Shards of Reminisce Ch.59

Weeks pass in a blink of an eye, and nothing particularly eventful happens after the confession. Things go on as usual—work at the club, sessions at the forge, messages back and forth with Jeanne when she has time between classes, which are a lot more frequent now.

Although there is one minor issue: Miltia is keeping her distance and hasn't talked to me since that whole incident with Neo, which... fair. Can't really blame her for that one.

I carefully pull the dagger from the water cooler with tongs, the metal hissing violently as steam billows up around it. Even though it isn't scalding red hot anymore, it's still radiating serious heat that I can feel pushing through my work gloves. But I hold steady, watching as the metal gradually cools down to a silvery gray color.

Setting it down on the workbench, I pull off my gloves first, then my goggles, and let out a satisfied sigh.

Not bad for someone who started this shit just over a month ago.

[Novice Blacksmith increased by 1, 50/50]

[Congratulations! Novice Blacksmith upgraded to Journeyman Blacksmith.]

A grin spreads across my face as I dismiss the notification. It took weeks of constant work, burning my hands a few times, and dealing with Master Tusk's gruff criticism, but I finally did it. I reached the breakthrough and became a Journeyman Blacksmith. 

That's a solid milestone.

Maybe when I reach Adept Blacksmith, I'll be able to start building mechashift weapons. Now that would be something. Or at least be capable of maintaining and fixing those weapons properly. I could even start charging a premium for lazy Beacon students who can't be bothered to maintain their own gear. Just have to mention it to Jeanne and she should pass the word around.

Although, now that I think about it... so many job levels increasing, and I'm still stuck at level 25.

Well, I haven't gone out to fight and kill Grimm because I'm concerned about encountering another one of those abominations. Its not being scared, just being cautious. So that leaves me with another option...

Should I... should I go to the slums and get rid of some no-name criminal? Like, it worked when I killed that assassin—I gained a bunch of levels from that...

I guess I should ask Neo for help in that regard.

But I don't know. Even if it's just some lowlife thug, I might get in trouble somehow, knowing my luck.

Although the stat gains would be crazy, I can feel it.

Yeah, I'll ask Neo for help. She'll make sure I don't get caught or do something stupid.

But my line of thought is interrupted when the door to the forge creaks open, and Master Tusk walks in. He heads straight for my workbench without a word, picking up the dagger I just finished.

"Let's see..."

He turns it over in his hands, inspecting it, checking the edge, the balance, the temper—analyzing it in ways I still don't fully understand. All I know is that he's judging its craftsmanship with the eye of someone who's been doing this for a very long time.

Finally, he grunts. "It's good. Very good for someone who started over a month ago." He sets the dagger back down, his expression thoughtful. "I was expecting to find cracks, warping, uneven tempering, or some other rookie mistake. But no." He looks at me directly. "Color me surprised, kid."

I can't help but chuckle, shaking my head. "What can I say? I'm just special."

"I would've smacked your head and called you arrogant, but after seeing this?" Master Tusk gestures at the dagger. "You might actually have the right to be cocky." Then he jerks his thumb toward the storage area. "Come on. Help me move some crates. Got a new shipment that needs sorting."

"Sure," I say, stripping off my leather apron and tossing it onto the bench.

I follow him to the back of the forge where several wooden crates are stacked haphazardly near the entrance. Each one is stamped with different symbols.

"Those need to go on the far wall," Master Tusk says, pointing. "Iron stays where it is. Copper and tin go near the smaller forge."

I nod and grab one of the steel crates with no issues. I could use my inventory to make this easier, but he doesn't need to know about that particular trick.

It takes us only a couple of minutes to finish moving the crates, mostly because I do most of the heavy lifting while the blacksmith accommodates some stuff to give me space to put down the new stuff.

When we're done, Master Tusk claps me on the shoulder. "Good work today, kid. Now get out of here. I'm sure you've got other things to worry about."

I simply drop off the remaining equipment I haven't taken off yet and head to the exit. "See you next time, Master Tusk."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't be late," he calls after me.

I step out of the forge into the cool evening air, and immediately my scroll buzzes in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see a message from Jeanne.

Jeanne: 'Hey! Just finished training with Pyrrha. How's work going?'

I can't help but smile as I type out a response.

'Just finished at the forge. Made a pretty good dagger if I do say so myself.'

Jeanne: 'Ooh! Can I see it??'

'Next time you're back in Vale. I'll show you all the stuff I've been working on.'

Jeanne: 'It's a date!'

I stare at that last message for longer than I probably should, my tail swishing behind me. Another date, huh?

I pocket my scroll with a slight smirk. That's a problem for future me to figure out.

Right now, there are still plenty of hours before my shift starts at the club.

And earlier, I was thinking about gaining levels quickly...

But I can't just ask Neo like, "Hey, help me kill some thugs." That's... actually, wait. I absolutely can do that now that I think about it. More than likely, she'd find the fucked-up situation hilarious.

So I pull out my scroll again and switch to her chat and write something simple and direct.

'I want money. Help me steal it from another gang.'

Her response comes almost immediately.

Neo: 'My kitten is greedy today!'

'So you in?'

Neo: 'Duh! See you in the usual place. ;3'

I dismiss my scroll and summon my bike so I ride toward our usual meeting spot.

It may be sudden action but I simply want to capitalize on all that potential I’ve accumulated and they are criminals.

But honestly? After weeks of routine and normalcy, I wouldn't mind a little chaos.

Besides, I need those levels. And it doesn't hurt to have more money in my balance.

---------------------------------------

I'm pulling valuables out of the not-so-secret vault door that was built into the floor, hidden under a cheap rug.

Like, it's such an obvious spot. Why do people even bother building it there?

Either way, I find the usual things I should expect—jewels, lien, some nice-looking clothes that are probably worth good money, weapons, and drugs. Well, mostly the white bricks. I don't know what the fuck to do with those, so I'm just going to give them to Neo and she'll know how to turn them into lien.

And... done. I've emptied the vault completely.

Probably two to four million earned from destroying this stupid gang. Not bad at all.

Well, since there isn't much left to do, I simply store everything in my inventory and leave the destroyed bedroom.

However, as soon as I exit the room, I'm greeted by Neo appearing right in front of me with a wide grin on her face, practically bouncing on her heels with excitement.

Before I can ask what she's so excited about, she grabs both my hands with hers and places something cold and metallic in my palm. Then she closes my fingers around it firmly.

A single glance tells me exactly what she just handed me.

A pistol.

She's already pulling me by the hand, leading me quickly toward another room before I can process what's happening. Her grip is insistent, eager.

Immediately, I notice that the place is trashed—furniture overturned, glass scattered across the floor, a chair broken in half. And there are three guys tied up and gagged, all of them unconscious with black eyes and swollen, bloody cheeks.

I remember them. They're the guys I easily knocked out with a single punch to the face each when we first stormed in. Although they look significantly worse now, so Neo must have been venting on them while I was clearing out the vault. Or maybe they weren't as unconscious as I initially thought and tried to cause problems.

But then I involuntarily glance down at the pistol in my hand, and I instantly understand what Neo wants me to do.

"Oh..."

Suddenly, my arm feels very heavy. And cold.

I look up at Neo, and she's watching me with that same wide grin, her mismatched eyes practically glowing with excitement. She gives me an encouraging nod and gently pushes me toward the trio.

My fingers tighten around the grip of the pistol involuntarily.

I mean, I asked for this, didn't I? I wanted her help to gain levels quickly, and she's giving me exactly what I asked for. So there shouldn't be any problems about this whole thing...

Besides...

These guys... they're gang members. Criminals. The kind of scum who definitely hurt people for fun, who deal drugs that destroy lives, who probably have blood on their hands already. I know their ilk and what kind of assholes they are. The world wouldn't miss them. Hell, it would probably be better off without them.

And the people on this block in the slums will be happy and better off without these parasites around.

So I'm doing a good service, right?

That's what I tell myself as I stare down at their unconscious forms.

But my hand keeps getting heavier for some reason, like the pistol weighs a hundred pounds.

I've killed before. That assassin who tried to slit my throat over a month ago—I didn't have many issues with that... maybe? Perhaps? It was scary, I admit that much.

But that was different. That was in the heat of the moment, self-defense, pure survival. This is... this is calculated. I just want to see if I'll gain levels. I want to see how much strength I've accumulated from leveling all my jobs. And gaining strength is all that matters, so nobody can step on me anymore. Nobody can take everything away from me again. 

I want to be stronger. 

I need to be stronger.

So why the fuck am I having cold feet now?

That's when Neo squeezes my shoulder gently, her expression softening just slightly. She leans closer and kisses my cheek, her lips lingering for just a moment.

Is she... giving me the choice?

I feel grateful for that. She won't force me. But I can also feel what she wants—I can see it in the way she looks at me. She wants me to do this. And I... I have to do this for myself, don't I? 

To get stronger. To never be helpless again.

So I take a deep breath and step closer, getting right above the first unconscious gangster. I raise the pistol, aiming it at his head.

My finger rests on the trigger.

Just pull it. One squeeze and it's over. Then the next one. Then the last one. Three bullets, three bodies, and several levels gained from the experience points. Probably. Hopefully. That's the result I'm expecting.

That's all it takes.

Just pull the trigger.

But my hand doesn't want to move that miserable digit.

"Fuck..." I mutter under my breath, lowering the gun slightly.

Why is this so hard?

Neo tilts her head curiously, and letters appear above her head, conjured by her Semblance.

'Having second thoughts, Ma’iq?'

"I..." I pause. She just called me by my actual name, not the usual "kitten." That actually makes me happy, reassured even. "I don't know. I thought... look, this is just different. Way too different from before, but I don't understand why."

She mulls that over, tapping her chin thoughtfully with one finger. Then more words appear.

'They're not good people. They've done worse to others. Much worse.'

"I know that," I reply, growing frustrated. "I know they're scum. I know they deserve this. But..."

But what? Why am I hesitating? I wanted levels. I wanted to get stronger. This should be the fastest way to do it without risking another encounter with one of those Grimm abominations that nearly killed me.

If it works.

So why does my arm refuse to work?

Neo watches me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she gently takes my hand—the one holding the pistol—with both of hers. With a tender touch, she steps to my side, never letting go.

Carefully, slowly, she guides my hand back toward the unconscious gangster. Her smaller finger moves to rest just above mine on the trigger, not pushing, just... there. 

'You want to be strong, don't you?'

I swallow hard. "Yeah. I do."

'You don't want to be weak anymore. Don't want people taking everything from you again.'

"Never again." That miserable time, I don’t want to ever happen again.

'Then this is how you get there, Ma’iq.' Her mismatched eyes meet mine. 'The strong must act, make a decision. The weak suffer what they will. Which one do you want to be?'

I look back down at the unconscious man. At the pistol in my hand. At Neo's finger resting just above my trigger finger.

Why is my hand shaking now?

"They're criminals," I say, trying to convince myself. "They've hurt people. Probably killed people."

Neo nods encouragingly, squeezing my hand.

"The world's better without them."

Another nod. More words appear.

'So much better. You're doing everyone a favor. You're protecting people by getting rid of trash like this. We regularly do a street clean up.'

That... that makes sense, right? That's a good thing. I'm making the world safer. And I'm getting stronger in the process. Win-win.

So why do I still feel like something's wrong?

I close my eyes, taking another deep breath. When I open them again, I look at Neo. Really look at her. Like this moment matters to her in a way I don't fully understand.

"Neo," I say quietly. "Do you... do you think I should do this?"

She doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she reaches up with her free hand and cups my cheek, her thumb brushing along my jaw. Then new words appear, smaller this time, almost gentle.

'I think you should do what you need to do to survive.'

She pauses, then more words follow.

'But the choice is yours, Ma’iq. Always yours. I'll support you either way.'

Will she though? I can see it in her eyes—she wants this. She wants me to pull that trigger. But I also trust her that she's giving me a choice.

I look back down at the gangster. Think about all the people he's probably hurt. All the lives he's probably ruined. All the pain he's caused.

And I think about how weak I felt when that hag fired for no reason, how Yang indirectly destroyed my life with one punch. How helpless I was when the cops brutalized me. How close I came to being back on the streets with nothing. 

I never want to feel that way again.

Never.

My finger tightens on the trigger.

Neo's hand is still on mine, steady and sure.

Just one pull. That's all it takes.

But my hand trembles, refusing to move that final fraction.

Neo notices this pathetic doubt. She shifts closer, her body pressing against my side as she guides my aim back to the bastard's head. 

'Remember back then? With your awful landlord? How he threw you out like garbage?'

I grit my teeth, my jaw clenching hard. "Yeah. I remember."

'These people are the same. They throw others away. Use them. Break them.' She squeezes my hand reassuringly. 'How many people do you think they've hurt? How many lives have they destroyed?'

"I don't—"

'How many families torn apart? How many faunus kids turned into addicts by their drugs? How many people beaten or killed just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Being the wrong race?'

My jaw clenches harder, my fangs grinding together. She's right. These bastards have definitely done worse. Way worse than I would ever do. I was even going to become one of their victims when I first arrived to this fucking city.

'You're not a murderer, Ma'iq.' 

New words appear, softer somehow. 

'You're an executioner. There's a difference. The world needs people willing to do what's necessary.'

"But—"

'But nothing.' Her free hand cups my cheek, turning my face to look at her. Her mismatched eyes are intense, beautiful, absolutely captivating. 'You want to protect what's yours, don't you?'

"Of course I do," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

'Then this is how you do it. By being strong enough to make the hard choices. By being willing to get your hands dirty so others don't have to.'

She kisses my jaw softly, tenderly, and more words appear above her.

'These men would kill you without hesitation if our positions were reversed. They'd laugh while doing it. They'd probably do worse to ME and make you watch.'

That thought sends a violent spike of anger through my chest. The idea of these pieces of shit touching Neo, hurting her, doing anything to her—

My grip tightens on the pistol.

'You're not killing an innocent person. You're removing a cancer. A parasite.'

The pistol feels lighter now.

'And you'll get stronger from this. Strong enough that nobody can ever hurt you again. Strong enough to protect everyone you care about. Strong enough that no one will ever throw you away again.'

She's right. She's absolutely right.

This is necessary. This is for MY survival.

'One pull, Ma'iq. That's all it takes. One pull and you take control of your own destiny. One pull and you prove you're stronger than everyone who ever looked down on you.'

My finger rests fully on the trigger now, no longer shaking.

'One pull and you show the world that Ma'iq Rak'han isn't someone to fuck with. Ever. Again.'

The gangster's unconscious face blurs slightly as my vision tunnels. All I can think about is being powerless. Being weak. Being nothing.

Never. Again.

'Do it. Be strong. Be free. For me?'

Something breaks inside me at that last part. That simple plea.

"FUCK IT!" I roar, and my finger pulls the trigger.

BANG.

[Affection with (Neo Politan) increased by 7, 60/100] ​

The recoil jolts through my arm. The sound is absolutely deafening, ringing painfully in my ears. The man's head snaps back violently, blood spraying across the floor.

It’s a lot messier than I thought…

I stagger back slightly, nearly doubling over. 

Why are my hands shaking again?

[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]

The notification appears in my vision, but I barely register it as I just stare at the body. At the blood pooling beneath it, spreading across the dirty floor.

I killed him.

I actually killed him, and it wasn't self-defense. It wasn't in the heat of the moment. It was calculated. Deliberate.

Cold.

That's when Neo's arms wrap around me from behind, her head resting against my back. Her hands caress my chest soothingly. 

'I'm so proud of you, Ma’iq.'

My ears are flat against my skull. I don't know how to feel about that. How can she be so proud about this?

I don't see how somebody can be proud…

Should I be proud?

'Two more to go. It gets easier, I promise.'

"Neo, I—" My voice sounds strange to my own ears. Distant. Hollow.

Her arms tighten around me, and she nuzzles affectionately against my back.

'You already did the hard part. The first one is always the hardest. The rest is just... momentum.'

She pauses, then more words appear.

'Besides, what happens if you leave them alive? What if they wake up? What if they remember your face? Your voice? What if they come after you?' 

'After me?'

My stomach twists at that thought. 

My finger finds the trigger again without conscious thought.

'You're doing the right thing.'

My finger tightens almost automatically.

'Be strong, Ma'iq. For both of us.'

BANG.

The second shot rings out, and it is easier. Disturbingly easier than the first.

That’s when Neo kisses the back of my neck, her approval radiating through that tender gesture making me shudder a little. Then she gently turns me toward the third and final gangster.

'One more. Then it's over. Then we can go home and celebrate. Just you and me.'

I'm not shaking anymore. My hands are steady.

Is this what Neo meant? 

It feels... empty. 

But also... satisfied for some reason.

I raise the pistol toward the third man without her guidance this time. My aim is steady. My finger rests on the trigger. There's no hesitation left in me—I've burned through it all.

'There you go. Look at you, taking initiative. I love it when you're decisive like this.'

I take a breath, let it out slowly, and—

BANG.

It's done.

All three of them. Dead. Gone. 

I lower the pistol slowly, mechanically, staring at the three corpses. At the blood pooling and mixing together on the floor. 

My doing.

Neo spins me around to face her, her expression radiating pure joy despite—or maybe because of—what we just did. She cups my face with both hands and pulls me down into a deep, passionate kiss.

It’s nice.

It’s always nice to kiss her.

When she finally pulls back, breathless and grinning wider than I've ever seen, new words appear above her head.

'See? I told you it would get easier. You did so well, kitten. So, so well. I'm so proud of you.'

She takes the pistol from my hand and tosses it aside carelessly. Then she wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me close.

'Now you understand, don't you? You took your power back. Nobody can ever take it away again.'

I don't respond. 

But Neo doesn't seem to need a response. She just holds me close, running her fingers through my hair soothingly between my ears, her touch gentle and affectionate like she always does when caressing my head. 

That doesn’t change despite everything.

'Let's go home, kitten. We've earned it. I'll make you something special tonight.'

As she leads me out of the room, my legs moving on autopilot, I catch one final glimpse of the three bodies sprawled on the floor.

Neo was right about one thing.

It did get easier.

I pull up my status screen as we walk, needing something to distract me from what just happened.

'Status'

Ma'iq Rak'han

Race – Feline Faunus

Age – 18

Class: The Pugilist

Level – 26 (18%)

Mentor – Neopolitan

Apprentice – Jeanne d'Arc

HP – 1320/1320 [100 regen per minute]

MP – 2740/2740 [350 regen per minute]

SP – 4910/4910 [340 regen per minute]

STR – 115

END – 91

DEX – 97

INT – 63

WIS – 56

CHA – 58 (+3)

LCK – 1

Status:

[The Big One protects yes, yes!]

[Clock Tower: Do you hear them yet?]

BLOCKED [Ȳ̶̨̼ỏ̪͔͍ͯ͜͞ú̴̷͔̦̥͍̊͞ ̴̘̲̤̮̠ͦͣͣ̕̕͟c̷͍̩̭͚͔̯̩̓͒ͭ̈́̿̕a̢̡̛̻̭̝̗̗ͥ̉ͬ̀͗̌҉n̸̡̡̡͔͖̺͇̭̯̊̄ͧ͑̍́'̱̗̼̞̱͉̃̾ͬ͂́̃̈͟͜͟t̨̨̨̠͓̗̩̙̙͆̏̅̑̀̅ͮ ̬̙̳̬͖͎́͗ͧ͊̾͗͊͢͜ḛ̷̡̹̟͙̖͍̒̊̈́͌ͥ͞ŝ̴̸̶͍̺̹́̇̓̉͜c̺̀̆́̄ͩͪ͘ͅa̸͚̭̪̔̌̈́p͎͆̐e ▒ (PERMANENT)

Apprenticeship: 25% of exp gained from apprentice actions

Mentorship: 25% of exp gained

Rested Experience: 50% increase from all sources of EXP (60% level worth of exp remaining)

The Road to 30: Provides a multiplicative 100% bonus to all sources of EXP

Three thugs for just one level and 18% progress?

So the exp I gain depends on how strong they are, then? Weak targets give pathetic rewards?

Just like the grimm.

It... it makes a disturbing amount of sense.

But I guess my assumptions were correct about one thing—I did gain more stats after leveling up. My strength increased by a lot,  same for my endurance, everything got a little bit better.

So... mission success?

I don't really know how to feel anymore.

Neo squeezes my hand, pulling my attention back to her. She smiles at me with that beautiful expression, the same one she wears when we're just having fun together.

That's when I realize we're already outside the building.

I don't even remember walking out. Don't remember going down the stairs, opening the door, stepping onto the street. It's all just... blank.

I simply sit down on the edge of the pavement.

Neo sits down beside me without hesitation, resting her head on my shoulder while still holding my hand tightly.

I just stare at the empty, dirty street ahead of us. A few broken streetlights flicker weakly, casting uneven shadows across the cracked pavement. Trash blows past in the slight breeze. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barks. The smell hits me then—stale garbage, piss, shit. 

But well... What else can you expect from the slums?

My mind feels... fuzzy. 

Because I pulled the trigger.

Three times.

My hands start to tremble slightly for some stupid reason, and I clench them into fists to make it stop, my nails digging into my palms. I didn’t think this would come back.

That's when my nose twitches, catching a familiar sweet scent. I look down to see that somehow—and I have no fucking idea when or how—Neo has pulled out that same colorful hookah bottle with the long pipe tube. The one she's offered me before during our more... relaxed moments together.

She takes a long, slow puff, her eyes half-lidded in contentment. Then she blows the sweet-smelling smoke directly into my face with a playful smirk.

I furrow my brows, waving away the cloud with my free hand. "Really?"

But then Neo offers me the pipe with an encouraging look in her mismatched eyes.

I stare at it for a moment. I should probably say no. Should probably keep my head clear, but...

But fuck it. 

I need something to stop thinking about what I just did. To stop feeling this... whatever this is.

So I take the pipe from her, bring it to my lips, and inhale deeply.

The smoke hits my lungs and immediately I feel a sharp, throbbing pulse in my head that makes me wince.

She changed it.

Yet... it's somehow pleasant? The pain fades almost instantly, replaced by a warm, floating sensation that spreads through my chest and down into my limbs.

I can't help it and let out a chuckle. "What the fuck is in this thing?"

Neo just grins wider and makes the silence gesture with her index finger pressed against her lips.

Obviously.

I take another drag, longer this time, letting the smoke fill my lungs completely before exhaling slowly. 

Neo takes the pipe back and we fall into an easy rhythm—passing it back and forth between us, neither of us speaking. Just sitting there on the edge of some forgotten street in the worst part of Vale.

Minutes pass. Or maybe hours. Time feels weird right now.

I watch the smoke curl up into the night air, twisting and dancing before dissipating into nothing. 

"Should I feel bad?" The words tumble out before I can stop them. "I mean, this wasn't self-defense. They couldn't even fight back, compared to that shitty night where that creepy bastard had a knife right above my throat after he stabbed my shoulder."

Neo doesn't respond, instead she squeezes my hand again and takes another puff before offering me the pipe.

I accept it, inhaling deeply. "Should I feel worse about it?" I ask, not really expecting an answer.. "Because I don't. I thought I would, but I just... don't. Is that fucked up? That's probably fucked up." I pause, taking another hit. "I told you already—I beat people up before. Broken faces and bones, sure. But that was it. Never... never this."

"They were bad people, though," I continue, talking more to myself than to Neo. "I'm sure they were, because why else would they be shitty gangsters, right?" I laugh, but it sounds hollow. "They hurt others. Sold drugs. Probably killed people themselves. So really, I did the world a favor just like you said, right? A cleanup."

I take another drag, holding it in my lungs until they burn, until that pleasant warmth floods through me again.

"So why does it feel like I did something... wrong?"

Neo shifts beside me, lifting her head from my shoulder to look at me directly. She reaches up and cups my cheek with her usual gentle touch. Her mismatched eyes search mine for a moment.

Then she places the pipe back in my hand and guides it to my lips, encouraging me to take another hit.

I do. And another. And another.

The world continues to soften around me, the edges blurring pleasantly.

"You probably liked it," I say, my words starting to slur slightly as my head gets heavier. "But I can't really blame you because I know you like hurting people. That's just who you are and who you'll always be." I take another puff. "Part of me... part of me liked it too. Which is really fucked up now that I think about it. I don't like hurting people... well, not in that sense of hurting. Because I hurt people and I'll probably hurt more people, but you get my point, right?"

I laugh, but it sounds bitter and distant even to my own ears. "What does that make me then?"

Neo's hands move, and words shimmer into existence above us, glowing softly in the dim light.

'Someone special.'

I stare at those words for a long moment, then I can't help it—I laugh. Really laugh this time, the sound echoing off the empty buildings around us.

"That's my line," I say, still chuckling as I take another hit from the pipe. "I'm the one who's supposed to say I'm special. Not you."

Neo grins and boops my nose playfully.

'Then you already know the answer, don't you?'

I think about that, my thoughts moving slowly through the pleasant haze in my mind. "I guess I do," I murmur. "I'm just... special. In a really fucked up way."

'The best way.'

"Yeah?" I look at her, and she's still smiling at me. “You really think so?"

She nods, then leans in and kisses my cheek softly.

'You're MY special kitten. And I wouldn't change a single thing about you.'

"Even after all that?"

'ESPECIALLY after all that.'

I take another long drag from the pipe, letting the smoke fill my lungs completely. When I exhale, I watch it curl up into the night sky.

"I think there's something really wrong with both of us," I say quietly.

Neo just grins wider and takes the pipe back, taking her own hit before blowing the smoke in my face again playfully.

'Good. Normal is boring anyway.'

I can't argue with that logic. 

We sit there for what feels like forever, passing the pipe back and forth, my head resting against hers now. The street stays empty. But the whole place is silent.

"Neo?" 

She turns to look at me, tilting her head curiously.

"Thanks. For... for being here."

Her expression softens, and she cups my face with both hands, pulling me close until our foreheads touch. 

'I’ll always be there.'

I close my eyes, feeling the warmth of her hands on my face, the pleasant haze in my mind, the weight lifting from my chest.

Maybe she's right. Maybe this is just what strength looks like. 

Or maybe we're both completely fucked up and just don't care anymore.

I don't regret it. Not really.

And that should be wrong.

But it doesn't.

Well, nobody will ever know this but us.

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I'm entering a new warehouse, and this time it doesn't look abandoned at all. Actually, it's pretty well-maintained—clean floors, proper lighting, organized shelving. A significant upgrade from the last shithole.

The effects of whatever Neo gave me in that hookah have completely left my system, so I feel... okay. In that weird, empty "okay" kind of way.. But at least my head is clear.

As I walk deeper into the warehouse, I can't help but wonder why Roman didn't call me to help move stuff. Especially since this was apparently big transport of goods from one warehouse to another, and he would normally prefer more hands for the heavy lifting. Not like I care or it's my problem—I didn't work and spent that time lazing around or leveling my jobs instead.

It's merely curiosity.

There are even more crates than before, stacked neatly along the walls and organized by type. Someone actually put effort into this setup.

So why was Neo called to come here?

Yes, I'm tagging along. She didn't ask me to, but I came anyway.

But then I freeze mid-step when I notice Roman near the back of the warehouse.

And he isn't alone.

Fucking Cinder is there with her stupid lapdogs.

My hands clench into fists immediately, so hard my nails dig into my palms. The familiar weight of brass knuckles materializes around my fingers without conscious thought.

I didn't forget the promise I made to myself. I'm going to punch that woman in her smug fucking face.

Consequences be damned.

I won't waste this opportunity.

I take a step forward, then another, my body tensing as I prepare to charge. My vision narrows, tunneling on Cinder's form as she talks with Roman about something, completely unaware of me approaching from behind.

Perfect.

But then a hand grabs my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

I snap my head around to find Neo holding me back, her mismatched eyes meeting mine.

Before I can lash out or demand to know what the fuck she's doing, words appear above her head.

'I'm with you.'

Then she lets go and grins that vicious little grin I know so well.

A matching grin spreads across my face as understanding clicks into place.

Fuck yes.

I take off at a full sprint, my legs pumping as I gain momentum. My target locks onto Cinder's head, and I launch myself into an early leap, my fist cocked back and ready to drive straight into her skull with everything I've got.

The world seems to slow down.

Cinder is still lost in conversation with Roman, gesturing with one hand as she explains something. Roman has already noticed me—his eyes going wide, his cigar falling from his mouth in what feels like slow motion, tumbling toward the ground.

Mercury is turning his head, his casual expression shifting to alarm.

And Emerald—fucking Emerald—is dropping into a defensive stance, her mouth opening to yell a warning as she throws herself.

No!

Much to my frustration, my fist doesn't connect with Cinder.

Instead, it slams into Emerald's face with the full force.

"FUCK!" I roar as I drive Emerald straight into the concrete floor.

Her aura flares bright green around her body, absorbing most of the damage, but she still hits the ground hard—hard enough that the concrete cracks beneath her from the sheer impact.

This bitch!

I grab Emerald by the collar and haul her up just enough to slam my fist into her face again, relishing the satisfying crack as her head snaps to the side. Blood sprays from her nose and I let her drop back to the cracked floor.

But Cinder has already jumped away, putting distance between us.

And immediately I'm forced to raise my arms to block as wind bullets slam into my guard—all of them coming from Mercury's boots as he aims another barrage at me.

But before he can kick off another round, Neo is already on him. Her legs trap his neck in a scissor hold as she spins around it, using his own height against him before easily taking him down to the ground with a brutal twist.

Mercury hits the concrete with a grunt as Neo releases him and backflips away, landing in a crouch beside me.

I don't waste the opening. I surge forward toward Cinder, who's already backing up with her hand raised, flames beginning to flicker around her fingers.

"You dare—" 

"SHUT UP!" I roar, closing the distance.

But then Emerald is back on her feet somehow, blood streaming from her broken nose, and she's charging at me from the side with her weapons drawn—those sickles spinning in her hands.

I pivot, dodging the blade as it cuts through the air where my head just was. The chain wraps around my arm instead, and Emerald yanks hard, trying to pull me off balance.

But I'm stronger than her. Way stronger.

I plant my feet and pull back, hard. Emerald's eyes widen as she's yanked forward instead, stumbling toward me.

My fist meets her stomach with an uppercut that lifts her off her feet. Her aura flares again, and flickers many times.

Good.

She crashes back down, gasping for air, and I move to follow up—

But then Mercury is back in the fight, his boot slamming into my side that sends me skidding across the floor.

I slide to a stop and immediately launch myself back at him, my brass knuckles gleaming as I throw a barrage of punches. He blocks the first two with his legs, the metal of his boots ringing against my knuckles, but the third catches him in the chest and sends him stumbling back.

Neo appears behind him, her spike flashing as she stabs toward his back.

Mercury spins at the last second, kicking the blade away, but Neo's already flowing into her next attack—a sweep kick that he has to jump over.

While he's in the air, I'm already moving. I catch his ankle mid-jump and slam him down into the ground like a fucking hammer.

"Enough!" Cinder's voice cuts through the chaos like a whip.

I turn to see flames erupting around her, actual fire swirling in her hands, her eyes literally ablaze with power.

"You stupid animal dares to attack ME?!"

Dammit, there goes the element of surprise.