Updated 5/16/19: Final corrections. I think I'm comfortable with where this is now.
-Cleaned up some more errors
-Fattened up a number of bits of dialogue
-Added some justification for Malos showing up
Feel free to review if you have constructive criticisms or thoughts on the content, and how to improve it. Or if you just want to gush or something I dunno.
I'm not sure if I went a bit far in some areas or not so any feedback helps; especially, anything involving character's personalities and actions, as that is what I'm the most critical with when I'm writing.
Thanks.
Nia closed the door to Bana's office behind her, finding Jin and Malos waiting for her. Malos looked impatient, his arms crossed with a scowl on his face.
A squirming anger reared its ugly head within her. "Just what the hell is your problem?!" She growled, closing the distance between them.
"This again Nia?" Malos asked, amusement beginning to emanate off him.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah, really. What is your deal?"
Malos smirked. "I was simply putting your little suggestions to practice."
"And that involved you nearly cutting the kid in half!?" She huffed.
"Listen here- " He leaned forward towering over her, "-this sort of thing isn't anything new for us. You of all people should've known what you were getting into when we found-"
"That's enough." Jin interrupted, extending a hand between them.
Malos regarded his compatriot with a sidelong stare, "You sure Jin? I haven't even made my point yet-"
"Yes, I know." His voice sharpened. "And you've said enough."
Malos let out a prolonged exhale and shook his head tiredly. "Alright, fine. I get it." He began walking off. "I'll be on the Monoceros if you need me."
The three of them watched as he melded into the crowd below. It was a moment or two before Jin spoke again. "Nia."
At the the sound of his voice her head snapped to him, not sure if she was going to be scolded or not, noticing how the taller man's normally icy gaze looked a bit different from normal.
"Um... What is it Jin?" She managed.
"Easy, I just want you to walk with me is all."
Nia's cat-like ears perked and fluttered a little. "Oh- OH! Uhh..." She mumbled, holding each of her hands against her stomach, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Why am I acting like some sort of little school girl?
She and Jin hadn't ever really spoken to each other before- properly that was. The only times she'd spoken to him was when they'd first met, and even then that was-
"So is that a yes?" Jin asked, apparently noticing her reaction.
"OH! Er- yeah!" she recovered, giving herself a little shake. C'mon pull yourself together here!
Something resembling a smile seemed appeared on Jin's lips. "Good. Follow me." He turned and began walking off towards the steps leading down to the bazaar.
"O-oh ok!" She stammered, quickly moving to catch up with him.
As Nia shuffled after the white-haired man she couldn't help but notice Dromarch stayed behind and gave his best attempt at a grin, as if rooting for her.
Gee furball, thanks for the encouragement here. She returned his grin with a forced one of her own.
Nia followed behind the much taller man at a surprisingly brisk pace, as they passed up stall after stall of amenities. They'd been doing this for more than a few minutes, she swore they'd passed the same stall of perfumes four times now.
Was this his idea of 'walking' with him? Her eyes began to knew Jin wasn't one to really talk all that much, and while he was a bit odd, she didn't expect to be-
Her stride was suddenly cut off as her face bumped into something in front of her.
Nia shook her head, rubbed her forehead wincing. "Ah- hey! Watch where-" She looked up to find Jin staring at her.
Her cheeks flushed. "Oh Jin! S-sorry, I wasn't really looking where I was going!"
"No, it's ok. I should've told you what I was looking for." He apologized.
"Huh?" Nia looked around and found that they'd stopped in front of a clothing stall. Behind the counter was a tired looking Gormotti man, immediately evident by the pair of cat-like ears perched on his head.
He doesn't get many customers does he? She wondered, taking note of the stitches and tears in his shirt and the areas of patchwork spread across the overalls he wore.
Noticing their sudden interest in his apparel, the man sat up from his stool. "Oh! Were you two interested in buying something? The man asked excitedly.
Nia looked to Jin expectantly. What would Jin need with clothes? He's already got his armor and all. That and this guy looks like he's just crawled out of the gutter…
The taller man was silent for a moment seeming to perusing the shopkeeper's inventory before he pointed to a black shape near the back of the stall.
The merchant cocked a brow at Jin's request before turning and pulling the object out, setting it on the stall's counter for the both of them to see. Nia couldn't help but notice how the Gormotti man seemed to watch the two of them closely gauging their reactions.
On closer inspection Nia determined it be some kind cloak and watched as Jin picked it up by its collar and examined it, his eyes running up and down its exterior.
"It's 1600 Gold if you want it sir." The merchant announced warily.
"I'll take it." Jin said, reaching for the bag around his waist and handing it to the man.
The merchant pulled the string on the bag's end and opened it. He was quiet for a moment before making a sound that sounded somewhere between choking and inhaling. The man looked up, eyes seeming to bulge. "Sir, there's WAY more than 1600 here!" he asked worriedly, offering to give the bag of coins back.
"Keep it. You look like you need the money anyway." Jin said, waving him off and began to walk away.
Nia glanced back to the merchant, who looked as though he'd stumbled upon some buried treasure, before turning and running to catch up to Jin who'd already wrapped himself in the cloak.
The pair's pace decreased significantly. Nia had been secretly grateful for this as her interest in the stalls they passed only grew more and more enticing.
She found herself drawn to a particular stall that looked to be stocked with a variety of fabrics and sewing materials. Maybe I COULD buy some of this stuff… I HAVE been meaning to make some more of those-
"Do you want to buy something?" Jin asked stiffly, appearing at her side.
"Gah! Ah- Jin!" She spluttered, nearly falling over.
Taking a moment she caught her breath, and calmed herself. "I mean, I guess I was eyeing some of the sewing stuff..." She mumbled, bringing a contemplative finger to her lips.
Jin looked to the stall in question, his cold eyes passing over its amenities. "I didn't know you sewed." He asked with an unfamiliar amount of genuineness.
Nia suddenly found herself put on the spot. "Yeah it's um-" She faltered, "-uh, something I learned." Her thumbs twiddled nervously while she tried her best to avoid eye contact.
"Huh" He crossed his arms, leaning forwards. "Were you planning on buying something then?"
She jumped. "Oh, y-yeah!"
A bit apprehensive, she slowly approached the stall. Immediately, she spotted a small portable box, with a clam shell design, containing a set of pins and needles inside of it.
She spied the owner bent over organizing some boxes. She was a homely looking middle age woman with short curly dark brown hair and, much like the man they'd met before, a pair of cat-like ears adorning her head.
"Um, excuse me?" Nia asked, having stood at the stall's counter for a minute or so.
The woman looked up, and smiled sweetly, her eyes calm and kind. "Well hello there honey!" The gormotti woman greeted, walking up towards the counter. "What can I do for you today little lady?"
"Little?" Nia looked down at herself eliciting a laugh from the older woman.
"No! I mean you're cute is all!" The woman giggled.
Cute? She cocked an eyebrow at the older woman.
The stall owner immediately cleared her throat. "Ahem, sorry about that. I've got some youngsters of my own at home so I just can't help myself sometimes." She chuckled. "Anyways, what were you interested in?"
Nia pointed to the box of needles. "How much for that?"
The woman picked up said box and turned it over a few times in her hands examining it closely. "Mmm... Alright." She murmured, placing it back down on the counter. "It'll be 500."
Nia's ears fluttered a little at the price. "O-oh that's a bit pricey."
The woman nodded. "Yep, they're an import from the Ardanian titan. Metal is their specialty so these babies have been made from some of their finest quality metals." She held one of the needles in front of her own face. "Or at least that's what the guy who sold it to me said." The woman remarked, peering closer at the needle in her hand, before looking back to her. "So, are you gonna be able to afford it?"
Nia reached for the bag of coin around her waist, her fingers plucking out the coins inside and counting them as she went. 200... 300... 400... Her fingers continued to search but found only fabric sliding past her fingers. Oh no…
She shook the bag once then twice, with nothing but empty air answering. Ah jeez…
"What's wrong?" The woman asked, tilting her head slightly.
"I uh... I don't have enough." She replied sadly, quietly putting each coin back into the bag.
She was about to deposit a coin in when the woman clapped a hand on her bag. "Hold on. Maybe we can work something out."
Nia eyed the shop keep curiously. "How do you mean?"
"Just show me a smile."
"Huh?"
"Show me a smile and I'll let you have it for free."
"Just a smile?" Nia frowned.
The shop keep folded her arms and nodded. "M'yep"
"... Fine." Not like I got much choice anyway.
While she was already somewhat apprehensive due to the woman's forwardness she couldn't help but accept a deal like that. I mean, who wouldn't want free stuff for a smile?
Slowly, Nia's lips stretched across her face, as she tried to give her best smile, the shop owner watching with interest. She held it for a few seconds, before she let it fall. "Was that good enough?" She asked tiredly.
The woman's eyes seemed to shine with affection. "It's like I thought..." she said, tapping a contemplative finger to her chin. "You have a very pretty smile."
Nia's eyebrows rose a few degrees. "I do?"
"Yes!" The shopkeep chirped, happily handing her the box. "With a smile like that I'm surprised the tall handsome guy you came with isn't already arm-in-arm with you already!"
"Wha! You don't mean-" Nia's ears burned intensely, quickly glancing back at Jin who still stood stoically a fair bit away. "N-no it's not like that!" She turned back, her cheeks tinged pink now.
"Oh." The woman paused, before a devious smile crept onto her face. "Well if he's single then send him my way! I'll set him up right quick!"
Nia began backing away. I need to get away. NOW.
"No no. That's ok! Thank you for the needles!" She said, trying to block out whatever was being said to her as she widened the distance between them.
"Don't forget what I said about that smile now!" The woman called out, while resting her head on her hand and waving with the other.
Yeah yeah just stop talking please. She swore she could feel the woman's smile still shining like sun on the back of her head as she returned to Jin.
"Your face is a little red." He said, pointing. "Did something happen over there?"
"Nothing. She just said some embarrassing stuff is all..." Nia mumbled.
Jin studied her for a moment, his eyes falling to the small box in her hands. "What is that?"
"Oh these are just some sewing needles." Nia said, opening the box for him to see inside.
She watched as the white-haired man peered closer, noticing how a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It took her a moment to realize, but she found her returning it in kind.
"Um... I can sew you something if you want." She asked without thinking.
Jin's eyes snapped from the box up to her suddenly, becoming wide behind his mask.
"I mean -" She verbally back-stepped a few times trying to recover. "IF you wanted to…"
Nia felt as though she'd a swallowed a rock, as she watched the white-haired man puzzle something out to himself. Unknowingly, she clutched the box closer to herself, her thumbs beginning to twiddle across the top of it.
Jin suddenly turned back to her, nearly causing her to jump.
"I… yes. That would be nice." He nodded, his voice slow but considerate. "Thank you Nia."
"Uh... yeah. Y-your welcome." She stammered, still unable to fully shake her previous feelings.
I'm such an idiot.
The sun hung low in the sky casting long shadows through the doors and windows of the vessel. In particular, the bazaar was now painted in strokes of orange dimming light. The crowds of people the pair had weaved through before now seemed thin, and the hurried actions of those around them slackened.
An audible growl came from Nia's stomach. Ah, that's right I haven't eaten since this morning have I? She thought, briefly rubbing her stomach.
"Something wrong?" Jin asked.
"Ah. Um, I'm just hungry." She said, smiling sheepishly.
"Oh." He blinked and rubbed his own stomach experimentally. "I guess, I'm hungry as well."
He turned to her. "What did you have a taste for?"
"Jin I- We've been walking around all day," She gazed around them taking note of how all the stalls seemed to encircle them. "And you seem to know your way around here better. So why don't you pick?"
Jin seemed confused by her response, but still shrugged.
She watched the man look around, before focusing on something. He pointed in the direction of some unused stalls. "There, beyond the stalls."
"Huh…?" Nia squinted, noticing what looked like a small noodle shop nestled in the corner of the large vessel.
When the pair finally approached the secluded shop they found a person or two already seated at the counter while a small Nopon, dressed in a white cooking uniform with a small chef's hat on his head, busily worked at preparing a mass of long noodles.
Nia followed Jin's lead as they both approached.
Likely already more than experienced with dealings involving customers, the Nopon turned around while giving them a steely eyed look.
"Two for us." Jin asked casually, holding up two fingers.
The nopon gestured to a deposit slot near them on the counter. "Meh meh 240."
Jin nodded, reaching under his cloak, pulling out a few coins from another one of his bags.
Following a few audible clunks, the Nopon nodded solemnly and turned back to attend to the mass of noodles behind him, whilst pulling out a pair of bowls and stirring a pot of simmering soup with his prehensile ears. Nia found herself almost mesmerized by how precise the cook was with how he prepared his dishes.
"Are you going to sit?"
"Huh?" Nia turned to find Jin already seated. "Ah! Right!" A little flustered, she took a seat for herself, continuing to watch the nopon continue to work at the noodles and soup.
The two of them sat in silence as they waited for their food. Nia couldn't help but occasionally glance over in Jin's direction. "Um… hey Jin?" She finally spoke up, breaking the silence between them.
He turned to her, his expression indecipherable beneath the mask he wore. "I- um… I just want to thank you for today."
Jin continued to look at her.
"A- after all that stuff with the kid from earlier and Malos." She mumbled, preferring to stare at the wood countertop than the man next to her, her cheeks turning a very light shade of pink.
"I just-" She paused, trying to find her words. "Thank you, for everything, Jin."
The white-haired man remained quiet for a moment before nodding in acknowledgement. "It's alright." He was quiet for a moment, folding his hands together. "... I'm sorry if this has been a bit too much for you." He said, adjusting himself in the seat.
Nia looked up, a bit surprised at his sudden apology.
"Nia, if you want, I can cover for you." He pursed his lips. "If you don't want to be a part of this job anymore."
She was confused by Jin's question, did she seem unsure of herself? It was her first job after all, but that's how it was with anyone's first time at anything.
"I'm not helpless," Nia creased her brow slightly. "You know I can take care of myself" -she shifted a little- "that and I'll have you remember that I WANTED to do this job as well."
Jin smirked and opened his mouth to say something, before his back suddenly straightened itself, his mouth still being held agape.
"Jin?" Nia asked worriedly.
His mouth closed and wrenched itself into a grimace.
She reached a hand towards him. "Jin are you-"
"Oi! Oi!" A boisterous, yet worryingly familiar voice announced itself from behind them. Nia snapped her head in the voice's direction, her stomach nearly doing a flip.
It was Malos sporting that classic confident grin of his, and in tow he had with him a bipedal lizard-like creature with a crystal in its chest; a glum expression hung on its face.
Malos!? What's he doing here?! And he even brought along Sever…
"Finally found you two!" He grinned, approaching them.
Nia stood up, her earlier anger boiling back up with a vengeance. "What do you want Malos?" She growled.
"Whoa whoa! Calm down!" Malos assuaged, holding out his arms placatively. "Can't a guy worry about where his buddies are?"
"Last time I checked we weren't buddies." Nia crossed her arms. "And didn't you go stomping off to stay on the Maelstrom to angst or whatever it is that you do?"
Malos feigned a grinned. "Listen, Me and Mik were just wondering where you and Jin we're is all." He swung an arm around the Blade next to him jokingly, "Even brung my ol' pal Sever here along to help."
"I thought you hated Sever..." Nia grumbled unconvinced, catching the reptilian Blade eye the man next to him with a discriminatory glare.
"Hate is a strong word y'know?" Malos thumbed his nose. "Dislike? Now that's a lot more accurate." He grinned toothily at the Blade, his eyes narrowing just hair.
Nia noticed the Blade roll his eyes at the man's words. Typical...
She shook her head and relaxed her posture still maintaining the scowl on her face. "Still doesn't explain why it had to be YOU of all people to come looking for us."
The man shrugged his shoulders chuckling a little to himself. "A: I know Jin the best. Plus, I knew you wouldn't leave his side unless he asked you to."
Nia's eye twitched a little. What the hell is that supposed to even mean.
"And B: -which you, me, and everyone else knows already- Mik can have a work ethic like that of a snail when Patroka isn't around."
Nia crossed her arms skeptically. He wasn't exactly wrong, Mikhail DID like to slack off occasionally, at least when he wasn't showing off for Patroka.
"Well you found us, congratulations." She grumbled, "Now what?"
"I had something I wanted to discuss with Jin and- " Malos tilted his head and squinted, looking past her. "What's wrong with Jin? Did he start drinking and not tell me?"
"Huh?" Nia turned towards the man in question, and her stomach followed up and completed its previous near flip with a somersault; finding him now slumped across the counter. Her eyes widened in panic. "Jin?" She reached a hand towards his shoulder.
The moment she touched him, her entire hand flared with pain like it was being stung by a thousand sharp needles. She squealed in agony and stumbled backwards, tripping over a stool. For a moment she expected to hit hard floor, instead, she found her fall broken by a pair of arms. Looking up, she was met with the reptilian face of Sever.
"Th-thanks…" She managed. The reptile grunted an acknowledgement, and helped her to her feet while she flexed her hand experimentally, it still tingling sensitively.
Nia noticed that Malos was now next to Jin. "Dammit… Why now…?" She heard the man mutter under his breath.
"Malos what's-" She tried to ask. He turned to her, his joking demeanor and mocking grin replaced with stiff silence and a frown. "How long has he been like this?" He asked, his voice low.
"W-what do you mean?" She shot back, her voice a mix of anxiety and fear not only for herself but also Jin.
His expression darkened and jaw stiffened. "I mean how long have you let him LAY HERE."
Malos' voice was like a knife being swung in front of her face. "I- I don't know. One moment, he was fine, and then you show up and he's like this!" She explained, struggling to maintain her strong front.
The taller dark-haired man suddenly narrowed his eyes at her, and began to stomp towards her.
"Malos- "
She didn't even have time to react as he backhanded her across the side of her face, her cheek burning with snaps of pain as she was knocked to the ground.
Nia sat stunned, not entirely sure as to what had just happened. A pair of armored feet stepped in front of her, she followed them upward finding Malos' smoldering gaze at the top, boring holes into her wide-eyed own. He stared at her for another moment or so, before he let out a short puff of air and shook his head, walking back toward where Jin still lay slumped over the counter.
Nia silently watched him wrap Jin in his cloak, the piece of clothing thankfully shielding him from anymore prying eyes, and picked him up, hoisting the man's limp body over his shoulder.
Sever knelt down at her side, "Are you ok?" The reptilian Blade asked, his voice gravelly but concerned.
Nia blinked, she briefly glanced towards the Blade and did her best to nod convincingly, bits of moisture starting to form at the corners of her eyes. By now a small crowd had formed around the lot of them likely drawn by the commotion caused by them.
The Blade observed her for a moment, then looked to the crowd behind them, before shaking his head and standing up.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Malos walk past them. Suddenly, he turned to her, "I'm taking him back," he growled, "I don't want to see you for the rest of the night." jabbing a finger in her direction.
Sever gave her one last glance and joined in pace with his Driver, leaving Nia to watch them walk away, seeming to part the crowd of people with their very presence, and walk through until they were finally obscured.
Nia tried her best to control her breathing as her face burned with a mixture of frustration, anger, and embarrassment. She slowly picked herself up from the wooden floor and brushed off the dust from her outfit and sniffed, trying her best to keep her face hidden.
Putting on the best smile she could muster, she thanked the Nopon chef for the noodles and apologized for causing a scene. The Nopon tried to ask her if she was alright, but she'd already walked away.
She didn't want to bother the Nopon with her problems, not when she'd already caused a scene. Right now she needed to get away from there, find a place where no one could see her, where she could be alone.
Nia turned, finding the crowd of onlookers to still be present. She could feel their eyes focused on her, trying to puzzle her out. She stiffened her jaw. I'm going to have to go through them aren't I?
The Gormotti girl sighed, and walk forwards in to it.
Whispers surrounded her like a massive suffocating blanket as she pushed her way through.
"Poor thing…"
"Why did he hit her? It looked like they knew each other..."
"Wasn't that girl just talking to Lily earlier?"
"What's with that outfit?"
Her fists clenched and began to shake. She wanted to sock each and everyone of them in the face, if only to shut them all the HELL up.
After what felt like an eternity she finally emerged and pushed through to the other side. With everyone's eyes trying their best to burn a hole through the back of her head she kept going, unsure of where exactly.
Eventually, she found herself huddled in between a collection of wooden crates. The dimness, afforded her a nice spot from which she could look out but not be noticed so easily by those walking past.
The girl let her front fall as her lips began to quiver and her breathing hitched. Silent tears formed in the corners of her eyes, followed by a watery sniffle. It pissed her off. All of it: Malos, these damn people, the freaking job, and especially herself.
For once why couldn't she stand up for herself?! It's not like she had done anything WRONG!? Right?!
Nia wiped away the tears blurring her vision, suddenly having the urge to kick one of the boxes with all her strength. She briefly considered it before sighing, shrugging it off. Don't do that stupid, you'll only get yourself crushed.
She sniffed again, and instead slammed the side of her fist against the box beside her. The box's produced a dull thud sound as she hit it, the contents inside rattling slightly.
Nia held her forehead and massaged it slowly, her puffy eyes blinking out more tears as she sniffled again.
"Hey um…" a voice asked.
Nia's head snapped in it's direction, her tear stained eyes going wide. She could make his face as the lights shadowed his features, though she could tell it was boy. Maybe a teenager?
"Whoa, easy! I- " The boy said, peeking his head in a little further.
"Leave. Me. Alone." She warned, scooting as far back as she could.
The boy tilted his head. "Listen, I don't want any trouble. You're that girl: Nia, right?"
Nia paused for a moment; The boy somehow knew her name. Did she know him? What did he want? "Who are you? How do you know my name?" She asked cautiously, taking careful measure to speak slower and calmer this time.
"I'm uh... " -the boy appeared to scratch the back of his head- "I saw what happened and I- "
"Answer my question." Nia interrupted, asking forwardly.
He seemed to open his mouth before quickly shutting it. "Alright." He nodded, backing up a little as the the shadow over his face was illuminated by the light. Nia's stomach dropped. Of all the people to...
"I was wondering if you'd let me buy dinner for you?" He asked genuinely.
"What?" Nia was caught off guard by his question. "Dinner wh-" She was interrupted by an audible rumble from her stomach.
Author's Note: More time has passed and a whole bunch of stories involving Nia have come out since I posted the first chapter. We're sorta in a "Nia-wave" at the moment. Kinda crazy huh?
In any case, I wrote this over the span of like 3 months while planning out what I wanted to do with this story, and also dealing with school and other life stuff. In that time I threw out like 3-5 versions of this chapter, and by the time I got to this version I just said "ENOUGH" and stuck with what I got. Hopefully, it's at least somewhat worth the wait.
But seriously THANK YOU to all that followed, favorited, and reviewed the story so far and have been ever so patient. YOU ALL ROCK!
Special thanks to the following users for feedback:
- Sparklehands: For suggesting to change pricing for items to be more believable
- Spiritgirl16: For taking the time to read through and give feedback and suggesting to change Malos' interaction with Nia.
- Anonomous beta reader: For giving in depth corrections and sticking through my long publishing gaps.