Keagan watched as Dan and Dr. Achebe drank the day away.

At some point, the old fools were talking about personal things that Keagan couldn’t relate to.

Keagan actually jumped with joy as the meeting came to an end.

The three men stood just outside a vectrain station and they were bidding each other goodbye.

“I swear, we should meet again soon.” Dr. Achebe said with a bright smile.

“I agree. Although we may have to order double thanks to the appetites of a certain someone, hehe.” Dan said with a chuckle.

“Ah, then I will pay for the meal next time.” Dr. Achebe said while extending his hand.

“Who said I was talking about the food?” Dan asked with a mischievous grin.

“Oh ho! Good one.” Dr. Achebe said as he and Dan shook hands.

Dr. Achebe hopped into a taxi before leaving Dan and Keagan.

“That was-"

“Exhausting?” Keagan interrupted.

“Mmm… no. I enjoy men like him. Actually, you’re the same. Anyway, it’s a bit late. Wanna come over to my place?” Dan asked.

Keagan looked up in thought. He really didn’t want to spend any more time with Dan than what was deemed necessary, but Keagan was also curious about what Dan was doing to Mercy and why.

“Sure. I believe you said you bought a certain console- wait a minute! The conference is in nine days. Shouldn’t you be working instead of chilling?” Keagan asked.

Dan shrugged his shoulders.

“Hey, everyone deserves a break, no?” Dan asked.

Keagan sighed before nodding.

“Ok, but after tonight, its back to work for both of us.” Keagan said.

“Perfect. Now, let me request for my car to be driven here and-"

“Yeah, you do that. I have a phone call to make.” Keagan said as he walked.

[Keagan?]

Roy asked.

“Yeah, I won’t be able to make it back tonight. Man the fort for me, ok?” Keagan said as Dan’s car arrived.

[Sure. What do I do if any of your lady friends come by?]

Roy asked.

“Mmm… if its Mercy, then you should be fine. But if it’s the other two, ignore them. Let them in and leave them be. Oh and get some groceries. I know how much you hate my food. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back.” Keagan said as the night hung precariously above him. He felts its weight painfully on his neck and the cool winds didn’t help.

[Ok.]

Roy said before ending the call.

Keagan walked over to David’s car and entered it.

They then drove towards the northern part of Cynosure.

Keagan didn’t pay any attention to anything as the chances of him being there a second time was almost zero.

Dan the drove up to a relatively small building in the context of Cynosure buildings.

It had a sleek modern design and was two stories tall.

“Is this your apartment building?” Keagan asked

“Mmm? No, that’s my house. Well, our house. According to the Misses.” Dan said as he parked his car. He and Keagan walked up to the front door.

Dan dug around in his pockets before getting his keys and opening the door.

“Please, make yourself a home. I can’t remember the last I had a normal guest.” Dan said before Keagan heard footsteps coming from further in the house. He looked to find a middle aged woman with a curious look on her face.

“Good evening, Dan. Who is this you’ve brought with you?” She asked as she stood. She wore a rather comfortable looking set of casual clothes and her hair was neatly held down in a bun.

“Oh my, I apologize for not recognizing the current spokesman of Lezzaro.” The woman who Keagan remembered was Dan’s wife said.

“Don’t worry about it.” Keagan said as Dan reached out to hug her.

The two held each other for a moment.

“You smell… awful.” The woman said.

“And you smell like a bed of roses.” Dan said with a chuckle before letting his wife go.

“Well, introduce yourself Keagan." Dan said while stumbling away.

“But we’ve already met.” Keagan said.

“Oh yeah? What’s her name?” Dan asked while comically narrowing his eyes.

“Amanda Palmer.” Keagan said instantly.

Dan’s brows lowered.

“Show off.” Dan said before walking away, leaving Keagan and Amanda alone in the hall.

“You must be tired after dealing with Dan’s shenanigans all day.” She said with a smile.

Keagan didn’t smile back but he did sigh.

“He’s not that bad, once you get used to him.” Keagan said.

“Oh? That’s the strangest compliment I’ve ever heard anyone give Dan.” Amanda said. Her smile deeply emphasized her wrinkles, but the did little to hide her beauty.

Not that Keagan cared.

“Oh? Why’s that?” Keagan asked as Amanda led him down the hall.

“Mmm… people usually say that he’s a terrific man and he’s work at Lezzaro is amazing, but you’re the first to actually talk about him as a person. That’s nice.” Amanda said as she led Keagan to a certain room with a large TV on one of its walls.

“Please, take a seat while Dan finishes whatever he’s doing.” Amanda said as Keagan sat on one of the three sofas.

“Is there anything you’d like?” She asked.

“Some water would be perfect.” Keagan said before Amanda left.

Keagan sighed before kicking his brain into overdrive. He wanted to find out what he could about Dan and that would require focus, commitment and-

Fuck. Keagan realized that he was actually quite nervous.

Dan eventually arrived in a set of comfortable looking pyjamas. He then plopped onto the sofa across Keagan and handed him a controller.

“Now, the real fun begins.” Dan declared as he turned on the console.

Keagan prepared to pick Dan’s brain, but it wasn’t long before the damned fool fell asleep, leaving Keagan alone and awake.

Keagan cursed himself for trusting a middle aged man to stay awake after a full day of drinking.

Fortunately for Keagan, he carefully avoided any alcohol.

He closed his eyes in an attempt to sooth his frustration. He looked at the time on the watch Dan had given to him and saw that the watch was dead. Actually, it had several cracks on it.

Keagan took out his phone and saw that it was midnight.

Keagan sighed before he heard footsteps to his left.

“Still awake?” Amanda asked.

“Yes, but so are you.” Keagan said as he avoided looking at Amanda as much as possible.

She was a high profile TV reporter and he did not want any miscommunications of any kind. So he kept his gaze on the TV as he played the game Dan had so selfishly left him alone in.

“Let’s just say that I’m having trouble falling asleep.” Amanda said as she walked in front of him and towards the sofa to Keagan’s right. He would have scolded her for walking in front of the TV while he was playing but he kept his mouth shut.

The TV’s volume was low and so, a strange silence filled the room as Amanda awkwardly stared at Keagan.

“Is there something on my face?” Keagan asked as politely as possible.

“Oh no. I’m just curious.” Amanda said softly.

“About what?” Keagan asked.

“I’m curious about why Dan gave our sons watch to you.” Amanda said, stopping Keagan’s heart for a moment.

“I could’ve sworn he wore it in the morning as we left for work, but when he returned, it wasn’t on his arm anymore. It was on yours.” Amanda said with an almost scary smile.

“I apologize if I’ve offended you in any way, but I think I should clear something up. Dan offered me the watch earlier today as we had dinner.” Keagan said while trying his best to minimize whatever damage him wearing the watch caused. He could have taken it off and handed it to Amanda, but Keagan’s gut predicted that would be worse.

“Oh? And why did he do that?” Amanda asked. Her sweet, low voice echoed throughout the room and into Keagan’s skull.

“I… I lost a friend recently. Dan said that it important to hold onto the memories of those who’ve died in our hearts. So he gave me the watch to prove his point.” Keagan said as the rooms temperature seemingly dropped.

“I see.” Amanda said as she placed her feet on the sofa.

Keagan felt his phone vibrate. He checked and so saw that he had serval messages from Catalina.

Keagan’s face reflexively twisted into a frown, but he quickly suppressed his feelings of bile and returned his phone in his pocket.

“Is something wrong?” Amanda asked.

“Mmm?” Keagan realised that he had been frowning intensely and so he fake coughed.

“Ahem! No, it’s nothing. Uh- shouldn’t you be resting up for tomorrow? I’m sure being a journalist is no easy feat.” Keagan said with a fake yawn.

“Well, I have tomorrow off, but I think we’re avoiding a certain subject. That look you just had. What was it that angered you so?” Amanda asked as she narrowed her pale grey eyes.

Keagan sighed before looking straight into Amanda’s eyes.

“Listen, I fear you may have the wrong impression of me. Your husband and I aren’t close. Please consider that for a moment.” Keagan said before returning his gaze to the TV.

Amanda chuckled before standing up and sitting next to Keagan.

“I understand that you may not be very fond of Dan, but he sure likes you enough to allow you into his home, no? So why the coldness?” Amanda asked.

Keagan really wanted her to leave him alone, but she was determined to pick his brain-

Oh. Keagan realized.

“You want me to open up?” Keagan asked and Amanda nodded slowly.

“Why?” Keagan asked.

“Well, it’s not every day that my husband brings home a guest. Not only that, but a relatively normal guest. I’m so used to entertaining eccentric individuals that I’ve grown a bit numb… but when I speak to you… I feel like I'm talking to a normal person.” Amanda said.

Keagan saw too many red flags in this situation.

“Umm… I'm sure Dan makes a wonderful conversation partner.” Keagan said while trying to hide his nervousness.

“Well, he’s… ok. But you are new and your reactions are entertaining to watch.” Amanda said with a giggle, but Keagan was tired of whatever game she was playing and so he fake stretched his arms and yawned again.

“Is that so? Ah well, I’m beyond sleepy. Mind if I bunk here with Dan?” Keagan asked, but Amanda’s eyes narrowed as a smile formed on her face.

“Oh no, that simply won’t do. Why don’t you sleep in the guest bedroom?” She asked.

Keagan wanted to run away.

“Ok?” Keagan said before he was led to a medium sized room.

“Goodnight-"

“If there’s anything you need, just let me know, ok?” Amanda asked.

Keagan slowly nodded before closing the door. He then walked over the bed and forced himself to sleep, even though his body begged him to keep at least one eye open.

.

..

Keagan awoke as he heard someone moving about nearby.

He opened his eyes to find a pyjama clad Amanda placing a tray by the table near the bed.

She noticed that Keagan was awake and smiled in response.

“Good morning.” She sang.

Keagan narrowed his eyes before getting up.

“Good morning. What’s with the tray?” Keagan asked as he saw a full breakfast on it.

“Oh it’s nothing much. I just found myself with some spare time and ingredients. So I made you some breakfast.” She said as she walked towards the door.

“Is that so?” Keagan asked before she left. He couldn’t deny that he was hungry, but dammit, she was acting far too strangely

Keagan wondered if she was taking Rapture, but maybe she wasn’t.

Keagan ate away at his breakfast and checked the time to find that it was seven AM. He got up and made his way to the kitchen were he found a gleeful Amanda and a grouchy Dan.

“Good morning." Keagan greeted, only to have Dan wave at him as he made his way upstairs.

“Don’t mind him. He’s always like this in the morning.” Amanda said.

Keagan and Dan prepared for their trip to Ix Chel, but Amanda stopped them, just as Dan twisted the door knob.

“Be sure to bring Keagan back soon.” She said with a smile.

“Oh? I just might.” Dan said before he and Dan rode of to Ix Chel.

Not much was said as they knew that there was much work to be done, but Keagan regretted ever agreeing to Dan’s stupid sleepover idea in the first place.

Keagan and Dan eventually made it to the R and D building and Keagan went to work on finalizing the data on the CryoPod, with the help of all his colleagues.

Well… Mercy as busy in her office, but Keagan assumed that she was preparing for the conference as well.

The working day ended and Keagan made his way to Mercy’s office. He knocked and she allowed him in only for him to see her state. Her eyes were half open and her cheeks looked a little hollow.

“Oh my goodness, when was the last time you ate something?” Keagan asked.

Mercy weakly waved her hands in response.

“No, I’m sure it’s just the stress of all this that’s getting to me-"

Keagan interrupted her by loudly closing the door.

“Was it Dan?” Keagan asked. His voice sharp and his eyes burning with fury. Although none of that fury was directed at Mercy.

“N- no. It was Mr. Astali.” Mercy said as she shook.

Keagan sighed before sitting down on the chair in front of Mercy.

“Finish up your work. After this, we’ll go to my place in Cynosure.” Keagan instructed before calling Roy.

“Yo. How are you feeling?” Keagan asked.

[I’m ok. That detective guy really helped me out with the logistics of things. How about you?]

Roy asked.

“Me? I’m ok. But Mercy’s not looking so good. How about you fix up some of your stew for her?” Keagan asked.

[Ok.]

Roy said before Keagan ended the call.

Mercy then noticed that Keagan was sitting idly as she worked.

“Y- you can go to Cynosure. I’ll catch up.” She suggested, but Keagan crossed his arms.

“Nope. I’m staying right here.” Keagan said, prompting Mercy to work at a faster pace.