In the dim lit room of the tavern, Ace snores softly, tucked under the cloth blanket he bought to keep warm after a cold draft hit the city recently. He shifts to his left side and drags the sheet up to match his new position. It's been a while since he could have such a long break, he was going to make the most of it.
The hinges of the wooden door groans as it's pushed open. The old board creaks and cracks under stealthy but weighted steps.
"Shhhh-!"
A hushed voice by the open door, their eyes bright and lips spread with a cheeky smile. Two young girls; one with short chestnut brown hair and stunningly green eyes, she was Akira. The other with a unique blue, bright and flowing like the wild seas and matching clear blue eyes, she was Serena.
They try to hold back their chuckles. Serena covers her mouth, hands and nods. Their eyes gleaming, wrinkling at the corners.
"Sorry Akira, it's really hard. But I'll try."
They nod to each other, a silent agreement between them to continue on. They make their way to different points of the bed. Akira stands by the right side of the bed, Serena stands at the foot of the bed. They look down at Ace sleeping and then to each other and nod.
Akira grabs onto the edges of the blanket. Serena makes a small chant and a pool of water materialises above the bed. She nods at Akira again and Akira smirks.
"This is payback for last time! Now Serena!"
The blanket is dragged off roughly, wasting no time Serena releases the water from its levitating position and it free falls down to the bed. They both smile wide at their success.
"Ha- Got you--! Huh! Where did he-"
Their eyes widened seeing the bed empty. They look down at the soaked mattress confused.
"You two are light years too early to catch me with that."
A playful voice speaks out from behind. They both spin around surprised to see Ace with his arms crossed, leaning back against the wooden wall near the door. A smirk on his lips and his head tilted softly to the right side.
"Huh--?!"
"How'd you even-!"
Akira throws the sheet in frustration but it doesn't go far. Ace lets out a small chuckle, he knew they were trying their hardest to get him back for his pranks on them but how did they think sneaking up on him would be a good idea when no assassins ever could?
Ace smiled before walking up to them, he rested his hands on their heads and rustled their hair roughly and they huffed, annoyed that their so well constructed plan failed.
"Try harder next time, maybe you'll actually catch me."
He laughed, rubbing it in even more that they couldn't catch him. The sound of an old bell echoes through the tavern. Akira and Serena's faces lighten at the sound. Ace steps back and stretches.
"Looks like Onara's back."
"Big sis is here! Let's go Serena!"
Before she could react Akira already had hold of her hand and dragged her out the room to go down the stairs. Ace scoffs.
"They never run that excitedly to me."
He walked over to the old wooden closet, the doors creaked and cracked as he pulled them open. He grabbed a shirt, dust flying up into the air and he coughed and gagged.
"Ah- Damn it. I swear, the first thing I'm buying is a new closet and bed after this job."
He moves to the bathroom and cleans himself up with some warm water in a basin. He stops in front of the bathroom mirror to check himself out. His body was riddled with scars from monster hunting and fighting tournaments since he was eight years old.
He smirks, flexing his shredded muscles he got from the intense physical demands of his job and also malnourishment from going sometimes a week without food. He runs his hand through the white patch of his hair.
"Damn, I'm so handsome already, and I haven't even reached my peak. And I swear that white patch is getting bigger."
"Aren't you too obsessed with yourself?"
Ace looks to his side to see the one person he didn't want to see, especially since he was feeling himself; someone tiers above him in looks. His face sours and he rolls his eyes.
"Shut up. You don't get to say that, especially with that face."
Dante laughs, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. Ace wasn't lying; his looks were on a whole new level.
'Tsk. Even his voice is nice, isn't he a little too perfect?'
Ace was a little jealous but he wouldn't admit it, it's hard being regular handsome versus a deity type beauty.
"I can't help that my mother blessed me with these looks and hair. I can only make due with what I have."
"Make due? That's what you call it? You're even more of an arrogant bastard than I realised."
Ace scoffs, Dante smiles. The banter was common between them, that's been their way for years now.
"Your hair is almost at your thigh, aren't you planning to cut it a little?"
Dante goes quiet for a moment, his arms crossed. Ace notices his withdrawn look, he stays quiet for a moment.
"Are you still having those dreams?"
"...Yeah. My mother, she always told me how she loved my hair even more than her own, so I... haven't been able to touch it yet."
A silence falls between them, sadness and quiet understanding. No more needed to be said.
"So, did you complete your mission already? That's fast even for you, D."
Dante clears his throat and nods, leaning off the doorframe as he pulls something from his pocket. A small iridescent orb that had a jade pendant wrapped around it.
"Turns out it's more important to that cult than we realised."
Ace narrows his eyes, he grips the edge of the sink with enough bare force to crush the side of the steel. He grits his teeth, his body tensing. Those bastards were on the move again, this is getting dangerous.