The Queen Is After Me

"Hey, you asked how much."

"Wish it was less. It's silly, very silly." Emelia whispered.

"Oh thanks."

Orion tilted his head briefly in confusion before patting his shoulders hesitantly in a mimicry of her earlier movements.

---

"S'real nice." Daniel yawned softly, picking up his fork slowly, though he didn't seem to have strength enough to move his arm enough.

Raja done what he done to Ryan and he moved to give Orion a tiger hug.

"You need some help?" April asked him with a small frown.

Orion stumbled back under the sudden weight, but lit up with a bright smile, wrapping his arms around Raja in return with a cheerful laugh, though he obviously regretted doing so when it tugged at his cheek.

---

"Probably. It's been a while since I've had to use my abilities so thoroughly! Everything aches at the moment. I think it mighta broken a rib from over exertion too."

"Me and Keagan are sorry," April whispered, sighing and adding, "Come here," as she took the fork from him and fed him.

"No, no, it's okay. I've never seen Keagan so happy. Kinda makes a guy feel good when you make somebody that happy." Daniel giggled happily, looking down at his lap and smiling with a pleased expression. "I'm the best! The bestest ever!" He leaned forward and accepted the mouthful of omelette, making an exaggerated 'chomp!' noise as he did so.

April just laughed quietly, "Yeah you are," she agreed with a small smile.

"Keagan still cooks so good! Thanks Keagan!" he suddenly yelled. "You cook the best!"

"Thank you!" Keagan called softly through in return.

April smiled a bit, before asking Daniel, "Mind if I head back into the kitchen to get my own quickly?"

"Nuh-uh, I don't mind. Just come back real quick and tell me what it's like outside, okay? Leaven comes over once or twice a week to tell me stories, but I wanna hear some new ones."

April just gave a nod, got to her feet and headed into the kitchen to get her food. Glancing to Keagan silently.

"Tell him something exciting and exaggerated," Keagan advised softly. He was leaning against a counter, holding a mug of something. "If he tries leaving the house, he'll start dying, so he likes to know everything he can."

"Can you come in and tell him? M'not good at telling people stories." April asked, having a bite of her omelette and smiling after she swallowed, "I agree with him, this is gorgeous Keag,"

"Tell him about your family or how you met me and Fleet. Humour him. The kid doesn't have parents, like the rest of us, but he's easily amused. Make something up about animals or something. If he wants it off you, he isn't going to listen to me."

April just gave a sigh, nodded and headed back into the living room.

Raja gave his cheek a lick and it healed immediately.

Daniel was weakly swinging his legs, humming something under his breath.

---

Orion cringed back a little at the sudden lick, unsure of what he was doing before he realised his cheek didn't sting any more and he smiled brightly, hugging Raja tightly. "Thanks!"

"You wanna hear something positive or something negative?" April asked Daniel, sitting down beside him.

Raja nuzled him.

((best forgot me))

"The greatest thing you can think of!"

---

The woman was hovering nervously, watching them silently.

Orion rubbed his head against Raja's with a happy little noise.

"Raja be careful or you will push him over." Ryan warned.

"That doesn't really help," April replied with a quiet laugh.