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All people have a sanctuary which must never be touched, a scar of sadness which must never be tread upon…
“I know it’s asking a lot of you guys, but I really need your help with something.”
Nicole pleads with a crestfallen expression. She is standing in the lobby of Random Play while Wise and Belle are on the other side of the room. The brother is stacking new inventory on the shelves while the sister works the front counter.
The siblings share a nervous glance for several long moments, expecting the pink haired woman to ask for another loan. Suddenly, the front door opens again. Billy steps through first, followed by Anby. The android has one of the girl’s arms thrown over his shoulder so he can help support her weight. Nekomata enters just behind them, her eyes similarly shadowed by unseen emotions.
Anby looks, for lack of a better word, terrible. She is limping heavily, favoring her right leg to a significant degree. With every step, she noticeably winces. Her eyes are downcast and her expression is crestfallen. The girl looks as if she just came back from a war zone, which is not entirely false. Anby’s injuries are well bandaged and cared for, indicating that the Cunning Hares have already taken her to the hospital.
Belle and Wise know that she was hurt, badly at that, on their last mission together as Phaethon. Anby jumped in front of a powerful blow from a massive Ethereal in order to protect an innocent civilian they were trying to rescue. The siblings had no idea just how much damage she sustained performing such a heroic act.
Wise runs forward to help Billy carry her inside, wrapping her other arm over his shoulder. As a team, they gently transport her to one of the comfortable chairs in the lobby and set her down. The girl spreads herself out in a way that makes her wounds less painful. Her orange eyes, sunken and hollow, look up at the Proxy.
“Thanks,” she says in a barely audible whisper.
The siblings feel their hearts break upon hearing that one simple word. Wise and Belle look at each other once more from across the room. A silent conversation passes between them in the blink of an eye. Finding that they are in agreement on how to proceed, the brother turns around to face Nicole.
“What did you need help with? I’m assuming it has something to do with Anby?” Wise asks, gesturing to the injured girl with one hand. Sensing that something is wrong, Inky jumps up onto Anby’s lap and curls into a ball. A nearly imperceptible smile makes its way onto Anby’s face as she begins petting the cat.
Nicole sighs and nods, causing her pink twintails to bounce with the movement. “Yes, that’s right. As you know, we at the Cunning Hares are being asked to testify against Perlman now that he’s finally recovered. The court that New Eridu Public Security selected for the trial is hours and hours away in the Orthus Quarter.”
Wise nods in understanding, beginning to see where this is leading. The Orthus Quarter is all the way on the other side of New Eridu, easily a six hour drive at the very least.
“We all agree that Anby can’t make that kind of trip without worsening her injuries. The trial is expected to last anywhere from one to three months, and we’ll be staying in temporary lodgings the whole time since we’ll probably be called on for testimony frequently,” Nicole explains in a subdued tone.
“Nicole, I’ll be fine. Just bring me with you,” Anby says, her usually monotone voice taking on an emotional edge. She tries to rise from the chair, but quickly falls back into it with a pained grunt and a wince.
Nekomata quickly dashes over and lays a reassuring hand on Anby’s thigh. “The doctor told you not to move on your own, silly. You should listen,” the cat reprimands half heartedly.
Nicole sighs and glances at Anby for a moment before shaking her head. “Long story short, we can’t bring her. But she needs somebody to take care of her. If it’s not too much trouble, would you be able to?” the girl asks softly and reluctantly. It is plain to see just how much it hurts Nicole to leave such a close friend behind.
Anby certainly is not happy either. Something between betrayal and hopelessness is present in her features as she stares at Nicole.
“Absolutely,” Wise says without hesitation.
Nicole’s eyes widen with shock, clearly not expecting such an enthusiastic agreement. “Even though I owe you so much money?” she asks hesitantly.
Belle rolls her eyes from behind the counter before speaking with amusement. “Yes, Nicole, even though you owe us.”
The leader of the Cunning Hares seems completely overwhelmed by the feelings bubbling to the surface of her mind. She chokes them back, not wanting to break down in front of her subordinates.
Billy notices immediately and makes his way over to his boss, setting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His robotic eyes glance over at the siblings as he speaks. “We’re extremely grateful, managers. We promise that we’ll make it back as soon as possible.”
Nicole sticks a hand into her back pocket, fishing around for an unknown object. After a few moments of searching, she pulls out a wad of one thousand Denny bills and holds the money out toward Wise. “Here. I know that having another person around the store will increase your costs. It’s the least I can do.”
Wise smiles genuinely at Nicole. The manager reaches a hand toward the money and wraps her fingers back around the bills, refusing the payment. “Keep it. Anby can help customers as payment. She certainly has the movie knowledge for it.”
For the first time this evening, the quiet girl has a small smile on her face.
Billy quietly exits through the front door, careful not to disturb the conversation.
Nekomata turns away from Anby to speak to Nicole. “We should get going. The train will be leaving soon, and we don’t want to miss it.”
Nicole takes a series of deep breaths with her eyes closed. She exhales the final breath and opens her eyes again, seeming calmer. “Thanks again, Proxies. We really owe you one this time.”
Slowly but surely, Nicole approaches the chair that Anby is sitting in. The mercenary leader’s eyes look as if they may spill tears at any moment. Choking back a sob, she speaks. “I’ll be back soon, I promise. Be good for the Proxies.”
Anby’s orange eyes begin to take on the same shimmer as her boss’s. With careful effort, she stands from the chair and wraps Nicole in a hug. “I’ll miss you. Please be safe.”
Nicole quickly reciprocates, using the embrace to help keep the injured girl on her feet. “We will be. I promise.”
Wise and Belle watch silently, genuine smiles on both of their faces at the display of affection.
Nekomata seems ready to cry at any moment as well, her tails slowing in their constant movement.
After several emotional moments, the embrace finally ends. Anby carefully lowers herself back down into the plush chair.
Billy reenters Random Play, causing the tiny bell above the door to ring and welcome his arrival. In one hand are two duffel bags, while the other carries a large gunmetal gray case about three feet in length. On his back is Anby’s signature green backpack, loaded with various components, tubes, and batteries.
Slowly and gently, he sets the various objects on the floor next to the entryway. “Man, it’s cold out there! My sensors are freezing over.”
A cold wind blows in through the open door, causing Nekomata to put her arms around herself and shiver. “Cats hate the cold. This sucks.”
Wise, noticing the cat Thiren’s state, walks over to the coat rack next to the door and removes a heavy jacket. The Proxy quickly drapes it over her shoulders before beginning to pick up the various bags by the entryway.
Nekomata, stunned by the show of kindness, quickly starts to take the jacket off. “Manager! I can’t take this. It looks expensive.”
The Proxy smiles at her while he shoulders one of the bags. His voice is gentle as he responds. “Relax, Nekomata. It’s one of my old jackets I don’t use anymore, so you’re more than welcome to have it.”
The cat girl slowly puts the jacket back around herself, relishing how quickly it warms her small body. “Thanks, Manager. But I’m giving this back to you after the trial. You don’t have a choice!”
Nicole and Anby watch with gentle gazes, warmed by the kindness.
Wise swears that he can hear Nekomata begin to purr from the warmth, but he decides not to say anything. The jacket looks more like a massive blanket when draped over her small form. The back of the garment nearly touches the floor. “You all should get moving now. I’d hate for you to miss the train.”
Nicole and Billy’s eyes widen at the mention of their deadline. The mercenary leader quickly zips her coat back up and heads toward the exit door, speaking as she does so. “Take care, everyone! We’ll keep you updated on the status of the trial!”
With one final round of goodbyes and well wishes, the door to the frigid outside is closed for good. Only the siblings and Anby remain in the silent interior of Random Play.
Belle steps out from behind the counter and walks over to where the quiet swordswoman is sitting. With a friendly smile, the Proxy reaches a hand out. “Come on, Anby. Let’s get you upstairs and unpacked.”
The girl silently nods and accepts the hand. Slowly and with great care, Belle drapes the girl’s arm over her shoulder and leads the two of them toward the stairs.
Wise shoulders the backpack Anby usually wears, which is significantly heavier than the Proxy ever expected, and makes his way toward the stairs with the other bags in tow. He slowly follows behind his sister and the wounded girl. After a significant amount of effort, the final stair is conquered, and they are on the second floor.
Belle assists Anby through the final stretch toward the sister’s room. The quiet swordswoman is gently set down on the couch, both of them breathing heavily from the effort.
Wise enters the room after them and sets down the various bags and weapons on the hardwood floor. The gray haired Proxy shivers once he crosses the threshold. His sister always keeps the thermostat in her room so low. Sometimes he wonders if she is even human.
“Belle, it’s freezing in here,” Wise says with a sigh.
“Sleeping in cold temperatures is good for your immune system and energy levels! You’re just mad I’ve got a healthier lifestyle than you!” Belle retorts with a huff.
“Healthier lifestyle? The AC bill was insanely high last summer,” Wise counters.
“And the heating bill is shaping up to be even higher because of that sauna you call a bedroom!” Belle says while crossing her arms and pouting.
The siblings’ argument is cut off by the sound of chattering teeth. Both of them turn toward the couch, where Anby has her arms wrapped around herself in an attempt to conserve warmth. Her chattering teeth and shivering body, along with flushed cheeks and sunken eyes, alert the Proxies that the girl has developed a fever or cold of some sort.
“I’ll go turn the thermostat up,” Belle says immediately, the argument forgotten in an instant.
“You won’t be able to sleep if that happens. She can stay in my room. That way, everybody is happy,” Wise offers calmly.
Belle thinks for a moment before turning toward Anby. “Is that okay with you?”
The quiet girl simply nods as she continues to shiver on the couch. She is beginning to look even worse than when she arrived.
Wise approaches the couch where Anby is sitting and reaches a hand out to her. His voice is gentle as he speaks. “Are you able to move? I can carry you if it’s too difficult.”
Anby takes his hand and attempts to stand. She winces heavily and nearly falls, only saved by Wise’s strong grip. Her voice is shaky and barely above a whisper. “I’m not sure if I can make it.”
Anybody who sees the swordswoman could tell that she is at the end of her rope. The amount of movement today, so soon after being injured, has pushed her to the upper limit of physical exhaustion. Not to mention the developing fever and cold.
Without hesitation, Wise gently puts an arm around her upper back and behind her knees. The Proxy ensures that she is secure in the princess carry before making his way toward the exit. He turns sideways as he passes through the doorway in order to avoid hitting her head on the frame.
Anby is stunned at first. She quickly wraps both arms around Wise’s neck to help him. The swordswoman’s cheeks take on a more intense blush than they had previously, but the pair dismiss it as either a trick of the light or a symptom of her fever.
Belle watches the exchange with a quiet yet mischievous gaze. She whispers under her breath, too quietly for anyone to hear. “Smooth move, bro.”
She quickly stands and picks up a few of Anby’s bags before following them to her brother’s room.
Wise opens the door to his room with his foot and steps inside. He hears Anby exhale a relieved sigh as a wave of warm air hits them. With gentle movements, he lays her down on his bed.
Anby’s eyes lock onto his, and she speaks quietly. “I can take the couch. It’s rude to-”
“It’s fine. You need the bed much more than I do. The couch is super comfortable, so don’t worry about me,” Wise assures her with a friendly smile. He carefully pulls the covers over her before turning away and leaving the room.
Pulling the covers over her face to hide her growing blush, Anby relishes the newfound warmth of the room and bed. As the blankets reach her nose, she realizes that they smell exactly like the Proxy. The swordswoman begins to take in a larger breath through her nose before catching herself.
“What’s gotten into me?” Anby whispers to herself, the sound muffled by the thick blankets.
Wise and Belle reenter the room and gently rest her luggage on the floor next to the bed. The gray haired Proxy gets out a few spare blankets and a pillow, preparing the couch for the night. After everything is ready, he turns his head and speaks to Belle. “We should be alright from here. Thanks for helping move the bags.”
“Of course, bro. It’s no problem. Make sure to get some good sleep!” the sister says with a friendly smile and wave.
Wise returns the gesture before closing the door. The Proxy turns back around and walks toward the bed. His voice is gentle as he speaks. “You look cozy. Need anything else before we hit the hay?”
Anby, with only her orange eyes and white hair visible above the blankets, reaches a hand out and points at one of the bags. Her voice is quiet and muffled by the blankets. “Headphones, please.”
Nodding in understanding, Wise makes his way over to the designated bag. He unzips it and finds the headphones lying on top of its contents. The Proxy grabs them and makes his way back over to the bedridden girl. With careful movements, he sets the device on her head so it covers her ears.
The girl has a small and soft smile on her face the second the device is on her head. She reaches a pale finger up to press the side of the headphones and play a song. Within just a handful of seconds, Wise can see her breathing begin to even out and her eyes close. Anby is already asleep.
Wise watches her for a few short moments before realizing what he is doing could be considered creepy. The Proxy removes his jacket and gets out a spare blanket and pillow, setting up the couch for himself. He adjusts the lights down to a barely visible but warm setting and lies down. Visions of a pale haired mercenary wearing headphones float just behind his eyelids as he drifts off to a restful sleep.
Life is but a dream…
“I hope you enjoy it. It’s certainly right up your alley from what I’ve seen,” Wise says with a friendly smile as he hands a small brown bag across the front desk.
“Thank you so much, Manager. I’ll let you know what I think as soon as I finish it!” Zhu Yuan says as she eagerly accepts the small package containing a videotape.
The young captain is dressed for a chilly winter patrol. A puffy blue jacket replaces what she usually wears underneath her vest. As always, her NEPS badge shines brilliantly even in the relatively dim lighting of Random Play, no doubt having been polished that very morning. A pair of earmuffs rests on top of her dual colored hair, the muffs themselves red while the connecting band is black. Her nose and cheeks are the same red as her eyes and hair, no doubt flushed due to the frigid December air.
Zhu Yuan shoves the brown bag into the inside pocket of her puffy jacket. She starts to look back at Wise, but cannot quite make eye contact due to the butterflies in her stomach.
Both the officer’s and the Proxy’s eyes are drawn to the staircase as they hear footsteps making their way down. Zhu Yuan expects to see Belle emerge from the second floor, no doubt having slept in as she always does. However, the captain is shocked to see a girl she does not recognize step into the front lobby. A head of white hair, only a few shades off from Wise’s light gray, is the first thing she notices. A pair of orange eyes lazily scan the surroundings as the newcomer attempts to blink away the lingering haze of sleep. Naturally, her headphones are still on her ears, lying over white hair that is messy from sleep.
Wise turns his head and shoots the mystery girl a kind smile, his voice gentle as he speaks. “Morning, Anby. Did you sleep alright?”
“Mhmm,” the girl says as she saunters over toward Wise. Anby still has a considerable limp due to her injuries, but she is moving much better than when she first arrived a few days ago. She takes a seat in one of the chairs behind the counter, oblivious to the officer’s presence.
“Oh, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Captain Zhu Yuan of Public Security. It’s nice to meet you,” Zhu Yuan says with a friendly smile. However, her already nervous demeanor seems to spiral even further. The officer wonders what this girl’s relationship is with the siblings.
“Anby. Nice to meet you, Officer,” the girl says quietly. A slender hand reaches out and picks up a tape from the front counter. Her orange eyes roam over the front and back of the tape, curious to learn if it is one she has already seen.
“So, umm. Are you a friend of Wise and Belle’s?” Zhu Yuan asks with a shaky smile.
Wise notices her odd demeanor immediately, his green eyes scanning the officer’s features. After a brief investigation, he concludes that she is just shivering from the cold.
“Yes. I was injured inside of a Hol-, inside of a car, in an accident. They’re taking care of me in the meantime while my family is away,” Anby says as she remembers their cover story at the very last second.
Wiping a bead of nervous sweat from his forehead, Wise shoots the girl a thumbs up that is hidden from the captain’s view by the counter. Having a PubSec agent find out that he is harboring an illegal mercenary who he met through his even more illegal Proxy business would be undesirable.
“I’m very sorry that happened. Did you file criminal charges against the person who hit you? Maybe I can help,” Zhu Yuan offers kindly.
Anby’s orange eyes flit over to Wise, silently asking him for help. Cover stories and clever lies are not part of the girl’s skill set by any means.
“Well, you see, it was a simple mistake. They both lost control of their vehicles due to the ice and crashed into one another. No harm, no foul, right?” Wise says, punctuating the sentence with a nervous chuckle.
“Ah, yes, of course. No harm, no foul,” Zhu Yuan agrees after a silent moment of contemplation. No closer to finding out the girl’s relationship with Wise, she decides to continue her investigation. After clearing her throat, she speaks again. “I didn’t know you guys had a spare room up there. This place really has all the amenities.”
“Oh well, we don’t,” Wise says as he rubs his neck sheepishly.
“I see. So she’s staying in Belle’s room, then? Right?” the captain asks with an unblinking stare while beginning to lean slightly over the counter. Her gloved hands clench the end of the counter with a white knuckled grip, creating the distinctive sound of bending and creaking wood.
“No, I’m staying in Wise’s room. His bed is much warmer,” Anby says simply, oblivious to the tense atmosphere of the room. Her eyes continue to roam the videotape’s casing with casual interest.
A loud snap rings out as the end of the counter breaks off, sending a small shower of wooden splinters into the air. Confused, Zhu Yuan holds up a broken piece of the counter about the size of a book in her gloved hand while her eyes study it. The captain’s cheeks are beginning to rapidly match the red streaks in her hair as she fills in the gaps of Anby’s story, reaching the conclusion she feared.
Wise sputters for several seconds after he hears what Anby said. The Proxy frantically waves his hands in front of him as he speaks loudly, his face rapidly turning red. “What she means is that my room is warmer than Belle’s! I sleep on the couch so she can have the bed. That’s all!”
“You can sleep in the bed too, if it gets too cold. I see people do it in the movies all the time. It’s a logical choice to preserve warmth,” Anby says innocently while waving the videotape she was inspecting through the air.
A loud slapping sound rings out in the front lobby of Random Play. Wise swivels his head away from Anby to look back toward Zhu Yuan. Both of her gloved hands, one of which is still holding a piece of the front counter, are covering her face. Just barely, the Proxy can see one of her eyes shining through the cracks in her fingers.
“I just remembered I need to check the parking monitors at Lumina Square! It’s a matter of public safety! Okay, bye!” Zhu Yuan suddenly yells, already making her way toward the exit door in a rapid sprint.
“Wait! You forgot your receipt,” Wise says, his voice trailing off as Zhu Yuan slams the door closed behind her.
“You have weird friends,” Anby says as she stands from her chair, her orange eyes studying the closed door with a curious expression.
“She’s unique. But she’s usually not that flustered. I wonder what happened,” Wise says with a confused tone.
“Bro, you’re hopeless. You know that?” Belle’s voice says suddenly, emanating from the staircase. Her disheveled appearance indicates that she has just woken up.
“Oh, good morning, Belle. I didn’t realize you were awake,” Wise says with a friendly smile as he turns to greet her.
“The sound of wood snapping apart did a great job of waking me up. Did Zhu Yuan take that piece of the front counter with her?” Belle says as she gestures to the now missing corner of the counter.
“Oh, uhh, I guess she did? She’ll probably return it soon. Something was really off about her today,” Wise notes with an exasperated sigh.
“Oh, my dear brother. You really are an idiot. One day you’ll understand,” Belle says before facepalming. With a frustrated groan, she climbs the stairs back up to her room.
“Do you know what she’s talking about?” the Proxy asks as he turns his head toward Anby.
“I don’t know. Maybe the officer was hungry?” the quiet girl suggests helpfully.
“Ooh, yeah. That could be it,” Wise says after snapping his fingers. The sudden eureka moment could not be further from reality.
Anby wordlessly shuffles closer to him, closing the minimal distance in an instant. Her head slumps forward to rest on Wise’s arm, causing her short white hair to cascade over the limb. Her soft and quiet voice follows soon after, muffled by his clothing. “I’m hungry too. Can we get burgers for breakfast?”
Immediately after her request, Anby leans her head back and makes eye contact with Wise. The mercenary’s pleading eyes are combined with one final word. “Please?”
Wise’s heart skips a beat as he stares down at the girl. This close proximity makes him realize just how short she really is compared to him. His blush from earlier shows no signs of fading anytime soon. With a quiet and nervous voice, he speaks. “Burgers for breakfast are not very healthy. I can make something here for you, if that’s okay. Also, why are you leaning on me?”
Anby responds quietly without moving her head even an inch. “I do this when Nicole doesn’t let me get burgers. It always works on her.”
“Well, I can make pancakes instead. Does that sound good?” Wise asks as he looks down at her with a smile.
“Hmmm,” Anby mutters as she leans her head off Wise and takes a step back. She pinches her chin as she begins thinking deeply about the suggestion. “If I have three pancakes in a stack, then the top and bottom ones are buns, while the center one is a patty. It’s a burger.”
Wise rubs his neck sheepishly, but he cannot keep the amused and endeared smile off his face. After a short chuckle, he responds as he walks toward the back room of Random Play. “Well, that’s certainly one way to think about it. I’ll go get started.”
Anby carefully jogs to follow just behind him.
“I want to help make the pancake burger. Wait for me.”
Easy come, easy go…
Wise rests his hands on the back of the office chair as he leans forward. An easy smile decorates his features while he stares at the screen in front of him. They are in the back room of Random Play on the HDD computer. The Proxy is standing just behind the only chair as they open the video call app on the computer.
In the chair sits Anby. Only her head of white hair and the tops of her shoulders are visible from where the Proxy is standing. Her hands are clasped together in her lap as they wait for the call to connect.
Finally, the call is picked up as the very last ring begins. Nicole, Nekomata, and Billy appear on the screen after a short loading period. The trio are all stuffed onto a small couch, and their surroundings look standard for a hotel, down to the generic painting hanging on the wall behind them, which Wise swears he has seen a hundred times before.
“Anby!” all three of them say in unison. Their faces all show an abundance of excitement and relief at the sight of the quiet girl.
“Hello, everyone,” Anby says quietly. A gentle smile graces her features the second she sees them.
“How are you? Are your wounds okay? Are you getting enough to eat?” Billy asks frantically. The digital yellow eyes on his faceplate are widened in alarm.
“I’m doing well, Billy. Thank you for asking. I’ve just been watching movies and recovering,” Anby answers, bringing some calm back into Billy’s demeanor.
“Oh, thank heavens!” the android says while dramatically swooning, putting the back of a metallic hand against his faceplate.
Nicole shoves him back into the couch with a slightly annoyed expression. After clearing her throat, she looks back into the camera and speaks. “It’s relieving to see that you’re in good shape. I’m sure the managers are treating you well.”
“They are. They’re letting me watch every movie in the store, and they’re buying me lots of food,” Anby says with a warm smile.
“That’s a relief to hear. Wise, I hope she’s not giving you any trouble?” Nicole asks after a short moment, her green eyes filled with worry and curiosity in equal measure.
“None at all. As always, Anby is a very kind and understanding guest. She’s even been working the counter most days, which allows Belle and me to get some other things done,” Wise answers with a friendly tone and smile.
Below him, Anby shuffles around in her seat due to the manager’s compliments.
“If I may ask, how is the trial going?” Wise continues. His feet readjust slightly behind the chair as he keeps leaning forward.
“Ugh, don’t even remind me. Perlman’s legal team is doing everything they can to slow down the trial. They’re reinterviewing the witnesses, including the three of us. At this rate, I don’t know when we’ll be back,” Nicole says while crossing her arms with a huff. Her expression betrays just how frustrated and helpless she feels.
“At the very least, PubSec has been very kind and supportive of the witnesses. The hotels we’re staying in and the food are both top quality. I’ve been able to have fish every day!” Nekomata says with a bright smile. It seems that at least one of them has been able to find a silver lining in spite of the difficult situation.
“Well, I suppose that’s good. I’m sorry to hear that things are moving forward so slowly,” Wise says with a sympathetic expression.
“No worries, Manager. The Cunning Hares have been through worse situations, and this is no different!” Nicole boasts with conviction while leaning forward on the couch.
Billy and Nekomata nod enthusiastically, spurred on by their boss’s inspirational words.
After a few more well wishes and some small talk, the group gives their final goodbyes and the call ends.
Anby raises her head to look directly upward, her eyes meeting Wise’s as he simultaneously looks down.
“Do you think Nicole is going to be okay?” the quiet girl says softly. Her usually stoic expression is beginning to show cracks, giving way to a hint of concern.
Wise blinks several times in confusion before he responds. “What do you mean? She seemed fine to me.”
“Nicole never gives us speeches like that unless something is wrong and she’s trying to distract us from it. Her demeanor was off. I’m worried that the trial isn’t going very well,” Anby notes, laying out her concerns to the video store manager.
“I didn’t notice anything like that. But you know her much better than I do. I’m sure she will give us a full report as soon as she returns,” Wise says with a reassuring smile, trying to bring some comfort to the injured mercenary.
“Yeah. Maybe,” Anby says absentmindedly. Her eyes stare blankly at the empty screen in front of her. Invisible doubts seem to move behind her soft orange eyes.
Wise notices that something seems off as he studies her with a concerned glance. After several more moments of silence, he steps around to the other side of the chair, interrupting the invisible target of Anby’s gaze.
“Say, we got a shipment early this morning of new inventory. There are some movies in there that I haven’t seen yet,” Wise says with a small smile. One of his eyebrows raises as he finishes speaking, silently gauging whether she is interested. Of course, he already knows the answer.
“New movies? How many?” Anby says, her eyes widening immediately. Subconsciously, she scoots forward in the office chair and leans in. Clearly, the manager’s offer has caught her interest.
“About forty. I haven’t seen almost any of them. There are a lot of retro horror films in there from some very niche directors. I’ve been thinking about them all day,” Wise states with an edge of excitement. Although he initially pitched this idea as a way to cheer up the injured girl, he cannot deny that he is getting interested as well.
“Forty videotapes with an average time of ninety minutes. Three thousand six hundred minutes total. Sixty hours of brand new movies,” Anby mutters to no one in particular. Her voice picks up in pace and volume as she realizes just how amazing the manager’s offer really is. The mercenary’s body may be injured, but her mind is as sharp as ever.
“It’s only the first part of our order. After the holidays passed, we decided to increase our stock significantly to keep up with customer demand. We should be getting steady deliveries all winter,” Wise reveals enthusiastically, now fully wrapped up in his own excitement.
With every new detail, Anby leans further forward in the chair and her eyes widen. The girl is hanging on every word. The Proxy cannot remember a time when she was this excited.
“Can we start now?” Anby asks softly and with some apprehension. A part of her seems to believe that the offer is too good to be true.
“Of course we can. But I promised Belle I would grab dinner, so we should go get some food first. I was thinking about grabbing burgers,” Wise says as he nods toward the room’s exit, which leads back into Random Play’s front desk.
Anby nods seriously before gently standing from the chair, careful not to aggravate her wounds. As he has since she arrived two days ago, Wise lets her grab his shoulder for support. With the same tone she would use on a dangerous and important mission, she speaks.
“A good choice. We should leave immediately.”
Love that is unconditional gives us respect as people…
A shrill scream rings out in the confined space of Wise’s bedroom. The Proxy shoots up immediately on the couch, throwing off the blankets that were covering him. His green eyes frantically scan the room as adrenaline fills his system. Only darkness meets his vision.
Did somebody break into Random Play? Are his sister or Anby in danger? What is going on? Wise shuts the thoughts out of his mind in an instant. He knows he needs to focus on the reality of the situation and not speculation. Based purely on the familiarity of his surroundings, he leaps toward a nearby shelf and grabs a trophy. Not an ideal melee weapon, but better than nothing.
With another quick movement, he is already at the door. Realizing that it is still closed, he flicks on the light and studies the room. Everything looks exactly as it did when he went to bed, the only exception being that Anby is awake with her legs dangling over the edge of the bed. The injured girl appears to be hyperventilating and drenched with sweat.
Several droplets hitting the floor snap Wise out of his stupor. He sets the trophy down and quickly walks toward her. The Proxy kneels so he can look into her eyes. His voice is soft and full of concern as he speaks. “Anby? Anby? Is everything alright? Did something happen?”
The quiet girl’s eyes are wide. The centers are barely visible pinpricks of black surrounded by orange. Her hyperventilating shows no signs of stopping. A steady stream of teardrops mixes with the sweat as it makes its way down her face.
Wise notices her hands clutching the blankets with a white knuckled grip. With delicate movements, he unfurls the fingers of one hand and grabs it with his own. Her skin is cold and clammy to the touch.
Anby’s hand squeezes back with relentless force, seemingly unaware of anything around her.
The Proxy can feel her fingernails digging into his skin, resulting in several drops of blood hitting the floor. He ignores it and frantically thinks of some way to help her further. Eventually, Wise’s green eyes lock onto Anby’s headphones, which lie discarded on the bed next to her. His spare hand grabs them as he stands, and he slips them over her head. With a final motion, he taps the side of them to play a random song.
Nearly instantly, Anby’s rapid breathing shifts into ragged and drawn out heaves. Wise notices that she is attempting to control her breathing and bring her heartbeat down. After what feels like an eternity, the injured girl seems to regain a sliver of her usual composure.
“I’m sorry for waking you up,” Anby says softly between breaths. Her orange eyes are filled with regret and remorse.
Wise cannot help but smile slightly when he hears her apology. She just had a horrible nightmare followed by a panic attack, and the first thing she wants to do is say sorry. The Proxy shakes his head and matches her gaze as he responds. “It’s no problem, really. I’m just glad you’re okay. Just focus on your breathing. I’m here to help.”
Several moments of comfortable silence pass between them as Anby gets herself completely under control. Her hand never leaves the manager’s for the entirety of the intervening time.
Once Wise notices that she is more or less back to normal, he gently speaks to her. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened? Was it a nightmare or something? Talking about it might help.”
Anby flinches as Wise finishes speaking. At first, he worries that he has overstepped his boundaries by asking such a personal question. He is about to apologize, but she interrupts before he can get a word out.
“I had a nightmare. I’ve had it a lot before, but usually Nicole is there to help me. Thank you. Thank you for helping me instead,” Anby struggles to get the words out, taking several breaks to breathe in between.
“This nightmare. What is it about?” Wise asks gently, giving her hand a soft squeeze. Anby’s situation and demeanor remind him a lot of Belle’s back when they were kids. After the fall of the old capital, and what happened to their teacher before their eyes, his sister had constant nightmares. It took years for them to stop, but she always said that talking to him about it made her feel better.
Once again, the injured girl hesitates. The Proxy realizes that she must not talk about herself like this very often.
“My family,” Anby says in a voice barely above a whisper.
“The Cunning Hares? I know that you’re very close with them, especially Nicole,” Wise says with a gentle tone. His eyes continue to scan the girl’s expression, searching for anything that could clue him in to how she is feeling.
“No, not them. They’re my new family. The dream is always about my old family,” Anby corrects in an equally hushed tone. The girl squeezes her eyes shut after finishing the statement, seemingly trying to shut out whatever mental image was conjured up by her admission.
“I didn’t know you had an old family. What were they like?” Wise asks with genuine curiosity. Slowly and with careful movements, he stands to sit next to the injured girl. Throughout his transition, his hand is still clenched in an iron grip.
“They were a lot like me,” Anby says after a long delay. A barely visible smile makes its way onto her face, tinged with nostalgia and an unfathomably deep sadness.
“They sound like good people, your old family,” Wise says carefully. For a moment, he considers asking her if she still visits them. Some part of the Proxy tells him not to ask such a probing question.
Anby does not respond for several minutes. The injured girl remains sitting on the edge of the bed with her eyes staring at the wall in front of her. Her breathing has evened out, and the flow of tears has long since stopped. The only evidence proving the incident occurred is the dried trail of tears on her face and the small spattering of blood from Wise’s hand on the floor.
Heaving a large sigh, Anby lowers her head to look at the floor, trying to snap herself out of the stupor she found herself in. However, her orange eyes widen and her breath catches in her throat. The small droplets of blood on the floor are immediately noticed, their trail leading directly to the Proxy’s hand.
A horrified look manifests on Anby’s face when she realizes what she subconsciously did. She attempts to pull her hand away immediately, but Wise’s firm grip stops her. The mercenary’s eyes shimmer with emotion once more, threatening to spill over with tears. She opens her mouth to apologize, but he interrupts before she can.
“It’s okay. I’m not mad. You weren’t in your right mind, and I know you would never intentionally hurt me,” Wise insists with a confident tone, preempting what he knows she is about to say.
Anby retorts immediately, her voice thick with emotion. “But I hurt you. I shouldn’t,”
“Would you like to watch something?” Wise asks, interrupting her before she can get any further.
Anby blinks several times with her mouth partially hanging open, stunned into silence by the sudden and absurd request.
“You know, a movie or something?” the Proxy continues with a kind smile. He can tell that the injured girl will continue to spiral unless something changes, and there is certainly no chance of her getting sleep now. The best thing to do is distract her with one of her passions.
“I, yeah. Okay,” she says softly, agreeing to the proposal.
“Do you have any preferences for what we should watch? We certainly have quite the selection, as you know,” Wise asks with a curious expression.
“Anything is fine, really,” Anby says with a quiet sigh.
“Alright. I’ll go pick something out,” the Proxy says as he moves to stand from the bed. However, when he tries to remove his hand from hers, he is only met with an ironclad grip.
“Uhm, Anby? I can’t go get a movie unless you let go of my hand,” Wise says with a soft laugh.
The injured girl stares at their intertwined hands for several long moments, seemingly confused as to why she cannot let go. She lifts her head to look at Wise with her orange eyes.
“I’ll just go with you,” she says quietly, standing from the bed as well.
Together, the two of them walk toward the TV on the other side of the room. The shelf that the device rests on is well stocked with some of the Proxy’s favorite movies. They browse for several quiet moments, occasionally suggesting a movie they have found.
Wise hears a small gasp from Anby and turns to see what she found. The Proxy cannot help but smile genuinely when he reads the title.
“The Heartbeat. I think that’s one of the first movies you ever got from our store. It’s a great pick. Do you want to watch that?” Wise asks curiously.
Anby’s orange eyes roam the cover art as she responds, her voice barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t even a year ago that I met you during the Red Fang job. But it feels like a lifetime ago.”
“It really does. I suppose a lot has happened since then. Tracking down Perlman, the Ballet Twins, everything. It’s been a busy year for both of us,” Wise admits.
“I would like to watch this. Please,” Anby says while turning to look up at the Proxy.
Several moments later, they are both sitting on the couch together, the TV crackling to life in front of them. Wise drapes the set of blankets he was using over them to protect against the cold. Finally, the introductory credits and title card flare to life on the screen.
The opening scene is just as good as Wise remembers, but his attention is drawn away from the movie by two factors. The first is the weather raging outside. The Proxy heard that a record breaking snowstorm was due to hit any day now, but what he is seeing is far more violent than he expected.
Windows rattle and wind screams against fixtures outside the building as the snowstorm runs its course. Along with the weather comes a chilling cold that seems to pierce directly to the Proxy’s bones. Wise hopes that the snow does not cause any damage to the Random Play building.
However, the second factor is one that he finds much more distracting and concerning. That being the injured girl sitting directly next to him.
Anby’s orange eyes are locked onto the screen, seeming to absorb every possible detail of the movie. Her hands clench the blanket with a white knuckled grip as the movie hits a particularly heart wrenching scene. Wise notices that her body seems to be shaking underneath the blanket, and he can hear her teeth chattering as well.
Wise’s green eyes narrow in concern as he realizes how cold Anby must be. The mercenary girl is still anemic from her injuries, and the sudden drop in temperature is hitting her hard. The Proxy turned on a small space heater in the corner of the room, but it does not seem to be doing nearly enough to help. Fairy’s power consumption does not allow the siblings to turn up the thermostat past a certain level.
Wise quietly clears his throat and speaks, his body already moving out from under the blanket. “You look like you’re freezing. I can go make you some hot chocolate. Or maybe get a heating pack?”
Anby’s hand tightens its grip, and her orange eyes swivel to meet his, widening with alarm. “No!”
The Proxy stops immediately at the girl’s suddenly much louder voice. Slowly, he sits back down on the couch next to her. He looks at her curiously, silently asking about the outburst. Wise cannot deny that he is becoming even more worried about her.
“Uhm, please don’t go. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thank you,” Anby says nervously, averting her eyes from him. A small dusting of red begins to fill her cheeks a moment later.
Wise sighs after a moment but relents to her request, leaning back into the couch. The Proxy cannot help but feel even more concerned for the injured girl now. The nightmare she had seems to have rattled her more than he originally thought. He begins trying to think of ways he can help more.
The movie continues on, still being watched closely by Anby. Her body continues to shiver and her teeth continue to chatter. There is only one source of heat nearby that she can think of, and it is radiating from directly beside her. After several more moments of discomfort, she turns her head toward Wise. “Would it be okay if I came closer? You’re, uh, very warm.”
The Proxy blinks several times in surprise, stunned by her request. He realizes the practicality of the suggestion. If Anby does not want him to leave and get another way to warm her up, then this seems like the best alternative. “Sure, I don’t mind. Let’s get you warmed up.”
Wise scoots a little closer and holds an arm up, welcoming the injured girl closer. A slightly nervous smile and blush are present on his face.
Anby eagerly accepts, scooting her much smaller body closer to the Proxy. An arm wraps around her and draws her closer. A small, contented hum escapes from her lips before she can stop it. Wise’s comforting and warm embrace feels like a shield to the injured girl, both against the cold and her own racing thoughts.
Wise suddenly finds it much harder to focus on the movie. Anby is now tucked against the right side of his torso while his arm is draped over her shoulders. The injured girl seems to get closer at every opportunity. After several moments, both of her arms are wrapped around him as well. The Proxy slowly feels her cold body begin to warm.
Meanwhile, Anby is much less nervous. The cold feelings in her body and mind begin to fade, driven away by the warmth provided by Wise. The injured girl cannot help but think this is similar to when Nicole helps her after she has a nightmare. However, she notices that the feeling is different now. Whenever she is around the Proxy, her heart beats a little faster and a small pulse of electricity spreads throughout her body. She has heard about this in movies before, but could this really be the same?
Both movie fanatics have their minds filled with strange and unfamiliar emotions as they watch the movie unfold before them. The snowstorm outside is largely forgotten, its memory pushed away by the warmth of each other’s bodies. Finally, the movie reaches its climax and the credits roll across the screen.
Wise wishes this moment could last forever, but he is sure that the injured girl will want to go back to bed soon. He looks down at her and speaks quietly. “So. Was it as good as you remembered?”
Anby does not respond. Her orange eyes have long since closed as sleep overcame her exhausted form. Her chest slowly rises and falls against the Proxy’s torso, which she continues clinging to with both arms.
Wise notices that her eyes are not moving behind her eyelids. Finally, it seems the girl is getting the dreamless sleep she so badly deserves. The Proxy has had his wish granted, it seems this moment will last longer than he feared. He gently moves his body to the left and brings Anby’s sleeping form with him so that they are lying down on the couch instead of sitting up.
They lie there together on the couch, held in each other’s arms. No violent snowstorm or nightmare seems able to pierce the gentle warmth they now share. For the first time in a while, Wise drifts off to sleep with a genuine smile on his face, following his companion into the realm of dreams.
Sleeping beast…
Wise nurses the hot cup of coffee he just poured for himself. His hands wrap around the ceramic mug as he tries to absorb every bit of warmth he can from the steaming liquid. Briefly, he glances up at the front door of Random Play from behind the front counter, but he finds the same thing he has all morning.
The record breaking snowstorm hit with full force overnight. New Eridu is blanketed with nearly half a foot of fluffy white snow. A small TV in the corner of the shop is tuned to the news. A weatherman in a puffy jacket stands in deep snow with a microphone, talking about the record breaking storm and recommending that people stay indoors for the day due to the conditions.
Shoveling the area in front of Random Play was hard work this morning. The chore made him wish that Burnice were here with her flamethrowers to make the task easier. Although Wise realizes they will not get many customers, he at least wants to stay open in case any other Sixth Street residents want to grab a movie. There is no better time to watch an old film than when you are snowed in for at least a few days.
Wise is shaken out of his thoughts by the front door opening, causing the small bell attached to its frame to ring.
“Welcome to Random Play. Soldier 11?” the manager says in shock. He was not expecting any customers today, much less the spicy noodle loving woman.
“Greetings, Crimson Coffee Cake. Apologies for coming uninvited,” Soldier 11 says kindly while taking off a fluffy hat and gloves.
“Don’t worry about it. We’re open as normal, so you’re more than welcome inside. Are you here to rent a movie?” Wise asks curiously.
“Kind of, yes,” the soldier answers cryptically, which is certainly not out of the ordinary for her.
“Kind of? What else did you have in mind?” the manager asks while taking another sip of his hot coffee.
Soldier 11 takes several moments to respond. Her orange eyes slowly scan the shelves of movies, searching for nothing in particular.
“Is there an injured girl here? A mercenary with white hair and orange eyes?” the soldier asks quietly, her gaze never leaving the rows of videotapes.
For a moment, Wise panics. Are the police or military searching for Anby? He is not sure why they would send Soldier 11 if that were the case. Nonetheless, he is nervous.
“Injured mercenary? We don’t have anybody like that. Belle and I are letting somebody stay at the shop during the snowstorm, though,” Wise admits after a moment of hesitation. Although it is only half the truth, he decides to play some of his hand.
“Hmm. Does she match the physical description I gave?” Soldier 11 asks as her orange eyes narrow and focus on the Proxy.
“Why are you looking for this person?” Wise ignores her questioning and asks bluntly, tired of beating around the bush.
For a moment, Soldier 11 hesitates. Her gaze softens and she looks at the floor with a crestfallen expression, sharply contrasting her demeanor only moments ago.
“I just want to make sure she’s okay. I heard that she got hurt, and I’ve been worried.” The soldier’s act completely stops, revealing only genuine concern in its wake.
At that moment, a soft set of footsteps begins making its way down the stairs from the second floor. Anby emerges a moment later, trying to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes. She is wearing Wise’s signature jacket, and her hair is a tangled mess of bed head. She trudges behind the counter, leans against the video store manager, and wraps both of her arms around him.
“I’m cold. Also, can we have pancake burgers again?” the injured girl asks with a groggy voice, seeming to have just rolled out of bed a moment ago.
“Zero?” Soldier 11 asks incredulously, her eyes wide.
Anby freezes in an instant, her arms tightening around Wise to a nearly painful degree. Her head slowly turns to regard the newcomer. The injured girl’s expression is startled and fearful.
“Eleven?” Anby says softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I was so worried about you. I heard from a friend in the Defense Force that they had to medivac someone matching your description out of a Hollow due to your injuries. I thought that,” Soldier 11 trails off after a moment, letting the implications of her statement hang in the air.
Anby takes several seconds to recover before she speaks again. “You knew I was alive? How? I thought that,”
“I knew what the brass fed us was bullshit. I confirmed that you were alive a long time ago. I just didn’t want to draw attention to you by speaking directly,” Soldier 11 admits, her voice filled with regret.
“How many of the others? How many are left?” Anby asks hesitantly.
The soldier’s expression falls as she hears the question. With a crestfallen tone, she responds. “Just me.”
The injured girl nods slowly. The news does not seem to surprise her to any significant degree. Nonetheless, a palpable sorrow can be felt from her place at the manager’s side.
“Soldier 11, please make yourself at home and stay a while. I’ll grab you some coffee,” Wise suggests with a friendly smile. Something tells him that the two have some catching up to do.
Several minutes later, they are all sitting in the HDD room together. Wise and Anby are on the sofa while Soldier 11 occupies a chair. All of them have steaming cups clutched in their hands. The soldier and manager have coffee, while the injured girl has hot chocolate. The room has been eerily quiet for an uncomfortable amount of time.
“I don’t mean to pry, but I’m curious how you two know each other,” Wise says after a moment with an inquisitive glance at the pair.
Anby and Soldier 11 share a look between their matching yellow eyes. A thousand silent words pass between them in less than a second, discussing whether to tell the Proxy about their shared past. They nod their heads at the same time as they come to an agreement.
Soldier 11 speaks first. “We’re sisters, kind of. Clones, to be more precise.”
Wise’s eyes widen at the revelation, and he nearly drops his mug of coffee on himself. He figured they were related, sure. But this is more than he ever expected to learn.
“Clones? That’s not what I would have expected. Soldier 11, you called her Zero earlier. Does that mean?” Wise lets the question hang in the air for several moments.
“I was the one who was cloned. I don’t remember anything before the White Star Institute’s labs. The scientists told me my parents died in a Hollow expansion,” Anby answers. One of her hands slowly creeps over to find Wise’s, silently asking him for permission to grab it, which he quickly gives. The girl seems to seek his hand or body whenever she remembers her past.
“So, the Defense Force uses clones? That’s quite the bombshell,” Wise continues after a moment to process.
“Not exactly. The White Star Institute was responsible, but the Defense Force and the New Eridu government certainly had a hand in the matter,” Soldier 11 says with a sigh.
“An army of perfect soldiers to combat Hollows and reduce casualties. Project Nephele. They grew clones based on a person’s DNA, even down to the person’s age at the time the sample was taken. They tweaked some of my genetics for different effects,” Anby says. She says the name of the project almost as a curse, venom dripping from her tone.
Wise swallows loudly. Suddenly, he is beginning to understand why Anby has so many nightmares. He looks curiously at his hand resting in the injured girl’s. “If that’s the case, how did they change your genetics for the clones?”
The girl does not respond for a long time, seemingly reluctant to answer. Wise can tell that remembering all of this is taking a toll on her both mentally and physically.
“Zero was an excellent combatant. But she wasn’t aggressive or obedient enough for what they originally wanted. Two through Five were overaggressive, to say the least,” Soldier 11 answers for her.
“They tried to kill their guards and escape. They were put down on the spot,” Anby says with a monotone voice, seemingly not mourning the overly violent clones very much.
“Six, however, was a lot like Zero and had a calm nature, only she was more obedient. However, they both shared a love for music and a disdain for our creators,” Soldier 11 says with a crestfallen expression.
Anby’s hand suddenly tightens around Wise’s, threatening to crush his hand with its force. Wise can sense a nearly bottomless sorrow when he looks into her eyes. It is clear to him that this other soldier was a very close companion of hers.
Realizing that Anby is in no position to talk any further, Soldier 11 continues. “Seven through Ten are much more like me as the White Star Institute began to perfect their process. Aggressive, commanding, but obedient. The perfect soldiers.”
Wise nods in understanding. The pieces of this puzzle surrounding these two are slowly falling into place. However, the manager can tell that this tale does not have a happy ending.
“Seven through Ten died over the years on various missions in Hollow Zero. They ran our squad into the ground, only giving us the most dangerous missions no one else wanted,” Soldier 11 says quietly.
Wise notices the obvious question after hearing that statement. He decides to ask what seems to hang in the air. “And what about Six?”
Anby flinches and her eyes begin to shimmer with emotion. Somehow, her grip on his hand gets even tighter. She slowly leans over to rest against Wise’s shoulder, wanting to be comforted by his warmth. The injured girl’s eyes quietly ask her comrade to say the words for her.
“She died on a mission with Zero, who went rogue shortly after. They sent Seven and Eight after her, and they insisted they hunted down and killed Zero. It was an unspoken secret in the squad that they lied. Even our genetically engineered obedience has a limit,” Soldier 11 explains while looking at Anby with sorrow. Her expression seems to be laced with a small amount of relief.
Despite the horrific story, Soldier 11 has a soft smile on her face as she continues looking at Anby. “Zero, I’m glad you kept her headphones and love of music. I know it would have made her happy.”
Soldier 11 sighs and leans further back into the chair. “Once all the others died, they attached me to OBOLS and killed Project Nephele. Chalked it up as a failed experiment and moved on.”
Anby nods slowly, unable to verbally answer the soldier sitting across from her. Wise can hear a somber tune emanating from the headphones that he now knows came from her trusted comrade. Some kind of blues, most likely, though the manager is not well versed in music.
Soldier 11 drains the last of her coffee and stands from the chair. She gently sets the cup down and turns to look at the pair sitting on the couch. “Thank you for your hospitality, Manager. I should probably get going now.”
“Wait. Soldier 11,” Wise says before she can step out of the HDD room and back into the front lobby.
The soldier turns around and arches an eyebrow. “Yes, what is it?”
“Sorry if I’m prying, but I was wondering about something. You told me about all the other clones. But what about you? What makes you different?” Wise asks with a curious tone.
For the first time Wise has ever seen, Soldier 11 has a genuine smile on her face. Her voice is quiet but carries a tone of amusement as she responds. “Absolutely nothing. I’m an exact clone of Zero. The only one, to my knowledge.”
With that, she opens the door to the front lobby and shuts it behind her. Wise can hear howling gusts of cold wind for a moment as she opens the main door to the outside.
Several moments of silence pass as he and Anby sit on the couch together, left alone once again. Anby seems to be deep within her own mind as she processes what just happened.
“Are you feeling alright? I don’t imagine that was easy,” Wise says softly, his voice filled with concern.
The injured girl slowly nods, her eyes still staring at some unknown point in the distance. Her voice is barely above a whisper as she responds. “I’m okay. It was good to see her.”
Wise does not respond at first. He gives her a few more minutes to process everything before he speaks. “Would you want to watch something?”
Suddenly, Anby crosses the small distance between them and wraps her arms around him. The injured girl’s orange eyes, shimmering with emotion, stare into his as she lifts her head.
“Please?”
Do you have a comrade…?
Wise yawns loudly as he leans one arm against the front counter of Random Play and puts his head in the palm of his hand. Yet another day of heavy snowfall and no customers. Although the manager appreciates having a break to relax, they do need to pay rent at some point. He checks his phone and realizes it is rapidly approaching midnight.
Anby is right next to him behind the counter on her own chair. The girl has rarely left his side in the last several days, almost always being in the same room as the Proxy and often as close as possible. Not that he minds, of course.
The injured girl’s eyes passively roam over her phone as she looks at nothing in particular. Just after Wise is done yawning, she does as well, covering her mouth with a small hand.
The manager looks down at the spectacle with a soft smile, thinking to himself how cute it is when Anby yawns. It is completely silent, unlike him and especially Belle, and she stretches herself out in a strangely catlike way. Wise quickly shakes the errant thoughts from his head once he realizes what he is thinking.
Approaching footsteps cause the two of them to turn toward the staircase leading to the second floor.
“Bro, just get one of the Bangboo to man the counter and get some rest,” Belle says with a tired expression. It seems the sister is tired as well, albeit from playing games and not working the counter.
Wise sighs and stands from the stool he has been sitting on for hours now. “That’s probably a good idea. Are you ready for bed, Anby?”
“Mhmm,” the quiet girl says as she stands from her seat as well. She moves to be directly next to Wise, their shoulders nearly touching.
Belle’s blue eyes rapidly look between the two of them at a lightning fast pace. Whatever she is looking for, she does not seem to find. With a frustrated huff, she sprints back up the stairs and closes her door. The pair can hear the signature noise of her slamming down onto her bed through the floorboards.
“I wonder what’s gotten into her,” Wise says with exasperation.
“Hmm. Maybe she’s hungry?” Anby suggests helpfully.
The manager chuckles under his breath and shakes his head. “You say that about everyone.”
“Maybe everyone is hungry, then,” the injured girl counters while shrugging her shoulders.
With another laugh, Wise begins making his way up the stairs to the second floor. Anby follows immediately behind him. Her soft and careful footsteps are nearly inaudible even in the pervasive quiet of Random Play. Within a minute, they are inside the Proxy’s room with the door closed.
Wise prepares himself for sleep, which really only consists of taking his jacket off and changing into sweatpants. When he finishes his preparations, he readies himself to lie down on the couch for a good night’s rest. Lately, Anby has been joining him on the couch at some point during the night to sleep with him. The time at which she does so seems to get earlier and earlier with each passing instance.
The Proxy does not mind her presence in the slightest. He will admit that sleeping with another person seems to soothe some ache in his soul that he never knew he had until now, not to mention the extra warmth. However, he cannot help but feel a nagging doubt in his mind.
Anby is an odd girl, to say the least. As he learned several days ago, she has a lot of things in her past that she would rather not remember. Anything the manager can do to ease her obvious burden is something he will do eagerly.
But is it possible that that is the extent of her desire for intimacy? Does she feel something more than simple comfort when they sleep or watch movies together? Something deep down in Wise’s heart hopes that is the case.
If he is truthful with himself, Wise does not know the extent of his own feelings for Anby either. Whenever she is around, he feels an overwhelming sense of calm and comfort. Going from his Proxy work to spending time with her feels like stepping out of chaos and into quiet.
The answer consuming Wise’s mind is Anby’s feelings about him. The mercenary is difficult to read, to say the least. Is she just sleeping next to him for the practical reason of warmth? Or does his presence warm something deeper than her body in the same way she does for him?
“Wise? You’ve been staring at the wall for five minutes. Should I go get Belle?” Anby says quietly from directly beside him.
The mercenary’s words snap Wise out of the stupor he found himself in. Rubbing his neck sheepishly, he responds. “No, I’m alright. Sorry to worry you.”
Anby seems to accept his answer as she nods with understanding. Several moments later, her quiet voice speaks up again. “Would it be okay if you slept in the bed tonight?”
Wise tilts his head with confusion and asks, “Sure, I don’t mind. You want the couch then?”
The mercenary shakes her head. Her orange eyes look up into his as she elaborates. “No. You sleep in the bed with me.”
The Proxy immediately feels his face begin to heat up as she finishes her request. Having her join him in the middle of the night while he is on the couch is one thing. But going to sleep in the same bed feels like a whole new level.
“Are you sure?” Wise asks hesitantly.
“Yes. As long as it’s okay with you,” Anby responds immediately.
The manager is suddenly getting cold feet about agreeing. What if she actually does not feel the same? Wouldn’t it be weird for him to say yes? What if Nicole or Belle finds out? Would they be upset? A thousand doubts whirl through Wise’s mind in a fraction of a second.
However, it seems the choice has already been made for him. Two of Anby’s smaller hands grab one of his and gently tug him toward the bed. Meanwhile, her orange eyes look up at him expectantly. Wise makes up his mind on the spot.
The Proxy allows himself to be guided toward the bed, one step at a time. He gently lies down in it as soon as they reach it, holding the covers open for her.
Anby climbs inside next to Wise, careful not to disturb her headphones, and draws the covers down. Instantly, she scoots up to him and lies partially on top of his body. Her slender arms wrap around his upper torso, and her head rests in the crook of his neck and shoulder. The mercenary lets out a quiet sigh of contentment, almost as if she has been waiting for this all day.
Wise watches the scene unfold with a gentle smile. As soon as the soft skin of her hands touches his body, he can feel heat spread out from the point of contact and move through the rest of him. One of his arms wraps around her upper back, trying to provide further comfort to the injured girl.
They stay like that for several peaceful moments, simply enjoying the warmth of each other’s bodies and the comforting presence that accompanies it. To them both, this bed feels safe, warm, and protected from the outside world.
Wise looks down at Anby the whole time, studying every inch of her that he can see. Slowly but surely, the doubts in his head fade away. But he wants to be sure anyway.
“Anby, can I ask you a question?” the Proxy says quietly.
Her head slowly turns to look at him. Their faces are only a few inches apart. “Yes, of course.”
“Sleeping in the same bed is something that couples usually do,” Wise states hesitantly.
“Yes. I know. I’ve seen it in movies,” Anby says plainly.
“So, are you doing it just to be warm? Or is there something else?” Wise asks with apprehension.
The injured girl thinks for several seconds that seem to last an eternity. Finally, she answers with a quiet voice. “I’m not doing it just to be warm. I haven’t felt safe since I got injured, even with Nicole. Being close to you makes it seem like things are going to be okay.”
Wise’s heart picks up its pace. He takes a deep breath and responds. “I feel the same way. I feel so calm and warm when I’m around you. Not just my body.”
“Really?” Anby says, her orange eyes wide open.
“Really,” Wise responds with a gentle smile.
Neither of them speaks for a while. They simply gaze into each other’s eyes. Whatever they find in those orange and green pools of emotion seems to hold the answer to a burning question.
Anby lays her head back down on Wise’s chest and squeezes her arms around him even tighter, wanting to be as close to him as possible. “Does that mean we can do this all the time? I don’t want it to end once the others get back.”
Wise tightens his arm around her in response. His other hand moves to gently play with errant strands of white hair on her head. The feeling of the pale locks between his fingers feels right in a way he cannot explain.
“Of course we can do this all the time. I want it too,” he says gently.
Anby feels unshed tears pooling in her deep orange eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment. Finally, it feels as if the hole that was ripped out of her heart is beginning to heal. Someone she can trust completely and cling to in her time of need has been missing since her closest sister’s untimely death.
“We’re going to be sleeping in the same bed all the time. Does that mean we’re a couple?” the injured girl says hesitantly.
Wise cannot help but find the question slightly amusing. After chuckling softly under his breath, he responds. “Yes, I would like that. As long as you want it too.”
Anby’s head lifts slightly for a moment to stare back into his eyes. Her voice is barely above a whisper as she responds. “More than anything.”
The injured girl has a genuine smile of pure happiness on her features. All at once, it seems as if the weight of the world has been lifted off her shoulders. She gently lays her head back down on his chest, taking a deep breath of his scent that calms her body and soul, and drifts off into a dreamless sleep.
It’s alright to stop every now and again. If you want a moment’s rest, if you want to feel what other people feel…
“Are you sure you got everything you came with?” Wise asks Anby as she finishes zipping up her bag on the floor of the Proxy’s room.
“Yes. But I’m going to leave a few things here. I’ll be back tonight,” the mercenary says as she hoists the bag onto her shoulders.
Two more months have passed, and the Cunning Hares have finally wrapped up their court case and are returning to the Janus Quarter. The crisp air and gentle winds of spring are just beginning to arrive, sweeping away most of the snow and cold.
Although the couple once feared the news of the Cunning Hares’ return, they no longer do so. Their relationship has continued to blossom in the intervening time and turned into a nearly unbreakable bond. Regardless of the conditions, both of them take solace in the fact that they will find a way to be together in spite of their respective careers.
Belle is still fast asleep when a text from Nicole informs the couple that she is about to pull up to Random Play. Wise and Anby make their way down the stairs and into the front lobby of the store. The mercenary’s gait no longer carries a limp, her injuries having finally healed.
“I’ll see you later?” Wise asks as Anby moves to open the door that leads out of Random Play.
The mercenary turns around and gives the Proxy a gentle smile. Seemingly ignoring his question, she speaks. “There is something in the movies I’ve always wanted to try.”
Wise tilts his head curiously as he responds. “What would that be?”
With several quick steps, Anby closes the distance between them and plants her lips on Wise’s, rising onto the tips of her toes to reach him. Several seconds later, they separate, both of them blushing heavily.
“That,” Anby answers simply before opening the door and taking one step through it.
Turning around in the doorway to look at Wise once again, she speaks.
“I’ll see you tonight, Wise. Let’s watch a movie.”
You’re gonna carry that weight…