Winston’s POV
Winnie did break out into a wide smile. “I think you’ll like it.” He stared at the door, eager to get moving again. He wanted to take Remedy home as soon as possible. A warm shower, heat, a full meal, and a bed would likely do wonders for the teen. After a moment’s hesitation, he walked towards the door, preparing to open it and peak outside.
“I’ll wait here,” Anthony called after the boy, leaning casually against the doorframe. Somehow, even his lean figure seemed to fill it—or maybe it was just his fourteen grotesques that did the trick.
Alec’s POV
Despite himself, Alec gave a genuine smile at her changing attitude. “You drive a hard bargain, but I can work with that. Just watch.” He started to make himself as spiffy and stoic as possible. Which, in a jacket, t shirt, and jeans, wasn’t very much, and finished off the hero look by giving himself a finger mask. “How’s this?”
Opals POV
Opal laughed at the descriptions Pasithea had used. “ Yeah, they’re my best friends, but… I got into a fight with Mirage.” Opal may have been eating with her, but she wasn’t going to tell Pasithea Ae-Ri’s name.
Alec’s POV
Despite himself, Alec gave a genuine smile at her changing attitude. “You drive a hard bargain, but I can work with that. Just watch.” He started to make himself as spiffy and stoic as possible. Which, in a jacket, t shirt, and jeans, wasn’t very much, and finished off the hero by giving himself a finger mask. “How’s this?”
Ae-Ri’s POV
Ae-Ri snorted loudly. “You’re ridiculous. But fine, that works.”
Alecs POV
Alec laughed lightly and ‘removed’ his finger mask. “After you, my lady.” He gestured to the desk. “Only you can ask cashier where he saw them go, I don’t know what they look like.”
Ae-Ri’s POV
Ae-Ri approached the desk, her expression hard and stoic beneath the tinted screen of her helmet. “Excuse me?” she started politely, folding her arms against the counter. “We’re looking for two young women.”
“I’ll wait here,” Anthony called after the boy, leaning casually against the doorframe. Somehow, even his lean figure seemed to fill it—or maybe it was just his fourteen grotesques that did the trick.
Winston’s POV
The hall was silent as I walked down it, heading towards where I had assumed the man had gone— to the classified room. It was put under lock and key. Information on villains and convicts from floor to ceiling. I could see the door when the man stepped out of it, his expression grim.
“Sir?” I called out gently, offering him a small wave. He grumbled something to himself and widenes his eyes as he saw me.
“You left him alone?!” He cursed loudly. I backed up a step on instinct.
Opals POV
Opal laughed at the descriptions Pasithea had used. “ Yeah, they’re my best friends, but… I got into a fight with Mirage.” Opal may have been eating with her, but she wasn’t going to tell Pasithea Ae-Ri’s name.
Sienna’s POV
“Good friends fight sometimes.” Sienna replied simply, examining her finely manicured nails. “It is the way of the world. Don’t worry too much. All will fix itself in time.”
Anthony’s POV
I could hear voices, faint and agitated, but didn’t concern myself about them. Why should I? Just because I was their problem, didn’t mean I had to be theirs.
Winston’s POV
“I’m sorry! I just—“ Winston’s eyes welled up as soon as the yelling started. The man shit him a nasty glare, taking off at a brisk pace towards the debriefing room. Winnie was left behind to sniffle and trail after, his head low.
Anthony, however, wasn’t doing anything worthy of the man’s suspicion. He was simply seated on the floor, absentmindedly inspecting his plague doctor’s mask while he waited.
Winston’s POV
The man opened the door using far more force than necessary, Winnie flinching as it slammed again the faintly glowing metal. “He’s—“ The man was about to bellow gone, much to Winston’s terror, but instead he just stood there glaring at Remedy on the floor. Winnie had never been more relieved to see the mercenary, wiping any would be tears from his eyes as he entered the room. He quickly gravitated to Samuel for security.
Anthony's POV
Anthony took one look at the man's face and burst out laughing. The sound, low, mocking, and cruel, hung in the air for a moment before transitioning smoothly into speech. "What did you think I was doing?"
Meanwhile, Samuel slipped away from his brother and made straight for Winston, rubbing his head comfortingly against the hero's knees.
Winston’s POV
Winnie kneeled down, affectionately patting Samuel. “Hi, Sammy.” He whispered softly, making sure Remedy didn’t hear him speak. He wondered why the name was so taboo, but he also knew it deserved a name.
Meanwhile, the man glowered at Remedy in a furious silence for over a minute. Clenching onto a file Winnie hadn’t seen in their rush to get back to the room. He slammed the stack of papers onto the table. “You all better be out of this building in ten minutes.” He growled, storming out of the room. Winnie eyed the papers curiously, but assuming they were just for Remedy, he made no move to get them.
Anthony's POV
Anthony chuckled quietly, a self-satisfied smirk evident on his features as he stood and snatched up the papers.
"Winston," he said suddenly, "You should ask your mother if I should stay. If I don't have a response in the next twenty minutes, I'm leaving."
Winston’s POV
Winnie’s head snapped to attention as Remedy called him b his first name. It was unexpected to say the least. ‘Uh— I’ll call her.” He mumbled, pulling out a old phone. It was about the same size as Winnie’s palm, and looked beaten beyond its best days. He held out a hand to stroke Sam with as he waited for his mother to pick up,
Opals POV
“Thank you.” Opal said, wondering what Ae-Ri would say if she saw her sitting with Pasithea right now. “I think I may have hurt her too much though.” She finished up as the waiter came to serve them their food.
Alecs POV
Alec listened as Mirage talked to the cashier. Apparently the one of the two girls had bought a game, and then they left talking about shopping, or maybe getting something to eat, but the cashier wasn’t really sure.
Anthony's POV
"Come here," he growled at Samuel, his eyes darkening considerably when he took notice of his brother's whereabouts. "Sit. And stay."
Winston’s POV
“Hey, Ma. How’re you feeling?” Winston asked, his voice going soft as the woman in question picked up the phone. “Yeah—No, I’m okay. I promise. I gotta ask you— Ma… Ma, listen… There’s this boy— No! Ma! No!” Winston’s face lit up a bright red for a moment as he bickered with his mother over the phone. A few minutes later and Winston had explained the situation to the bets of his ability, trying to sugarcoat it as much as possible. Eventually the conversation began to wind down. “Yeah, Ma. Love you too. G’night.” He hung up the phone with a sigh, still a bit embarrassed. “She says she’d like to meet y’all first, but tonight’s fine for sure. You mind talkin’ to her tomorrow mornin’? She’s real sweet, I promise.”
Sienna’s POV
“I like you quite a lot Opal. If you’re in need of a friend, you have me as your ally.” She replied smoothly, thanking the waitress as she set down their waters.
Alecs POV
Alec listened as Mirage talked to the cashier. Apparently the one of the two girls had bought a game, and then they left talking about shopping, or maybe getting something to eat, but the cashier wasn’t really sure.
“Is there nothing else you can tell us?” Ae-Ri forced out through gritted teeth, inhaling shakily. “One of these women is a criminal, and she has a.. colleague of mine.” The man shook his head, leaving her frustrated.
Winston’s POV
“Hey, Ma. How’re you feeling?” Winston asked, his voice going soft as the woman in question picked up the phone. “Yeah—No, I’m okay. I promise. I gotta ask you— Ma… Ma, listen… There’s this boy— No! Ma! No!” Winston’s face lit up a bright red for a moment as he bickered with his mother over the phone. A few minutes later and Winston had explained the situation to the bets of his ability, trying to sugarcoat it as much as possible. Eventually the conversation began to wind down. “Yeah, Ma. Love you too. G’night.” He hung up the phone with a sigh, still a bit embarrassed. “She says she’d like to meet y’all first, but tonight’s fine for sure. You mind talkin’ to her tomorrow mornin’? She’s real sweet, I promise.”
“I will speak with her whenever is possible,” Anthony answered briskly, rolling back his shoulders. “But my contact with both her and you will be limited. As limited as I can manage. I hope you understand that.”
And that was it. No thank-you’s, no acknowledgements, just a declaration delivered in a cold, detached tone of voice. But that was his way—he was only trying to protect himself. He’d be betraying these people soon enough, leading them to their deaths. He couldn’t afford to get cozy.
Winston’s POV
“It’s okay! As long as y’all are healthy.” Winnie smiled. “They’ll probably have you doin’ big hero stuff. I don’t get sent out unless they need a big flashlight.” He sighed, bummed out they Sam had moved away from him.
Anthony’s POV
He snorted loudly, turning towards the door. “Right. Are we going to leave or not?”
Opals POV
Opal blushed and began shifting with the aclets of her sweater. “Thank you Pasithea, but I wouldn’t know what to do with that
Alecs POV
Alec watched Mirages demeanor from happy-ish to anger as she finished up with the cashier. “Mirage, do you have any leads?” He asked afterward.
Ae-Ri’s POV
“They went to eat,” she muttered, clenching and unclenching her fists. “Somewhere.”
Alec’s POV
“Okay, any clue where they would go to eat at?” Alec asked as they made their way out of the store.
Ae-Ri’s POV
Ae-Ri tried to think, to concentrate, but each memeorh of Opal was as painful as a stab to the heart. “I-I don’t know.”
“Okay,” Alec mused, “Maybe we can think like them.” He looked around at the nearby restaurants, which sadly, as they were in a shopping center, was a lot. “Do you know where your friend likes to eat?”
Anthony’s POV
He snorted loudly, turning towards the door. “Right. Are we going to leave or not?”
Winston’s POV
“We? I thought they gave you a mission?” Winnie’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Did you want to stop at home first?”
Opals POV
Opal blushed and began shifting with the aclets of her sweater. “Thank you Pasithea, but I wouldn’t know what to do with that
Sienna’s POV
“Worry a little less, darling. There’s no need for it.” Sienna soothes calmly, looking around the restaurant with mild interest.
