The Boss of Control 4 - (Chainsaw Man, SI)

Makima was able to hold a grudge. But the one she held for her superior was not the same as many others. Part of her wanted to say it was 'petty', but in truth she was willing to call it 'lesser'.

Haru-dono has a contracted devil. And she wasn't aware of 'her' until now. And yes, Makima knew it was a 'she' as he had depicted this individual with feminine pronouns. Now, without proper context, she could see why many would think she was jealous of this detail (she was not and she refused to consider that possibility), yet what really had her upset was not the notion of jealousy, rather she found the notion that her boss had some secret female devil helping him and that it wasn't known to public files to be concerning.

After all, up to that point, Makima thought she knew everything about her boss. That he was a normal human, one with a rather shifty sense of morality and an equally confusing common sense; someone with a progressive view on politics if those didn't impact the workplace, such as Quanxi's unusual preference for women rather than men. And a slight dislike for Kishibe trying to make some unsavory compliments of women in the office.

All in all, Makima thought she had him understood and that she had control over that limited human being.

Learning that he had secrets kept from her meant that she was not fully aware of who Haru-dono was and what his true limits were. Who was her boss? The question had been crippling enough for a day, that it left her in a rather sour mood for a long week.

And she wasn't hiding it at all.

No one wanted to cross her path, not even the stoic Quanxi. The only one that didn't seem too bothered by her rebellious behavior was Haru-dono himself. He didn't question her, or tried to 'appease her'. No, he just tried to get business running the same pace as usual. And Makima was willing to agree to that level of professional attitude.

That's where her main issue stems from: where should she get answers from? Interrogating her boss was not possible as she had no clue on who was this secret ally of his. No one in the PSD knew a thing, not even those that were Makima's 'minders'.

A week and nothing came up as the redhead felt her blood boiling over the lack of progress. And while she was growing even more tempted to just drop the facade and press her boss for answers, she was delivered a surprise when she was asked to his office.

"Makima, take a seat."

She complied... out of politeness.

"I have noticed that you have been behaving in a more 'stoic' manner. I have to ask if you are feeling ill or something of the kind."

"I am well, thank you for your concerns."

"If it is about the Burger King's current quality, I can ask the owners to fire the cooks and-"

"No," She rapidly interrupted, knowing the quality of the food there was well enough to not risk for some random fool to taint the already good meals there. "That's also good."

He sighed. "Makima, do you understand that clear communication is one of the finest elements that define a thinking being from an animal?"

"Yes."

"Then please do explain what is causing you grievance to the point of making me question your position as my second in command."

...What?

Makima felt her world go still for a moment. She was being... questioned? For what? For being 'upset'?

"I... I have done nothing-"

"Yet."

Haru-dono's voice shifted out of his usual calm and warm tune, now morphing onto the closest thing to the average annoyed chief.

I stood up from his chair, hands pressing on his desk as he stared at her from above. She suddenly felt small, but the feeling was brief as he started to speak.

"Makima, perhaps you forgot that I know what you are and how you being 'pouty' for a full week can lead to some disasters both through your powers or through your 'wardens'. When I ask that question, I am not just goofing about- I want answers."

She bowed her head, annoyed at being called out over that real situation. "...You have a contracted Devil."

"And your knowing that I have secrets has your mind hyperfixated on how much 'unreliable' I am. That I am a threat to you."

...

"You're an idiot."

Makima frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, sir?"

"I mean that it's clear that there will always be a bigger fish. Or the idea of a bigger fish. Just because you have a specialization in 'Control', that doesn't make you capable of 'Controlling everything'. I don't know who told you that, but they clearly did you a disservice."

"...I don't follow." Or rather, she didn't want to see where this conversation was going.

Still, Haru-dono sighed. "Makima, I trust you because of who you are, not what. If I wanted to have the best anti-Devil team, I would have picked all those Devils in our reserves that are getting kept 'dumb' because they are cheap and expendable. I don't think I am treating anyone here like tools, correct?"

"Yes."

"And while I am not expecting you to outright trust me, I expect you to do the work I put you through. That's your job, nothing more."

She bowed her head some more. "Yes-"

"Which means that when I am trying to cover your ass, that doesn't mean I don't care for you."

Makima opened her mouth and then paused. Then she noticed the smile on her boss's face as her brain picked up what was going on. Her eyes were wide open as the vast correlation of all those details made her understand one thing.

"I am your contracted Devil."

He clapped his hands once. "Congrats on leaving the big-brain bubble. Thought you would have taken longer."

"I-I just... how?"

"When you do tasks right, what do I give you?"

"Food. Junk food." Makima replied rapidly, her eyes darting as she pondered how she had missed on that.

What could be seen by some as an odd exchange between a boss and their second in command for the latter to do their job right, the truth was that Makima, being the Control Devil, was doing tasks for a price. And the price were delicious whoopers.

"Oh."

"'Oh' indeed, Makima. Which is why 'communication is essential' in a lasting relationship," Haru-dono remarked flatly, then glancing to something under his desk. "Now that we have solved this silly behavior of yours which I am sure you wish to contemplate on your own, how about I give you a... punishment?"

The redhead tensed up a bit, knowing that 'misbehaving' in a contract can lead to some ramifications for a Devil but... Haru-dono merely lifted a small box from the ground and pushed it across the desk so she could check it.

Now, Makima was frowning and she felt a bit nervous as the box moved for a moment as she reached to open it and... she was greeted by something almost leaping out and giving her nose a little lick.

"Bark!"

A dog. A puppy. A husky puppy with some of the most innocent and soulless blue eyes possible.

"Sir... what?"

"Well, you are definitely losing your shit over plots of anyone around you trying to kill you, so I am giving you something that you can't try to think as trying to kill you 24/7. It will love you constantly and he is ready to be adopted. Here's all the paperwork with the vaccinations he did and other shit about dog-adoptions."

...

...

"Tiramisu," She hummed, hugging the pup closer to her. "I will call him Tiramisu."

"Glad to hear that. Now get out of my office before the dog craps on my desk. Also, you will not bring him at the workplace."

Makima nodded, having zoned his voice out as she picked the pup in the box carried Tiramisu to her desk and then 'forgot' what the week-long issue it was all about. The only thing that stuck around was a quick comment about 'wanting hookers for when he feels angry' from Kishibe that was answered by book flung at the back of his head by an annoyed Quanxi.

All in all, things were the same as usual. And now she had to find someone to babysit her... first dog.

AN

Haru-dono thus confirms his contract with Makima. And next time will see a young recruit at the PSD being relocated to Special Division 1. I will just say that I am struggling to find the 'right' pic for her (to post in QQ) due to how young she has to be but... oh well, I will find one. I swear.