Arora's Room
The hum of the city outside barely touched the quiet of Arora's quarters.
Muted lights washed the room in a soft amber glow, brushing against the curve of her cheek as she sat by the window. Beyond the glass, rain traced silver lines against the night.
Her chin rested against her palm, eyes lost somewhere in the reflection.
"Why is that brat here…" she muttered under her breath.
The reflection staring back looked the same as always — composed, untouchable, queenly.
But behind that stillness, the faintest exhaustion flickered in her gaze.
"He'll be like a scared lamb once he realizes who I am."
Her tone was sharp, certain — but her chest betrayed her, tightening painfully around the words.
"Then…" Her voice softened, breaking her own rhythm. "Why am I feeling sad about it?"
It was quiet, almost a whisper.
A confession not meant for the world, or even for herself.
She leaned back slightly, fingers curling against her knee.
For years, she'd ruled an empire built on fear.
No one dared look her in the eye, let alone call her by a name so foolish, so intimate.
Baby.
The word echoed in her mind — infuriating and gentle at once.
She pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I must be overworking myself. Feeling sad over something so trivial…"
The clock ticked softly. Her shoulders eased, the exhaustion finally winning over her iron discipline.
"I need rest," she whispered.
The city lights shimmered faintly through the glass, catching the edge of her hair as she leaned back against the couch.
Within moments, sleep took her — the Black Rose finally lowering her guard, if only for a heartbeat.
---
Meanwhile — The Lounge
The headquarters' main lounge buzzed faintly with conversation and the smell of strong coffee.
Jack sat in the middle of the room, hands no longer bound but posture uncertain. His golden hair glinted under the fluorescent lights, and though he was surrounded by three dangerous people, he looked more fascinated than afraid.
"So…" he asked, blinking, "you guys are really the Black Rose Gang?"
Edwin crossed his arms with a smug grin. "Yes, we are."
Miso leaned forward on the couch. "Afraid yet?"
Jack's eyes widened dramatically. "Oh, no! No, no— how could I say that? I mean— how am I even feeling right now? Oh my God!"
Kelvin chuckled from behind his coffee mug. "Answer the question first."
Jack straightened, puffing out his chest. "No! I'm not afraid at all! In fact, I'm a huge fan of the Black Rose Gang!"
Edwin blinked, stunned. "Wait, what? You're saying you're a fan?"
Jack nodded eagerly. "Yes! I even have a necklace with your gang's symbol on it! And I've collected so much stuff related to you all."
Kelvin smirked. "Oh really? Then tell me, fanboy — what do you know about us?"
Jack puffed up proudly. "I know you kidnap and beat people—"
He paused, realizing the silence that followed.
"—but only bad people! You don't hurt the innocent."
Miso raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you afraid of people who fight?"
Jack hesitated, his voice softening. "I'm afraid of bad people… but not of you guys. You're different."
The room quieted.
Even Edwin's grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of something gentler.
"My dream," Jack continued quietly, "was to meet the Black Rose Gang in person one day. And now I have."
For once, Kelvin didn't tease. He leaned back, smiling faintly. "Oh, my brother-in-law is so adorable."
Miso snorted softly, but her smile stayed.
Even Edwin looked oddly thoughtful, like Jack's innocence had seeped through the cracks of their hardened world.
---
Back in Arora's Room
The world outside had darkened completely when Arora stirred awake.
Her lashes fluttered; her eyes adjusted slowly to the faint light spilling from her desk lamp.
She rubbed her temple. "I think I slept for too many hours…"
Her voice was low, husky from sleep — the kind no one in the gang would ever imagine hearing.
Her gaze fell on the clock beside her.
"Let's see the time…" she murmured.
The digits blinked back in red. "12 PM— no, wait, 12 AM?"
A quiet groan escaped her. "It's already midnight…"
Her stomach rumbled softly. "Great. Now I'm hungry too."
She rose, her long black coat whispering against the floor as she stepped into the corridor.
The headquarters was unusually still.
No laughter, no chatter, no footsteps. Even Edwin's off-key humming — which usually haunted the night — was absent.
She checked the training hall. Empty.
The kitchen. Empty.
The lounge—
Just as she turned the corner, a voice pierced the silence.
"Baby! Are you hungry right now?"
She froze mid-step.
Her expression didn't change — perfectly blank, perfectly stoic — but her eyes twitched, betraying the smallest flicker of disbelief.
Not again…
She turned slowly.
There he was — the golden-haired idiot himself, sitting comfortably on the couch with a mug in his hands, waving at her like this was his home.
The room lights reflected faintly in her eyes as she stared at him, utterly done.
For a second, neither spoke. The only sound was the soft ticking of the wall clock and the faint rain outside.
Then Arora sighed. "I should've known peace doesn't exist in this world."
---
To Be Continued.