Chapter 3
Levi still can't believe it. All that fuss, waiting, whispering, and shit-talking, only to meet a coward who won't even show her face. Who does she think she is, some superhero or some? This has tingled his senses, and he doesn't like the situation he is in now. He's never been the type to pry into people's life and has lived his life by being true to "who the fuck cares." But if he's going to be humiliated, he will make it a mutual hell.
After he followed her to the said loft, they entered a crammed-up room: an all-brown set of old furniture, veils that look like the last time they were washed was a century ago, and everything reeks of dust of damped wood. More like a stable rather than a loft, but he'd still chose this over the smell of sweat and smoke doubled by the loud mouths of people who do nothing but talk. He can clean this loft into a livable place, but he can never cleanse the nastiness out of people down there—no matter how much bleach he uses.
"Someone has to clean this place," he says, walking around and dropping his items off the table.
"It's fine as it is," she responds.
"Huh?" he turns his head, ensuring he heard right.
"This isn't a noble tea party. We need a space to work, and this suffices."
"Sure, if you were a pig," he says out loud, immediately shutting his mouth.
"What did you say?"
"I said, this place is like a stable,"
"I don't care. If you are so bothered by it, come early tomorrow and shine and rub the walls until your fingers disappear," she states, walking to the table. She set the food on a small tea table in front of the brown couch. Drops her backpack down the table and spreads the paperwork that Chad has given her all over the table. Levi twitches at this appalling sight but says nothing.
After they settle down, each sitting on one side of the chair, they start reading the basic information. Looking at the emotionless eyes in front of him, Levi tries to read her mind. She swipes the papers without paying much attention to them. Every once in a while, she asks a random question and then pretends the conversation didn't exist.
"So…Levi was it? Why did you leave the Corsica family? Why a normal wants to leave the wealthiest guild?" she asks, keeping her eyes on the paperwork as she takes notes on a piece of paper. They're supposed to be working, but she keeps jumping back to this topic as if it's going to change.
"Didn't really agree with their method," he replies. He had already answered all these questions once, so what else could she achieve?
"Is that so? What was that?" she tilts her head a little.
"I simply had no further interest in the sex and weaponry industry."
"Interesting," she nods as if she's decoding his words. Her overly calm demeanour is pissing him off. She acts as if she can see beyond his answers. He knows nobody can track his trace, but Biserka 's actions are somehow triggering him.
"Considering that, what's your view on the city?"
"Police is supposed to be a neutral fraction," he responds, trying to brush off the topic.
"Correct, but are you?"
"I go where my beliefs lead me."
"Adaptive like a Chameleons or treacherous like a crow?" she says as a smirk curls in the corner of her mouth, but her eyes remain as dead as before.
Ignoring her remark, he says, "I thought we're supposed to work."
"No rush. I can multitask. This case is very raw. We still need some clues from Chad's minions before we can take action."
"Those baboons can't take any action on this," he huffs and leans back on his chair.
"Then why are you here? Go join the Monroe or Cristiano."
"I'm done with guilds."
"Then wait."
"And what is your job exactly? I thought you are a private detective."
"I'm a private whatever you want to make it to be,"
"Is that so?" he mocks her, tilting his head, leaning in as she slowly raises her head.
"Huh," she hesitated for a second, analyzing. She then tilts the other way, "It is so. You are a more interesting case right now." Levi's eye twitches and inhales, opening and closing his fist. Who do they think he is? Or do they actually know? He has heard rumours about someone called "Storage," but that can't be her. If she was the Storage, she wouldn't need to milk the information out from him, or she wouldn't need confirmation. Unless she may be playing with him. Many things bother him, but most of all, the eyes. Her eyes reminded him of a person he doesn't want to remember. "…are you listening?" she says, raising her eyebrow.
"What?" he asks annoyed. He hasn't come here to be interrogated.
"I asked what your specialty is," she repeats herself, tapping her pen on the table.
"Don't you already have the answer?"
"I don't have the version done by a non-baboon," she smiles at him. Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound echoes in Levi's head, getting faster and louder with each tap.
"I fight well…with blades."
"I have heard some rumours," she nods in a half-hearted affirmation. Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Tch. Then don't ask," Levi notes with annoyance, staring at her pen.
"Aren't you a normal?" Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Yes. And so are you?"
"How are you good with blades?" Tap. Tap. Tap.
"What. Is it illegal for Normals to be good at that, now?"
"No. But it's not common. Normals fight with guns." Tap. Tap. Tap.
"So, you fight with guns?"
"That's irrelevant to the question." Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Do you?"
"I'm the one asking the questions," she looks up at him as her tapping stops. He feels like the emptiness in those pair of eyes could suck the whole room inside it.
He collects his composure and responds, "I guess I'm just talented," he shrugs.
"Huh. Then that makes two of us. Two talented beings. What else?" she starts tapping again. Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Huh?"
"Everyone can fight here. What else?" she asks. Her flat tone comes like the movement of a fish deep under a muddy pound, distant and hollow. Levi's beginning to feel he's spending time with himself—maybe even a younger version.
"Well, you can say I'm a pro at way finding, reading maps, I even know the sewerage systems their channels."
"Interesting. Is that why you're a neat freak?" she mocks but continues before he gets a chance to quarrel, "but anyway, that's a useful one. We have enough bloodthirsty bastards in this city." Tap. Tap. Tap.
"With you being one?" he asks hoarsely, feeling like the tapping is going to drive him deaf. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
"I don't kn–" "STOP!" he grabs her hand and smacks it down on the table. She looks at him with confusion.
"You're not writing shit. Stop it," he snatches the pen from her hand, huffing, expecting her to react harshly. But she only nods, as if she was doing it on purpose the whole time.
DING.
A sound brings him back to his senses; he backs off.
She looks down at her wristwatch, shakes the hand he just smacked and begins wrapping up the papers. "Well, it's 8 p.m., so let's take a break and be done with this."
"Is this the only thing you're disciplined in, getting away? A brat to the core."
"I just want a coffee, if you don't mind?" she requests, pointing at the tea table and flasks next to his chair.
"It's 8 p.m. why the hell do you want to drink coffee?"
"Cause, I want to? I didn't tell you to have one, did I?"
"You won't be able to sleep."
"And you care because?" she raises her eyebrow at him. Every and each moment is just further proof that Chad is fucking with him. She's a fucking brat, he thinks.
"I have to deal with your sleepy ass tomorrow. Just take nap here."
"No."
"Aren't you sleepy?"
"Nope. My eyes are burning from looking at your dull ass face the whole day," she glares at him. Levi's starting to feel she has a very punchy face. But he must keep it together. She'll get fed up and leave sooner or later. "And you're the one to talk, with those?" she points at the black circle around Levi's eyes.
"I get enough sleep,"
"Like?"
"Three to four hours."
"That's not near enough."
"Tch. You are my 'supervisor,' not my nanny."
"Good then can I have a cup of coffee?" she asks again.
"Then, move your–" he stops mid-sentence, changing his mind. He nods slightly. The quicker this end, the less I have to listen to this brat, he concludes with himself. He turns in his chair and picks up the flask. He takes a small Ziploc of tea leaves and a metal filter from his bag, opens it, and takes a moment to appreciate the aroma. Putting the filter inside the cup, he adds four leaves, closes the Ziploc, and pours boiled water into the cup. He leaves the cup on their table as the hot steam rises.
Meanwhile, Biserka watches him, dumbfounded by the scenery before her. Ignoring her, he takes out the instant coffee from the supplies. He's too drowned in the process and only cares about getting to his tea to bother to see her reaction. He then adds instant coffee to the cup and pours the boiled water. "Here you go," he says, giving her the cup, picking up his own, and sipping.
"Thanks," she nods and takes a sip. "Blegh! GROSS. What the fuck is this?"
"Instant coffee."
"No. There's instant coffee and then there's 'puddle water where frogs lay eggs,'" She immediately puts the cup down.
He looks at her, raising his eyebrow. Although pissed off about her attitude, he feels a tingle of victory. He's managed to force a reaction out of her. After a day of tortuous conversation with this brat, he's finally managed to do it. Never thought it'd be about a dumb cup of coffee.
"That's what you get for drinking instant coffee. I never have this problem with tea," he looks down at his cup.
"Huh? Oh right, that Ziploc. What are you, a British noble or maybe royalty?" she rolled her eyes. "Let me show you how it's done, you uncultured geezer." She pulls her chair back and walks to his side of the table. Picking up the instant coffee container, add a half teaspoon to the cup and pour a tiny bit of water in the cup—as much as a teaspoon. After a moment, she adds the rest of the instant coffee and begins pouring the water, circling the cup in a whirlpool form. The coffee foams, and the hot aroma rises from the cup. "Here," she gives the cup to Levi and starts making another for herself.
Levi puts his tea down reluctantly, looking down at the cup of coffee. He inhales the steam, holding the cup in front of him. Biserka pours her coffee, rolls her eyes, and walks off to sit by the window ledge. He finally takes a sip, swallowing it down like a toddler taking his pills. His eyes slowly go wide as he takes another sip and another, going through five stages of grief. "Find yourself someone who can make you a coffee as…" he mumbles inaudibly under his breath as his voice goes lower and lower until it disappears.
"Did you say something?" she turns her head, looking at him.
"No. Just thinking," he takes a deep breath in, blinking to shake off the memory that suddenly has reappeared.
"If you say so," she turns and looks back at the window.
"The coffee…was fine…maybe good," he says, taking the last sip from his cup and returning to his tea, but it's already too cold.
"Wow. How honest," she says, taken back for a moment, "well, told you, you suck." She shrugs. She shakes her head, blinking; suddenly, it seems like the previous tension has left her body as she relaxes by the window. Levi watches, dumbfounded. Is she always like that when she drinks coffee? he asks himself.
"Say…I have another question," she says in a calm tone that's somehow different from the previous ones.
"I thought we're done."
"We're. This is my question."
"What?"
"If you could choose any of the natural elements, which one would you choose?" she asks, taking a sip of her coffee. Levi falls silent, not entirely understanding if this is supposed to be a joke or not.
"Huh?" he gives out a tired remark.
"You know, the four or five element, which one would you want to control?"
"Was there a drug in that coffee? I'm not feeling it."
"No. I just ask that."
"Well, it's stupid question," he rolls his eyes.
"Just answer it," she chugs down the remaining coffee, blinking.
"I don't know. Water. You sound like that four-eyes."
"Who?"
"Nobody," he hesitates, then adds, "so, if the day is done, I can ask questions."
"Su–re," she says, swallowing down a yawn.
"I know you're a brat. But how old are you?"
"Wow. Rude. You're not a gentleman at all, are you?"
"Uh-huh, and your answer?" he persists, feeling he's starting to get a handle on her tricks.
"29 soon to be 30. Why does it matter?"
"Huh, I expected less."
"I know, I look great," she smirks, then add, "I'm also wearing a mask, dumbass." She looks at him as if she expects him to answer her question.
"If you're really what you advertise yourself as, why just part-time?" he asks, observing her ever-blinking face. He's just trying to see if he can break her.
"Oh, that. Just a change of budget plan and loss of interest." She stands up and puts the cup back next to the flasks. We should head out. I need to get beer on my way."
"You're already half-drunk from sleep deprivation," he reminds her. He can't quite understand how she's tired from sitting behind the desk for a day.
"It's not for me. It's for Worick."
"That loud eye-patched guy from Benriya (Handyman)?" he suddenly blinks, his eyes going wide, "you and him are…?"
"What?! No. Gross. I'm just staying there," she crouches her face with disgust.
"Don't you have a place?"
"It's under renovation. Do you have anymore questions or are we done?" she asks, packing her stuff up. Levi remains silent. "Good," she walks out of the door as Levi follows her.
They leave the PD and walk down toward the 8th District. She leads while he keeps one step behind her. Watching as her balance gets more and more sloppy with each step. All that talk, and she can't even sit through one day of work. Levi's determined to follow her to watch her fall to her demise. Not that he'd think someone like her would be humbled that easily, but he'd still have something on her. If he has to deal with this brat for the next upcoming weeks, if not months, he better learn how to push her button. And learn it quick.
"Why are you following me?" she asks without turning back.
"I'm taking a walk."
"Take a walk to your home," she hisses in lowercase.
"Weren't you going to buy beer?" he asks sarcastically.
"It's too far, I'll get it tomorrow," she yawns, hanging onto her backpack.
"Lacking common courtesy I see."
"Please. What does a midget like you know about courtesy?" She turns her head enough to see him behind her.
"More than a brat."
"Then, you'd know it's rude to follow people. Piss off." She squints her eyes as her steps become heavy, "Why does the street look so long," she huffs under her breath. Levi watches patiently, counting in his head.
"5, 6, about time–and there," he says as she finally takes her last step before falling. He walks to her, looking down at her with apathetic eyes. Deep down, he triumphs. After enough seconds pass, he leans down and helps her up by wrapping her arm around his shoulder. Maybe he'll find another trump card if he walks her all there.
"Get your hands off me…" she groans.
"Did you like it down there? I can drop you," he releases her arm a little, enough for her to get closer to the hard asphalt.
"Fucking…midget…" she mumbles but doesn't protest further.
"Good. Now which way?" he asks as she raises her other arm and points down at the Tobacco shop. Levi follows her direction, past the shop, down the block where Benriya is staying. He helps her up the stairs, enjoying every second of her frustrated face. Talking shit the whole day, all to end like that. Maybe it was worth it. He knocks on the door.
"Oh, she's here!" a feminine voice shouts from the inside. Levi's taken back for a moment, wondering if there was a woman in the Benriya's duo.
"HEY!" Worick opens the door. "Biserka -chan you–" he stops at the sight of Levi before him. "Huh? Did you enjoy her company so much you made her drunk?" he jokes.
"Fuck no. She's just tired on an ungodly level. I don't know how can someone be this tired," Levi snarls, looking down at Biserka , who's fighting her demons to stay awake.
"Worick, what's going on?" Alex says, standing further back.
"Oh, nothing hun. He's just delivering our guest. I guess no booze either, huh?" he asks, disappointed.
"Again?!" Alex exclaims.
"Again what?" Levi asks, not liking how he's being kept out of this conversation.
"My, my, how long did this one go?" Worick looks down at Biserka with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"…2…3…" a fait voice comes out as Biserka shows him two then three fingers back and forth.
"Two?! No three?! No two? Which is it?! Two and half week! Wow babe you got new record! Next millstone's for a month huh?" he pats her shoulder.
"Just shut the hell up already," Levi pushes Worick aside and walks inside. "Only insane people stay awake that long. It's not even possible." He lies her down on the couch as she uses her last bit of force to flip him off.
"Haha, welcome to the club. Now that she's out, we have extra food, wanna join us?" Worick winks and points at the already set dinner table.
"Over my dead body," Levi replies and walks out without one more word.