“You sure you don’t want to retreat to the bedroom?” she asked. It was a reactive thing, in response to that anxiety, and one she kicked herself for. “Cassie will keep an eye out. I’m sure she’d be happy for us.”

You sound desperate, the thought flickered through her mind.

“It’s not fair to leave her waiting in the cold,” he said.

“You’re a good man, Rain. Thank you for being so considerate of her.”

“She’s cool,” he said. “And she’s important to me.”

“My platonic life partner.”

He just smiled, still anxious, still with blood pumping, still awkward.

“Come,” she said. She’d put him on the spot so many times in the last couple of minutes. Tested him. It was fundamentally unfair. To make it up to him, she took the lead, made things easy for him. She pointed out some things like more wire near the windows, some of the books.

It was five minutes of busywork, of distraction from the awkwardness. She could sense it in him, as tensions eased and heartrate slowed.

He took the bag of components and the satchel of glass panels, using extra robotic arms from his sleeves to help hold and position everything.

She walked over to the slope of fallen wall, and gave Cassie a small wave. Cassie wore her jacket, covered in patches, with its heavy fur-lined collar, a dog at her side. Her hair was such a mess, and the hairband she wore was a dog collar fixed to something more rigid, another dog collar around her neck.

Chastity detached her whip from her waist. Flicking it out, she caught a bit of concrete. Cassie stepped forward, and set her boot down on it, to help keep it from slipping.

The climb wasn’t too bad, and the grit from earlier helped—it seemed like Rain had applied some too. Chastity took her friend’s hand for the last big step.

Rain used the rope to haul himself forward, pausing twice to use his power and adjust his grip while suspended in space.

Cassie touched Chastity’s arm, and Chastity turned away from watching Rain.

Cassie held out her arms, the universal signal for a hug. Obediently, Chastity hugged her friend.

“What’s that about?” Chastity asked, after she pulled away.

“Your eyes looked sad,” Cassie said. “What’s going on?”

There was a momentary glance in Rain’s direction. Chastity shook her head in response.

No, not him. He’s not why.

“What do you need?” Cassie asked.

“I—” she almost lied. “A shower. Clean clothes. I hate being dirty.”

Cassie gave her arm a squeeze, then joined Chastity in helping Rain make it over the upper edge of the slope. They had more bags waiting. They’d taken turns as spotter, because those were the rules. One person keeping an eye and ear out for collapses and problems as the other two investigated apartments and took the essentials.