The next week was one of the best Dan had ever had. Mitzi had gone out with him to meet his friends and they’d all gotten along wonderfully. Danielle couldn't stop telling Mitzi how beautiful she was and Mitzi couldn’t stop gushing about Danielle’s hair. Shelly had called Mitzi “short stop” at one point and Mitzi told her she’d met swamp hags with more meat on their bones. It was a fantastic night.

  He’d spent the better part of the week working on art and talking with Mitzi after she got off work. He went out for drinks. There had been dinner. Dan felt like he was healing. He wasn’t as afraid as he had been. Natchez was starting to feel like home. Then he got home Friday afternoon and found the eviction notice on his door.

  Dan stood there in the hallway reading the notice as posted. There was the number for the property owner. Not his super, but the owner. It said something about undesirables and filth. He had a sinking feeling about that. He had 24 hours to vacate so he let himself in the apartment and started packing as he called the number on the notice.

  The phone rang as he got his earbud in. Between packing his clothes, Dan navigated the phone tree until he got to a human.

  “Yello!” The voice came through.

  “Uh, hey. This is Dan Turberville? I just got evicted from the apartment you own in Natchez? It said something about filth and undesirables? I’m trying to find out if we can work this out.”

  “OH! The goblin fucker! Right. We got a call that you were letting mobs into the property. That’s a big no-no.”

  Dan stopped packing and stared at the phone like looks could transfer to the man on the other end.

  “Where does it say it’s a no-no?” He asked calmly.

  “The lease?” The voice said, a bit hesitantly.

  “I’ve read the lease. Mobs aren’t mentioned. At. All.”

  The man went silent and Dan could hear typing and a very noisy mouse wheel scrolling.

  “AH! That’s what I was looking for.” The voice said. “The lease says I DO reserve the right to terminate for any reason within the first year though. Goblins are a good reason.”

  “Dude,” Dan said, suddenly out of patience, “I can take pictures of this apartment right now and send them to you with today’s date in the metadata. There is absolutely no damage or even DIRT in here. Do I need to call a lawyer?”

  “Kid,” the man said, “Do you want to fight to stay in an apartment that’s willing to throw you out over goblins? You want to fuck goblins, that’s fine. Do it somewhere else, like a motel. Good luck finding another rental, aight? Buh-bye.”

  And with that, the line went dead.

  It was about eight o’clock and Dan had everything he could loaded into his car. His luggage, his PC, his work stuff, his collapsible easel. He couldn’t bring all the paintings. Not tonight. He’d have to come back tomorrow once he had somewhere to store them. The only painting he’d put in the car was Mitzi’s. That one meant more to him than his own did.

  He sat in the driver’s seat of his car and laid his head against the steering wheel. He had no idea what to do. He was no stranger to living out of his car. Before he’d gone back to his mom, that had been his only real option. It had kept him mobile and away from Bethella. Maybe he could park in front of Goblin House or something for a night or two.

  He stopped thinking about it long enough to check the bond, and Mitzi was upset. She could feel him and he felt miserable. The fact that he’d worried her didn’t help. He really didn’t want to tell her why he’d been evicted. She was still sensitive about how she would affect his life and how people saw goblins.

  How had the owner found out?

  That was a stupid question. Candy. It was the same term. Goblin fucker. It was too big of a coincidence to actually be a coincidence. She had become vindictive. That worried him. The last thing he needed was someone else he had to watch his back for.

  Dan started his car and tried to look on the bright side. He didn’t have to pay rent now.

  Mitzi waited tables with her business smile on while her insides were a wreck. Something had happened to Dan and he’d been a roller coaster of negative emotions. The only reason she wasn’t out the door right now and running to find him was that he was now headed toward her. Bandy had tried to get her to take a break earlier, but she wanted to wait until she saw if Dan was going to come find her, and now he was.

  She finished clearing a table and he was suddenly there. She let Bandy and Talwick know, and ran to the entrance where Dan was speaking quietly with Geraldine. He looked up when she was close and he knelt. She threw her arms around his neck.

  “I’m sorry I worried you.” He said.

  “Follow me.” She said. She let go of him, grabbed his hand, and led him through the restaurant to the break room. It wasn’t in use at the moment. She let him get inside and shut the door.

  “What happened?” She asked, marshaling herself to calmness.

  Dan walked over and sat on the couch.

  “I, uh, I wanted to tell you not to come by the apartment.”

  She felt a panic. Was he breaking up with her? With the BOND?! After everything? No. That couldn’t be it.

  “Why?” She asked quietly. His eyes went wide.

  “OH! Nothing like that! I kinda got evicted from my apartment. I’m sorta, kinda, homeless right now.”

  She blinked.

  “WHAT?!” She walked over and put her hands on his knees. “Why?!”

  He was hesitant.

  “Do you love me?” She asked.

  He winced.

  “I think Candy called the guy that owns my apartment and told him you were visiting. There’s nothing in the lease about goblins or mobs, but he pulled out this stupid clause where he can evict me for any reason in the first year.”

  She felt sick. This was exactly the kind of thing she’d been worried would happen. She was going to ruin his life. She was. . .

  Dan slid off of the couch to his knees in front of her and pulled her into a hug.

  “This isn’t on you. I promise, this isn’t on you. It’s on Candy. It’s on some rich L.A. asshole who owns a building in a state he’ll never visit.” He whispered to her.

  She put her arms around him and tried to keep herself from crying. She wondered why he wasn’t crying. Then she realized that this was far from the worst thing that had ever happened to him, and that just made her tears finally come.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “I love you.” He whispered, and she squeezed him tighter.

  “What are you going to do?” She finally managed to get out.

  Dan climbed back up and sat on the couch.

  “Well, funny story.” He said. “I had decided I wanted to stay in Natchez and I was thinking about buying a house anyway. Or trying to. Maybe I can speed that process up now.”

  She just stared at him. He already had a plan. How in the nine hells did he think he was broken?

  “Really? How long does that take?” She asked, wiping her face with a handkerchief.

  He frowned.

  “A few months, actually.”

  “Where will you stay till then?” She asked. He better not say in his car.

  “I can sleep in my car and I can borrow my friends showers and stuff.”

  Mitzi put her fingers to her forehead and started massaging out a slight headache.

  “Dan, you built beds for my whole family. I know Uncle Runt will let you sleep on the couch at night. It folds out.”

  Dan looked at her as if this was literally the first time he’d thought about it.

  “I was just going to ask if I could park my car in front of the house and borrow the shower tonight.”

  She knew that HE knew she was feeling frustrated with him.

  “Dan,” She said, “I love you. Very much. You are being entirely too. . .”

  “Considerate of others?” He volunteered.

  “Stubborn and stupid.” She finished. “I want you to head out there and wait by the kitchen. I’m going to find Runt, tell him what’s happened, and he’s going to invite you to stay until everything is settled.” She smiled at him. He WAS being dumb about this.

  “If you’re sure it’s not a problem. You already have a LOT of people in that house. Even if Geraldine already offered.” He said.

  “Yes. And one more isn’t going to kill anybody. If you shower at night you should be completely fine and from the time you get off work till I get home you’ll have almost the run of the house.”

  She thought about it and grinned.

  “Viv’s been asking when you’d be coming back over anyway. She likes you.”

  Dan grinned at that.

  “Ok. Fine. If Runt AND Geraldine are ok with it, I’ll stay. For a little while. I don’t want to be in the way.”

  Mitzi had Dan wait by the kitchen and found Runt in his office. One very brief explanation had been all it took. Runt had leaped from the desk and ran out to see Dan.

  “You stay as long as you need to, kid. The couch is yours.” Runt said as soon as he saw Dan, who was already looking embarrassed. Mitzi could feel the shame at his having to do this at all. Surprisingly, Runt grabbed Dan’s hand and patted it reassuringly.

  “Thank you, sir. I, uh, I do appreciate it. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible.” He looked around. “Speaking of, you guys are really packed. If it’s ok, I’m going to head to Goblin House and drop my stuff off. Maybe I can figure out something to do with my paintings and get them tomorrow.”

  He knelt down and kissed Mitzi on the forehead with a whispered “Thank you” before heading out again. Mitzi kept her business smile on the rest of the night. She certainly couldn’t muster a real one.

  Dan was used to living out of his luggage after Bethella. He’d stayed on the streets around Memphis never staying in one place for long. This was STILL better than that. He could admit to himself that he was glad he wasn’t going to be in his car all night.

  After a hot shower, Dan was feeling a bit better. He had to shoo Viv away from his art supplies, but he DID promise to teach her to paint if she’d like. A thought struck him after that. He went out to the car and brought in Mitzi’s painting. He looked and right over the fireplace and mantel, there was a nail. He smiled and hung her painting.

  “W’sat?” Viv asked him as the other broodlings chased each other in a game before bed.

  “That,” he said, “is a painting that your cousin Mitzi made.”

  The goblinette stared at it for several minutes, just taking in all the colors.

  “I like it.” She said finally.

  “Me too. I wonder if a goblin has ever made a painting before.”

  “Dunno.” She said, and hugged his leg. “’M glad you’re staying. You’ll be safer.”

  Dan looked down at the little girl. He had no idea what she meant, but he tousled her hair, picked her up, and carried her into the girl’s room.

  “Well, I’m glad I’m going to get to spend some time with you. But for now, you should get some sleep before the other’s get back.”

  She sulked, or pretended to sulk, as Dan got her in her bed and helped Daga and Mat the caretakers wrangle the other kids and get them in bed. Afterwards, he sat on the couch and thought. The two goblins sat in the dining room and played some sort of game involving drawing shapes at each other.

  He felt strangely comfortable. He missed his family, or the feeling of family. This was the closest he’d felt to home in ages. He felt Mitzi’s mood brighten as his mood improved. Emotional feedback. He’d have to be mindful of that.

  He looked around and already started making plans on things to pick up, and more ways to improve the place. They needed a TV. He could get them a digital antenna. Maybe a blu-ray player. He didn’t have to pay rent for a little while. He could afford to help them a little more right now. It would be repayment for letting him stay. AND he liked these guys a lot.

  Dan woke with a start as the door opened and the brood came flooding in. He’d dozed off again on their couch. Several of the brood stopped to comment on the art on the wall and that made Dan smiled. He checked his watch, 12:30. Fridays were long nights for the goblins.

  Mitzi and Bandy came in together and Mitzi immediately jumped on the couch and put her arms around him.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better.” She said. Then she heard Talwick say “painting” and she looked to see what he meant. She turned back with such a flat look and a feeling of embarrassment that Dan actually had to stop himself from laughing.

  “I WAS glad you’re feeling better. Now I’m going to. . .” She trailed off. He realized her love language was violent threats. She hadn’t threatened him much since she’d seen his scars.

  “You know,” he said, “I understand that you’re not going to hurt me. If you want to threaten to nail my toes to the floor or something, you can.” He smiled at her. She felt relieved. She leaned in close.

  “I will find a way to make you pay for this. It will probably be fun for me, and won’t involve nails, but I will make you pay.” She grinned. He booped her nose and she blushed and covered her face again. He’d found her disarm button.

  When Dan looked up, Bandy was watching them, but as soon as she realized he was looking, she brightened and skipped off to the kitchen. Something was going on there.

  “Viv wants to learn to paint.” He said and Runt and Geraldine stopped as they were walking in.

  “Viv? Painting?” Runt asked.

  “Yeah. Is that ok?” Dan said, suddenly concerned. Geraldine had a sly grin on her face.

  “It’s not a matter of being ok.” Geraldine said. “I just never heard of a goblin painting anything that wasn’t a wall.”

  She walked over to where Dan had set up his easel and began studying it.

  “Mitzi has.” Dan said, failing to keep the grin off his face. Mitzi sat on the couch and tried to hide behind him.

  Runt looked surprised, but Geraldine continued her inspection of the easel and then his art supplies. Dan pointed at the mantel and Runt just stared.

  “Mitzi did that? Like, she did some art?”

  “It stinks.” Mitzi mumbled from behind Dan’s back.

  “And I have told you several times that it’s great for a first try.” Dan chided her. He reached back, put an arm around her, and pulled her against him.

  “I’m proud of you, Mitzi.” Runt said. Mitzi felt awash in surprise and happiness from the praise.

  Geraldine walked up to the both of them. The aged Matriarch seemed to weigh him all over again. Dan was worried he was going to start to sweat under her yellow gaze, but then her face broke into a smile. He expected a sarcastic comment. Or a warning. Or anything, really, but whatever she’d decided she kept it to herself. She just patted him on the knee.

  “I’m off to bed. Runt, don’t stay up late. I’d like to talk about something.” With that the old goblinette made her way to the back of the house. For some reason, Runt smiled at that. He walked up to Dan himself.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” The tiny monarch said. “I was serious. You stay as long as you’d like.”

  “Your highness,” Dan began, but Runt cut him off.

  “Just Runt. I told you.”

  “Runt, if this is repayment for the beds, I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything.”

  Runt looked at Mitzi.

  “We’ve been very lucky with humans lately. Haven’t we, Mitzi-girl?”

  “Yeah, Uncle Runt.” She said.

  Runt nodded and left them alone in the living room. Or mostly alone. Dan had managed to tune out the goblins all getting ready for bed and making last minute snacks. He leaned back on the couch with Mitzi.

  “I’ll help you unfold the couch once everyone’s in bed.” She said quietly. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking everyone is making a bigger deal out of me being nice than it deserves lately. It makes me a bit uncomfortable. I’m just-”

  “I swear to the Greenman, if you say broken I WILL nail your ears to the god damned floor. You are not broken.”

  “A normal person.” Dan said, hoping it wasn’t obvious she was right about what he had been about to say.

  She wiggled out of his embrace and turned to face him, sitting criss-cross.

  “Dan, I love you dearly, but I need you to understand something about yourself.” She watched him. Dan didn’t know what to do so he nodded.

  “Broken implies you came apart and you’re still in pieces. It implies uselessness. It implies an end.”

  “Well, I mean-” He began, but she stopped him with a finger on his lips. Her claw lightly touched his cheek under his eye. He trusted her, but he was VERY aware of how sharp those claws were.

  “Wait.” She said. “I want you to consider that you went through something. And maybe you did break. But you are not broken.” She moved her finger.

  “Then what am I, Mitzi? What do you think happened to me?” He wanted to know. He desperately wanted a different way to see himself, he realized.

  “You were reforged, Dan. And that has made you stronger.”

  Dan just looked at her. She was entirely too good with words. He could almost believe her. She climbed in his lap and embraced him.

  “You are a treasure, Dan. And I plan to hoard you.” She said and rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arms around her and waited for things to quiet down so he could get some sleep.