Oliver wanted nothing more than to play it off like it was nothing. It was what any good big brother should do, after all, and the sad fact was that he hadnât actually found her. Hadnât actually been the one to help bring her home. Turning his head when she laid on his shoulder, he kissed the crown of her head and smiled.  âIt was never a waste. I donât regret a single minute of it.â He didnât have that much to offer the world anyway, he was sure.
âUhâŠâ that had slipped out, and he regretted letting her know it.  âLong story short, those military drones and satellites I repurposed wereâŠwell, I didnât exactly have permission for any of that. The military had some harsh words for the company, and the company had some harsh words for me. So yeah, technically Iâm not allowed within five hundred feet of the place anymore.â
With a little shrug, he smiled at his sister.  âI think sheâs worried about the optics. Widow of the company founder sleeping with the CEO, that kind of thing. And weirdly I think she worried how I would take it. Why that concerned her, I donât know, butâŠI think that was part of it. The same way sheâs trying to let you get used to the idea gradually.â
It wasnât funny, she knew that, but she couldnât resist the urge to laugh at the image that his words created in her head. âIâm s-sorry,â she said amid giggles, âitâs horrible that the b-board has banned you, Ollie. I just...I keeping imagining the stuffed shirts getting verbally reamed by the men in the black.â
As the bubbles of joy faded from her chest, Thea patted his shoulder lightly, frowning at the sight of the dirt still embedded under nails. Sheâd scrubbed at her hands in the hospital, but still some grime remained. Seeing the dirt in stark contrast to his suit jacket, it was a physical reminder that she supposed sheâd never lose. Sheâd be forever the dirty, grime reality...always separated from the people sheâd cared about most with no way to bridge the distance.
âIâll take care of it, Ollie. They canât keep you banned now.â With that said, Thea sat up once more, keeping her eyes on the thin dim line of brown beneath the hard surface of her nails. âI...um, I think Iâm gonna grab a shower if thatâs okay? I took one at the hospital, of course, but...â She shrugged, standing slowly, âYouâre more than welcome to stay here obviously.â
Thea made her way over to her dresser, pulling open a couple of the drawers only to realize that all the clothing inside would no longer fit her. True, sheâd gained little in the way of weight, gaining muscle and height instead. Turning back to offer her brother a sheepish smile, âCould I maybe borrow something to wear, Ollie? None of this is going to fit and I donât really feel like spending the day in these hospital scrubs.â