Naomi turned around then looked up to see that Dr. Kamizono was standing behind her.
"I'm sorry, I can't talk right now." Naomi apologized.
"Oh really? And why is that?" Dr. Kamizono interrogated.
"Because I have to go tell the boss what I think he should do with my mandatory one week vacation." Naomi huffed as she stormed outside.
Naomi stormed into work, Gunvolt startled as Zeno choked on a bite of his sandwich.
"I don't understand, aren't you supposed to be at home?" Gunvolt wondered.
"Yeah, but things hit the fan at home. Though it seems more like it completely skipped the fan and went straight to the ceiling." Naomi confirmed.
"You tried to avoid the situation rather than confront it again didn't you? And it caused the situation to escalate I take it?" Asimov theorized.
Naomi bit her lower lip.
"Can I just come back ta work like it's a judgement free zone? I won't cause anymore trouble." Naomi pled.
"I'm sorry Naomi, but you have to resolve your underlying problems before you can deal with anything else." Asimov refuted.
"Aight, I'll do it. But only under one condition. You come with em and you tell him your issues with im too." Naomi demanded.
"Then it's decided, your vacation is over. You can start by helping Xiao recalibrate the sensory system for threat detection outside the building. The antenna's on the roof." Asimov announced.
I'll make it count." Naomi assured.
Time went by quick. Zeno, Xiao and Gunvolt put in some money to cover Naomi's lunchl saying it was their treat. After work was done for the day, Naomi left with Gunvolt to visit with him and Joule.
"Why did you want to go back to work so desperately? Anybody else would've killed for a vacation." Gunvolt pondered.
"Well, we do kill for vacations and our paychecks." Naomi reminded.
"I still can't believe you managed to blackmail Asimov. He's a guy who's not easily influenced." Gunvolt commented.
"You can easily say otherwise when you've got a trump card." Naomi grinned.
Joule was frozen, her eyes wide in fear.
"Uh, Joule, ya good?" Naomi worried.
Just then, it hit Naomi what Joule was frightened of.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. What I acctually meant was we're so busy it seemed like we'd be guilty of murdering time in the first degree." Naomi corrected.
Gunvolt shook his head.
"N-no, I know what you mean. How unsympathetic Asimov was, it was for a reason. How he wanted you to "delete the core". He didn't want the Sumeragi to hold power over anybody." Lumen added.
"I'm so sorry guys. If you haven't noticed, that is what we do for a living." Naomi apologized.
Joule began to sniffle.
"Uh, should I try to hurry up an cover it up with I'm the only one who does that or...?" Naomi panicked as she gave Gunvolt a mixed look of confusion, fear, worry and concern.
"It's too late now." Gunvolt stated.
"I feel awful, we've been hoping we'd only have to eliminate the delegates. That way there'd be less blood on our hands and less work." Naomi explained.
"How do you do that? Aren't you scared you'll get caught during a mission?" Joule questioned.
"That's the last thing I worry 'bout. If you don't think of it you ain't gotta worry. It also increases your chances of winning since you're too busy thinking of how to win rather than if you'll win. Look, someone told me something recently.
I didn't like it, but it's true. They said "No matter where you go, how much you run or fight, the Sumeragi will always find you." And that you can't physically fight the evil in the world, but mentally, emotionally and by doing good things. But, they only said the Sumeragi will always find you.
Not that the Sumeragi will always be around." Naomi spoke.
"There you go with that loophole mentality again." Gunvolt remarked.
Naomi's phone began ringing so she picked it up to uncover the caller ID. It said 'Crimson Curse', Naomi's personal nickname for Copen. So, she did the only logical thing she could think of: hang up. She hit answer and as soon as Copen said hello she hit end call. Naomi snickered before returning her attention to the conversation.
"Scam call?" Gunvolt guessed.
"Nah, think funnier." Naomi giggled.
"You got accepted to a clown college?" Joule guessed.
"Ya know Adepts aren't allowed ta get an education right? I'd prolly be a double trouble type situation." Naomi denied.
"Asimov gave you your vacation back?" Gunvolt theorized.
"Trust me GV, if that were the case then I wouldn't be laughin'." Naomi retorted.
"Was it Copen who was calling?" Lumen supposed.
Naomi had her eyes closed when she clapped her hands together, index fingers pointed forward while her thumbs were pointed up at the ceiling.
"That's the correct answer." Naomi confirmed.
"Why did he call you?" Gunvolt pondered.
"Eh, beats me. Prolly for the same reason I'm in trouble at home." Naomi guessed.
"And that would be, what exactly?" Gunvolt pondered
"Me fleeing from uncomfy situations, as usual." Naomi answered.
"That reminds me. Do you have any fears GV?" Joule asked.
"Definitely snakes after that mission." Gunvolt notified.
Naomi laughed.
"What about you Naomi?" Gunvolt wondered.
"Uh, are you askin' about fears I used ta have, fears I have now or fears I'll have if my life keeps goin' the way it is?" Naomi queried.
"I didn't think about that. What's a fear you used to have?" Gunvolt questioned.
"Well, I haven't gotten over my fear of the dark. Or needles, blood, lab coats, doctors, bloodwork, pediatricians, pneumonia, the flu, the-" But Gunvolt cut Naomi off.
"Wait wait wait. Can you go back a second? did you seriously just say a pediatrician is still one of your biggest fears? The whole doctor thing I get, but definitely not that." Gunvolt remarked.
"You look like the kinda guy who's terrified of rugs." Naomi retorted.
"It's not like the static electricity stops me from using my Azure Striker." Gunvolt remarked.
"Naomi, do you have a favorite food?" Joule wondered.
"Tiramisu. The one from that Chinese buffet." Naomi responded.
"Isn't Pibb Xtra your favorite drink?" Gunvolt remembered.
"My favorite way to drink it is in a can." Naomi notified.
"Then why do you bring the twenty ounce bottles to work?" Gunvolt asked.
"I can close it an' bring it with me without worryin' about it spillin'. Ya'll wanna hear a story?" Naomi answered.
"Sure." Lumen agreed.
"One time, we all got takeout from that Chinese restaurant for lunch at work. I thought they ran out of tiramisu and cans a Pibb Xtra. But when I got back, Zeno put a soda can on my desk and tiramisu on my plate. Lo an' behold, the soda was Pibb Xtra.
Then he asked me something and I said that I wouldn't even answer him if he gave me his paycheck. But, he offered me the tiramisu and soda if I answered. He just showed it to me to see if I'd crack, I still hate myself for that day. So, I cracked, if you couldn't tell.
Now everyone in the building knows that if they want info outta me, Pibb Xtra an' tiramisu is definitely the way ta go." Naomi droned.
"I'll be right back, I have to grab a couple of things." Gunvolt spoke as he stood up before walking out of the apartment and closing the door behind him.
"Aw shoot! I didn't know it was six already! I gotta get home! Ya'll eat the tiramisu and you have ta try the soda. I'll see ya'll tomorrow. Thanks again." Naomi smiled before teleporting to her room.