“Lucky we got a crowbar,” Crystal said.

Luke grinned at her. “My plan wasn’t to pry open the gate, it was to smack it at Dr. Azazel. But yeah, it is lucky.”

Keep it down. He may hear us.

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

We were outside Dr. Azazel’s lab, hidden in the dark shadows. It was just after sunset. Luke and Crystal were dressed in black, and I hovered behind them as they used a crowbar to twist open the gate. It creaked open, swaying in the breeze.

“Tell me again why I’m doing this,” Luke muttered as we edged towards the door.

“Because I need you, and I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t let me come here alone,” Crystal answered sweetly, giving him a light smile.

With my night vision, I could see Luke blushing. “Of course I wouldn’t! But why are we doing this?”

“Because I asked you.” Crystal said in a voice dripping with sarcastic sweetness. Luke laughed softly.

Stop talking, we’re almost in.

Before they had time to start arguing, I thought, Be quiet. I’m going to go inside. I’ll tell you if it’s safe.

“Specs, no! You could get h- mffff!!” Luke clapped a hand over Crystal’s mouth. She had nearly shouted the words. Luke dragged her away from the door and whispered quietly, “He’s survived for seventy six years, Crystal. He’s got this. Just stay here with me, all right?”

Crystal started to shake her head and move toward the door again, but Luke wrapped his arms tightly around her. She looked up at him, disgruntled but not angry. I could tell she never got angry at Luke.

He said something so softly that I, with my super sonic hearing, could barely hear.

“I’m going to admit it- I’m scared, okay? I don’t want either of us to get hurt. I came all the way here for you. Can you please just stay here with me? Specs is tiny. No one will see him. Okay?”

Luke knew how to handle Crystal’s soft spots better than she did. Maybe it was because they both knew the one thing the other cared about most- each other. Crystal hesitantly gazed up at him for a few seconds and then sighed audibly.

“All right.”

Luke smiled and let go of her. “Thank you.”

Crystal was looking away, but I could see her face was turning pink.

Luke cleared his throat. “Uh, Specs, don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Right. Note to self- stop thinking about things someone doesn’t want to hear near them.

I flew under the door and let my eyes adjust to the darkness. Then I saw a large, looming shape illuminated by a dim light.

It took a few seconds for me to realize what it was, and when I did, I zoomed up five feet in fright.

Luke! Crystal! Run!