1050: I Promise You

“Is everything okay?” Xavier asked, bringing two glasses of milk to the small table in his apartment. “You’re being awfully meticulous about arranging those cookies.”

Tansy stopped fussing and took a seat at the table. “I just thought it would be nice if they looked as good as they smell and taste. I mean, you could use some cookies or, or something. Your home isn’t very homey. Why is that? You’ve been here for like, a long time and your apartment, it still looks like you could pack up a bag and leave any minute.”

There was a crack in Tansy’s voice. This wasn’t about his lack of home decor. “I’m not packing and I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry that got into your head somehow and worried you, I’ve just… sprucing up this place hasn’t ever been on my radar, it doesn’t mean anything other than I just don’t care about that stuff.”

Xavier reached for a cookie. After swallowing it down, he said, “you and Hero should consider becoming barkers, these are really good and now, with the cinnamon scent in the air, you’re right, this place is homier, so thank you for bringing the cookies by. Thanks for bringing yourself by, too. I was having a pretty silent Saturday off until you showed up, it’s good to have some company or maybe I would have started talking to houseplants I don’t even have.”

“You’re sure you don’t want to be alone?” Tansy asked. “You’ve wanted to be alone before.”

“We’re back to you thinking that I’m skipping town?” Xavier frowned. “I swear I have no intention of doing that. You, your family, Lucy, you’re all here, you’re my friends, I don’t take that for granted. What made you think that I might just take off?”

“Aunt Ava invited me to her store for some event and when I was there, I overheard Uncle Sebastian talking to his red haired friend, what’s-her-name, Lila. I only caught the very end of their conversation, but Uncle Sebastian said something like, it’s okay, don’t worry about it, Xavier will probably leave town soon anyway. Why would he say that if he didn’t think there was truth to it?”

“I wish I knew,” Xavier said. “I wish I knew.”

Episode 1051: Ratchet