TW: sexual harassment and gore... Sorry about this. I'll try to keep very light.
[Ezra's P.O.V]
It's dark...
From the moment I opened my eyes, I knew this was a dream. But I couldn't help but think it was real. The cold, damp floor under my small hands dug into my skin and clothes. I curled myself up into a ball and allowed the walls to crush me into this tiny space. I stared at the puddle on the floor, my reflection staring right back at me. I was back to my younger self; the one that still hasn't been saved by Night Fury. My sad, luminescent lilac eyes were still filled with youth and naivety. The freckles across my face were more evident back then and my hair was longer, smoother.
My eyes wandered around me, inspecting my old home. The prison cell was barely six-feet tall. The walls were the same thick grey stone as the houses in Batangas, but instead of a wide window with a flower box, there was a mean barred opening with thick metal bars and no glass. In the summer, the fresher air was a relief, helping to alleviate the stench of festering sewage but in the cold seasons, it let in a wicked draft and reduced the temperature to near freezing. It was no brighter inside than the gathering gloom of dusk, even at midday. But to be fair, there wasn't that much sunlight occurring in Isla Guadalupe.
The bed was a plank of wood on legs, there was no mattress, no cushioning, and only one thin blanket. It was either suffocatingly quiet or pierced with the screams of tortured inmates, which was too loud for my sensitive, developing ears at that time. I would cry every day, but the guards standing in front of my door would ignore my tears. These walls were built specifically to contain my raging powers, that's before they locked me in a room that perfectly nullifies them. Before I lived in that type of luxury, I was forced to save my food at an earlier age. I would only eat lunch and save the rest so that when I reach my limit, I can stuff my face into satisfaction.
But I wasn't always kept there. Every once in a while, a large hulk of a man would have my door open and have me pushed out of my personal space. Drago, the one who held me captive since birth, would take me out to the field and force me to kill his own soldiers, just to help improve my powers. The price I had to pay for the control I needed for my powers, were the lives of humans. But since I was young and callow, I had no understanding of the meaning of life and death...
...until Dad died.
When I saw the blood running down his stomach, I felt a sensation in my heart that could never forget. When he told me he was proud of me, proud to be my father, I knew something was wrong. When I was ripped away from him, dragged out of the building while I flailed my arms and feet, trying to escape their hold on me, I knew that I was never going to see him again. At that moment, I knew that he was no longer walking this earth; I knew... that death had taken him.
Just like that day, I'm trapped in a cell with nowhere to go and no way to escape. All I could hear from these walls were the words being exchanged from the soldiers and the quiet mutters from my cellmates through the walls. If I was still a child, I wouldn't have understood any of the words they were saying. But now, I get to relive my own life in a dream, all the while knowing about the curses, callous comments, and the horrible stories being spoken. None of them were fit for a child to hear.
Each second, I could hear the words grow louder but it was still in a whispered, almost breathy. It felt like they were right beside me, murmuring in my ear as shivers ran down my spine. A shaky breath of air formed in front of my mouth, a cloud of white, cool air seeping through my lips. My heart was like a drum, beating to the rhythm of the anticipation.
It was in that second where I realized, I'm no longer in a dream.
Before I knew it, I snapped my head up and opened my eyes, only to find myself in darkness. My head was pounding against my skull, my heart following. The same shaky breath in my dream escaped my lips. A rough, cold cloth was wrapped around my head, covering my eyes and stopping me from finding out where I am. I tried to move my jaw, my tongue licking the inside of my mouth only to find out it was drier than the sandpaper, but I couldn't. It felt like I was trying to move something that's not a part of my own boy. As I used the strength in my core to wiggle around, I felt concrete and grit push into my face.
I jolted in fear and panic. Where was I? I tried to wiggle myself out of my position but I was unable to. My body was drained out of energy and power, almost as if something is hindering me from using them. The hard, wooden platform I was sitting on was connected to two longer stands, where my legs are temporarily stuck to. I think, I think my hands are tied behind my back. It felt like they were made out of metal and I could fairly make out the engraved symbols that are pressed against my skin-Gronkle Iron chains, which makes it even harder for me to break through.
As I try to struggle, I hear a very low voice echo across the walls. "Well, well... Looks like you're awake," it said.
From that simple sound, I was able to recall everything that just happened before this. It hasn't even registered in my head that I was ignoring the reason why I was stuck in this situation in the first place. But it came back in a sudden rush of neurons slapped me across my face.
I remember it all; I had just left the infirmary after a long session of just wallowing myself in self-pity. I was on my way to my personal room that I had requested to be built so that I can spend a few days in Drakos, when all of a sudden, I came across one of Mom's recruits, who was just leaning against the wall, drained and sweating. Of course, the compassionate side of me whispered nothing but lies in my ear yet I let it. It's my naivety and stupidity that got me into this mess. But once I get out of here, I'll make sure to beat the hell out of him so much that I'll forget that this ever happened.
"What the hell is this, Jake?" I seethed, turning my head to find where the voice came from. I know he's here. There can't be anyone else responsible for this.
Then, I felt someone tug the back of the cloth around my head and proceeded to pull it out, allowing the blinding light of the lamp to shine down upon my still-sensitive eyes. I shut them close for a while as I felt a breath of relief escape my lips, causing me to desperately grab for the air that I already have.
Ever so slowly, I sneaked a peek through my closed eyelids, trying to get my eyes used to the light. Soon, I finally blinked them open but all I saw was an enclosed area with concrete walls around me; a single lamp bathed me in light while the rest of the room was cloaked in darkness. I glanced behind to see that not only were my hands tied to the back of the chair by an extremely tough chain, but it's also attached to a pipe that's lined above the ceiling. Whoever designed this-I'm going to guess that it's Jake-purposefully fastened it there so that if I ever pull the chain forcefully, the entire roof will come down on top of me.
Concluding that I'm unable to leave here my way, I relaxed my body and leaned against the backrest. "Okay, Jack. Where the hell are you?" I sighed exasperatedly.
It was very dark where I was. I could barely see the walls around me but judging from the suffocating space around me, I can tell that I'm in some sort of confined area. The oxygen here seems fine and clean, meaning that there's at least a vent here; leading me to the deduction that I'm probably buried underground. There should be a door but I can't seem to find it. My eyes are still heavily drained out of energy.
Heh, feels just like home.
Although there's only a single lamp shining on top of me, I could just make out a dark shape squatting a few feet away from me, watching me. My eyes locked with his form, trying to decipher what he's planning to do. Sadly, I came up with nothing.
"Show yourself, you son of a bitch!" I exclaimed to the figure, who I easily recognize to be Jack.
But instead of keeping up the villain trope of just remaining in darkness, waiting for the perfect, eerie timing to slip into the light, the blonde just rushed out of the shadows in a crazed manner. I hear the sound of the chair hitting the ground and then the blond form of Jack just stumbled out, eyes painfully red and muscles almost bursting through his skin. It was disgusting to look at and it nearly made me fall out of my chair by his sudden entrance.
"You're wrong!" He spouted madly, his hoarse and rough breathing filling the silence in the air. "She was more than that! She was a lying, piece of shit that left me because she was too selfish to raise me. I'm not a son of a bitch... I am the son of a worthless woman that deserved to die over and over again."
I leaned back as far as I can to avoid the spit spewing out of his mouth. My lips curled up in repugnance, a scowl decorating my face as the demented expression on Jack's face is literally threatening me to throw up out of abhorrence.
"What the hell happened to you?" was the first thing that came out of my mouth after seeing the insane scene that unfolded before me.
Jack licked his lips, retracting his face from me and standing awkwardly with his gaze shifting to the ground below him. "Sorry about that. I was just... remembering something." He muttered under his breath, almost like a whisper but the empty room provided enough clearance of noise for me to hear.
I glance around my surroundings, trying to find anything that could help me in my situation in finding out where I am. But when I found nothing but a couple of broken screws and shards of glass, I decided to go for the offense and pump the blond with so many questions that he'll eventually slip up.
Unlike his usual self, he seems more unstable in this current scenario. I noticed the trembling fingers and the heavy breathing, both signs of a lack of a specific substance. He could possibly be tired of carrying me to this enclosed space, but the bulging and veiny muscles popping through his shirt is another sign of an obvious overreaction by a certain drug or chemical. Red rashes in the shapes of fingernail marks were drawn on his neck. His eyes flapped open and close at a rapid pace, but he acts like it's a normal thin. That gives me enough evidence that he's suffering from drug addiction. If it's a physical drug, then his mental state right now should no way be in its proper condition, giving me a chance to outsmart him.
Although I doubt I wouldn't be able to outsmart him even in his former state.
Let's start with an easy question; "Wh- what am I doing here, Jack?" I asked, pretending to place some fear in my tone so that he would think that he's holding some sort of power in this room. Technically, he is but once my powers return, I won't be wasting a single second of escaping from these chains and kick this motherfucker out through the roof.
Jack jolted unusually at the mention of his name. "Stop t- trying to act scared. I know what you are and I- I know you know... what you're c- capable of." He spat out in a stutter, much to Ezra's surprise and shock. "I read all about y- you Dragons and how we defeated you... I was surprised that Dragon nip is p- pretty easy to find here. I thought it would k- kill you but I guess it's not enough. O- Only hinders your powers..."
I guess he's still pretty aware of his own self... damn it!
But at least I know that he's not going to last any longer. He could barely speak straight and he's constantly fidgeting with his fingers; crystal-blue eyes weren't even locking with mine for at least a few seconds. He's either very guilty of his actions to the point that the mere thought of the consequences are sending shivers down his spine or he's suffering from a drug withdrawal, which I'm honestly quite impressed with for how long he's away from it. Usually, drug addicts won't even allow the symptoms and side effects to show up but he's actually able to keep himself together... for a little bit.
"You didn't answer my question, Jack. Why am I here?" I asked, ditching the scared-teen tone.
Rubbing his hands together while blowing air through his palm, he finally locked eyes with me but only for a short while. "I b- brought you here. Isn't that obvious?" His tone sound high-pitched at the last word but the rest were monotonous, increasingly weirding me out in the process.
Now he wants to act dumb...
Fine, I'll play his little game.
"Why did you bring me here?" I questioned. The man shifted his feet awkwardly, returning his gaze at me.
For the first time, a smile crawled up its lips and I have never been so creeped out by a simple gesture. He made the Joker's grin appealing to the norm's eyes. "To kill you..." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You m- must be wondering... why?"
"Yeah..." I replied softly, a bit shocked. I don't know what I was expecting when I asked that question, neither did I expect him to answer straightforwardly, compared to his previous statements.
"Well, I have no reason to tell... you. A- after all, you're going to die."
He made a fair point, but I'm not just going to sit here and let him kill me!
Jack suddenly reached in for his pockets, and half of me expected him to pull out a gun but unfortunately, it was far worse than I could've imagined. It was a small, white container with a blue sticker printed on the surface. He twisted the top of the cap and popped out a pill, where he proceeded to crack into two and inhale the powder into his nose in one smooth stroke.
I may have been right with the drugs part, but not to this extent.
"What the hell are you doing, taking those?" I exclaimed.
He simply craned his neck to the side, the trembling gone yet his eyes are even crazier than before. "Wh- wh... what are you t- talking abo... about?" The blond breathed out, unaware of the full side effects of the drugs that overtaking his body. He took out another pill but this time, he swallowed it with one big gulp.
Fear clutched my heart and nearly squeezed the blood out of it. "That's Dragon Root! Taking those things in large doses can be fatal!"
"And yet, I feel stronger every day and every time I take them. I feel nothing but power!" Jack growled menacingly, gripping the bottle with greediness and possessiveness.
But that only confirmed my uneasiness. "You've been taking those every day?! How are you even able to..." As soon as the words left my mouth, it clicked. Those muscle enhancements are only aimed towards certain individuals who are capable of controlling themselves and even then, they only have to one pill per month because any more than that can deal some serious damage. After learning its fatal side effects, it was stocked in the infirmary where Gothi and Mia are given the responsibility to prescribe it if necessary.
But after seeing the bottle in his hand, everything connected like pieces in the puzzle. The only way to acquire such a powerful drug is through Gothi and Mia... but now, one of them literally has a brain freeze and I doubt Gothi would give something like that to a guy like Jack. This leads me to the conclusion that...
Immediately, my cheeks flushed hot red, and my facial muscles turned rigid. My nostrils flared as my chained hands clutched around the metal, pushing everything into breaking it. If I had fangs right now, I would've bared for all the world to see
"YOU FUCKING TRIED TO KILL MIA!" I cried out, pulling the chain behind me as I leaned forward, anger bubbling in my blood. It wasn't a question nor an exclamation. It was a fucking statement and a fact. This piece of trash just tried to kill Mia and now, he's holding me captive because...
The light of realization just dawned on me and for a moment, all the molten magma rising in my stomach subsided. "You tried to kill, Mia... But you weren't able to. So, you're trying to kill me, to get to her..." I muttered under my breath, but Jack overheard it, causing him to let out a hysterical laugh that endlessly bounced across the walls. It wasn't your typical laugh where your chest would rise and a quiet sound would slip out of your mouth.
No, he was outright throwing his head back; voice reaching the highest octave he could manage, and clutching his chest to stop himself from choking. Eventually, his laughter died down, but not without tearing through my eardrums. He boldly locked eyes with me, even bearing a toothy grin that made me want to punch through his perfect, clean canines and watch him choke to his own teeth, now that I know the truth.
"Whoa! You're so smart! I never knew that!" He exclaimed, ignoring what I just accused him of, several seconds ago. "Glad to know about that before I kill you."
He turned around with an insane smile on his lips and walked off of the light. I then hear a couple of objects clattering across a wooden surface; metal, plastic, glass. Then Jack emerged from the darkness once again, tightly holding another syringe in his hand like a knife. But instead of the light green, smooth liquid that I saw before, it was a dark, oily substance that held a similar texture to bile. Yet the blond maniac waved it around his fingers, playing with it while prancing forward with a skip to his step.
"Don't worry. It'll just be quick." Jack said in a sing-song voice, which did not help calm my nerves down at all.
My breath hitched for a second. I knew exactly what's in that tube and I'm not going to let it get inside my body, even if I have to kill myself to prevent that. "You don't know what that thing is capable of, Jack. If you force that shit into me, all hell will break loose." I replied through gritted teeth.
That may be an understatement to what's actually going to happen. If I even allow a single drop of Dragon Root in my blood, the inner beast within me will take over and basically erase anything human-related, before going on a warpath to destroy everything in its path. Sure, I'll die but my primal instinct won't. I'm going to guess that I'm probably going to destroy an entire country before I'll eventually be shot down.
Fortunately, Jack listened for once. His smile fell for a second, slowly processing it in his head. "You're right... Th- that will be... bad." The blond breathed out, his eyebrow twitching every so often. But then turned to the opposite direction when he suddenly stuck the needle into his neck and pressed the plunger down, pushing the chemical to flow through his bloodstream. After that, he yanked it out of his skin and threw it at the ground as I watch the empty barrel shatter into a hundred shards.
"Wh- what did you do...?" I couldn't believe what he just did. He just injected highly-concentrated, raw Dragon Root into his blood. It doesn't matter if he's human! That shit can trigger the primal instincts of anyone and if that happens, I'm surely going to die.
But yet again, he surprises me once more. Jack took a deep breath, one that he held for a couple more seconds than normal, before releasing it softly into the air. In the fifteen minutes I've been awake, this is the first time he appears normal in front of me. The crazy look in his eyes had faded, allowing his typical blue eyes to show up more evident. His bulging muscles that were horrifying and terrible to look at had now contained themselves back to his own skin. No more heavy breaths, no more quivering, and no more Joker-style grin on his lips.
The blond shifted his gaze towards me, where I simply sat on my seat, wearing a shocked but cautious expression on my face. His disheveled appearance remained in his state, but he looked more like a normal person that just got thrown into the streets instead of a mentally-ill patient that escaped an asylum.
"Well, that was refreshing." He spoke in a smooth and cunning manner, adopting a genuine smile that reached his eyes-but somehow, this only made the hairs on my skin stand up to its full height. "But at least I won't be shaking once I'm done with you. Don't worry, I'll make sure to make it quick and painless."
I pulled my hands as hard as I can, but that only resulted in me getting pulled back by the chain. The loud clang against the pipes reverberated across the room. How, how can this be? I should be regaining my strength but it seems to me that I'm only gradually losing it!
"Ah, ah, ah!" He wagged his finger in the air as if he was simply scolding a child on what not to do. The constant smile on his lips, pearly-whites flashing for all the world to see, actually felt creepier than his crazed grin. "I made sure to spray a little bit of Dragon nip in the air to make sure you won't regain your powers. Stop struggling... this will all end before you know it, Melissa."
I stop-not because he told me to, but because of what he called me. I'm pretty sure that my sense of hearing isn't affected by anything whatsoever so that means... he did call me by that name. I have no idea who that is but this can't be just a simple mistake by Jack. Our names aren't even slightly similar!
"Uh, Jack. Who am I again?" I asked cautiously.
The blond paused for a second, almost as if the gears in his head stopped winding for a second. In a snap, he pulled himself out of his thoughts and then tilted his head in confusion. "Melissa, did you hit your head or something?" He chuckled. "Stop playing with me."
There's no mistake. He's losing his goddamn mind-literally!
"I'm not Melissa."
Jack, once again, tilted his head. A slight frown soon curled up his face. "I'm pretty sure you are. I mean, if I remember, you have red hair, light amber-brown eyes, and you look... pretty hot." He replied, a slight blush tainting his cheeks but that only made me more uncomfortable than I already am.
"Wow, everything you just said is wrong."
He lets out a laugh, "Stop teasing me, Melissa. I know you're trying to be funny but to be honest, that's not really one of your strong suits."
I don't know who this Melissa character he's imagining me to be, but I just felt offended on her behalf.
But this is going nowhere... If he is suffering from something that's messing with his head, then I won't be able to convince him through my way. I guess I have to flow along with the river and play along with his delusions.
Furrowing my eyebrows, I asked, "Then who's Ezra?"
That made the blond stop in his tracks. I watch as the innocent smile on his lips slowly falls into a deep frown, his eyebrows furrowing and wrinkles crinkling right on his forehead. "She's actually quite a problem that I have." Jack started, slowly pacing around the room but making sure to keep himself visible in the light. "I have to get rid of her but I don't really know how. You look a lot like her, to be honest."
"No shit..."
"But back to her, I still don't know how to properly kill her." The blond sighed, pulling a folding chair out of the dark and scraping its legs towards his position so he could sit there and contemplate on his plan to eliminate his target, somehow unknowingly ignoring me that's already been captured and I really believe that he had an original way to kill me from the start, but the drugs are just fucking with his head right now.
"By the way..." He turned his confused gaze at me. "Why are you tied up? And in chains?"
'Because you fucking did this to me, asshole!' was what I wanted to shout out but I resorted to a much calmer way so that I don't get myself killed. "You're the one who did this to me," I said, emphasizing my irritated tone just to get my point across.
Incredibly, the bewildered expression on his face sunk deeper. "Really?" When I nodded-rather furiously I might add-he pursed his lips and pressed his hands together, rubbing them together to calm his nerves. "I guess... I must've forgotten about that."
"Well, do you mind untying me? I'm kinda getting sick of sitting on this chair." I replied sarcastically.
Jack was silent for a moment. But when he opened his mouth to speak, a sudden knock caught both of our attention. It sounded like something heavy fell on the ground, but not heavy enough that it created a much bigger noise. I had no idea where it came from but he was looking in the opposite direction, where I guess the door is placed. "What was that?" He asked himself, but I'm not patient enough to find out.
I cleared my throat to grab his attention once again. "Get me out of here and then we can both... investigate after."
"Oh, sure." Jack got up awkwardly from his chair, stumbling towards me like he was in a daze. I could almost see the birds flying around his head but I was too busy trying to keep myself from just lunging at him when he was nearing my personal space.
He's literally right in front of me and I can just headbutt him right now, possibly knocking a few teeth out of his mouth and maybe even giving him a fractured skull. But I can't mess this up right now. It'll just be for a few...
The sudden contact of his palm on my cheek pulled me out of my thoughts. I look up to see a bright yet lustful smile on his lips. A dark color invaded his eyes, nearly matching the darkness in the room. His gaze nearly stared straight into my soul and for a second, an electric shock ran down my spine. "But give me this for a second." He whispered huskily into my ear.
Before I could even comprehend what he just said, I felt a set of warm, dry lips pressing against mine. Time froze and at that moment, I could barely register the kiss. Though my eyes are open and I could clearly see that he's the one initiating it, my body was still as a rock. He moved his lips against mine as I felt his hand slowly slide up into my neck, caressing my skin gently with his fingers. Using his hand, he craned my neck up to deepen the kiss.
I've never kissed anyone ever in my life. A lot of guys wanted to though-it's not that hard to notice the hormonal teenagers leering at me. I could almost hear their thoughts when they lock their gazes at me. Whenever someone tried to, I would always learn that one trick my mom proposed to me when I was entering high school; twist their arm until they squeal. They always work and not once have they failed me in a situation like those.
But this is a completely different conversation. I could clearly see who's doing it and yet, I'm simply sitting here, doing nothing. Even with my hands and legs tied up to a chair by a chain, I have the ability to just whip my head to the other side and completely end the kiss before it even happened. But somehow, I couldn't do it. Either it's because I'm too shocked to even move or the Dragon nip is influencing my mind right now, I don't know. I felt like I was acting like an empty doll, being used as an object while disregarding its non-existent feelings. I often ask myself how kisses feel because I remember my mom literally thirsting for Dad's kisses back in the day. She always looked infatuated and satisfied every time. So, is this what it feels like?
However, when I started feeling his tongue swiping along my lips, my mind snapped back to reality and my wandering soul hurried back to my body. The question that's been lingering in my mind has been answered; it's absolutely disgusting, putrid even. I sensed the acid in my stomach pooling and bubbling. It may have tasted like charcoal the first time, but once it finally settled in my head, it was like eating rotten fish and dirt. Why do people eat each other's mouths like it's lunch or something? Why the fuck is he trying to slip his revolting tongue in my mouth?!
I quickly moved my face away before anything else could happen, abruptly breaking the kiss. Jack released his grip on me and stumbled back with his hands raised, shock written all over his face. "What the fuck are you doing?" I cry out, nearly spitting the taste of his kiss onto the floor.
"Wh- what do you mean?" A look of shock crossed his face. "I thought that we... you're my girlfriend, aren't you?"
There was genuine confusion in his tone but I wasn't having any of it. "I'm not your girlfriend, you dipshit! I'm Ezra, the one you're trying to kill!" I yell out, trying to pull the chains off my wrists but to no avail. Heavy breaths began to escape his lips, his chest rising rapidly as if he's suffering from an asthma attack. "Those drugs are fucking with your mind!"
"No!" Jack's face turned into a dangerous scowl. "You're just trying to mess with me, you little minx." Before I could even react, he already had his hand on my jaw, craning my head up so I could see the crazed look return to his eyes. I watched in fear and as red, vein-like lines began to snake through the surface of his eyeballs, nearly covering the entire sclera like a bunch of vines in the Amazon.
I gritted my teeth, "Let go of me, you son of a bitch!" I yelled out, spitting a small glop onto his cheek. He simply took two of his fingers and wiped it off his skin, his jaw tightening so much that I could almost hear his teeth grinding against each other.
"Looks like your playing hard to get. Sure, I'll play your little game, Melissa." A cruel smile made its way up to his face.
"I said I'm not fucking Mel- mmph!" He then forced his lips onto mine, despite my protests and reluctance. This was rougher than before, practically just smashing his face onto mine and hoping to just connect with my lips. I tried to move my head out of the way but his hand slid down to my neck, where he proceeded to grab me still so that he could slip his disgusting tongue into my mouth.
It was awful. I could barely move my head and in addition to that, I was losing my breath. Jack's unaware that his grip on my neck is gradually growing tighter as time passed, but he was too busy violating my mouth. The chair I was sitting on is now being pushed back but his other hand flew to the backrest and stopped it from falling, causing his grip on my neck to tighten even further. I wouldn't even call it kissing anymore. He was biting my lower lip, licking my teeth with his tongue, and every once in a while, he would retract his face just to leave a peck on my lips.
I wanted to throw up.
The anger within me slowly turned into fear when his other hand that he used to support the chair, left its position and began caressing down my body like a fucking pervert. He leaned back, along with the chair, as he continued snaking his hand across my skin. Every single touch that connected with my skin sent shivers down my spine. I was struggling to escape, shaking my entire body to break out of the chains that held me down. But his grip on me was tough and violent, to the point that its already hurting me.
But when his hand latched onto my chest, I lost my composure and a scream exploded from my mouth. The sound of my cries only lasted for a second. Jack ignored my pleas and proceeded to silence me with his mouth, muffling my scream. I flailed as hard as I could but to him, I was merely an obstacle to leap over. Gripping the hem of my shirt, he tears it off my body, exposing my clothed breasts. The cold air tingled my skin, but when I felt the tip of his fingers slightly touch them, I flinched in terror. Tears started brimming in my eyes. The rage that was bubbling inside of me had now converted into horror. My hatred turning into pleading. I was a fucking Dragon that was reduced to a normal girl that's vulnerable to a simple grab.
It sickened me...
The flower petals of my innocence slowly descended to the ground, falling away from the cherry blossom that once used to be as beautiful as the morning sunrise, to die on the dirt from the autumn change that forced its way upon it. His fingers played with the strap of my bra, but I couldn't even process that feeling when his tongue plunged its way into my mouth once again. Tears ran down my cheek, unbeknownst to the man desecrating me. I haven't given up yet... but it was so hard to keep this strong suit up when I'm powerless before him.
The face of my father flashed in front of me. The disappointment in his eyes shattered my heart. I was no longer the person who he thought I was. All this time, I was disrespecting his name and legacy. But apologizing wouldn't help me anymore...
Mom was right.
She should've killed me when she had the chance. That way I wouldn't have to endure this endless torture. I'd be better of joining Dad as a pure woman that hasn't been tainted, rather than live and watch the disgust form on everyone's faces. I'm sorry, Mom...
SHICK!
...in a flash, the feeling of his hand is no longer on my chest, and instead, I could feel on my lap. The movement of his lips stopped as well, remaining frozen on my face but I was just as shocked as he is. I then felt liquid seeping through the cloth of my pants and dripping down to my feet. A silence fell upon us and for a short second, no one made noise. Not me, despite the disturbing feeling I was just experiencing. Not even Jack, who was moaning and groaning moments ago.
Then like a pin hitting the floor, a scream erupted in the room. The blond pulled away from me and a gut-retching screech pierced through the air as he held his wrist tightly with his other hand, a continuous stream of blood bursting out the wound on his arm. I look down, and my eyes snapped wide open when I saw the dismembered hand of Jack that was originally groping me. A mix of agonizing pain and blood-curdling fear was in the cries of the blond.
But all of that stopped when I saw something glimmering in the dark and before I even blinked, something had slashed through the air and at where Jack was once standing. A splatter of liquid splashed across my face, my eyes closing just in time for me to feel the thick, sticky substance dribbling down my skin. I hear a squishy and fleshy sound of an object hitting the wall, followed by another hitting the floor. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open to take a look at the situation but all I found was Jack's body standing upright, still clutching his chopped wrist but in addition to that, his head was completely missing from his neck.
The ridged flesh lining across his exposed neck gave me an idea that this wasn't done cleanly, but rather forcefully. I could still see the man's spine sticking out of the layers of blood and flesh sitting on the open wound. A wave of nausea struck my stomach and if I wasn't already disgusted before, I sure am now. I wasn't new to this sort of gory scenario but to see it so close that the blood is literally painting my face right now would result in three days worth of uneaten food.
But if things weren't bad enough, I see another glimmer of light and this time, I caught the glimpse of an axehead swinging across the air and cutting down Jack-or at least, what's left of him. A giant laceration appeared along on the arm of the obviously dead recruit as the man himself dropped to the floor, red liquid pooling below his body.
The obvious question in my mind was who did this? Fortunately, it was answered almost immediately. She stepped out into the light, a girl with blonde hair, a thousand shades of gold that made new mosaics each moment in the warm light. Just like her, a splash of red paint tainted her face and locks. Her raging blue orbs burned with the wrath of a thousand Drakos agents. The bloody axe that she used to dismember my previous attack was held tightly in her hand, the sound of her bones cracking filled the tension in the room.
My mother, without even acknowledging my presence, kept her eyes on Jack's body.
And with a raise of her axe, she yelled out, "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE TOUCH MY DAUGHTER AGAIN!" before slamming the blade down at the body, crushing through the flesh and hitting the concrete floor with a crack. The amount of force she placed in her swing was so strong that it cut through his rib cage like a slice of bread.
But she didn't stop there.
She raised her axe once again and proceeded to butcher Jack's body, slamming her rage onto him, over and over again. Blood fully covered her from head to toe. Rubble of concrete jumped out of the surface of the floor. The organs and everything that was once used to keep the blond alive was all spilling into the ground like it belonged to a slaughterhouse. But even then, she kept on hacking and slashing away until her last swing had exhausted her strength and let her bury her axe into the massacred face of Jack, splitting it into two.
Mom held her knees as she tried to catch her breath, sweat and blood oozing down her skin. For the first time in weeks, we locked eyes and at that moment, I saw a slightly-glowing light amidst the flames of anger that are smoldering in her irises. She held her gaze on me for a short period of time before she stood up and rushed towards me with her axe.
With a single swing, she sliced through the Gronkle Iron chains, freeing my hands and my arms. But holding that position for possibly hours made them numb, including my own body which was drained out of energy. I began to lean forward, falling towards the concrete because the struggle cost me my strength. But before I hit the ground, Mom's hands grabbed my shoulders and held me in place.
She lowered herself to my eye level, keeping her gaze on mine. The look in her eyes was still the same, but once I finally got a good look, I realized what it was. "I'm sorry, Ezra." She said, her voice barely a whisper. She reached her hand onto my cheek and unlike Jack's, hers was smooth and comforting. I saw her bottom lip quiver...
...before she wrapped her arms around me and pulled my face into her chest. Her body shook and trembled, very unnatural for my mother. But she continued to hold me close to her, the sounds of her sobs and weeping finally registering in my head. The warmth of her hug suddenly touched a sensitive spot in my heart and at once, the dam broke. At first, I was stiff but then I slowly melt into her body, my arms going limp, dangling like a doll. Without being aware of it, my left hand rises to clutch her shirt from the back as I began to cry softly, wetting her shirt with my tears. All the fear and terror I was bottling up burst out like a volcano.
"Mom..." My voice cracked, the tough persona that put up came crumbling down once I was in the safe and comforting arms of my mother. I'm no longer a Dragon that had the power to rule the world. I'm just a teenager, crying for solace in her mother. She proceeded to stroke my back, calming me down while whispering in a soft voice.
"Don't worry, Ezra. Mom's here..."
[Normal P.O.V]
The awkward silence was slowly starting to creep under Camilla's skin.
She sat on one of the seats, opposite of where Hayden is lying down, who's still trying to get over his hangover. His arm rested on his eyes and every once in a while, a groan will escape the young man's lips. The frizzy-haired agent tried her best to keep her mouth shut and stop herself from just spewing out a barrel of questions. She wants to respect his space but at the same time, the curiosity is killing her.
They had already dropped the pirates on the island where the rest were waiting for them. They were nearly shot out of the sky by the battleships and destroyers but luckily, the Pirate King was able to reveal herself from the cargo door to prove that they were friendly. After a few goodbyes and an awkward reunion with Camilla's fellow pirate captains, who nearly crushed her to death when they rushed over to her, they took off and made their way towards Los Angeles. Nadia volunteered to fly the plane so that Hayden could rest for a bit, leaving him and Camilla alone in the cargo hold.
Being the wild and free spirit that she is, she has no problem in butting into other people's conversations and invading their privacy. She's literally born with that quality and she has a knack for figuring out who she should mess with in order for them to spark a reaction. It's a bit of a shared quality that she inherited during her time with the pirates and it happened to be one of her strongest suits.
However, in this case, Hayden isn't exactly like any other person, considering he's technically wanted and a dangerous individual that is a threat to society. But seeing him curled up in a bunch of seats, a cold towel sitting on his stomach while he constantly expressed his pain in the form of moaning.
It reminded her a lot of Night Fury in the past after she found out who he really is. He seems laid back and pretty chill for the most part, but once you rile him up, no one would be brave enough to stop him. To be honest, she believes that, that person is still in him but that identity is just hidden deep inside his mind, locked with an unbreakable chain that can only be opened by a special key...
...and she might have an idea on who might have it.
"What is it?"
'Huh?'
Hayden slightly lifted his arm, just enough so Camilla could see the green hue of his eyes staring at her. "You've been looking at me for a while now." He quirked an eyebrow, earning him a blush of embarrassment from the blonde. "If you're going to say something, say it because I'm kinda getting annoyed by your gaze."
Camilla gulped, 'Damn, he really is scary...' She muttered inwardly. But it isn't quite strange or new to her because she felt the same thing whenever Night Fury would scold her for carelessly dropping the barbell to the ground or when she would spit randomly in public areas because she was so used to being a pirate that she forgot how to act a little bit more civilized.
"Uh, I was just wondering if you remember..." The blonde started, but Hayden abruptly intervened.
"You're Camilla Boggs..." He said, much to Camilla's surprise. "I remember meeting you back then. I didn't exactly make a great first impression, considering I was holding a decapitated head at that time."
A light chuckle left her lips, "Yeah, but I wouldn't really call it a first impression." She replied, but when she noticed the questioning gaze the vigilante was shooting at her, she immediately followed it with, "I know all about your memory loss thingy. I... kinda knew you before it happened."
The auburn pursed his lips before throwing his legs over to the ground and then lifting his body to sit upright. He clutched his head, face forming into a frown and hissing in frustration. "I suspected you of knowing me in the past. When I confronted you, you stared at me like you just saw a ghost. It's actually quite similar to the one you're using right now."
"Sorry..."
"It's understandable. I was confused back then so I didn't have the guts to ask you. Couldn't trust anyone yet. Not even myself..." Hayden shrugged.
"It's fine. I completely understand... But you're free to ask me right now." Camilla said, offering a tiny smile. "I'll try to answer as many as I can. But I also have few questions for you. We can go back and forth if you want."
Hayden hummed in agreement. He fixed himself, removing the piece of wet cloth off of his chest. "I guess I'll go first..." The blonde gestured for him to continue. "What was I like... before all of this?"
The auburn may appear to be serious and demanding from the outside, but the inner part of him is practically sweating from the anticipation. It's almost as if his hangover dipped and left at the time where he needed it the most. He'll need a lot of distractions if he's going to go through this. He had seen a few glimpses of his past life but none of them were exactly helpful in finding out who he is. But it did solidify his assumption that he was a terrible person, before and after the memory loss. Maybe hearing it from another person would somehow soften the blow.
"Well..." Camilla rubbed the back of her neck, trying to find the easiest way to tell him that he used to kill people because he was under an agency that sent him out in missions, that will soon make his name known across the underworld and government. "You... were an agent... like me, but you were obviously better. Our job is to... take care of certain people because... they're b- bad?" Even she had to question her choice of words. It's pretty stupid of her for trying to soften the impact of the truth when the man literally killed people in the most brutal way possible.
Of course, this didn't sit still with Hayden. Her, trying to beat around the bush and circle around the subject, sort of irritated the auburn. "I'm not a child, Boggs. Tell me straight to my face that I killed people. Stop avoiding it and tell me the truth."
'Gods, hearing him saying my name in his typical Night Fury manner is quite a trip down memory lane. I guess a part of him automatically decided to use her last name as her label, just like before.' Camilla sighed inwardly. A part of her is glad that she's about to be blunt about it but the other is worried about how the auburn vigilante would take it. She heard from Nadia that he suffered a few attacks and nightmares about it. But if he wants the truth, then even she won't deny him that much.
"You used to be a special individual tasked to assassinate, sabotage, and terminate assigned targets. You used to go by the name of Night Fury, the offspring of death and most feared agent in our organization. You held and still hold the highest number of missions accomplished and targets eliminated, racking up a number over three-thousand confirmed kills. I and many more agents regarded you as the most respected agent in the entire world. Your last mission was successful and it saved millions of people from potential danger but sadly, it cost you your life, or so we thought. "
Camilla's voice came out monotonous, almost robotic. It's as if she was reading out a report of his profile; a profile that he didn't know existed until now. To say that he's horrified will be an understatement. He was appalled to the highest degree, each sentence felt like a knife to the heart. He already knew a somewhat broad idea of his past, but to think that it was this bad. Hayden muttered every curse known to man and aimed it directly at himself.
The blonde could see the distress and dismay flickering across his face; blood draining from his skin and his eyelids hardly blinked, showing the utter horror he's experiencing in his eyes. She could tell that what she said is eating him up from the inside. So, she hoped that what she's about to do next would cheer him.
"My turn... Why did you try to look for me?" Camilla asked, quickly causing Hayden to turn a querying gaze at her. "When you almost killed me, you left but you came back to apologize for something completely different. Why is that?"
The vigilante's eyebrows rose to the top of his side, surprised at the question. He had forgotten about it, but once she mentioned it, the memories came rushing back. It was him, stooping over the frizzy blonde, sword in hand and ready to bury it in the woman's forehead when all of a sudden, she lets a name-his name-slip out her tongue and that caused an electrifying spark to erupt in his neurons. Before he knew it, he blurts out a name that he, himself, doesn't know who it belonged to until he realized it when he was fleeing the scene.
It was just a blur of distorted images in his head, popping up at the wrong moments and showing all the unclear details. All he knows is that he dealt a great amount of pain onto her, without even realizing it. He just saw a few images that he guessed to be part of his past. The memories linked together like a puzzle and before he knew it, he's standing in front of Camilla's door, apologizing for a mistake he didn't even know he committed. It was only later on when he realized what he has done and how much pain he brought upon the woman. That was the first time his human side showed up ever since Tobias's death.
"That raven-haired girl. I killed her... She was someone special to you, I could sense it." The auburn replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. "She would appear in my head, taunting me. I always tried to block her but it wouldn't work. So, I decided that the guilt was too much for me to handle and I search across the entire continent for you. Sorry about my half-assed apology. I wouldn't be surprised if you're mad at me right now..."
"Well, you did leave before I could even speak, which I thought was pretty fucking rude." Camilla sneered, earning her a slight wince from the vigilante. However, a smile replaced the expression on her face as fast as it appeared. "But I'm not angry... I understand that it's a mistake and I've already resented you enough. Revenge is never really my thing but if you retrieve your memories again, then I've successfully avenge Heather. The one who killed her isn't you, but someone entirely different. Get your memories back and then we'll have a much proper talk..."
Hayden stared at the blonde indecorously, nearly frozen in disbelief of what she just said. But then a humorless chuckle escapes his lips as he hung his head forward. "You must be crazy to think that. Now I'm wondering if you really loved that woman enough to forgive me." He said, tone dripping in self-deprecating sarcasm.
"Oh, I haven't forgiven you. I understand you and I share your pain. But like I said, we'll have a proper talk once you find your memories. I don't care if it'll take years but I assure you, we're going to have that talk." Camilla felt a confidence boost during this conversation. Being able to talk down the infamous Demon Killer and Night Fury at the same time has to be one of her top achievements in her entire life. But jokes aside, she meant what she said when it comes to Hayden retrieving his memories. Not because she wanted him to get his old life back, but because she wanted to confront him once he's back to normal.
However, she's a bit glad that some of his sarcasm and dark humor managed to survive the memory wipe. It's refreshing to hear, even if it was a bit disrespectful. She didn't mind-in fact, she's quite the shit-talker as well.
"Besides, when it comes to love, no one's a bigger, oblivious, sunnavabitch than you." The blonde smirked, basking in the pleasure of seeing the confusion forming on Hayden's face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He wanted to emphasize the irritation in his tone but it came out as a very curious and genuine question. The auburn is more than befuddled at the puzzling statement. However, he knows it's somehow connected to his past.
Camilla opened her mouth, but then closed when she realized what she was about to say. Luckily, she was able to catch herself before she can reveal something important. Although, she doubts that Hayden would believe her if she said that he's married with two children, but it will most likely linger in his mind for the rest of his life.
'That is one of the things he shouldn't know about until he gets his memories back.' Camilla told herself. 'I have to keep an eye on him. It'll be bad if they do meet. Especially when we're back here in Los Angeles. Fuck!'
The blonde shifted her attention back at the auburn, who was still waiting for an answer, quick impatiently is she might add. Him, fidgeting with his fingers has always been a nervous habit that Night Fury had whenever it was his turn to give a speech at the graduation ceremony. So, I decided to relieve him of his stress and give him an answer that might not be quite true.
"Let's just say that you were with a lot of women back then... if you know what I mean." The agent smirked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. It wasn't a lie in a sense, but it isn't in the way she implied it to be. However, she already got the reaction she needed and there was a bonus right at the end.
A bright blush flared up Hayden's cheeks, which was a pleasant and amusing surprise for Camilla. For as long as she knew him, she really didn't know him behind the mask. To her and the rest, he was an emotionless killing machine with lots of issues. But when Astrid came along, she literally broke through his mask and practically changed his entire personality within months. So, seeing the blush was a surprise but it wasn't that shocking. At least she was able to divert the subject away from his attention.
All of a sudden, Nadia's voice perked up from the cockpit. "Oh, shit! I knew you weren't a virgin. There's no way you are with a di-"
"Shut the fuck up, Nadia!"
"-ck like that. No sane woman would pass up something like that. Or man, I don't judge!"
Camilla quirked an eyebrow at the exchange of words between the two. The last time she talked with the mercenary, she was reluctant to even talk to Hayden, freaking out over the phone when she has no idea about his past actions. But now, they seem to be good friends who look like the type to take the roles of a wingman to each other's dates-similar to her and Dagur. Nonetheless, she's glad that they have a great relationship.
It didn't take long for them to reach Los Angeles, but the only problem is that they needed to land somewhere discreet and an airstrip isn't exactly what people would call subtle. So, they decided to descend towards the end of O'Melveny Park, right behind the hills so that and in between the trees so that it's not easily spotted. To make it better, the plane has a camouflage feature that allows its hull to blend in with its surroundings. Quite convenient if Camilla had to admit.
They called up a yellow cab to take them to Main Street, where they'll linger around those parts for a few days to do their business. It's not like Camilla can walk inside Drakos, together with two of the deadliest mercenaries and vigilantes, one of them being the former Night Fury, who is supposed to be dead. Besides, she was the one who technically hitched a ride with them. They just decided to follow her, despite her protests.
As they rode in the cab, Hayden rolled down the pane of glass and slightly peeked out of the window, watching the bustling city come to life in his eyes. This is the first time he allowed himself to admire his surroundings without a specific goal in his mind. A pattern of lights ran up the looming buildings around them. The streets were a marriage of sounds, from bicycle wheels to chattering. Cars of every kind sped past them, leaving nothing but a blur and a gust of wind. It's a busy city and the sidewalks were filled with people. The crowd has a life of its own, the vibrant clothes shine in the morning light and the people move like enchanting shoals of fish. There is chatter between sellers and buyers, old friends catching up, new friends being made. It's a refreshing sight to see. He couldn't believe how blinded he was by his own goal that he forgot to admire the good things in this world.
Then, they came to a stop by a small but lively café that goes by the name of Phliz Coffee. After Nadia paid the driver, much to her irritation, the trio walked along the sidewalk as they began to head towards the hotel that's right across the street. Hayden made sure to cover at least the bottom half of his face with his raggedy scarf, just in case, someone might suspect him. Nadia, on the other, walked freely as if she's not carrying a 4-pound sword-whip in her belt. Plus, her vampirical eyes and the unusual shade of her hair only emphasized her strangeness. However, people would most likely suspect her as a cosplayer rather than a mercenary.
As they were about to cross the street, Camilla felt something vibrate in her pocket. When she fished it out, the communicator that she owns to contact Drakos during missions was blinking red, flashing numerous amounts of messages that she forgot to pick up. She cursed herself for forgetting to report about the status of her mission. Now, she'll have to show up at Drakos headquarters herself to prove that she's still alive. She wouldn't want to crash her own funeral.
The blonde agent peeked a glance at the two vigilantes, both of who were busy wandering their eyes across the city. While Hayden is still in awe of his surroundings, Nadia was looking at a strange Elmo mascot that was performing or at least... trying to perform Bring Me The Horizon's song, Parasite Eve, with an acoustic guitar.
Camilla wondered if she should leave these two unsupervised. 'Who knows what they can do...' She panicked inwardly, but she calmed herself down when she considered the possibility that these two dangerous individuals are capable of being responsible. She doesn't need to worry about protection when they're more than competent enough to take down anyone that may act as a form of danger to them.
"Okay, guys. I'm going to have to leave you two here for now because headquarters is calling for me." She announced, grabbing their attention. " You can hang around here for a while. I can-"
"Actually, you don't really need to come back. We can be on our own for now." Nadia intervened with a grin. "I don't know where you're taking us in the first place, but we'll be fine on our own. You can run along to your top-secret agency now."
Camilla blinked, trying to see if she heard correctly. She turned to Hayden, who gave her a shrug and basically agreed to what she said. With a sigh, the blonde nodded unenthusiastically. "O- okay then. Just... keep safe?" She's still a bit unsure and worried about them, especially Hayden because this city might trigger some memories.
"Don't worry. Me and Hayden will lay low for now. We'll alert you if we decide to make a move." The mercenary assured, lowering Camilla's concern for a bit. Nodding at them, she then took off to cross the street and head for her agency's main headquarters, leaving the two in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles with zero ideas on what to do. It's best if they observe the situation for now before jumping into action with their blindfolds on and their swords rusty.
Nadia looked around for a bit and her eyes fell on the slightly empty café that they just passed. An idea lit up in her head and she immediately turned to Hayden, who was still admiring the movement patterns occurring around him like a little kid. "Hey, Curious George." She tugged the sleeve of his jacket, causing him to face her and follow the direction of where she's pointing at. "I want to see what kind of shit they have in store there. I've been craving for some caffeine lately. Plus, a hot cup of coffee might relieve you of your hangover-if it's still there."
His eyebrows rose at the idea of a shop built just for serving coffee and cakes, but then he also realized that he just got drunk in a bar where he literally paid them to get himself hammered. "I guess a cup won't hurt anyone." Hayden shrugged, earning him a bright smile from Nadia.
The two entered the shop, ringing a tiny bell that hung above them when they opened the door, and ever so sneakily, the earthy fragrance of the coffee beans hits them like a truck, placing them in trance that was quickly broken when a voice as sweet as honey flowed along in the air.
Their eyes landed on a young barista that's working behind the counter, wearing a bright smile that would've lit up the entire room with her pearly whites and her all-around happy mood she's expressing. "Hello, welcome to Phliz Coffee. How may I take your order?" She greeted, using that melodious voice that she must've acquired in order to attract customers. It's obviously working and it's a lot better than the rude bartender guarding the bar back in Iceland.
Nadia stepped up to the counter and slammed her hands across the surface, causing the short woman to flinch in surprise. "What's your bestseller?" She asked in a hard tone. Hayden watched the interaction between them with an open mind but he still can't figure what's going on.
Upon hearing the question, the woman's eyes sharpened almost immediately. It's almost like she recognized from the way the mercenary looks that she's a coffee enthusiast. "We have one written in our menu but for you, I think we can make something that can satisfy your desires." The woman challenged, leaning forward with a slight smirk.
A Cheshire grin curved up the blonde's lips, almost sadistically. "Then give me two... and make it fast."
The barista imitated the Flash and disappeared within a second, only being spotted later on in the back, talking to another person who's most likely going to prepare the coffee. Nadia turned around to lean against the counter, placing her arms on top while letting out a blissful sigh.
Hayden arched an eyebrow at the woman. "Uh, what was that all about?"
"Coffee lovers recognize other coffee lovers." She replied. "In coffee shops, there are always three kinds of people; one is the owner of the shop who wants to create a great business. The second is the person who's only doing this for the sake of money. The third one is the rarest out of the three. They consist of people like me and her, coffee enthusiasts who scour the entire planet searching for the perfect mix. So if one settled down, then she most likely found it."
"So, you're still searching?"
"Yup, but I also have a life. I can't just spend the rest of my life tasting every coffee in the world, albeit it may be quite enjoyable. So far, I've visited"
The auburn shivered, "Damn, I'd rather be a beer guy if that's how coffee people act."
A ding from a bell caused the two to shift their attention back to the barista, who just appeared out of nowhere and had her hands placed on the counter with a cute smile that Hayden found creepy now that he knew some part of her real personality. Nadia noticed that she wasn't holding anything nor was she showing any signs of serving the coffee she ordered.
"Where's the..." Nadia was about to question her when she noticed that the barista had her hand out. A look of betrayal crossed the blonde's face upon realizing that she was asking for the money first before giving the coffee. There's always an unspoken rule between coffee people that money will only be given once their thirst has been quenched. But this innocent, young woman had broken it and it brought disgust in Nadia's heart.
"You bitch..." She whispered out, but the barista simply flashed her a smile out of sympathy, knowing that she broke the trust between them, despite knowing each other for barely five minutes.
Reluctantly, Nadia pulled out her credit card and practically dragged it across the air before slapping it on the barista's hand. Hayden rolled his eyes from behind her, both tired and amused by how dramatic she is. "Sorry, miss. Business comes first." The woman chuckled, swiping the card in the cash register and tapping a few buttons. "But good news, we're already half-way done and we'll serve it to you in a couple of minutes. Please take a seat and wait for your order."
The blonde huffed angrily, twisting her body in the other direction and marching towards one of the tables. Hayden sighed exasperatedly, flashing an apologetic smile at the barista from under his scarf before following Nadia to one of the tables. She plopped down with her arms crossed, puckering up her lips into a pout. The auburn arched an eyebrow at that, imagining a child replacing her position, and to be honest, he probably wouldn't have noticed if that ever happened. He silently sat on the other side, observing the different emotions swirling across the mercenary's face.
The silence was a bit tense but it was comfortable enough that he's able to rest his eyes without any worry. However, a question remained hanging by a hook in his mind, one that's been lingering for a few hours now and this might be the perfect time to ask. "So, what are we going to after this?" Hayden broke the silence.
Nadia's frustration slightly faded, but her creased eyebrows were a sign that she's still a bit hung over the recent 'betrayal'. She glanced outside for a moment, gazing out to the streets that were filled with rows of people, minding their businesses and unaware of the danger that's coming. "I don't know. We can't really do anything to her army with just ourselves." Nadia admitted. Then she turned to Hayden, eyes filled with determination and conviction. "But I assure you, we'll have our chance. And when we do, I'll make sure that both of us will get a chance to beat the shit out of her."
Hayden smiled, chuckling inwardly as the blonde resonated with him. But then like a dog, her nose perked up when she sensed a different and more unique aroma entered the room. She turned and her eyes lit up like a child seeing fireworks for the first time. "Oh, my god. I can literally smell the Blue Mountain and cocaine in it. Hm, I guess I know what the secret ingredient is."
'What?' Hayden blinked.
The vigilante followed Nadia's gaze and then froze when he locked eyes with a different barista, who was walking towards them, holding a tray with two cups of steaming hot coffee on it. In his perspective, she looked far too young to be working in a coffee shop. She wore her chestnut-brown locks in a messy ponytail, probably because she's in a hurry. Her hair glowed like dark honey. It fell down in rivers of reds and browns as each rivulet shone deeply, emphasizing her shimmering blue eyes with hints of purple just peeking around the corner. The apron and hat she wore were too big for her size so she looked like she was wearing a dress and a helmet.
But that's not what Hayden was focusing on.
For a second, a vision flashed in his head but it was far too fast for him to follow. However, whatever it did, it did something because when the both of them locked eyes with each other at the same time, the girl froze in her tracks, much to Nadia's confusion and disappointment. She simply stared at him without even blinking, as if she thought that if she blinked, he would disappear. Ever so slowly, the tray on her hands slid out of her palm and crashed on the floor. The air is suddenly rent by the sound of breaking glass. Everyone's heads turned to witness the cups shatter into a hundred pieces and coffee spray across the floor.
But the girl continued to stare at the man, who had already broken eye contact to glance down at the mess under her feet. Her arms stayed in the exact same position, rigid and stiff, but there's a bit of a quivering in her body. The color drained from her face, leaving her skin as white as a sheep. She could hear her own heartbeat, pounding against her chest like Gene Hoglan's drum set until she couldn't take it anymore. Opening her mouth to speak, a silent voice instead screamed out of her throat, missing the oblivious people who were gushing over the spilled coffee, especially the platinum-blonde one.
Hayden was silently contemplating on how to cheer up Nadia, when all of a sudden, he hears a croak. He looks up to see the same girl who's responsible for the broken glass and spilled caffeine, shallow breaths escaping her hanging mouth, only for it to be sucked back in. She was hyperventilating.
The vigilante arched an eyebrow at her and was about to ask what her problem is but a single and quiet word slipped out of her tongue and broke through his demeanor, holding him in place as if shot by a freezing ray. It felt like his own muscles tightened around his body and prevented him from moving. A permanent look of shock remained plastered across his face.
"Wh- what?" He rasped out, hoping that he had just heard wrong and all of this was just a misunderstanding.
Tears started streaming down the young girl's eyes, wetting her cheeks and causing her breaths to come out as short gasps. Her hands finally lowered to her side, but they refused to stop trembling. The sides of her mouth were slowly curving up into a smile, but neither thought that it was out of happiness. That expression certainly didn't feel like it matches the intensity in her eyes. Knees shaking, nearing the brink of collapsing. Throat bobbing up and down as fear clutched her heart. Finally, the young woman repeated the word once again, but neither of them were ready.
"Dad?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There! After 32 chapters of waiting, a reunion finally happened. You guys happy now? I know I am...