clovers

chapter 13| Hibi

"It's a shame we couldn't stay here long"

I smiled sadly "Yeah it is".

"A lot of folks here miss you, you know?" I chuckled as I put in a new round of bullets in one of the guns.

"I doubt it" Astrid punched my shoulder playfully.

"Hibi everyone misses you a lot. You barely come around these parts and when you do you barely stay for a week and then you're gone without telling anyone" I pulled out the empty cartridge for bullets and loaded it with new ones.

"It's too peaceful here, barely anything happens"

"And is that such a bad thing" I felt her eyes burning holes into the side of my head but I refused to make eye contact "I wish you would stay around long enough to settle down and see how good this place could be for you". I sighed, not this shit again.

"I'm tired of having this conversation with everyone I meet" She sighed.

"Okay let me change the topic" She looked away from me to think but soon her head snapped back to look at me, mischief dancing in her eyes "You went to South first right? Did you see Don" I groaned and she giggled.

"Yes Astrid, I met up with Don" She tilted her head slyly, making her read forest for hair fall into her face.

"Annnnndddddd?" I chuckled.

"And nothing" She pouted.

"When are you two going to get back together, you were like the perfect couple" I raised an eyebrow.

"We fought all the time"

"Yeah but fighting builds character" She shoved me slightly with her shoulder "And besides you were so happy together" I shook my head at the memories that came rushing into my head at full speed.

"I don't know...we were pretty dysfunctional" She laughed.

"That's cause you solved all your problems by drinking till you both couldn't remember why you were angry" If I could blush I'd be all shades of red right now. She wasn't lying though.

She continued to cackle at my expense "It's not like it matters anymore" I muttered quietly "We're friends now and that's enough for me" She put her arm around me and I placed my head on her shoulder.

"Men suck" I snorted.

"I'd drink to that"

She stuck her pinky out and pushed it towards me "If all else fails we move into the woods and become lesbian farmers?" I laughed but interlocked my finger with hers.

"Definitely."

We sat in each others embrace staring into space, the guns on the floor long forgotten until I noticed Astrids eyes staring at something behind me. "Looks like we have an audience".

I turned my head to see Caspian at the door of the garage with a bunch of stuff in his hands. His eyes were wide like a deer caught in headlights, the sight made me laugh.

"I didn't hear anything I swear"

Astrid waved him off "It's not like it matters if you did" She gestured him over.

Rico walked past us and snorted "Nothing happened other than these two confessing their undying love for each other" I stood up and smack him upside the head.

I looked back at Caspian who looked awkward, standing there with his hands full and his head nearly grazing the ceiling. "What you got there?" He looked down at the stuff he was holding before stretching his arms out to give it to me.

"I don't know, Irina said you'd know what to do with it though" I picked apart the pieces to see my utility belt, a leather jacket, dagger holders that I could strap on the side of my leg and a bunch of other shit.

"I'm surprised she kept all my shit for me" Rico glanced at my stuff.

"Yeah yeah but where's our stuff, we're going too."

"Actually you're not" Irina stood in the doorway, leaning on the railing.

"How come I get to stay behind!" Astrid stuck her tongue out at him.

"Maybe 'cause you can't fight for shit"

"You can't come either"

"How come blondie gets to go then" Astrid protested.

"Cause I said so" Irina growled. "Think about it, It'll be too suspicious if we all suddenly skipped town and disappeared without a trace, we need two people here to lead the guards on to believe there's nothing to see here".

Astrid let out a huge sigh before stomping out of the room. Rico shrugged "I'm not complaining, Hell knows I don't want to get three steps near Adaora's domain" He grabbed his toolbox "The back windows have been tinted, you guys are all set to go now" He called as he left the garage.

Irina thanked him before looking at us "So we've made pretty good time. I have a friend who owns a hotel in Central so we can bunk there for a couple days and then we'll be straight back here".

Cas shrugged "Fine by me" He walked around the car, passing me as our shoulders nearly touched.

"So let's go" I held up a hand.

"I gotta do something first" She nodded and headed to the drivers part of the car.

Astrid was outside the garage leaning on one of the walls with her arms crossed over her chest. I put a hand on my hip and raised an eyebrow "What? You weren't even going to say bye?" She looked at me.

"I hate you"

I smiled "I'll miss you too".

She sighed and closed her eyes "I can't believe I only got you back for a few hours and now you're leaving...again" She glanced at me "And to think you're taking all the fun with you".

"C'mon you've had your fair share of fun" I looked at the wall in front of us "Remember when we used to spar in the arena?" Astrid groaned.

"Don't remind me" She shot you a smirk "It was a lost cause anyways, you always beat me" I chuckled.

"Hey cut yourself some slack, you came close a few times" I teased.

She snorted "As if" She glanced at me "You'll be back soon right?" I looked down, not meeting her eyes.

"I was planning on sneaking into Clovers after dropping Cas off here actually" I trailed off "But as you can see there's been a change of plans".

"You can still do it eh? Just ditch em in central" I pushed her softly.

"You know why I can't do that, plus I'm actually planning on coming back before I leave" She tilted her head in confusion.

"Why so?"

I shot her a smile "I was wondering if you wanted to head with me to Clovers" Her eyes basically popped out of her head.

"Wait seriously" She ran a hand through her copper hair in shock "This is huge, how are we even going to-and when we get there how will we-

"Don't worry about that, I've got all of it planned out, you just gotta say yes" She beamed at me.

"Well, of course, I'll come with you loser" She chuckled "If I'm going to die it might as well be because of your crazy ass".

I gasped with fake offence "I'll have you know I am extremely careful" She raised an eyebrow at me and we both looked at each other before bursting into a fit of giggles. As our laughter calmed down I enlaced my hand in hers "But I'll come back for you hey?"

She just smirked, "I'll be waiting on you".

"HIBI, LET'S HIT THE ROAD!" Irina called out.

"I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!"

I glanced at Astrid to see her smiling into nothingness "Go" I smiled at her before turning my back on her to leave. "And Hibi?" I looked back at her, a dark blush was spread over her cheeks "Don't...die".

I winked at her "I'll try not to".