Bonds

But Dian didn't even glance at the map in Misdreavus's hands. "Don't tell me you want to go have tea again?"

He looked at Harley with a smile.

"Uh..."

Harley slowly turned around and gave an awkward laugh. "Come now, abusing your authority isn't very nice."

Dian said nothing. Harley shook his head helplessly. "I know, I know. I'll give it to you. I'll hand it over, all right?"

He sighed, took out the real map, and handed it over. "There. Happy now?"

Harley started to leave, but halfway off, he turned back. "How did you know I'd give you a fake map?"

Dian glanced at the map in his hand and smiled faintly. "I didn't. It's just a habit. Part of the job. I hope you understand."

With that calm reply, he headed for his room. A beautiful sleeping face was waiting for him, after all. He had no time to stand around chatting.

"What...?"

Harley trembled all over. He hurried to an unoccupied, dark corner, pulled out his little notebook, and viciously pasted Dian's photo inside. Then he drew a scarlet X over it.

"Just like someone I met when I was little... That condescending tone..."

He muttered as he wrote. "'Part of the job.' 'I hope you understand.' Ugh, I hate it. I hate it so much."

Dian, of course, paid no mind to Harley's grudge. When it came down to it, Harley was only someone passing through his journey.

"The noise-maker's back."

At some point, Yue Jifei had changed into white casual clothes and settled by the window with a novel.

She gave a dissatisfied snort. "So much energy first thing in the morning."

Espurr set down the puzzle cube it was holding and nodded to him, then went back to manipulating it with Confusion.