[1st POV]
"She's a spy?"
His voice had a mixture of disbelief and something along the lines of, why am I not surprised.
"Yeah. And she's the Bomb Devil Hybrid so don't get on her bad side," I said, dropping another bomb while I fixed my new uniform.
I think it was a size too small. When I looked at the number, it was the same size I used to wear so that means I had grown a bit after last night. Maybe the Katana Devil was a powerful one.
"So she's a living weapon of mass destruction sent to kill you and you decided to wife her up." Aki said again.
"You make it sound worse than it actually is,"
"Please, I make it sound moderate,"
"I would argue but I have shit ton of things I need to do," I said, donning the last piece of my attire.
The watch that Reze gave me.
"I lost my colleagues too you know. And my apartment just got blown up," Aki said, standing on the front door with his arms crossed.
"And I'm going to deal with that for us, as the captain," I said, "In the meantime, you are in charge of babysitting. Make sure you keep an eye on Reze. Summon me immediately if things escalate. For a while consider our contract your first weapon, not your last resort,"
Aki moved away from the door as I walked out from the room. We were still in the hotel we rented for a day. When I crossed the small hallway, I saw Denji, Power and Reze sitting on the dining table having breakfast.
"Ouh, morning Jin!!" Denji waved at me, his face stuffed with bread. It was a sandwich where you put a bread between two pieces of bread.
The kind of food that could make your mouth feels like the sahara.
"Good morning," Reze greeted me too, a smile on her face. She seemed much amused by Power and Denji's antics.
Power eyed me carefully, nothing on her plate or hands because she refused to eat most things that were not meat.
"Good morning everyone," I replied with a smile, "Denji, Power, do behave while I'm away. And be nice to Reze,"
"You got it," Denji said, thumbs up.
"Where are you going?" Reze asked with a curious tilt.
"To the HQ probably," I said with a shrug, "I have some things to do. Well, I have everything to do,"
She smiled, "Good luck then,"
I nodded and turned to Aki, "Mind if you stir up some food for them? And please, give the poor boy a jar of jam and a glass of water,"
"Sure," Aki said, "We'll do,"
After giving a final wave, I left the hotel and head towards the headquarter of the Public Safety Commission.
The city was bustling like always, as if the majority was not really aware of the shitshow that took place last night. Perhaps they didn't. I doubt any newstation even reported the events to the public.
Most things related to the Public Safety Commission are censored because usually, they are related to devils and it could sow fear, making devils even more powerful. The only news reported were mostly about decisive victory.
When I was halfway in the journey from the hotel the headquarters, my nose picked up a familiar scent.
It was a little different though. The smell was still tempting. Like a freshly seared steak and my stomach couldn't help but rumble.
I made a right turn and head towards the familiar path leading to the Crossroads Cafe.
The bell jingled like always when I opened the door. Obviously, Reze with her waitress outfit was not there to greet me. But my eyes were not idle as they locked on the woman with red hair sitting alone in the cafe.
Quietly, I made my ways to her and stood in front of her table.
"You're in my seat," I said.
Makima showed a smile.
"I like this seat though. Maybe we can share," she said, gesturing at her lap.
I sighed and took a seat opposite to her.
"Why are you here? I thought you'd be busy with the recent events," I said. Although I was not really complaining. The main reason why I decided to head to the headquarters was so that I could talk to her in the first place.
"I am," she said, propping her chin with her palm. "Can't you see, I'm working right now,"
She had a steaming hot coffee on her other hand. I reckoned it'd hurt if she decided to throw the content on my face.
I paused at the strange line of thought.
I took a second look at her face. She had her familiar mask of a smile but something felt off that made her not completely friendly in my mind.
There was something unspoken. She was not awestruck by amusement, interest and ambition when she looked at me. I suppose this was what she normally felt like to others.
An entity that leaves you guarded from her mere presence.
I was brought out of my reverie when the cook placed my food in front of me. It was tea that was obviously too sweet from the smell alone. And a plate of french toast soaked in unhealthy amount of butter.
I hadn't ordered yet. But the food in front of me was the breakfast I usually go for.
The cook left without saying any word.
"Is this suppose to be some kind of powermove?" I asked, picking up the utensils and enjoying the toast.
A subtle way of telling me that she had always had her eyes on me. She knew my habits, and she knew exactly what happens every time I came here.
"I do nothing but make things easier for you," she said, "You completed your mission splendidly last night too. Consider it a small reward, my treat,"
"Thanks for treating me to my favourite food," I said.
"That's your favourite food?"
"Yes," I replied, chewing, "Free food is my favorite food,"
We played around the bush as I enjoyed my breakfast. There was an elephant in the room, but neither of us wanted to be the one to acknowledge it first. We both acted like the elephant didn't bother us.
You were responsible for what happened last night, weren't you. You always knew about Reze and tried to turn her against me, didn't you.
But I didn't say anything close to that topic until I finished my plate.
Makima offered her handkerchief. I took it and wiped away the oil in my mouth. The fabric felt soft and smelled nice too.
"Nice weather huh," I said.
She smiled a smile that was not a smile. How she did that, I don't know.
In the end, I gave up first and addressed the elephant in the room.
"A friend of mine work here you know," I said, "Reze. I heard you two met last night,"
"We did," Makima said, "So I must advise you to stay away from her. It's basic knowledge to stay away from bad company,"
"Did I say friend? Sorry, I meant girlfriend. I'm afraid I couldn't just dump a girlfriend for no good reason,"
"Does the future not qualify as a good reason?" Makima asked, "You know very well that this can only end in tragedy if you don't stop before the end. You think the Soviets are just going to leave her here in Japan? The moment they find out about her betrayal will be the moment everything goes boom. And the clock is already ticking every second she doesn't contact them,"
"...." I stayed silent, tapping the table with my finger.
"Why didn't you just kill her when I gave you the chance," she asked.
"Gave me a chance?" I chuckled, "I could've killed her anytime I wanted,"
"So why didn't you?" she asked immediately, not letting me shift the topic even one centimetre.
"....." What was I going to tell her? That Reze was a character I knew from my past life and I found myself enjoying my time with her?
If that was the truth, I couldn't say it.
"Nice weather today," I said, moving my gaze to the window, "Really nice sky,"
"You don't know, do you?" Makima said and reclined on her seat.
"I asked the same question the whole time last night. Why didn't you just kill her? Why do you care? Why do you care about the most mundane things in your life like your subordinates or destroying houses in your missions," Makima said.
"Because I am human?"
"No you aren't," Makima said quickly, "You are a hybrid. And even with the limited source, we know all hybrids have problem with empathy compared to humans. Its why they are considered a living weapon,"
"..."
"But you know what I figured out last night?" Makima asked, leaning into the table once more. Close to me.
"I realized that its not that you care too much or care so easily. Its just that you don't care at all," Makima said.
"It baffled me why you were so attached with someone like Reze, and even Denji or Aki for example. There was no apparent reason for you to do so. But then I realized that you don't care about anything in this world, so even the slightest emotions appear instantly in your actions," Makima said. She was talking about me but it was something even I didn't know myself.
"You can't see the insignificant fireflies in the city as they are overshine by all the magnificent lights. But rice is a delicacy for someone who grew up eating dirt," Makima said, confusing me further until she explained.
"It's not that you quickly fell in love with Reze. It's not that you bonded deeply in a short time with Aki," she said, "its just that they are the only thing you have in your life. Its not because you care so deeply about them that you act the way you do, its just that they are the only thing you give the slightest shit about,"
"Even a slight curiosity or fondness affect you like it would others by true love or lifelong bonds. In your pitch black world, fireflies are blinding,"
A long silence.
Until I exhaled loudly.
It was put in a perspective I've never considered but they were somewhat true.
"it's why you have no ill intention towards me even after knowing everything," Makima added, "In a world that was so inferior and foreign, the things you feel towards me, be it lust, hate or familiarity, are enough for you to never even consider really killing me,"
"How do you even come to such chains of odd conclusions?" I couldn't help myself but ask.
Her lips were straight lines, eyes almost glowing even when sunlight shone on them.
"Because I know now that you are just like me,"
..
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