Lucas frowned slightly but nodded.

"All right I'll keep in touch.."

Lucas had been resting comfortably. His strength had returned, both physically and mentally. It didn't make the sting of Mirage's death any easier, but he had mourned for her in his own way and let her go. He was ready to now begin the duty anew that he had been bestowed with.

He looked around for his gracious hosts, Gargoyle and The Black Jaguar, seeing if there were any of them around.

  Andy was in the kitchen, as usual, and he was making a casserole for supper for Vic and Lucas.

Lucas stepped into the kitchen, smelling what Andy was cooking.

"Good morning, Andy. That smells really good."

Victoria walked in, wearing a bathrobe, and entranced by the aroma. She smiled at Andy, then Lucas as she sat down.

  Andy smiled, and said "Cooking's one of those arts I sort of had to learn, and it stands me in good stead now.  Want anything specific to eat?  Vic, I have the cappuccino espresso maker ready, you just have to tell me which flavor you want me to make your latte from.  I'm playing barista this morning too."

"If you have anything to make pancakes with, I'd love some. Otherwise, toast and scrambled eggs would be fine with me."

Victoria smiled at Andy.

"I'll take French Vanilla please.."

  Andy rumbled in amusement, and he snagged the frying pan from it's rack as his tail snaked over to pop the fridge open, and he said "All of that is easy.  Pancakes are a staple around here.  How many do you want, Lucas?"

"Two is good for me," Lucas said as he sat down himself.

  Andy arched an eyebrow, and said "I'll give you four, this stuff makes a round dozen in one batch, Lucas.  Pancakes are mass food items."  He was clearly teasing the Champion as he began making the pancakes.

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Good thing I worked out this morning.."

  Andy laughed, and fixed lattes for both Vic and Lucas, both of them French Vanilla, and very yummy.  Then he added pancakes, sausages, and a helping of scrambled eggs.  Small breakfasts didn't happen when HE cooked.

It was probably around this time that Vaan shimmered into view, still in her enforcer's outfit. Even in the future, the Yakuza were always a pain to deal with, and even though her warning would most likely go unheeded...it was a necessary precaution to set them on guard for their eventual acceptance of a contract.

Vaan was leaning against a wall, though aside from the surreal shifting of her appearance, she gave no indication as to her arrival, except maybe the clanking of the chains around her wrists. Taking off her sunglasses and letting the nano-material reconfigure into a bracer once more, she looked at the quaint apartment.

Everything was all too peaceful.

  Andy looked at her, and then handed her a plate of food, sending it floating to her if she was out of arm or tail's reach.

Lucas began to dig in eagerly, clearly more than satisfied with Andy's "Big Breakfast."

Vaan let the plate of food float in front of her. She wasn't hungry. She'd managed to snag a few snacks on her way back to this place, and she was still on fading amounts of adrenaline. Meeting up with a Yakuza Crimelord did things like that. But even with her meeting Mr. Yang, the teen was conditioned for city-warfare. Things like relaxing and doing things other than what she'd been assigned were foreign to her. They were concepts that were going to take a while to get.

Victoria smiled after Andy gave out the warning.

"We can rest for a moment until Anarchic shows his face. We've at least earned that grace."

  He smiled, and flopped on the couch, tugging her down onto his chest as he said softly "I think that means I can steal some cuddles . . . "

"You've more than earned that right," Victoria said with a giggle, clearly enjoying the closeness of the handsome man.

  He laughed, and said "Feels so good to hold you close, Vic.  A great feeling indeed."

Victoria leaned into Andy's broad chest, her head resting gently on him. She felt genuinely safe in his arms, and entered a restful state, but not quite asleep.

  Smiling, he wrapped his wings around her, closing his eyes to savor her cuddles as well.

Victoria slowly opened her eyes, not moving very much.

"This is very invigorating. I could stay here forever, but know there's also work to be done."

  He laughed, and said "Well, at least you'll never be cold when you're sleeping cuddled up to me.  I'm Hell hot."