Page 42 of Legend of Scorpio
“At least you ended it. No one else has to suffer.”
“Ended it?” Leo barked a harsh sound. “I suffer every fucking day. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother.” Not the first time Leo had expressed those kinds of dark thoughts.
Scorpio rose from the chair to put a hand on his shoulder. “Because the world still needs you, and you’re not a coward.”
“I hate it when you say shit like that,” Leo grumbled.
“Love you too, brother.” Scorpio slapped his back.
“I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?” Rebecca appeared in the doorway to the Stardust room with a tray.
“Nah. I was leaving.” Leo stomped off without a goodbye and Scorpio couldn’t help staring after him, worried about his friend. Years later and the grief still overwhelmed the man.
“Who was that?” Rebecca asked, looking for a place to set the tray. She chose the chair he’d vacated.
“Leo. Don’t let his scowl scare you. He’s dealing with some rough shit.”
“I brought you food. But don’t ask me what. The tower presented me with this tray.” She indicated before pulling off a dome to reveal pancakes. There was also syrup, freshly cut-up fruit, and coffee, a huge carafe of it, which Rebecca poured into a mug and guzzled.
“That’s better,” she sighed.
“Yup. Way better,” Scorpio muttered, although he was looking at his injured hand.
“I take it the pain isn’t so bad anymore.”
“Nope. The worst of it is over. A hot shower to rinse and you’ll never know I was hurt.”
“That’s insane it heals so quick. Any idea how the dust thing works?”
“What did you call it? Space fairy magic?” his grinned reply.
“Something like that.” She laughed. “What’s on the agenda for today? Because I don’t get the impression you’re going to take it easy.”
“You already know me so well, Doc. I’m hoping Aquarius has cracked the server for Cetus so we can see what’s going on.” He paused before adding, “By the way, I received news your apartment was broken into.”
“What?” she screeched.
“Police don’t have any suspects, but it doesn’t appear as if robbery was the motive.”
Her lips pinched. “They were looking for me.”
“Most likely.”
“Guess you’re pleased that you were right.”
“Not really. I’d rather live in a world where evil corporations don’t try to kidnap scientists and steal artifacts for who the fuck knows what.”
“Are you still planning to go after the orb?”
“I have to.”
“Do you still want my help?”
He stared at her. “What happened to no fucking way?”
“Having had a bit of time to think, I’m not happy about everything that transpired. Using me under false pretenses, attempted abduction, and now ransacking my home and sending a bomb.” She eyed his caked hand. “A company capable of that obviously doesn’t have the world’s best interests at heart, no matter what they publicly claim.”
“Hell yeah, partner.”