Chapter Text
"I thought you were told to make bi-weekly check ups the last time you were here." Zayne says, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I was..." I trailed off.
"Yet, the last time you were here was over a year ago," he pointed out, settling into his chair and placing my medical files on the desk with a deliberate thud.
"Yes, well... I'm here now. That's what counts right?" I laughed sheepishly. He doesn't crack a smile, cold as ice. Like usual.
"Why does everyone in the Anhausen class always refuse to follow doctors orders?" I hear him mutter under his breath and I try not to crack a smile knowing he was also talking about the Heroine. He grabbed his stethoscope and approached me with a clinical calmness.
"Now, let's listen to your heart," he instructed, his voice steady as he placed the cool metal against my chest. I felt a jolt of cold that made me shiver slightly.
"Take a deep breath," he instructed, leaning in to focus on the rhythm of my heartbeat. There's a small look of surprise or confusion in his eyes as he pulls back and picks up my chart again.
"You're Evol has stabilized a lot more. Have you been getting some sort of treatment?" He inquired and I thought about how I absorbed the Aether Core last week.
"Nope, not really." I say and I can see a hint of disappointment flash in his eyes.
"I see," he pauses.
"We're gonna have you run a few more tests. You tested positive for high traces of Metaflux, what do you do for living exactly?" He asks, picking up his clipboard.
"Is that really relevant, Doc?" I ask and he narrows his eyes at me.
"I mean Doctor Zayne." I say looking down.
"The recent high volumes of Metaflux in your bloodstream are abnormal. With your unstable Evol, it appears you may be on the cusp of Protocore Syndrome. I'll need to order some scans, I don't see that your previous doctor requested any. You were seeing... Doctor Noah?" he asked, surprise creeping into his voice.
"Ah yes, that sounds about right. However, that was a few years back, last year I saw someone else but I can't remember who," I replied, hopping off the crinkly white paper and making my way to a corner seat to lean back and regain my composure.
"I'm going to order a series of scans of your heart, and we'll discuss the results next week," he said, rising to head for the door.
"Well, that's not really going to happen. I just came in for a simple physical, and it seems you've told me I'm looking better than last time," I countered, rising to follow him.
"You have the start of Protocore Syndrome, which is a progressive and life-threatening illness. On top of that, your unstable Evol can lead to severe side effects if overused," he replied, blocking my path as I attempted to exit. I looked up into his striking green and amber eyes, momentarily captivated.
"My death doesn't scare me," I admitted looking down, shielding the unsettling truth that his resolve reminded me too much of the Heroine—a fact that sparked memories of my past, but that's not today's concern.
"As a doctor, it's my oath to try and save as many patients as I can," he stated solemnly before opening the door and stepping out, leaving me wrestling with the weight of his words and the implications of my fading health.
"Please, take your scans, and we will meet again next week," he instructed firmly before turning to leave, the door slamming shut behind him with a sharp bang that made me flinch. I shouldn't have talked about death so lightly with him. Although I also can't remember much of the game with him either, I do know that he also suffers from an Unstable Evol.
I opened the door and walked down the hall, each step echoing in the sterile corridor. As I turned the corner, I froze at the sight of Zayne and the Heroine just ahead. Zayne leaned down brushing something out of the Heroine's hair with a small smile crossing his face.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" A voice said behind me cause me to jump. I spun around to see a young looking man with brown hair, large black rimmed glasses, and a lab coat.
"Oh, actually..." I trailed off, glancing back just in time to see Zayne and the Heroine slipping out of sight.
"I'm lost, it's been a while since I was last here getting a checkup and I lost my way. Can you help me Doctor?" My voice wavered a bit, and I hoped my pathetic acting wouldn't be too obvious.
"S-sure," he stammered, his cheeks flushing a light shade of crimson, making me blink in surprise. Was he seriously getting embarrassed by a simple question? I couldn't help but grin at his awkwardness.
"Th-This way," he added, gesturing stiffly towards the elevators. As we walked, he struggled to strike up a conversation.
"So, what do you do for a living?" He asks. How I answered Zayne earlier seemed like the wrong response so I may as well give an answer this time.
"I'm a Hunter," I said, flashing him a warm smile, only to watch his face turn an even deeper shade of red as if my words set off a spark in him. The elevator chimed as it arrived at the first floor. "Thank you so much for your escort, Dr..?"
"Greyson." He says placing his arm behind his head awkwardly. There's something about him that seems a little familiar, like I've seen him before but I don't have much time to think about it.
"Thank you Dr. Greyson." I say as we walk out of the elevator heading to the front desk.
"Checking out." I say grabbing my phone from my back pocket checking the time.
"Your check-out paper, please?" The woman asks me, smiling.
"I'm sorry?" I replied, feigning confusion as my stomach twisted.
"When the doctor is finished with you, you'll receive a checkout paper so we can schedule any additional appointments," she explained patiently.
"Ah, that was what I left upstairs," I said quickly, hoping she wouldn't see through my flimsy lie.
"No problem! What was your name, and the doctor's name? I'll give him a call to confirm your checkout," she responded with ease. Ah shit.
"My name is Mephisto, and the doctor I saw was Dr. Zayne... but I saw his with a cute girl that looked like his girlfriend and I think I heard they went to get something to eat so I don't want to interrupt their date." I explained forcing a casual tone, based on the look on her face she knew I was referring to the Heroine. Maybe she chose the Zayne route? However, it's a difficult route choosing Astra's tool.
"When did he mention making your next appointment?" Dr. Greyson chimed in, tilting his head in an earnest way.
"I believe he said in six months," I replied, pretending to ponder as I looked up at the ceiling.
"But if the doctor needs to make an appointment sooner, you can give me a call, Miss. Yvonne," I say, turning back to the nurse behind the desk, glancing at her name tag. She takes a look at her watch, seemingly debating whether to call Zayne or not.
"It'll be alright, Yvonne. Please let Miss Hunter check out," Dr. Greyson interjected with a reassuring smile that seemed to relieve the tension in the air and Yvonne sighed.
"All set!" she said, smiling at me after a series of quick clicks on her keyboard.
"Thank you both! I'll see you in 6 months!" I chirped as I made my way to the exit. As I stepped outside I felt the cool air wash over me.
"How did everything go?" Sylus asked, leaning casually against his motorcycle just outside the hospital doors. I scanned the area for any sign of the Heroine before cautiously making my way toward him.
"What are you doing here?" I ask curiously.
"Here to take you home—hope that's alright," he replied, offering me a helmet with a reassuring smile. My gaze drifted to the arcade across the street, a place I had planned to visit after the check-up. Sylus chuckled lightly following where my gaze was.
"I suppose we could have a little detour for a game." He says, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Just one game?" I tease, a playful smile dancing on my lips as I pass him back the helmet.
"One game? Now you're testing my generosity," Sylus jokes, placing back his helmet on the bike and reaching out his hand towards me.
"Alright, five games then!" I countered, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of stepping into the arcade. He chuckled and nodded, clearly unable to resist the charm of a challenge. We walked across the street and the neon lights cast a warm glow that beckoned us inside. I notice there is a claw machine with a smiley dino and another of a crow that I had seen as an emoji recently.
"Wait, isn't that the emoji Luke and Kieran made of me recently after entering it in a contest?" O ask pulling out my phone comparing our messaged character to the plushie. I can't believe they made their emoji into a plush.
"Well, now we definitely need to get it," Sylus says with a grin, exchanging a $5 bill for a small handful of tokens.
"Who should go first?" He asks.
"You." I respond without missing a beat.
"Alright then," he says walking up to the claw machine with the crow.
"Of course you're going for that one," I say, unable to help my laugh.
"You got this!" I cheer as he steadies himself, one hand casually tucked in his pocket while the other grips the machine handle. He makes a calculated grab for the crow but just as he lifts it, it slips and tumbles back down.
"Oh no, my hand slipped. I wonder if a few more words of encouragement will help me," he says with a sly grin. As he moves the claw to try again I can't help but touch his arm, leaning in to catch a better view of his technique.
"One more nudge, and I'll be pressed up against the claw machine," he jokes and this time luck is on his side as the crow finally makes its way into the drop slot.
"A ruff-wearing crow... What a unique plushie design..." I trail off while grabbing the plushie from the machine. It's cute but looks nothing like how I look in my crow form.
"It looks great. It's refined, classy, and elegant," he defends, his eyes glimmering with amusement.
"Sounds like your taste in aesthetics," I reply with a playful smile rolling my eyes.
"I'll use them as a reference next time I choose a dress for you. Refined, classy, and elegant—these words suit you most," he teases, and I feel a blush creep across my cheeks.
"It's my turn now," I declare, grabbing a token and striding over to a nearby claw machine.
"It looks familiar," Sylus muses, his gaze fixed on the smiley dino inside.
"By the way, its smile reminds me of someone," I say, missing my first grab with the machine.
"Are you talking about me?" he asks, a knowing smile playing on his lips as I can't help but grin back, taking another token and giving it another go. This time I manage to lift the plush halfway up before it tumbles free, the dino slipping through my fingers.
"What made you think that? My smile is friendlier than the plushie's," he says, crossing his arms with a mock-serious expression. Just as he speaks, I take my last token steadying myself with a deep breath before skillfully maneuvering the claw. This time, victory is mine! I grabbed the dino and held it up excitedly. He smiles back leaning down to pat my head and a warm feeling fills my chest.
"Alright, I grabbed what I wanted. I'm pleasantly surprised you offered to play the claw machines with me today," I say, cradling both plushies as we make our way back to his motorcycle.
"What did you think I was going to have us do?" he asks, feigning bewilderment.
"You'd buy the arcade and declare that all the plushies here were under your care," I tease, laughing at the thought.
"...Your imagination is boundless yet short-sighted," he retorts, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his amusement. I gently place the plushies in my backpack, ensuring they are safe as he hands me my helmet. He hops onto the bike, and I swing my leg around, wrapping my arms securely around his back.
"You don't have to worry, Linkon City has speed limits unlike the N109 Zone," he chuckles, his laugh vibrating through my arms making me smile broader. I squeeze him a little tighter and his laughter erupts again as we take off. The city lights blur around us as we speed through Linkon City and as we reach the N109 Zone our speed picks up considerably. The sun is at the end of its sunset and the sky is a mix of beautiful shades of pink, purple, and blue.
As Sylus as I arrive to a high end shopping center, we're greeted by two rows of men wearing black suits. They bow and shout at the same time catching me off guard.
"W-what's this about?" I stammer, hastily removing my helmet.
"Kieran and the others arranged it. To give you a taste of how it feels to be the center of attention." he replies with a teasing smirk. My brow furrows.
"Was it on purpose?" I ask and he shrugs.
"This is nothing. Now, remember to maintain your 'demeanor.' " He says, placing his hand lightly on the base of my back.
"Will there be more arrangements like this in the future?" I whine lightly grabbing his upper arm
"Don't be so quick to question things." He says adjusting his hand to pat my shoulder.
"This is only the beginning.," he teases lightly, placing his hand back to my lower back, nudging me forward leading me to an elegant bar on the first floor. Surprisingly, it's right across from the photo booth where I had taken pictures with Sylus before. As we walk into the bar, the warm lights around us and gentle jazz music playing create a cozy atmosphere, and there are quite a lot of people here.
"I have a bad feeling about this..." I trail off.
"Here's the first rule: Stay calm," he whispers in my ear. We stop in the back of the bar, where there are red velvet seats watching over the rest of the place. Clearly, we are in the VIP section.
"This place seems really chaotic," I say, taking a seat in the large velvet chair, aware of the many eyes trailing us with every step.
"This will help you adapt to these sorts of situations ahead of time," Sylus replies, but I can't help but wonder why I need to get used to this kind of attention.
"Miss Hokage, your drink," a waiter dressed in black announces, sliding two drinks before us. Hokage? It seems like Kieran and Luke may have been indulging in one too many Naruto episodes recently.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Sylus asks, his voice hushed, curiosity evident in his eyes.
"That'll be all, you can go," I responded curtly, waving my hand dismissively at the waiter.
"Good, but that's not enough; if you don't show even a hint of aggression, you won't be able to keep others in check," he instructs, and I sense a hidden meaning in Sylus' words. My anxiety spikes as I take in the scrutinizing gazes around me—some obvious, others less so.
"This is child's play. I'm not scared. Didn't you say the first rule for you is 'staying calm?'" I retort, my clammy hands betraying the confidence in my voice.
"Should I let Kieran push you a bit more?" Sylus muses, pulling out his phone as if ready to make a call. In a panic, I quickly grab his sleeve.
"No need. I think it's good enough. We need to take this step by step." I say while taking a mental note to jump Kieran later for scheming this whole ordeal. He told me I needed to be more confident yesterday instead of focusing on the Heroine but I rolled my eyes at him ignoring everything else he had to say about the matter. He doesn't know the history of her and Sylus like I did.
"You're right. Turn around and look," he murmurs in my ear before stepping back, his demeanor shifting as he observes my reaction.
"Why?" I ask, confusion lacing my voice, but as I turn my head, I'm greeted by the sight of two drunken men—one tall and lanky, the other short with a staggered walk—heading straight for us.
"Was this also arranged by Kieran?!" I blurt out in a panic, my heart racing at the thought. Memories of my time with the Overlord flash in my mind, and I couldn't tell if Kieran was trying to help me face my fears or orchestrating a cruel intervention that capitalized on my insecurities today.
"Shouldn't be," Sylus replies, furrowing his brows with concern.
"They don't look friendly. Are there really that many people who don't know you?" I question, anxiety bubbling within me, and he responds with an exaggerated roll of his eyes.
"I'm not that infamous. Of course, I'd be a nobody to some. But remember, this is your turf now, and it's up to you to decide how to handle them," he instructs. He casually holds a glass of wine and adopts a nonchalant air, all while blending seamlessly into the crowd with his all-black attire. The relaxed confidence he exudes only amplifies my unease, leaving me to grapple with the growing uncertainty of the situation.
"I can handle slicing up enemies and their goons but... I don't know how to handle these people without a blade pressed against their neck." I admit feeling the weight of my inexperience with confrontation beyond combat.
"Relax. Handle it however you like," Sylus reassures me, surprising me further by placing the very blade I usually carry into my hand. My eyes widen in shock at the unexpected gesture, the cold metal grounding me amidst the chaos. .
"No wonder it's so lively tonight. Hey, Missy. Those people gonna back you up or what?" the tall, burly drunk man slurs as he saunters over, his presence looming like a thick wall beside his shorter companion as they stand by our table.
"You got a problem with that?" I shoot back, narrowing my eyes at both men.
"You brought a really nice gift. Don't you wanna be friends?" the shorter man chimes in, snatching the glass from Sylus' hand and gulping it down in one greedy motion.
"Tell us where your turf is and we'll pay you a visit one day," he says with a predatory smile, a surge of unease coursing through me as I try to suppress the trauma bubbling up within.
"We don't need to be friends. And as for my turf, I'm afraid you'll be hard-pressed in getting there," I retorted, looking them up and down with disdain leaning back in my seat, crossing my legs with deliberate composure.
"Show us some respect!" the tall drunkard barks but I barely glance at him, my eyes flicking to Sylus instead. He stands relaxed with his arms folded, a calm observer to the escalating tension. I unsheathe the blade and jab it into the table with a forceful slam and the blade standing tall.
"Why should I?" I shout causing their attention to snap to me and then to Sylus, confusion painting their features.
"H-He's...!" the shorter man stutters, gripping the tall man's shoulder as fear begins to seep into their eyes.
"...Hmph, let's go," the tall man mutters, his ego seemingly deflating as they both turn on their heels, scrambling away from the table.
"They left just like that? What the hell?" I ask in disbelief as I process the sudden retreat. My heart was still pounding with adrenaline but I felt a small spark of joy as I was able to push back slightly against the remnants of my past.
"A single look is enough," he says, confidently striding over toward me with an assured grin.
"It seems you haven't had your fill quite yet? Next time, there's something else you could say—" he pauses.
"Since you're here, you should leave something behind," he adds wickedly, an amused but wild glint in his eyes.
"Oh! That's quite the idea." I respond, thinking about his suggestion. It wouldn't be too bad to strike fear into people like that. He pats me on the head and warmth floods my cheeks as a blush creeps across my face, enjoying the praise.
"You can pass as a big, bad boss. Sort of. You did use your prop to your advantage," he observes, and I can't help but crack a smile, feeling a surge of confidence. I sheath my blade and secure it in the strap on my leg, having removed it earlier for my hospital checkup. Suddenly, he grabs my hand and begins to lead me away, setting my heart racing.
"Wait, where are we going?" I ask curiously.
"Darling, the second rule is to talk less," he replies playfully, guiding me back to the lobby of this high-end mall before we step into the gleaming gold and white elevators we ascend to the fifth floor.
"This is the place," he announces, gesturing toward a stylish shop that stands out amid the luxurious surroundings.
"What are we doing here?" I ask, confused as to why we were in a place filled with glasses behind display cases.
"Buying you something." He says looking at the fancy display cases that show rows and rows of sunglasses. The golden edges and inlaid diamonds sparkle with an enchanting light, all screaming luxury.
"Wait, is this supposed to be for another prop?" I question.
"Since you can't be inscrutable, use sunglasses to hide. Same effect," he suggests thoughtfully, scanning the rows before his eyes land on a pair that seems to capture his interest.
"These two," he says to the sales lady, his voice smooth and confident.
"Yes, Sir," she replies, slipping on white gloves before carefully taking the sunglasses out of their case. Sylus puts on the pair he took out and hands me the other one with a playful smile.
"Try it," he says, tilting his head slightly. I watch his slender fingers brushing against the edge of the frame before catching a glimpse of his deep eyes beneath the black lenses. They hold an intense gaze that feels almost like a challenge.
"Why are you staring at me?" He asks suddenly, I feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
"Oh, it's nothing. The sunglasses you chose are really nice," I manage to say, looking away.
"Only the sunglasses?" he teases, his grin widening. Without thinking, I snatch them from his hand and put them on.
"I get it. With these, I have a demeanor similar to yours," I say while glancing in the mirror behind me, realizing how our similar red eyes create an air of intimidation behind some simple shades.
"Let me see," Sylus says, pressing the back of my head gently to make me face him.
"Are you planning to kill with your eyes now?" he asks, raising an eyebrow clearly amused.
"Well, I was copying your look from the bar earlier," I reply, trying to maintain my serious facade.
"Don't smile. You need to frown," he instructs playfully, brushing his thumb over my lip, which makes my face heat up even more.
"Ugh, I doubt a single look can scare you," I say, turning away flustered.
"Personally, I never really cared about threats," he shrugs.
"Tell you what, if you scare me off with just a look, you win. Can you do it?" he challenges. I grab Sylus' collar and pull. Now that I'm closer to him, I give him the fiercest glare possible.
"Who said I couldn't?" I challenge, glaring hard into his eyes. For a moment, he blinks, taken aback, before a slow grin spreads across his face.
"It's a lot better now," he admits, raising his hands in surrender.
""Really?" I ask, surprised by his admission.
"My heart is racing." As he speaks, his breath brushes against my face, sending a shiver down my spine. He grabs my hand and places it on his chest, and he's right—his heart is pounding. The closeness only makes my face flush again, sending my heartbeat into a frenzy.
"So, are you going to give up?" I ask, locking my gaze with his behind the dark lenses.
"I surrender," he replies while gently lowering my hand back to my side, his tone teasing yet sincere.
"When you go out to practice your bad boss behavior, I'll arrange a group of 'bodyguards' for you later," he says, taking off his sunglasses and handing them to the sales lady, who has quietly observed us.
"What about you?" I pout slightly.
"I'm very expensive," he says with a grin, then an idea pops into my head.
"Don't worry, this big, bad boss won't be a cheapskate," I say with a smirk, sliding my hand into his front pocket where I know his wallet is tucked away. I pull out his sleek black card and hand it to the woman.
"We'll take these two out the door," I declare, and she accepts it with both hands bowing politely before disappearing momentarily.
"All right, whatever you say..." he chuckles, leaning down and gently nudging the sunglasses back up my nose.
"Boss," he says with a playful seriousness and I can't help but smile. This truly felt like a nice break after everything that happened. Like a calm before the storm. I better enjoy this while I can, who knows what will happen next.