And then—someone gently touched his shoulder. He turned.
Jackie.
Too close.
Too beautiful.
Too quiet for a place like this.
She leaned in to his ear and whispered in a way that sent chills down his spine:
“Captain-pirate Jody… Blindy… Meadow.
Don’t listen to them.
…Thank you. For everything.”
Blindy froze.
Swallowed, tried to look cool—
ended up looking like he always did: awkward as hell.
And forced out through a clumsy smile:
“Uh… heh… well… yeah…
Anytime—of course—uh—you—you’re welcome…”
She smiled softly,
handed him back the bottle with “grandpa,”
gently pulled down the glasses resting on his forehead—
and disappeared into the crowd.
Blindy stared after her for a good ten seconds.
Then suddenly spun toward Zeros,
eyes huge like two galaxies:
“Z-ZEEEROS! B-BUDDY!
D-DID—did you fuckin’ see that?!
She—she came! That—uh—that reporter girl—she just—she came up to me!
Yeah—yeah—like—right to me!”
He gestured wildly, nearly dropping the bottle.
“She said—she said THANK YOU!
To me! Like—me, me!
Can you—can you imagine that?!”
He sucked in a breath, completely spiraling now:
“I—I think I—yeah—I got a chance now!
To—uh—to find the one!
I’ma still fire, baby!”
Zeros didn’t even lift his head.
“I. DON’T. GIVE. A. FUCK.”
Blindy exhaled, smiling,
hugging the bottle like a world trophy.
“Gramps… you saw that, right?
Someone—someone finally thanked me…
Yeah… Jackie… she—she said it.”
He lingered there for a second, still smiling.
“Wait—hold on—
but what for?
…DAAAMN. Should’ve asked.
AH—’prolly for showin’ ‘gramps’, yeah…”
At the other end of the bar,
Jackie returned to her seat and sat down to finish her chocotorta.
Dick glanced at her and snorted.
“Couldn’t help yourself, huh?”
Jackie shrugged—
sad, but warm.
“Well… I felt bad for him.
He really did save all of us…
and nobody even said thank you.”
Dick sighed and got up.
“You’re way too soft…”
He stretched.
“Alright. Finish your chocolate and let’s get outta here.
I smell like trash already—
like I’ve been rolling around with Mold’pony.”
And then Airi quietly appeared beside them.
“Jakkīi-nian… [˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶]”
She smiled like there weren’t overturned stools everywhere and the air didn’t smell like burnt wiring.
“And you’re here too. [ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ]♡
Shiori-sensei just went to the hangar.
She’ll be waiting for us on the ship.”
Her voice softened just a little.
“If you’re ready… let’s go. [*૭ ｡•̀ ᵕ •́｡ *]૭
We’ll take you back.”
Dick looked at her. Then at the bar. At the fight near the far table.
At the guy who just got launched out of the bathroom door. At the jukebox still crackling out old blues.
He let out a heavy sigh.
“Well…
guess the adventure’s over.”
Jackie looked around the bar one last time.
Her eyes were shining.
“Shame…
I kinda like it here.”
They turned toward the exit.
T.8.0.0 still stood beside Tresbola, metal arms folded over that ridiculous flower apron.
Jackie paused for a second.
“Thank you for the hospitality… Madame Tresbola.”
Tresbola tilted her head slightly.
“De nada.
Come back anytime.”
Dick snorted.
“If we survive.”
The three of them slowly stepped outside.
The bar door slammed shut behind them.