The students carried on keeping the principal's words in mind. Everyone went home or the day after that day. Lynx was still under Ash's care and there was nothing he was really interested in. Ash took the bus that hovered from school grounds to the main city. He and Lynx took two other buses until they were finally at the border and down below there was his home. There wasn't any vehicles going to the Steam house so they had to wait. Ash leaned over the railing looking down and there he saw a part of the Steam house, looking as if a shadow was casted on it. Ash's eye carried sympathy as he thought the place looked sad.
Lynx stood next to Ash and his presence was unnoticed as Ash was deep in thought.
" Are you ok?"
" Yeah," Ash answered his voice sounding lie. Ash straightened up his pose his eyes carrying determination now.
" I just need to excel and get my father out of there,". Ash added his pose straight. He believed he had to pass in school no matter what.
" Anyways Lynx first semester's over, what you plan on doing?"
" Well I did plan of destroying everything, but I don't think so now," .
" What are you some villain in a game?"
"A villain? Like the bad guy?,"
" Well that's what villain means so yeah"
Lynx took a moment to answer. " I didn't think I want to be a bad guy. If I did what I wanted I would hurt Wester. I would hurt dad," Lynx responded his voice low especially at the end as it carried uncertainty.
" Ash I don't think I want to hurt anyone but I don't know," Lynx muttered as a single tear stream down his face.
" Lynx why are you crying?" Ash asked taken aback.
Lynx felt his face and it was moist, he looked at his fingers then at Ash. " Me. Why am I crying?" he exhaled.
Before anything else could be said a vehicle arrived and they were called. Both boys stepped into the bus and it was only them, it was nothing new though. People hardly traveled to the Steam house and if they travelled from it they didn't go back unless they were deported. After a small time of waiting the bus departed. Lynx stared out the window and so did Ash. Ash thought Lynx was a strange person, they had been together for a few months now, but he couldn't understand a single thing about him, he never really spent time trying, but sometimes he could understand others without trying. He wasn't looking for attachments, but it bothered him.
They arrived stepping out. Ash took a second before walking off. It only took around half an hour and his house was within view and something else. There was smoke. Ash ran following the source and pulled the door open.
"Dad!"
Ash saw his father on the floor coughing.
" Oh hey Ash. Why are you home?" Wester asked fanning the smoke from his face. Ash pulled him outside so he could get better air, before asking questions.
" Oh hi Lynx," Wester waved looking over Ash's shoulder with a smile while ignoring his son's question.
" I'm talking to you," Ash said folding his arm and blocked his view from Lynx.
"Well I was trying to fix the stove," Wester answered shrugging his shoulders as he looked to the side knowing his son was about to shout at him.
" You what! Why didn't you get Walt to do it?"
" Well I thought about it. But then how hard could it be,"
" You spent the money didn't you?"
" Yes I spent the money,". Ash sighed.
" But you're home, tell me everything" Wester said happily suddenly lifting Ash with both arms by the waist up into the air.
"Put me down you idiot," Ash exclaimed slightly panicked and very embarrassed. Ash looked around hoping no one saw anything. Lynx smiled with his eyes from behind watching the scene before him, he could feel a strange feeling in his chest.
" If I destroyed everything, would I have to kill them too,".
Wester noticed Lynx and placed his son down ruffling his hair who immediately straighten his clothes before patting his hair down. Wester made three steps to Lynx before lifting him in the air also.
"Seems like you're still around huh. Ash must have taken a liking to you," Wester laughed knowing it would tease his son. Ash scoffed bothered as he looked to the side.
"Let's just fix the stove," Ash said turning away. Wester placed Lynx down and followed. They walked into the building and moved over to the stove that was still smoking.
" I'll get Walt to look into it," Ash sighed flicking two buttons turning off the stove. The smoke started puffing slowly and then it became dull in the air.
"I can try fixing it," Lynx said speaking up.
"Suit yourself," Ash responded stepping aside.
Lynx moved over to the stove looking at it for a few seconds. He asked for tools, but their place didn't have much of those so he said to pass him whatever they had. They brought the few tools they had and Lynx looked over them before deciding what to do next. He screwed off the top of the stove and got to work. Both Wester and Ash watched him work, even as he start using the kitchen utensils as tools.
After about twenty minutes he was done. He pulled himself from out the stove wiping sweat off his face adding grease. He flicked the button and the stove was working and wasn't smoking anymore.
" I'm done," Lynx spoke turning to them.
" Thanks Lynx. How did you do it?" Wester asked excitedly as he looks over his stove.
" Well it was dirty and these things got into the pipe things, so I took them out and I wiped it and…," Lynx answered picking at his words as he pointed at the clogged dirt, food and grease he got from within the stove. Ash thought it was the same back at school, he could fix anything even without a blueprint, even without the correct tools, but he couldn't explain how he did so. Lynx cleaned the stove and Ash helped and after that Lynx screwed back the top onto the stove. Wester and Ash were amazed the stove almost looked brand new.
" Now let's get everything ready and open this place," Wester said and clapped his hands.
Ash told Lynx he should clean his self up and pointed him in the direction. While Lynx was gone Ash continued by cleaning and organizing the tables and chairs and Wester started in the kitchen. When Lynx return Ash was almost finished. Without words he started helping. They were finished now and Ash went to clean his hands and face. Lynx was left in the room alone when a man entered taking a seat.
" So what's on the menu?" he asked with a loud yawn.
" I don't know," Lynx answered .
" Huh?" the man said with one of his brows raised. "You dumb kid? Or are you new? Whatever where's the red head one?". The man was too hungry for this much talking and it irritated him.
Ash returned from around the corner tying a little apron around his waist and another was over his shoulder, he noticed Lynx was having a confrontation and the customer didn't look pleased. Ash walked over to them.
" Oh Jun, good morning"
" There's no good, and fire this idiot he's bad at the job. Anyways what's cooking?" Jun ranted.
" I'll check with my father,"
" Make it quick,"
Ash grabbed Lynx by the collar pulling him along. When they were out of sight Ash sighed and then tied the apron he had over his shoulder around Lynx's waist. Ash switched on a switch and told Lynx to follow him. They went back to Jun and showed him the screen was on. Jun made his order and as they walked Ash explained that when the customers make their orders he should memorize the customer and the order, he should then tell Wester and continue serving what was ready.
It was nothing hard so Lynx catch on easily. The day went by and it was now dark. People started turning on their lights that looked like a worn out bulb compared to the city. It was half hour pass seven and Wester said he would close at eight. There was hardly anyone in the restaurant and soon they too left. Someone entered pass the doors and Ash went to them. When he was only a step away he was squeezed into a tight hug.
" Oh little Ash you've gotten so big," the lady squealed joyfully as she squeezed him even tighter.
Ash hasn't heard this voice in a long time, but he knew exactly who it belonged to.
" You're choking me,". The lady immediately released him.
" Oh my I was just too happy," she smiled. She then noticed the boy behind Ash. " Who's this? Is he a hire"
" No. He's…..," Ash paused trying to find the right words. Before he could the lady asked for his father.
" I thought I heard a familiar voice"
" Wester!"
" May!". May ran to him with a leap wrapping her arms around him and Wester caught her. " How have you been old friend"
" You're choking me," Wester managed to say.
" Oh dear," May immediately released him.
" I've been well"
" Wonderful. I wanted to bring gifts , but my manager strictly said I should move light. I'm not even supposed to be here, I snuck out," May responded confessing like a teenager.
" I hope you don't get in trouble," Wester chuckled at her little rebellion.
" Yeah. I was passing through the area and couldn't resist. How long have it been like five, six years?"
" More like seven," Ash answered who was taking the apron from Lynx. Ash told his father he was going to head home and May kissed his forehead before he could leave and shook Lynx's hand. May didn't have much time there either so she had a quick chat with Wester.