Responsibility

The gang had met at a picnic table after collecting their respective dishes from nearby stands. Percival was still absent, but everyone else was enjoying their time.

“What are you doing?” Katie asked her little sister, who was scribbling madly over their precious scroll while trying not to let the others see it.

“I didn’t really consider what might happen after I report someone. He might fire them, right?”

“Ohhh. Maybe, yeah.” Not especially caring, she took a bite out of her fish sandwich.

“I’ll make sure only to write down assholes from now on…”

“Whatcha got there?” Serah leaned over her shoulder.

“Uh, n-nothing!” The lass held it to her chest, hiding its contents from her fellow thief. “Say… what do you think those things in the sky are made out of?”

“The dragons? Flesh and blood, yeah?”

Frankie sighed. 11, she mentally noted in her head. And 49 to go. What a pointless sidequest. She rolled the scroll up and quickly put it away, not wanting to attract any more attention.

“Where is Percival?” Sounded Rocco’s low tone.

“He didn’t bother you much, did he…?” Greg was more embarrassed than worried.

“Nah, he’s fine.”

“I’d say he seems easy enough to deal with.” Katie smiled, in a misguided attempt at complimenting the boy.

“Are you to imply I am an easy foe?” Percy suddenly appeared from behind them, edgily taunting his new rival.

“Hiya Perce.” Serah waved. “Has Katie proved herself yet?”

“She’s fine.” He inadvertently said just what Frankie had about him, sitting down with his sausage in hand.

“Need a plate?” Gregory asked, willing to get up for him. The stoic shook his head.

“Boys.” Serah sighed with a smile as they all shared a meal together.

The food was good, but the sister’s habits wouldn’t let them sit still.

“So… when do we head to the dungeon?” Katie ate her last yellow fry.

“Raring to go, aren’t you? I’m up for it.”

Rocco shook his head at the clinically carefree Serah. “It’s getting late already. We won’t have time to enter that labyrinth.”

“Why not? I’m fine staying up late if you are.” Frankie sipped her lime soda.

“We have school tomorrow.”

The table went silent, but Frankie’s mind was buzzing.

“Huh?”