JP - Hugging Evie

"Yes, but if you don't want them yet I can wait…" Gelf said, frowning when the alarm for lock down began. "Something's happening."

"I want you to be -" Sorley was interrupted by the alarm. "Where should we go?"

Gelf frowned and went to the door, only to be told to stay where she was by another member of the underground “What’s going on!?” She called, being thoroughly ignored. “Assholes…”

Sorley frowned and gently wrapped an arm around Gelf. "Maybe we should check on Evie."

Nodding, Gelf took his hand and pulled him along toward Evie’s room where they would find her covering her eyes. Otherwise, she seemed to be okay.

Again Sorley cautiously stayed back in the doorway. He did not want to scare Evie.

Whiskers was curled up at Evie’s side and purring. He looked up at Gelf and chirruped at her as if he had not been trying to destroy her boots earlier.

Gelf hunted around and found the system’s alarm for the room, shutting it off. “There we go…”

Evie slowly dropped her hands and looked at Gelf and Sorley, waving at them slowly.

“Hi, Evie.” Sorley said from the doorway, trying to appear non-threatening. She had so many bandages on her.

“W-why are you staying out there?” Evie asked, concerned before gasping. “Oh no, did I hurt you while I slept, Sorley?! I’m so sorry!”

Gelf blinked. “No, no…it’s nothing like that. Do you want him to come in?”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d want me in your room so I stayed back.” Sorley said awkwardly.

“You can come in. I know you’d never hu-hurt me, Sorley.” Evie said.

“Okay.” Sorley said, entering the room. But he let Gelf stay between himself and the lightning user.

Gelf walked over and gently hugged Evie. “We missed you so much.” She said.

Evie nodded. “I…I missed all of y-you too…” She looked at Sorley, wondering why he was way over there.

“We all missed you, too.” Sorley said, staying back. “Hopefully you can come home soon.”

“D…d-do you want a h-hug?” Evie asked.

Sorley blinked. “Only if you want to hug me. You don’t have to. It’s okay.”

“Y-you’re a brother to me! Of…of course I want one!” Evie sputtered.

Smiling, Gelf went over and hugged Evie. “You’re our sister.” She assured the silver haired girl.

“Yeah, you’re our sister.” Sorley went over and gently hugged Evie.

With Sorley, Evie was able to stay calm and accepted the hugs from her friends. He did not know it, but he was the only man she trusted at the moment. Sure, Riven saved her, but she was not sure she could trust him yet.

Sorley had not expected Evie to want any guy including himself near her, nevermind getting hugged by one. So he kept the gentle hug short and smiled kindly to her. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“I-I…I’m sorry I was gone so long.” Evie said.

“Honey, it’s not your fault,” Gelf reminded her, giving Whiskers a soft scratch on the head.

“Yeah, you didn’t do anything wrong.” Sorley said. “I’m sorry we didn’t find you.”

Whiskers purred louder at the head scratch, but rubbed his chin on Evie.

Evie shook her head. “Y-you didn’t know w-where I was.” She admitted and absently petted Whiskers now.

Whiskers meowed happily and continued purring. His motor was starting to get tired.

“We never stopped looking.” Sorley said. “Especially Gelf.”

Evie held Whiskers close and gently nuzzled his head to let him know it was okay. “Thank you…all of you.” She said.

Whiskers purred sleepily and yawned.

Not knowing what to say, Sorley slipped his fingers around Gelf’s hand.

Evie laid back down and curled up with Whiskers.

Squeezing Sorley’s hand, Gelf watched her friend. “We’ll let you rest, okay? If you need anything, let us know. When do you see Leimomi?”

“In a few hours…I think.” Evie admitted.