"This wouldn't have ever happened if you didn't wreck your own caravan man.", Set complained as they stood over the broken wooden wheel.

Andrew groaned and ran a tired hand over his face, his patience wearing thin on the teenager.
"I am aware... but it isn't my fault. Cassandra and I were caught in a storm and we were lucky to get out of the way we did. It could've been a lot worse."

"You're telling me.", he said raising an eyebrow, "Considering you made the idiotic choice to try fly through a storm, I'm surprised you survived. What were you thinking though, seriously?"

"It's not like we just flew into it!! It came out of nowhere and I thought it would have been clear skies the whole ride!! Why are you so- aghhhhhh!", Andrew yelled turning away from him and hitting his head repeatedly against a nearby tree.

Set had been getting on his nerves before they had even started their trip to the Unknown Continent, and now that they had been together for a whole day, he was almost ready to strangle the kid.

Taking deep breaths, Andrew willed himself to calm down and told himself he didn't truly want to throttle him.
Choking Set wasn't going to fix anything between them and it certainly wasn't going to help him find Cass and Diverion.

"We'll figure it out. All we need to do is make a new wheel or possibly find a place that sells some.", Andrew breathed out, turning to look back at Set.

Set was standing with his weight shifted in his hips, his arms crossed and face skeptical, "Sounds fine I guess, but why didn't you have any backups?"

"Why does that matter?! We don't got backups, so we just make do and move on!!", he exploded, "I could barely get Cassandra to agree on buying this caravan in the first place!!"

"Then why do you travel with her? And why are you two a thing if you can't agree on anything?", Set questioned, "Is it a hate/love relationship where you thrive off rivalry or something?"

Andrew's eye twitched.

What was up with this kid?!

"For the twentieth time, we are NOT a couple, kid.", he said through gritted teeth, "And I already told you why I was traveling! She's trying to find a guy about your age named Varian, who disappeared after defeating Zhan Tiri."

"Which I already told you I don't believe.", he snorted, "There's no way anyone could take on a high level demonic warlock and just defeat him.", he laughed.

Andrew tried to keep steady breaths. He did not want to hurt Set... he did NOT want to hurt Set...

Set then flashed a cocky grin, "I mean, it would take several people like me to even stand half a chance to take on Zhan Tiri, plus some good old fashioned luck.
Puh-lease, some random alchemist defeating that? Why don't you just admit you lost your kid, cousin or whatever he is?"

"You really think I'm a liar?!"

"Well, you lied about your name. So don't you think I got the right?", he countered, casually throwing in that startling fact.

Andrew's eyes widened and narrowed within a second, "How the heck do you know that isn't my given name?!"

Set shrugged and put a hand in his pocket while running the other through his hair, "It's called reading, man. Your girlfriend wrote it all down.", he said calmly pulling out a small notebook.

Notebook..?

As in a diary or travel log that belonged to Cass?!

Andrew clenched his jaw and straightened himself up. Set had officially crossed a line that should've never been crossed.

Matching over in a couple of strides, he snatched the book out of the teen's hands and stared him down, grabbing his shoulder firmly.

"You do not go looking through a woman's things and especially not her personal items.", he breathed dangerously, "It is disrespectful, a violation of their privacy and downright wrong.
I swear if I catch you ever doing something like this again Set, you'll be very VERY sorry. So you better not go looking through her cabin again or violating anything you shouldn't."

Andrew was glaring daggers at the teen, who was now looking nervous knowing he meant business.

"Do I make myself clear...", he said tightening his grip.

Set sucked on the side of his cheek before nodding, hands in the air in surrender, "It's all clear, man. Won't do it again. Cross my heart.", he swore, drawing an 'X' over his chest rapidly.

Andrew narrowed his eyes and let go of him, "You better...", he warned before shaking his head in disbelief as he pointed to the little booklet, "Honestly though! What would make you think this is okay on any number of levels?!"

"Ehhh, my Dad always looked through my Mom's book, said it was a better way to get to know someone. And my uncle does it too.", he answered rubbing his hair, "I mean, sure I know it's not right, but that doesn't mean it's a crime!", he half laughed nervously.

"Your dad...?! And uncle? What kind of example...!", Andrew sputtered looking at him in disbelief.

Andrew tucked away the little notebook is his vest for safekeeping as he tried to judge the kid.

Maybe he was being a bit to hard on him, but he wasn't showing much respect for anyone. Of what he was saying was true, his raising wasn't the best. But he even admitted to knowing better and knowing it wasn't right...

Maybe he just didn't care, or maybe he had a reason in acting that way.
Was it to be more like his father? Seem cool? Live life on the edge and playing with people's emotions?

He didn't know and probably wouldn't, but Andrew knew he could try to help Set if he decided to take it.

He would make sure he wouldn't be so hard on him, but he would also put the foot down when it was needed and make sure he did the right thing.

Andrew took a deep breath and tried to put a fatherly and strict tone to his words, "Listen Set, your father and uncle might've done that, but it's wrong and you shouldn't go following them. I don't know how you grew up or what you were taught, but let me make one thing clear to you.
I will not stand for you showing disrespect to anyone, especially women, just because they're not men. You've had that attitude coming off from you the minute I met you, and it's unacceptable. So from here now on, you're going to stop.
You can leave me all you want and just head off by yourself, but I'm warning you the consequences are going to kick you in the throat.
So whatever you decide, change while you have the chance. You know what's wrong, you said so yourself, so do what's right."

With that, Andrew walked away from him and picked up the axe from the back of the caravan, shouldering it.

Silence filled the air as he went off to chop up some wood so he could make new wheels, leaving Set standing there to think.

Hopefully his words had gotten through to him, and hopefully they wouldn't run into any more problems that'd slow down their progress.

It was a lot to hope for, but Andrew was willing to keep believing.

Hoisting the axe, he swung and drove it into the tree he had chosen, the thunk scaring away the sparrows.

"Umm, hey..."

Andrew turner and looked at Set impatiently, "Alright, What is it?", he sighed pulling the tool out of the thick bark.

"You mind if I help?", he asked kicking the dirt, "I realize I've been acting a bit uncool."

"You don't say?"

Letting out a nervous laugh he looked at the cut in the tree, "I needed to hear that, what you just said.
I'm just used to competition and stuff, so acting better is the thing, y'know? I've taken it a bit far though, you're right about that. I also shouldn't have gone through her stuff... I know I messed up, man, but I'm willing to try to fix it a little."

Andrew's eyebrow rose in slight surprise, "Do you really feel that way? And why just a little, no offense Set, but you could use a lot of improvement, kid."

Set took the axe from Andrew's hands, "Well it's one step at a time, temples aren't built in a day.
But yeah, I mean it, so I'll take it from here now. We need to get along to get what we both want, so this'll be the start."

Andrew smiled at the teen, knowing the match had been lit for a better person.

Stepping back he gestured toward the tree, "It all yours then, kid."