[Freezair]

HEO immediately snarled--quietly--at his sister. Cuddles was only nice to someone when it meant being mean to someone else. Gritting his teeth, trying not to come off as any more rude and obnoxious than he already had, he said, "What my sister said."

Tail-end wiggling, Cadpig hooked herself over a bucket of ice and peered within.

"No, no fish for you," the fishmonger said, and moved the bucket out of Cadpig's reach. "You'll choke on the bones."

[16]

[Freezair]

Cuddles chuckled to herself as the offended-looking fishmonger woman passed HEO the ice-filled package. "And be sure to tell your sister to flash-freeze that if you aren't going home right away."

Be sure to tell your sister. Which implied that she didn't trust him. Oh, how sweet that was to hear. How sweet indeed.

[16]

[Freezair]

"Thank you, ma'am," HEO said through clenched teeth. As all of his voice was made in a voice box, the clenching did not actually affect his voice--but his automatic mood adjustment brought the pitch down for him anyway. Oooh, he was angry. He was angry and bitter. His movements snapped and cracked like whips, and Cuddles had to move swiftly to dodge him. But she just grinned, and could only wish for a tongue to stick back out at him.

Disappointed at not getting any fish, Cadpig wobbled mutedly alongside HEO. She would occasionally stick her nose up toward the iced package he was carrying, but she soon realized that he would not give her any treats.

[17]

[Freezair]

"Yeah, HEO," Cuddles taunted. "Be sure to be polite and thank the nice woman now."

Cuddles couldn't help from chuckling smugly to herself all the way down to the post office. Ah, perhaps today was a good day after all. Any chance to see HEO taken down a notch. Any chance.

[17]

[Freezair]

When they arrived at the post office, the door appeared to be closed. Hmm. How curious. HEO rapped on the glass with his knuckles. He succeeded in jangling the bell attached to the doorframe, but nobody came to answer for him. Cadpig ran in circles around his feet and deposited herself at the threshold expectantly.

He peered inside the office. It appeared to be empty. It wasn't a weekend. Nor was it a holiday. What was going on?

"Hello? Anybody in there?"

[18]

[Freezair]

"Great. Now look what you've done, Mr. Humbling Eldrich Overlord. You've scared them all off." Cuddles muscled him over. Cadpig went scurring. Tails twitching, her eyes scanned the inside of the office. Indeed, it did appear to be completely abandoned.

[18]

[Freezair]

"I scared them--well, who started the volume war, Ms. Inferiority Complex? You're the one who insisted on blaring screemo into everybody's ears!"

The lack of a tongue to stick out really got him there. He looked down at Cadpig's happy panting enviously.

[19]

[Freezair]

"Inferiority complex? What the heck you goin' on about, HEO? Don't you start armchair-psychiatrin' me!" She pointed accusingly at him; swift eyes would notice her thump him on the back with her tail. Her dragonskin eyelids lowered threateningly.

[19]

[Freezair]

"You heard me! Don't pretend like it isn't true. You don't feel good unless you're making other people feel worse than you always do. Why else did you feel like you had to make me look like an idiot in front of that fisher lady, anyway?"

He'd armchair-psychiatrize all he wanted to. He couldn't imagine any real shrink would want to sit down with that petulant lump of metal for any protracted span of time. Besides, he wasn't trying to make an honest assessment anyway. He was simply looking for ammunition.

A curly-haired girl, passing by with a bag of sugar slung on her head, grimmaced at them. "Gee criminy," she said before walking off. Cadpig yipped happily at her.

[20]

[Freezair]

"Come ON, HEO," Cuddles griped. She crossed her paws. "As far as insults go, you have to admit that 'you've got an inferiority complex' is pretty weak. It isn't exactly 'yo' momma.'"

Never mind that it had hit home. Showing weakness was not an option.

[20]

[Freezair]

"Well, we don't HAVE mothers, so it's not like that's an option, now is it?"

HEO and Cuddles stared heatedly into one another's eyes. Cadpig barked and scratched at the door. With a tinkle and a jingle, a larged, mustacioed man swung the glass screen aside for them. He watched their staring contest silently.

"Umm... excuse me?"

[21]

[Freezair]

Both Rabbots whipped their heads toward the man. He flinched back from Cuddles' stern glare.

"Um... sorry to both you, but... I was wondering if you... wanted to... come in?"

"Why where you closed?" Cuddles asked the question innocently, but there was bile hidden beneath her tone.

"Um..." The man gulped. "It was... it just... we--the commotion--" He gestured emptily to the street. "...You know... But... We're coming out of hiding now?"

"How nice," Cuddles said.

[21]

[Freezair]

"Sure thing, pal!" HEO said, suddenly cheerful. Blast it all if he was going to let Cuddles get in the way of his usual upbeat appearance. "Hey, y'all let pets in?" Cadpig pounced eagerly around by his heels.

HEO pushed his way into the post office. Frazzled-looking postal workers were coming out from beneath desks, tables, and chairs. Feathers from frightened couriers littered the ground. Cadpig sniffed at them.

On the walls, HEO noticed, there were various newspaper clippings. War reports. Battles fought and won; battles fought and loss. Heroes who had reaped great rewards for their valiant efforts. One of them, shining silver even in black-and-white, looked familiar.

"Hey, Cuddles, is that...?"

[22]

[Freezair]

Cuddles turned her head to look.

The next thing she did was kick HEO in the shin. Then she snarled. Then a boy carrying a large package tripped in fear.

[22]

[Freezair]

"Ow! Hey!" Of course, HEO couldn't feel true pain. But a resounding "ow" was how he'd been programmed to react to any sharp, swift physical sensation.

"I guess it was, then," HEO said, rubbing his side with the tip of his tail. He didn't think there were too many other Khalmar Mark V's in the war effort, but just to be sure, he looked close.

"Fluffy Dashall."

Bless the newspaper for not having emotions, so it could report that with a straight face.

Cadpig yipped at him, wondering when they were going to move.

[23]