Bast giggled in delight. Her mother’s reaction was even better than she’d hoped for, though she had known she’d be very excited. Bast herself had been utterly thrilled to see him. He stayed away far too long between visits, something she told him on a regular basis.
“You know she’s going to huff and puff and act all put out that she has to do extra work now, especially after I messed about.” She rolled her eyes at the servant’s assumed reaction, but she knew that it would be an act. Fatima would probably nearly smother Anubis once he got here.
“He just got home, came to see me right away and bring me presents, because he knows I’d kick his butt otherwise.” She wouldn’t, not really, but she didn’t want Isis to feel bad that he’d come to see her first rather than their mother. So she hid the smugness that wanted to come out, that she’d been that important to her brother that he’d come to her before anybody else. It was a good feeling, but she didn’t want her good feeling to become her mother’s pain.
“He looks good, Mama,” she told Isis. “You know sometimes when he comes back, he still looks a little drawn and saggy? He looks good this time. Like he ate and stuff. And he got me presents.”
That last sounded a bit out of place, but Bast figured if he’d taken the time to get her presents before coming to see her, then he must truly be un-broody. Plus, it let her brag. Just a little bit.
“I came over right away, after I was done torturing him for being gone so long.” Bast grinned brightly at her success. “I beat him here!”