A few hours prior…
Lounging lazily on the checkered, deep magenta leathered living room sofa, Lily and Jan are enthralled with their respective activities. Jan is captivated by the wide television display, whereas Lily looks disinterested. Though seemingly disinterested in the high-definition screening of cartoons, Lily herself is mesmerized by the clock that stands just a little to the right of the screen.
Tick tock…
Three hours.
Tick tock…
Three hours and fifteen minutes.
Tick tock…
Three hours and twenty-nine…no, thirty minutes…or is it forty?
"Hahaha, this show is so funny, right Lily?"
"Yeah…"
"My favorite gag was when that lady slapped Ozzy's face when he tried flirting with her; he totally deserved that!"
"Uh huh…"
"Oh, and what about that moment when the girl was so angry at her parents for embarrassing her that she wished for them to never speak to her again and they died? That's a really hilarious curse, isn't it?"
"Yep…"
With no warning, Jan leaps in front of Lily's vision, clapping her hands rapidly in an attempt to break the spell of nonchalant-ness that rests upon Lily.
"Lily, why aren't you paying attention?"
"Hmm? What do you mean? Lily is–"
"I changed the channel six minutes ago. Look, right now, the boring news station is on TV, but you didn't notice!"
"Oh…Lily's sorry. I just got distracted for a moment…"
"Is our old grandfather clock that interesting? Mom said that her grandparents passed it down to her. It's really vintage, but it still looks a little pretty I suppose."
"Yeah, it's nice. Nice and pretty…"
Swinging with the pendulum, Lily's eyes drift away once again, falling under the spell. Even her tail starts involuntarily swaying in sync.
"Ptt, and there you go again! Don't you want to do something more fun? Watching TV shows is kinda boring anyway–there are two of us so there's so much more we could do!"
"So much more…"
"Let me guess, you're really thinking about that man, huh."
Understanding who the non-specific words "that man" referred to, Lily finally took her eyes off the clock–a sense of life reflected in her face.
"It's almost noon and Vex still hasn't come back yet! What is taking him so long?! Lily doesn't understand at all!"
"I'm…I'm sure he'll be back eventually, you know. Sometimes my mom leaves me behind to handle 'adult stuff', whatever that means, so I'm used to it. Is Vex that special to you? He can't be your dad since he's human and you're a cat, so what gives?"
Hearing such a disagreeable statement, Lily shakes her head dismissing it.
"He doesn't have to be my dad to be special to me. So far, he's more amazing than my dad or anyone besides my mother–he is Lily's hero!"
"He's a hero? That sounds really awesome! He seemed more like some grumpy old guy to me."
"Really? Well, he can be a meanie sometimes, but he is really a good person."
"So, what can he do that is so heroic? Like, what has he done for you? I wanna know!"
"Lily has so many things to explain, do you really want to know?"
"Yes yes yes! Best friends share cool stories all the time, so I want to listen!"
"Ooo, mind if I join? I'd love to listen too. We can enjoy your story over sweet treats."
Entering the fray in a timely fashion, Joanne arrives from the kitchen. Her hands, covered in polka-dot mittens, carry a sizable tray filled with an array of pastries. Naturally, the steamy aroma commands the attention of the girls.
"Mmm, fruit pastries, my favorite. Thanks mom!"
Wasting no time, Jan reaches out towards the tray the second it's within her reach. Though before her small fingers could make contact, Joanne intercepts by lightly smacking her hand away.
"Tsk tsk, Jan, did you forget the etiquette that I taught you? It's been a little while, but surely you haven't forgotten everything?"
"My apologies, mom. Go on Lily, you pick first."
"Okay, thanks."
Lily, not caring to carefully analyze each treat in order to pick the most appealing, quickly grabs a pastry. Although Jan is holding herself back, she can't help but to stare intensely with her tongue slightly peaking.
"Now, mom?"
"Yes, sweetie. Now you can–"
With excellent speed and precision, Jan swipes three of the best looking treats, barely holding on to them. She then eagerly looks at Lily, a look of satisfaction on her face.
"Okay, I'm all ready for Lily's story!"
"Jan, let's not put too much pressure on Lily, okay? Lily, please feel free to speak whenever you'd like."
"..."
An overwhelming feeling encapsulates Lily, her face looking somewhat dazed to the point that a mother would certainly notice and respond to.
"Lily? Are you all right? Is your pastry still too hot?"
"No, it's fine, Miss Joanne. Lily is still surprised that strangers want to listen to my story so badly."
"Of course! After all, Vex hasn't told me anything about himself or you beyond a few basic things. It's only natural to want to know more about my guests–"
"--and new friend!"
With a sudden sentiment of resolve swelling up within her heart, Lily tightly squeezes the pastry, stuffs it into her mouth, and swallows it in mere seconds before its messy contents could ooze out onto the surrounding furniture.
"The reason why Vex is Lily's hero is because he saved my life. It all started when–"
Ding dong
A sudden high-pitched chime abruptly disrupts the atmosphere of fellowship, stealing the attention away from Lily and towards the front door. Whether the timing is considered inconvenient to the storyteller is unclear given that upon the sound of the doorbell, she immediately perks up and rushes towards the door.
"He's here! It must be Vex!"
"Wait!"
Joanne yells out, doing her best to reach towards the runaway girl before she could do anything rash, but to no avail. Realizing the futility of the situation, she shifts her attention towards the TV, which displays a camera view of the porch; front and center, a hooded figure stands outside, thumping their foot sporadically.
"How peculiar, I didn't expect any guests today, other than Vex…I'm coming to answer the door myself, so please don't open the door while you are waiting!"
Finally, after waiting for hours and hours and hours, he's back–just behind that door! I want to hug his chest and squeeze him tightly as punishment, but I can't stay mad at him.
Maybe I can talk to him about…that. But what if he's too tired from being gone all night? I know, I can just tell him while he is sleeping. It'll be like a bedtime story!
"Whew, I made it. You are certainly swift, Lily–I envy you, hehee. Stand back a bit, okay?"
"Okay okay!"
Lily steps to the side, giving Joanne space to open the door after she unlocks it.
"Good afternoon. I am Joanne, how can I help–"
"Vex! Welcome back! Where have you been? Lily missed you so…so…much…?"
Jumping in front of Joanne in anticipation, Lily's joyfulness gradually dissipates as she slowly realizes the reality of the hooded figure before her…
"Hey, wait a minute, you're not Vex…Lily doesn't know you."
"I'm afraid not, little girl. He's quite a fascinating guy, isn't he? That Vex."
"How do you know him? Who are you?"
"Lily, please calm down. As the adult and owner of this house, I will properly address our visitor here."
Joanne lightly shifts Lily to the side so that she can stand in front of the doorway before the hooded woman. Lily puffs her cheeks slightly, not bothering to hide her visible disappointment.
"My apologies, she is just a little antsy for someone in particular. Is there something I can help you with, Miss…?"
"I'm Flenn. I am here to make an offer. Mind if I step in for a moment?"
"Sure, that should not be an issue at all."
Joanne politely bows, giving Flenn a warm welcoming gesture into the horse proper. Flenn reciprocates the polite gesture in kind, slightly pulling down her hood as she enters, revealing more of her face.
"From the looks of it, you seem to know Vex, Miss Flenn. He is my guest and is very important to this young girl here. Would you happen to be an acquaintance of his?"
"An acquaintance? We have been working together as a party, so he could be considered more than that, perhaps."
"Is that so? Well, unfortunately, he is not here right now–"
"You have been working with Vex?! Then you know where he is?!"
A quiet giggle escapes through Flenn's buck teeth as she fully takes off her hood, completely unveiling herself.
"!!!"
Those long ears…long bunny ears! Why does it seem familiar….!
Lily's eyes widened, her brain connecting the dots.
"You were on that boat last night! That boat with Vex!"
"Bingo! Your eyes are sharp, as expected of a feline. Bravo, kid."
Flenn roughly ruffles Lily's head, as a reward of sorts, though Lily shakes her off.
"Please tell Lily where Vex is! You must know, so please!"
"Lily, she may have worked with Vex, but that does not necessarily mean she knows everything about him, you know. I know that you miss him dearly, but we shouldn't put pressure on Flenn here…"
"There's no pressure on me, Joanne. I know exactly where Vex is. In fact, that's the reason why I came here."
"You came here for Lily?"
"Yep! How about I take you to him? Free of charge."