"I surely remember you, Mister Fiver," Facade replied, receiving a handshake from the man he despised the most.
"That's a given." The clasped wrists squeezed adjacent grips, knowing that their encounter meant only chaos. "A flamboyant outfit, I might say." Fiver, who was known for his appealing looks, pointed out Facade's sense of fashion, praising just to butter up his wits.
But it was an unachievable goal to reach as each effort got brutally crushed under Facade's tranquil responses, leaving Fiver to be the one complimenting.
"I know it already." Displeased at the unfortunate encounter, Facade forcibly continued the conversation. But unlike Facade, Fiver was unusually radiant, blissful at finally colliding with his nemesis. He could now unleash what dawdled in his prying mind.
"You haven't complimented mine though~" Fiver scoffed while setting his bronze-plated mask, a smirk surrounding his calm smile.
"Oh" he shot a feigned astonishment. "I always forget that you're blind."
The word echoed against the matte walls, passing itself to many bewildered ears. Most of them were respected ladies, yet the bulletin surveyed the hall, gradually making the permanency of Facade's trait into a topic.
"Don't tell me he can't see!? How is he an elite member then?"
"Do you not know? I heard that he detests everyone who brings up that topic."
"Yet, Mister Fiver told it to his face!"
"Hsshh, can you speak any louder? They might hear us."
Whispers turned into mute daggers, making Facade's veins bulge from his temples. He couldn't stand Fiver's victorious stance, let alone the reason why he hated him.
The proclaimer of his disorder, a man who had challenged his imperfection before stating his rivalry. Fiver.
That was enough reason to make Fiver derail his dominion.
Calm down, you can't let that devil control you.
Breathe...
In and out...
The rhythm set its tune to flow, the silence of the notes turning akin to the stillness in water. Facade, who was an impulsive gentleman, felt his furrowed face relax with composure. Something finally stirred at his core, something glacial, something that had rested in him for ages.
The power of a composed nature.
And now, at last, Facade was sure that he could conquer Fiver's reign, master it if he adopted the ace.
"Fancy of you, but do you know the meaning of blindness?" Facade smirked at the exhilaration stirring deep inside him, swiftly releasing his interlocked fingers and wiping the same hand against his elegant slacks.
Fiver, who was concealing his wrath behind his tender smile, backed his hands in return.
"Of course, Mister Facade. Lack of perception, if you summarize it." His teeth glowed as he passed a subtle smile.
"Oh..." Facade ignored his sentiment and proceeded. "Like the one in which you dip yourself in drain water? That 'Lack of perception'? I'm not like you, Mister Fiver."
Even though the mumble barely touched Fiver's audibility, it whirled his soul into a hurricane. It was the same incident that made Fiver throw his deploying missions into Facade's tab, humiliated by how he was dropped to a garbage pit.
Although, Fiver had concealed the truth, saying that his attempt was concerned with the fugitives when he slipped into sewage water. The fabricated lie was, in truth, the mistake he had made when believing in a renowned pack of the Turquoise society, when they pushed him into the pit while making a run for their own lies.
The rumor that Facade had gained was partially unauthentic, faintly known to people in his circle. But he had a hunch, forcing him to dig deeper into the buried case. And there, he got a piece of vital blade that could drill Fiver's cool.
That damned brat, how did he know about that!?
Fiver's sight went bloodlusted at the comment, smile widening while jaw clenched in thorns. Facade had sent a grin flying at Fiver's reluctant cool, approving the information to be valid. The jabbers surrounding them halted to a certain degree, fleeing away from their silent battle.
The crowd knew it wasn't their ground to stand as the furious pack were recognized members of the Mansion, overpowering their class of seating. It was then that Fiver opened his mouth.
"This is the price you pay when you're too naïve to trust an individual, I guess." He played his mockery on his tips, assuring that it could turn tables on Facade. "I've paid mine alright. I'm just wondering..." Fiver looked sideways, the orchestra still filling their discourse. "When would I see you paying for one? It would be interesting to see you wail when they toss you with your beloved—"
"Like they did to your beloved sister, Deral—"
Swish!
A split second was all it took for Fiver to react, thrusting a sharp blade at Facade's throat. But his veil had activated its defense, hardening itself to repel the action. The rage was prominent in Fiver's eyes, almost spilling around him.
The horde became alerted to the commotion, but their murmurs meant nothing in the eyes of untamed individuals.
"Don't take my sister's name with your rotten mouth..." Fiver gritted his teeth in rage, throwing away his pacific tone. "I'll really be thrilled..." He shortened his distance, almost reaching the hilt of his dagger, when he whispered in Facade's ear. "I'll be thrilled to see Jebreel the same..."
Facade's heart skipped a beat, a beam of wraith converging into a sudden impulse.
Why Fiver resented him so much? Why did he want to spoil Jebreel in ashes? And what grudge ignited Fiver to target captives out of the throng?
He didn't know. Yet, one thing was certain. Facade couldn't be sure of Fiver's unknown tale, not comprehending it to associate Jebreel in any case. He couldn't be sure. He was the one still in oblivion, not knowing his complete past to predict absolute judgments.
But still, he couldn't bear to sweep down the flailing review on Jebreel, the very person he cherished the most.
"You do not know when time betrays you, Mister Elite." Fiver pressed the blade further, but the veil only increased the resistance. "Being elite or being a supporter, it doesn't matter if your captive dies..." He backed a step, having a full view of Facade's veiled face.
"Each one of us is obeying just because we have a life to protect. A sister. A brother. A mother. You have your cousin, like I have Derala."
"How can you spout something so spiteful when you're one heck of a leading commander of our society? How could you not think to destroy this wicked system? How could you be serving those upper ranks wholeheartedly, accepting all the conditions just to gain the title of an 'Elite'!?" Fiver's complete utterance filled Facade's mind, his views laying flat before him.
"Heh, why would it concern you anyway?" His pursed mumble ended with a wondering snort. "Your captive is someone who loathes yo—"
"—I"
Facade abruptly cut the statement, a sharp sense of supremacy upheaving the forsaken power inside him. The veil that was still under his control started to grow invisible claws, the ones that clench you by throat, forcing the heart to beat rapidly under pressure.
Fiver clearly felt the change in the air, the scarceness of the setting stopping the blending melodies, just to fathom the undefined conflict. Even though Facade's aura had went unconsciously violent, only nearby inflictors were able to detect the heavy air. One of them was Fiver, experiencing the influence tenfold
"'I' command the outcome, Mister Fiver. And 'I' have the restraints of dominance." Facade flipped his limped hands into his lined pockets, affirmed of his unusual attitude to be imperious. Fiver's words had triggered something inside Facade, something that was indescribable yet a clear feeling.
The people had already gathered around them, watching Fiver as his blade remained unsheathed on Facade's neck, while the target stood undamaged by the strike.
"I do when I feel like doing. And I stop when I feel like stopping." Facade's wits cooled down a bit, his lips spilling out what he thought after Fiver's point of view. "You can't blame the moon for creating tides. Nor can you blame the tides for sweeping the entire flock. And the flock wouldn't be at fault for their presence."
The exchange of Facade's thought were rather misfit to the scene, but still, he felt like saying what his unconsciousness told him. A feeling had touched his inflamed mind, a kindle of perception.
Fiver isn't as bad as I thought.
But had he not crossed the line in the name of his rivalry? Announcing someone's disability as if it was figurine in the stall? Making someone realize of something that wasn't under their control?
To Facade, it was the agitation that called upon Fiver's mind. Indeed, he was ticked by the provocation, not until he warmed his thinking at bay, grasping that something felt missing in Fiver's spirit.
Loneliness.
That was the only word that could portray Fiver's essence.
"Each and everything is connected in order, Mister Fiver." Facade suddenly lowered his voice, just enough to reach the confused man before him, brushing Fiver's staggering hand slowly from his shoulder. "You must be competent enough to toggle the perspectives, understanding each frame without losing yours. That would be enough reason why I don't buy cheap tricks."
Facade walked forward, an arm away from Fiver when he patted his bold shoulders. "Adaption is an ultimate weapon to have. Act and you'll know what I'm going for."
'Adaption is an ultimate weapon.'
It was the same clause of encouragement that Facade had carved for years, finally passing it to someone in dire need. A blank face was all that Fiver had when his emotions were cluelessly shifted between Facade's cold hands, making him realize he had already lost the flow.
"Wo, wo, wo..." Dan emerged from no where, wading through the packed guests before fixing himself right between the clash. "What do you even think you're doing?" He directed his question to both of them, probing sight scanning the foes.
"Unsheathing your blade in an event? That's unforgivable! Well, you'll listen to something like that from Lady Rose~"
With Dan came his uniqueness of improper seniority, rapidly changing his rigid tone to a playful one. "And yes, a penalty especially for you, Mister Fiver~" He darted at the frozen Fiver, his silence oddly making Dan squint his eyes.
"I'm leaving." With just a couple of words, Fiver took off for the exit, pushing through the crowd while completely ignoring his senior.
"Oh, one heck of rudeness." Dan commented the discourtesy before shifting his gaze to the gathered people. "Everybody, that was a friendly way to express your emotions! Let you be enjoying the grand festival to your fullest. Now scatter around! Scatter! Scatter please!"
Dan had seniority, so his words were decisive to every member present before him. And so, the horde starting dissolving back into their jollity.
"What happened to our showstopper?" He asked Facade, his hands still pouched inside his pockets while the scene behind him filled with drifting figures.
"Mister Fiver was oblivious of the facts, that's all." Facade returned to his normal pace, his worked-up nerves gradually soothing their stiffness.
A sudden thought clicked his mind when Dan mentioned the word 'showstopper'. "Never mind that." Facade pulled up his tucked hands, locked them on his back and tensed up his body in attention.
"Reporting." He had finally returned to his hoarse, unyielding tone. "I, Facade, the leading commander of the Eigengrau society, have completed the given mission. I shall ask before proceeding to my next task, may I leave the main operation in your care, Senior Dan?"
Dan, who was still puzzled by their recent skirmish, sniffed at Facade's formality in profession. He had witnessed him in bleak scenarios, not once, but at different occasions. And now, he got what made Facade peerless in his eyes.
His presence...His presence had always imposed calm to chaos.
"Yes." Dan left a heartfelt chuckle to the marvel before him. "You shall immediately depart, Mister Facade."