JP - Water First, Moonshine later

Tzeitel hoped Klaire was no longer watching as she yanked on the emergency cord and dropped to her knees. She was panting and shaking. She had run so hard she felt like throwing up herself now.

“Easy now” Alex replied, handing the girl her water bottle “small sips.”

Tzeitel smelled the moonshine on Alex and was disappointed when the water she sipped on tasted… like water. She scowled. “This is just water.” She panted.

“Water first moonshine later” he whispered, lifting her to her feet and moving her to a bench.

Tzeitel slumped on the bench, drinking the water slowly, still panting for breath. “How long have you had moonshine? If I knew you had moonshine I could have skipped this.”

“No offense but I’ve already had to keep it hidden from Riley, River, and Megan” Alex explained “the last thing I need is Klaire on my ass as well.” Taking a seat next to her he sighed “I’ve been drinking on and off for the past couple of years once working out stopped taking the edge off. Riley I were interogating a Megacorp guy when he made some comments about Susi.” Pointing to the punching bag he continued “I didn’t take it well.”

“I’ll bet.” Tzeitel said. She had learned about what they had done to Susi in MegaCorp even before they had given her to Canestone as a plaything. Tzeitel suspected they had subjected the wolf girl to more of the same thing, of course she did not voice it. She knew Alex was probably already thinking it himself, if by chance he was not she was not going to put the thought in his head. “I hope he died slow.”

“Closed casket funeral” Alex chuckled dryly “Riley had to have me sedated.”

Tzeitel had basically sedated Alex earlier. “I’m sorry you’re going through this shit. The past five years have been rough on everyone, but having someone you love in back in MegaCorp and no word…” Tzeitel sighed and finished drinking the bottle of water. She still wanted that moonshine.

Alex smiled, slipping her a small bottle of moonshine. “Thanks like I told Klaire it’s not just that, seeing everyone else together it’s hard to deal with, don't get me wrong I’m happy for them but..”

“The odd one out.” Tzeitel said understanding as she sipped on the moonshine. “I’m not even interested in that… but it’s weird when everyone else is paired off.”

“Reminds me of who I’m missing” Alex replied “it’s why I’m usually hanging out with Megan, at least I don’t have to share a room with Annie and Joel.”

“I’d give off so many libido killing pheromones if I had to share a room with them.” Tzeitel swallowed the last of the moonshine quickly, as if afraid of it being taken from her. “Poor Megan… that condescending dick.”

“You saved her that’s all that matters” Alex replied “besides you might want to save those pheromones for when Megan finds someone if any of us want to get any sleep.”

Tzeitel blushed, but chuckled. “I hope we can find a place where we can all be safely spaced out soon, like the village or Delilah’s. Room for some privacy and quiet.” Tzeitel missed having a home with her kids. She looked at the sadly empty bottle. “Got any more of that?”

“I have a little bit left stored away but let’s save it for now anymore and Klaire will smell it on you” Alex replied handing her some gum.

Tzeitel accepted the gum. “She’s going to smell it on me anyways, she can smell everything.”

“Maybe after Ami is asleep then” Alex replied “need a hand walking?”

“Klaire could smell this little bottle on me even if it was closed and I hadn’t drank any yet.” Tzeitel stood up, but her legs were shaky from overdoing it on the treadmill. “Dammit, yes.”

“Piggy back or princess carry” Alex asked in a joking manner.

“Just let me lean on you until we get to the room, then I can have Piritta yell at me and carry me. And Klaire yell at me. And maybe Riley and River and the twins can join in the family of yelling at me and Ami will look sadly at me and… fuck.” Tzeitel groaned. “I may as well have drunk more to get that reaction.”

“If you want we can crash in the van for a bit” Alex offered “worse case scenario they think we’re fucking.”

“They know us both well enough to know we’re not fucking.” Tzeitel tugged at her T-shirt sleeve over her branded bicep, disgusted at how her clothes were soaked in sweat. She needed a shower. “Does Riley still hide moonshine in the van?”

“I don’t know through on a pair of wolf ears and I might consider it” Alex chuckled “not since I started drinking.” Moving out of the gym he helped her walk towards the rooms “so who should we ask to help clean you up because I doubt you want to share a shower.”

“Damn it Riley.” Tzeitel sighed. “Either Klaire or Piritta.” Both had already seen her scars. “Piritta usually lapses into Finnish when she’s really angry and I don’t understand most of it so she would be better.”

“Let’s hope she’s in your shared room then” Alex replied heading to the door and knocking.

Tzeitel did have her room key in her pocket but did not feel like getting it from her pocket. She leaned against the wall.

Alex sighed when there was no answer "don't suppose you have a key."

Tzeitel grumbled tiredly, her stupid fingers did not want to work. When she finally pulled the key from her pocket she dropped it. When she tried to pick it up she kicked the key under her door. The locked door. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

"Klaire's room it is then" Alex sighed as they moved towards the dog girl's room.