JP - James wears Glasses

“I’ve only let a handful of people see the brand.” Tzeitel said stiffly. She knew Colt had seen the brand because he had seen her naked, she assumed he had seen the photos the soldiers took when they caught Canestone not knowing he had actually seen her when Frisk brought her back to MegaCorp afterwards. She sort of freaked out about it in the past and avoided thinking about Colt seeing her that way and did not talk about it. “I’m not even comfortable with this tattooist seeing it… I’m not talking to James about it.”

“James has gotten most of his tattoos from her, so it’s probably smart to talk to him. Otherwise, I don’t know…” Colt shrugged, using his shirt to wipe sweat off his face.

Tzeitel shook her head. “What could he say that would be useful?”

“He’s been getting tattoos almost all of his life,” Colt explained. “Maybe he’ll be able to help you figure out what you want? He helped Annie figure out the design she now has on her back where she got injured two years ago.”

Tzeitel hunched her shoulders up tightly. She was not comfortable around James, she knew he was not who hurt Megan, or Klaire, and did not do any of those terrible things she heard about growing up in MegaCorp. But she still did not feel safe around him.

“I get it, you’re uncomfortable and probably scared around him, but we all have to face our fears eventually, Tzeitel.” Colt explained. “We can’t keep running…”

“I’m not starting by talking to him about that brand.” Tzeitel said stiffly.

“Then start out by trying not to snap all the time when he’s offering you help, hm?” Colt asked, raising an eyebrow. “The guy has been nothing but kind to you over the past five years…Let's just try to be…friends.”

“Fine. But I’m not talking to him about the brand or tattoos.” Tzeitel’s hand touched her neck scars nervously.

Colt rolled his eyes and pinched her cheek. “Brat,” He teased.

“Ouch.” Tzeitel grumbled and rubbed her cheek. “Let’s see if they’re ready to go to the Underground.”

Colt smiled, happy to see her grumbling and not angry. “Yeah, lets go.” He went inside the cabin with her, grabbing a water from the fridge in the kitchen as he did so.

“Klaire?” Tzeitel called after she entered the cabin, hoping that her friend was not still angry with her.

Klaire had returned to her room with the kids, tucking them in bed for their needed nap. Both Lotus and Leon had run around and played hard enough to have a sugar crash, so she only felt it natural to let them rest.

Meanwhile, James was still in the living room with the others, reading through a book. “She’s in her room,” He informed as he kept reading, looking rather odd with his reading glasses on.

“You know…it still looks weird seeing you do that, man.” Colt muttered.

Looking up, confused, James merely shrugged. “I’ve done this for a long time…”

Tzeitel went to Klaire’s room, lightly tapping on the door before letting herself in. James was in the living room so this time she would not be walking in on them doing… that.

Klaire was brushing her tail and looked up. “Hm?”

“Hey…” Tzeitel touched her neck scars. “Er, I was gonna head to the Underground and get that tattoo…” She hoped Klaire was still willing to go with her.

“When?” She asked as she watched Lotus and Leon. They were curled up and snoozing in that adorable way only children could.

"Whenever you're ready, if you're still willing to go with me." Tzeitel looked at her godchildren and her heart melted at how adorable they were.

“I need to stay with the children, sadly.” Klaire admitted. “Maybe James or Colt can go with you? I think they know Seele.”

Tzeitel’s shoulders stiffened. She had hoped Klaire would go with her, she was nervous about this Seele person seeing the brand. There was no way she would go with James. “Oh…”

“What?” Klaire frowned.

Tzeitel shrugged. “I was just hoping you’d come with me.”

“I know, but I need to keep my children safe, too.” Klaire admitted. She was still a little bitter with Tzeitel, too. After being pushed away so much, she was hurting a bit. “I know you don’t like James, but he’s a good man and he’d never hurt you…but if Colt can go, take him.” She wasn’t about to force her friend to go with James, but this constant fear was ridiculous after five long years of traveling together in the dog-woman’s opinion.

“It can wait until after their nap…” Tzeitel’s shoulders slumped. “I’ll try to be less of a bitch.”

Klaire just shook her head. “You’ve got to get over your fear of him, Tzeitel.” She said softly. “It’s been five years…tell me, has he done anything in the past five years to make you truly uncomfortable?”

Both Leon and Lotus grumbled in their sleep, tails wagging as if they were having happy dreams.

“I know it never really happened, but those memories from that other timeline where he did what he did to you and Megan- they’re so clear.” Tzeitel sighed, watching the twins and trying to calm herself by how cute they were. “I can’t get past that.”

“Well, I think you should work on getting past that because he and I are not going to separate any time soon.” Klaire pointed out with a firmness to her tone. “It’s not fair to him when you snap at him for trying to help. I’m honestly tired of you doing that to him just because he’s…him.”

"I'm trying." Tzeitel still saw Megan in Riley's tent; bleeding, mutilated, deaf, so scared and it was all James' fault. No! It was fucking Canestone! Tzeitel told herself and rubbed her temple, feeling that headache coming on again. "It's hard. It would be like you finding out that Canestone never hurt anyone and I not only forget what he did in your timeline, I want to spend all my time with him."

“I’d work towards becoming properly acquainted and getting to know him.” Klaire said, ears falling back. “Everyone deserves a second chance…though, Canestone has proven time and time again that he would rather harm people than help.”