It was easier to sense Natron, now that she was bigger. The increased lack of darkness around her was one way; the stronger mental presence was another; that she now had a nearly palpable aura of power helped a lot, too. Netahiln could tell how long she'd sat in the middle of the room, thinking or stewing or simmering or whatever it was she was doing, and she could tell when she started over towards the bedroom door, whether to continue the argument, to say she was leaving, to try and melt the door down... or whatever.

It would be a relief, if she left, she thought. One less attachment. One less god in her life to deal with. One less person to try and be friendly with when all she wanted to do was bite something.

Except there was something contrite and ashamed about the mental presence on the other side of the door, rather than angry or final, and she couldn't feel any heat coming through the thin piece of plastic that separated them, so she doubted any melting was going to happen. .

::I'm sorry,:: Natron's subdued voice came through the door. There was enough different that it was still a shock to hear an "adult" Natron, but enough the same that it couldn't be anyone else. Though she lacked the experience that came with growing up, and her emotional maturity correspondingly probably still had a ways to go, there was no doubt in Netahiln's mind that she was an adult now.

::You realize what this means, right?:: she answered, not really acknowledging the apology.

Natron sounded both startled and wary when she asked, ::What?::

::You're old enough to get a damn job.::

There was a startled pause, but then Netahiln could hear, through the thin door, Natron's quiet laughter. ::You're right. I'm all grown up. I can earn my keep.::

::And we can trade off keeping an eye on Habithi and his plans, both of us taking different shifts at whatever jobs we have.::

::We can do that. We might need to recruit some more people, depending on what his plans are and what his minions get up to.::

::That can wait,:: Netahiln said, ::until those minions grow up a bit. We've got some time.::

There was another pause, then Natron repeated carefully, ::We've got some time?::

Netahiln sighed. ::Well, I can't imagine I can really get rid of you, now, can I? You're a deity, remember? I'm just a puny mortal.::

::You're a daughter of chaos,:: Natron told her quietly. ::Those don't happen often. Among the true chaotics, you'd be a queen.::

That got a snort. ::Oh, yeah. Right.::

::I'm not lying,:: Natron insisted. ::I'm serious. Female chaos-children are rare, and powerful. You might not be a deity, but you're pretty special, anyway.::

::Let's just puff my head up some more, shall we?:: Netahiln drawled. ::Drop it, Natron, it's not important.::

At least she did. Drop that, anyway. ::Netahiln,:: she said instead, sounding uncomfortable, ::if you want me to leave, if you want to do this yourself, I'll leave. I can find some other thing to fight, some other purpose for my life. I won't stay if I'm not wanted. If you don't want me.::

Netahiln snorted again. ::Miss I'm-a-deity is going to give someone a choice?::

It was mean, sure. But Netahiln never claimed to be nice. She sensed Natron make the conscious choice not to rise to the bait, though, pointedly ignoring the insult. Good for her. ::Yes,:: she said.

::Bit late for that now, isn't it? After you've lived here for three months? Shouldn't you've offered that choice when you first showed up?::

Again, Natron kept herself calm. Netahiln was impressed. ::I probably should have. And I'm sorry I didn't. But better late than never, right? I can still go.::

::Tempting offer,:: Netahiln said briefly, and sensed Natron's anti-darkness go still and worried.

Well, really, it was temping... sort of. When she'd thought Natron was going to yell some more, or just leave to find someone who would be more respectful, she'd honestly been at least a little relieved. It was hard having someone around whose feelings could be hurt, whose temper could be roused, whose opinions would be different from her own. She had to be careful not to be too mean, too difficult, too prickly and antisocial and irritable. Worse, when that someone was good.

Because, despite her childlike arrogance and her quick temper, Natron was most definitely good. Maybe not necessarily nice, but definitely not bad. She would balk at doing dishonorable things to good people. She would never take out her anger on some poor sod who couldn't defend himself. She would never kill unless she had to. The very thought that she was acting like someone she perceived as evil was enough to give her pause. She hated to make someone unhappy-- she would swallow her pride and apologize when she'd messed up. Even when the person she was apologizing to had messed up, too.

But she was also expedient. And efficient. And maybe smarter, now that her brain was a decent size. And gifted with a variety of powers, many of which Netahiln obviously still knew nothing about. And, apparently, loyal, since she was willing to apologize and make an effort to patch things up with a prickly creature like Netahiln. And maybe now that she wasn't a baby, she'd be both more useful and more fun to have around. Provided they could keep that "look at me, I'm so powerful!" aura of hers under control, anyway, and find her a shape that wasn't so bright and target-like.

Maybe it was dangerous for both of them to keep her around. Attachments could be used against them, after all, and Netahiln already knew she had an attachment to the brat. The brat probably even had one, back, since she had bothered to apologize and then try to make her feel more important, herself. It would have been smarter to break it off, then, for both their sakes. No attachments, no dangers, nothing to be used against you.

But then, wasn't that being more like Habithi, too? He who would befriend no one, care about no one, because that would make him weak? She didn't want to be like him, not anymore, she realized that now. So, smart or not, maybe attachments weren't so bad. Maybe she could make attachments work for her, be her strength while they were Habithi's weakness. Look at how well it'd been working for her so far, making her connections down-decks. 

It was worth a shot, and she might as well start now.

::Naw,:: she told Natron, who had been waiting somewhat anxiously on the other side of the door. ::I've gotten used to sharing the apartment. Stick around-- earn your keep-- and we'll see how it goes.::

The other side of the door got considerably brighter, and Natron's voice was fiercely cheerful when she answered. ::Thanks, Netahiln. You won't regret it.::

::I do already, if you're going to get mushy about it.::

::Ugh, no.::

::Good.:: She got up, and the door obediently slid open, revealing the much-bigger fireling, who was grinning just as fiercely as her mind-voice had sounded, her flames and glowing-bits almost painful to look at. She went rather quickly solemn at the sight of Netahiln facing her again.

::Now figure out how to turn off all that light,:: Netahiln told her shortly, ::or you're never leaving this apartment.::

::Yes, ma'am,:: Natron snorted. 

::Oh, hell, no. You call me ma'am, and I take away your bleach.::

::Ha! Yes, sir,:: Natron amended.

::Better,:: Netahiln sniffed, and the godling snickered, turned, and trotted back to the living room with her fiery tail waving jauntily, hopefully to do just that.

Chapter Eighteen

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