All Thistle could hear was the crunch of broken glass. She heard it as she walked in through her shattered front door. Heard it as she called the police and when she answered question after question. She heard it as she showed them what was stolen and she heard it when she pondered why. The art she had put her heart into, the equipment that was her life blood. Gone, all gone.
She felt hollow as the cops left. She was going through the motions, not thinking just moving. She swept up the terrorizing glass while avoiding her true fear. How would she survive? All those thoughts lead to the same route so she avoided it. She couldn't afford new equipment with her current loans. Insurance may help some but she would be boarded up by the time they did. Angry patrons would be demanding refunds for failed deadlines. Her dream was dead.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she took it out without thought. Archer was texting about meeting Melody at Carnal and going out for dinner. She couldn't imagine eating or what she would even say. How would she tell them what had happened? Could she maintain her relationships as her life fell apart? She doubted it. Broke and single just like how she had been when she started this dream.
Thistle 7:15am: I can't.
It was all she could manage. She knew it was out of character and that he would worry. But all she could focus on was sweeping up this damned glass. She wasn't surprised when she heard footsteps enter her shop though. She was just glad there was no glass for them to crunch on.
"What happened, Thistle?" His voice was heavy, cautious. Not confident. Good. She would have hated hearing confidence. Archer the know-it-all walking in as her world fell to ruin. It wasn't a fair accusation even if just in her mind but she made it anyway.
"Don't know." She responded. "Security system smashed. Art and equipment taken. Cops think it was junkies looking for some quick cash. They hang around here sometimes so it makes sense." Her voice matched her mood too well. Hollow and emotionless.
She felt a hand on her shoulder but she still couldn't be the person he expected her to be. Most people would sob now. Throw themselves into their partner's chest and cry. That's what normal people did, right? But she stepped away, letting his hand fall.
"I don't need to be comforted, Archer. I just need to figure this out. To get through this."
"Ok." He replied. "You know me and Mel are here for you though?"
"Yeah." She knew that somewhere inside her. But accepting and knowing were two different things.
There was silence. A painful lonely silence only the dead should know. But Archer spoke, bringing life back to the dead gallery.
"They took out the security system?"
His voice had changed. Gone was the concerned boyfriend. This was calculating and cold. She had rarely heard this one. She turned to look at him so she could see his eyes, the steel in them. She saw hope. Only for a second then it fluttered away. Despair was quick to return but for a second hope had been stronger.
"Yeah."
"And what did they take again? Art and equipment?"
"All my bigger pieces and anything not too big to carry."
He gave a nod but his eyes weren't on her. They were figuring out the mystery in front of him.
"Right. I can tell you don't need me here. But stop by soon and please contact me if you need anything. Want me to tell Mels?"
"Please."
"Of course." He stepped forward and took her hands in his, his dwarfing hers. She met his eyes again and this time she didn't pull away.
"Just remember you got two people who love you. You don't have to go through this alone. Hell, you got a whole pack now who would burn the city down if you asked. You never have to face the evil of this world alone again, my love."
"Yeah, thanks." She sounded cold, unmoved. But his words did mean something. Not alone. For so many years in this city that had been her lot, to be alone. Now though, she had so much. She needed to remember that. Use it to battle the despair consuming her.
Archer kissed the top of her head and left. The next few hours were a blur. She dove into the finances, determined now to find her path out of this. If she needed to beg for extensions or plead with banks, she would do it. She had cleaned the mess and it was time to start rebuilding.
She remembered when she first got her gallery. She had called it her sacred place. It had been so clean and new. Years of her presence had changed it to be truly hers. It was messy and chaotic but it was her. Now someone had tried to rip that part away. She was not letting that happen, no matter what it took.
She was saved from her own head by a knock at her door. She got up from the table in the back expecting Archer or Melody. But neither of them stood there. Through the shattered glass she saw Milo, with a face that seemed unsure if to smile or look sad.
"Milo, you can come in. It's not like that's even a door anymore." She said leaning on the front counter. She hadn't expected to see the auburn wolf and while she was in a better mindset she didn't want company yet. But Milo didn't deserve her anger.
"Right, sorry." He replied, opening the door to walk in instead of stepping through. A gesture that was comical to watch. "I didn't want to disturb you if you wanted to be alone."
It really was impossible to be mad at Milo. Always careful and kind. How he got into bouncer work was a mystery to her.
"Thank you, Milo. But why are you here?"
"Oh, right. Boss sent me over." He gestured to a pickup truck parked out front with a trailer. "Replacement equipment. Rental he said unless you want it. He wanted to make sure you got exactly what you like."
"He bought me new gear?" She shouldn't have been surprised. This was Archer, who had always thrown his money around. But yet she was. No one had ever helped her out to this level. She couldn't decide if she was mad or blown away.
"Yeah." Milo offered, bringing her back. "Told me to tell you that you can come to Carnal and chat about it. That and the request he has."
"What request is that?" There was the catch. Gifts with strings. How it always is.
"To take me on as an apprentice." Milo said, looking rather sheepish for a wolf.
"What!?"
Archer was forcing himself into her work. She could forgive him for the gift with strings but this? This was a fucking line he shouldn't have crossed.
Milo looked very much like the messenger that was expecting to be shot. "I've been looking for day work, as you know. And I do like creating. Plus, I can add extra eyes and security." He was rambling, the poor guy was so nervous.
"Milo." She replied, trying to keep calm. "I'm nowhere near qualified for an apprentice. And Archer shouldn't be sticking his nose in my work."
"He isn't. Told me to make the offer but you can say no."
He was learning, Archer was actually learning to be a better boyfriend. She had to give him that.
"Do you even have any experience?"
"A few art classes in college."
College art classes tended to be shit unless at a proper art school but it was something. And Milo was doing his best sad puppy eyes. Worse still she knew they weren't a tactic. Milo could never be that cunning.
"Do you even want to do this?"
He gave a nod. "I've always liked working with my hands and I'm up for the challenge. Plus, to protect the Luna? How could I not want to?"
