"You should really watch where you drop your things. Someone might watch it and do things with it, you wouldn't want to know."
Lucifer placed the disc neatly in front of the doctor who didn't even flinch. His reaction gave her prove that it really was his plan to tell her. He even offered her a smile.
"Then I can consider myself lucky that it was picked up by you and not by someone else."
"If you think that this was the right choice. Well, your fault." She smirked at him for a second before crossing her arms before her chest.
"So, why did you call me? You should have noticed that I am quite busy."
"As you know, the Director is not reachable at the moment. I will act as his replacement until he returns from his trip."
Irritated the woman arched her left eyebrow. "That is new to me. When did he leave?"
"Yesterday...I believe you were on a special assignment around that time?"
The woman tried not to scowl to show the fox how displeased she was about this new circumstance. When the director wasn't around, she couldn't follow what he was doing and try to earn his trust to lure out more information about him. She closed her eyes and pushed upcoming murderous thoughts out of her way. It also meant she had enough time to check up about the doctor himself to see what he was planning with all this.
"So...You are giving me my special missions now?"
"Something like that."
Her eyes shot open as she felt something invade her bubble of privacy and her body immediately entered a defensive stance. He was suddenly standing in front of her, face just inches away from her. Additionally, he seemed either to ignore or enjoy her sudden discomfort as he leant further forward, so she had to back away.
"Say, have you heard about the Managarm Project?" She averted her eyes and nodded slowly, trying to not give the old man the upper cut he deserved for this action. Instead she tried to thoroughly inspect the Japanese scrolls pinned on the wall and avert her thoughts from what she liked to do. He didn't even have bad taste in art. She would give him as much.
"There was nothing elegant to it...I lost a dear friend on that day and I'm afraid that Soma has to carry this negative legacy."
His voice sounded different, almost guilty but just a moment later he bounced back to the interested normal tone.
"I have a really special assignment for you. I need you to recover a special core and I would like to add that the director and your advisor don't know about it. I have asked Soma about this case as well."
Her frown deepened and dreaded the consequence she drew from that piece of information.
"Thus I would like you and Soma to participate in this mission and hope that it will succeed."
The woman stifled a groan but couldn't resist the temptation to roll her eyes. In the last few days she had been forced to move out with him again and again and both grew exhausted from the assignments and dealing with each other. The last time he had ran off again and she swore by the gods - which she slew on daily basis right now - that she would accidently stab him with her blade one day.
Maybe more than one time, because she 'accidently' slipped.
"And..." The Doctor leant even closer to her, so she was forced to arch her back.
"I would like you...you know...try to befriend him."
"You don't say..." Her eyelid twitched in annoyance. "I guess it was your doing that we have spent so much time 'together'." After a pause, she added "Doctor...you are too close."
He smiled cheerfully as he returned to his desk, still amused by her reaction.
"Oh, pardon me. Sometimes I forget about issue of personal space."
"Sometimes?" She lifted an eyebrow, sounding sceptical but dropped the matter. "I won't deny that I might be not the best influence for your little God Eater."
"To be honest, it's just a gamble. You are not so different from him after all."
"I highly doubt that."
"...As I first saw you, you reminded me of him in a way. But it's just a feeling."
Lucifer could remember the day as they first met still clearly. He had been surprised at first and definitely hadn't looked very about the circumstances she was brought in. After their first few awkward silent minutes, he had started to treat her nicely, almost like she was just a lost child. He also had asked questions as he took a blood sample to run the last few tests with the new bias-factor.
She hadn't seen a reason to answer them and everything was going well until he spotted the bruised skin underneath her sleeves. That next thing that followed was him excusing himself and walking out of the room. He returned with a specific look on his face which made her skin crawl.
He was pitying her.
He never talked about what he had been told that day and he seemed to mostly respect her wish to be silent about it although he still tried to inquire about it indirectly in some way. After that he took up the mantle of her self-proclaimed mentor and tutor in various things from teaching writing and reading properly to giving her rather lengthy explanations about aragami and procedure in this world.
In return, she had nothing against doing a favour or two for him. This didn't mean that she kept an eye out for him when he was acting suspicious which he was, unfortunately, almost all the time.
"You are a scientist. I didn't expect you to act just on a feeling without having any prove to your theory."
"Well, to get prove, scientists have to experiment once in a while."
She blinked, being taken aback and surprised by this answer. Then she chuckled to herself.
"Point taken but I still don't believe that we could be friends."
"Didn't you have friends back then?"
This time the left corner of her mouth flinched slightly when hearing the word as if she was trying to suppress the urge to grimace openly.
"I don't think friends would be the appropriate definition." Although she was still looking at him, her eyes grew noticeably distant and then suddenly became darker. Without another word she shook her head, suffocating further questioning in its roots with this gesture.
"I'm sorry if I have stirred some memories which you…"
It was convenient to make him think he did that, since the perfect excuse to say nothing more than needed.
"There is nothing to be sorry about. If you mean 'friends' by your definition...No, I have none, had none and I am not planning to make some."
The doctor sighed. "That's a pity."
"You should resume to watching the sky, stargazer. I have heard that there will be some interesting constellations to watch." She punctuated the sentence with a faint smile. He was quiet for a moment.
"I see."
The woman closed her eyes. It still confused her, his interest, his questions, his behaviour and she was trying to understand why she couldn't sense any ill intent. It didn't calm her, it just made her more wary of his doings and words.
Lucifer left the room after giving him a simple nod.
For her, a stargazer was a fancy word for a puppeteer who watched the play and pulled the string when he needed to. Although he might fancy himself as someone who didn't try to influence what was happening around him. The fact he had sent that woman a charm, a technology which later would prove useful for the anti-aragami walls, was prove enough, that he wasn't.
The sound of a metal can being crushed turned her attention to the vending machine to her right.
"Let me guess, we are on this shitty mission together?"
"As always, Death God."
He gave an annoyed grunt to give her to understand what he thought about it.
"…I'm still not dead." Lucifer suddenly stated.
"What?"
"You are taking your pretty time to kill me with your presence. Maybe more effort would be nice."
He threw her a look and then rolled his eyes. "Shut up."
"We both know that's not going to happen."
She chuckled to herself and shrugged her shoulders.
"Suit yourself."
Her face turned thoughtful for a second. It was just their usual of tease and reaction, slowly accepting the fact that they had no choice than to work with each other. There was no need for words in their silent agreement.
Even then, his words had lost their fierceness and anger. She thought this would just make her teasing boring and she would just leave him be. Instead, this was suddenly becoming a normal conversation between them. Now if she put some thought to it, he acted so passive ever since their little 'incident'.
The thought alone irked her and she tried to push it away and write it off as imagination.
"If you are ready…I will be in the training room. Like always." This time she was met by nothing more silence as she walked away.
Soon her jacket was tossed to the side, revealing the plain shirt underneath as she took a quick look around.
Like always she was alone.
The other God Eaters only rarely used these facilities and polish their skills on the battlefield rather than practicing them beforehand. With the bias factor enhancing their natural capabilities, she could understand why some of them deem it as unnecessary.
After all, just a lunatic could get the idea of taking down one of those beasts with normal hand to hand combat skills.
A smirk crossed her features.
Gladly she would admit, she wasn't sane and would try to fight those things of without a weapon in hand if she needed to. Even though those creatures didn't react like humans. Stab it and it might scream, feel pain, but it would never be fatal as long as the core was still there.
Humans on the other hand could be taken down rather easily if someone knew how. They were a lot much durable as some might think but she had enough experience to know how to seriously injure and kill if necessary.
She shifted in attack position, closing her eyes and imagined a person before her, moving and attacking her. Her body just followed the instructions, the gut feeling to react to it accordingly. After some time, she felt how her mind went suddenly blank and she relaxed although she was still moving. Training and fighting like that eased her mind and let her relax.
It was like a sanctuary for her mind.
Suddenly her eyes shot open and she spun around and kicked in one fluent motion.
This time, the resistance wasn't just in her mind and she could feel resistance. A second of silence past before she slowly retreated her leg and her visitor lowered his arm with which he had blocked the attack.
"Ambitious like always, I see."
His voice was soft, scolding but she could never miss this certain poisonous undertone buried within. A pair of greyish brown eyes observed her carefully and he flashed her a friendly smile.
"Surprise!" He exclaimed happily. "You haven't thought to see me again, haven't you?"
"...You...how?" The words stuck in her throat as her mind trying to convince her that this was just another illusion. Her eyes narrowed.
This would be too convenient.
A person like him who could enter every room and sneak into every personal affair was hard to get rid of that easily.
"Just got a weekend off and thought: I have still someone I would like to pay a visit."
It wasn't genuine surprise she felt, it wasn't relieve to see him again. It was a confirmation. Something told her that she wasn't the only one and it was just a matter of time before someone of them might search for her, albeit the timing couldn't be any worse. His lips moved without making a sound.
"We are alone. We are one. We are sin. We are salvation."
It felt like an eternity since she heard these words. The parole of her kin which had followed every path they took and was just uttered in silent whispers. It struck fear into those who opposed them and right now it filled her with a certain kind of unease which she couldn't really understand.
"..You were always tough to kill." She paused, gazing over his form. "What is your name this time?"
"It was a tough fight between Koji and Hiro. I picked the name Hiro. Short, meaningful, a general nice name I think...Your opinion?"
"Do I look like I care?"
She picked up a towel to wipe the sweat off her face.
"What do you want here?"
"Ah, where is this oh-I-m-glad-you-are-alive-hug?"
The woman threw him a confused look as he opened his arms. Then he chuckled.
"Hey, that was something these people taught me...Those cute little fools." He paused, laughed shortly and put his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Who would have thought that these people here really are so naive? I won't deny that they are amusing and interesting but it makes the game almost boring, isn't it, Leader of the first Unit?"
She stayed quietly.
"Congratulations on assuming the position you always hated so much, by the way."
Like always, he was annoying and was coming to her like a moth to a flame. Yet, he never visits her without having a reason to do so. Something else must have attracted his attention, hidden behind his many bemused words.
"It is a lousy job like always..." The woman looked at him, studied his appearance and compared it to her memory. He was still thin, almost wiry albeit his skin color looked a lot healthier than last time she saw him. He wore a green shirt, sleeves pulled up to his elbows, revealing a few of his old scars, most apparent the one who drew a thick white line over the back of his hand.
Like usual, he wore something to cover his throat. This time it was a black neck scarf, seemingly new and neatly warped around it.
"How many are still alive?"
Hiro shrugged.
"A few...I think."
"Any from us?"
"You, me, and as far as I got into the database, a three or four others...besides Belph-chan." He pointed two fingers against his temple and mouth a 'bang' sound.
It was enough for her to understand and nod as he ran a hand through his shaggy red brown hair.
"At least, they didn't torture her and it went rather quickly. A little bit messy, but quick. But what should we expect from mercenaries? If they are good...they prefer to do things that way."
That was not the whole truth. It never was. Hiro always knew exactly what was going on, how many were involved, how many died, how they met death and just got away. This chatty behavior was nothing more as a mask he wore to appear normal.
He would say nothing before she didn't pay a certain price and he was interested in getting more pieces of information out of her. At the moment, she wasn't willing to share.
"I see." Lucifer looked at him shortly, noticing the scar on his cheek.
"Bullet...Those mercenaries have a lousy aim sometimes."
His smile grew wider as he showed her his own red wristband.
"Now I'm a 'protector of humanity', a so-called New Type. Lady Fate is a humorous but a quite sadistic lady, don't you think? Entrusting us to protect those humans..." He spat out the last word as if he had something disgusting in his mouth.
"Still…Why are you here?" Hiro smirked, closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
"So impatient sometimes. A certain trail lead me to you. Those fools really think that I have never officially touched a computer doesn't mean I haven't...and I might have noticed that I'm not the only one snooping around in privileged resources..."
He paused, gaze shifting to her, his smirk widening to a smile as he leant closer to her face.
"So, tell me..." His voice lowered itself down to a mere whisper.
"Who is your prey?"
Lucifer let out a growl. When there was a network he could use for his advantages, it wasn't save and not even the people around him where.
Her eyes narrowed as pulled one of her gloves off with her teeth and stretched out her hand. Hiro took the silent message and clasp his hand around hers. A flash of images flickered through her mind. Burning buildings, the scent of smoke and the echo of gunshots rang through her ears until she heard someone fall beside her. Something warm suddenly spread on her cheek, running down her skin.
The contact was broken by her, leaving him standing there blinking confused and completely dumbfounded. It was one of the only times where she had seen him wordless.
"Wow..." He muttered under his breath.
"So…That's what they call Resonance." Then his familiar smile came again with a mischievous hint to it. He was thinking and planning something.
"Could be useful in the future but I think I will start to wear gloves too, just in case my Branch gets new God Eaters. But what a nice delicious target...so full of pride. Like to share?"
"...This case belongs to me, so back off." Hiro laughed.
"Thought as much...If your pride gets you in trouble, you can always contact me." Her breathing hitched shortly when he moved towards and sneaked a card in her jeans pocket, but she forced herself to stay calm.
He was so close to her that she felt his breath on his ear.
"The deal is the usual one...Call me if you need assistance on your hunt." His smile turned wicked, wide, and hungry. "Stop being greedy."
"I am always greedy. It is my sin." She felt a finger trail slowly over her back and stopped at the place between her shoulder plates
"And pride is yours."
In one moment after another, she kicked him directly into his guts, making him stumble backwards, gasping for air.
"I'm glad...that you haven't changed...It wouldn't be no fun at all." The smile was unbroken although he still tried to catch his breath. "Remember, favour for a favour. I have the feeling we will see us again, Lucifer."
"Like always, when we don't die on the way, Mammon."
The man laughed, grey brown eyes flared up. "With pleasure, but...one piece of information I will give you today, at a discount. You are going to bite more than you can chew, my old friend." Lucifer said nothing, watching him walking off and disappeared as fast as he had appeared like he was just an illusion.
She covered her eyes with her hand.
"Please somebody tell me that didn't happen." Her mind knew all too well he was real. Phantoms couldn't breathe.
Something bigger was behind all this and Hiro's appearance was prove enough for this. He wouldn't have come personally if it was just some small scandal or plot. With things as they were and even when she denied his help this time, both knew this wouldn't be the last time they would see each other.
The question was just out of politeness, a warning and to please his own sadistic desire to watch her fail and crawl back to him. He would even mettle if she was successful.
He was always like that.
Lucifer felt how her throat felt try and the scars on her back itched uncomfortably. Her fingernails dragged over the skin of her throat, leaving red trails in their wake.
The woman began to shiver, to chuckle until she started to laugh and her lips began to move.
"We are alone. We are many. We are all the same. We are sin. We are salvation."