Sayma walked out of the house. She pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose. She smiled politely. Ira and Risa followed her. Luna shuffled out last, rubbing her sleepy eyes and letting out a huge yawn.
The entire unit gathered around the stone table. The atmosphere was incredibly happy and relaxed.
Zinia stood near the back door. She watched the group from a distance. She saw Ken reach into the cooler box. He started pulling out beautifully wrapped ice cream cones and frozen cups.
He handed the first one to Naomi. It was a bright pink strawberry cone. Naomi smiled a very fond, genuine smile. "Thank you, Ken. You actually remembered my favorite flavor. You are the best."
"I am a master of observation," Ken grinned a goofy grin. He reached into the box again.
He pulled out a bright orange ice cream pop. He tossed it to Laxmi. "Spicy chili mango for the fire user. Try not to melt it before you eat it." Laxmi caught it effortlessly and laughed loudly. She ripped the wrapper open immediately.
Ken handed a perfectly neat, perfectly round vanilla bean cup to Sayma. Sayma nodded gracefully. "This is statistically the optimal flavor profile. Thank you, Ken."
He pulled out a simple, clear cup of plain shaved ice. He held it out to Ira. "Plain ice for the robot. Zero artificial flavors." Ira took the cup. Her pale face showed zero emotion. "Plain ice is statistically optimal for rapid hydration," Ira stated flatly.
He gave Risa a colorful, swirling rainbow sherbet cone. The sweet healer giggled happily and hugged her teddy bear. He placed a purple lavender-flavored cone gently into Luna's hands. "Lavender induces sleep. Enjoy your nap, Luna." Luna nodded sleepily and immediately took a bite.
Zinia watched from the shadows of the doorway. She counted the ice creams. Naomi, Laxmi, Sayma, Ira, Risa, Luna. That was six ice creams.
Ken reached into the box one final time. He pulled out a very large, incredibly decadent double-chocolate ice cream cone. He closed the lid of the cooler.
He had handed out six treats. He held the seventh one in his hand.
Zinia felt a very familiar, quiet ache settle deep into her chest. It was the exact same feeling she had felt when her uncle handed out the toys. It was the exact same feeling she had when the carriage drove away without her.
"He bought six for the girls, and one for himself," Zinia reasoned silently in her mind. She crossed her strong arms. She stared at the dirt. "Of course he did. I was standing in the training yard. I was not in the living room. He did not see me when he left. He forgot I was here."
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Zinia did not feel angry. She did not want to yell. She just felt a profound, deep sadness. She was the invisible sister again. The shield in the background. It was completely normal. It was entirely expected.
She decided to turn around. She would go inside. She would take her shower. She would let them enjoy their treats.
Zinia pivoted on her heavy combat boots. She took one step into the dark hallway.
"Hey, Zinia. Do not walk away."
Zinia froze. She stopped walking entirely. She turned her head slowly.
Ken Eliot stood right behind her.
He did not walk lazily. He had moved with surprising speed. He stood directly in front of her in the hallway. He held the massive, double-chocolate ice cream cone in his right hand. He shoved his left hand deep into his pocket. He slouched his shoulders. He gave her a big, goofy, completely relaxed smile.
"You look very hot," Ken pointed out casually. He tilted his head to the side. "Lifting giant rocks is terrible for your core temperature. You definitely need a coolant buff. Here."
He held the chocolate ice cream cone out toward her.
Zinia stared at the ice cream. Her jaw dropped open just a tiny fraction of an inch. Her eyes widened in pure, unfiltered shock.
She looked at the cone. She looked up at Ken's dark, sleepy eyes. She could not process the situation. Her brain completely short-circuited.
"You..." Zinia stammered. Her deep voice cracked slightly. "You brought one for me?"
Ken blinked lazily. He looked incredibly confused by her question. He let out a loud, dramatic sigh.
"Of course I did," Ken replied simply. "You are on the team. I brought one for everyone on the team."
Zinia felt a massive lump form in her throat. She stared at his goofy face. The emotions hit her like a physical shockwave. The years of isolation, the years of being forgotten, crashed into her mind all at once. The words spilled out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"But people always forget me," Zinia whispered softly. She did not sound like a strong, tough vanguard fighter. She sounded exactly like a lonely nine-year-old girl. "Guests always brought four gifts for my five siblings. My family forgot I existed. They left me behind on vacations. I thought you forgot me too."
Ken stopped slouching for a fraction of a millisecond. He looked at Zinia. He saw the profound sadness in her eyes. He heard the deep pain in her quiet voice. His sharp, highly observant mind instantly analyzed her entire psychological state.
He understood exactly how she felt. He knew she felt invisible. He knew she felt like a disposable shield.
Ken needed to fix this immediately. He needed to make her feel seen. He needed to make her feel valued. But he could not give her a dramatic, emotional speech. He could not act like a wise therapist. That would ruin his lazy cover story. He had to use his classic, ridiculous slacker logic to comfort her.
Ken slouched his shoulders as far as they could possibly go. He let out a loud, highly exaggerated groan. He pointed a finger directly at the empty cooler box on the table outside.
"I could absolutely never forget you, Zinia," Ken complained lazily. His voice returned to its usual, whining tone. "Do you have any idea how much pressure I was under at the store?"
Zinia blinked in surprise. "Pressure?"
"Yes! Massive financial pressure!" Ken argued cheerfully. He waved his hand in the air. "I used Sayma's money to buy these ice creams. Sayma is incredibly good at math. She tracks every single copper coin. If I bought the wrong number of ice creams, she would audit my entire life."
Ken leaned closer. He put on a totally fake, highly comical expression of pure terror.
"If I missed anyone, she would instantly know I miscalculated the budget," Ken explained dramatically. "She would make me pay her back. I am totally broke, Zinia. My wallet is a complete tragedy. I only have pocket lint and an old candy wrapper."
Zinia stared at him. She listened to his ridiculous, lazy anime logic.
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