Morningside Cuesta the music's too loud

vex isn’t surprised to hear footfalls trailing after him and he spares a glance over his shoulder, preparing some snarky quip only to swallow it as his gaze falls upon haunt. he nudges his nose to her cheek as she slides up beside him; as of late her’s was the only company vex could tolerate — hell, the only company he wanted. i’m ready now. vex informs her, squinting out at the browning grasses of the cuesta. mom’ll probably have a fit but — vex trails off with a shrug of broadening shoulders; the simple action conveying that he didn’t care. he doesn’t mean to be so withdrawn from arbiter or rebellious but at the same time, he instantly wants to rebel against anything that restricts him.

kaertok had insisted on treating them like adults while …well, arbiter ( from what vex has seen ) didn’t.

we just gotta be smarter about this time. level headed now that the sting of betrayal and abandonment wasn’t clouding his perception. kaertok’s continued absence without word still stung but vex knew better than to just take off this time. i was thinkin’ — but vex never got the chance to layout the barebones of what he was thinking for an ivory man appears like a ghostly apparition, calling out to haunt.

vex’s firekissed hackles bristle as steely gaze locks upon the stranger. i’m her brother. he answers before haunt can. who’re you? he demands.

word count: 239