For a first mission, this was a nightmare. But it could be a concept for a video idea...

-  4 Boba, 1 Fake!!!!

-  I visited every boba shop in L.A.

-  slime vs boba pearls

.

That Lilith, though, was impressive. He saved our asses. I don't think he's too fond of me, though.

I lost my cool. I need to reel myself back in, or else people are going to dislike me. I think that old man might be on to my.

Shit. So much for a good first impression. And I dropped my phone. I lost my shirt.

It's only when there's solid ground beneath his feet again that Troy opens his eyes. Warmth lingers in his skin.

In front of his is the familiar sight of the hallway wall. His bedroom door is open and he is standing before it, much like how he was hours and hours before. The sun was setting now, his shadow casted on the wall. 

Troy stretches his arms before he starts to move. He drops his bag onto his bed and runs a hand through his hair. He sits down beside it as he takes his shoes off. He should shower, he knows, but the idea of being in a bathroom with the memory of that creature still fresh is appalling.

He's still seated when the sound of the bathroom door opening makes him jump, snapping him from his daze. Seconds later, Riley's there, standing in the doorway, a towel around his neck. 

He glares.

"Where the hell have you been?" he asks.

Troy leans back, closing his eyes. His arms act as a pillow as he lays down. "I told you, it was a business meeting."

"In San Francisco?"

"Yeah. For a company."

There's silence for a moment.

"You're being so vague," Riley says.

"I don't have to tell you everything," Troy dismisses.

"But if it's about work, shouldn't I know? We work together."

"You work for me. What happened today isn't something you need to know about." He opens one eye and looks at him.

Riley looks ready to cry. "Are you cheating on me?" he asks suddenly.

Troy sits up. "No way," he says. But their eyes don't meet. "I wouldn't, ever."

A pause.

"...okay." He turns. "I'm sorry."

They spend the night with their backs to each other, silent.

Troy and Iris simply pop back into existence again, standing in the middle of the living room.

Immediately, Iris is guided to the couch and sat down.

"Don't worry," Troy says, his tone soft, "I'm going to be right back."

He walks to his room, each step cautious but quick. The apartment is dark; colorful light bleeds out from beneath the door of Jan, but the house is quiet. Troy opens his door slowly, bracing for Riley to be awake, waiting for him.

Relief or disappointment nips at his heart. Riley is asleep in their bed. 

Troy pulls open the drawers of his wardrobe and pulls out a few items: two T-shirts, one for him and one for her, a pair of basketball shorts for himself and sweats for her. He takes these clothes and walks back into the living room.

Iris has fallen asleep, or passed out from the stress of the day. He wouldn't blame her.

Troy left her clothes on the arm of the sofa while he leaves to shower.

---

In the appropriate hours of the morning, Troy awakens to crying and a voice exclaiming, "Who is that?!"

Ari stands in the hallway, in her pajamas, staring at Iris on the couch. Troy jumps up instantly, ready to defuse.

"Troy, I thought you were gay! You're cheating on--"

"It's not like that!" Troy cries. He waves his hands. "She's-- she's my cousin! She's visiting!"

He spits out a blatant lie, but Ari is hesitating. Her brows furrow and her lips purse.

"Oh," she says, "okay. I... see the resemblance..."

Troy smiles. "I'm looking after her, 'cause she doesn't speak much English," he continues. Ari only nods slowly. She's begun to walk past them.

"Okay. Um... you should take care of her. She looks scared." 

They both turn to look at her. Poor Iris, her eyes widened in fear, gaze distant, curled into herself with one arm missing. It stirred something in Troy.

"Yeah. I'm taking her to the hospital later," he says. And then he remembers Lilith. Maybe that guy had found a way to heal himself...

After Ari has left, Troy calls Lilith. There's an awkward conversation that ensues with passive insults and forced generosity. But Lilith agrees to come and Troy pays for his ticket.

Then he turns his attention to Iris again. He sits down beside her, lifting his arm in invitation. 

Something must break in Iris, because she accepts the embrace and buries her face in Troy's shirt. She cries, bawls, shakes, and Troy sits there, holding her, petting her head.

---

Later in the day, much later, Lilith has made it to the apartment. Troy welcomes him with his typical charming smile, and Lilith seems to mimic it, though they perhaps both acknowledge that they're simply wearing masks.

Iris is still on the sofa. Her letterman jacket rests over her, the arm sewn together again by Riley. 

Lilith crouches beside her. His hand has returned to its previous state. He explains the conditions of his healing; Iris has to promise that she won't willingly put herself in immediate danger. 

It takes a moment, but Iris finally agrees. As her arm heals, she begins to unravel. Her eyes well up in tears, which spill down her face as she sniffles. Troy pats her head.