Edam lay stomach-down on his bed, as he had been for the past few hours. His tablet blasted a symphony of cellos and piano - some classical piece he didn’t recognise. Not anything he particularly cared for, either. The noise kept him from delving too deep into his thoughts - the same old thoughts he’d always had, about this shitty city and what it did to people. What it did to his parents.

Ding-dong.

The sound of the doorbell reached him upstairs. He didn’t move. His parents had their own keys, and Ty and Alana always called ahead. The music cut off as his tablet started to ring. He sighed. “Hello?” he said into his pillow, and the call automatically connected.

“Hey,” it was Saavi, “I’m at your door... I think? I got this address from Aarav. Are you home?”

From Aarav? Edam thought, and where did he get it?

“Yeah,” he grunted, pushing himself off the bed. He glanced down at his boxers, “give me a sec.”

As usual, Saavi had picked out simple clothes - leggings and a top. Unusually, she was smiling before he even said anything. She stepped past him and into the house, looking around with the air of a tourist. Edam had just enough energy to feel self-conscious - his parents had a modest house, great by the city’s standards, but nothing compared to Saavi’s underground flat.

They made their way down the narrow corridor to the living room, which consisted of a couple of sofas, a TV, and a centre table. She sat down on the sofa in a very deliberate motion, hands resting in her lap. “Nice house.” she said.

“Yeah, it’s alright.” he sat down a comfortable distance from her. “So, what’s up?”

“Not much. Remember a couple of days ago, when I told you I met the Commissioner?”

“Sure.”

“I skipped over it before, but he knows where Jun Bloom is. We’re going to try and get him tonight.”

“Right. Sounds good.”

Saavi glanced at him, raising an eyebrow.

“What?” he asked.

“Something wrong? Is this not a good time?”

Not really, he wanted to say, and he also wanted to tell her everything that was bothering him. But Saavi Varma was rarely comforting and never cuddly. It was all business with this girl. So instead he said, “It’s fine. Anyway, you’re not going to listen to me, I know, but this thing with the Commissioner sounds like a trap.”

“You’re right. It does sound like a trap. After all, they’ve had nothing on this Jun Bloom for years, and now, suddenly, they have all the answers? It’s suspicious.”

Edam blinked, surprised.

“But,” she continued, “I’m still going.”

“Ah. That’s the Saavi I know.”

“I have an armoured suit, Edam. Bulletproof and extremely agile. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I guess.”

Edam looked up at the ceiling. He knew he should carry on the conversation, have something to say. But when had they ever had time to sit down and talk? Now that they were here, he had no idea what to talk about. He shot her a glance. The excited, determined expression had faded, leaving only concern. Concern about him. That jolted him into action.

“Uh,” he gestured at the remote, “if you want, we could watch something on TV or-”

“What’s going on with you?”

He sighed, remembering the argument from last night. Both his parents on one side of the kitchen table, him on the other. Yelling. Feeling angry, out of control for the first time in years.

The memory burned inside him, like a fire that needed to be put out.

“You really wanna know?” he asked. Saavi’s expression didn’t change.

“Of course.”

“Guess we’re not just climbing-buddies anymore, huh?”

“You idiot. I was joking about that. We’re-” she hesitated, “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Edam glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “Sure.” he said,before turning his gaze back to the ceiling, “Anyway, there’s not much to tell. I’m just making a big deal out of nothing. Last night, my dad came home early with some big news. He’s been promoted. Again. Which means more hours and less days off. That’s all.”

Saavi nodded. She was leaning in, a strand of black hair hanging over her cheek. Usually the attention would have made him uncomfortable, but today he barely noticed it.

“The promotion is important to him, hell, it’s important for all of us. The budget cuts are pretty much random at this point - we don’t know which district is gonna be hit next. Everyone’s trying to get themselves in as secure a position as possible. I get that.” he swallowed, “But what about me? I barely see the two of them anymore. I know I’m supposed to be over it by now, at my age, but I just want to spend some more time with them before I end up in some dead-end job counting my free hours on my fingers. And that’s if I even get a job.” he shook his head, “It’s this city. You need to be greedy, mechanical to survive, and I hate it. It’s complete bullshit. I hate it so much.”

“You’re right,” she said, nodding, “it is bullshit. This city, this government is bullshit. Which is why we're doing something about it.”

He gave her a skeptical look, “We are?”

“Do you know how many officers I’ve interrogated? And now, if the Commissioner is true to his word, I’m going to get my hands on Jun Bloom and find out exactly how he gets away with doing what he does. Whoever it is making this city terrible, I’m going to take them down. We’re going to take them down.” she glanced at him, as if waiting for his approval. It was unusual for her to give a speech like that. But that look in her eyes… that explained it all.

“Are you… trying to make me feel better?” Edam asked, amused.

Saavi smiled, a slight blush in her cheeks, “Did it work?”

“I guess?”

“I hate that phrase.”

“Too bad.”

Saavi sighed and checked the time on her phone, “Well,” she said, heading down the corridor to the front door. “I should check on the suit. Thanks for having me.”

“Sure.”

She opened the door and stepped outside before looking over her shoulder, “I’ll have a few hours to kill after I’m done. If you want, we could do something?”

“Something that puts me in grave danger?”

She smiled, “Not this time. I was thinking more like a movie.”

“Thanks, but I’m alright.”

Saavi shrugged and made her way down the street. He closed the door behind her. Truth be told, he would’ve liked to catch a movie, but his eyelids were already drooping. Others punched walls and smashed up cars when they were angry - he just felt the constant urge to fall asleep.

Nonetheless, he was glad she’d come over. It had calmed him down a little.

*

When he woke, it was dark, and he was still thinking about her. What was it she’d said?

If you want, we could do something?

He rolled over onto his back. Had Saavi just… asked him on a date? And he’d said no? Even if it wasn’t a date, he should’ve just gone along with it. Although, if that had happened, he would have fallen asleep right next to her at the cinema, which would have been awkward for both of them.

Besides, it was weird to think she meant it that way. They were friends now, she’d said it herself. That was just the kind of thing friends did. Go out and watch a movie. Nothing more to it.

Plus, what about when they went climbing? It was always just the two of them. Did that count as a date? He’d been to her house for God’s sake!

Edam sighed, checking the time on his tablet. Just past 8PM. The top of the screen displayed a message: 7 missed calls, from a number he didn’t recognise. He picked up the tablet and scrolled through the call log. Seven missed calls in the past ten minutes. Was Alana trying to play a prank again?

The tablet rang in his hands, making him jump. He answered the call.

“Who’s this?”

“Edam? Oh, thank God.” a man said.

“Wait,” Edam recognised his voice from somewhere. “Aarav?”

“Yes - I need your help. She needs your help.”

“What do you mean?”

“Saavi.” Aarav said, his otherwise clinical voice underlined with a note of panic, “She’s in trouble.”