Her bright green eyes even larger than usual, Robin slowly lifted her face to meet Amon's gaze. "Amon," she breathed. She swayed slightly where she sat and Amon instinctively wound his arms around her for support, bringing the two even closer together. Seconds seemed to pass like hours as they stared into one another's eyes; both unable to go on, yet, at the same time, unable to pull back.
And that was exactly how they were when Michael returned with Karasuma following closely behind. Michael stopped dead, his jaw dropping. Karasuma's eyes widened slightly and she just stared at Robin and Amon, part of her sure she was imagining things. She and Michael tried to backtrack slowly out of the office, but it was too late. As soon as Amon realized that he and Robin had an audience, he quickly stood up and unconsciously backed a few feet away from her. Robin simply let her head hang, face slightly flushed, staring meticulously at the couch cushions.
Michael cleared his throat loudly. "Robin, good to see you're awake. We'll be leaving now." He and Karasuma turned hastily towards the conference room just as Sakaki burst out of it. "Guys, the police just called and they think they've found out where the witch is hiding." Almost everyone in the room was noticeably relieved at the perfect timing of this news, except Amon who surprisingly, considering the situation, seemed as unemotional as ever. "Let's go," he said shortly, striding out of the office. Robin got up uncertainly and headed after him.
After Amon and Robin were safely out of earshot, Sakaki asked incredulously, "What was that about?" Michael glanced at the door where Amon and Robin had just exited. "I have absolutely no idea," responded Michael. Then he and Sakaki simultaneously looked at Karasuma. Shifting uncomfortably under their expecting eyes, she stared at the floor then up at them defiantly. "WHAT?" "Well," Sakaki began in a slightly mischievous tone, "Why don't you tell us? I mean, you are the one who can read emotions." Karasuma stared at them in disbelief. "I can't believe you would even suggest something like that. Do you even realize what an invasion of privacy that would be? You two should be ashamed of yourselves!" Storming out of the office, she only paused to give the two boys another glare for good measure. "I guess I should be going with her," said Sakaki with a grimace as he too headed out the door.
* * *
Walking along a dark alleyway in silence, Robin and Amon searched for the witch. Michael had done some research, and combined with the police's information, he had determined that this was the witch's hideout. Robin glanced hesitantly at Amon, still unsure what had been about to happen before they had been interrupted by Michael and Karasuma. She remembered looking into his eyes, still cold and distant as always; but this time there had been something different about them, some undercurrent of emotion that had threatened to pull her under.
Then Michael's voice sounded over Amon's communicator, jolting Robin out of her reverie. Amon, the witch is close. If you and Robin each go down a different alley at the split up ahead you'll be able to corner him. "Right," Amon responded. Then he turned to Robin, and avoiding her eyes, said, "Robin, you take the right and I'll take the left." She nodded slightly to show she understood. When they came to the fork, Robin went right, staring uneasily at Amon's back as he went down the other path. She had a bad feeling about this mission, and she silently prayed that her nightmare would not come true.
Robin walked down the increasingly black alley, glancing from side to side, searching for any sign of the witch. Then she heard a loud crash coming from a little way in front of her. Panicking, she started to run, her mind only on Amon and whether he was okay. She skidded to a halt as she saw a tall, sallow skinned man standing in the middle of where the two paths met. Shock mixed with horror as she saw the figure of Amon, lying on the ground a few feet away from the witch, motionless. The witch then turned his attention to Robin, who was hastily putting on her glasses. Flames reflected in her eyes as she prepared to set him on fire, when she heard a gunshot go off. She whipped around to see Amon, leaning on his right arm for support while the other held a gun that was still pointed at the witch, who had fallen to the ground. Relief spreading through her body like wildfire, Robin ran over to Amon and threw her arms around his neck. Wincing slightly in pain, Amon slowly wrapped his arms around her waist.
* * *