1. Introduction
I stalked the corridors of the tower as per usual. The director had called to see me, I didn't much want to see him but it was an order so I didn't have much of a choice. I skulked along, shoulders low, looking as if I didn't want to be bothered.
After a short while I heard a door shut behind me a little ways back, I ignored it.
"uhh, excuse me!" A somewhat timid voice called out, it was a child's voice.
I turned to see who it was. There was a small boy quickly trotting up the hallway towards me, his short wavy hair bobbing as he jogged to catch up to me.
"Umm, I'm supposed to see the Director but I don't know where to find him…" The boy had a folded piece of paper in his hand, I knew it would be the same as the one I had in my pocket. Orders from the Director.
"You a new recruit then?" I asked him, my accent heavy. I hated it, it was the only thing besides my look that really set me apart from the others.
"Yes. I just arrived today… are you another student here?" God this kid spoke well. What was he? 6 maybe?
"Yes… my name is Jyabura." I started walking again, we were both heading to the same place, may as well walk together.
"Lucci… hey, wait for me." He ran a couple of steps to catch up. "Where are we going?" I briefly took the piece of paper out my pocket to answer his question.
I wasn't too talkative, I didn't much want to see the Director. I didn't dislike the man, not at all, I just didn't want to go on another mission, not after the last one.
"Ohh, you have to see the Director too. Is he nice? I've never met him." I shrugged.
"He is not exactly nice but he is not a bad guy either." I kept walking, not wanting to talk much, the kid was nice and all but I wasn't in the mood.
"Alright." We fell silent as we walked together.
"How did you hurt your arm?" his voice was curious and his eyes locked on the bandage wrapped around my arm.
"I got shot in a mission." This kid was making it very hard to ignore him.
"Wow. You're going on missions already? When do you think I'll be going on them?" I bought a hand up and scratched the bandage, it felt suddenly rather itchy.
"I don't know."
"… I like your hair." God kid, shut up.
"Thank you." My ponytail sat level with my shoulder blades. It always got me a lot of attention, not that I wanted it.
"Why don't you talk much?" I rolled my eyes.
"I don't like kids."
"ohh… ok." He fell silent for a little while.
"… You never used to speak English did you." Was it that obvious?
"No." I sighed. "I had a bad day. I do not feel like talking at the moment." The kid looked a little sad.
"Alright… I'll be quiet." God dammit, why do I feel guilty now!
"… Another time. I promise I will talk to you another time but not now." That seemed to cheer him up a fair bit.
"Then will you tell me about where you come from?" His voice rang with happiness and curiosity. I didn't much like children but this one? I could see myself getting along with him next time we met.
"Yes, if you want to know about it." I spotted a large, all too familiar door up ahead.
"There it is." He looked up at the door and dropped behind me a couple of steps, he was scared, no surprise there.
"Come on Lucci." I walked up to the large double doors and pushed one open, walking in without hesitation.
