Oh your asking for it, come to think of it, I’ve not seen you come in with anyone before Trip,”

“You think I’d bring my girlfriends here?”

“Are you worried they might not make the jump from the imagination?”

“I just don’t want you getting jealous, you know…”

The doorbell tinkled again and several more members of Trip’s team turned up, closely followed by the doc.

“Yo!” Trip and the others greeted each other, “mornin’ doc” he followed up

“And good morning to you too!” the doctor said warmly,

“Who’s that?” Asked one of Trip’s team, Mills, pointing at Miha

“That’s Miha, boys, he’s Su’s… well I don’t know how to put this… pet?” he snorted and Miha glared at him. He bobbed his head and indicated to them, “that’s Mills, Herrod and Cal,” they raised their hands in silent greeting as they sat down at the booth with Trip.

“Good morning, Miha,” the doctor moved over to Miha and looked him up and down, “how are you feeling”

“Very good thank you, and again: thank you for your help”

“Ah, no problem, no problem at all… I’m looking forward to seeing you fully recovered, I’m sure there’s many things I can learn from your case!” the doc said as he moved away to take his regular spot.

“Gah! watch out Su, you’ve got competition, the doc’s in heat.” Trip grinned as the doc looked over without really responding, eyes glazed and already a million miles away, and as Su placed a dish on the counter and hit the bell, Miha walked over and collected the plate and took it to Trip,

“Trip, I worry for you,” said Su, “you talk so much, but say next to nothing”

“If my tongue’s not flicking its gotta be licking” he winked

“Hmm, well if we’re lucky you’ll bite it off while you’re eating,” she said, Miha was watching Trip with moderate interest, as if observing a specimen for the first time.

“What’ll you have, boys?”

“Anything you feed us, Su”

“Coming right up, but one day I’ll take liberties”

“Anything you give us is what we want, Su” they were trying to be charming, she guessed, but their collection of scars and various missing appendages made the attempt, she thought, seem more like intimidation.

“Mmmhd djdndn smmm” Trip tried to talk with his mouth stuffed with sausage and bread, and quickly gulped some water and swallowed

“Mind your manners!” said Trip, “can’t you tell she’s trying to impress a man!”

“And who are you trying to impress, Trip?” asked Su, as she started cooking again. The doc took out a book and began to read while Tripp laughed and then started coughing, before shovelling another enormous fork of food into his mouth. The day, despite its minor changes, began as it always does, and Su felt, for the first time since Miha had stumbled through her door, a sense of normality return to her.

Su considered Miha’s reactions to pest control. He wasn’t a social being, she could certainly see that, but he hadn’t done badly. The exterminators were a breed unto themselves: while she’d done a few hunts, the exterminators went for weeks at a time, tracking down those creatures that lived among the pillars. The beasts often grew to enormous sizes, and had their own peculiar mechanisms of manoeuvring through the pillars – usually involving fields along with a few other appendages. The people that hunted them, both for the value of the resources of their bones and skins and flesh, and for the safety of the city, were often quite insane and possessed the build and quality of people who survived by their strength and skill at killing. Yet Miha seemed utterly unperturbed by their joking – which Su attributed to some survivor complex – and undisturbed by their appearance. Though, his own internal monstrosities were perhaps reason enough for him not to judge other people’s comparatively sweet externals. As his fake skin slowly began to be replaced with real skin, Miha had taken a pair of gloves and did as Su asked and began to wash the dishes. Su also kicked him out of her bed, and he moved into the attic space where she’d been sleeping while he recovered. God she was glad to have her bed back. She wasn’t especially happy about it having been commandeered… well, she supposed she’d really given it freely… but she still wasn’t happy about it! She only hoped that eventually, when he was well… and when she had worked up the courage, she could broach the topic that she most wanted to know about with him.

Su rang the bell and Miha delivered the plates, and then, once Trip’s pest control was out, others began to roll in, and the doc just sat there, picking at the plate that Su placed before him, reading his book. She looked on as Miha smiled as she’d taught him and asked people what they wanted, and felt her own mouth twist upwards as they raised their eyebrows at the new addition to her staff, and then say out loud the things that she normally just made for them anyway. It wasn’t like she had many breakfast options. She chuckled. He’d learn soon enough.