He was avoiding training again today. He just wasn’t in the mood for being worked too hard. Even though Ricki was normally pretty understanding of him, Cryo really just didn’t want to deal with any of the Initiative’s b.s. Today.

So he skulked away to hide in Little Dublin, somewhere they’d least expect him. Sometimes Ricki would come looking for him, to drag him back to HQ for mandatory training but if she did this would be one of the last places she’d look.

Though he was quite hungry, he had spent almost all of his allowance for the month already. With only maybe five dollars to spare. Cryo was quite the splurger and an impulse buyer, If he thought for an instant that he needed something he’d buy it. Which made his pockets empty on a number of occasions.

He happened across the small burger place and though he usually enjoyed a quaint cafe or coffee house, he figured a change of pace wasn’t so bad. And maybe the items on the menu were within his budget.

Entering through the jingling doors it was pretty empty in the small building, only a few other people besides himself. He walked in and saw a young woman sitting at the counter who looked too regal for a place like this. He sat one seat away from her at the counter and picked up a menu. All American food of course, he wasn’t so keen on American cuisine. He much preferred French or even other European foods. America really loved its grease he felt.

A waitress approached him. “What’ll you have love? Something to drink?” He glanced up at her and back at the menu searching for drinks.

“An ice tea, if you will,” He gave her a courteous smile, she was a lovely looking woman. The waitress giggled and said she’d be right back. When she left Cryo looked back down at the menu frustrated, nothing really sounded appetizing.

But Cryo had a strange feeling, like someone was spying on him and he couldn’t shake it. He took a quick glance around the room and his eyes fell back on the girl beside him. She seemed to hold a presence in the vacant room, she looked so composed and at peace.

The waitress returned with his tea, sugar on the side, interrupting his staring. Cryo thanked her and tried to focus on his drink instead of staring rudely at someone.

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ELISABET LAZAREV

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS