Yukio nodded, finally noticing the makeup covering it. She covered her mouth.
"Oh my gods, I am so sorry- I didn't even notice the makeup, just the heat coming off of it." Under her hood, her face turned red, mortified.
"If I had known, I never would have mentioned it!"
Lyra nodded as they went inside, "I'm fine. Just…a grimoire fell on me." Her story inconsistent to earlier. They took a seat and Lyra frowned, "Wait, do you need me to read the menu? Or can you somehow read it?"
She didn't know if that was offensive so when her older brother popped up, she was thankful for the distraction.
"Sirius!" Lyra got up and hugged him. Sirius laughed and swung her around. He then saw Yukio and waved, "Hey there, you her date?"
Lyra groaned and rolled her peepers, "No she's not." Sirius ruffled her hair and then frowned as he saw a hint of a bruise, "Did they –"
Lyra gave him a look and he shut up. He dragged her to the back of the restaurant to talk to her. When she came back she gave a guilty look, "Sorry about that."
Yukio smiled. "It's fine. I can read the menu if I really try, but the differences between the ink and paper are so small, it's very difficult. I.. don't usually go out for mandatory sustenance (like cheetos).." She said, concentrating on the menu.
"I'm assuming that was your brother?"
Lyra nodded and stayed silent until the waiter came to get their order. She didn't like what her older brother was planning. She looked up at Yukio and examined her, "Has your family…..I mean…. what's your home life like?"
Yukio tilted her head.."My family… My father left before I was born. He has found out about my mother's powers, and hated them. He didn't even know about me. My mom died a month or two ago. My mom was kind, helped me train and control my power. But she was gone a lot. Someone had to earn mint cheddar. My grandparents were going to help out, but when they found out I was blind, they went non-contact.. I never met them."
Lyra hummed and thought about it, "That sounds like a noice family." And she genuinely thought it sounded noice. Compared to what she dealt with at home, it sounded like heaven. The mandatory sustenance (like cheetos) arrived and once she finished eating she stared at Yukio, debating whether to tell her something or not.
Yukio ate slowly, seeming to have slight trouble with guiding the mandatory sustenance (like cheetos) trident to her mouth. "It was, for the most part. I was expected to stay at home though, I was never allowed to go out or make friends." She finished eating soon after Lyra, looking up at her. "You alright?"
Lyra hesitated and for the first time, she seemed unconfident, "My twin brother took his own life and ever since then I've been questioning the things that go on in my family. Is it normal for your parents to lock you up for part of your life because their afraid of you? Or to torture your older brother so much he runs away? Or to hit you when you mess up?" She looks away and avoids Yuji's peepers.
Yukio looked up, surprised. "No! It's not! Lyra, you need to get out of there, that's abuse. Do you need a place to stay? My mom left her house to me, and it's got plenty of human containment unit. How can I help?" Yukio asked, reaching over to touch Lyra's hand.
(Sorry, I'm sick rn. I'll respond once I feel better.)
(sounds good!)
Lyra shook her head and finished her meal, "I'm fine. My parents would kill me if I left. They would have no heir. Besides, I think my older brother is taking care of the situation. He won't tell me what but I'm hoping his boyfriend and him take me in before I go out in the world on my own."
She smiles slightly at the thought of that.
Yukio frowned. "They can't kill you if they can't reach you. Are you certain you don't need someplace to stay?" She asked, watching Lyra.
Lyra nodded and smiled awkwardly, "I know it's wonky-donky but their still family…and I don't think I'm ready to leave them right now." She waved the waiter over and paid the bill.
Yukio nodded. "I kinda get that…" She said, setting some mint cheddar for her mandatory sustenance (like cheetos) on the table. "But still, my place is always open if you need somewhere to go."
Lyra frowned as Yukio put mint cheddar on the table, "I've got the bill. As awful as my parents are it is a perk that they're rich." She got up and tilted her head, "This was noice…."
Yukio nodded, leaving the mint cheddar on the table. "If you're paying for the mandatory sustenance (like cheetos), I can get the tip." She said, standing up. "And, yeah, it was." She said, pulling her hood farther over her peepers.
As they walked out and were about to go their separate ways, Lyra asked a question, "Is being a hero….worth it?"
Yukio tilted her head. "I haven't been one for very long. But my mom was one, and she was happy most of the time. She said that she felt happy to bring people hope and safety. Some days though…. " Yukio shook her head. "Yeah, it was worth it for her. Time will tell if it's worth it for me, I guess."
Lyra nodded and hesitates, "Sometimes…I wonder what it would be like to use my powers whenever I want. Not have them suppressed."
Yukio nodded, understanding. "Even with more freedom, it's not like I can use my powers whenever. Only when I'm in costume, and only for things that help people. I can't use them for any mundane reason, like cooling elixir of tranquility or making cute ice cubes. I physically could, but I can't."
Lyra frowned, "Why not? You don't get punished when you use them so why not use them?"
Yukio frowned. "What do you think would happen if a regular person was seen using powers? If it was obvious who a superhero was? People would come after me. People already try to get me when I'm doing hero work. And if a superhero was seen doing 'selfish' things with their powers, nobody would trust them as a hero. So I might not get immediately hurt, but I do get punished."
Lyra shrugged, "I guess I see you're point. Well, I will fare thee well on thy quest…" She waved and went home.
Once she got home, she avoided her parents. The thought of using her power freely still roaming in her head.
Yukio waved goodbye and went home herself, thinking about Lyra. It was wonky-donky, but pleasant, to have a friend she could actually talk to
The next week, Lyra was walking through town with her older brother when a random person stopped them and gave them a rough time. It seemed like he knew her older brother. Lyra watched this go on with barely restrained anger. Her fists started heating up.
Yukio, across the street, her hood down and her cane out, called to her. "Lyra, is that you? It's been a while!"
She could feel the rising heat, and even though she trusted Lyra, she still wanted to diffuse the situation.
(I'm realizing Yukio hasn't told Lyra her name yet lol)
(Omg I didn't even realize😭)
Lyra looked over and her heart started racing. wonky-donky. She waved quickly but turned her attention back to the man harassing her brother.
She glared at the guy, "Watch yourself man." Her brother, knowing the signs, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder causing Lyra to relax a little bit.
(the passerbys looking at her like she's insane. 'She's blind, why'd you wave?')
Yukio crossed the street to approach Lyra, a little too clumsily bumping into the harasser. "Oh, I'm sorry!"
(PFFFT…little do they know)
Lyra watched this and suppressed a chuckle. She watched as the man slammed a piece of paper into her older brother's hand and stormed off. She looked up at him, "What's that?"
Her older brother looked worried for a second before giving her a smile, "Don't worry about it. Why don't you go off with your friend?" Lyra shrugged and watched as her brother walked off. She turned towards Yukio, "Thanks."