They sat on the couch that morning with the news playing.
Hermes didn't know if Apple was understanding any of it, but he had to try.
The screen showed footage from the aftermath of the Megamantis incident. Drone shots of smoldering pavement, still-smoking buildings, and dotted red and yellow tarps covering what they didn't want the public to see.
The captions read: [Golden Apple Guild Agent Still Under Investigation]
Hermes exhaled. He looked at Apple, who was perched at the edge of the sofa with his hands flat on his knees, back unnaturally straight. Watching. Not blinking much.
"That was me," Hermes said, gesturing vaguely toward the screen. "You too, I guess."
Apple didn't reply.
Hermes leaned forward, elbows on his thighs.
"Listen. If you're gonna be here… walking around… you need to understand some things about how the world works."
Apple tilted his head slightly.
