"You're just in time. Rhaven was about to explain what happened."
"KoG called a journalist in Prescord, Montana," Cynister said. "They claimed they wanted to recognize a gamer but needed more information and were offering a reward for it. The small town paper ran with it, doing minimal checks on who this group is." He moved until he stood before her. "Dez pulled down the pictures and threatened to sue for using Deviant's trademarks without authorization. Scared the shit out of the entire paper. I got the contact information for the caller. It's a lead, Rhaven, but not much of one."
"I thought you were in Texas," she said.
He lifted one shoulder in a weak shrug. "Riley has a good internet connection." Then he smiled, the ice lifting from his strange grey-green eyes just a bit. "You like dogs? This is Crysis, my PTSD service animal."
"Can I pet him?" she asked.
He bent to unclip the lead. "Yeah. Just know that he will crawl in your lap - and lick you. Kinda how he works."
She turned to the animal and offered her hand for him to sniff. Crysis didn't bother. Instead, he shoved his head under it, all but forcing her to pet him, and the dog's tail started wagging. Rhaven began to scratch the back of his neck, and then on impulse, she leaned down and just hugged him.
"Oh, you're a good boy, aren't you?"
Crysis pressed into her, and it was like some little weight lifted. She scratched his chest. Crysis wagged more and began to lick her chin. Just little touches of his tongue, but something about the dog's enthusiasm was amazing. Rhaven could feel a smile taking over her face.
Naturally, that was when Braden arrived. His chuckle proved that she was busted, but Rhaven didn't care. Not about the dog hair on her shirt or the fact that she probably looked silly gushing over the mutt. But Braden wasn't alone, and as soon as Crysis saw Dez, the dog abandoned Rhaven. Without shame, Dez dropped to her knees and hugged the dog the exact same way Rhaven had.
"What'd we miss?" Braden asked.
"Getting caught up on what happened to Rhaven," Riley said, gesturing toward the bar with her drink. "And Adam's gone overboard. Alcohol's there, food's over here, and - " She paused. "Hey, Chance! Love seat's for you and Dez."
"I want to hear what happened," Psyc said, claiming the cushion beside Rhaven.
Braden took the spot on her other side, forcing them all to shift over a bit. Riley chuckled at the antics of these guys, but Rhaven kinda liked it. Not just the guys trying to make her feel good, but the way everyone accepted this and how her problems somehow became something for the whole group to worry about.
"So, KoG outed me at home," she explained. "My dad and brother are ok with this, though. I'd been putting off telling them, and now it's out there, and it's kinda a good thing. Kate and Adam got me a flight here so I didn't have to worry about the protestors who have an issue with the idea of trans people. Um - "
"What?" Knock asked. "There were protestors?"
"Yeah, at my job," she admitted. "I also got fired."
"And kicked," Kate added. "They started pushing her around when she tried to leave."
"But you're ok?" Riley asked. "They didn't..." She sighed. "I mean..."
"Some woman helped me get out of the crowd," Rhaven explained. "And, yeah. Um. I was in a car and headed to the airport by noon. But I'm sure someone called the listed number and gave them my real name. Dad said it's probably best not to go back for a while."
"So she's coming home with me," Braden said, looking over at Psyc.
"You screw her over and I will beat your ass," Psyc warned. "That's my outfit mate, man. My friend."
"Like that's all you want," Braden grumbled.
Psyc shrugged. "I'm ok with friends. I'm also ok with stepping in if you screw up. So how about you