"We're here," James said, parking on the side of the road. Rose looked at him with a strange gaze. When she saw he was dropping the conversation, she clicked her tongue and followed him out.
"This conversation isn't over." James sighed and said nothing. Taking the umbrella from Rose, he opened it before grabbing her arm and interlocking his arm with hers.
"Got to make it look believable." Rose frowned but quickly hid it, putting on a flattering smile as she leaned closer to him.
"Don't dodge the subject." Whispering, the two casually strolled through Judith's Park, getting envious looks from single passersby. "You hate vigilantes because they work outside of the rules. We can both agree that sometimes they do good work, but this way you're going, James, you're just like them."
"It's not the same Rose." James scanned the park, trying to see if he could spot the jogger. "I'm not seeking my own justice. I might be separating myself from the precinct when I work, but I'm going to bring them in the right way."
"James, that's what that fella Brightsmile does. He's still a vigilante. You're the exact same."
"I'm not." James sternly said, his fake happy smile slipping for a second. "Those people have no rules, no understanding of what we do. I do, Rose, I know what the limit is. I will work with the system until I can't." James' eyes widened, looking into the distance, seeing the black jogger running through the park with his headphones in. "He's here." Rose wanted to counter, but seeing James slip into work mode, she knew it wasn't the time.
James blinked, activating his eyes, and looked at him. In the split second he laid eyes on the jogger, the man stopped and looked around, feeling a gaze on him. James deactivated his eyes, unable to get a clear look at him. "He's incredibly sensitive."
"He felt your gaze? From here?"
"Almost instantly." James averted his eyes and took Rose to a nearby bench. Leaning her head on his chest, Rose used it as a way to look over at the jogger naturally. "It seems looking at him normally is fine as long as we don't do it for too long." The jogger carried on, believing it was a one-off and continued on his route. Seeing him run towards their direction, James looked down at Rose.
"We're going to kiss when he gets close." Rose looked at James and averted her gaze, pretending to be shy.
"You're getting cheeky. First using the mission to take me out, and now stealing a kiss." Putting her hands over her chest, she carried on in a teasing voice, "Don't tell me you're going-"
"Rose, he's getting close." Rose stopped her playful antics and pretended to act flirtatiously, saying random words as she leaned closer to James. James played along until he grabbed the back of her head and brought her in for a deep kiss. James did nothing to engage, focusing on the target. Feeling bored, Rose put effort into it, trying to break James' character, strangely enjoying the taste of tobacco in his mouth.
As the jogger got closer, James blinked, activating his eyes and getting a good look at the man's aura before swiftly closing them. Once more, it was someone strong. The light green aura in his body was like a typhoon raging around, blowing winds that could destroy anything in its path.
James pulled back and opened his eyes and saw the jogger staring at him out of the corner of his eyes. Pretending not to notice, he got up, grabbed Rose by the arm, ignored her sulking at suddenly ending the kiss, and led her away, casually walking past the man. His heart raced knowing it was dangerous to get so close, but in such a public place, he was sure he was safe unless the man was completely psychotic.
"He was looking at us," Rose said, hiding the nervousness in her voice when she realised they had been spotted.
"At such a close distance, he managed to pinpoint it exactly. I may as well have just looked at him directly." Rose pinched James's hip, smiling at him.
"Was it so awful to kiss me? Next time, invite George if that's the case." James rolled his eyes as the two slowly circled the park, making their way back to the car. Seeing the jogger, James could easily confirm it was routine and not a one-off picture. He would have liked to follow him, but with how sensitive he was to his gaze and having already seen his face, James chose not to, instead waiting for Phillip to get back to him.
"Did you get what you needed?"
"If his ability is used in any future crimes, I'll know. It's unique." Rose nodded.
"Who is he then? I came out to help because you said it was related to the dead guy, but you haven't told me anything." Asking, she couldn't help but feel curious after witnessing the man. "Was he the one who did it?"
"No, different aura. As for who he is, I'm not too sure. You're not going to like it, but Xavier," Hearing his name, Rose frowned, "Told me he's a major arms dealer and gun for hire, as for why we never saw him before. I'm working on a theory. I got Phillip to look into it."
"Phillip, huh. Military then." James nodded, "I'm sure it wasn't cheap."
"Five grand. Nothing too bad." James took a deep breath, "If my guess is right, he's friends or at least in chaoots with General Otto Waltz." Rose tensed up at the name and looked to James; she couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed.
"You could have warned me that we are dealing with someone this dangerous. I can handle criminals, James, but if they are linked to the military, that is well beyond our department." Rose nearly screamed. She had thought it might have been an ex-soldier, but to know he still might have links was a different story.
"I know, but I just wanted to get a look at him. After this, you don't need to be involved in any way." Rose held on to James' arm tightly as she grit her teeth.
"I'm already involved. He saw me. You always do this. Jumping the gun and dragging us along. This is the military. Why are you even looking into this? If your hunch is right, please tell me you will drop it or hand it over to the Internal Security Department."
James thought about Rose's suggestion for a second. Handing this to the ISD would have it dealt with quickly. If there was one part of the nation he was sure was incorruptible and capable of handling things, it was the ISD. With their workers' identities kept secret, they could be anyone and take down anyone. Someone like Otto Waltz could fight them, but it would be his loss no matter the outcome.
'Dear God. Why can't I just say yes?' Screaming in his mind, he looked into her eyes. James smiled and stayed silent.
------------------
Cain stared at the street ahead and took out his phone. Calling someone, he waited for a second, "Lucas, that rat you saw in the warehouse. Did it have black and gold eyes?"
"Are you accepting the job then?" Lucas happily asked, not questioning why Cain's tone was so dark.
"Give me everything. He discovered me." Cain's voice was cold. Hanging up the phone, he looked back at James and Rose, his eyes narrowing with a deep, murderous chill. His hands flexed, but he held back, instead changing the song on his headphones to something more calming.