I got a review on the last chapter in which an anon asked me to use quotation marks, and here is my response. I would be more than glad to follow your advice, and I will in the next requested fic I publish. Besides, I have revised I fic I wrote in August to make it use quotation marks! I will publish it soon. Edit 13/9/15: it's already been published!

As you may know, my mother tongue is Spanish, and in Spanish we use dashes, as you call them, in written dialogues. Thus, I have very little knowledge or practice when it comes to quotation marks. I use them very rarely, for I fear making mistakes. I will try to educate myself on quotation marks from now on so I can use them more often!


Chapter 2: The interpreter's tale.

Gin gave yet another look at the white door in front of him and let out a sigh. He looked down at his watch and then back up – it had been over an hour since Vodka had entered that room, insisting that only he could serve as her interpreter. 'Go home, Gin,' he had told him before he followed the white stretcher on which the unconscious girl lay, 'I'll be alright.'

The door opened with a loud noise all of sudden. Gin stood up as fast as he could, trying not to stumble as his feet fought to find a balance after such a long rest.

Vodka walked out of the room and closed the door in complete silence. When he looked up, Gin felt something twist inside him. His friend seemed anything but happy – among all the feelings his face reflected, Gin could identify sadness, anger and pure exhaustion. The man had taken his black tie off, and Gin caught a glimpse of the tip of it coming out of the right pocket of his (also black) trousers. His hat was nowhere to be seen.

-How is she? –the boy asked.

Vodka shook his head and made a gesture, to which Gin nodded. The man walked towards the grey chairs where his friend had been waiting and took a seat – Gin followed him.

-I'm so sorry –Vodka started-. You've been waiting here for over an hour...

-I stayed because I wanted –the boy replied-. How is she?

Vodka kept quiet for a moment and finally answered:

-She's… better now, I guess. Nothing's broken -he clarified-. She's hurt and has some scratches and bruises, but they will heal in a few days. They've given her some painkillers so as to help her sleep.

-But what's happened to her? -Gin inquired-. Why was she laying unconscious at a side of the road to Beika? Can you tell me?

Vodka looked away from the boy and stared at the floor for a moment. When he finally raised his head back, he had one single deep breath and then did something which Gin knew as rare as meaningful.

Still in silence, Vodka moved a hand to his face and took his sunglasses off.

-Her name's Titania, as I've already told you -he started after a while. His gaze was on his sunglasses, which he held firmly above his knees-. She's Russian. I first met her one year or so before I started working with you. She was (and still is) some sort of freelance spy, and the Organization had paid her to do some spying on the usual people: politicians, important companies' CEOs... I think there was an actor among them -he added, but then shook his head-. Anyway, I was assigned as her interpreter.

-You speak Russian? -Gin asked, feeling truly amazed.

-I do. Pretty well, I must say -he answered with a proud smile-. The Organization knew this, of course, and so they didn't need to hire a stranger to do the task. I was the only member who spoke Russian back then, as far as I know. One way or another -he added with a gesture-, I met her and worked as her interpreter for about nine months. We bonded and kept in touch even after she left - we still send each other a Christmas postcard every year.

-But what's happened to her? -the boy insisted-. Did she have an accident, or something like that?

-Not exactly -Vodka responded, and all the happiness that memories had brought to his face disappeared as he spoke-. From what she's told me... I still cannot believe it, Gin. It's... purely disgusting...

-What is it?

Vodka took a second deep breath and his left hand moved through his short black hair. When it fell back down to his lap, he shook his head yet once more and resumed speaking:

-She has been spying on a certain criminal organization for about a week. It isn't as big or old as ours, but they are pretty dangerous, the kind of brats you wouldn't want to even interact with. Most of what they do is to sell and buy drugs. She was doing well, keeping herself at a safe distance of their ruthless, cocaine-stained hands - she's great at her work, you should see her. But two days ago or so... they captured her. They had realized she was spying on them, and they attacked her when she had her guard off. They... -Vodka bit his lip, as if the words he was about to pronounce were too horrible to be said out loud-. They locked her up in some basement. They tortured her for hours, not trying to get any information, but solely as their revenge. And then... then...

The man took a third deep breath. He held his sunglasses tighter with one hand whilst the other pressed against his forehead.

-It's disgusting, Gin -he continued talking-. As she told me, I swear I was about to be sick a couple of times. Those bastards...

-What is it?

A fourth deep breath. Vodka's right hand made a fist and he suddenly hit his own thigh.

-They raped her -he spoke in a calm voice as the first tears ran down his face-. A group of men did. She told me every single detail of it, and I only wanted to be sick. I swear on my life I'm going to find those bastards and make them pay for what they've done. I swear...

But Vodka couldn't finish the sentence - as he clenched his teeth, the man took both his hands to his head and started crying. Gin moved closer to him and moved an arm around the shivering body of his companion. Tears ran only down the right side of his face, and Gin couldn't help but stare at the scar that replaced Vodka's left eye. How many times had he seen it after the incident? Ten or so? And yet he knew how much that meant, how much courage Vodka still needed to take his sunglasses off and let someone else see his bare face, notice his missing eye, even if that someone already knew about it.

When he finished crying, Vodka made a gesture to Gin and sat up straight.

-She escaped -he told Gin, finally turning his face to look at him-. She was very disoriented, and all she could clearly think was that she needed to run away. She collapsed after who knows how long, and we found her there.

-Have the doctors told you how long she has to stay here? -inquired Gin.

-They say she could be ready to go as soon as tomorrow. And now that I mention this -Vodka added-, I wanted to ask you a favor...

-Sure. What is it?

Vodka cleared his throat.

-Partly because she ran away, Titania is in a very dangerous position right now -he explained-. Those drug dealers are looking for her. She needs to hide, at least until we get rid of them. Were she in a better state, she could easily do it herself, but we can't risk waiting for her to recover. And, besides -he added as his look got even more serious-, I can't wait to make those bastards pay for what they've done to her.

-Vodka... -the boy started- be careful... Maybe you should let others do this...

-I won't -he replied with a sharp tone-. My friend's enemies are my enemies. You know I would do the same for you.

-And so would I -Gin agreed-. But this may be too dangerous, and I know your feelings can... numb your common sense... and take over you and make you do things which you may regret, or which may get you in trouble...

-I know, too -he responded-. But she is my friend, and taking into account what those bastards have done to her... I can't let it be. I'll be careful, I swear. But I can't let it be. And here -he added- is where I must ask you a huge favor.

-What is it? -Gin repeated with a nod.

-I've told you she needs somewhere to hide in -he spoke-. She is staying here for today, but this could go on for weeks and I don't think the Organization facilities are the best place for her, especially when it comes to her mental health. I would gladly let her stay in my apartment, but I will be away getting rid of those bastards, and I don't want her to be alone in an unknown place. So I'd like her to stay with you, in your apartment.

Even though he had easily guessed where Vodka's train of thought was heading to, Gin didn't know what to say when his friend finished speaking. The boy looked for a response in his head – unable to find one, he finally exclaimed:

-But I hardly know about her!

-You're the only one I trust, Gin -Vodka argued-. She cannot be alone all day, not after what's happened to her - she needs someone to look after her, to make sure she eats and sleeps and that her wounds are healing...

-But...

-I know I'm asking you to babysit her -the man added, guessing his friend's thoughts-. But she needs it.

-But what about my work? -Gin mentioned-. You know there are days I leave my apartment early and come back very late.

-I'm sure 'that person' will give you some holidays -Vodka replied-. After all, the Organization is kind of in debt with her - taking care of Titania could actually be considered as much of a mission as today's interchange in Chiba was.

-Vodka, I don't think it's a good idea...

-It is -the man claimed-. You're kind and caring, and I know you'll treat her the way she deserves.

The boy frowned.

-Please -Vodka insisted-. You're the only one I can trust to take care of her.

-Alright -Gin finally accepted-. She can stay with me. But please promise me you will be careful around those drug dealers.

Clearly satisfied, Vodka smiled and nodded as he answered:

-I promise.

Gin folded his arms with a sigh and stared back at the white door. Out of the corner of the eye, he noticed Vodka still hadn't put his sunglasses back on.


Author's notes:

¡Hola! Hello! Hallo! こんにちは! Salut! Here comes Sherry Furude, ready for attack!

It's nice to see you again! Thank you for reading this second chapter. Did you like it?

I now there is something which may be flying through your mind back and forth - why Titania has been raped. The answer is that it is part of what the anon requested me. To quote them, they wanted me to write a fic in which Gin 'found a girl named Titania' and Vodka 'stated that she was raped by a group of men.'

Now that you know about Titania's background, do you guess where the title of the first chapter came from? In case you don't, I'll tell you - it is a reference to her being Russian, as Russia's coat of arms features a golden eagle. However, her nationality isn't revealed until the second chapter!

'And why is she Russian?' you may ask yourselves. The reason is actually quite funny. The first times after getting the ask with the request for this fic, I accidentally kept reading Titania's name as 'Tatiana'. I even wrote it like that in my first drafts for the plot! It took me about a week to notice my mistake. By then, however, I had already made myself to the idea that she was Russian, as Tatiana was the name of the second daughter of tsar Nicolas II (and she was the first person my mind linked the name with). I know that this may also lead you to the question of why Vodka speaks Russian, which I also got to. However, I simply answered myself 'Why not?'

Thank you again for reading this far. I hope you like the fic! If you find any mistakes, do not hesitate to tell me - I want to improve my writing as much as I can!

Lots of love and see you next Sunday!

Sherry F.