The sky was awash in a deep purple haze, streaked with the last golden traces of sunset as the evening settled in. The air was warm, a comfortable glow radiating from street lamps and neon signs flickering to life across Mirage Motors, casting electric hues over the scene. The hum of engines punctuated the quiet, bikes revving in the distance like an edgy soundtrack to the night.
Standing there, Jane and Zhu Yuan exchanged a look, the question they'd just dropped about a "special bike" lingering awkwardly in the air. Even the usual rowdy buzz around them had taken on a different tone, as if everyone nearby felt the tension. The evening breeze stirred, cool against their skin, breaking the silence only slightly.
Zhu took a step closer to Lighter, her brow furrowed as she finally spoke to cut through the unease. "About that bike... We're looking for someone who really knows their way around Mar-quell models. You know anyone who fits that bill?"
Lighter's expression turned distant, his gaze drifting past her as if something heavy and unresolved was surfacing from memory. His silence stretched on, the weight of it unmistakable, as though he were piecing together what to say—or not say.
Jane, unwilling to let the silence thicken, flashed a playful smile to ease the moment. "We've been all over the city, and the Sons of Calydon name keeps popping up. Lucky break running into you, wouldn't you say?" she added, nudging Lighter out of his reverie.
He adjusted his aviators, a glint from the streetlamp catching the dark lenses. "There was someone," he said slowly, his words measured, "but... let's just say that guy's more trouble than he's worth."
He threw a quick, wary glance at Caesar, as if merely mentioning that person's name might trigger something. Caesar's stance remained steady, but the barely veiled tension between them suggested there were things better left unsaid—or at least, unspoken for now.
Caesar crossed her arms, giving Lighter a pointed look as she flicked her head toward him. "You probably know him better than I do, Lighter. Our guests here are asking."
Lighter let out a sigh, resigned. "Well... he's our 'forbidden' Wayward Son." He trailed off, glancing away, and Lucy's eyes immediately landed on the patch over a fresh bruise on his left jaw.
"Hey, what's that?" Lucy piped up, grinning as she seized the moment to shift everyone's attention to him. "Looks like someone's been brawling again?"
Lighter just waved her off with a shrug. "The usual biker stuff. Things get... heated." But then, he turned back to Zhu, his expression shifting. "...Haven't seen that guy in a while, though. You, uh, ever hear the story about him from the night before the Nightro Fest?"
Zhu blinked, then looked away, her cheeks coloring as she muttered, "Actually... I don't really remember. I might've been... well, pretty drunk that night." She shot Jane an abashed glance, trying to mask any hint that she knew more than she was letting on. Even if she did know, she wanted to hear it from them to confirm again.
Jane's eyes lit up with amusement. "Really? You went drunk? That's a story in itself." She laughed, raising a brow in mock surprise, earning a quick elbow jab from Zhu, who muttered, "You're not helping."
Their conversation continued Inside the greasy diner, the atmosphere was thick with chatter and the clinking of cutlery. Bikers filled every booth and table, digging into their meals with the ease of those who considered this place a second home. Jane and Zhu squeezed into the same table as their hosts, a privilege extended to them by Caesar herself.
"She trusts people quickly, but that trust? Fragile as glass." Burnice's voice was low as she leaned in, eyes flicking to the door where Caesar had disappeared to pick up something from Steeltusk Cargo.
Suddenly, Caesar's voice boomed across the diner entrance. "Got Cheesetopia take-out, courtesy of Piper!"
Zhu's brows arched, amused as she whispered to herself, "So that's why she hates the Wayward Son..." The thought lingered, though a pang of worry crept in as she wondered how Caesar might react if she ever learned "Jean" wasn't who she thought. Still, Zhu couldn't deny the unexpected thrill of being in the Outer Ring, where the rules seemed to be rewritten by the minute.
Lucy shotback, tossing a feisty look toward Caesar. "Those are leftovers!"
Piper cut in, a hint of pride in her voice. "Untouched orders this morning. Perfectly edible!"
The group exchanged glances, trying to hold back chuckles. Jane grinned, raising an eyebrow at Zhu. "Well, nothing says 'hospitality' like day-old Cheesetopia," she quipped, earning a round of laughter as they all settled in to dig into the infamous "edible goods."
Zhu watched Jane dig into the greasy diner fare with unrestrained enthusiasm, clearly relishing every bite like the dedicated Rat Thiren she was. But Zhu? She eyed the overflowing plates around her warily, opting for the same salad she'd had at lunch. This wasn't just any sacrifice—keeping her figure in check amidst all these calories was practically an art form. She tried not to feel self-conscious as the others happily demolished their meals.
Just then, Lighter shrugged off his leather jacket, revealing fresh bruises and scrapes on his arms. Zhu's eyes narrowed in brief curiosity. Biker life isn't for the faint-hearted, apparently, she thought, noting the bruises without comment.
"So... this technician," she ventured, breaking through the dinner chatter, "how can we reach him?"
Across the table, Lighter leaned back and let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "You just can't. He's a real pain."
"Troublesome?" Zhu pressed, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Oh, come on," Jane jumped in, abandoning her napkin mid-wipe. "We can't just hit a dead end here. We've been all over the city looking for months." She threw Lighter a playful look that he quickly dodged.
Zhu paused, glancing from Jane to Lighter, piecing together the subtle tension in the air. Something felt like it was just within her grasp.
"...Actually, this is why I ran into you guys in Blazewood before the Nightro Fest." Lighter's reluctant admission made Zhu's stomach twist, even as she mentally congratulated herself. Nailed it.
Lighter gave a reluctant shrug, clearly weighing his options. "Look, this guy... he's not exactly the 'drop a message and he'll get back to you' type," he muttered, keeping his voice low.
"But if you're really that desperate to find him, there's an old garage near the Chasm just at the far edge of Blazewood. He's been spotted there a few times working late. Just... keep your expectations in check. He doesn't exactly roll out the welcome mat."
Jane caught Lighter's eye, tilting her head with a curious smile. "Sounds like he likes to keep things... exclusive?"
Lighter only smirked, shifting his gaze to Zhu. "Let's just say, if he thinks you're worth his time, he'll make the first move." He reached out for his pocket, grabbing his phone, an old model usual from an Outringer. "I'll give you his contact, but I'll make him a heads up."
Zhu's heart skipped a beat, a wave of unease washing over her. Why am I so nervous? It's just a contact number.
Her thoughts spun as she stammered, "No-no, we—we're, uh, just keeping our options open for now, no need to give him a heads up. For now." She flashed a really nervous smile, Great, I sound like I'm trying to sell a used car. Just don't blow your cover, don't blow your cover... Her stomach churned as the possibility of blowing their undercover operation loomed like a dark cloud. "We just need to close a deal for this old bike merchant, we'll let you know if we have closed the deal."
Lighter gave her a strange look, clearly perplexed, but he didn't push it. "Okay? So no need to have his contact?" He muttered, already scribbling down the Wayward Son's details on a napkin.
Zhu let out a silent breath, relieved. Smooth, Zhu. Smooth. But even as she smiled, there was a gnawing feeling in her gut, and she couldn't shake the sense that things were about to get a lot more complicated.
Lighter finished scribbling down the contact on the napkin, as he was about to put it on his pocket knowing that Zhu doesn't need the technician's contact for now, suddenly Jane snatched it from his hand with practiced ease. "I can talk to the technician, no need to worry, Jean," she said smoothly, her tone light as she grasp the napkin.
Zhu's heart raced. No, no, no. We can't risk this! Not yet! We need to play it cool, he might tip off the technician. Forcedly, she shot up from the table, almost tripping over her own feet as she grabbed Jane's attention. "Hey Ja-Julliene, no, we need to close the deal first!" Her voice cracked a little in her rush, and the way everyone looked at her made her feel exposed. She gave Jane an urgent look, her mind spinning.
But Jane wasn't fooled. The way Zhu's eyes darted to Lighter showed she was just acting to derail his thoughts on reaching out to the technician. Jane snickered quietly, clearly enjoying the show. "Sure, Jean, sure," she said, her voice dripping with mischief.
"I lost my appetite," Jane declared with exaggerated drama, using the noted napkin to wipe her mouth. "I'll just grab a dessert from the grocery store," she added, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. With a satisfied smirk, she strutted towards the exit throwing it on the garbage bin, leaving Zhu to deal with the mess she'd created.
Zhu, left standing awkwardly by the table, could only watch Jane's retreating back. Well, that was a disaster. Her palms were sweating, but she tried to force a smile, sinking back into her chair as she tried to regain control of the situation. Just keep it together, just keep it together.
Zhu sunk back on her seat deeply sighing, rubbing her temples but peeking on their reactions on their 'little drama'. They were unfazed looking at her, but Lucy gave Caesar a knowing look, "Julliene could be your best friend Caesar."
"...well actually we need to close the deal first before we contact the technician." Zhu just shrug it off hoping that Jane threw a different napkin and take note of the contact details.
The cold wind swept across the street, brushing against their skin as Zhu and Caesar's circle exited the diner. Jane stood under a flickering streetlight, casually leaning on her car, munching on an ice cream popsicle as if she were in no hurry at all.
Zhu took a deep breath, summoning the courage to approach Lighter. With a soft nudge to his left elbow, she hoped to get his attention. He flinched, a sharp expression crossing his face, clearly in more pain than she'd anticipated. "Oh, hey, sorry!" she quickly apologized, a little flustered.
"No problem," Lighter grunted, though there was a touch of discomfort in his voice. "I just had a fresh bandage on my elbow injury." He continued walking, clearly trying to mask the irritation.
Zhu hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "So, uhh, don't contact the technician just yet. I'll reach out to you once we've got the bikes," she said, her voice a bit more strained than she'd like, forcing a charming smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sorry for the little drama earlier... Jullienne can be a bit of a headache sometimes."
"So, she's really like Caesar?" Lucy piped in from behind them, a playful snicker in her voice.
Lighter nodded, his gaze flicking between Zhu and the rest of the group. "Yeah, don't worry. I can give you my contact details whenever you're ready to meet him," he said, the offer casual, but there was still a hint of wariness in his tone.
Zhu nodded, relieved to have dodged any immediate suspicions. Just stay cool, Zhu. Don't blow it now.
Zhu trudged toward Jane, who was casually leaning against the hood of her car. The soft glow of the Mirage Motors sign overhead cast a faint shimmer on the dusty edges of the car. Jane, unbothered by the chilly air, was mid-bite into her ice cream popsicle. Seriously? How many ice cream have you eat just today? Zhu's tired eyes lingered on her for a moment before Jane gave her a sideways glance.
"Think our little drama sold it, Cap?" Jane muttered, her voice light, but there was a glint of satisfaction in her smirk. "Calling it a day?"
Zhu sighed heavily, rubbing her temples as if she could massage away the day's chaos. "Yeah, I'm done. Overdone, actually." Her voice was flat, her tone one step away from collapsing into bed. She gestured toward Jane's pocket. "The contact details?"
"We need to dug it up when the diner is closed." Jane teased, making a light cackle.
"Seriously? -I'm done with this coy." Zhu replied exasperated.
"Relax! Just playing with you..." Jane diffused, she patted on the side of her jacket where the napkin was tucked. Zhu felt a small wave of relief wash over her but quickly dismissed it. "I'll check on Qingyi later," Zhu said, her hand already on the driver's door handle.
"Not tonight," Jane interjected, pushing herself off the hood with an exaggerated stretch. "I'm driving. Dropping you at your apartment, Captain."
Zhu blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard by the concern in Jane's voice. "Hey, you need proper rest. You've got an agent to chase, remember? Imagine if he sees you looking like a half-wilted flower." Jane grinned, a teasing edge in her tone, but Zhu caught the genuine care beneath it.
"Whatever." Zhu rolled her eyes, trying not to smile but failing just a little. She walked to the passenger side, waving lazily at Caesar's group. "Caesar! I'll reach out soon!" she called out, raising her voice just enough to carry over the hum of bikes in the background. "Let's have another toast sometime!"
As she slid into the car and buckled up, she let her head rest against the cool glass of the window. Another toast, another drama, another wild goose chase, she thought. Her eyes flicked toward Jane, now behind the wheel. At least someone was still full of energy. How does she do it?