"I don't mind other people. You don't need to worry about me being comfortable. The sofa is fine."

Aaren blinks slightly, and gives him a sharp look. "We'll see," he says eventually. Pauses. "You mind telling me how old you are?"

"Fifteen."

"-I'm gonna take a wild guess that there's no family out there looking for you?"

"No." Aaren is going to feel sad and Percy doesn't want to feel sad for himself and quietly shoves that emotion aside.

-Yeah, there is some, but it's tempered with anger that Percy ended up in a gang.

He shakes it off as they reach a residential area and Aaren leads Percy up to his house opening the door and gesturing him in. "Welcome to our humble abode, it's not much, but it is home."

Anger and indignation are better, useful even. He doesn't let them show in his face.

"It's a nice place," he reassures before walking in.

"I appreciate the sentiment," Aaren says with a grin, opens his mouth to-

Only to be interrupted by a male voice from the top of the stairs. "You are using Bonetti's Defence against me, ah?"[1]

[1] From here, till the end of Lan and 'Chelle's current interaction, all dialogue is from the Princess Bride

A girl with a shock of bright pink hair appears at the top of the stairs, stepping down backwards, a foam rapier in hand. "I thought it fitting considering the rocky terrain."

The teen who the other voice apparently belongs to appears above her, also wielding a foam rapier. "Naturally, you must suspect me to attack with Capa Ferro?"

"Naturally, but I find that Thibault cancels out Capa Ferro. Don’t you?"

The girl is navigating the stairs expertly for the fact she's going backwards and involved in an apparent fencing match.

"Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa…" the boy pauses, pulling his rapier back slightly, "which I have!"

Percy is looking in that direction before the voices are heard. He grins and appears to be basking on their sight like a flower in the sun.

"Princess Bride guys, really?" Aaren says, and how fond he is is possibly almost overwhelming.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," the girl says looking over her shoulder. She grins when she spots Percy. "Hey, I'm 'Chelle. How do you feel about Mel Brooks films? Me and Lan here were having a binge before we decided to fence!"

"I'm Lan," the boy provides. "Although 'Chelle already said that."

"I have not watched any but you two are obviously enjoying yourselves."

The way he looks at them is almost familiar. Fondness is so good. He hadn't any for a while.

"M'gonna go make- something. Everyone hungry?"

"Not gonna say no, Dad," Lan says. "Young Frankenstein?"

Percy mentally debates his options and recent nutrient intake. He figures he doesn't need to closely observe Aaren's cooking to balance out vitamins, fibers and fat, but... "Do you want help? I would enjoy helping you cook and I would like to contribute."He turns to Lan and smiles. "Not that I wouldn't like to watch Young Frankenstein, I expect it to be fun."

"We'll cue it up for when Dad's finished cooking," 'Chelle says. "S'one of his favourites."

"Y'can if you want, but I'm okay without."

Decisions. Deep down all he "wants" is to stay. He doesn't know these people well enough to figure that out, but he is sure they are going to keep him for a few days. So he makes his shoulder shrug. "Likewise."

"-Y'know what, you can help chop things, that way I don't slice my own fingers off and cause a need for an impromptu trip to hospital."