That night, Mai was very tired. Exhausted enough to sleep despite the images that floated in her mind whenever she got too comfortable. She had seen a dead body before; her grandmother had an open casket for her funeral. She saw Andy's corpse on the night of his death. She saw it again during the wake. She was used to faces of death. Heck, even violence wasn't completely foreign to her. It came with the territory of being a Shiranui ninja.
How that night ended shouldn't have been such a surprise to her. But the fact of the matter was that this time, it was a murder. She had been a witness and perhaps complicit in the killing of a human being. Such a thought was hard to swallow, even if it was her choice. She chose this. She chose to hop onto the one-way train to hell. It was at this moment, that Mai realized she had changed quite a bit, starting with the death of Andy.
She had slowly morphed into a much different version of herself. Deep down, she was a transformed version of the spunky ninja, she used to be. That young girl fought for love and justice. Her replacement did what she could to serve herself and survive. She had found things and people in life that made her happy and she wished to keep them, even if she turned into a demon in red lipstick. Or maybe it was because of it. Maybe Mai didn't mind the perks that came with sitting on top of South Town's throne.
Perhaps the scariest thing about all of this was the fact that Mai felt very apathetic with sleeping next to a man, who had just killed another human hours ago. She felt little aside from morbid curiosity at seeing the life leave a man's eyes in a matter of seconds. It was horrifically fascinating how quickly life could be snuffed out like a candle. If anything the visage of the sadism in Hein'ss eyes would be what kept her awake.
Not exactly the fact that Big was the one who had to go.
Maybe even a little disturbingly, something within Mai relaxed at the sight of Big's corpse. The unsightly, selfish monster inside reveled in revenge. Some part of her humanity still remained as she was actively disturbed by Hein's methods. It said quite a lot when the others had to try hard in order not to let their true fear show.
What an absolutely great thing that Hein was with them and wasn't employed by their enemies. It was quite telling when even Geese sent him a look that could crudely be described as "What the fuck?" Then again, he had probably seen such a thing coming.
Mai hopped out of bed, dressed in literally nothing. She stood on the soft fur carpet and stretched her tired body, casting a look at Geese. He lay on his side, soundly asleep with the way he was breathing. She could hardly see him in the dark, only the faint outline of his body. It was probably very early morning, Mai would reckon as she navigated to the nearest chair and found the kimono, he liked to wear on occasion.
She put it around her body and made her way to the door, quietly leaving the bedroom. Here, the lamps turned on automatically, temporarily blinding Mai as she shielded her eyes. She used memory alone to find her way to one of two bathrooms, designed with traditional Japanese aesthetics, fitting for Geese's Japanophile tendencies. According to him, stepping into the warm water helped with stiff shoulders after training. Not that he needed to explain that to her but back then, Mai had found it amusing.
Her shoulders weren't stiff, but she needed that bath regardless, slipping into the room and closing the door behind her. She hung the kimono on the wall and headed deeper inside to wash the stress off her body. The stench of Big's bodily fluids still burned in her nostrils as she poured soap over her skin and scrubbed her body from top to bottom. Afterward, she headed to the tub, removing the lid to enter the nearly-scalding water.
Soon, Mai sat submerged, shifting until her chin reached the waterline. The bathroom had wide windows which provided a view over the city skyline. According to Geese, it was one-view glass which prevented anyone from peeping. Without that worry, she sat and let her thoughts wander; processing everything that had happened so far.
Feeling the adrenaline leave her body and willing herself to accept her life as it was now. Acknowledging that there was probably a part of her that enjoyed the thrill of being the bad girl, awoken by the promise of power. Maybe the demon within her needed an excuse to be released.
Mai couldn't help but wonder if Andy had at times sensed that within her and he secretly sought to temper it. Maybe that was the secret Terry kept from her, ridiculous as it sounded. Or maybe her grandfather had noticed it as well and that was why she was sent to train at another dojo and the new, better student was just an excuse.
Between Mai and Andy, the latter was the son Hanzo never had. Between the two of them, Andy was the good-hearted angel. Maybe that was why they clicked instantly after they decided to see each other. Opposites attracted and all that.
And now, Mai found herself with Andy's opposite, rising from the tub in his bathroom, in his estate. Drying herself in his towels and putting on his kimono. Geese was demonic much like Mai had become. But from a nuanced standpoint, it wasn't just black and white. It wasn't about good and evil. Evil people existed, sure. Good people existed too, indeed. But most people in this world didn't belong to one extreme end of the spectrum. They all sort of floated in the middle.
Geese too. He was as cruel as he was kind. There was a reason for everything he did, even the more unsightly actions. He wasn't a good man; far from it but it wasn't like he was some kind of cold-blooded, sadistic monster with no redeeming qualities. He was situated somewhere in between. One of these days, Mai had to ask him how he proceeded to mentally process killing. Or more so, how he got used to it.
Mai could imagine it took a certain type of person to just go with the flow like that. Maybe Mai was one of those people after all. She had to be when her mind began coursing around possible revenge against Wolfgang. She didn't know if she was so far gone that she wanted to pull the trigger but she wouldn't be opposed to his demise.
She reckoned she'd quite enjoy it. Thinking of that man caused her to tremble but putting it through the lens of changed power balances stopped her from panicking and the scar from itching. She could breathe as she walked back to the bedroom, pushing the door open and entering as quietly as she could. Geese still lay in bed, but he had shifted positions, now laying on his back.
Listening to him breathing was soothing for Mai while she headed to the chair and dropped off the kimono before crawling back under the covers. That bath had helped make her tired and she snuggled underneath the sheets, about to close her eyes when Geese shifted and spooned her.
"Did I wake you up?" she asked, hauling a breath at the strong hands sliding over her bare stomach and hips.
"No," he mumbled, tired and still drunk with sleep in a manner that suggested she very much did. He didn't seem to mind though, tugging her closer and nuzzling his face against her hair. His breathing grew slower and heavier and soon, he was asleep once again with his body softening next to hers. It helped push the images of tonight's events away and she could easily fall asleep with Geese's arm draped over her like a comforting pillow.
The sky was approaching twilight when Mai woke up alone. She sat up, feeling a little more rested than before. Geese was already up and about, puttering around in his massive closet and finding clothes to wear. Mai remained in bed, watching him move and finding her body trembling with want.
Despite his age, or rather enhanced by it, he was undoubtedly handsome. He was charming and fully aware of that fact. A charismatic devil of a man. Mai began to wish, she could will him back to bed and yet, she didn't mind watching him move. Despite it being a weekend, he found it appropriate to get going early.
The hustle never ended for him, did it?
Suppose Mai just had a thing for men like that. She thought she liked the hot young guys, but seasoned gentlemen began to appeal to her now as well. There were probably many a handsome older man in this world but there was only one Geese Howard.
Slowly, Mai rose from the bed, using the blanket to cover herself when Geese turned around, spotting her wide awake. Out of pure impulse, she let the edge of the blanket drop to her lap, revealing her bare chest. It felt like a triumph when his eyes wandered over her body, hunger flashing in his gaze.
"It's a Saturday. Cuddle with me," she said to him with a smile, watching him physically consider her offer. His thrapple moved in rhythm with a contemplating swallow, and he stepped closer to the bed. For a moment, Mai imagined he'd pull the blanket away and just have his way with her but instead, he pressed his hand against her cheek, eventually maneuvering her to lie down.
"You look tired," he said as if he didn't. He did. The increased blinking gave it away. Mai had nothing to say to this because well, it was true. She was tired, indeed. Without contesting his concerns, she put her hand on his hairline to ruffle up the strains there until blonde bangs hung over his forehead. He looked remarkably a lot like Rock.
"Right back at you," she grinned, humming at the soft kiss placed on her lips. But he pulled back far too soon and covered her with the blanket as if ordering her to continue sleeping. When he looked at her, his gaze was warm; almost smoldering in its tenderness. Sometime after his trip to Canada, he had begun to look at her like that but always did what he could to hide it. Now, there was no need for such precautions.
"Do you ever feel…" anything when you kill people. But Mai felt even weirder having to ask it like that. Instead, her mind shifted over to something equally warranted but less morbid; "Weird about me being younger?"
Perplexed, Geese raised a brow. "…Where did that come from?"
"I don't know."
"Fair enough," he sighed, slicking hair back off his forehead. " No I don't. Age gap or not, we're both adults."
"Well, I mean, I don't hate it with you but I worry if people find out and they say something stupid and then I get mad or you might feel like a creep or something," Mai responded. Indeed, she hadn't given the social ramifications any thought but now, it began to concern her greatly.
She'd be knee-deep in trouble if Terry, King, Yuri, Mary, or anyone found out about her newly found exploits. Heck, even Joe and Billy. Then again, the age gap would possibly be the least of her former friends' concerns if they ever found out that she hung out at the tower, let alone who she was sleeping with or what she was privy to. It wouldn't matter how old he was; the heart of the issue was that she was with Geese Howard.
"If I did, I wouldn't be here. The opinions of random people don't matter. They can't force you out of my life and they won't stop me from caring about you. If you get mad, I'll let you go scorched earth on their asses. Should be amusing," Geese said, bringing her back to reality. She blinked as she stared up at him, then laughed at that playful comment about her fury.
Perhaps Mai was worrying over nothing. At the end of the day, she was not unhappy with Geese. She didn't mind the way he made her feel or the efforts he went for her sake. Or the way his fingers now traced her jawline and grabbed her by the chin, brushing over her lips like he was contemplating the ways of how he could taste them.
Mai knew that Geese would usually check his emails at this hour before taking today off but now, he was particularly receptive to her leaning forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. Before she could kiss him, there was a knock on the door which made her sit back down on the mattress, pulling the blanket over herself.
Not particularly enthused over being interrupted, Geese stood up and headed to the door with a deep frown on his face. He opened it and a maid bowed, visibly shuddering at the glare she reserved. "I'm sorry to interrupt your morning, sir, but two packages arrived just moments ago. We vetted them and they are non-lethal."
"I don't recall ordering anything," Geese answered, more bewildered than concerned. On the other hand, Mai swallowed hard at the confirmation that the delivery was non-lethal.
"That might be because they are addressed to the lady," she heard and Geese turned to look at her, just as confused as she was.
"I haven't ordered anything either," Mai crawled under the blanket and wrapped it around her body.
"Excuse me, your clothes have been cleaned and dried," a second maid said and moved past Geese with clothes on a moving clothing rack. She bowed and left as quickly as she had come. When they returned to the tower, everyone was urged by Billy to drop their clothing off to get thoroughly washed. That was the reason why Mai had to snatch the kimono when she went for her bath.
"Take the packages to the study. We'll look at it later," Geese said to the maid and closed the door. He defrosted a little as he headed to the clothing rack and dragged it across the floor. It had some difficulty rolling over the carpet, so he just lifted it with one hand.
"Now I'm curious," he began with a gleam in his eyes. He was smirking but Mai wondered if he felt a slither of jealousy. "Don't tell me you got a secret admirer now sending you gifts?"
"Not that I'm aware of but it's kinda exciting," she hopped from the bed, snatching her underwear, and getting dressed.
"Maybe I should send them the ashes and remind them that you're mine," he said as he lifted the clothing rack off the carpet and put it back on the floor.
Moments later, Mai followed Geese into the study where Billy and Hein were already present alongside the elusive packages. One was small and could be held in one hand while the other was much larger. It was as tall as Mai and twice as wide. Both were labeled with her name.
"There is no sender on the packages but we can rule out pipe bombs," Billy said as he passed the smallest of the two to Mai. While she fiddled with the tape, Geese found a boxcutter which she used swiftly to cut the box open.
Mai would be lying if she said he wasn't excited about this surprise. But simultaneously, she was worried; she hadn't ordered anything, and her friends didn't know she was here. As she opened the box, she found good reason to be concerned.
Under the lid, was her phone.
Or rather her old device as she bought a new one after leaving Germany. This old phone however had been thoroughly broken. The screen was shattered and cracked as if someone had been going at it with a hammer. Pieces of glass lay loose, wriggling if she moved the device too much. She swallowed as she put it back in the box, her hands beginning to tremble. And then, it dawned upon her.
If Mai had been sent her old phone, then there could only be one thing in that massive package. And only one person was petty enough to send it. She dared not to open it, letting Hein and Billy wrestle with the unwieldy piece. They took turns slashing at the cardboard with a box cutter until they could peel it away and toss it to the floor. Mai would reckon they weren't expecting to stare at a massive portrait of a submissive woman in chains.
"What in the fuck is that?" Billy exclaimed while Hein struggled to rest the painting against a nearby wall for all to see. Both of them were horrified whereas Geese was silently fuming. His entire body grew tense, and his jaw tightened to the point where it could probably crack.
Looking at it again, an influx of memories came rushing at Mai. For a moment, it was as if the world around her began to spin. The blood in her veins began to pound in her ears. Her vision blurred momentarily. Her strength vanished in the blink of a second. It felt as if the walls around her were closing in on her, trapping her like a bird in a tiny cage. Her stomach curdled and the air surged out of her lungs, leaving her almost breathless and dizzy. Suddenly, it felt as if her scar was beginning to sting again.
"Get rid of it. Burn it to ashes. I don't want to see it ever again," Geese's voice cut through her waking nightmare, bringing a moment's reprieve.
She looked at him, realizing her body was shivering yet her hands and forehead were clammy. While Billy and Hein cooperated to get the painting out of the study, Geese slid a hand to Mai's waist, sliding up and down as if to calm her down. He looked at her now; worry permeating his gaze although his expression still resembled someone who was in the mood to murder.
"Ah, Wolfgang said that he envisioned me like that when I submitted to him. I guess he sent these as some kind of joke…" Mai shrugged, her voice sounding strained and choking, alien as if it didn't belong to her. Even though the painting was here no longer, her body felt heavy and unstable, still shaking.
"Oh yeah?" Geese raised a brow, clearly not amused. "He can go fuck himself. I can't wait until he's dead and buried. Ain't no one gonna cry over his funeral."
Truly. In Mai's dark mind, she was beginning to pine for the days when he'd be gone and she'd have her revenge. She could live in peace as the demon queen of South Town then.