The night air seemed to watch Peter as he returned to the apartment. Every step, every slight noise, drew more attention than he wanted. Peter watched the alleys as he walked by, watching for some tail. Ten minutes of watching, waiting, walking, and nothing came. It would be good enough. Between his fingers, he let strands of lume dance, repeating an old drill his master had taught him. A slight pain thrummed in his shoulder, and with each step, he became more aware of the injury. He hadn't thought much of the scuffle at first. It wasn't a big deal; it was nothing more than a reminder that he was getting lazy. He wondered what his master might have said if she were there. Would she lecture him, comfort him, or–more likely–she would just shake her head and move on. Peter had to wonder why the Watch had ever considered him a candidate for their next figurehead.
Did it matter? He knew it didn't, but he couldn't help but wonder.
His shoulder throbbed as he pushed open the door to the lobby of the apartment complex he was staying at. The doorman nodded as Peter stepped inside. Peter grimaced and stepped inside. He wasn't proud of his position in the Guild, but it certainly had its upsides. The elevator was broken, so he began the trek to the tenth floor. He could shorten the trip with his deviation, but it wasn't worth the effort. Besides that, he wasn't ready to see his old friend.
The thought of an old friend made him think of Levi. Could he still call Levi a friend? If he couldn't, it would be no one's fault but his own. He thought back to the night before everything had gone wrong. Would things be different if he had fought to keep Levi from running? Would things be different if he'd let that girl die? If he had, would Kayla still be alive? He shut his mind up. It didn't help to pity himself for the mistakes he'd made. Really, it wasn't all that bad. It could be worse. That truth was clear as he knocked on Eric's door.
His friend opened the door after a moment.
Peter did the best he could to form his face into a smile. "Eric, thank you so much. I know you're taking a big risk by doing this."
"Don't worry about it. We should talk about it inside." Eric glanced about, paranoid as always. "I just wish you hadn't waited so long to visit."
Peter laughed lightly, unsure how that noise was meant to sound. He made sure to take his shoes off as he stepped inside. Eric walked into the living room, his cane clicking crystal clear as he walked; Peter couldn't keep himself from grimacing at the sound. The laces of his shoes didn't want to come undone, and the slight force required triggered the pain in his shoulder.
"Want me to take a look at that?" Eric asked from across the flat.
"I'd appreciate that." Peter had almost forgotten his friend's inhuman awareness. "How's the kid doing?"
"He's good. I was worried he might try snatching something, but he's a respectful kid. Reminds me of you in a way." Eric massaged his bad knee as he spoke. "I'll get the table ready."
"Thanks." Peter sat down and shut his eyes. Sleep had begun to creep into his body.
"Come over here."
Peter stood and removed his coat. The specialized material hadn't torn, but it hadn't stopped burns from forming on the skin. Peter lay down on the makeshift operation table.
"Hey Peter?" Eric called from the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"Where'd you say the kid came from?"
"I'm not sure, he's just some urchin who started following me," Peter answered. "He seemed like a good kid, so I let him join me."
Eric returned with a handful of tools and salves. "I don't understand you sometimes."
"Neither do I."
A slight burning pain awoke in Peter's shoulder, followed by the soft comfort of a healing salve. "Luckily, the damage is only skin deep. It'll heal quickly." Eric didn't pry for further information.
"How's your sister doing?"
"She's doing better. I visited her last week. The Watch gave up on getting her back after she misted three of their operatives. She and her husband have a good spot up in the Adirondacks, but it looks like a war zone around her cabin." Eric sighed and began to dance Lumes over Peter's shoulders, a healing technique from their teacher. "You can't blame her, but I'm glad there's no one for her to hurt."
Peter grunted.
"This would be a lot easier with Kayla's deviation," Eric commented. The thought hurt more than Peter thought it should.
"Can I ask a favor?"
Eric didn't answer for a moment. "Yeah?"
"Could you?" Peter hesitated to finish the question. Wondering if he should ask Eric to take care of Gray. It would certainly be easier, and probably better for the boy, but he stopped himself. Maybe asking would protect the boy, but asking Eric to take the boy just felt wrong. "I mean, do you know of any Guild complex I could rent a flat in? It turns out I'm going to be in town for a bit."
"Nothing comes to mind, but I'll keep an eye out." Eric pulled his hands away, and Peter felt the burning sensation in his shoulder fade. "Would you sit up?" Peter did, and Eric began to wrap the wound. "Did you know that Levi's is in the city?"
"I saw him flying in. Has he stopped by yet?"
"Not yet. I'll let you know so you can keep clear."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
The conversation grew stale, neither sure what to say. Eric finished the wrap and began to walk to his room. "You can sleep on the couch, since Gray took the guest room."
"Thanks again."
Eric nodded before leaving Peter alone with his thoughts. Peter pulled the USB from his pocket. It was time to get to work.