I wake up earlier than Isa the next day, so I decide to make breakfast for the two of us, to return the favor for yesterday. I grab the ingredients I need and get to work, plugging earbuds into my phone to listen to music while I cook.

Isa walks in about 20 minutes later. "Do I smell pancakes?" She asks eagerly. I smile.

"Yeah. I just hope I didn't burn them."

I serve us pancakes and grab the syrup, and we sit down and eat.

"These are really good!"

"Thanks. Sorry to change the topic, but do you want to come with me to see the informant, Shadow? Now that you're all badass, I mean."

Isa looks surprised.

"S-sure."

"Good. I like having you around, kid."

At this, Isa looks outraged. "I'm not a kid! I'm 18!"

I smirk. "I'm 19, and about 6 inches taller than you, kid."

"I'm not a kid!"

"Whatever you say," I agree, before whispering kid under my breath.

Isa looks so annoyed I burst out laughing. She just pouts. She looks adorable when she pouts. Wait, adorable? Since when do I think anything is adorable?

"I'll have to come up with an annoying nickname for you, Scarlet," Isa says after my laughter has died down.

"Tala," I reply without thinking.

"What?"

"Don't call me Scarlet. It's not my real name. Call me Tala. My name is Tala Morana."

Isa smiles at me. "Tala. I like it," she replies before blushing. Aww she looked so cute like that!

I smile. "Thanks. No one besides Ced knows my name, and now you. It helps with my job. Now, come on, Isa. Let's get dressed and I'll call the informant."

We get dressed in the same clothes as last night, and I dial the phone number on the piece of paper. Sage picks up immediately.

"Hello, Scarlet Wolf. I was told to expect your call. I'm Sage Boman. I hear you need some information?"

"That's right. Can we meet today to discuss this?"

"Sure. My office, so to speak, is 5749 Green Grove Street. Does 11:00 work for you."

"Yes. I'll meet you there."

And with that, Sage hangs up. I check my phone. It's 10:30, and Green Grove Street is about a 30 minutes walk from my apartment. I tell Isa what's going on and we head out.

"So, why are we going to an informant again?" Isa asks about 10 minutes into the walk.

"Oh. I never did actually say why we're going, I just told you my sob story. Well I said how I wanted revenge on my parents' killer, but I don't actually know who they are. I've tried some of the other informants in the area, but they haven't gotten anything."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Anyway, I've got a question for you. Why are you here? You said you don't have a family anymore. Why is that? Do I have to kill some bastards who killed your parents too?" I ask, feeling protective over my companion.

Isa blushes. Hard. Even on her caramel colored skin, the blush is still prominent. I raise an eyebrow, suddenly very curious.

"W-well, I'm a l-lesbian. My friends found out when they saw me kissing a g-girl. I went to a private, Catholic school, so that was not very well received, since "homosexuality is a s-sin." My parents found out soon after and kicked me out, and that's when y-you found me," Isa answers in a quiet, trembling voice. I stop walking and she stops too.

"Hey," I said softly, lifting up her chin so Isa had to look up at me. "There's nothing wrong with liking girls. I'm not straight either. It's nothing to worry about. I'm not going to judge you," I console, pulling Isa in for a hug. I know she's probably blushing, and I can't help but blush a little either. Wait. Why am I blushing? Do I have a crush on Isa? No. I don't get crushes. I can't get crushes. Love is a weakness in the world I live in. Anything can be used against me. I can't put Isa in danger because of that. No. I don't have a crush on Isa. I just don't want her to meet the same fate I would have if Ced hadn't found me.

Isa pulls back, a faint blush still visible on her cheeks. "Thanks," she all but whispers.

"No problem, Kid." I respond, smirking.

And we spend the rest of the walk arguing about whether or not Isa was a kid.