Chapter 31: Loose Tongue

On planet Epra. Within the one town where Leah, and Kase, landed. Evening is closing in its darkness, as the sun sets just past a large mountain in the distance.

Lime-colored trees spread across a stretch of land surrounding the town, accompanying it; are branching dust roads that trail into the distance as far as the eye can see. The other towns barely visble within the fog of dust that sweep across the landscape.

One of the large buildings looms; a green neon sign reads 'Black Rock Tavern.'

The muffling sound of music can be heard from within it. Through the streets; a few residents walk to and fro, attending their own bussiness. Some would enter the tavern, and some would leave.

--

The sound of music can be heard, along with confusing chatter, filled with loud laughs from a few men, and women. The interior is lit up by red, and purple lights along the ceiling.

Different species of people can be seen sitting at their tables in groups. Some would have a dark blue tone, while others would be orange with black stripes along their skin.

The striped individuals' eyes are larger than most species, while the dark-blue individuals eyes would seem normal to Leah, and Kase.

The one muscular striped man is seen standing among them with his fists out, and his attention drawn to the floor.

"You now punch, let's see," he shouted out with a smile on his face.

Near his feet, a woman stands up, wearing a vest, which shows her dark-blue skin. She wipes her mouth, to look at the purple smudge on the side of her hand. Looking up at him, she connects her fist with his face, causing him to stumble back, and smash through the one table.

She smiles, and steps towards him, only for her to grab his hand, and stands him up, only for the both of them to laugh in unison.

Leah, and Kase are seated on stools by the bar. Both of them watch the two as they walk towards the one table.

"Looks like I won the bet in collateral damage," Kase said with a cocky smile.

"The drinks are on you."

"I really thought he was going to win." Leah said, staring at the two individuals across them, as they are seated at their table.

Leah sighs, and faces the bar.

"Hey, don't be sad now." Kase said, placing his hand on her back.

"You were the one who got the idea."

"Fine, whatever," Lead said, and looks up at the bartender.

"You..." the bartender turns to her.

"Those two behind me." Leah said, pointing her thumb over her own shoulder.

"For tonight only, their drinks are on me."

The bartender leans to the side, and stands normally, only for him to give her a nod.

"Hey!" Kase called out with his glass raised at them, urging the two to look at him.

"The drinks will be on her!" he said, gesturing his hand to Leah.

The man, and the woman cheer and raise their drinks in unison, and downs them.

Leah's lips twist into a smile, and turns to Kase.

"You know," she said, urging him to look at her.

"It isn't actually bad here."

"What isn't? The tavern?" Kase asked, and looks around himself to see groups of people sitting at their tables, and chatting to each other on different subjects that are only known to them.

"Not just this tavern," Leah said, urging him to turn to her with a puzzled look in his eyes.

"This whole town; this planet..." she pauses, looking ahead.

"It's very refreshing," she added, looking at him with a smile.

"Hey, want to order another drink?" the bartender asked, still polishing a glass.

"Sure, why not," Leah said, turning to the bartender.

--

Leah, and Kase can be heard laughing among the sound of music and chatter of people.

"For the whole day he didn't even notice it on his face," Leah said, and continues to laugh out while leaning against the bar.

"I just couldn't hold it in anymore." she stops laughing, and catches her breath, only to chuckle a few times.

Kase stops laughing as well, shaking his head slightly while averting his gaze, and looks at her.

"How did he react when he found out?" he asked her with a big smile.

Leah takes a sip from her drink, and lets out another chuckle.

"He was not happy, not at all," she said, turning her attention to the entrance, noticing three individuals enter from it.

"You two have quite the sibling bond, don't you?" Kase said, with a slight smile.

"It has its moments," Leah said, turning to him.

"Even if Aven can be a pain sometimes, I would never let anything bad happen to him."

Kase takes a sip from his drink, and places it back on the table.

"Of course..." he said, looking at her.

"He's your family after all."

"True." Leah said, looking into her glass, gazing at the shimmering black liquid.

"I remember back when we arrived on Earth."

"I'm listening."

"Do you remember when I said how dangerous it was?" Leah asked, looking.

"Yes?"

"We wanted to find any survivors who might help us on our search." she continued, taking a big sip from her drink.

"We eventually found a settlement, and of course because we didn't think. They drugged, and held us as hostage."

"Really!?" Kase said, his eyes widening.

"How did you two escape?" he asked, holding the drink near his lips.

"After their leader tortured me, he went for Aven," she lets out a sigh, anger building up.

"For a long time, I begged him to stop, but he just kept on, and on."

Her hand starts shaking, as her finger tips begin to whiten around the glass she's holding.

"Until I just lost it!" she downs her drink, and slams it on the table, with the glass still intact.

"That was a last mistake they ever made."

"Hey you!" the bartender said, looking down at her, urging her to look at him.

"Don't do that again, I just polished the bar."

"Sorry about that," she said, twitching a smile at him, only for him to walk across the bar where another customer is waiting.

Kase stares at her for a moment, his face filled with concern.

"You didn't even tell me about that," he said.

I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Don't be," she said, looking at him with frown.

"It isn't something I'd just tell." she brings the glass near her lips, before realising it's empty.

"Hey, bartender!" Leah called to him, urging the man to turn to her attention.

"Another drink." she raised her glass.

The bartender narrows his gaze, and proceeds to her, only to refill her glass.

"You must take it easy there." Kase said, with a slight smile.

"Why?" Leah said, taking a sip from her drink, feeling slightly annoyed by his words.

"Aren't we on a mission?"

Leah closes her eyes and chuckles.

"Ahh, yes. That thing about the sword, and stuff." she said, and takes another sip from her drink.

"I don't know." she takes another sip from her drink, and lets out sigh.

"What do you mean?" Kase said 

"I thought I came here for the empress, to help, but..." she pauses, and stares down for a moment.

"Do I really need to do this? Do I even want to?"

Kase narrows his eyes with a slight hum.

"But we came all this way?" he said, with a puzzling look on his face.

"Are you regretting it?"

Looking at Kase, she chuckles.

"Not at all." she said, her eyes narrow at him.

"Actually, the opposite."

"Then what is it then?" he asked.

"It's just, so nice here," she said, averting her eyes.

"Away from them, away from my brother. Such a breathe of fresh air."

Kase widens his eyes, forming a smile.

"Are you serious?"

"I just found it to be boring," she starts twirling her drink as she watches it swirl within the glass.

"Always doing what others say." her eyebrows twist into a frown.

"It gets a bit much after a while," she continued.

"Following orders all the time, especially from my brother!" she huffs, and downs the rest of her drink.

"Do this, do that, go there, blah, blah, blah." she raises her hand, urging the bartender to pour her another drink, and brings the bottle to Kase's glass, only for him to shake his head. The bartender carries on.

"The first time I had an opportunity, I thought an adventure was going to be fun." she lets out another chuckle.

"I'm confused?" Kase said, raising his eyebrow.

"My damn brother, Kase!" she snapped at him with a glare, urging him to lean back.

"He's such a control freak." she stares down at her reflection within her drink.

"He doesn't stop, he never stops!" She said, starting to laugh.

"Nowww... His new playmate is with him." her lips twist in disgust.

"His little girlfrieeend," she said, tilting her head head from side, to side.

"You must see her hair, Kase!" she points her finger right at him. Her eyes wide, her pupils dilated.

"Ummm, okay?" he said, averting his eyes, only to gently move her hand away from his face.

"Why is her hair like that!?" She said, holding her own head.

"Who?" Kase said, looking over his shoulder, only for Leah to pull him to face him.

"Alecia, my brother's girlfriend!" she said.

"Can you guess what color her hair is!?" she said outloud.

"Red?"

"Wrong!" she touches his nose with her index finger.

"It's white!"

"White?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

"I know!" She said, holding her cheeks.

"Who in their right mind would dye their hair like that!?"

"Why is this important to you?" he asked, averting his eyes.

"It isn't!" she said, taking another sip from her drink.

"Who would care to even know what is importent to me?"

"It depends?" He said, with a shrug.

"A-as for my b-brother," she said, staring ahead for a moment.

"He's so f-far up the empress'-"

"Okay!" Kase said, placing his hand over her drink, and moves it away from her.

"You have had quite enough for today."

"Whaaaat?" she said, with a puzzling look as she reaches out for it, only for Kase to grab her hand.

"I just n-need one more, just one. Please?"

"What you need..." Kase said, placing her drink on a table.

"Is a good night's rest." he moves her off the stool, and places her arm over his shoulder.

"W-well. Maybe you're right." she let's out a sigh, and trains her eyes around the room, noticing the gas of others drawn to her.

"W-what are you starinnng... At?" she frowns at them. They continue to talk amongst themselves, paying no attention to her.

"How much is a room?" Kase asked the bartender.

"It will be ten." the bartender answers.

"Alright." Kase said, reaching into his pocket, and gives him the currency.

"Let's go now, Leah." he adjusts her arm around around his neck, and walks to the back of the bar.

--

The sound of a door is heard, followed by a click, only for there to be light. Kase, walks into the room with Leah, and gently places her on the bed.

"There we are, lazy Leah," he said, and shifts her legs onto the bed.

"You go to sleep now."

Leah chuckles, with her eyes closed.

"I'm not even tir-" just then, she falls into a deep sleep.

Kase smiles while looking down at her. He turns to the bed on the opposite side, and lays down on his back.

Slowly, with every passing moment, his eyes slowly closes, until he finally goes into a deep sleep as well.