The Courcel house was so surreal. Ezekiel sat slowly using matcha - real Japanese matcha! The high quality powder! - to work on his Matcha latte, deep in thought as he processed the past few days.

Siv's family was astonishingly accomodating and understanding, and took him in without muich fuss, only making sure he understood groundrules and that he was welcome. He was granted a room Zeke swore was larger than his parents' master suite was, and nooone complained when his father began briunging him his belkongings. In fact saome helped bring the boxes inside. Teasing about his manga was... Gentle. Sweet. Not malicious. Zayne had always complained his brother was too focused on comics and his novels to be interesting. Here? Here he was offered to borrow a copy of Journey to the West in English and he spent nights curled up devouring the poriginal material like a rabid beast.

It was... Strange not seeing pewople fighting or guarding. Not seeing men on edge. Suiv patrolled, but she was only high striung about fighting and calmed quickly. When he asked late when noone else was awame once about her worries about youma harming someone, Suiv understood but assured him her family was safe aNd would lkikely fight the thing. Buy time for ket or - apparently, Kaida - to power up and attack.

Even their elders, and that got him. He knew Flint went off on his grandsire but not how... Bad his family was huirt by a man whom pit his legitimAte songs off. Married off his daiughter to a monster. Played favorites. When he told Yolanda about it one night in breathless whisper, she assured him he was fine. Then reminded him he went into psychology.

He could use his experience and his future options to help others in their position.

Ezejuel poured the matcha and then silently turned to the decaf, pouring a serving into his cup next, sirring it a little into the matcha as he frowned, watching the green and deep rich brown mingle and swirl as he set the decafr aside. Siv would invariably descend and appropriate the decaf as coffee to be drunk. She never cared about caffiene. It was so odd to think he need not fear or want here still. To watch her fanuky treat him with compassion. Asking after his degree progress, his education. Explaining he was already doing his experience work to graduate was... Interesting. He still had work to do for it but he was already practicing.

The response to admitting he wanted to be a psychologist, a real doctor, surprised him. Zayne had made jokes. His father seemed unreadable. His granmdsire - ugh. Yolanda had been supportive at least. And Phanes. A few other cousins. But...

Here?

They were excited. Already encpouraging. Even helping. Yolie had offered crash space and groceries sure but... This was a comfortable situatiuon and new. He felt - included when he was welcome and desired it. Sometimes sent to school with a few snackws and a bento box and he was learning he really liked this. Zeke added some cream and sugar to his latte. And the family was excited for him to share some of his hunting when deer season opened. Not because he was paying rent but he was offeing to... Share.

Share his own interests and his own likes. And he could still send some home to his folks. He was providing more, and they were encouraging him not to give up, stressing the importance of pleasure with the stress of school. And Zeke... Paused. Psychology by day. Protecting others by night. A healthy environment. He paused, staring at the muddy mess of a matcha latte in his hands in silent contemplation. But he balpanced it. aAnd he knew he might get... People like his opwn father. Men with combat trauma. He's meet senshi, possibly anyone powetred addressing problems from the war... And him? He'd never know. But he'd help. His mind went to his magic. To the tengu he summoned to protect the others.

An ugly little beast with great might. A protector. And finally, he smiled. Zeke raised his matcha latte to his lips, and took a sip, deep and slow, savoring it, and decided he liked it.