A/N: I wish Ben 10 belonged to me, but it doesn't.
"Honey, you alright?" Rachel took her aside when she walked in, feeling her forehead and her cheeks. "You don't feel hot… You out with the flu? That's rough. Well, you're back now~!" Meena blinked. "Don't worry, you haven't missed much. Ah, but there was this cutie in yesterday during your normal shift."
"Eh?" Rachel let out a huff, retracting her hands.
"A guy. A really cute guy."
"B-but I thought you had a boyfriend?" Rachel waved her off, flashing neon green nails.
"Please. Doesn't mean I'm not in the market for a new one." Rachel let out a yawn, lifting herself up onto the counter and swinging her legs lightly. "This is so boring… Wish Mark would come by some time. At-least then I wouldn't be like sleeping." Meena gave a smile, pulling out a stool and sitting down. The diner was empty, which wasn't unusual at three in the afternoon. Too late for lunch, too early for dinner, Cook always says. "Hm, well, I guess he's alright. My kid brother doesn't like 'em much, but that doesn't bother me. He's bad enough for me and polite to my mom. Weird combination but whatever." Rachel fell silent, thinking about the boy. Meena looked at her expectantly, but when she said no more, she looked away, gazing out the big windows at a lone figure making his way up the sidewalk. Rachel caught sight of him. "Hey, a customer."
Meena looked away, recognizing the tall man in the hat and long coat. She let out a hiss under her breath, nails digging into the stool. Rachel gazed at her for a long moment.
"Know 'em, do ya, Kid?" She remarked easily. "I could put 'Closed' on the door."
"There's… no need." Meena breathed, trying to regain her emotions, her hands growing cold with anger.
"Ya got a minute. I'll do it for ya." Rachel clicked her nails against the counter, smirking, a brow raised in amusement.
"No. Let him come." Meena rose, turning sharply on her heel and pushing open the door to the back hall, disappearing. Rachel leaned back, stretching. The bell rang over the doorway, the man entering calmly. He paused, looking around slowly.
"'Sup. Can I help ya, Mister?" The man gazed at her and she pushed off from the counter, rolling her shoulders, hands clasped behind her back. She grinned, showing her teeth. "Lookin' for someone?" she drawled, stalking toward him like a cat, circling him easily, looking him up and down.
"Tell me where Meena Strong is. I have no business with you." He looked ahead, raising his lip in disgust.
"Ah-ah-ah, not so fast, Honey." She lifted a hand, long nails brushing against his face. Her gold eyes narrowed at the feeling. "What…?" She smirked. "Let's have a look-see under your mask, eh?"
"Stay away from me, you filthy Felilis." He growled, eyes narrowed as he grabbed her wrist, pulling tight and almost bringing her off her feet. She bared her teeth, hissing as she took her other hand, digging her nails into his arm. He released her, showing no notice of the blood spotting his arm, saying nothing more.
"Fitori, leave her alone." Meena stood there, arms crossed over her chest and face annoyed. The man, Fitori, raised a brow, but nonetheless moved to a booth, sitting down silently and pulling out a paper. Rachel glared at him and restrained herself from lunging at him. "I told you to stop following me," she added, irritated.
"I follow my orders to the letter." Meena looked away, moving toward Rachel. Rachel watched her calmly.
"Miss Rachel, did he hurt you?" She asked quietly, looking at her already darkening wrist.
"You're cute, Kid. Naw, nothin' I can't handle." Rachel lifted her wrist, twisting it to demonstrate she was in-fact fine. "Aches a little is all." Meena wasn't so sure, if the dark splotches were anything to go by, but said no more.
"I'm sorry… I didn't think he would hurt you…" Rachel blinked before waving her hands quickly, seeing the tears in the younger girl's eyes.
"A-ah! No! It's fine, its fine! It's all good, okay?"
"Calico, you makin' her cry?" Rachel looked behind her in outrage at Mike smiling. "Meena, she upsetting you?"
"N-no Sir, I—"
"Whaddya mean by that, Michael James Hoover Rosenbaun? Who could be mean to the Kid, hm? Unless you have something you'd like to say?" He winced and she glared, hands on her hips. "That's what I thought." She turned on her heel, flouncing away towards the Employee's Only room. Mike rubbed at the back of his head, searching for the right words.
"She wasn't. I was upset from… um…" Mike waved her off, figuring she was covering for the loud one.
"Well, she's been in a bad mood lately. Give her time. Hey there, Fella. What can I get you?" He waved over at Fitori, who didn't look up from the paper.
"Coffee."
"Coming up." He motioned for Meena to come closer and she did. He leaned down. "That guy's been here a lot lately. You know anything about that?" he murmured, not upset they were getting a new regular, but just a little curious.
"No, Sir." He shrugged, taking the coffee over all the same, smiling pleasantly and attempting to begin a conversation. Meena turned away as Rachel came back, a silly pink apron over her normal attire, glaring at her 'bodyguard' in contempt. "Miss Rachel?"
"Kid, this is a special occasion. I got the pepper spray in here and a pocket knife in here." She pointed to the respective pockets. Meena tilted her head lightly to the side.
"What… for, Miss Rachel?"
"For that lunatic stalker of yours. I will protect you from any creep that comes after you." Meena's cheeks colored at her volume, raising her hands up lightly in an effort to quiet her.
"M-miss Rachel!" Rachel sent another glare toward Fitori and Mike said something, rising from his seat and walking towards the two, the smile slowly fading. He took Rachel by the arm, pulling her away.
"What exactly do you mean by 'lunatic stalker', Calico? Is there something I should know?" Rachel's lips curled into a rather disturbing smile.
"Oh, you'll love this, m'dear."
"Hi, welcome to—" Meena's voice faltered, the next words choked from her throat. The man gave her a curious look.
"Are you—"
"Meena, honey, it's time for your break~!" Rachel hurried her away, smiling over her shoulder at the man. "I'll be with ya in a minute, kay?" The man gave an amused smile. Rachel pulled her toward the counter, setting her on a stool and patting her shoulder. "Stick around here, Kid. That's the guy I was telling you about." A strangled noise came from the younger girl's throat and Rachel turned on her heel, striding back toward the man. "So. What can I do for ya, hmm?" she purred, giving a smile.
"Perhaps you could tell me your name, Miss?" She raised a brow, moving a little closer.
"Rachel. And you?" She leaned against the small podium the set up for a hostess station, leaning her head in her hand. "It's only proper."
"Syrus." He smiled. A handsome man, Rachel thought. No wonder Meena choked. Dark brown, messy hair and deep green eyes. "Syrus Battle." Nice smile too.
"Nice to meet you. Now, where can I seat ya?" He raised a hand to stop her. "Hm?"
"My friend is already here." Her brows furrowed and she looked around. The only person here was still—
"Are you a creepy-stalker-weirdo too?" The smile was still there and Rachel wondered if he was truly what he appeared to be. And she thought he was cute. Well, that idea was shot.
"I haven't the slightest what you're talking about." He straightened his form, standing taller than Rachel thought he was and looking over her head. "Meena." Rachel whirled around to see Meena's shoulders stiffen, her form tensing. "Are you ready yet? Give me your final answer." Rachel reached toward the pocket where the little knife rested. "I suggest you don't, Miss Rachel. Violence never solves problems." He didn't look at her, his eyes trained on Meena.
"Is there a problem here?" Mike slung a towel over his shoulder as he stepped in from the kitchen, immediately bombarded by the tension. He saw Meena, her eyes tightly closed, hands gripping at her head and Rachel standing before an unknown man, her eyes narrowed on him. "Calico, something wrong?" The man standing before he gave a smile, then looked to the man named Fitori.
"Fitori, cilla dor freia Mirna. Douve.(Fitori, get my sister. Please.)" Fitori rose slowly from his seat, looking over at Meena. Mike didn't remember much of his Italian, but he figured they were too advanced for him anyway. He looked back at Meena.
"You know these men?" She ducked her head lower, gripping tighter to the sides of her head. "Meena," he lowered his voice, reaching out for her. "Meena, are you alright?"
"Syvin, stay out of my head!" Her arms shot out, knocking Mike's hand away and pushing hard against the counter, standing with difficulty. A hand was braced against her forehead as she glared at the man.
"Mirna. Dor freia. Fol kir sa.(Meena. My sister. Don't fight it.)"
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Power flew through the room as the lights popped one by one, the glass shattering to the floor and littering the room with sparks. "Syvin, I refuse!" Rachel ducked low to the floor, covering her head with her hands. The windows cracked, the fractures travelling slowly upward and outward, branching out. And they too shattered, the wind flowing into the small diner. Meena's form was shaking, hands clenched into fists. "I refuse… Leave… Leave me alone."
The man gazed at her for a long time, no words said between the two of them. Mike didn't move, realizing it wasn't his place to interfere and there really was nothing he could do. Rachel stayed crouched on the ground. When he finally spoke, Mike recognized the note of contempt in his tone, something he was accustomed with.
"Freia, yuall toro disch.(Sister, you are weak.)" Meena shook her head.
"Forta.(No.)" The man raised his hands, shrugging.
"Fine, have it your way. Eventually, you will regain your senses. You don't have much time left anyway. Fitori, we're leaving." The man rose from his seat dutifully, following after him as he left the small diner. Meena stood there until they were gone from sight.
And then she slid slowly to the ground, covering her face with her hands, glass digging into her skin as blood dropped around her.
Ah, well, what to say about this… Um… It has a point? That's all I got. Well. Mmm… I hope you enjoyed it?