The soldiers were leaving the house when Faust caught sight of the little hands on the stairs.
"Bingo, Bango, come down," Faust called out.
The twins rushed down the stairs and jumped into a hug, crying softly into his legs.
"Don't go again, Faust," Bryan complained. "You never stay."
"You haven't even played chess or hide-and-seek," Bonnie managed through her tears.
Five-year-olds were so clingy. To think he had been adamant on ignoring them when he was younger. He brushed his hand over the shiny black hair gently, worried about his strength for once.
"I'll be back, and you'll join me there," Faust reassured. "And then I'll spend an entire day playing with you guys, I promise."
"Make sure you don't break that promise," Vicky said behind him. He pulled her into a hug as she cried into his shoulder. "I'll be angry if you do."
"Faust doesn't break promises!" the twins chanted.
