Quenching 3.1
Lung's POV
I watch as Armsmaster leaves to try and handle what Bakuda was unleashing in the city. He was a clueless man, truly, unable to understand my words even as I spelled them out so clearly. I did quite enjoy his fear he had been unable to hide. It helped cool the hatred I felt for the one who defeated me, if only slightly. It wasn't enough though, until I killed Shirou Emiya, it would never be enough. I lay on my cell's bed once more, my skin glowing an intense orange and yellow, a sign of the flames of rage and revenge burning inside me.
A sign of how I've been fundamentally changed by my second brush with death in human form.
That fight, if I could call it a fight, was something I would see every time I closed my eyes. I could see him falling onto me from above and brushing off the flames that I bombarded him with. The instant he appeared I knew him to be a threat, because my power started to grow at a rate which I had never before seen. I didn't understand it at the time, I had thought it good fortune, a sign of my coming victory against some upstart nobody muscling in on my business.
It hadn't been any of those things. In fact, my rapid growth only served to make my defeat all the more harrowing. I was growing so fast, but I couldn't grow fast enough; I couldn't defend myself from his blades. My armor meant nothing; my wings clipped in a blur that also carved out most of my insides. My regenerating ability, something I depended on, just stopped working at a point. It was like the damage he had been dealing just refused to be ignored. All of that hardly compared to what truly broke me.
The look in his eye, one shared with THAT woman...
Such a person defeated me AGAIN! Destroying that promise I made to myself. He didn't even have the courage to just kill me there and save me the mental anguish I suffered after the fact.
However, I have come out of this stronger again, that is certain.
I could feel my power, growing on its own without a need for direct conflict. It was held back only by my will to not transform yet. Armsmaster no doubt thought it was just me starting the charge and hoping for a bit of conflict to activate it. But he couldn't have been more wrong. I didn't need conflict anymore, just the will, and a little patience.
Shirou Emiya had fundamentally broken me in one encounter, changing my priorities and even my power. The entire time I had been conscious and awake, my power had been building up to transform. I could feel the charge build up and swell at a slow rate, speeding up when I take note of it and force it to, like I had when talking to Armsmaster. I couldn't regress the charge anymore, which might pose an issue at a later point, but for now regressing wasn't on my mind. I was going to transform within the hour, and when I did...
I was going to make a statement no one in this city would ever forget.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Taylor's POV
The explosions don't stop until two in the morning.
Though I doubted I'd be able to sleep even had the city not been erupting into chaos outside. I hadn't had to convince my dad, in fact he practically begged me over the phone to ask Shirou if I could stay at his apartment until the craziness died down. That was a silver lining, marred by Shirou losing his house for the second time in less than a week. And I had thought I was unlucky…
And now I was laying on the bed of a boy I had only met tonight, staring at the ceiling with hazy eyes. My glasses laying on the barren nightstand so my tossing and turning wouldn't break them and leave me feeling even more useless than I already did. Now that the stress of Lisa and Shirou needing medical attention was taken care of, I was left with everything else that happened tonight. I had been trying to organize my thoughts since we separated, to no real success of course. No matter what I did, I kept drifting to one simple fact.
People died today, more than that, I left people to die tonight. Those random highs and Matty being allowed to live weren't enough to even crack my focus on that fact. This morning I had just been a bullied girl with a crush on her only friend who wanted to just be a hero and do some good. Now I was all that and also someone who tried to escape without helping a single person I didn't know. Not very heroic if you asked anybody I bet. I had powers and didn't bother trying to use them in any way that could helped those I could hear begging for it. Even when I had arguably gotten something that could help, like Matty, I had only asked him to save me and those next to me.
I could at least try and convince myself that I was trying to save Shirou and Lisa from their injuries after that. But inside the building, I had no real excuse in my opinion. I had been a brute in that moment, I could have started knocking down walls into the burning rooms, I could have done more than I did. But I didn't, I was scared, I was confused. I only wanted to save Shirou and those in front of me even though they arguably needed it much less than the people trapped in those rooms.
These thoughts held a tight grip on my mind, not letting me even think of getting sleep. I was too unsure, second guessing everything with the power of hindsight. It wasn't doing anything but driving me into a hole, I needed to do something, I needed reassurance. But I couldn't bother Shirou with this could I? I still remembered that talk we had earlier in the day, about the rules of a cape and how we needed to stick to them.
It felt like a higher power was laughing at me, how had almost every one of those rules been broken just a few hours later? Shirou was right in the end and I didn't know how my vision of what being a hero is would change. Did I even still want to be a hero? I think that I did, but I couldn't see how I could get over this.
I could still remember that one man who fell from the top of the stairs, I could still remember him screaming as he was melted into slime. I was ashamed to admit that I wanted my dad right now. I wanted my mom.
I wanted Shirou.
But I didn't know how to face him without bumbling through my feelings and thoughts, making a fool of myself. I also couldn't bare the thought of him being disappointed in me, he was what came up in my mind when I thought of the word hero. Not Alexandria, not Legend, Not Eidolon. Hell, not even Scion could usurp that spot in my mind.
It wasn't any of those heroes that saved me from the lonely and meaningless nature of my day to day. It wasn't any of them who stepped in the line of fire at Winslow for my sake. It wasn't any of them who spent their free time helping me claw my way back up out of the hole Emma had dug for me. He was my vision of heroism, someone who stood up for someone who people were doing wrong to, even if he was the only one who would. So, someone could probably guess how what I did in that building was completely against such an ideal I wanted to copy.
I sniff loudly and wipe my eyes again; I was thinking in circles here. I would be better to face the music now instead of agonizing over what I'd have to face anyway. Maybe if I'm mentally destroyed enough by Shirou's coming rebuke, I'd be able to sleep.
...That was really dark, but I felt really dark right now.
Slowly, I roll of Brian's admittedly firm and unused bed onto my feet. I then adjust the tank top and shorts that Lisa had let me borrow while ignoring the fact that I was a little too thin to fill them out properly. It was an awkward exchange of clothes, considering we had been a few moments away from ripping into one another verbally during that talk. I didn't really know how we would move passed that. My eyes look over to the nightstand and grab my glasses; I put them on and take a long look at the alarm clock.
3.AM.
Man, I was going to be exhausted in the morning, I could already tell. I slowly slip my feet into some slippers also given by Lisa and make my way to the door, steps light on the hardwood floor, not wanting to potentially wake up the others. I wince when the door creaks and squeaks as it's pushed open, announcing to anyone in the living room that I wasn't asleep. Great, more instant karma for me, was I going to catch a break?
I slink through the opening I made and step onto the rug in the hallway. My steps being cushioned by the material. My steps were slow regardless of how quiet they were, I was nervous. That nervousness only grows as I peek around the corner and see Shirou, still wide awake, looking straight at me from the couch, turned around like he knew I had been coming. My heart aches when he just smiles at me like he saw nothing wrong. Not because it made me upset, but because it showed me what I should have already known.
Shirou wasn't upset with me at all.
"Taylor..." Shirou greets as I step out from behind the corner and into full view. I feel self-conscious in the clothes I was wearing but I quickly move past that to speak.
"Shirou, a-are you tired...?" I ask him softly, lifting a few strands of hair and placing them behind my ear. I watch his expression become slightly melancholic as he shakes his head. "...Then can I stay out here with you? I can't sleep." I do idly ponder why he was up so late himself, but that was just helpful to me.
"Of course," Shirou responds easily, watching me and smiling as I meekly make my way into the living room and around the couch. As I sit beside Shirou, I see Matty in his corner, his trademark green glow as bright as when I first saw him. Shirou must have been feeding him while he was awake. It was strange that he ate swords, but considering it was almost certainly Shirou's power that caused it, I suppose it wasn't too much of a stretch.
We sit in a silence that I can't exactly call comfortable, but it was far better than the suffocating feeling of Brian's room. My hands rest on my lap and I look at the floor, trying to get my words organized. Now that I was here though, words weren't getting organized, just jumbled further. I had no doubt I looked like an idiot, or maybe a particularly pitiful puppy?
Puppies were at least cute.
"How are you feeling?" Shirou asks, voice soft, making my stomach flip in surprise. Some part of me had not realized that Shirou could just start the conversation himself.
"Bad," I say, finally turning to face him. I wasn't sure what kind of face I was making. But Shirou's smile drops right as he sees it. So, it wasn't a good one, that sucked. The sudden hug I received after that admission makes me freeze in surprise. But that doesn't last long, because I can feel my body start to shake in his grip. I couldn't control my body anymore, what was going on?
"I'll protect you," Shirou says, voice just as soft as before. It's then I feel the heavy trail of liquid running down my eyes and I realize what's happening. I'm crying, no, the sudden and wracking coughs that leave my mouth and make my chest convulse weren't just from crying.
I was sobbing, like a baby. Even cognizant of that, I couldn't stop sobbing into Shirou's chest. I wanted to explain why, I wanted to stop so I could at least try to save some dignity. But I just couldn't stop the tears and sobs that I was letting out against Shirou's injured chest. I try to push away, but Shirou's arms only tighten around me. At that point, I have no choice but to give in, right? Shirou wasn't letting me go so I might as well just give in, right?
My arms wrap around his shoulders and I desperately allow him to hold me.
I give in, just for tonight.
__________________________________
When I wake up, it's to a rough and calloused hand lightly slapping my cheek repeatedly. I blink, my glasses still on my face which allow me to see who it was. It was the dog girl, Rachel, standing at the foot of the couch I was laying on with crossed arms and dressed casually, the most notable thing being her blue jacket. She was giving me a raised eyebrow along with what seemed like an impatient scowl.
"Get up, and cover your face with the scarf on the table." She orders, stepping away towards the front door of the loft. Her three dogs all following her around without a word from her.
"W-What? Why?" I ask intelligently, pushing against the couch cushion I was sleeping against. Weird, it was a lot firmer than I thought it w-
My question is forgotten as I glance down in utter mortification when I see I wasn't sleeping on the couch, but on Shirou instead. My face had been laying in the space between his neck and shoulder while I laid on top of him. He was thankfully asleep it seemed like, and a deep sleep it must have been. He hadn't moved once since I woke up, he must have been really tired. Still, that's pushed away for later as I get off of him as quickly as I can. Still, even through that he only groans before rolling onto his side to continue sleeping. That was good, it meant I avoided a potentially embarrassing situation. This wasn't something I think my dad would approve of...
I shake my head to refocus on what was happening. Rachel was looking at me, unamused, she told me to get up but not why. I glance at the window and see the beginnings of sun-rise; I hadn't been asleep for super long.
"Are you going to explain why you woke me up or-?" I hazard towards the admittedly scary looking girl. Rachel rolls her eyes, as if me asking why she was slapping me was annoying. She thumbs over to Matty, who was looking at us both with clear interest. He was just so cute; I could look at him stare at stuff for hours.
"We have to move him remember? I'm not taking the huge spider anywhere without the person it chooses to listens to." Rachel explains, before waving a hand to remind me to get moving. Ah, right, she had offered to do that last night. I feel slightly sheepish at the hostile girl, she was actually doing me a big favor, the least I can do is not waste her time.
Even if she was a criminal, I should stay polite. I don't think I actually talked much with Shirou about that fact last night, crying like I had must have knocked me out. I felt better in a way, less heavy, but it probably wouldn't last forever. I needed to really talk to him sometime today… or maybe this week? If he was busy, I mean…
"Well??" Rachel asks again, this time more aggressive than last time. I really should stop monologuing when someone was waiting on me. I'd have a real talk with Shirou, maybe not today though. I quickly move back to Brian's room and change into the clothes Lisa offered me the night before to be worn in the morning. It was some 'fashionable' purple shirt with some kind of joke graphic of a dog, and kind of tight jeans that I would never be caught dead in. But it was all I had considering my actual clothes had blood, dust, and tears in them along with smelling like smoke.
I step back into the living room and stare at Rachel, who stares back at me before tossing me a hoodie and the scarf she mentioned. Both of which I put on to the best of my ability in regards to the scarf. It was clear to me why they were given to me, thinking about it was making me grow cold even in the extra layers. My face was known to Bakuda, I needed to hide it when walking around outside. Though I was sure I wasn't as recognizable as Shirou. My average to below average looks might also do me a favor for once.
Yay?
"How far do we have to go? We should tell someone where we're going at least…?" I say as I step up to her and her dogs. They were actually pretty cute, but I wasn't dumb enough to touch them without permission. Rachel just grunts and motions for me to follow her. She leaves through the door and her dogs follow without a word. She… didn't like people, did she? This would be a boring walk if she didn't even respond unless she needed to. I let out a sigh, glancing back at Shirou and letting his sleeping form fill me with confidence that he'll be alright and still here when I got back.
"Come on Matty…" I say, Matty chittering in response. Alec may be right; he might understand speech somehow.
__________________________________
I was right, the walk was pretty boring so far.
The two of us had left the house 40 minutes ago. In the span of that time, Rachel had said a grand total of nothing to me. It was honestly impressive, but mostly awkward and annoying. I couldn't tell if the girl actually disliked me or if she was just like this with everyone. I hoped it was the latter but was bracing myself for it to be the former. I had experience with people just hating me for no reason after all.
It was still a bit dark, the sun barely peaking over the horizon as three dogs, two humans, and a surprisingly stealthy glowing spider made their way down completely barren streets. Nobody was outside, which was good for me and Matty, who was sticking to the roof tops on my request. He had been remarkably unwilling to hide at first, until I tried to portray a sense of danger towards being seen in person. He understood quickly after that.
He was so smart; I was very proud. Even Rachel seemed a bit impressed, but that was with Matty, not me.
"…I still think we should have told someone before we left? Shirou at least?" I bring up again, less to convince her because there was nothing to be done about it now, but more to just say something that would interrupt the silence of the city streets. It was eerie in the worst way; I wasn't used to such silence even so early in the morning. There were still people out during my runs usually but after the seemingly random explosions that ripped across the city for hours last night, no one was out in any capacity.
"Do you tell him every time you leave the room to piss or something?" Rachel finally responds, making me clam up in sudden shock at her insulting response. She gives me an unimpressed look; one I should have expected with how biting her words had been. "Can you think for yourself? Or can you only make decisions when the sword guy is around?"
"I-I can think for myself!" I shoot back, my incredulity shifting into outrage at the insult. She was the one that woke me up for this, why was she insulting me??
"It doesn't seem like it." Rachel says with a snort, unimpressed look not changing for a second. She turns back to stare at the empty streets ahead like the conversation was over. But I couldn't just let that slide.
"Do you dislike me or something? Like did I do anything that pissed you off so much that you can't stand me?" I hiss, pushing for her to continue. I had enough of this at school, I wasn't going to take this outside of school from someone I didn't know, even more so from a villain. "If you think I'm so pathetic why the fuck did you grab me alone?!"
Rachel seems slightly surprised at my outburst, but she also didn't look afraid. It was a bit concerning that I wanted her to be afraid. The viciousness streak I'd always had that I kept under control urging me to at least throw a punch. But like I didn't want to use violence to solve my problems at school, I didn't want to do that here. Especially because Shirou needed to stay put for a while to heal.
"I think you're pathetic yeah." Rachel says, god, it might have actually made me feel better if she said it smugly. At least then I could be sure she was just enjoying making me upset. But no, her face remains unchanged, like she's talking about the weather and she finds her dogs more interesting then defending her point. "From the sound of it, sword guy did all the fighting yesterday, but you're acting like you had much of anything to do with it."
"I-," My words fail me at her audacity, even more so when my it makes my insecurities flare up like a rash on my skin. It was something I was afraid of, deep down. That I would be a burden on Shirou in aspects of his life, not only in being a hero. I knew Shirou wouldn't mind if that was the case but who actually wanted to be a burden on someone they adored? Now I couldn't stop myself from thinking back to the beginning, when I first met me, all the way to now. Had I added anything to his life on par with what he added to mine?
I couldn't say for sure and that was a sobering thought.
"Things like that piss me off, weaklings hiding behind people who are stronger just to leech benefits." Rachel continues, somehow catching my attention through my pondering. "Lisa was like that until I forced her to join us on the job, I wasn't going to be in a team that allowed shit like that. The pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Lisa isn't very strong, but she'll fight... and take a beating. That's more than most are willing to do."
I hear genuine admiration and anger in her voice, which was easy to place with what I knew. The admiration was for Lisa no doubt, the anger was directed at either herself, for being too preoccupied to help her, or at the one who did it to Lisa. So, she WAS capable of emotion beside disdain? Did that make me feel better?
It also felt bad to feel bad for the state the blonde was in, because she was robbing a bank and that was just wrong. But I also wasn't heartless, I still didn't really like Lisa much, but she was somehow important to Shirou and that meant I had to play nice as long as she did.
"You haven't done anything like that yet, so I'm not going to waste time pretending I think you're impressive or anything. You also aren't my teammate, so I don't have to force you to toughen up."
I stare at Rachel in silence and just let her words bounce about my head. It was eerily similar to things Sophia and Emma liked to say, but it lacked the biting nature of their words, or more specifically, the intent to hurt me. These were said like they were a fact she had spent time observing and constructing, it stung less in some areas and more in others. Because if it was something she had come to think on her own, without any help from someone who knew me, it meant there was probably some truth to it.
It was something I'd have to think about further at a later date. Because both me and Rachel had to stop and stare at what comes into sight when we turn a corner.
A path of destruction.
I feel my breath hitch, a line of buildings from here to the boardwalk were collapsed into rubble, which glowed red from the flames that were still burning in some places. Firefighters and paramedics were everywhere I could see, trying to douse flames that refused to be doused with heavy streams of water, and checking for survivors of whatever had caused this. It was like a meteor had carved its way from the bay and beyond, the scar going farther into the city past where me and Rachel had found it. It was much the same there as it was where we were. At the intersection there was also a large group of people waiting at the edge of the police tape that was blocking the road. There was a police officer standing at the head, guiding people back and forth across the rubble to the other side. It was slow going it looked like, but that was the way we had to go.
"...This is-" I start, trying to find a way to describe the destruction I was seeing aloud. But Rachel obviously wasn't interested in anything I had to say as she just continues on up the road parallel to the scar on the earth. "Hey! Where are you going??"
"We aren't sneaking your spider past that many people, unless it can turn invisible or some shit." Rachel grunts, not stopping which forces me to run after her. I didn't think Matty could do that, so looks like I have to stick with her. The feeling of denial I get from my connection with Matty seems to agree. He could hear us all the way from… wherever he is right now? "We'll just walk until we reach the end, then circle around."
"How long will that take?" I have to ask, making sure my scarf is still covering my lower face. I was lucky it was a bit breezy outside today, it made wearing it easier.
"It doesn't matter, we're going until we get there. I have dogs to feed." Rachel grunts, glaring at me like she was daring me to speak up against her words. I almost wanted to out of sheer spite at this point. But again, she was doing me a big favor here. Though I was beginning to suspect this wasn't a favor to me, but to Matty himself. Maybe Rachel just liked animals more then humans, that was the vibe I was starting to get.
We keep walking for what seems like a half-hour, by then, people were actually starting to enter the streets. I can't say that made me very happy, or made me feel safe. My paranoia was sky high at the moment, at any time, someone could bump into me or accidentally move my scarf, before recognizing me. If this was what being a spy was about, I wasn't into it and I curse any childish fantasy I might have had about it.
On top of that, the more people who were around, the more chances Matty was going to be spotted. Somehow, I had a feeling that would be worse than if I was recognized. I had to hold my self back from trying to spot where he is, because if I found him, someone else might.
Walking this way may have been a bad idea.
This was something I was doubly sure of when the numbers of police and PRT troopers start to rise exponentially.
"Stay cool," Rachel grunts, glaring at me suddenly as we pass a duo of troopers. What the hell was I doing wrong now? I glare back at her, but she doesn't seem fazed. "You're shaking like a little pansy-ass, calm down or go the hell back to the apartment and tell Matty to follow me."
She was right; I was shaking; I'm not just nervous, I was terrified.
But it was Rachel's glare that grounded me, not through fear. It was through the spite I felt, raw unadulterated spite. I was sick of her treating me like a weakling this entire trip. I force myself to calm just to deny her the satisfaction of being right. Then I walk, my back a bit straighter; the two of us walking quickly passed every trooper we saw. It was in this state that we approached another intersection, this one fully blocked off by troopers and people taking photos.
We didn't plan to stop and stare like the others; in fact, it would have been the perfect time to sneak by. But I couldn't help but peak around a few people as we passed. It was obviously something big if it could gather this much attention.
It was big, bigger than the buildings it had run through on its way through the city. It lied against a particularly high and half crumbled business of some kind, probably a corporate office. The building had stopped its forward momentum, ceasing the scar it had dragged along it's path. Pieces of it still burned, flames glowing a hot and solid white. It was an almost unrecognizable mass of metal that had been steadily burning throughout the morning.
I of course recognized it, because it was as much a symbol of heroism as an object could be in Brockton Bay. The symbol on its side still visible even as flames slowly encroach on its space. The Protectorate Shield, melting and deformed, a mockery of what it was before. There was only one building in the bay, literally, that had that shield printed on its sides. Someone had torn off a piece of Protectorate HQ and thrown it across the city.
And I think I knew who that someone was.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lisa's POV
I groan as a wonderful smell invades my flaring nostrils and drags me out of my dreamless sleep. Almost immediately I want to return to it because my head and chest remind me that I'm injured and being awake is a chore. It was too late now though; I wasn't going to be getting back to sleep anytime soon. I feel a weight settle onto the side of my bed, a hand gently shaking my shoulder while I try my best to ignore it and the smell. I hope that somehow through pure force of will, I could make it as though I had never woken up.
"Lisa," I hear Shirou say from above me. I proceed to lift my blanket over my head with a grunt.
"Lisa it's going to be ten A.M soon, you really should wake up. Sleep isn't the best thing to overly partake in when you have a concussion…" He then says, muffled by my blanket covering my ears. I didn't want to get up! Even if the smell of food was making me yearn for breakfast. I wanted to be lazy and as an injured woman I should be allowed to. Where was your chivalry Shirou?
"Ah don't wanna…" I groan as Shirou easily pulls off the blanket I was using to block him out. Dumb brutes, it was so unfair. I squint as sun light finally hits my eyes, making me slightly tear up. Shirou just huffs in what sounds like laughter, before his hand grabs my shoulder again and I'm lifted up into the sitting position. I harshly blow what hair that wasn't wrapped up in bandages out of my face, and glower at a contently smiling Shirou.
-Reminded of someone else-
-Shirou is fond of this person-
I then see his expression fall somewhat, like he realized he was being happy and that wasn't allowed.
-Shirou misses this person-
-Shirou is ashamed-
-Shirou sees this person when he looks at me-
-Shirou is resigned to it-
That little tidbit wakes me up fully, and I decide that he can be sad and melancholic when he was alone. Sure, our actual relationship was built on two helpings deep of survivor's guilt, but my intent to help him to help myself was still valid. Even with all the craziness that had happened over the last few days, I couldn't really say I was unhappier than I was beforehand. It was still a bit early to count chickens, but some part of me was very confident.
I wasn't a therapist, but my power sure let me act like one. I had no idea what I was doing for once, but the first step had the decency to be clear. Before I could help Shirou Emiya, I had to know who Shirou Emiya was. It wouldn't be too far off to say I actually knew nothing about him beyond that he wasn't living for himself. Which while important to why we even interacted that night, wasn't useful for my ends in the way I wanted. What better time then today? When we're both going to be stuck here recovering?
My stomach takes that moment to growl. My glower becomes just slightly embarrassed when Shirou's expression evens out to a quirked-up lip, showing that he heard it. Damn it, I thought that only happened on TV.
"What did you make…?" I mumble out, throat a bit parched as well. I also had to use the bathroom. Am I always this much of a mess in the morning?
"Well, you guys have a lot of bacon." Shirou says, actually sounding like he disapproved. What, did he not like bacon? "…And all the groceries I bought for your apartment are gone." Ouch, Shirou didn't seem like someone who actually had that much money at the moment. So that was probably more painful than it sounded. "…So, I decided some eggs and bacon would be fine for breakfast even if it's not what I'd prefer to make, is that ok?"
That sounded very nice.
"Mmh-yeah..." I slur again, lifting a hand to my mouth and rubbing it with the back of my hand. The lack of drool was relieving, "That sounds really good right now, mind adding some pancakes to that?"
"Pancakes aren't really what I'd call breakfast, that's more a treat." Shirou says, making me roll my eyes while he continues. "...But one or two should be fine."
"Three..."
"Lisa." Shirou sighs out, lifting a hand to his face in light exasperation while I manage to turn my ugly morning scowl into a grin, I didn't need my power to see I won this 'argument', but I let it tell me what it could figure out.
-Is weak to the request of cute girls-
What did that say about me that my own power referred to me as a cute girl? Probably how cute I am.
_______________________________________
My plans to spend the day trying to organically draw forth details of Shirou's life before now hits its first snag the moment I leave the bathroom and enter the kitchenette/dining room that borders the living room.
"All I'm saying, is that this is a clear sign of favoritism!" Sam, or Circus because she was in costume, complains from the dining room table, a plate of eggs and bacon being steadily downed in the meantime. She was pointing her fork at Alec, who was downing a cup of orange juice.
"She's got a point Shirou, how come Lisa gets pancakes?" Alec asks, actually looking a bit jealous. It was because I was cute Alec. Shirou doesn't bother playing their game and instead slides the last pancake onto a separate plate.
But right, I wasn't alone with Shirou in here, I wasn't exactly sure if I'd get him to open up any if it's not just me and Taylor, but I could still try regardless.
Speaking of Taylor...
"Where's Tay-Tay?" I have to ask as I join the two at the table. A quick glance around the living room shows the girl was gone, along with Rachel, her dogs, and Matty.
"Left with Bitch earlier in the day, probably to move the spider, thank Christ." Circus explains, not even looking at me as I take my seat. Her eyes were instead planted on the stack of pancakes sitting on a plate next to our stove top. Too bad asshole, those are mine, I'm definitely not sharing with either of you.
"That's an incredibly rude thing to call your ally." Shirou admonishes Circus while carrying my food over and placing it in front me with a deft hand. Circus starts explaining that it's her chosen cape name while I instead observe Shirou.
-Has worked in food service before-
That's filed away as I instead observe how he was moving. There was slight pain in his steps, but overall, he was walking fine, far better then he should be normally. He wasn't kidding about having some sort of healing ability. It wasn't anything crazy or particularly out there considering it didn't heal him on the spot like most regeneration powers did, but it was undoubtedly handy.
I start slowly attacking my spread, lifting a slice of bacon and stabbing it into the yolk of an egg. It was rich and yellow, the taste making me hum in delight. Home cooked meals were by far the greatest perk of Shirou being here. Why Taylor was so possessive of him only became clearer as time went on. He'd make a great house husband, if you could get passes his crippling self esteem issues and depression. Part of me wonders if Taylor even knew these things existed though, Shirou was absurdly good at hiding it. So much so that I needed a power dedicated to finding things I out I wasn't supposed to find out.
Back to his regeneration or whatever is healing him, my power can't seem to figure that out yet. He was almost certainly going to be up before me, and assuredly before the week he said it would take. I… didn't like it, he was going to go back out there with out a second thought no doubt. He didn't say it out loud last night, but I'm sure everyone besides maybe Taylor could hear it.
He was going to kill Bakuda, almost assuredly he'd try to kill Oni-Lee too.
-To protect Taylor-
-To protect me-
My chewing slows and I have to send the wall opposite of the talking trio beside me a flustered look. Absolutely, positively, way too earnest. I needed ways to keep him busy, or at least postpone such a fight. Shirou could win, I knew he could, but chasing blind after a Tinker who knows you're after them is a shit plan. And Oni-Lee proved that if Shirou didn't know the match up, he would be fighting handicapped. He had been genuinely flabbergasted last night when I mentioned how his power worked on eyesight supposedly. That had told me Shirou hadn't even begun to guess what it was during the fight. How much longer would that fight have gone I wonder if it was just the two of them? That however wasn't something my power could accurately guess.
I needed to convince him it was better to wait for the city's capes to band together. Tinkers were usually the best counter to Tinkers, and none of us were one. We'd get Bakuda, but we'd do it safely.
I had time though.
____________________________________________
Seeing as none of us were going to be leaving anytime soon, the four of us quickly settle into the living room after breakfast. I sit on my recliner, fully pulling out the leg rest and leaning back to take some pressure off my own ribs. Alec and Circus had turned on the tv to play some video games or something. And Shirou…
…Was cleaning, he had just finished the dishes and had now summoned what looks like a duster of some sort on a broom handle. He was using it to clean the ceiling fan.
-Can't sit still-
-Won't sit still-
-Cleaning to keep his mind off Taylor-
-Wants to find Taylor-
-Unwilling to leave me in this state-
That's helpful, super helpful even. I just had to play up my injuries and that'll keep him around for at least a little while right? Though it would be best if Taylor came back soon, so he didn't have to make the choice. Still, I could use this doubly to my advantage, I think. This sounds much more sinister in my head then I meant it to be. It was for his own good really.
"Auuuughhh~," I groan loudly from my chair, in no real pain because of the pain killers I had taken in the bathroom this morning. The groan gets everyone's attention, but only Shirou bothers to come to me, worry on his face. Circus and Alec just look at me like I was annoying before going back to their game.
Alright, jeez, good to know you give a shit…
"Can I get you anything? The doctor gave you medication, right? I could-" Shirou starts, looking like he was about to talk a mile a minute and give more then a few suggestions. It was touching, but not what I needed him to do. Or at least, not what I needed him to talk about. I silence him by pouting, which makes him suddenly raise an eyebrow.
-Suspecting something is up with me-
Ok, he's not as clueless as I thought, but I'm already in too deep.
"C-Can we talk a little? Talking help keeps my mind off the pain…" I stammer, making Shirou's expression soften into something less suspicious and more curious. Good, I salvaged it, note to self, Shirou doesn't seem to think I'm capable of pouting. That might have something to do with the person he's comparing me to in his head.
"…Since when do you ask to talk? You love to talk, in fact you never shut up." Circus jeers as she glances our way with a haughty look. She flicks the controllers stick once without looking at the screen, and I hear Alec curse.
-He lost-
Thanks, I could guess that without you.
-Circus is listening intently-
…Thanks, should have started with that one though.
Shirou ignores Circus better then I do, instead he was focused on me. I almost use my power again to try and see what he was thinking, but he cuts me off with a slow nod. He walks back to the kitchen and grabs a dining room chair before settling it down besides my recliner. He smiles, but I could see it was a bit wary. He was probably worried I'd ask something he wouldn't know how to answer. Luckily for him, now that I knew Circus was a bit too interested in what we were talking about, I'd have to try and avoid anything power related. Which was fine, at the end of the day this was just so I could try and actually KNOW Shirou Emiya as a person.
"What did you want to talk about?" Shirou asks, getting comfortable in his chair. It was a good question, what did I want to ask? There was a ton of stuff I wanted to know, like how his power worked, or what his home-life was like before we met, or why he liked Taylor so much. But all of those things either were too serious a topic to start on if I wanted to remain innocent. Or they were things I didn't want Circus to hear.
"W-What do you like to do for fun Shirou?" I ask, deciding I can't go wrong with something so lighthearted.
The blank look I get back makes my heart sink.
-Hasn't had fun in a long time-
-Isn't sure if he's ever had what I'd consider fun-
Oh boy… This was going to be a lot to unpack wasn't it?
And of course, because fate hates me or something, Taylor and Rachel burst into the apartment, spider-less.
"Lung broke out!" Taylor shouts, eyes manic.
Fuck. Me.
A smaller chapter. You know the drill, point out grammar mistakes and I'll do my dandiest to fix them. Next chapter won't come as quick, I'll be writing a side story or two for this story as well as a private story in third person for myself for more practice and personal variety before focusing on the next chapter. Next chapter should be Taylor's POV for most of it.
Don't know why, but while it's pretty easy to write these, it's incredibly hard to post them even when done. Like, I could finish a chapter and then sit on it for a day or two to work up the courage. Hopefully it'll get easier as time goes on.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Quenching 3.2
Shirou's POV
"Lung broke out!" Taylor shouts, eyes manic.
I watch the atmosphere of the room change with Taylor's statement. Circus shifts uncomfortably, glancing my way as she puts the controller down. Alec just raises his brows in my direction. While Lisa and Taylor stare at me in clear worry that makes me frown. Why was everyone looking at me like that? I beat Lung easily last time, this time I just had to make sure I killed him, right? If he was the one who sent Bakuda after me, then it was unlikely that I wouldn't see him again. He survived only because the thought of killing a downed man in front of Taylor on her first night out was... distasteful. I could swallow that distaste if I had to.
"It's fine," I say with as reassuring a voice as I can. It has the opposite effect however as everyone, including the silent Rachel, looked at me like I'm insane. That was not fair, but I move past it to make my point before Taylor can cut me off. "I beat him already; I can do it again."
"You're crazy," Circus says in disbelief, sinking back into the sofa.
"You just figure that out?" Alec asks her, lowering his controller.
"I'm right here..." I remind, but to my annoyance it only makes Taylor and Lisa glare at me like I did something wrong. I was more than a little confused at this point but I was sure someone would explain to me what I said wrong in a moment.
"Shirou," Taylor starts, my attention going to her and noticing just how... upset she looked. Different to how she was last night however. "You think I'm just going to let you deal with this alone? Again?" I watch as her lips press together tightly, but she doesn't fall apart like she did last night. "...You were going to just leave and try and fight them on your own, weren't you?"
I had... considered it, truthfully. I glance at Lisa and see she looked annoyed, but not surprised. Of course, I couldn't hide anything from her it seemed.
"...It'd be better off that way, wouldn't it?" I decide to say, not denying it when there would be no way to get it past Lisa. My eyes lift from Taylor and watch the specter behind her. Sakura looked as radiant as ever, even cracked like she was. "I'd be able to fight with nothing holding me back if I knew you were safe."
"Stop that!" Taylor exclaims, fists held at her side. I was surprised by not only the outburst, but the lack of that sadness from last night. There was only a resoluteness I had seen on her face before, when she had asked me to help her be a hero. "When I asked you to help me, I didn't mean to just sideline me and try and deal with everything alone! I-I know yesterday was a lot for me to deal with, but I won't help anyone if I just sit here moping. Or if you don't let me help! We're a team remember?"
I stare at her with wide eyes, static beginning to shriek in my ears at her impassioned plea. The specter of Sakura smiles behind Taylor, cracking more along her clothes. Sakura was somebody I needed to protect; Taylor was somebody I needed to protect as well. At least, I thought she was, but what she was saying wasn't parsing in my mind, not completely. Sakura was too gentle to want this kind of life, my purpose was to defend her because at the end of the day she wasn't a fighter.
Sakura cracks further along her jawline.
"We're a team," I repeat after a second, watching as a smile grows on her previously serious face. Lisa however seems to frown at me. My new ideals were still weak, but in the end, it was all I had to help me move forward. They weren't to protect Taylor or Lisa, no, that was my desire. My Ideal was to make Taylor a hero, but avoid her becoming a Hero of Justice. I could have both here, all it would require was more work. Work I was more than happy to put in. And from the looks of it, Work Taylor was also willing to put in.
"Sorry." I apologize to Taylor, my path ahead clear to me once again. "I just worry."
"Tell us something more obvious why don't you?" Lisa mumbles from beside me. I give her a weary look; I really wasn't that bad I think. "...Now that our resident sword for brains isn't going to go picking fights he might not win, why don't we all calm down and talk?"
"You mean like how-" Alec starts before Lisa sits up and throws a coaster at him, getting him to stop and yelp in surprise.
"Taylor and Rachel just barged in saying something fucking ridiculous! Since this affects all of us in some way, we're going to talk about it and plan! Now!" Lisa hisses at Alec, before glaring at the rest of us and daring us to speak up against her. It was uncanny how much she reminded me of Rin. She was also right, if I wasn't going to be chasing after the ABB leadership on my own. That was more reason to properly prepare. A part of me suspects that this was just some ploy to get me to stick around instead of running off on my own, but if it was, it was one I had to fall for. Taylor wouldn't be content to sit here the moment she realizes I'm gone I now know. If she were to leave after me on her own, well... I wouldn't be guaranteed to be able to find her before someone else does. And I cannot guarantee I would find Bakuda, Lung, or Oni-Lee in one night.
I was stuck, Lisa was even smarter than I gave her credit for.
"I'm not disagreeing..." Circus starts, hands held up in the sign of surrender. Seems even she didn't want to piss off Lisa currently. "...But I thought that giving these two a place to stay for a few days was the extent of what we were doing?"
"Don't be a pussy," Rachel growls, which surprises me. We barely knew each other but it sounded like she was willing to fight the ABB. My opinion of her rises significantly, who said you couldn't respect a criminal? "It's not like we're not already involved, the bomb-loser already attacked Lisa, we don't let shit like that slide."
"...I was there too?" Alec reminds, which Rachel ignores. My opinion of her rises again, concern for Lisa was something I could appreciate.
Lisa motions for Taylor and Rachel to take a seat, which the two do in different spots. Taylor pulls a seat up beside me, looking reassured by my agreement with her a moment ago. I wanted to talk to her about last night, but now wasn't the best time, we weren't alone.
"What about Grue?" Circus then says, painted lips pulling into a frown. "Isn't he the leader?"
"We don't have a leader." Alec says, still flatly staring at Rachel who still ignores him. "I know it's only been a couple of days but you really should listen when we tell you stuff."
"That's rich coming from you," Circus says back to him. Rolling her eyes and going silent with her arms folded.
I glance around the room, no one seemed overly fond of Circus for some reason. Sure, she was a bit abrasive, but that was hardly the worst trait a person could have. Lisa coughs, getting attention back onto her.
"First things first, how did you two figure out Lung escaped?" She asks seriously, without lifting herself from her reclined position. Taylor and Rachel look at one another, I notice some genuine dislike in both of their eyes. Did something happen between them while they were out taking the spider to her kennel? Taylor is the first to look away, which seems to make Rachel scoff.
Taylor begins to tell her story for the both of them. It was mundane for the most part, they had just been walking through the city to get the spider to a place it could be hid. I'd have to learn where that is at some point if they didn't want it to starve. It gets to the part we all wanted to know a moment after.
"-We followed the line of fire because we wouldn't have been able to get Matty across while being unseen." Taylor explains, expression tightening at what must have been another stressful memory on top of everything else that was going on. I feel a little bit of anger, directed at myself, but a jab into my shoulder makes me regard Lisa. She was glaring at me again, that stupidly useful power of hers seeing right through me. But was it bad that the soft violence actually helped me feel better? "We reached the end of the line and..." She gulps, her throat dry. I could almost see the reflected flames in her gaze. "...Lung threw a chunk of Protectorate HQ across the city. I-It was- there were people everywhere just looking at it like it was some sort of spectacle! Maybe I just can't get it because I'm involved but, it was really jarring."
"That's just how civilians are most of the time. If they weren't personally affected, they'd just carry on in most cases, if you wanna be a cape you should get used to it." Lisa advices, a lot nicer than I would have expected from her. That was good, Lisa was mature when she should be. Taylor doesn't seem to appreciate it though, not even looking at Lisa who takes the snub in stride this time. "But onto the more important stuff, you confirmed it was Lung?"
"Who else could have done it?" Rachel asks Lisa with a flat stare.
"You're right, just asking," Lisa groans, looking like she had been hoping this was all just some weird miscommunication or misunderstanding. "...So, Lung is now free on top of Bakuda's bombings across the city. Ok, no pressure or anything."
"You sound like your gonna freak out." Alec helpfully notes, which is something I also noticed but hadn't planned on letting her know.
"Do I~?" Lisa asks Alec sweetly, making him silently lean back in case she throws something else at him. Her smile shows all of her teeth for a second before she drops it into a scowl.
"I still say the plan is simple." I speak up, to save Lisa the stress and Alec the injury. "I-," a glare from Taylor reminds me to amend my words. "-We just have to find them, then take them down." My words don't seem to help Lisa however, who just looks unamused. Ok, maybe I could have added a few details, but I was trying to keep it simple.
"You be quiet!" She whines, roughly leaning back into her chair and staring at the ceiling. "It's not going to be that simple, to fight them, or to find them. The main plan is to wait until the cape groups of the city band together. The military is surely going to arrive soon, I'd be surprised if it takes the capes much longer than that to meet."
"What do you suggest we do in the meantime?" I ask.
"...You both are horribly unprepared for what being a cape on either side of the law consists of." Lisa says, looking at me and Taylor. The two of us share a look and to my surprise, Taylor seems like she agreed with what Lisa says, even though it pained her to do so. She must have come to the same realization. That was by all accounts a good thing. But I couldn't help but be sad it came to this so quickly. This world didn't pull punches it seemed. "What we're going to do is sit down, and run through the capes of the city that I think you should know, we're going to discuss plans on how to deal with them if we run into them, and I'm going to call Brian and have him teach Taylor how to fight. Because if Shirou is going to keep making you a brute that can punch through stone walls, you need to know how not to kill a person."
"I can do that." I say instantly, making Lisa raise an eyebrow like she didn't know if she believed me. Taylor sighs in relief, seemingly much happier with that. "I fight at a higher level of strength then I gave Taylor, I can help her better."
"Said that kinda quick man..." Circus says, making my expression fall. Taylor seemed slightly bashful while Lisa was rolling her eyes. Alec... was playing video games again.
"Moving on," I say quickly before the situation can get the chance to devolve. "...Learning what I can about the people I'm hunting can only be a good thing. Alright Lisa, you've convinced me."
The look of utter relief I get back from her makes me just the slightest bit uncomfortable. I really couldn't have been that bad, could I?
____________________________________________________________________________________
I stand in the living room a few minutes later, staring ahead and seeing nothing, because my mind wasn't here. No, my mind was firmly in Archer's Unlimited Blade Works, reviewing sword after sword. I wasn't looking for anything incredibly powerful or even something with a name, my goal was something I could give to Taylor that would help protect her in a fight. Lisa was in her room, apparently talking to the big boss of her group of villains. I was tempted to ask more about the mysterious figure in Lisa's life, but I doubted she'd tell me. Circus was with her for some reason, leaving me, Alec, and Taylor in the living room.
I glance back into the real world for a second, seeing both Taylor and Alec just staring at me with expectation clear. I had asked Taylor to wait while I did something; it had been a few minutes and I could tell that Taylor was getting bored and while Alec was looking at me, I'm unsure he was looking at ME exactly.
Archer's Unlimited Blade Works was massive, truly deserving of the name in every way. Though my training involved projection, over my stay in this world up to now, I hadn't really spent any real amount of time exploring it or looking for new blades or weapons. I hadn't seen much of a need at the time as I was... far worse off at the beginning then I was now. That wasted time was something I lamented in my head, but I was far more concerned with not wasting anymore. I mentally surveyed its scorched and dead hills at high speeds, marking every blade I see on how useful it would be to my current problem.
After a minute or so more, I find something. It wasn't a Noble Phantasm, which Taylor would be unable to use in most cases anyway. It was a mystic code in the shape of a sword, about the same size as the Azoth sword, the blade resembling the straight edge of a European sword. The cross guard was black and made of obsidian, and the pommel had a small clear gem slotted into it. It was nameless, something Archer must have seen in passing during his time as a counter guardian. Magical energy could be stored in the gem, which would power it's autonomous effect.
It was a simple item even amongst mystic codes. It didn't control energy or shoot lasers like many of the other weapons I had did. But it served my needs greatly and I waste no times projecting it into Archer's hand. Taylor jumps slightly while Alec... shivers in a way that makes me wholly uncomfortable.
"That's a new one?" Taylor notes, looking at the blade before I flip it around and hand it handle first to her. She blinks, not understanding my intentions at first. I then watch her eyes widen behind her glasses before she steps away in clear hesitance. "Shirou, you can't just give me an actual sword! I have no idea how to use that!"
"You stab the pointy end into the soft flesh of the-" Alec starts to offer, before Taylor whirls on him with a heavy glare.
"I don't want to stab anybody!"
"You might have to." I saw and drag both of their gazes back to me. Alec seemed surprised I was saying this in some capacity, Taylor... looked lost. I steady my spirit, looking fully at Taylor, our eyes meeting. At this moment it was just the two of us, I needed her to understand what she was getting herself into by insisting she followed me into battles like this. I still had no idea of Lung's true capabilities for now, that would hopefully change today. But I knew what Bakuda could do to a point, and while I held no fear for myself, that didn't hold true for Taylor. Even Oni-Lee, who could teleport anywhere in his vision, wasn't someone she could just defeat without the intent to kill or maim. The man knows how to fight, and how to use his abilities without putting himself in much danger. If I had say how I saw a fight between him and Taylor going as she was? It wouldn't end well for her.
"Bakuda has killed a lot of people." I say, lips tightening into a line. I watch her expression fall but I continue on. I almost lose myself there, mouth opening to take it back because of the pain it causes. But Archer's arm flares, like the bastard himself was telling me to finish what I started. "The chance of this ending without real bloodshed has passed, Bakuda is going for the kill Taylor. From this point on, until she's stopped those unwritten rules of capes no longer apply and are only going to get us and more people hurt or killed."
"I-I know that..." Taylor says, eyes not leaving mine and allowing her soul to be laid bare. She was telling the truth, she knew what I was saying was true. But that didn't make it any better to hear.
"I'm not saying you have to kill anybody, but the very first thing a hero should be able to do is put their feelings aside and do what's best for the person or people they want to save." I continue, feeling a sense of undeserved longing for what I can't have anymore, that wasn't anything new though. "If that means being brutal..."
"I know," She repeats, still looking into my eyes. I see a flash of last night reflected in her gaze. "...I've just never really assumed I'd be in a situation like this so soon as a cape."
"Shit like this is pretty common around the world actually." Alec adds now that he was seemingly done riding my magical circuits. "I'd say the fact that you're involved so early is actually a blessing." Taylor's face twists into something ugly for a moment, regarding Alec like he was a freak. "I mean, isn't it better to have your whole world crumble around you before it has a chance to pull you into a lie?"
Taylor didn't have a response to that.
"Are you willing to do whatever it takes to stop Bakuda from hurting your dad?" I ask her, not bothering to bring up the faceless masses, just someone I knew she loved.
Taylor had a response to that.
She grabs the dagger.
____________________________________________________________________________________
When Lisa rejoins the group, I can see her jump slightly when I bring a nameless longsword down on Taylor in the open section of the living room. Her mouth opens in a wordless yell of surprise. While sparks shoot through the air from the dagger in Taylor's hand clumsily rising, deflecting my reinforcement-less strike.
Taylor squeaks as her weapon is knocked from her hand for the fourth time. But she lasted a minute or two longer than she did the third time. Which was unironically impressive, considering most real fights could be measured in minutes at most. My stolen skill could not be compared to most enemies we faced, I think. The dagger spins in the air before it lands with a dull thump on the carpet over the couch.
"That's still really weird..." Taylor mumbles, rubbing her wrist gingerly. "I could already micro-manage my bugs because of my power, but this feels completely different."
I nod in understanding, using magecraft on others had been getting the same reactions up until now. So, I expected it to be a bit tough to get used to. That dagger was something used by the Atlas institute of one of the many timelines Archer had visited. A training tool like the Azoth Blade, but more specialized to the mind alchemy the creator's specialized in. Or at least that was what I got when I read it's history, I had no idea what the Atlas institute even was. It was used to train newcomers in thought acceleration and memory partition, the absolute basics of their magecraft. Normally training tools like this are only useful for people with magical circuits, but this blade was powered by magical energy I gave it when I summoned it. It gave anyone who grasped it low level abilities in the two schools of alchemy, to show them exactly what the end result was supposed to be like.
When I tried it, I could only make one extra room in my head with memory partition. Thought acceleration only reached a multiplicative force of two. Both were useful, not really to me, but to Taylor?
"You didn't mention that you were a Trump as well Shirou..." Taylor says, walking around the couch to pick up the drop blade. I notice she and Lisa avoid each other's eyes and I wince inwardly, they weren't just going to forget yesterday night. I had hoped that reminding them it was my fault would kill the hostility at one another, but that was a pipe dream. We needed to talk, I needed to talk about allot of things but this world kept getting in the way. I'd make time, I had to. "I probably should have guessed."
"I don't know what that means." I remind, focusing back on her as she walks back towards me.
"I'll explain over dinner." Lisa says, cutting into the conversation. "What are you two doing?"
"What does it look like? They're sword fighting, now stop interrupting, it's actually fun to watch." Alec says from the kitchen table, a bowl of cereal in front of him he had been letting soak. Sadly for him, I think that was enough for today.
"It's like I'm seeing the world in slow motion." Taylor explains, lifting the Atlas Dagger up to eye level and raking her eyes over it.
It was also having some other weird interaction with her power. This one would hopefully not end in creating a Monstrous Beast that somehow endeared itself to the person I cared for most in this world. Since there was no sentience or injecting of magical energy involved beyond the dagger itself, the chances of that were incredibly low... probably? My goal was to let Taylor learn to fight through thought acceleration, letting her better process her own decision making in stressful conditions so maybe she wouldn't fall apart like she had last night. It wasn't the best plan, but Taylor already seemed pretty invested in it.
"That should be thought acceleration and reinforcement working in tandem.' I explain, letting my sword fade away while making sure Taylor's won't. "You're not a fighter really, but it's only been an hour or two, we'll do this much more in the future. Keep that dagger in your hand as much as possible when in costume. It'll be good for you to get more used to thinking faster while there is no need for it."
That seems to snap Taylor from her excitement quickly. The incredulous stare I get back makes me want to groan.
"I can't walk in public with a knife this big?" She frames it as a question but it was obviously not one. Wordlessly I then project a leather sheath she could strap to her thigh or ankle. "...That's better than nothing I guess."
"What do have for us Lisa?" I ask as I turn to the freckled blonde. She regards me carefully for a second.
"I got word from my boss, are you two going to be busy this Saturday?" She asks, not giving away anything yet. I frown, another thing we needed to talk about, I should really make a list at this point. But for the moment I think about her question, was I going to be busy Saturday?
Yes, I actually was.
"Yeah, I go back to work Saturday," I inform her, making everyone in the room give me yet another strange look. It wasn't weird for a guy who lived on his own to have a part time job!
"Shirou, you're wanted?? How are you going to go to work? WHERE do you even work?!" Lisa asks me, I feel her hand grasping onto my side tightly, like she thought I was going to just run off. I wouldn't do that, I'd take her with me at the very least.
"Somer's Rock?" I watch as my words seem to make Lisa just fall into despair, letting my side go and falling to her knees.
"Are you the unluckiest man in the world...?" She groans from her position.
Where did I go wrong here?