He knew that she forgave him (for now at least), but the eye part was a slight bit overdramatic. Venting some earned frustration.

Sure it oozed. glowed, and pulsated but after that, it just looked like a normal eye with a more golden color. But as bioware that he's seen it wasn't too bad.

Touchy subjects.

Anyway, they're here waiting for their "guest" to arrive not even eating any food he prepared just for that reason.

Laura wouldn't have eaten anything if he told her beforehand. Now, it's too late, she's indebted to him and works every time, it was a good trick to be taught by the Finn. (Even if he's doing it now.)

Still, he could tell she was nearing her patience's end. The wild and brief stares proved her uncertainty and nervousness.

If looks could yell she'd be screaming into his ear. The silence was deafening in this quiet room with her sitting ever so stilly.

At least the wait was over as quickly as a mile on foot. When the door knocked he rushed up from his chair to get it, enemies couldn't turn into frenemies if they were at each other's throats from the get-go.

It was too familiar, during basic everyone bonded from the shared suffering. However, giving expert combat training to tense teenagers can lead to standoffish behavior every once in a while.

INCLUDING HIMSELF.

With a sigh from that jabbing thought he opened the door. Standing there still in annoying academy uniform was Charlotte Dubois radiating nothing but anxiety through her terrible poker face, along with delight from the smell. That boosted his ego somewhat.

After a moment of silent hesitation on this mutually assured destruction of a scenario from both sides, one of them managed to have the gall to start, and that was the loud voice of Laura.

"We're eating then getting this over with."

Eh, who was he to disagree with her? There were certainly more elegant ways of going about this but intelligent and delicate maneuvering was not his forte. Getting along with people, and getting people to get along was.

So with an albeit forceful look to inspire fear into the Frenchie he parted and let her in. Seeing the quickly hidden fear in her didn't fill him with the satisfaction he knew he wouldn't get.

If his silent badgering wasn't enough the look at seeing Laura's more… "pulped" face seemed to take her by surprise.

"Oh."

That came out of her in an unsuspected tumble and he could tell that she instantly regretted saying it. He was starting to garner a slight amount of sympathy from him…as he always did.

"We eat, then we discuss."

Laura again surprisingly not being as delicate as he thought she would be with the scenario he…put her in… fine by him if it was fine by her.

If he felt bad, that meant that he cared.

They sat down and plated their foods, fried foods. His favorite. But the Frenchwoman seemed to be confused looking around for something he couldn't tell.

"Where's the- alright."

She looked at the booth of them with slight hesitation that he could tell was killing her on the inside. What did she want?

"It's nothing. I just didn't know you didn't have any silverware."

Oh. This was his fault. He used them all the time, why wouldn't he buy any?

"Just use your hands."

He couldn't sound comforting or else that'd just put Laura up against him.

Without a response, she just started eating properly. Both he and Laura ate with actual hunger, it was obvious Charlotte was just picking at her food until she took a proper bite and decided to start mauling at it. (not really)

A small smile shined in him from that satisfaction—echoes of home even in this faraway place.

That was stoned to death by the realization that every bite would lead them closer to actually talking and when the time arrived, well, they were existing in the same space together at least.

Ichika decided to be the one to start it with a brief look at Laura.

"I'll explain this off. Me and Charlotte help each other, and none of us rats on one another, simple enough."

Laura in response raised an eyebrow to that and not saying another word. That was permission enough to keep talking in Ichika's eyes.

"Charlotte could help us if we help here," He opened both his palms in her general vicinity. "we'll just be doing the things we were going to do just with trust." Then he just brought up another glance at Laura.

She was not enjoying this much less even wanting to consider accepting it. But, she wasn't stupid. He knew that at least. Leader types like her didn't have the luxury of choosing the mission.

¨Alright. We all benefit."

Ichika was waiting for the hammer to fall and it came with Laura staring down Charlotte with a glare that deafened.

¨She´s far more willing to manipulate than you think. What else could she benefit from doing this?¨

Charlotte kept the same steady glance and responded with a calmness that he expected from someone who could radiate agony and laugh without the slightest flinch.

¨My father is my main benefactor so to speak, I ruin his plans, I ruin my funding. I care for neither, but I care for those who rely on the funding other than me."

¨An answer would require a partnership. Wouldn´t it? And wouldn´t care be inherently?"

Laura put an extra emphasis on the pronunciation of the last word stretching it out to tickle annoyance out of them both.

Ichika very much would rather do anything other than snide remarks and backhanded meanings to navigate a conversation. Ultimatums usually worked well against everyone else when they tried to be wordy in their defenses.

¨She´s already told us enough. Blackmail is something she´s VERY fond. How do I know she won´t come after us once she got what she wanted?"

He couldn´t tell if the incorrect English was on purpose. Still, if it was or was not he could tell it was working. Just by looking at charlottes quiet complexion, he could just tell that bit into her composure easily with her jaw tightening by the slightest fraction.

¨We both know the implications now don´t we? It´s obvious you´d only lose your position, I´d lose my livelihood and all else with more that I can´t think of."

Laura´s eyebrows tensed and her lip tightened the slightest amount. It was obvious that she very much wanted to hurt her for that comment. Ichika winced at the unknowingly sore spot of conversation for Laura.

¨Then why tell me that?¨

Laura looked like she could blow up at any minute.

¨Trust. If I could mention it again."

That sort of weak reassurance didn't feel like it'd work.

¨Blackmail. Again."

Ichika forgetting their earlier encounter was a bane in every way now.

It would devolve into a one-sided fight if they started. He needed to step in.

¨Charlotte won´t, if she had to she would be the one in control of the planning. And why would someone who is as manipulative as her be here where she could risk everything?¨

This seemed like a point he very much couldn´t defend if she pushed, but it might work.

Laura drew back her added bitterness that she wouldn´t explain but they all knew.

¨I´ll- I´ll apologize.¨

That turned Laura´s eyes- eye. That turned Laura´s eye to the person who was earnest in her apology.

¨Anything. Whatever makes you feel better. Please.¨

Charlotte was shrinking down a large amount prostrating to someone who was very much shorter than her.

Laura after closing her eyes for a small amount and keeping still decided to get out of her chair with an emphasis of power in her rise.

¨Stand up.¨

Charlotte after a moment's hesitation pushed her plate away from her and stood up, it was obvious to them all what was about to happen.

Charlotte looked at Laura as she walked around the table to get closer and seemed to prepare for the coming pain.

¨Look at me."

And so she did. Ichika wanted to be hypocritical by all means but he knew that if he didn´t let her it would just worsen the situation for everyone.

After a while of more glaring, it seemed like she was intentionally playing up the drama to make the pain of waiting as long as possible never diverting her eyes. Eye.

Ichika was preparing himself for the coming storm.

But with a sigh, Laura closed her eye and backed away a slight distance with her back turned facing Ichika.

¨Alright.¨

The tension in the duo seemed to dissipate. Guess he was wrong, maybe Laura could judge Charlotte´s character too, maybe she did see someone good in there as well-

Laura instantly jumped and did a quick turn spinning her body in a swift flowing motion, and forced her foot into Charlotte's slightly relaxed face with a spinning hook kick of magnificent quality at horrific speeds.

Charlotte went down like a crumbling support beam, falling hard onto the floor but luckily managing to avoid the food and counter onto the fur carpet behind her.

Ichika then decided it would now be a good idea to do the thing that he always did. that being grabbing anyone shorter than him below the shoulders and lifting them to somewhere they wouldn´t hurt other people.

"And up we go."

Laura was just standing there looking at the now fallen body of the Frenchwoman in a slight daze and was snapped out of it as he moved her back to a corner of the room. She started growling and scratching at him, he knew that she could definitely hurt him properly if she wanted to, so he just set her on the floor.

"Alright, alright alright!"

Charlotte was still on the floor face first. But seemed to be alive. He went down to check on her and turned her over to the side. But she was stopped when she placed her palms flat on the floor and rose again.

She stared down Charlotte on her terms this time it seemed. Through calm pronunciation and no ill will shown. Even if she did earn a bruise mark of her own now.

"Is that good enough?"

Ichika was very much ready to activate the taller protocol again. But Laura seemed to be fine.

"Decently. Have your deal."

"Alright."

They didn't shake on it or anything, Charlotte just got the largest piece of fried schnitzel, took a big bite of it, and went on her way out the door. Ichika didn't know if he should be flattered or worried.