"You're all fucking incompetent!"
The assortment of mercenary captains shifted anxiously as Indigo stormed through the command center, his rage at their failure to capture any of the intruders at a boiling point. Their nervousness was not unfounded: it wouldn't be the first time that someone who failed him left the room in a body bag. Their collective gazes flicked from Indigo to the petite terror currently standing next to the room's only exit. Her faceless steel mask stared into space, her silver-white hair lightly reflecting the red light above the door.
"And you!" Indigo's rage mercifully, for the captains, shifted onto said silver-haired terror, his arm lashing out and smashing the girls head against the wall with a loud metallic clang as the side of the mask dinged into the surface.
"How could you let them just slip by you!?" He hissed at her, though his question got no response. The girl was motionless as she stood pinned to the wall by the head, the featureless mask hiding any emotion- though every individual present suspected that the emotion shown was 'none'.
After several seconds of grinding her head into the wall, he growled and released her.
"Useless." He stormed back to the table that sat at the center of the room, slamming his hands down on it. The girl righted herself, standing up straight once more, as if she had not just been violently assaulted.
The seconds ticked on in tense silence as Indigo skimmed an assortment of reports in front of him before one of the squad captains stepped up to risk asking the important question.
"Your orders, sir?" Her voice was firm, with confidence in it- showing weakness to her psychopath employer was a good way to get gutted. They'd all witnessed it first-hand. Her question earned a brief glare from the man in front of her, a violet eye peeking out from his normally squinted gaze.
"We're compromised. Relocate to the FT facility where FT-01 is currently. Up security there." He ordered, pushing off of the table and turning to leave.
"And you, sir?" The brave woman dared to ask. There was a pause before Indigo looked over his shoulder.
"I'm going to go clean up your mess."
"Bit of a role-reversal this time 'round, huh?" Frenda grinned at Ruiko tiredly, heavy bags under her eyes. Ruiko made a grumbling sound from the tank filled with translucent blue liquid, the very same tank that Frenda had been in after getting shot. Now it was Ruiko's turn, resting in the medical fluid to recover.
The pair had struggled to escape the pursuing mercenaries sent out after them, which unfortunately left Ruiko's wounds without proper treatment for far longer than was especially healthy. Hypovolemic shock was starting to set in toward the end, so Frenda had called in a favor from Shiage to get them to this private facility.
Now Ruiko floated and Frenda teased her by blatantly enjoying the view of her through the tank, Ruiko doing her best to cover herself but unable to throw things at Frenda in revenge. It was an unfortunate circumstance.
"Whatever…" Ruiko said, making a gagging motion just before speaking. Talking with liquid breathing fluid in her lungs was deeply unsettling and uncomfortable to boot. Not too long ago, Ruiko would have marveled that she could talk at all in that state, but she had just raided a giant robot factory that had a private cloning facility in the basement. Honestly, she should really stop being surprised by the medical technology of Academy City.
"You get used to it." Frenda assured her as Ruiko pouted in the tank. Frenda's gaze slowly slid away from Ruiko, appearing distant.
"You… OK?" Ruiko asked, concerned. Frenda just seemed so off lately. Depressed, even.
Frenda flashed her a weak smile. "Just fine." She dismissed the query with a flippant wave of her hand. Ruiko frowned more, and wondered if she should… and decided- yes, she should.
"You're lying, Frenda," Ruiko accused, earning her an angry look from her partner.
"And what about you? You're the one who got shot, the one who actually had shit she's not used to happen to her. And the ladder thing, what the fuck was that all about?" She shot back rapidly, angrily, her eyes flaring. Ruiko shrunk a little at the barrage of temper, but the outburst only confirmed her suspicions.
"I'm sorry about the ladder. That was totally my mistake. I was looking at something and it got caught when I turned and...yeah. Sorry." Ruiko replied, and her earnest apology took a lot of wind out of Frenda's sails, she could tell. Frenda stormed over to her bag, rifling through it until she came out with a big wad of stretchy black bands.
"Hard Taping?" Frenda questioned as she realized what it was, turning to look at Ruiko floating there, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh… what's that?" Ruiko asked, trying to laugh as she rubbed her head, but instead causing her to severely gag. It was so uncomfortable, she couldn't take it. It did make Frenda grin a little, so… positives?
"It's a kind of ceramic composite with an electropolymer substrate used in Powered Suits and some vehicle suspension… among other things. Makes them faster, stronger, that sort of thing. They're kind of nuts, though. Saw someone's arm get snapped like a twig when the Powered Suit supports suddenly failed." She grinned slightly at the memory, but it faltered when she noticed Ruiko's scowl. "He deserved it! Honest!"
Ruiko floated there quietly for a minute with her eyes closed, so Frenda put the stolen goods back into the bag with a shrug.
"I'll let you rest, maybe go lie down-"
"Frenda. Are you… not happy?" Ruiko asked, steering back to the previous topic even though Frenda had clearly attempted to distract her. That lengthy explanation on the Hard Taping was just another sign that she was trying to hide something. Ruiko knew how hypocritical it was; she didn't want to talk about her own role in the evening either. She was trying so hard to not focus on what happened...
Frenda opened her mouth, probably planning to give another heated response, but it seemed like she was finally out of steam, too tired to get worked up. She sighed and looked away. A self-pitying voice of doubt and insecurity pushed Ruiko to rephrase her question.
"Is it… Is it us? This?" She asked, wondering if Frenda was starting to regret their chaotic and confusing relationship. Frenda whipped back around with panic clear in her expression.
"N-no! No no no, it's not us!" Frenda said, violently waving her hands in front of her to dismiss the notion. Ruiko would be lying if she were to say she didn't find such a visceral reaction reassuring.
"O-oh. Good." Ruiko stuttered out somewhat nervously, blinking in surprise as Frenda approached the tank and rested her forehead against the transparent surface, her eyes sliding closed.
"Frenda…" Ruiko whispered out quietly. "Please…" She pressed her hands against the transparent surface, pushing herself down in the fluid to rest her own forehead against the inside of the tank to mirror Frenda. "What's going on? I'm not an idio- Well, I'm not oblivious. Something's been eating at you. I can tell you aren't happy. Wha-"
"Why do you tolerate my existence, Ruiko?"
Frenda's question was so sudden, and so… so sad, that it caught Ruiko completely off guard.
"I am a murderer. A mercenary. I've done horrible things. Hell, I enjoyed doing them! You have no reason to trust me, no reason to want such an evil person around, no reason to lo-... lo-..." She stumbled on the word, sighing again. "No reason." She said with a sense of finality.
Ruiko paused as she collected her thoughts, trying to ignore the knife in her heart at Frenda's raw pain. She felt such shame for not pressing this earlier. How much was Frenda hiding?
"Frenda… whatever your history, whatever you've done... you're still right." Ruiko said, biting her lip. "This city… has a dark side that I never realized was there. I… I want to change it. I can't do that by denying that it exists." She pressed her head a little harder into the surface of the tank. "Or by denying that the people who are a part of it are people."
Frenda remained still and silent as Ruiko spoke, her eyes squeezed shut, as if it would hide her from Ruiko's judgement.
"You're not evil, Frenda. You're important to me. You inspire me to action instead of wallowing in self-pity all day and night. You push me to embrace life in a way I never would have before, never even considered before." She kept going, her voice soft, somewhat nervous. "Maybe even in a somewhat shameless manner." She smiled, a slight chuckle escaping her lips, mercifully free of a gag.
"I know I can't just… fix everything with some nice words. Don't you have anything-" She paused mid-thought. "What has changed to make you feel this way?" She asked softly, wanting desperately to leave the tank and wipe away the silent tears tracing Frenda's cheeks. Her reply came out so softly Ruiko barely heard it.
"I… I don't know."
Frenda stared out the window, the ride silent save for her occasional depressed sigh. It was even free of Shiage's usual cussing about other drivers as he careened through the dense city traffic.
"Hey, Shiage."
She could practically hear him jump in his seat next to her in surprise, but she couldn't even work up the energy to be amused.
"Y-yeah, what's up?" He asked, though Frenda did not turn to look at him, her gaze stuck on the passing terrain.
"You're close to Rikou, right? How's she doing?" She asked softly, shifting to rest her chin in the palm of her hand as she continued to watch out her window. There was a pause from Shiage, as if he was uncertain how to answer. It made her wonder if Shiage feared her, or her reactions. Or was it protectiveness of Rikou? Both?
"She's… doing her best. She hasn't been feeling well lately. I'm not really sure why. Maybe too many missions, or something…" Shiage finally gave his reply, though she could tell he cautiously measured his words, picking them with great care. Frenda couldn't help but wonder why.
"Oh… I see." It was all she could think to say. She just… didn't know how to really respond. Maybe they were pushing Rikou too hard, but there was no way Mugino would slow down. She was obsessed with killing SCHOOL and Frenda didn't even want to be in the same zip code as Mugino if someone was stupid enough to suggest it. She was so much more volatile these days.
They lapsed back into silence which lingered even once they finally reached the ITEM compound. She parted ways with Shiage with a half-hearted wave, getting into the elevator and riding it up to the floor her room was on. She drifted inside, pausing to look around her abode. She hadn't been back here in a while, opting to stay with Ruiko whenever she could get away between missions.
Fuck was she exhausted, though. She never told Ruiko, but she had to pull double duty when helping her, going from training or whatever Misaki had lined up to ITEM jobs in the same day.
Her gaze tracked listlessly around the room filled with stuffed animals, red and dark gray decor, and most notably, an assortment of gifts for various friends birthdays. She walked over to one, staring blankly at it. It was a scarf for a girl who worked at her favorite diner, who always knew what she wanted. She'd had to really be sneaky to find out what she might like and what her birthday was.
Another was a book for a younger boy she knew at her school that she so rarely attended, whom she had taught some things in chemistry. He was a nice kid.
She paused on her way to a third, clenching at her chest. Why did everything feel so empty? Why did none of this bring her any joy? She liked getting things for her friends. Loved their reactions. Why was everything just so hollow?
She drifted over to her computer, turning it on, sorting through it absentmindedly until she got to her video journal.
The screen came to life as her own face showed up on it, happily chattering on and on about her day, her smile wide and goofy.
A video of her performing a rather sultry dance drifted on by, Frenda barely reacting as she watched it- she'd made that for Mugino months ago for her birthday. The video ended and moved on to another, the picture lighting up and showing her own pouting face.
"Uggghhh, today suuucked! We had this crazy job protecting these research facilities, and I actually went toe-to-toe with the Railgun of all people! I almost won too! But something weird happened and it fucked me over, Mugino had to bail me out. She was so mad at me for failing, my ass is still red and stinging from her punishment spanks." The video-Frenda whined on and on, sighing as she leaned into her desk toward the camera and giving it a smile.
"But whatever! Tomorrow's another day, and I'm sure Mugino forgives me by now! We're the bestest of friends." The video-Frenda grinned at the camera before she stopped the recording, leaving only the present day Frenda to stare at the screen, tears pouring down her face.
"Why…?" She asked the empty room around her, quiet sobs escaping her.
"Why can't I feel happy anymore?"
Though she was no fan of having unwanted holes in her body, Ruiko was still relieved to get out of the creepy healing tank and on her way home. A short trip on public transportation found her back at the house and only a bit lightheaded. She needed to get inside, swipe some meat from the fridge, and just… hide in her room.
She had held it in for so long, pushing down the panic and anxiety and raw emotion of seeing that man shot dead., It was the night of Treefall all over again, the night she'd hefted her bat and-
No, no, she needed to get inside, not focus on it, not go to pieces in public in the middle of the night.
Stealthily, she pushed the door open just far enough to slip inside and pivot to gingerly ease it closed. Thankfully, the foyer was shrouded in darkness as it seemed everyone was either out or asleep. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. She'd barely held her shit together with Frenda.
"OK, now I just-" She began to whisper to herself.
"Good evening, Saten-san," came the tightly controlled voice of the local royalty. Crap.
Ruiko whipped around to find Misaki waiting for her in the hall. Before she could even get a word out, Misaki pulled out a remote that was concealed in the crook of her crossed arms. One flick of the remote and beeping sound later, Ruiko felt like her mind was just… clear.
"Um… huh?" Ruiko blinked rapidly, feeling indescribably better. Just like that, her haunting recrimination vanished without a trace.
"There, that should help relieve the flashbacks and intrusive thoughts, for now." Misaki said in a pompous, agitated tone as she walked over to a lamp and turned it on, illuminating the room. Ruiko opened her mouth to thank her- genuinely appreciative- but it was cut off with a wave of her hand.
"No. No apologies. Just tell me you're done with this foolishness. You almost died tonight, and now…" The unspoken statement of her having killed someone hung in the air. Despite that wordless implication, it did not stop Ruiko's blistering rage.
"Excuse you!?" Ruiko snapped, any hesitation she may have had from her trauma cut off entirely thanks to Misaki's powers.
"You heard me. Let me just clear this from your mind so you can go back to-" She did not get to finish that statement before Ruiko had crossed the room. For a brief moment, alarm played across Misaki's eyes. Then it was gone, lost in her own assurance of her Ability. Misaki was far more powerful. Therefore she had nothing to fear from Ruiko. It was as obvious as it was infuriating.
This did not stop Ruiko's towering height from having a trace of intimidation factor to it. Ruiko stared down at Misaki with contempt, towering over the shorter girl by a solid eight inches, nonetheless, Misaki didn't waver as she kept maintained eye contact with the girl across from her.
"Fine." Misaki conceded, Ruiko blinking in surprise as she turned and walked toward the Eastern sitting room. "Let's talk."
Ruiko hesitated in the entrance hall before following, sitting down at the table with a sigh. Misaki sat across from her, rubbing her temple.
"Saten-san… I do not want to see you hurt. Mentally or physically. And to say Haru-chan is also worried for you would be a monumental understatement." Misaki looked up at Ruiko who sighed in reply.
"I know. Do you think I ever wasn't worried when she was in Judgement, or the things she's involved with now? Being behind a computer screen won't stop that freak from coming after her." Ruiko threaded her fingers together, her hands squeezing and tensing. Her eyes were downcast as she stared at hands.
"Nothing has changed from our last conversation." Ruiko continued, looking up to meet Misaki's eyes. "I've made my choice. Please don't underestimate me because I'm 'just a regular human'. Level Zero or not, I can do this. And I know you would not be having this conversation with Mikoto if she wasn't still recovering, or Kuroko if she still had her powers." She finished firmly, her jaw going rigid.
Misaki stared at Ruiko for a long while, her hand lightly playing with the remote on the table, dragging her finger along the surface to make it spin in place. There was a shade of… guilt? Ruiko could swear that's what she saw in Misaki's eyes, but wasn't so sure. Maybe there was a cold reading card she could find...
"Very well, Saten-san." Misaki stood, sighing. "Let me know if you need to talk. Determined or not, your mental health matters." She said firmly, giving Ruiko a stern look. "Just talk to me, if you have anything on your mind." Misaki brushed her skirt off and turned to leave, but stopped as Ruiko spoke.
"A-Actually…" Ruiko began, Misaki turning with a raised eyebrow. "It's… not about me, but, uh…" Ruiko fidgeted a bit.
"Frenda?" Misaki guessed, though Ruiko wondered if it was a guess, or her earlier trick also included some mind-reading.
"Yeah." Ruiko nodded softly, the concern evident on her face. "She's… suffering. I'm not oblivious, but I just don't know what to do, or say. I just-" Misaki sat back down, raising a hand to stop Ruiko, nodding with an understanding expression.
"Nor am I oblivious. I know of Frenda's past and present, I know what she's going through. I know how her mind works very, very well." Misaki explained, sighing. Ruiko raised an eyebrow at that, suspicion edging into her mind.
"Have you been reading her mind?" Ruiko asked, trying to restrain the accusatory tone.
"Among a few other things. Frenda is… complicated. Nonetheless, I did take measures to ensure she wasn't dangerous around Haru-chan. You'll have to forgive me for not relying purely on trust when it comes to someone who has killed for money." Misaki's tone wasn't angry or even judgemental, but it was without remorse. Ruiko leaned back into her seat, simmering, but said nothing in reply to that. She couldn't fault Misaki for it, even if it did make her mad.
"So… What is happening?" Ruiko asked, her tone laden with guilt as she asked to invade Frenda's deepest privacy. She just needed to know.
Misaki hummed in response, leaning back and clearly considering how to answer.
"Beyond the textbook depression that you are no doubt seeing, it's something deep and ingrained within her. Are you familiar with the term 'compartmentalisation'?"
Ruiko shook her head in reply, simply listening.
"It's a psychological defense. Frenda was truly a master at it. She could separate her professional life from her personal life with ease. She could kill one night and return to being a normal teenager the next. She completely disconnected one 'life' from the other. It's a way of divorcing responsibility and mindset from a behavior, a persistent behavior in this particular case." Misaki began to explain, steepling her fingers.
"Was?" Ruiko chimed in, catching the past tense at the start. The explanation reminded her of something Frenda said to her once when they were training. She didn't want to mix memories of Ruiko with memories of her job.
"Yes, was. Frenda's ability to compartmentalize has almost completely broken down. Now… Now she's suffering all that guilt, all that doubt, everything she denied. Things that didn't bother her before when she got into a particular professional mindset now haunt her. And the more she reflects on her past actions, the more it weighs her down, the guiltier she feels, the more she feels… unworthy." Misaki sighed out, frowning.
"How… why did it break down?" Ruiko asked with a soft voice, and to her surprise, Misaki smiled at her a little grimly.
"She chose to save you. She mixed her personal affection with her professional attitude and skills. She killed to defend you." Misaki explained softly, looking into Ruiko's eyes as guilt flooded them.
"So she's in pain because-"
"No." Misaki cut her off. "Don't feel guilt or responsibility, at least not in that sense. Frenda has been coasting, not addressing her own emotional trauma or her own past for far too long. Simply because… it was easier. It's easier to get lost in a wave of money and hedonism than to take responsibility for the things you hold…" Misaki trailed off, something flickering in her eyes before she seemed to abandon that train of thought.
"She has a lot she needs to come to terms with, things she has pushed off for years. This was inevitable, honestly." Misaki said, in as reassuring tone as she could. Ruiko looked somewhat comforted, sighing herself.
"So what do I do?" Ruiko asked, biting her lip. "I don't know how to even begin to help her with something that heavy."
"Frenda divorced herself from the responsibility of the things she's going to need to do one day. That day is coming up, and all you can do is be there for her. To support her." Misaki gave Ruiko a somewhat nostalgic look.
"Haru-chan taught me something very important. A lesson that has really shifted my perspective." She smiled softly, her expression one of fondness at the thought.
"No one can truly live in this world alone."