#crowa miller(useless boss)

[uselessboss]

Crowa Miller's Circle

Wolf Hunter

Daniel Andrews

Hills Johannes

[kah-ocs]

Approval(2/2)

“Hey kiddo"

“Eek!”

You don't need to worry, I won't bite". Miller chuckled, sitting across the table so she would be facing him.

“S-Sorry I guess I am a bit skittish". Safir shuffles awkwardly. “H-Huh… Where's Saram…srein?”

“Told him to stay in the kitchen so we could talk alone" Miller replies. “So feel free to talk about anything that comes to your mind"

“I… Uhhhh…” Safir splutters, less than eloquent.

This wasn't a great start.

“It must be hard to think of anything to say under these circumstances right?” Miller smiles. “Then let me start by asking you the reason to why you accepted this job. After all, knowing Saram, he must have been very vague and sketchy about it"

“I… Had barely money left if any, my circumstances were so dire that I thought I would have nothing to lose”

He knew that didn't paint a pretty look at his situation but he had an inkling that the woman in front of him would be able to tell if he was lying so he saw no point in being anything but as honest and sincere as possible here.

“But I genuinely like this job now! I really like being here” he hastily adds.

“Life must have been very unfair to you until now." Miller's expression softens. “ Were you treated unkindly in the past?”

Safir meekly nods.

“I won't lie to you. Your situation worries me.” Miller rest her face on her hands. “Saram lacks the ability to influence you like other supernatural creatures and yet you still seem to be unable to assert yourself and he isn't the best person suited to help you with this process.”

“…”

He had nothing he could say to that.

“Saram holds the responsibility to look after you here but if I had to guess you didn't voice anything either right?” Safir flinches at her accurate observation. “Why is that?”

"…I thought he might get disappointed with me". Safir shrinks, almost curling on himself. "It was the first time someone thought I was worth something and I didn't want to disappoint.”

He hangs his head in shame.

“It… Might be irrational but I was deeply afraid of being hated.”

“You weren't being irrational" Miller says, making Safir snap his head up in surprise. “That's what experience taught you. If someone wants to hurt you it's only fair that you would treat them with wariness"

“…But Saram never did something like that"

“But he probably did something similar enough for you to reach such a conclusion right?”

Safir thinks back to all the moments he was set up to fail, placed under unreasonable circumstances so he would slip up eventually. How he was berated and it made him feel terribly worthless for it.

His heart squeezes in guilt.

“…Things like that make too much sense so it can be hard to believe otherwise.” She speaks kindly. “I once did something similar and even WORSE might I add.”

“You…Did?” Safir shyly asks.

“People looked down on me for many reasons. Some petty and others completely understandable." Her smile was sad. “ In fact, so understandable that I thought it couldn't be helped and nothing would be able to change that and yet…”

“…Yet?”

“Somehow, for some reason there were people that saw something good in me" She pauses, reminiscing. “They saw something good in me but the same couldn't be said from my part. More than them, more than anyone, I was the one to believe the most in being hurt and hated.”

“…”

“Even if they didn't want anything to do with such a role I kept pushing them to it. It was like I was forcing them to be something they didn't want to be"

She clenches her hands together, nails digging on her skin.

“Do you see what I'm trying to get at?” Miller asks, looking at Safir straight into his eyes. “I don't wish for either you nor Saram to go through what happened to me.”

“Can I… Ask what happened?”

“I destroyed them and ruined our relationship" Her voice was filled with regret. “And by pure miracle I didn't do the same mistake twice"

“What changed the second time?”

“That despite everything they still sought to stand by me.” At that her expression changed to something warmer. “That was the moment when the reason to why I should be hated stopped mattering and I realized for the first time that they were just a good soul. I finally gave them a chance to show what kind of person they really were and honestly? That fit them so much better"

It sounds nice.

The way she spoke so fondly of this person made Safir wonder about it. About how it would feel to have something so precious and treasured like that.

“Your name is Safir right?”

“Y-Yes"

“People usually feel frustrated at Saram because of his ‘limitations' and concludes that he can't be reasoned with so it really hurts him and makes him feel lonely." her eyes glints. “…But he told me that when you felt genuinely appreciative of his efforts, as clumsy as they were, he thought for the first time that he had the ability to ‘understand’ things.”

He flushes at that.

He didn't think there would be ever a day that he would mean so much to anyone or that he had something he could offer to someone.

It was a comforting thought.

“If you are willing to keep that in mind I wouldn't be against you staying here"

“Does that mean…?” His eyes widens, expectant.

“Yes. As long as you keep that in mind and a few other things". Miller nods, and Safir leans closer to make clear he was listening. “What we do here is saving lives so don't hesitate to ask for our help if you have any doubts"

Her face turn serious.

“So, if it's to save a life it wouldn't matter to me how many times and how many questions you have, I will gladly answer them.”

Safir nods, a bit more resolute to Miller’s satisfaction.

“And… This is a safe place, other supernatural beings wouldn't mess with you in Saram's territory" She pats his head. “ So use this opportunity to figure more about yourself. What makes you mad, sad, what you like, dislike and above all, what makes you happy alright?”

"I will"

"That sounds better". She smirks. "Just to be safe I will check on you two time from time ok?"

"Ok!"

"Glad you seem more enthusiastic about my presence". Miller joked. " Saram! I'm going home!"

"Now I understand why you hold her opinions in such high regards". Safir speaks softly.

"I'm glad you two got along well!" Saram looked ecstactic, enthusiasm bubbling from his voice.

"That said..." Safir hesitated for a moment, before concluding he would rather clear that question away. " Would you mind if I ask what would be the reason to why you would have agreed if she said 'no'?"

"Because that would mean that I couldn't be counted on to not be a threat to your safety"

"...Don't worry I won't allow that to happen"

"Huh??"

[uselessboss]

The Miller Family

Euryale Miller

Faust Miller

Grimoire Miller

Ente Miller

Crowa Miller

Howl Miller-Hunter

[uselessboss]

Case 01-Aftermath(3/?)

“Hunter told me about it so I thought about offering my help too.” Andrews explains. “…As long as it doesn't feel too crowded for the kid I mean.”

“I don't think Safir will mind.” She smiles. “Would it be ok to ask why the sudden decision? Just out of curiosity”

“I have been doing some thinking after talking with both you and Hunter” He smiles “And my conclusion was that I really don't like settling for a bad outcome after all. Staying idle sure doesn't fit me"

He gives her a knowing look.

He was acknowledging it. All those words said out loud as well as those left unsaid. About them and about himself, what he seeks out and what he wants to give back. She was sure of it, ever since their first exchange of words, that the man in front of her was someone capable of so much care and putting his heart into whatever he was set to do.

It's something she witnessed time and time again as his partner. The subtle twitch of his fingers itching to act, the glances of concern whenever he thought no one was looking, the small excuses he came up with to justify his involvement as he tried to downplay his contributions. Even after being disillusioned by betrayal after betrayal that cadence still remained somewhere in his heart.

It made her want to believe in him, it made her want to protect that light.

It wasn't the smoothest of the sailings. Both were very clumsy and awkward at their attempts at connecting with each other and perhaps even approaching it in all the wrong ways possible. Her coming too strongly and hasty and him not wanting to commit and suffer another heartbreak. Both unwilling to trust the other completely, at least not for the important things.

It wasn't an easy process to admit their vulnerability but still, they were getting there. Their roles might have changed from what it once was before but not their promise.

They are, at last, true companions and partners at heart.

“I will make sure to tell Safir. I promise to do my best to convince him to let you come along”

“Thank you Safir" He could picture Miller's whole expression lit up. “Ah, by the way, one of them, Andrews, was the one helping me with your case. He was the one in charge of Morrigan's investigation while I chased after your assailant "

“Then l have to thank him for it"

“I am sure he will appreciate your gesture. Your words… It will mean a lot to him"

Her voice was soft, oozing with affection and gratitude. It was much lighter than the last time they spoke, as if the weight on her shoulders had been lift. Perhaps thanks to those friends of hers?

It was rather reassuring thought. Miller might be strong and always looking out for everyone but she wasn't invincible, so he was glad that she had people that could be there for her when she was in need for support herself.

“I am looking forward for the day we meet.” He smiles. “See you soon Miller"

“...Were you talking with Miller about your outing?”

“Oh? Hello Saram" he greets after pressing the button to end the call. “ Yes, Miller was asking if she could invite her friends to come along”

“Her… Friends? Are them per chance called “Hunter" or “Andrews”?”

“Do you know them?”

“Mostly in passing. I meet them whenever I am summoned for a supernatural case but we don't interact much if at all"

“But would you like to? I mean, you could join us. It would be the perfect chance for that”

“I… Am not sure" Saram hesitates. “I don't think they like me so I might makes things awkward”

“How so? By the way Miller talks about them they seem to be pretty friendly"

“They are good people” he nods. “It's just that…”

Saramsrein makes a complicated face. His gaze drops and he twiddles a lock of his hair in deep thought. It was a habit he picked to occupy himself to ease his nerves whenever he wanted to share something deeply personal and important to him.

“Him?”

“Faust. He's Miller's grandfather" Saram clarifies. “He was the first human to ever “defeat" me. The only one who could have done it"

His existence was impervious to harm and any attempt at hostility which included most sealing techniques. To bypass his absolute protection one must aim to not cause any damage to him nor carry any resentment in doing so. A nigh impossible task, inhuman creature or not, as the “Demon of Unravel" he was the most dreaded creature in existence. He was meant to be rejected and despised by all living beings that walked this earth.

“Faust didn't hold any ill will towards me. Even through I was an irrational killing beast when we first met he didn't hate me. The only thing in his heart was… The immense love he held for this world and his desire to protect its future. Even if he had to bet his life for the chance to keep it flourishing he gladly did it. No matter how many times, no matter how many lifetimes he had to sacrifice for it, he never once hesitated.”

And from this unlikely meeting of unending battles, when by all accounts it should have given birth to strife and hatred… It created a “bond".

“In a weird sense those battles were the closest thing to a “constant" I had. A… Weird “companionship" of sorts.” Saram stares at his hands again, opening and closing his palm. It still looked like of a human's physically, but mentally he saw his sharp claws in its place. He saw a deep red. Blood, HIS blood. “I started to crave more of this “companionship", but my mind was of simple minded brute, fighting was the only thing I knew of and that's what I went with. I fought, harder and harder, until I landed a decisive blow on Faust in our last bout"

Looking back at it perhaps that was the first sign of his sense of self taking shape. The first sprout of the seedlings of his so called “identity”.

Before he didn't care about the damage and sorrow his actions caused. He didn't care about the lives he took, he was completely indifferent.

And yet, at that fateful moment, when he found Faust at his mercy after a decisive blow he hesitated. For the first time he found himself faltering and being invested in the outcome of a battle. As unbelievable as it sounded, specially as Faust's still warm and fresh blood dripped from his monstrous claws and from the huge gashes left in his battered body, he did not want to kill him.

“Faust extended his kind hand and gave me a chance. As long I promised to not kill any human again he would show me another path.” He reminisces. “I complied to his request and in turn he granted me… Fulfillment. He allowed me to be not only part of his life but also of his own family."

Those were the happiest years of his eternal existence.

However…

“But something happened and you were forced to break your promise right?”

Wordlessly, Saram gets up and picks a folder from the top of one of the shelves, giving it up to him, his expression looking the most serious and grave Safir had ever seen.

As he carefully opens the folder he finds several clippings inside it. Newspapers and printed articles about a case that happened years ago, about a gruesome bloodbath of unprecedent proportions enacted by an individual that should be, by all accounts, regarded as an example of an upstanding individual.

It was about Miller.

"Miller was always overly emphatic and kind, moreso to ones that couldn't be heard. It was also one of the reasons to why she became a cop, to help grieving spirits to go to Eternity in peace"

'See this? It’s the result of me dropping my guard. If you are not careful enough this kind of thing can ruin your life'

"And yet the same courtesy can't be said to have been extended to her. After failing to bring a corrupt culprit to justice their victims' malice got out of control. They demanded revenge of her to quell their wrath, torturing her day after day until she was mentally broken enough for them to take control of her body. So they could inflict the same pain and misery that was inflicted on them."

And the result of that was…

Safir's eyes scanned the content of the articles again.

Anger, hatred, ressentment, slander and hostility.

He couldn't even begin to fathom the amount of torment Miller was forced to endure- Mind, body and soul. It brought to mind Saram's strong reaction days ago, his panic attack towards the scent of "burning flesh" and his rambling over failing to save her over and over again. He had an inkling since then that they had been masking their pain for a long time, that it ran far deeper and rawer than was downplayed by them, and with this talk it seemed that his suspicions had been spot on.

"She got stigmatized by other humans. Hated, loathed and derided to the point of trying of having attempts made against her life. Even while she laid on a hospital bed barely alive and defenseless. They didn't give her any mercy nor respite".

Saramsrein's voice drops. Low, guttural and threatening. His sharp irises growing thinner, longer, making his eyes look bigger and more intense than usual.

"I killed them all. Anyone who dared to hurt her." he growled. "I thought that by doing that I was protecting Miller, that I was keeping her safe, avoinding further harm to befall on her but…"

'… After a series of missing cases that happened around the time Miller was in the hospital I was put under arrest on the suspicion of being the responsible for it'

"I caught others in the crossfire. Just like the spirits that hurt Miller, my selfish actions brought suffering to others, even the one I was trying to protect." The growl in his voice disappeared, being replaced with deep regret and sadness in its place. "Her friend, Andrews, just wanted to stand by her side and be her strength but my meddling ruined that. He was blamed for the deaths and in turn Miller was forced to cut ties with him. To fix my mess and protect him from receiving further backlash, leaving her to face the world all on her own"

"On her own?"

"I was a coward. After Miller found out what I did she reacted to me with fear. My actions reminded her too much of all the traumatic things she went through." he confessed. "And I… Was taken aback by her reaction. I was confused and filled with a sense of shame and I didn't know how to handle it so I just… Disappeared. Out of the human world"

Out of her life.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"Are you ok Safir?" Miller asked.

"Huh?"

"You look rather pensive"

'Somehow I could make amends with Miller after what happened but the same can't be said about her friend. I wish I could have him the truth. He deserves it after all the grief I also put him in but… I'm unable to do so.'

Because of their involvement with the supernatural.

"Miller, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Are your friends aware of your secret? About your powers, Saram or the supernatural?"

"Hum… It's a rather complicated situation. Unlike us who are more inclined to accept the supernatural because of our affinity the reaction of normal people can be rather unpredictable." Miller hums. "So I didn't tell them. YET"

"Yet?" he raises an eyebrow at her phrasing.

"Yes. I do plan to one day tell them everything. I just need to take small steps, one at the time, in order to prepare them for it. For the truth"

So that means…!

Maybe… Just maybe, there's a possibility for Saram to reconcile?

"...We arrived at our meeting place" Miller announced. "Ready to meet my pals?"

"Yes, gladly" Safir gave her a confident grin.

"Technically they are my subordinates while on clock but on practice they are my equals" Miller chuckles. "Althrough, in Andrews' case you could argue he's the "real boss" as he oversees and directs my unit most of the time"

"Nah, I would still call you our boss Miller, the final say is still yours" the man Safir identified as Andrews grinned. "So you are the kid Miller was talking about huh? Nice to meet you, I'm Daniel Andrews, but you can call me Andrews like all my buddies do"

"I'm also happy to be able to meet you, my name is Safir" he polited greeted. "Miller told me about how you were in charge of my case. I don't have enough words to express my gratitude for what you have done for me. so thank you"

"I… Uh?" Safir blinks in confusion.

Miller's friends sure are… Quite a character themselves huh?

"Sorry kiddo, I was just surprised" Andrews chuckles. "People usually don't take well when we "fail" at our jobs so it caught me off guard. You are more chill than I expected"

"I'm not new to losing a "home". When you live on the streets you learn quickly enough that crying about the unfairness of the situation is useless" he lays it bluntly. "Most of the time you can only count on yourself to get out of this situation so your time is better spent doing something about it than walling about your losses"

"Oh.I… See"

Now it's Safir's turn to chuckle at his rather awkward reaction.

"That's why I appreciate yours and everyone's gesture. Not only for providing me a place that I can genuinely call "my home", but also for not letting all my efforts and progress go to waste. It's nice to have people to count on for a change"

"… You are really mature huh?" Andrews smiles. "Perhaps the most mature of everyone here"

"Indeed he is. Safir has a good head over his shoulders" Miller grins, like a proud mother. "He's very reliable"

"Would you mind if I asked how you two met? Miller mentioned that you contacted her directly about Morrigan so I can only assume you knew each other prior to this case right?" the silver haired man interjected. "Ah, I'm Wolf Hunter by the way, like Andrews here you can address me by "Hunter" as well"

"Actually I was introduced to her by Saram… I mean, Saramsrein. I'm also currently living in his home"

Miller's friends exchange a look in surprise.

"That… Comes off as a surprise. He seemed rather… "Awkward" with interacting with anyone that isn't Miller. How did you two even met?"

"Let's just say that it was all thanks to his dorky and clumsy attempts at making friends" he smiled.

"Hum…" Hunter taps his chin in deep thought. "I guess it might explain some things. Namely his change"

"His change?"

"Well, as I said he still acts a bit awkward with us but it isn't as bad as it was before. Let's se… How should I put it?" Hunter trails off. "Before he was somewhat emotionless and standoffish to an almost eerie degree if I'm being honest but now he seems more… Approachable? Expressive? At least he greets us now"

They are indeed good people.

"You said your name was Hunter right?"

"Yes?"

"You are exactly as Miller has described. You are a pretty sensitive soul aren't you?"

"T-That's"

"He's also very easy to fluster" Miller grins mischievously as she places an arm around Hunter's shoulder. "If he ever tries to be mean to you then feel free to bully him back"

"Why would I- Anyway. The list. Do you have an inventory of the lost property and current possessions you have?"

"Yes, here it is"

"Hum… You have the basics covered but I think there's still room for a few purchases to be made" Hunter assess the list.

"Like what?"Safir blinks, scooting closer.

"An extra blanket for starters" Hunter points. "You will need a spare if you wash the one you already have right? We could check a store that sells sewing supplies"

"Sewing supplies? Not a store that sells blankets itself?"

"Personally I prefer a custom blanket. If you put a zipper on it and buy the stuffing it makes it so much more versatile as you can choose how thick you want your cover. It also makes it easier to wash, which reminds me that we should buy some washing bags too."

"Ah, but I don't know to sew"

"Don't worry I can do it for you" Hunter gives a pause. "…Or teach you how to do it if you are interested, sewing is a very useful skill to learn after all"

"Ah… Would that be ok?"

"Of couse. I can send you my schedule and then you can pick whichiever day would suit you best"

As an orphan he never got to experience what it was like having a family of his own. He never met his parents nor had any siblings to speak of. He lived with other kids at the orphanage sure, but he would hardly call his relationship with them or the staff as "familial".

"When I purchase something I take in consideration three things: Utility, space and time." Hunter explains."Take for example this vegetable cutter: You could argue that you don't need it as the same thing could be accomplished by using a knife but the amount of time it saves you while cooking makes it worth it. This model in particular doesn't take much space either and the design is easy to clean so it's pretty practical to mantain"

"Oh! I see" he turns the offered gadget around in curiosity. "Hey... Hunter? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, feel free to ask me anything"

"The things you are telling me… Were you taught by your parents?"

"Yes. Some of them, but other tricks I learned on my own when I started living by myself"

"Is that so?" He smiles softly. "...It's something wonderful isn't it? Sharing knowledge and life experiences with another I mean. It makes me wonder if this is… What the so called "family bonding" is supposed to be like"

It was a nice thought to have. To think that he could have something to offer for others. To wonder about the possibility of having a family, a child of his own whom he could pass everything he learned. To help with someone's growth just like others did for him.

"You two seem to be getting along"

"Ah! Miller" Both chorused.

"I had a feeling that would would've been the case. You both share a similar disposition towards being dutiful, earnest and diligent after all"

"T-That's..." Safir sees as Hunter stutters and flushes a deep red.

"I never saw you being so enthusiastic like this before Hunter, it's kind nice" Miller chuckles. "Honestly even I felt tempted to buy this stuff, maybe I should drop more often at your home Safir to test it out?"

"Yeah, good thing Hunter decided to take the path of justice and be a cop otherwise we would have to deal with a scary scammer in our hands" Andrews nods jokingly.

"Why a scammer of all things? At least say I would be a good salesman" Hunter complains, making everyone laugh.

"Ok, jokes aside I guess it would be my turn now?"Andrews grins. "Miller told me you need help picking new clothes right?

Andrews, in contrast to the more reserved Hunter, was a mischievous and outgoing man. Friendly, approachable and the kind to encourage you in your exploits. He was a complete social butterfly.

"So, what kind of clothes are you looking for?"

"Well... I do, uh... "Parkour", so something sturdier?"

"Denim it is then. Pants, overalls or maybe even a jacket. It would also allow you to use cheaper fabrics underneath them. Thick wool would also do the trick" Andrews taps his chin as he browses through the clothes. "As for types of clothes you could wear... How about this one?"

"But isn't this one from the woman's section?" Safir blinks as he stares at the piece given to him: A cozy and thick sweater with a long knit skirt. "It is pretty, but would that be ok?"

"Men's clothes can be rather limited in selection, their designs are too samey in my humble opinion." Andrews ruffs. "It's a boon to be able to pull off those clothes so why not go for it?"

"You have a point." he looked at his reflection on the mirror, placing the clothes in front of him. It looked nice. Nicer and more fitting than he expected in fact. "That said, I'm stipulating a hard budget on it. Let's not go overboard with the purchases ok?"

"Okie-Dokie, you are the boss today" Andrews made a salute as if he was answering to a Sergeant.

"Pff... Ha... Haha"

He couldn't stop his giggling fit.

How reassuring.

"Is what I said that funny?" Andrews grins cheekily.

"I wasn't really thinking about it but I guess I WAS a bit nervous" he takes a deep breath to calm himself. "I knew that you two were good people, Miller told me as much, but I couldn't help but worry. The age gap and you being regarded so highly by Miller... But I guess that my fears seemed to be completely unfounded. You two are pretty easy to get along with"

"We should be the ones saying that. What if we were called "old farts" by someone younger? Man, I don't think our frail hearts would have been able to take it" Andrews dramatically wipes a imaginary tear from his eyes.

Another round of laughters.

He's glad he agreed to Miller's request.

"How about this one?"

"We already reached the quota, I think it should be enough"

"I can buy it for you, no problem"

"No, you don't really need..."

"C'mmon, it has such an unique style it would be a shame to pass it on! What if it goes out around the time you decide to buy it? Just this once should be fine right?"

"Still..."

"Nah, you know what?" Andrews swipes his credit card out. "You can't stop me from making bad life decisions!"

Oh? So that's how he wants to do things huh?

He tapped the charm infused with life force in his pocket.

"Just this much should be fine"

Before Andrews could move another step, he somersaulted above his head, easily snatching the card from his hand and landing with practiced grace.

"No. You do not" He waved the card in his hand. "Don't worry, I will give it back AFTER we finish our shopping"

"Wow! That's rare to see someone get the upper hand on you Andrews" Miller claps. "Good job Safir"

"Indeed. Kid is more shrewd than I thought" Andrews nodded, crossing his arms. "Very well, I will concede... For now"

He was smiling.

"Thank you for your cooperation"

He sighed in relief and smiled, glad that he didn't overstep any boundary.

Teasing and playful banter isn't something he was well versed with. For someone that lived most of his life in fear of displeasing others it wasn't something that came easy to him. People hurt him for little and disproportionately retaliated for less so he had avoided stepping out of his comfort zone as much as he could until now.

But watching the trio in front of him share in laughters as they playfully jabbed at each other he couldn't help but think...

Isn't that what it meant to be close to another? To find out where each other's boundaries lied? To be comfortable at sharing even silly moments and being able to laugh at them?

He chuckled to himself.

Now he found himself almost wanting to tease Saramsrein a bit.

"What kind of reaction he will have I wonder?"

-=-=-=-=-=-

"...Phew!" Andrews stretched, popping his back in place after dropping their shopping inside the car. "Mission accomplished!"

"Thank you two for your help" Miller smiled.

"It was a nice outing. I wouldn't mind doing something similar again" Hunter nodded as he placed everything in an organized and neat pile inside the trunk.

"I also think the same. I had a wonderful time, thank you" he laughed in agreement.

"Why are you guys talking as if it's time to say our farewells?" Andrews raises as eyebrow as everyone blinks in confusion."C'mmon, we worked really hard, now it's time to wind down and have some fun right?" A pause. "Not that all this shopping spree wasn't fun, but I mean we should do something more... "Recreational" if you know what I mean?"

"Hum... I guess you are right" Miller tapped her chin. "What do you suggest then dear partner?"

"Well..."

"...An indoor amusement park?" Safir blinks.

"Yep! This place has one, that's why I suggest for us to come to this mall" Andrews winks. "The rides here are nice even if it's not your thing. It isn't as scary as the big ones"

"But why an amusement park?"

"Well... Our lives don't lack any "excitement" I know, but sometimes it's nice to be able to have our fill of thrills without having to stress over possible dangers right?" Andrews explains as he pays for the tickets. "Just the normal kind of excitement. No jumping over crumbling buildings while being carried like a bag"

"Hey, I never once dropped you guys!" Miller protests.

"Miller, carrying us under your arms would hardly be called safe" Hunter deapanned. "I swear I lose years of my lifespan every time you do that"

This makes Miller pout again.

"Experiencing thrills for the sake of it huh?" Safir mumbles to himself.

"Hey guys I got the tickets! Let's go!" Andrews calls.

"...I think it's good thing" Miller inches closer, whispering to him as they wait in line for the ride. "Sometimes it's good to have a nice memory to be associated with your experiences"

Miller throws a quick glance at Hunter's direction, her eyes incredibly warm and fond.

Something told him that there was a story there, but he held back from asking.

After all he would have many opportunities to ask about it in the future, perhaps even from Hunter and Andrews themselves. It would be nice to get to know their perspectives too.

"And speaking of perspectives...."

The ride was surprisingly fun. He didn't have to concern himself with things like worrying over his step nor traversing dangerous paths. The belt and other safety procedures did a great job at reassuring him and as Andrews said he could enjoy the excitement and thrill without a care in the world.

"That was nice"

"Isn't it? I'm glad you liked it" Andrews grins, before turning to Hunter. "Hey Hunter what do you think? This ride wasn't that bad right?"

"Past me would never touch it with a 10 meter pole, but I guess... It wasn't as awful as I thought. Maybe whatever Miller makes us experience on a daily basis amped my immunity to this kind of thing"

"Hahaha! I guess so" Andrew barked in laughter. "Ah, speaking of Miller where is she?"

"She had to step out because she received a call"

"Oh. A call?"

Suddenly the once cheerful mood dropped.

"Why are you two..."

"I'm sorry everyone" Miller interrupted. "I... Was called for a case"

"Should we go too?"

"No." Miller shakes her head. "It's an "off-limits case" sort of deal."

Off-limits...

That meant it was a supernatural case.

"...I apologize for asking this but can I ask you two to take all the purchases to Safir's home in my stead?"

"Yes, of course"

They were both smiling as they helped Miller unload all the packages but... He could sense it. The deep heaviness in their heart. The restlessness. The worry.

"Then I will be off" Miller closed the door of her car. "Thank you two"

"Take care of yourself Miller"

"Will do"

And with that she was off.

"... Shall we go then?" Hunter was the first to break the silence.

"Ah... Yes"

They traveled completely in silence. The atmosphere so thick with tension that he could easily cut it with a knife.

"You are worried about her" He tried to start a conversation.

"Ah. Did you pick on that? My bad. We didn't mean to bring the mood down" Andrews replied. His voice lacking the earlier humor and laughter of before.

"We know Miller is strong. We know she can take care of herself" Hunter quietly spoke. "It's just that... Whenever a case like this comes up we get a weird bad feeling about it so we can't help it. Specially after everything she went through. We can't help but worry"

Safir recalls the articles Saram showed him about Miller's case. All the pain and suffering she went through. The lack of support, all the accusations, the hate she had to endure on her own.

That's why they were so devoted to her. To make up for the time they were unable to help her and to relieve her from the burdens she had to carry all by herself until now.

To reassure and remind her that she wasn't alone anymore.

What to say in a moment like this?

"Miller knows you two care" he carefully picks his words. "Which is why... She will answer in kind to your feelings. So keep having faith in her alright?"

"...Yeah, you are right, she never failed to answer our expectations" Andrews chuckles.

"That's the kind of person Miller is after all" Hunter agrees, a smile forming in the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you Safir"

Their auras...

They were serene now.

=-=-=-=-=-=

"...Thank you for helping me carry everything" Safir bowed his head as they finished taking out the last batch of things.

"No problem"

"Why don't you two take a small break? Would you accept a cup of tea? I plan on brewing Chamomile."

"Yeah, I think I will accept your hospitality" Andrews replies as he drops on a nearby chair, streching his limbs once again like a lazy cat.

"I will take the cup of tea" Hunter nods, sitting straight.

"While I brew the tea would you mind telling more about yourselves?" He hums as he fills the kettle with water. "Like... How was your first meeting with Miller? She never told me the specifics, so I'm rather curious"

"Ah. That..." Hunter awkwardly rubs the back of his neck.

"I wish I could say it was all daisies and sunflowers when we first met but that would be a lie. It was so... SO BAD. For both of us" Andrews weakly laughs. "If you knew our stories you would probably lose your respect for us"

"But your gazes are gently and warm now right?" He carefully pours the tea in the teacups, bringing his own cup as he sits closer to them. "And the same applies to Miller. It's clear how much she adores both of you"

He thinks back to his own first meeting with Miller. How skittish and wary he was. He wasn't acting antagonic towards her but he still treated her with caution, projecting past demons, assuming, in his own way, the worst of her.

But Miller was kind to him. She was patient. She understood where he was coming from and was always considerate of his feelings. Of his well-being.

It was the reason to why he came to trust her. Because of her endless compassion.

"Miller really has a way to put restless hearts at ease doesn't she?" he chuckles.

"Yes, she does" Andrews and Hunter respond in unison before laughing at their synchrony.

"If it's ok with both of you I would still like to hear about the story of how you met"

"Well, If you are really ok with it..."

Their story was something else.

Becoming bitter and apathetic after experiencing betrayal after betrayal and then unknowingly perpetuating the cycle by refusing to cooperate. The result of his actions ending up getting Miller hurt and then trying to turn a new leaf only for it to things to go to hell afterwards because of the "incident".

Hounding someone under a misguided attempt of enforcing justice, continuously hurting her with harsh words and actions, being stubborn and biased at first, trying not to acknowledge the truth out of pride, but slowly, but surely coming around to see who Miller truly was and doing his best to atone for his sins.

"It is still hard to know what she saw in us to give us a chance." Hunter spoke. "...But we are gladly that she did. Otherwise we would still be ignorant fools. We are grateful to her"

"But did you really change?"

"What do you mean?"

Thinking back to the way they behaved during their outing it didn't seem that it was that different from what they are doing before. At least in nature. Only the way they "approached" things that seemed different in his opinion.

"Apathetic disregard to an easygoing and friendly outlook. An obstinate vindictiveness to a compassionate and unyielding heart. Paranoia to prudence" Safir lists. "Two sides of the coin that could swing to either side depending on how you approach things."

It must have been the same for Saramsrein.

When he first listened to his story he didn't feel fear. He didn't feel disgust. In fact he didn't even want to criticize nor denounce him for his sins. Because forgiveness wasn't what Saram expected from him when he shared his deepest secrets. No, he wasn't expecting anything at all.

What Saramsrein was trying to do was to do right to him.

Because that was what he honestly believed i. That it was the correct thing to do. Just like his misguided attempts at emulating other demons or the retaliation towards those who sought out to harm his loved ones. Just like he him fumbling his attempts at being a good charge and now telling him about the dark parts of himself. Him being hated wasn't even a consideration because to him, what was the most important was the though of him deserving to know the truth.

"The truth..."

Saram wanted to tell the truth to those two as well.

"And after listening to their story? I can see why."

'I do plan to one day tell them everything. I just need to take small steps, one at the time, in order to prepare them for it. For the truth'

Miller seemed to think the same.

They deserved to know the truth.

"Say, you two..."

Do you want to know the truth?

[uselessboss]

Character Bio - Crowa Miller

As someone born with strong spiritual powers and "spiritual affinity" Miller was blessed with physical prowess beyond of that of a regular human. The ability to see the unseen and the capacity to pick on lingering emotions.

Those powers made her be ostracized for most of her life by her peers who deemed her "creepy" and even earned her the nickname "Queen of Crows" for her uncanny ability to resolve cases of missing deceased people.

Miller at her core is a very nurturing, patient and empathetic person, the later trait being exacerbated by her "spiritual affinity", which can sometimes work to her detriment as it makes her prioritize other people's wants and needs over her own. She's also very emotionally driven so she can be unknowingly biased at times and take failures very badly due to the lack of emotional strength.

At first she had a rather reticent, shy, lonely and quiet personality but thanks to the influence of those who later become important to her Miller grows to be more extroverted, confident and open to others.

[uselessboss]

Case 01 -Aftermath(2/?)

“I can't believe we fell asleep like this"

Miller was worn out. Both physically and emotionally. So when she fell asleep on him he didn't have the heart to wake her up so he let her be.

“I hope you got some decent sleep” He whispers, tucking Miller's hair behind her ear. “Even if your sleeping arrangement wasn't… Ideal"

He did consider his options.

Taking her to her room was out of consideration. He might have gotten more used to hanging out at Miller's home but entering a woman's room while she was unconscious was were he drew the line. That was her privacy right there and he would never intrude its sanctity.

So couch it was.

But when he tried to adjust his grasp so he could place her on the couch Miller suddenly tightened her hold on him as if unwilling to let go. She buried her face on his neck and he could swear to God that he felt her nuzzle against it, making his entire skin tremble with goosebumps that rivaled the strong beat of his drumming heartbeat.

It was a dangerous situation.

It was a predicament that could be easily solved if he woke her up, but he already resolved himself to let her rest. She needed it.

So he waited. Until she loosened her grasp and then he would try again.

"And then I fell asleep" he chuckled. "I was lucky she was hugging me under my jacket. At least I could take it off to cover her so we wouldn't be too cold"

He carefully pried Miller off him, having a bit more success this time. She made some noises of protest due to the loss of warmth as the jacket slid off her body but otherwise remained asleep.

He covered her once again with his jacket. His gaze soft, amused and fond as Miller let out a content sigh as she burrowed herself in the clothing as if it brought a sense of comfort and peace to her.

"How cute"

Somehow he found himself saying that a lot recently.

Watching the starry sky, chatting at night, sitting together and doing something as mundane as drying her hair off. Unimportant actions in the grand scheme of the things but so precious to his heart. Of Miller living a normal life like everyone else- He cherished those small and simple moments. They were important to him.

"That's why... You don't need to overdo it Miller."

He stroked her hair.

Sometimes he was overcome with this... Strange urge to dote on her.

At first he thought it was just a protective feeling born out of worry for her well being. An instinctual desire to provide comfort whenever she was upset. But those kind of thoughts remained even when it wasn't the case. He found himself constantly thinking about her.

"Maybe I should cook something"

She probably skipped meals so maybe a savory pie? It won't substitute a proper meal but depending on the options for fillings he could wipe up something a bit more nutritious for her.

He checked her pantry.

Corn, peas, canned mackerel, shallots and tomatoes.

Good. Those would make for great fillings.

He cut the shallots and tomatoes in small cubes, putting them in separated containers, doing the same for the canned corns and peas after thoroughly washing them. For the canned mackerel he smashed them apart with a fork.

With every ingredient on the ready he placed them inside a big salad bowl and mixed them, sprinkling just a little bit of salt here and there just in case and then carefully distributing it inside the cooking tray he set apart for it.

For the dough he would usually place everything inside a blender and turn it on, but to avoid making too much noise he opted to mix the flour, milk, egg and butter with a wooden spoon first before he placed it on the blender to finish the process up. After being satisfied with the color of dough he used it to cover the ingredients in the tray, making sure to smooth the surface so the pie would come as even as possible.

"Hum... Perhaps I should cut some fruits for dessert" he mused as wiped his hands after washing the dishes. "It will take a while for the pie to be done so it might help to kill some time as well"

Apples, bananas, pears and magoes. Perfect! It would make for a nice variety to pick from.

"Something smells good"

"Good Morning Miller" he greets.

"Morning'" she replies as she covers her yawn with her hand.

She's still wearing his jacket.

"I... Uh... I was making a savory pie and cutting some fruits for breakfast" he quickly turns away, his cheek and ears burning. "I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen. I will make sure to restock everything I used later"

"There's no need for that. I don't mind" she shook her head. "Besides, I am the one being blessed here. Your home cooked meals are lovely"

"I figured you probably didn't have enough time to eat a proper meal so I thought of making something more nourishing. That's why I used mackerel, corn, peas and shallots as filling. I hope it's to your liking"

"You spoil me too much Hunter" she chuckles. "If you are not in too much of hurry then would you like to stay for breakfast? You know, considering you are already here and all"

"Of course"

"Oh! Yes, before I forget here's your jacket. Thanks for letting me have it. I hope you weren't cold because of me"

"I wasn't. Don't worry" he put the jacket back. It smelled like the shampoo from her hair. A gentle and fresh scent. "You were really warm"

"How cute" He thought once again, hiding a smile behind his hand as he watched Miller.

Meanwhile Miller was oblivious to his stares. Her attention completely fixated on the steaming pie in the middle of the table. She rested her chin on her hands, swaying from one side to another, like a child waiting with anticipation to open her Christmas' present.

"I think it might be cool enough to eat now"

"Ah! Good! I can't wait to see what it tastes like"

"Careful. Just in case blow on it first"

"Will do"

He never got tired of watching Miller's reactions.

She's so expressive. Specially when she likes something. Her entire face lit up with joy and her enthusiasm is contagious. The kind of appreciation that filled you with pride and a sense of accomplishment. It was gratifying.

Maybe that was why he liked pampering her so much.

"Yes. This fits you better" he smiles.

Miller lowers her gaze and her eyelashes flicker. A tell tale sign of her being overcome with a strong emotion- Happiness, if the glimmer in her eyes and the secret smile in her lips were any indication.

“I know you already done a lot for me Hunter but would it be ok to ask for another favor?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“Safir… I mean, the witness, survived the attempt on his life but unfortunately losing his home in the process. He found a new place to live but he still has to deal with the difficulties from starting from zero as he lost everything besides the clothes on his body"

“So you want to help him get back on his feet.”

“Yes. I offered to accompany him on his shopping trip for the new things” she nods, before twiddling her thumbs. “So… You see… I was thinking that maybe, with you being both guys it might make him more comfortable to rely on you for advice"

“I wouldn't mind, I would gladly keep you two company"

“Thank you Hunter" Miller sighs in relief. “Now the only thing left is to talk with Andrews"

“Andrews did look a bit down yesterday”

Andrews was a pretty extroverted and easygoing person. Always cracking a joke, playfully bantering with others and generally bringing the morale and mood up among his peers. He was that kind of guy.

Which is why his quiet and subdued behavior the day prior stuck out like a sore thumb. Andrews would smile if you talked to him but anyone could see it wasn't as energetic as usual. As soon as he was left alone he would drop his smile in its entirety, his features changing to a mask of featureless neutrality.

It was his defense mechanism.

To hide his weakness and vulnerability. From others and from himself.

He didn't say anything at the time because he wanted to give him some space. He understood that it was something Andrews needed so he could process his feelings before he was ready to face them.

“Andrews is probably feeling guilty about how the case went because I put him in charge of the investigation.” Miller confides. “I tried to hold responsibility over it but it backfired. The only thing it did was make him feel more responsible for it"

“So that's what happened”

“Perhaps it might help if he listened to the perspective of a third party"

“A third party… I guess you are right. It might sound less biased if it comes from you"

She nods.

“I am counting on you Hunter. Please talk to him"

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

“I need to get my shit together already. Moping like that will only trouble her" Andrews gritted his teeth.

He had promised himself. Promised that he would no longer be a burden, no longer a sorry excuse of a man that got her hurt by his actions, by his failures.

And yet, despite being granted a miracle, another chance to do things right, he keep letting her down.

He…

“Andrews?” he feels someone touch his shoulder, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts.

“Ah! Miller!” he jumps, startled, immediately shifting his gaze away. “M-Morning"

Great. As if he couldn't be any more obvious about his awkwardness.

“You look so worn out… You are still worrying about what happened aren't you?”

“You always try your best and yet the only thing I say back is “I’m sorry". I keep making little of your efforts don't I?”

“That's not true! Miller, you, more than anyone else is…!”

“You are finally looking at me"

“T-That's" he flushes and stutters.

“I should have show you gratitude more often.” Her voice goes soft. “Back to what happened with Morrigan, I shouldn't have apologized. Instead, what I should have done was making it clear how much I owe you for making it this far"

"But I..."

"You also don't need to force yourself to smile for my sake Andrews. We both went through an ordeal and a half so it would be unreasonable to expect either of us to bounce back immediately. Give yourself some time too"

He looked at Miller.

She wasn't trying to force herself to act cheerful to comfort him. She was smiling but at the same time she wasn't trying to hide how exhausted she still was. Miller was openly showing her vulnerability to him. As a sign of trust.

"Perhaps it would be better if we took it easy today" Miller gives a pause, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"How about you partner with Hunter for the patrol today?"

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"Hey, morning Hunter" he greets. "Miller asked me to patrol with you today, would that be alright?"

"Good Morning Andrews" Hunter greets him back. "Yes, of course, I'm aware of it"

"Huh? Did Miller send you a message on the way?"

"Oh no, I was the one who requested her to do that"

"Wait, what?"

"I hope you don't mind me taking the wheel today"

What?

"...I'm going to stop here first, is that ok?" Hunter turns off the the engine of the car.

"Huh, sure" he hesitantly replies.

He was too surprised to react so he just followed Hunter as he guided him inside the park with practiced ease, taking him to a peculiar coffee shop localized in the innermost part of the park, where the foliage was the thickest.

"Behind the shop you will find a trail with stone stairs, it has a place with a bench there, you can wait there while I pick our drinks"

"...Ok?"

What was Hunter planning?

"Tea?"

"Coffee keeps you alert and awake so it isn't a good combination if you are feeling skittish. Tea is a better option to relax your nerves"

"Oh. I see..."

"This part of the park is rather secluded so we have more privacy to talk here"

So Hunter has noticed it too huh?

He sure was losing his touch.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Miller told me about what happened. About what transpired in Morrigan's case"

So that explained it.

He had been wondering in the back of his mind how Miller had recovered so fast, but if Hunter was involved then it made sense. He had become increasingly better at taking care of others, even more when it concerned her.

"I wish I could say that "Justice always prevails" but we both know that it isn't always the case. No one has a perfect record. We all experienced a fair share of losses"

He gave him a meaningful look.

"You aren't upset just because you "failed" right? There's something else bothering you. I can see how it's eating you inside"

Hunter also became scarily good at reading him.

He was a good friend.

"Yes. There's something that has been troubling me for a while" He admits.

"What is it?"

"How once again Miller is suffering from my mistakes"

He still remembers Miller's expression when she contacted him to take the charge of Morrigan's investigation in her stead.

Her body was trembling, her voice barely holding back a shake. Her eyes looked haunted. The failure of being able to protect someone under her care was cutting her deeply, opening up old wounds and making her relive her worst traumas all over again.

'C'mmon, you are supposed to be Miss Miller right hand. You have to get your act together and stop letting her down'

"It's so frustrating. To make matters worse I was even scolded by that asshole. He told me to "get my act together and to stop letting her down""

"Isn't he just trying to get under your skin Andrews?"

"I wish it was the case." he laughed without humor. "Because it would have made it easier for me to keep in denial for a bit longer"

"What do you mean?"

"It might be twisted, but he does harbor a strong sense of respect for Miller. He was genuinely disappointed in me and honestly? As hard as it is to admit I agree wholeheartedly with his sentiment too."

"Is this the kind of story you really want to tell Andrews? A story where only misfortune happens without a happy ending in sight?"

"What...?"

"I don't believe that. You weren' the kind of man to let things end like that" Hunter shook his head. "Didn't you fight to avert this outcome?"

"But what's the point of that? It's just taking action after the damage was already done. It's a worthless effort"

"Deciding what to do after the fact is equally essential." Hunter lowers his gaze. "Perhaps even the most important part of it. That's when you find out what you truly are"

His voice sounds solemn.

"I never told this to anyone before and maybe I was even trying to avoid thinking about it myself but..." Hunter confides. "When Johannes' died and I found Miller crying by herself at his funeral I was hesitant to approach her at first. If she hadn't noticed me there and called for me I would have let my cowardice win. I might have left her to suffer alone by herself"

A truly frightening thought.

So Hunter had similar worries as well huh?

"I couldn't forgive myself for the way I treated her in the past. It was hard to accept her forgiveness. I thought that I had no right to be in her life"

'I think the time we met was meant to be'

"When I talked about it with Miller she told me that our meeting was meant to be. Not in the sense of it being "fated" or something, but because it was under the right circumstances, when we were in a position to help each other" Hunter chuckled. "She's really something else"

"Indeed she is" he agrees.

"It does make a lot of sense when you think about it. If I had been in your place I don't think I would have had the maturity to handle things properly. What she needed at the time was someone that would believe in her and that wouldn't abandon her in her time of need. Someone like you. You were the only one fit to be her partner Andrews"

"So you are saying that there's things only I can do huh? It would make me happy if that was the case"

"It's the truth." Hunter huffes. "Wasn't you always making time to visit and keeping her company in the hospital to support her heart? Didn't you work hard to be a respectable and outstanding cop to prove Miller's worth and character to everyone? You even made it possible for her to have a shot of a normal life thanks to your efforts of showing everyone who she truly is. Andrews, you... Really saved her"

"Pff... Hahahaha"

"Why are you laughing? I am being serious here!"

"I know, sorry. It's just... You sounded so offended" he tries to quell his giggling fit. "Thank you Hunter, you are a good friend."

He's truly fortunate.

"I guess this talk about meeting at the right time would also apply to our friendship then?" He says with humor. "You know, considering how our past selves were before"

"Without a doubt. I think we would probably have hated each other on sight" Hunter jokingly agrees.

"And now you are the guy giving me the pep talk to cheer me up. Life sure loves to throw the most unexpected curveballs"

"... Hey Andrews, you know you can count on me if you ever need help right? Even if it's for something as simply as listening to you, I would gladly do it"

"Yes, I know. Thank you"

"You should also keep relying on Miller as well"

"That's..."

"You know, there's only last thing Miller has told me"

Hunter gives him a knowing look.

"As long as we keep trying to do our best, as long as we are determined to makes things work she will be equally resolved to give her unconditional support." He looks outright smug now. "And I know that there's no way you would ever give up on her happiness"

He is truly blessed.

"... Man, I'm beat. There's no way to win against you two. Not when you gang up on me like that"

"I can't wait until the next time the three of us hang out again"

"Me too"

[uselessboss]

Case 01-Aftermath(1/?)

Deep breaths.

“Get your shit together Miller” she berates herself. “You can't act weak"

She knocks on the door.

“Miller!” Saramsrein greets her in relief.

“Good night Saram" she forces a smile. “Is Safir still awake? I would like to talk to him”

Saramsrein doesn't say anything. Neither does Safir when he opens the door and sees her sitting there, on the living room, hands clasped together on her lap, her smile not reaching her eyes.

They could tell she was bringing bad news.

“Your assailant was found dead" she disclosed. “An autopsy made on the corpse points to prolonged abuse of illicit substances as the cause. No evidence of anyone else being at the site was found so by all accounts the death looks self inflicted"

“So he is unrelated to Morrigan?”

“No. He totally is. My belief is that Morrigan used him because he was at death's door. By using his life force he could keep this man alive long enough to do his dirty job and then let him die after he's finished. He covered his involvement really well"

“… It's frightening how prepared this guy is.” Safir frowns. “If it wasn't for you and Saram I would have been dead by now"

“I wish I could claim we foiled his plans but… We didn't"

“What?”

If he died he would have become a wandering spirit tormented by his traumatic death, which would require her to go after his killer so his soul could rest in peace.

If he lived then his assailant would still represent a danger in potential as he was on the loose so she would still need to go after him to secure his safety.

No matter the outcome it was inevitable that her hand would forced to act on his behalf.

“That was his goal? To use me as a bait?” Safir gritted his teeth. “But why? What would he gain with that?”

“To buy him time. He wanted to make sure we wouldn't interfere in his plans of gathering evidence to expose the robber's foul deeds"

“But if all he wanted was to arrest him then why go through all this trouble? It doesn't make sense”

“When I said “expose his foul deeds" I didn't mean the robbery. Morrigan wanted everything. Past or present, he wanted to expose every ugly truth and watch him succumb under the destruction it would cause in its wake"

“…He didn't strike me as the “justice" type"

“And he isn't. Morrigan is a man of “freedom". He doesn't like anything that denies who he is nor anything that seeks to tie him down. He feels a particular contempt towards any display of power he regards as “pretentious" and thus seek to undermine and ridicule it in any way he can"

“Morrigan knew that if he let the culprit go he would think money gave him power to be above him.” Safir deduces.

“That's the gist of it, yes"

Safir clenches his fists in frustration.

When he finally learned to control his powers he felt immensely proud of himself. For the first time in his life he believed he could do better and become a reliable person that could make the difference.

But he was naïve.

Life wasn't that easy. Working hard didn't mean that he would receive a pat in the back and be rewarded by his efforts, reality could be rather unjust and unreasonable like that.

“Is this how things end? Him being victorious and suffering no consequences of his acts despite how heinous they were?”

“Not quite so"

Safir looks at her in surprise and she smiles back at him. A more natural and genuine smile this time.

“Morrigan no longer acts incognito thanks to you exposing him Safir. He's now under my watch.” She smirks. “He might have won this battle but not this war. He had to reveal a lot of “tricks" this time and if he keeps going at this pace he will soon run out of options. It will then just become a question of time until he hits the end of the road"

She pats his head.

“You did well Safir" She smiles proudly at him. “I regret not being able to avoid the loss of your home but… Know that I will do everything in my power to help you find a new place to live. It's a promise I intend to keep this time"

“About that Miller” Saramsrein interjects. “I… Invited Safir to live here. With me"

“You did?”

“Yes"

“And what was your answer Safir?”

Safir and Saramsrein share a complicit look and smile at her.

“I accepted his offer" he confirms. “I have been thinking of this place as a home for a while so I saw no reason to refuse it. At least for now"

“I'm happy for you Safir. Also congratulations on your initiative Saram, I'm also very proud of you”

“I-It's nothing, I… Should be the one thanking you. It's thanks to you that I have something to call “mine" to share with others"

“You matured Saram" she chuckles. “I guess I had nothing to worry after all"

“Miller?”

“It's nothing" she shakes her head. “I guess that the only thing left to do is to acquire everything that you lost on the fire right?”

“Ah! It's fine, there's no need to do that Miller, you don't have to feel responsible for what happened!”

“Saram told me that you bought new clothes because you wanted them to be something of your choice, to match the new person you wanted to be… Is that true?”

“Hum? Yes?” Safir confirms, eyebrows furrowing in confusion by the sudden change of topic.

“I am not offering you help purely out of a sense of obligation Safir. I am doing this because I want to support you and your conviction”

Sometimes doing your best wasn't enough. Even when you put all the care and zeal in the world in building something it could still easily crumble away into nothing. All your work and progress, undone in an instant.

Many times she felt tempted to give up. To let desolation wash her away but… She still persevered. All thanks to the support of everyone around her. It gave her strength to keep going on and it sustained her heart so despair won't be allowed to break it.

“Life can be unfair at the times. Even when we are on the right path things can happen to discourage us" her voice goes soft. “But when you have the support of others it helps to balances everything out. When they have your back you know they will be there to catch you when you fall"

“The support of others…”

‘You progressed a lot Saram, it would be a shame if you lost that'

Didn't he say something similar to Saramsrein before?

He did it because he believed in him. Because he knew, better than anyone, how much courage and effort it took to take a step forward so he wanted his hard work to be recognized. He wanted to protect and support that resolve.

“I respect your strength Safir so I won't treat you with any pity. All I ask is to be allowed to help you recover the time lost so you wouldn't have to trouble yourself with setbacks. So that the only thing you need to concern yourself with is how to look forward"

“… In that case I will accept your help" he smiles. “Thank you Miller. For everything”

“Call me when you decide to shop for the new things."

“I will. But perhaps not immediately”

“Ah yes, of course, a lot of things happened after all so it's better if you probably need time to process everything"

“No. That's not it” Safir shook his head. “You need to rest too Miller. I can tell this case probably took a toll on you too so please, look after yourself as well and don't worry, I will be fine"

“…You really became strong Safir" she chuckles. “ Thank you. That's reassuring to hear"

“I'm glad I can finally pay back a bit of the kindness you always show me.” Safir manages a grin. “Hey… The words you told me I say back to you too. You are really loved by the people around you so don't feel like you have to hold back. If you are in need of any support we will gladly give it to you”

=-=-=-=

“I'm so exhausted" Miller rests her head on the wheel of her car.

Maybe she should take Safir's advice after all.

“But before that…” Her hand twitches as she touches the cellphone in her pocket.

She needed to talk with Hunter.

“He's probably baffled with the way I acted. I wonder if he's disappointed"

‘Now that he's dead it doesn't matter anymore’

‘…I already wasted too much time with him, more than I could afford in fact'

It made her shudder. To think she could speak of someone's death like that, to treat a loss of human life with such coldness and disregard… She was no better than Morrigan.

“Maybe he wouldn't even want to with me. It was kind awkward after that” she sighed as she opened the messages up. “Huh?”

“Miller, would it be ok to meet you to talk? Only if you are available of course"

She blinked in surprise.

How… Unexpected.

She tapped a message back.

“Of course, where would you like to meet?”

“Your home if it's not too much of a bother" was the instant reply.

“I don't mind. Feel free to come"

“Thank you. Then I will be on my way"

Well, she better get home ASAP.

Maybe if she's fast enough she can take a bath before he arrives.

DingDong~

“Coming!” she hastily drapes a towel on her head, running at quick steps to answer the door.

“Goodnight Mi- Sorry, did I interrupt your bath?”

“It's ok, I just finished it" she shakes her head. “I only need to dry my hair and I am good to go"

“May I?”

“Huh? What?”

“Dry your hair for you" Hunter offers.

“Ah! Yes! I would love that" she perks up at the invitation. “Just give me a second, I need to find my hairdryer first"

Hunter’s touch is soothing.

He’s gentle with his ministrations- Slowly and carefully toweling her hair and always making sure to properly remove the dampness from the roots. He works through them with the same diligence and attention as everything he does in his life.

Drowsiness started to settle in, little by little, as he proceeds to massage her head, alternating between rubbing her scalp in circles, applying the right amount of pressure here and there and uncovering the towel just enough so he can comb through her hair by running his nails softly. She could feel her body turning into a puddle, the stress of the last days slowly melting away under his deftly hands.

“Ops!” She squeaks as her head launches backwards. “Sorry Hunter, I dozed for a second here"

“You must be really tired"

“I guess so" she laughs it off. “Although I would say it's more because your touch is soothing. It feels nice"

“Can you endure the sleep monster for a bit while I use the hairdryer?” he jokes, amused. “I don't want to accidentally yank your hair"

“I will do my best" she chuckles back. “Wow! You are pretty good at this, where you learned how to treat long hair?”

“You mean brushing it in sections and holding the base so it doesn't pull the roots? Isn't that common sense?”

“Hum… I wonder about that"

“Miller don't tell me that all this time you brushed it in one go"

“…”

“Miller.”

“I was joking, I know how to do it. Although it can't be helped when I am busy"

“Wear shorter hair then"

“But I like it at this length" she pouted.

“You can be surprisingly stubborn for the strangest things" Hunter shakes his head. “But I guess… It does look good on you. It makes you look rather dashing when it flows through the wind in the thick of a fight"

His voice sounded kind.

She wondered what kind of expression he was making at this moment.

“Done"

“Thank you Hunter. I will put these things away real quick and then we can talk"

“Ok”

“By the way why did you ask to talk here instead of doing a facecam this time?”

“Because I thought it might be better to talk with you personally" he hesitates “It's… About the way I acted around you earlier"

Oh, so he wanted to talk about “that" after all.

She steeled herself.

“Hunter, about tha-”

“I'm sorry"

“Huh?”

“I didn't mean to come off as if I was judging you" he apologizes “In truth I was… Worried about you"

Her eyes widen in surprise.

“I didn't know what to do. You sounded like you were in pain but I didn't know how to help. I wasn’t sure if I could ask about it either so I was at loss about what to do"

“I'm such an idiot"

“…Miller?”

There was no reason for her to worry.

The days of doubt were long behind them.

“It's ok Hunter, I meant to tell you everything"

‘You are really loved by the people around you so don't feel like you have to hold back. If you are in need of any support we will gladly give it to you’

Safir was right, she should learn to rely more on others too.

“…So that was why you said that" Hunter furrowed his eyebrows. “I saw my share of corrupt cops but this guy is still something else, to try to kill someone as a distraction… Disgusting"

“Yes. It's frustrating to admit but it was a trap I couldn't avoid. I played right into Morrigan's hands"

“But how did he find out? There's no one as careful as you and Andrews"

“That was… My fault" she clenched her fists. “When I instructed Andrews to do his investigation I failed to account for something as simple as paying attention to the order of the files. Morrigan noticed something was off with the time the records were checked in and caught on what we were planning"

That’s right. Her mistake almost cost Safir's life. Andrews also got humiliated as a result of her poor command.

She still remembers Andrews' expression. Even through she had desperately tried to shift the blame away from him it didn't work. She could see how Morrigan's words cut him deeply, reopening old wounds and bringing back a guilty he shouldn't feel responsible to carry.

It's so frustrating. Why she kept failing the people dear to her? Why she can't protect anyone? Why…

“Punishment only teaches you to fear mistakes, not to overcome then. You were the one who taught me that" he hugs her tighter. “I don't want you to be bond by those fears"

“I… Am trying my best but it's still not enough" she buries her face in his neck. “And with each mistake my confidence wanes. My heart… It keeps wavering"

“I wonder if it's really like that"

“Hunter?”

“I don't know this kid personally but I have a feeling that he doesn't blame you for what happened.” He hums, resting his chin on her shoulder. “No one does. Regardless of the outcome we believe without a doubt that you saved us.”

“How? How could anyone still trust me after that?”

“Sometimes what we need the most is for someone to be there for us. A hand that won't let go no matter what, even if it has to challenge the most unlikely odds. We know we can count on you to do that” Hunter pulls back briefly to smile at her. “Besides, if we are talking about terrible decisions then this Morrigan guy did the biggest mistake of everyone involved”

“Huh? What mistake?”

“Picking a fight with you of course"

“What are you saying…” She laughs, shaking her head “...Thank you Hunter, I really appreciate it"

“Anytime" He squeezes her hand. “If you need anything you can tell me Miller"

“Actually…”

“Yes?”

“Can we stay like this a bit longer?” she rests her head in his chest, close to his heart, soaking in the warmth and comfort of the arms enveloping her. “It calms me down"

“Of course” Hunter nods, adjusting their position to make it more comfortable for her. “As long as you need Miller"

“Thank you Hunter" she whispers as she lets herself sunks in his embrace, feeling her tension melt away as Hunter gently strokes her head.

'I'm so sleepy... I guess i'm more tired than I thought'

She didn't know for how long they stayed like that nor she cared to find out.

The only thing in her mind and her last conscious thought, before she feel under dream's spell was...

How she wished for this moment to never end.

[uselessboss]

Case 01 -(7/7)

“What time is it? How long have I been asleep?”

It had been 2 days since the incident with Safir.

She has been working non-stop on her investigation, at night after her shift was over, before it started and between the intervals of the cases she worked on a daily basis. She didn't get to sleep nor eat properly for 3 nights straight, allowing herself only the luxury of going home to take a quick bath and changing clothes to help her stay awake and out of courtesy to her co-workers.

‘Saram, did you see anyone else when you arrived?’

‘No, I don't think so'

Morrigan was dangerous.

It's what her instincts told her. That he wasn't a man you could afford to drop your guard nor underestimate.

Not because of his powers, although it did proved a concern in itself, but because of the clever and cunning mind behind it. Morrigan was incredibly resourceful and skilled at using anything at his disposal to his advantage and didn’t leave anything to waste. Someone that hardly, if ever, left openings to exploit.

“Which makes his recent moves even more dubious"

Morrigan has the charisma to manipulate people. Of that she has no doubt. But to “trust" someone else to do a job that required too many variables to consider seemed out of character for him. More so when the person in question was of questionable character and competency.

The execution of the plan was also very crude and sloppy. From what she could gleam from Saram’s and Safir's testimonies his assailant didn't even check his place of hiding before setting it on fire nor he stayed to confirm if he had succeed in his objective before promptly high tailing from the scene. It simply didn't make any sense, something was clearly there.

Silencing Safir wasn't what he was after.

Inflicting harm to him, destroying his “safe place" and being a potential threat on the loose…

He was using Safir as a bait. A provocation to chase after his assailant.

Because he knew that regardless of the outcome, whether Safir perished or not it wouldn’t matter, she would be forced to act. There was no way she would ask to postpone the imprisonment of his assailant, not when she was the one who failed to secure his safety in the first place. It was her duty and responsibility at this point.

“He is probably trying to buy time, but for what?”

She massaged her temples in aggravation.

There was a nagging feeling that she should know this answer already but for the life of her she had been unable to put the pieces together.

If only she had more time to think…

But she couldn't afford this luxury. She had to focus all her attention on the task at hand if she wanted to settle things as fast as possible.

…Is what she would like to say, but to her dismay she didn't have anything to show for her hard work.

It wasn't as if she didn't know where to begin her search.

Considering Morrigan's modus operandi she knew he had to recruit his “henchman” from a place that invited discretion- An isolated and lawless territory that not even most cops would be enthused to enter without a good reason to do so. It would be a perfect set up to avoid any potential witnesses when combined with the cover provided by a powerful aura of intimidation to drive them away.

She had that figured out. The starting point wasn't a problem at all.

How to proceed from there was the real issue. She has been facing nothing but setback after setback and the complications and problems couldn’t just stop popping up one after another.

The first obstacle was the culprit himself. The only thing she could ascertain was that he was a drug addict that has been homeless for a while with no know living relatives or social ties with anyone. He had no name to addressed as nor roots to call home- The man was practically a living ghost. She had yet to find someone that knew his whereabouts, living or not.

The other problem, and perhaps the most troublesome of all had to do with the place itself. It was a festering ground for crime to thrive so more often than not she found herself caught in a skirmish, being forcef to intervene or apprehend criminals in her vicinity as she couldn't turn a blind eye to calls of help. The never ending conflicts were effectively stalling her to crawl.

She was at her wits' end.

“ I really need a miracle right now.”

She felt her cellphone buzz.

=-=-=-=

“We received a call about a strange and rotten smell coming from an abandoned factory so we came to check.” Hunter explained when she arrived at the scene. “The corpse we found seems to match the description of the guy you asked us to be on the lookout”

She nods in gratitude as Hunter motions everyone to give her space to check the body.

“…Is this the person you were after?” he asks as he bends closer to her.

“Yes. It's him. I am sure”

She didn't even need to look at the body to confirm it. The lingering traces of Morrigan's spiritual power on the man were more than enough proof.

She stood up and looked around.

“Considering his background he should have become a wandering spirit” she frowns as she scans the area carefully. “Yet I can’t feel any other presence here"

There was no way the man went to the afterlife life on his own which meant that someone else had to “help" him.

Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her.

Morrigan exorcised him. To eliminate a potential witness and guarantee that his pawn couldn't become a weapon to be used against him.

She clenches her fist.

“Was there any sign that points at someone else being at the scene?”

“None" he shakes his head. “No handprints or footprints.”

“What about the body itself?”

“There was no signs of damage dealt to the body according to preliminary results” Hunter reported. “At least externally, we have to wait until they do an autopsy on the body to fully determine the cause of the death and if it's of criminal nature or not"

“… Very well. Then in that case call me when the results are available Hunter"

“Huh? Aren't going to stay for the investigation Miller?

“Now that he's dead it doesn't matter anymore. Even if it wasn't the way I wanted things to end at least he was stopped.” She shook her head. “… Besides, I already wasted too much time with him, more than I could afford in fact"

She had an inkling things would end up like this. That she would be sent on a fruitless goose chase only to end up being led to a dead end. She knew that.

It still didn't make it any less frustrating.

“Miller?”

Hunter's voice broke her from her musings.

He looked startled.

She thought back to the words she had just said.

“I am sorry Hunter, I shouldn't have said that. To treat the loss of a precious human life with such callousness… I'm really the worst"

“…”

“I… Have to go. I have some important matters to attend and discuss with Andrews but if anything new comes up then notify me ok?”

=_=_=_=_=_=

“I have to message them"

Might as well do it now while she waits for Andrews to arrive.

“But how should I break it to Safir?” she sighed as her head rested against the back of the chair. “Even if his assailant won't be a threat anymore I doubt that he would find his death any more reassuring"

Telling him to not worry about it and spouting that she will manage things somehow wouldn't be any good either. She already failed him once. At this point her words were nothing more than an empty promise with no power nor worth.

The only option she had right now was to wait and see things to the end.

“The culprit was dealt with. I'm going back to investigating Morrigan" she typed.

“You look awful dear partner, having a rough day?”

“You could say that" she pocketed her phone, letting a small smile as she greeted her trusted friend. “How are things going on your end Andrews?”

“I must say it wasn't hard at all to find information about our dear robber, brat doesn't know how to be subtle" Andrews grinned.

Her partner was truly unparalleled when it came to uncovering information about people's life.

The robber was a young man that recently turned 18. Kid started his life of crime relatively young at the age of 14 after being dared by his peers to shoplift a small store and the praise he earned by his feat only encouraged his behavior to get worse with time. Currently he had taken to consume hard alcohol, drugs and seek fun in less than… Savory places, even as a minor.

“He's the typical case of a spoiled brat full of ego and no brain. Easily influenced to do stupid shit with enabler for parents. His father is the worst offender, which doesn't surprise me at all considering the amount of things under that man's belt. Literally at times.” Andrews disclosed.

“I see… So that's how things are"

“I think I know what Morrigan's goals are now”

“Did you figure something out Miller?”

“Yes, but it will take a while to explain and we are a bit pressed for time so it might be better if we discuss it while we interrogate the suspect"

“You are good to go? What about your other case? How it ended?”

“He was dead"

“Oh. I see…"

Andrews was the only one she has told about the truth behind her investigation- About Safir being a witness in the robbery who confided and trusted her with the evidence and his suspicion of Morrigan's integrity. About how, despite her pledge of protection and their best efforts, Morrigan had found him out and had sent someone to assault him.

‘I understand. Even if his objective was to misdirect us the possibility of his assailant still being a threat to his safety couldn't be ignored. It would also not be good for the kid's mental health, prioritizing his arrest was the right choice.’

Her face softened at the memory.

She was truly grateful for her dear partner being there for her.

"Did you find any evidence? Any proof that points to Morrigan's involvement?"

"None" she shook her head. "His body was taken for an autopsy for a more thoroughly examination but I have a feeling that it will wield no results"

"So the best course of action would be to talk directly with the culprit then"

"No, not him"

It's his father.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

"T-They are from the police" the secretary spoke timidly. "They insisted to talk with you"

"We know your son is a criminal and that you are covering him" Miller states bluntly, nodding towards the poor frightened secretary and signaling for her to wait outside the room.

"... I will only talk in the presence of my lawyer"

"Sorry but neither of us can afford to waste more time like that so it would be in your best interest to cooperate with us now and spend a nice time grounded in prison to rethink your poor life choices than what Morrigan has in store for you and your son"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Svi Morrigan, the cop in charge of the case of the armed robbery done by your son." She answers. "His objective is to destroy your "false symbol of power", aka your wealth, your reputation, your credibility, your pride, everything. He will run them all through the mud until you have no hope of recovery."

"What are you doing here?!" she growls.

"I'm here to arrest this man on the charges of... Well, too many crimes for me to remember from memory" Morrigan chuckles. "Also, can confirm that what you said is true Miss Miller. It took me a while to gather enough evidence but I hope he enjoys being sued by all the stores his son has robbed or the wrath of his investors when they found out he has been enbezzling their money or banging some wives to curry favor"

"Ah.... AHHHHHHHH!!!!" The man gets up from his chair, passing Morrigan who doesn't even bother stopping him and out of the room.

"You can try to run away but there are other officers waiting outside you know?"

As if on cue they heard the screams of the man alongside shouts of the cops restraining him.

"Miss Miller, what a fortunate coincidence to meet you here" Morrigan's grin increases as he takes a familiar cellphone from his pocket, handing it to her. "You can now give it back to the boy. I was trying to bait corrupt cops afilliated with this man by showing the evidence but I couldn't register it on the system until I caught everyone for the sake of the boy's "safety. It wouldn' t do any good if someone found about him and tried to erase him after all right?"

"This shameless bastard!" Andrews spat.

"And you are?" Morrigan cocked his head to the side as if noticing him for the first time.

"Daniel Andrews."

"Ohhh I remember you. Or at least your name on the register" Morrigan approaches him, voice condescending. "A word of advice to you: When you are making an investigation you have to be mindful of the order of events you check. The robbery going before our joint operation was too suspicious, you should at least have scrambled the order of the other records to not make it as obvious you know?"

Andrews frows, gripping the chair he was sitting on until his knuckles turned white.

"C'mmon, you are supposed to be Miss Miller right hand. You have to get your act together and stop letting her down" Morrigan chides, shaking his head in disapproval.

"While your criticism is sound" she cuts him off, standing next to Andrews. "It's directed at the wrong person"

"Hum~ Then who it should be directed at?"

"Me, of course. I am in charge here and the one to instruct him how to proceed. If something goes south due to my lack of foresight then it's fair to have the blame fall on me"

"It's pretty rare to see a boss stand up to their subordinate" he hums. "He must feel veeeery lucky to have someone this loyal in his life eh~ Someone that will always welcome you back no matter what"

They both sense it.

Something was... Odd with Morrigan's choice of words. He wasn't saying that just to taunt them.

He was implying something there.

*Trimm~*

They are interrupted from their musings by the sound of her cellphone.

"Miller speaking"

"The results of the autopsy are out"

"You sure are popular Miss Miller" Morrigan chuckles. "Well, I will leave you to your devices for now as I also have to wrap things on my end. See you later~"

"..."

"...Miller?"

"I'm on my way"

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"What's the situation over here Hunter? Find anything relevant?"

"Traces of drug on his system and by the amount found chances are that it was the cause of his death"

"Was the death caused by an "assisted overdose"?"

"No. The state of his internal organs point to it being a result of prolongued use of several and different substances mixed in"

"Was there anything else of interest?"

"We found vestiges of gasoline around his mouth. Nowhere else like the drugs so it didn't seem as if he had ingested it"

It was just as she had predicted.

As she scanned the contents detailing the man's autopsy the mystery behind his death unveiled itself.

His body was wasting away for quite a long time. It was just a question of time before he dropped dead, Morrigan didn't need even need to dirty his hands to get rid of him.

No. What he needed was to guarantee that he lived "just enough" to see his plan through.

Morrigan had injected "life force" on this man.

"And the gasoline... I bet he stole it from a vehicle" Miller grits her teeth. "Considering his background it will come off as a desperate drug addict trying to make quick buck to buy more drugs"

Morrigan won this round.

But not this war.

"Hunter could you do a favor for me?"

=-=-=-=-=-=

"The food here is good so why not?" Miller shrugged.

"Instructing your subordinate to inform your location to "anyone looking for you" seems rather deliberate, were you expecting me?"

"I guessed that you would try and check my reaction"

"Hahaha~ I admit, I am rather curious about it"

"So? Satisfied?"

What a woman.

Even after everything she went throught Miller didn't give in to despair nor allowed herself to be crushed by adversity. Despite the tell tales of exhaustion she still held herself with dignity, grace and strength.

As she proceed to eat her meal he couldn't help but think how his admiration for her grew even more.

To have their meeting place be where they had their "date" and to choose to nonchalantly dine in front of him under this circumstance was nothing short of a power move.

"You don't seem the type to act indifferent when lives are at play so by your composure I can assume the kid is alive and well?" He probes.

"He is. Also pretty mentaly strong and surprisingly dealing it better than I thought"

"So neither side lost anything in the end eh~? I guess this makes it a draw between us then?"

Miller laughs out loud.

"A draw? Is that what you really think it is?" she gives a sardonic smile.

He wasn't expecting that reaction.

"You did as you pleased only because you were incognito before. But things have changed. Now, thanks to the kid you underestimated you were finally exposed. To me of all people, someone that has access to the same powers as you" Miller scoffed, lips quirking up as if in amusement. "And didn't you have to reveal quite a lot of tricks already? Not a good look on you dear magician"

She leans closer, voice dangerously low and cold.

"There's only so much you can do to cover your tracks. You are bound to run out of options" she whispers. "I can wait until then because I can be rather patient you see?"

I'm hunting you.

My prey.

He hears it. The sound of inumerous flaps of wings as birds flee in fear. The screams of people as they drop on the floor on their knees, unable to move, pinned down by the overwhelming pressure exerted by Miller's incredibly hostile, aggressive and murderous aura.

Her killing intent was so intense that even his body was being forced to submit.

It was aware, on an instinctual level of how dangerous the person in front of him was.

She intensifies her grip on his face and then let it go.

His body falls with a thud on the table.

Miller walks away. Not sparing a single glance nor word to him on the way out.

She's like an actor. An actor who signals the end of the play with their exit, her final words dictating how the tale concludes.

"Holy... Shit..."

His brain was still trying to process what just happened.

He lets out a breathless laugh.

"I'm really in trouble this time"

[uselessboss]

Case 01-(5/7)

“Is it related to my case?” Safir asked.

“I think so" Saramsrein nods, apprehensive.

'Saram, if you sense anything amiss or detect any spiritual power that isn't mine then I want you to take Safir and escape'

Could it be?

To think there was another one so close by… And as a foe on top of that.

It was the worst case scenario.

“I apologize for my tardiness” Miller sighed. “I had to take a detour to my house just on the off chance of being tailed"

“It's ok. We understand"

“… How are you? Did anything weird happen recently?”

They shook their heads. “That's good" Miller breathed in relief.

“Miller, what's going on? Is the guy you were looking into that bad?”

“Yes. Much worse than I even expected”

Miller told them everything.

The name of the policeman in charge of his case was Svi Morrigan. A man with strong spiritual powers just like Miller's and a sharp and cunning wit to make great use of it to his advantage. Meticulous, skilled and efficient, coupled with his mischievous disposition and self centered free spirited personality, it made him a rather dangerous and volatile threat to deal with.

“I know I told you that I trust in your capacities Safir but I have to ask you to stay here, at Saram's home for now" her face was tense. “I think I was successful at convincing him that my interest was purely personal but I rather not risk it. He's very perceptive and not someone to take light of"

“It’s alright, I know you are saying that because the situation is that serious. I trust in your judgment.”

“It’s better if we put this in practice starting from today. I know it might make you uncomfortable to be provided for during your stay, but I still need to ask you to bring the bare minimum from your home Safir, preferably in one trip”

“Wouldn't it be better if I accompany him?” Saramsrein interjected.

“No. Your presence might provoke Morrigan to use his powers from the get go and you know you can't stop him" Miller shook her head. “Safir has no spiritual power and Morrigan has no reason to believe he has a “spiritual empathy" to detect him. It's the one advantage he has to get the upper hand on him"

“But…!”

“Of course I’m not telling you to just sit here and do nothing. What I mean by this is that you should be prepared to whisk Safir away to safety at any moment Saram. You know what I am getting at right?”

“A summoning sigil”

“The symbol is disappearing” Safir notes as the mark fades away, not a trace left on his skin.

“For discretion purposes" Saramsrein explains. “It is still there. You only need to touch it and call for my name, “Saramsrein", and then I will be summoned to wherever you are"

“...I have to pick the pace up so I am resuming my investigation now." Miller placed a hand on their shoulders, giving them both a comforting squeeze. "Call me if anything happens ok?”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It had been a while since he felt this tense and nervous.

He checked the clock.

He was instructed by Miller to wait around 30 minutes after her departure before he could go out himself as a preventive measure. Just in the off chance of her being followed outside her range of detection so she could bait any potential pursuer away from his location.

"I can't detect any suspicious presence so far"

But that was still not enough to quell his apreheension.

Miller was the most cautious, thorough and mindful person he ever met. She didn't leave any stones unturned, never underestimated her odds and didn't neglect any details, as innocuous as they might seen. To have someone like her be put on guard like that, to believe her measures to not be good enough... It made him doubt his own chances.

Could he really do it? What if he wasn't good enough? What if he slipped and messed everything up?

He shook his head.He thought he had long surpassed that.

His insecurities, his feeling of inadequacy, his low self worth that always made him second guess himself.

'Ignore it. Ignore those voices. You should know better already'

"It's almost time"

He had to go. Even if he wasn't feeling ready yet.

But it should be fine. It wasn't like he ever felt prepared while living on the streets and he still made it this far. It wasn't anything new to him.

He should...

"I have a bad feeling about this" Saramsrein mumbled. "I know you can take care of yourself but please don't hesitate to call for me, I will come right away"

He felt his body relax.

"Thank you Saram. I will" He hugged him back.

How mysterious. All the worries and fears that had been plagging his heart have disappeared. He wondered why.

Perhaps it was because the person holding him was a reminder that he wasn't alone anymore.

He had to struggle by himself for a long time as failure was met with unforgiving retribuition in this world. He lost count of how many times he had been beaten black and blue, almost to an inch of his life even when he begged to make it stop or crying for help that never came. He had to wisen up fast because he could only count on himself while he lived on the streets.

But now he had people that cared for him. That would offer their aid unconditionally and that would go a mile to guarantee his safety and not think of it as a bother or inconvenience. People that he could unconditionally trust himself and his well being to.

"I will be right back"

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Good. I managed to safely reach this place with no setbacks" Safir's shoulders sagged in relief.

He had taken his own set of precautions as well.

He took a more unconventional route to his home this time. Badly lit alleys, tight paths along the walls and climbing through precarious footing spaces. Not even a bike would be able to give chase to him under these circumstances.

It had its own share of dangers of course, but at least they weren't anything new or unexpected to him. He had plenty of experience with that.

"And it also served as a good way to put all my training in practice"

His new training consisted on adapting his body to the use of "soul enhancement".

As the name implied, by being infused with life force his body could be inhanced to perform beyond the limits of what the human body usually did, being more durable, faster, stronger and a a bit more resilient to damage.

The effects and improvements depended on the type of body of course.

Miller was a frontline fighter so all her fighting prowess increased tenfold with her body being capable of tanking enormous amounts of damage and dishing just as much hurt in return. She could pulverize through concrete with her kicks like it was nothing and was blinding fast in her assaults.

And that was how she did in the human world. According to Saram, she was even stronger inside a spiritual realm and pulverized demons twice her size on a regular basis.

He wasn't a battler so his enhancements were focused all on his dexterity, evasion, nimbleness and acrobatics. He had cat like reflexes and coulg climb even the the most steep walls like a mountain goat too.

'You can't generate this power on your own so it's better to train your body to instantly adapt to the changes between having the enhancements on and off' Miller had adviced him. 'You also need to develop a good judgment to know when to use it because becoming overdependant on it could be fatal. You might run out of uses and me and Saram might not be nearby to recharge it'

He touches the jewel on his pocket.

He still had plenty of uses left as he only needed to use it sparingly on the way.

"Maybe I can use it to carry more stuff"

He didn't decide on what items to bring with him before because he needed to scout the way out before anything else. But now that he had safely reached his destination and had a better grasp on how to manage his resources he could stop and think about it.

"Undergarments for a week, 2 sets of clothes and a tootbrush." he counted. "The recipe book might be bulky but I can wrap the clothes around it and... Saram's scarf. It might not be too cold now but it might be better to take it with me"

He would have liked to bring the new clothes he bought or the food he stored so it wouldn't end up going bad but that might be pushing it.

"It's a shame it will go to waste, but I can't... Huh?"

Hostility. Intent to harm him.

"Nnngh!" he barely dodged, flinching from the stinging pain of his cheek geting cut by the thrust of a knife.

He jumps back so he's facing his assailant.

The man looked shabby. He wore clothes just as worn out as his, but more sloppy and dirtier than an old rag. A strange and pungent smell came from his body, making his nose twitch. It was mix of a rotten carcass, alcohol, cigars and some other weird odors that he wasn't able to identify but he would assume that it came from whatever drug the man had got his hand on.

It wasn't strange for shady figures to appear around those parts as it was still a clandestine dump at the end of the day but usually he could detect their presence, even before he had a better control of his powers and these kind of people were not subtle about hiding their intentions.

"But his hostility flared so suddenly, as if provoked by a specific trigger" he mused to himself. "As if..."

But how? He had been very careful. He made sure he hadn't been followed ever since he told Miller about the suspicious cop, not even Saramsrein nor Miller knew where his address were!

'He has the same powers as me'

'Morrigan is sharp and cunning and very meticulous'

Could it be? This man had investigated him even before his suspicions arose? Just how much steps ahead this man was?!

And with a strong spiritual power at his disposal, with his "spiritual empathy" to track lingering traces of him it would make it a child's play to figure out where he lived.

But then, why didn't he attack him while he was at Saram's house? Saramsrein couldn't fend of someone with a spiritual power after all.

"Maybe he doesn't know about Saram or finding where I lived was his only concern. It's the only place I could be attacked without bothering with possible witness as a homeless boy"

He stood up and touched the jewel on his pocket for a quick boost.

He would worry about that later, right now he had to focus on arriving "home", where he would be safe.

Even if the man knew were he lived he couldn't enter his home, so he just had to arrive there on time.

"Hah... Hah..."

He felt like his heart would explode out of his chest with how hard it was beating.

"I have to calm down. Panicking would do no good to me now"

He had to assess his situation first.

The man was too big and clumsy to reach him there and even then he made sure to hide under the lowest part of the car pile, bellow the floor level just to be on the safer side. If the assailant wanted to catch him he would need to wait until he came out of his hiding spot.

"I have plenty of resources stored here so I could wait until he either fell asleep or is forced to scavenger for sustenance and slip away at this moment" he calculated his odds. "He wouldn't know when I got out or which direction I took so it might get me a good enough head start to run away"

The waiting game began.

He felt the man's presence nearby.

Just as he suspected. He knew where his home was.

It was a frightening experience and all his instincts screamed at him to run but he knew he couldn't be hasty. It was more important than ever to be patient and calm at times like these.

"I can do this"

After waiting for a bit and being certain that the man couldn't REALLY enter his home he started climbing to the upper floors of the pile so he could lay on the wait for his opportunity to escape.

"Hum? What's that smell?" he frowned. "Is this... Gasoline?"

His eyes widened in horror.

"Don't tell me...!"

The way ahead was blocked from the debris and even if it wasn't he could see the inferno of fire ahead. All the exits were sealed off.

He quickly scurried back to the lowest level of the pile.

But that was an useless and feebly resistence of his part. All he did was just delay his inevitable and horrifying death at the hands of the fire.

He coughs.

Or maybe he wouldn't even reach that point. The flames were consuming all the oxygen. Soon enough he would die either from asphyxia or from the toxic fumes dispelled by the burning of his enclosure.

"Someone... Anyone... Please... Save me..."

'Please... Promise me. Promise me that you will summon me if you are in danger'

'Don't hesitate to call for me, I will come right away'

He touches the jewel from his pocket to boost his body all the way up to protect it.

"I hope it buys enough time for this"

He holds the hand where Saram had place his sigil, shutting his eyes with force, he cleared his mind, focusing his thoughts solely on one person.

"Saram... Saramsrein, please come to me!"

He feels his hand tingle.

"...Safir!"

"Saram! I am here!" He screams in relief. "Over here!"

He couldn't hear his reply.

Was the sound of the fire too strong his his voice to be heard?

"Saram! Ah! Coug- Saramsrein!" He coughed, getting more and more out of breath, his vision starting to swim.

But he was determined.

He tried screaming for him again.

He wouldn't stop calling him, even to his last breath.

Because he knows Saram would save him.

"Sa- Saram..." He coughs weakly for the last time before he loses his consciouness due to the lack of oxygen.

"..."

"Miller! Please! You have to come! Safir...! Safir is...!"

Who's voice was that?

"T-There was a fire and I almost... I almost!"

It sounded so distressed. Was it Saram?

He felt a warm liquid drop on his face as someone hugged him closer to his body, body being hacked with pitiful sobs.

He had to comfort him. To reach him, touch his face and reassure him that he was ok. That he did it. He protected him.

But his body felt so weak and heavy, as if made from lead. And he was so tired...

He lost conciouness once again.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"... How are you feeling Safir?"

He slowly opened his eyes.

Where... Where was he?

"Miller?" he turned his head, voice hoarse.

"You gave us quite a scare" Miller smiled.

Her face looked haggard, as if she didn't have a wink of proper sleep.

"Where... Where am I?"

"The hospital"

Miller told him everything that transpired while he was unconscious. How Saram arrived at the scene, rescuying him from the flames and whisking him away to the safety of his home. His desperate and packined call as he told her about the situation and them immediately rushing him to the nearest hospital.

"Where is Saram now?"

"He's right there" Miller montioned with her head to the corner of the room, Saramsrein looking down as soon as their gazes met.

Why was he reacting that way?

"... Safir I know you just woke up and I understand that you went through something very distressing but I need to talk to you" Miller interjects. "Call you tell me what happened?"

He nodded and told her everything. The assailant, the ambush, how he knew about where he lived and tried to kill him by burning him alive in his hiding.

"He used gasoline?"

"Yes"

"Saram, did you see anyone else when you arrived?''

"I don't think so"

"And you said you summoned Saram immediately right?"

"As soon as I smelled the scent of gasoline yes"

"This operation was done with enough foresight to predict every move despite our best efforts but then the assailant didn't even wait to confirm if he had succeded or not" Miller mumbled. "In fact he couldn't even be sure if Safir would hide there or not."

Miller's expression darkers.

"THIS PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT!" she growls, startling both him and Saram.

That was... The first time he saw Miller look so furious.

"... I'm going after him. Your assailant." Miller took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

"But what about your current investigation? Would it be ok?"

"Don't worry, I will ask for people of trust to handle it in my stead" Miller tried to reassure him, patting his head. "I know that Saram can protect you but it wouldn't be right to leave this matter unresolved. The priority right now is to guarantee your safety and well being so it would be better if we caught this criminal first. Besides we can make him spill the beans about Morrigan's involvement in this as well"

Her smile was strained.

Miller was trying to put a brave front for him.

"If... If there's anything I can do to help then I will cooperate in any way I can"

"Just focus on your recovery for now" She squeezed his hand, "I asked the hospital to do some tests to check if your body is ok so when you feel well enough for it I suggest you to take them"

"I can do it now"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's better to find out these kind of things sooner than later"

"Ok, then I will call the doctor" Miller nodded, standing up. "I will be gone after that to hunt your assailant but Saram will stay here. If anything else happens or if you need to talk with me about anything don't hesitate to reach me ok? Even if it's for something small, I won't mind it"

"Thank you Miller"

"I hope you the best Safir"

The door clicked shut, leaving him and Saram alone in the room.

"Thank you for saving me Saram" he tried to make small talk.

"A-Ah yes. I'm glad you are well despite me..."

Saram shut his mouth, lips firmly pressed in a thin line.

Something was clearly bothering him.

"But it might be better to no press him. Miller is right, it might be better for me to focus on my health first. If he's worried about my well being then getting better will be the best proof that I am alright"

Saram accompanied him in silence as he did his tests.

He caught him throwing glances at him from time to time, opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something but then quickly shutting it off and looking down whenever he did so.

Ok, now he was starting to get concerned.

There was something serious going on.

What was it that Saram wanted to tell?

"Your tests just came out and everything seems fine. No infections were detected, no signs of poisoning from the toxic fumes nor impairment of your lungs" The doctor informed. "You are in the clear young man"

[uselessboss]

Case 01 -(3/7)

“You know, besides her eccentricities Miller kind is a model cop don't you think?”

“Wasn't she involved in that massacre incident?”

“Honestly I am not sure anymore. Recently my unit had to team up with hers for a case so I got to work closely with her. There wasn't anything about her that really screamed “deranged murderer” to me"

“Couldn't that be an act?”

“It could be, but I find it hard to believe this. Her work policy is impeccable.”

Morrigan rolled his eyes.

Crowa Miller.

He knew who she was. Perhaps more than anyone else as he was the only one privy to her secret. He might have ever interacted with her but he still knew.

She was like him.

Someone with spiritual powers, blessed with the ability to perceive and interact with forces beyond human's understanding. Someone that was, body and soul, above the rest of humanity.

He also knew of her fame of being a disgusting “goody two-shoes”. The kind he would want to have nothing to do with lest he wanted to puke his insides out in repulse.

He couldn't stand these type of people the most. They were nosy, stifling, always telling you what you can't do or what you SHOULD do.

And Miller was the worst of them all.

“… I mean, if she was that bad she wouldn't have fixed the attitude of some troublemakers"

His eyes went cold as he thought of her with disdain and derision.

Correcting troublemakers? More like brainwashing them to become lifeless, dull and prepped dolls to be put on a display. Too prim and proper, too devoid of any sense of self, sheep that can only parrot words from others, not theirs.

Truly disgusting. He couldn't ever fathom doing becoming like that.

After all he prized himself and his freedom too much for that.

“Hey Morrigan, do you have a moment?” someone called, taking him from his musings.

“What is it?”

“Miller wants to see you"

What were the odds of being summoned by the very person he was just thinking about?

Very slim considering that they didn't even qualify as acquaintances.

He wondered what business she had with him.

“Excuse me~ I was told to come here" He knocked on the door for the meeting room.

“You can enter"

“Thank you for coming Mr. Morrigan" Miller greeted him. “I requested to have a private talk with you because I wanted to confirm something"

Her tone of voice was even and her face didn't betray any feelings whatsoever. He couldn't read her emotions -A first for him. Which meant that she was masking them somehow.

For what purpose he could only wonder.

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“That you have a spiritual power just like me"

How surprisingly blunt.

It wasn't something that it could be hidden as Spiritual users could sense each other's powers but it was still an unexpected move. Most would act roundabout and secretive about their nature, even to themselves.

“I doubt you remember it as it was also something so fleeting that I could barely register it myself, but we had crossed paths before when our units worked on a joint operation" she explained. “It took mea while to pinpoint who it was. You really keep mostly a low-profile huh?”

He vaguely remembers something like that. About seeing her back from afar. He didn't expect her to be able to pick his energy from that distance but maybe it could be chalked to her incredibly strong spiritual power?

‘You really keep a low-profile huh?’

Now that he thinks about it Miller wasn't subtle at all about the usage of her powers. The constant rumors he hears from everyone spoke for itself.

Reading criminals’ emotions, enhancing herself in combat or talking to longer dead witness to access evidence no one else would be able to find. She had no qualms to use them to her advantage.

How intriguing.

“Outside of needing to use it on a pinch I don't really feel like overtly using my powers most of the time. Maaaybe if I'm feeling particularly inspired, but that's rare" He made a point to rest his shoes on top of the table, his voice drawling in a mocking tone as he tried to provoke her.

“I know. I saw your records. You can be rather meticulous and efficient about it"

Wow! She didn't react at all even through he was being openly disrespectful and insubordinated towards her. Miller truly was as composed as the rumors claimed to her.

“So, what is this about?” He spun around on his chair in a rather bored fashion. “Is this a “With great powers come great responsibility” kind of talk?”

Because it was probably what this talk was all about right? Miller trying to convince him to be a model cop like her, giving a dull and annoying speech about how having powers made it their “duty” to help and serve others.

“No. I don't believe that".

He stopped in his tracks. His eyes widening in surprise at the unexpected reply.

“…Being born for a role that is. Having powers does not make us tools or livestock to be used by others.” She looked straight into his eyes, her voice firm and full of conviction. “We have our own dreams and desires so we should be allowed to follow our own path like anyone else".

He thought Miller would be a boring person. A stuck up goody-two-shoes and stickler for smothering rules.

But he was wrong. So hilariously wrong.

Miller was the complete opposite of that.

She was freedom.

“If I am not here for a scolding then why I was called then? By your speech I can assume it's not a recruitment effort either?”

“I was wondering what kind of person you were too"

She gives him a poignant look.

“In my case having these powers made me think that I could help others in ways humans usually couldn't. That's why I choose to use them this way"

She put emphasis on the last part to make it clear that what she did wasn't from a sense of obligation, but her own choice.

So she wanted to know if having these powers changed anything for him too eh~

“I guess for a career choice perhaps? I did pick it because my powers could make everything easier and allow me to have more free time to do whatever I wanted.”

“Like what?”

His family refused to use their powers in anything that wasn't related with the supernatural because they considered it as “cheating". As if it was unfair to others humans because they lacked the advantage they had over then.

But Miller…

Now he understood why people followed her.

Why, he could even see how one could become irreversibly enraptured and fanatical towards this woman.

In a world where society forced people to suppress themselves to fit the mold and the will of others were imposed on you to the point of erasing your identity Miller encouraged people to be the truest to themselves. Honest to their own desires and wants. Uncovering the most authentic and deepest parts of your essence.

“Whatever catches my eye" Was his reply as his eyes appraised her from bottom to top. “My interests can be rather fickle you see".

And yet she had no trouble at all in catching it and keeping his interest on her.

It was fascinating how easily she appealed to his sensibilities.

But what would happen if he challenged hers? Would she still keep her pleasant demeanor? Cower? Drop the façade of niceties and act hostile? Which one would it be?

“Yes. Of course"

She didn't even flinch.

In fact she stood her ground while he was the one to stop in his tracks.

People usually got thrown off or at least flustered when their personal space was intruded but Miller remained completely unfazed despite their close proximity.

It was barely a hair of distance that stopped their skins from touching. He could feel her breath fawning his face just as much as she could probably feels his and yet the rise and fall of her chest kept going on a steady pace, unperturbed and impervious to his provocation.

He wondered how far her composure went. How much further he could push her boundaries and where her limits lied.

If she ever had one that is.

“Why are you masking your emotions?”

“It's something I learned to do after being taken advantage of.” She taps the scarred side of her face with nonchalance. “I learned the hard way what happens when you let your guard down. Quite an ugly sight don't you agree?”

Why should I reveal anything to you when I have no reason to do so?

“…I must say Miss Miller, I'm quite amazed that you are talking in a so matter-of-fact way about such experience”

“I don't think I will ever becompletely over it. I don’t think these nightmares will even go away, but they have lessened a good deal. I can finally see these memories for what they are now: Just bad dreams that I can wake up from”

I don't care about a few bruises and scratches. Even if I'm to fall I won't stay down. I will rise up as many times as I need to.

“For someone that just said to not be too honest you are being very open and upfront with me despite we not even being properly acquaitanced with each other”

“You have the context to understand it. I’m not saying anything you wouldn’t have figured out by yourself” she shrugged.

None of this is an attempt at flattery. If I'm imparting any information with you it's because I deem it inconsequential.

She was truly exceptional.

If he was the one to cautiously test the waters by tiptoeing the border of the beast's territory then Miller was the brusque and brash one yanking his metaphorical hand to touch her wounds and scars, pushing against it until it bled and stained their hands. A display of power and total control of oneself, strength and weakness alike.

“Oh? Does that mean you told me your not secret just because I’m the only one that you can afford to tell?”

“…I can count myself lucky that I have people willing to believe in me despite how outrageous my situation is.” she picked her words carefully. “But asking them to believe in something that goes completely against their common sense might be a bit too much to ask for”

Common sense huh?

That's right, their "common sense" was unlike other humans.

They perceived the world in an inherently unique way because of their powers. Rules, what is considered "normal" and logic itself operated diffently for people like them.

"Say Miss Miller~" He grinned, beyond himself with excitement. "How about going on a "date" with me?"

"That's how people get to know each other better, that's what a "date" is Miss Miller" Morrigan answered.

Well, she couldn't get enough information to properly read him so if he was offering her more chances to do so then there was no reason to refuse his invitation.

"Very well, let's go then"

"..."

"Ah~ Nothing beats chocolate cake!"

"...Do you always eat sweets for meals Morrigan?"

"Oh no" he laughed, waving his fork off. "I just like eating something sweet first because it makes me crave savory stuff more"

"So like eating something salty or dry so the drink feels extra refreshing?"

"Yes! Yes! You really get me" Morrigan clapped his hand, looking pleased. "By the way miss Miller, aren't you going to eat anything?"

"I'm not really fond of sweets so I have to pass"

"I didn't expect you to be a picky eater miss Miller" Morrigan chuckled, incredibly amused.

From what she gathered so far Morrigan seemed averse to rules but didn't seen inclined to break all of them. At least not blatantly or she would have noticed him sooner. There was no clear pattern to his actions, he decided on things on a whim and was very sporadic about it.

His volatile nature made it hard to predict his next move but it didn't mean that it was entirely impossible to do so. She just have to figure out his potential triggers for it.

"Thank you for patiently waiting for me miss Miller, now we can go. There's a rather nice restaurant around here, I bet you will find it lovely"

"Good afternoon" The server greeted. "Table for two?"

"Yes, the seatings outside please" Morrigan chirped.

"But... It's rather cold in that spot today? Wouldn't you prefer a table inside? We still have one available"

"Oh don't worry, we don't feel cold at all"

Miller felt a bit sorry for the poor waiter. He was trying his best to serve then to the best of their capacity, trying not hunch their body in itself and struggling to control their teeth from clattering to inform them that they would be right back with the menus for them.

"It feels quite nice don't you agree?We have this entire side all to ourselves, almost feel VIP" Morrigan hummed. "We couldn't have done that if not thanks to our powers for enhancing our bodies to withstand any harsh element"

"H-Here are your menus"

"What would you like to order miss Miller?"

"It can be the same as yours"

"Very well, I guarantee you won't regret your choice"

As Morrigan busied himself with ordering their food she wondered about what topic to talk about.

She had to find a way to make him reveal more about himself if she had any hopes of reading him.

"Hey, look, crows" Morrigan pointed, snapping her from her thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You know why birds are the symbol of freedom?"

"Because the vast sky belongs to them"

"And "crows" are the most free of them all." Morrigan smiled as he watched the crows entertaing themselves by playing around with a round pebble they found. "They don't live exclusively for survival. They are intelligent creatures, more than most birds and live for themselves and their desires".

He turns his eyes to her, his smile widening.

"You know~ My name, "Morrigan", is heavily associated with crows. Just like yours... Miss "Crowa"".

Oh so that how it is.

She might be starting to understand how his mind works.

"H-Here is your food" the server returned, placing their orders on the table and quickly excusing themselves to avoid prolonging their stay under the frosty weather.

"At last!" Morrigan chirped in excitement. "Miss Miller you have to try this meat first, it's the best part of the dish!"

"Is that so?"

She returns to her place, letting go of his wrist, slowly chewing the food she just stole.

She has a theory in mind.

"Is it something like this?" she points, visibly swallowing it. "Enjoying something because you can get away with doing someting you are not supposed to do?"

She pushes her plate, signaling for him to take a piece of her own food to make up for the one she had just snatched from him.

"This reminds me of a story I heard before. About a farmer who lived in a house with his family that complained how noisy it was so a rabbi advised him to bring animals inside his house. Chickens, goats and sheep, his home becomes even more chaotic and a cacophony of sounds after that." she tells the tale. "Then, after a while, he is told to take the animals out of the house. When he does so he finds the house quite peaceful"

Now it was time to confirm her suspicions.

"Are you perhaps just like the farmer? Do you need rules and limits to perceive your own freedom?"

Do you feel the need to break them to reaffirm your own sovereignty?

Morrigan laughs out loud, startling her.

"You REALLY get me miss Miller!" his smile widens even more, eyes shining in delight as he stabs the piece of the meat from her plate, taking a piece disproportionately much bigger than the one she took from him. "Maybe even better than myself!"

So she was right. That was his trigger.

She finally got him figured out. Now she can decide on her next course of action.

"Thank you for the food mr. Morrigan" she places her knife and fork neatly on the clean plate. "But now I have to go back to work, so if you excuse me..."

"Wait a moment miss Miller"

"..."

Ok. Maybe she doesn't get him 100% after all.

[uselessboss]

Case 01 - (1/7)

"Are you feeling better Safir?" Miller greeted him.

"Yes, I feel calmer after having time to process everything" Safir nodded.

"Did anything unusual happen yesterday? Someone folllowing you or any ill will towards you?"

"No. Not at all"

"Good" she sighed in relief. "That said, I still want to run through some of the procedures of what we will do ok?"

"Of course" Safir nodded seriously.

You couldn't be careful enough when dealing with a possible case of a corrupt cop.

Connections, power, how far they were willing to dirty their hands and how cunning and calculating they could be. It was essential to cover all those bases if she wanted to be a step ahead and avoid casualties.

The first day after the fact was used to lay low as Saram kept watch over Safir for his protection. Just in the case of the suspect trying anything.

Next she contacted her trusted partner Andrews. Using Safir's detailed evidence as a base, he was to check the system for information about the case he was witness of, but only after a week has passed to make the timing not look suspicious.

(Their system, for better or for worse, had a tracker that displayed when and who last accessed the information files)

Andrews would also be in charge of doing a background check on them -If their units ever crossed paths and their own records about cases they worked on. The research had to be done in total confidentiality, asking their peers about them was to be avoided so it wouldn't come off as if they were suspecting their character.

Those are the steps she took to assure that no connection would be made with Safir's case or her knowledge on it.

"We are lucky that there weren't many messages exchanged between us since I gave you that cell phone, but just in case I made sure to remove the few that would point to us being acquaitanced with each other and blocked the number just in case" she clasped her hands together. "My plan is to make it seem as if my interest on them is purely personal to avoid implicating you"

"And what about me? Is there anything I am suposed to do?"

"I won't ask you to stay locked up while this all goes on. You know how to navigate the dangers of the street better than anyone and your power to detect ill intent has the developed immensely to help with that. Besides, I know you are a careful person" She smilled, placing a reassuring hand on Safir's shoulder. "The only thing I might have to ask of you is to perhaps take a path that has the least amount of witness and, if possible, changing it everyday to not make your patterns obvious, just in case."

"Don't worry. I will make sure to guarantee your safety"

She didn't know it at that time. She couldn't even know.

She couldn't know how naive she has been.

"This dude's records are weirdly "all or nothing" " Andrews sighs "It fluctuates a lot between his best and his worst. Most of them are nothing to write home about and he even comes close to seriously underperfoming his duties"

"...On the other hand he can be rather meticulous and stellar when he want to do a good job." she reads the files. "This is very detailed"

"Because we were avoiding asking around about him I couldn't verify if his skills were the real deal but... I have a inkling that they might be true"

"Why is that?"

Andrews had an uncomfortable and conflicted expression on his face as he handed the stack of documents he compiled.

"Some of the things he does... It reminds me of you"

She felt a horrible sense of dread as she leafed through the documents.

Reading suspects with uncanny accuracy.

Getting information that no one else would be able to have access.

Finding clues and evidence no matter how well hidden.

This might be worse than she thought.

MUCH WORSE.

"What do you think partner?" Andrew asked, concerned.

"I... Don't know. I have to meet him face to face to determine what kind of person he is"

But if her suspicious were confirmed...

They had a big problem in their hands.

Now that she was face to face with him she was sure.

That Aura. The spiritual energy coming from him. The slight glow coming from his eyes.

He was like her.

"Thank you for coming Mr. Morrigan" she schooled her expression and feelings to appear as neutral as possible. "I requested to have a private talk with you because I wanted to confirm something"

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"That you have a spiritual power just like me"

Her objective didn't change.

Even if her foe having spiritual powers like her came off as an undesirable outcome what she had to do didn't change.

She couldn't let someone as dangerous as him get anywhere closer to Safir. She had to make sure Morrigan saw her interest on him as purely personal.

"I doubt you remember it as it was also something so fleeting that I could barely register it myself, but we had crossed paths before when our units worked on a joint operation." she lied. "It took me a while to pinpoint who it was. You really keep mostly a low-profile huh?"

"Outside of needing to use it on a pinch I don't really feel like overtly using my powers most of the time" Morrigan shrugged, sitting on one of the chairs and resting his feet on the table. "Maaaybe if I'm feeling particularly inspired, but that's kind rare"

"I know. I saw your records. You can be rather meticulous and efficient about it"

"So? What is this about?" Morrigan took his feet from the desk, pushing the side with his feet, making the wheeled chair slide and stop closer to her, his neck angled to look her up as his head rested on top of the chair. "Is this a "With Great Powers come with Great Responsability" kind of talk?"

His face screamed boredom and lack of interest.

"No. I don't believe in that" she denies. "Being born for a role that is. Having powers does not make us tools or livestock to be used by others. We have our own dreams and desires so we should be allowed to follow our own path like anyone else"

That got a reaction from him.

He probably wasn't expecting that answer.

But it seemed as if he had liked it because he now deigned himself to sit properly, facing her, gaze intense and now filled with cat like curiosity and interest.

"The only responsability I believe in is to not use your powers, regardless of what kind of power it is, to hurt other or to take advantage of them"

No reaction. Or any fluctuation of emotions there. For someone that had a lot to hide Morrigan didn't express any worry, anxiety or pride. He wasn't even bothering with masking his feelings.

It was like he was totally indifferent to it.

"If I am not here for a scolding then why was I called then? By your speech I can assume it's not a recruitment effort either?"

"I was wondering what kind of person you were too"

Which wasn't a lie.

She needed to understand how his mind worked if she wanted to figure out his plans.

"In my case, having these powers made me think that I could help others in ways humans usually couldn't. That's why I choose to use them that way"

"Hum~ So what you want to know is if having these powers also changed anything for me?"

"Precisely"

"Let's see... I guess for a career choice perhaps? I did pick it because my powers could make everything easier and allow me to have more free time to do whatever I wanted"

"Like what?"

"Huh. Whatever catches my eye" his blue eyes glows for a moment. "My interests can be rather fickle you see"

He scoots closer. His face dangerously close to hers.

"May I ask you a question of my own Miss Miller?"

"Yes. Of course"

"Why are you masking your emotions?"

"It's something I learned to do after being taken advantage of." She taps the scars on her face. "I learned the hard way what happens when you let your guard down. Quite an ugly sight don't you agree?"

"So a possession? Now that's a surprise considering how strong you are. You are not overtly showing it but I can tell how powerful your spiritual power is. It's hard to picture you losing to anything"

"This is why you can't be too honest with your feelings sometimes. They were vengeful ghosts. They noticed my sympathy towards their plight. They took advantage of my feelings to guilt trip me into agreeing to be their vessel. That's the gist of it"

"Hum~ Or maybe..."

"What is it?"

"Well, it's just a theory, I would have to look deeper into it before I can confirm if my assumptions are right or not" Morrigan shook his head. "I must say Miss Miller, I'm quite amazed that you are talking in a so matter-of-fact way about such an experience"

"I don't think I will ever be completely over it. I don't think these nightmares will even go away, but they have lessened a good deal. I can finally see these memories for what they are now: Just bad dreams that I can wake up from"

"For someone that just said to not be too honest you are being very open and upfront with me despite we not even being properly acquaitanced with each other"

"You have the context to understand it. I'm not saying anything you wouldn't have figured out by yourself" she shrugged.

"Oh? Does that mean you told me your not secret just because I'm the only one that you can afford to tell?"

"...I can count myself lucky that I have people willing to believe in me despite how outrageous my situation is." she picked her words carefully. "But asking them to believe in something that goes completely against their common sense might be a bit too much to ask for"

"Common sense hum~?" Morrigan hums. "So you are saying that you have enough "common sense" to get me~"

He laughs utterly elated. His eyes crinkling in entertainment and pleasure.

"Say, Miss Miller~"

[uselessboss]

Miller/Hunter as SxF parody XD

It's kind scary how it would fit like a glove XD

[uselessboss]

Bridge (1/1)

“Hey Wolf Boy it has been a long time!”

“Indeed it has”

“We were all surprised when you accepted our invitation to hang out together!”

It had also been a surprise to him. To suddenly receive a message from his high school classmates inviting him for a meet up when in the past he had been not the most approachable and sociable person around? It was very unexpected.

But it came at the right time.

Recently Miller was too busy to be able to hang out with him so this invitation might be what he needed to help him take his mind off that.

“I thought it could be a nice change of pace"

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise.

An understandable reaction all things considered. He wasn't sociable at all in the past- Quite awkward and stiff in his interactions. He had a perpetual look of discomfort as if he would rather be anywhere but in company of other human beings.

“So, what was everyone up to after we graduated?”

Everyone snapped out of their shock, excited to share their stories- Talking about University, places they traveled to, new friends, dating and even working their first job. There are setbacks and some obstacles in the way, of course, but everyone was, and still is, trying their best.

“…You could say it might be a waste to drop out so close to the end but I decided it really wasn't for me" one of them laughed it off.

“I hope you find what you are looking for next time. Something that it might make your hard work feel rewarding this time" He encouraged.

Another round of stunned silence

“Wolf… You changed"

“Huh?”

“You seem more relaxed" one of them pointed. “More composed, serene and mature.”

“Is that so?”

“You seem… How should we put this? Before you were so shy and closed off that it felt like you wanted to keep people away and disliked our company, but now your aura seems different, it's very gentle and warm"

“I guess I did grown up a little" he admits with a fond smile.

Thanks to Miller.

“Did anything happen to spurn this change? We have yet to hear your share of stories" Everyone scooched closer, eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity.

“I guess something did happen" he chuckles. “I met someone. Someone really special. It's hard to put in words how much she did for me and talk about everything we went through together but… All I can say is that I became a better person thanks to her. She was the one to really teach me the real meaning of kindness and compassion”

“Congratulations Wolf!” Everyone cheered, clapping their hands with enthusiasm.

Huh?

“For what???” He asks, baffled and very much confused.

“For being in a relationship?”

“We are not dating"

“Really?” This time it was their turn to act confused “But your voice sounds so soft and adoring whenever you talk about this person, your eyes practically lighten up!”

“That… There's no way I would feel that way about her”

“I'm back"

“Welcome back Miller" He greets.

“Did anything happen during my absence?”

"Nothing that we couldn't deal by ourselves, we also finished wrapping up any remaining procedures in the case you were dealing with"

"Thank you Hunter. Both you and Andrews. I don't know what I would do without you two helping me"

"Of course, Count on us anytime you need"

"Where's Andrews now?"

"He already went home"

"Oh. I see."

Miller seemed troubled.

"Did anything happen while you were gone? You look kind off" he asked, concerned.

"I was thinking about the last words Johannes has left to me"

'Johannes disregarded your orders, saying that he didn't want to "waste himself" for your sake anymore'

'He said that you order us to stay back just so you could steal the glory for yourself to erase your crimes and that you do all sorts of foul things to hide it'

"That… Those weren't his true words" He tenses up. "Even if he said all that he didn't mean any of it. I said that because…!"

He was the worst.

He was already a pathetic person. Always finding excuses, always trying to justify his shitty actions, trying to convince others and even himself about his self-righteous decisions. What a garbage human being.

And yet he managed to achieve a new low that day.

He didn't even bother making excuses. He didn't even do it under a distorted sense of justice. It was sheer pettiness and spite that motivated him.

All because she didn't acknowledge him. All because he was too insignificant next to the one she truly cared for.

HE.WAS.SCUM.

"I'm free tomorrow"

"Huh?" He snapped out of his thoughts, eyes widening in surprise as he lifts the head he didn't even notice he had lowered.

"It has been a long time since we last hang out together right?" Miller smiled, warm and comforting. "There's something I want to buy so could you keep me company?"

"T-That's…"

"Please?"

"I… Alright" he agrees with some reluctance.

He couldn't just say no to Miller.

Besides, there was something in her eyes…

"Thank you. See you tomorrow then."

He felt restless as he stared at his cellphone's screen.

Usually this would the time when he video called Miller to chat and spend a bit more time with her but right now he felt hesitant to even send her a message wishing "Good night".

'I said that because…'

There was no way Miller didn't know how that sentence ended. Even if he didn't say it outright it was obvious.

What other reason someone would have to tell you something that they KNEW it was a lie? And a malicious one at that. There could be nothing but cruel intentions there.

He felt his cellphone vibrate in his hand.

'Good Night Hunter. I look forward to hang out with you again'

How could she still be so kind to him? How could she smile genuinely at him after finding out this monstruous side of his? To always forgive and understand him no matter what?

Should he just accept that?

No. He shouldn't.

It has always been in the back of his mind. This feeling of shame and guilt. The nagging thought that he didn't deserve any of this happiness, a stain that keeps surfacing and marring everything in its wake.

He didn't want to leave it unaddressed, but he also didn't know what to do. There was no point in asking for forgiveness because he knew that Miller would grant it, besides it was also not what he was looking for.

What he wants is… To take responsibility for his actions. To own up to his mistakes.

“I have to talk with Miller about it. Even if I still don't have an answer. She deserves that much."

“Good Morning Miller"

He took pride in being a very tidy and organized person. The kind that doesn't tolerate leaving litter around, that always kept his space clean and neat- Someone that enjoyed when things where orderly and pristine.

Yet, and for some odd reason, he found out that he liked "messy" when it came to Miller.

It wasn't to say that she was being sloppy. More so that she was focusing more on her own comfort than concerning herself to prep for anything.

Miller was a hard worker.

Day after day she oversaw everyone under her care, watching out for their needs, for their well being, working incesantly to protect and help civillians and subordinates alike. Day after day she fought in the frontlines, by their side, throwing herself in the middle of danger to cover for everyone, never shirking away from answering any plea for help.

Perhaps that was the reason to why he enjoyed seeing her like this.

It was a rare opportunity to see Miller being this relaxed, content and carefree. It was a soothing sight that never failed to make him smile and bring out this warm feeling of fond affection.

“Did you have your breakfast already Hunter?”

“No. Not yet”

“I didn't either” Miller smiled. “So let's stop somewhere to grab a bite before we go shopping"

"I know a good place around here if you are up to it. It's where the meeting with my old school classmates took place"

"That would be lovely" her face lightens up. "While we are at it why don't you tell me more about how it went? Sounds like you had a great time"

As they sat and he shared the stories of his friends (and he was quite surprised to find out they considered him a friend despite how he was in the past), he couldn't help but think, as Miller listened to everything with great interest and investment, about the topic of "love" again.

If he could give a concrete shape and form to such an abstract and vague feeling then Miller would come to his mind.

Miller didn't get to be invited for anything, always being excluded by her peers for most of her life and only being able to watch everyone having fun from afar without being able to participate in the fun.

It wouldn't be strange if one would turn bitter and envious from the experience and yet she didn't ressent him for having this opportunity. She was happy for him when he told her about the invitation and even now her eyes twinkled with pride and joy at hearing him talk about finding out that they actually thought of him as a friend.

This capacity of being happy for others, this immense care and desire to think and wish for their well-being- That's what he views "love" to be like.

"You told them all of that about me?" Miller chuckled. "Now I'm feeling a bit embarrassed."

"It's the truth. You really taught me the meaning of kindness and compassion"

"What else you guys talked about?"

"That…" He faltered.

This was it. Now it was the moment to bring "that" up.

"I guess the topic of how much I cared for you came up" He twiddled his thumbs.

"And what did you say?"

"… Not enough" he flinched. "I… Miller, there's something I wanted to talk to you for a while"

"Yes?"

"About what you talked yesterday. Johannes' words"

He took a long breath to steel his nerves.

He's not running away.

"I knew he didn't mean any of those things he told me. The reason I lied and acted like he did was… Out of pettiness. I tried to hurt you out of entitlement and spite for not acknowledging me."

He feels sick.

"…For not siding with me"

He regrets it to this day.

"I'm also a liar"

He looks at her in surprise.

"From the start I knew that it was a lie" Miller's expression is unreadable. "Johannes wasn't the kind of man to follow orders he doesn't agree with or without good reasoning behind it. All those times he complied with my requests were because he was willing to believe in me. Even if I didn't have a plausible argument to give to him, he choose to trust me"

He had been nothing but loyal to her, but when push came to shove she didn't reciprocate that trust.

"I acted like I didn't know his reasons but I knew fully well why everything fell apart. I was just too much of a coward to acknowledge and admit to it. My cruelty and callousness."

"You… Being cruel?" Hunter blinked, incredulous.

"… I still can't tell you the full truth about what happened back during the incident that disgraced my life but… Let's just say that I was betrayed by the people I swore to help and protect. They tortured me, used me, forced me to commit all those atrocities and after they were done I was left to die. Like discarded trash."

Ressentment, bitterness and anger.

It had been the first time in her life that she felt like that. Detesting someone or something this much.

…And she felt guilty for it.

"Despite what was done to me I felt guilt about my own anger. Because I knew what they went through, because I knew how much pain they also suffered"

But she also didn't want to forgive them.

"To get rid of my guilt I told myself that no one has the right to allow selfishness dictate your actions, circumstances be damned. I was putting myself in a pedestal, making myself be "above that", as if I was incapable of commiting the same mistakes- All for the sake of looking in comtempt at those who hurt me"

She smiled bitterly at Hunter.

"How arrogant and conceited right?"

And it didn't end there.

"It's true that I didn't want to let go of Johannes at first, but that feeling quickly took backseat to my own worry over having selfish desires in the first place." Weak. She has been so weak. "I thought that if I allowed myself to act selfish then I would be conceding a point to those who hurt me and I didn't want to do that"

The biggest irony of all was that she ended up being far more cruel and selfish by taking this path.

"I wasn't trying to drive Johannes away because I was thinking of him. I did that… To protect my own hatred"

And then It was too late when she came to regret her decision.

Hunter didn't know what to say.

"I felt like I had deceived Johannes" Miller remembers how painful those days were. "I thought, for my a while, that my own feelings were a fraud"

But there was no way they were fake. Not when the moments she shared with him had been nothing but filled with happiness.

"…When I finally looked past my pain and grief, when I remembered at all the moments we shared together, the only thing that came to my mind was how much gratitude I had towards him. Those feelings I held for Johannes… They were real"

Miller's face was serene when she said that.

"And perhaps that's what's important"

"What is important?"

"...Shall we go Hunter?"

"Huh? Ah, of course" he immediately gets up. "By the way, what are you buying Miller?"

"You will see" Miller smiles mysteriously.

"…A bridge model set?" He blinks.

"There's quite different ways to build it" Miller nods. "Can you help me with it?"

"Sure?" He nods as he takes a seat on the other side of the table.

They were currently at Miller's home.

He got used to it now but he remembers how flustered he was the first time he came to hang out at her place.

Miller never got a chance to hang out with a group of friends in her past so she to wanted to watch a movie with them(him and Andrews) at her house to experience it for the first time.

It had been the first time he saw Miller in her "messy to cozy" looks.

Andrews had a field day teasing him about the way he kept staring at her get up.

Again, he just liked seeing Miller be happy and relaxed. Nothing strange about it.

"…Done" He pushes the final piece in place.

He wasn't good at this kind of stuff but at least it resembled a bridge?

"Good" Miller nodded. "Now destroy it"

"Pardon?"

"Destroy it"

He stared at Miller.

It… Didn't seem as if she was dissatisfied with anything or mad.

"I… Ok" he obeyed, flinching as he thrashed their hard work, some of the scattered pieces even ending up on the floor. "Ah…! S-Sorry"

Miller didn't say anything in response. She simply picked the fallen pieces on her side, expression unreadable as she started building the bridge again.

He started to fidget.

Should he be doing something? Saying something?

He looked at the pieces fallen on his side.

He carefully picked them out of the floor and looked at Miller, who didn't even lift her eyes from her work nor made any movement to pick them from his grasp.

He stared at the pieces again.

Wordlessly, he began his work again.

"..."

They finished building it.

It looked more like a bridge now.

He didn't know if she was mad at him or not for his lack of skills, so just in case, he made sure to put a bit more effort in making something better, looking at the guides inside the box the set came from for reference.

"Destroy it"

"A-Again?"

"Yes"

He obeyed with some reluctance, trying to at least be more careful to not drop the pieces on the floor this time, with some of them ending up at Miller's side of the table.

Miller picked those pieces and carefully placed them on his side, starting the whole process anew.

He took that as a cue to start building his own share.

They kept going like this.

They build the bridge together.

Miller asks to destroy it.

Every single time.

He doesn't know what's going inside Miller's mind right now.

If he had to guess then she was probably trying to make a point, hinting at something important for him to figure out.

Of what, he didn't have a clue.

The only thing he could say is how it filled him with dread.

He didn't understand it himself, but each time he was asked to destroy their hard work it hurt. Not out of frustration for the time or effort put on it. It was the act of undoing it. It… Deeply unsettled him.

It was as if something important wasn’t being allowed to take roots.

“… Can I ask something Hunter?” Miller spoke, breaking their silence.

“Y-Yes?” he stuttered.

“What has been tormenting you all this time about your lie… Was it because you were afraid of your capacity to hurt me?” he flinches. “Are you afraid of doing that again?”

Maybe that was the reason behind why he found so hard to accept her forgiveness.

He couldn't forget that day. He couldn't forget how he felt, the kind of thoughts that went through his head as he did that and how little incentive he needed to go through it.

What would be the point of accepting her kindness like that when he didn't give her any reassurance that it won't happen again? That he would treat her right? He feels as if like he had been wasting her forgiveness all this time.

“You will probably commit another mistake in the future" Miller's voice cuts his thoughts. “But it will be fine"

“How could that be fine?!”

“If there's something I learned is that it's impossible to never commit mistakes Hunter.” Miller clicked the last piece of the bridge in place. “So what's truly important here is what can be done after"

“But not all actions can be easily excused like that, even if you try your best!"

“Nor should they. It doesn't matter if you are forgiven or not. What matters is your desire to treat them right."

"…"

"If… If you asked me, at least from my part, what would I have done if Johannes had asked for my forgiveness then… My answer would be to forgive and give him a second chance."

"But why?" He couldn't help but ask.

How could you trust someone that betrayed you?

"Because he gave me enough reasons to believe him. Johannes has… Time and time again proven himself to me, supporting and giving me strength when no one else would". Her words were filled with a conviction impossible to argue against. "A single mistake won't undo all of that".

When she said it like that it sort of made sense. He knew their history together, the length they went for each other's sake. It was painfully clear how much they had meant for each other.

But then, what would explain his case?

"That day" wasn't the first time he had hurt her. Miller might be able to see good in him, but he didn't forget his own actions. He didn't forget how he pushed her away several times nor the brief flash of hurt that appeared on her face everytime he did so.

"Hunter, I think you have the wrong idea about me."

"Huh?"

"Do you remember the stories I told you about my previous partners before Andrews?"

He nods.

"I tried my hardest to reach them but… Bonds cannot be forged out of an onesided effort. To meet in the middle is necessary for both parties to build a path to do so, a "bridge" if you may".

She taps the bridge set.

"Do you know why I kept asking you to destroy the bridge we built together?"

"I… Don't"

"Because it represents your rejection. For every time you tried to push me away".

He flinched.

So his early impression of "not allowing something to take roots" was right after all.

The allusion was accurate.

Miller would build a bridge to reach him and he would thwart her attempts.

He…

He hears a chuckle.

It was Miller.

"Hunter, didn't you notice anything while you were destroying and building it anew?"

He shakes his head.

"Each time you did so the bridge ended up being less and less destroyed" Miller smilled at him. "Your conviction to destroy OUR bridge was wanning".

Miller looked outright smug now.

"Do you recall how hostile you were towards me at the beginning? You looked at me as if I was the lowest scum on the face of the Earth"

"Urgh… I was such an insufferable asshole" he groans.

"And this very person is also the same one who apologized to me today and that can look so kindly at me". She places a hand on the side of his face.

He leans against her touch as if by instinct. He places his hand on top of hers, as if it was only natural to seek her touch and kindness.

He chuckles.

His past self would indeed be shocked at this development.

To think he would come to adore and think so fondly of someone he once loathed… It was only possible because it was her.

"… And this leads to another point: With the holes getting smaller it also became easier to fix them". Miller now tapped his side of the bridge." Everytime you apologized, everytime you came to check of me, everytime you took care of me… What you destroyed you rebuilt anew- Stronger, better and sturdier. Your efforts reached me you know? That's why I grew to trust you".

He looked at the bridge again with new eyes.

He was so busy worrying over whether it was good or not, freeting over his mistakes, that he failed to notice the improvements he made as well, how solid the bridge they built together became.

"I must confess I came very close to giving up one time. "That day", when you pulled my arm and looked at me with such distrustful eyes… I thought that I read you wrong. That you still saw me as nothing but as a criminal. I thought that maybe it was impossible for us to get along after all".

He looks at her in surprise.

"See? I told you, I am not as forgiving as you think" Miller chuckles again before her gaze softens. "So thank you. Thank you for reaching me and not letting things end like that"

As long as you show that you want to make this work I will keep giving you a chance. As many times as you need.

And he wanted that. To make "this" work.

No. Not only that.

He finally knows how he wants to address his past misgivings.

"Miller, I… Feel like I have been giving you nothing but wrong answers all this time".

And like Miller said, he will probably keep making more blunders in the future.

But it would be fine, because…

"Do you think I was embezzling our funds?"

"No. You never cut corners when it's about keeping our gear in top shape and I know for a fact that sometimes you even pay from your own pocket if we need to cover the costs".

"I don't know how you figured that out but… Anyway, what do you think of me solving cold cases? Do you think I was fabricating evidence?"

"No. I saw you at work. People treat you as a cheater for solving all these cases but they never talk about your failures- About your frustration and dismay at the lack of evidence to convict someone you KNOW is the culprit nor all the hard work you had put on it."

They also don't talk about how incredibly humble she was.

"They also don't talk about all the people you have helped. The gratitude and relief they get for finally getting closure. How you never once sought glory from it. You did it simply because you thought you could help, because you could make a difference."

"Whoa! Wait. Pause for a second. Let me recover for a bit because I'm getting flustered here"

"Oh? Now that's rare. For me to get a chance to fluster you." He grins, cheekily. "I wonder how people would react if they knew that the "Queen of Crows" can be kind cute when she's being bashful."

"I don't think anyone else but YOU would use the word "cute" to describe me Hunter."

"Andrews would."

"You two are terribly biased."

They laughed together.

His heart felt light as a feather.

Not only because he was finally able to address the thoughts that have been plaguing him, but also because Miller seemed to become more comfortable at voicing her own troubles as well.

It was like another piece was added to their bridge. Another step to meet in the middle.

"Last question Hunter" Miller's eyes were sparkling at this point, brimming with affection, tenderness and gratitude. "Do you believe in me? Do you believe in my innocence?"

"Yes. I do" His voice went soft, equally brimming with untold emotions. There were so much and not enough things he wanted to say to her. To this wonderful person who became so dear to him. "The truth is Miller that the more I got to know you the more I started to admire you. I wanted to grow closer and spend more time with you even then but I was too immature and stubborn to admit it. I consider you my role model, someone I look up to and who changed me to become a better person."

"...You are truly the kindest and most caring soul I ever met. I count myself fortunate to get to know you as well" Miller laughed. "I also have a confession to make to you Hunter"

"Yes?"

"I think the same of you. I admire and look up to you as well"

"In what way?"

"Your conviction to do the right thing no matter what." Miller explains. "I never saw myself as strong and lived under constant fear of people finding that out but… Ever since I met you I think I started to grow a bit braver."

Brave enough to face her fears and take a step forward.

"Then I hope I can help you fly as high as you can"

"Huh?"

"If you ever feel discouraged then I want you to know that I will be there to support you. If you ever need reassurance then let my conviction and belief be your strength."

Just like you did for me.

"…Thank you Hunter, truly thank you. This means a lot to me." She envelopes him in a hug.

He embraces her back.

As he closes his eyes and soaks in her warmth he thinks that he really doesn't know about love.

But maybe that's ok.

As long as he can stay by her side.

[uselessboss]

Resolve(1/1)

“Thank you for agreeing on accompanying me Saram” Safir chuckled as he placed another item on the basket that Saramsrein offered to carry for him. “I was worried that I would be mistaken as a thief because of my shabby clothes and for only having hard cash on me”

“I don't mind, I am more than happy to keep you company" Saramsrein shook his head.

Things have changed between them since the day they went stargazing together.

“Miller can you be Safir's “official" boss?” Saramsrein had asked her.

“Why is that?”

“I… I am not trying to dump my responsibilities on you again.” He tried to explain himself. “I talked with Safir and we agreed that it would be for the best. Being a boss was never my intention from the beginning. What I really wished for was to form bonds that I could cherish"

“If you two want to quit this job partnership then why ask me to take charge of it?”

“B-Because I want to do it.” Safir stepped in. “I thought a lot about what I can and want to offer and I believe this is something is this. I want to help"

“Hum…” Miller looked pensive.

“Very well, I shall respect your wishes and do as you requested”

As promised they started to hang out more with each other, no longer as “boss" and “subordinate” but as “friends".

Even though they still mostly hanged out at Saram's home as he couldn't afford higher luxuries (and he vehemently refused to let Saram pay for him) he could feel the shift in their relationship.

Saram looked far more comfortable now that the weight of the role of a “boss" was taken off his shoulders. There was no longer the expectation for him to take charge of something he was clearly unprepared for - No need to make himself an anxious wreck over taking accountability for a mistake or for overlooking something, when he answered his questions he could now just focus in helping him.

He looked more confident. Perhaps even more proactive and competent than when he was his boss in fact.

They brainstormed ideas together and discussed the pros and cons of it. Whenever one noticed a flaw in each other's plans or found the other's to be the better option they didn't feel like they had to hold back on it. There was no “boss who should know better" or an “underling that shouldn't transgress an authority", they were on equal footing now.

“I was a bit surprised when you told me you wanted to buy clothes, you usually don't like to spend your money on items like that" Saram commented.

It was certainly uncommon. His spending criteria focused on guaranteeing his basic necessities like hygienic products, medicine and food. Anything else that he could scrape by like clothes ranked lower in his list of priorities as he could acquire hand-me-down clothes from donation centers.

“I thought it would be an important step for my change in mindset"

“How so?”

“You could argue that I don't need these new clothes as I already have some in still doable condition but…” he opens the door to the changing room, looking at the clothes he was currently wearing - Shabby, worn out, the color faded and a size too big to fit his small frame. “…I guess I always felt self conscious about how sloppy they made me look”

He always received some stares. A few not even well concealed. It was pretty obvious when you looked at the way he was dressed.

A nobody kid with nothing to his name.

The clothes he wore were often mismatched, a bunch of miscellaneous things thrown together – Not by choice, but because it was the only options available to him.

“That's why I thought that it would be nice to wear something I picked for myself. Something that suits me.”

He doesn't know if the clothes he picked will even look good on him but it still make him proud nonetheless. It's his choice, he's picking something he likes for once.

“I see". Saram nods. “I like these clothes. I think they look good on you"

“Thank you Saram" he smiles.

“Ah! While you were in the changing room I found this shirt that has a nice design. What do you think?”

“It's indeed very pretty" he agreed. “Is there any other color available besides white?”

“You don't like the color white?”

“I don't dislike it but… Well, it stains easily and it's difficult to clean. If I got it dirty I don't think I would be able to wash it away"

He didn't have a washing machine after all. Just a plain bar of soap and his own hands to vigorously scrub everything out.

“Ah, that's why you picked dark colors then" Saram commented as if a light bulb clicked on. “Ok. I will keep that in mind"

“Maybe for a next opportunity" he chuckled as he checked the price tags again, calculating his expenses. “Any more and that would go over my budget"

“I could-"

“That's a No Saram"

Saramsrein pouted, puffing his cheeks.

He reached for Saram’s face and smushed it between his hands, a sound of a deflating balloon escaping between the taller's lips.

He giggled.

No matter how many times he did that it never failed to amuse him.

“Let's go Saram”

“Fine.” He conceded. “Ah. Wait. There's something I meant to buy today"

“What is it?”

“A scarf" Saramsrein smiles as he pick a grayish blue scarf. “I think this one would be good. It feels pretty soft right?”

Saram brought it closer to him so he could also feel the texture. It indeed felt soft. Amazingly so.

“It's a pretty good scarf" he agreed.

Saram's smile widened at his approval.

“Ok, now we can go"

Despite his concerns they didn't face any issues while paying for their purchases. The clerks were sweet faced, attentive and even offered a discount to him for paying up-front (which he happily accepted). They were treating him just like any other person would.

He was no longer a conduit to the supernatural forces.

The other reason to why he was feeling more comfortable about going out was because he learned how to control his powers.

Now that he got more confident and had a better sense of “self” Miller taught him how to block his sensitivity to the emotions of the people and supernatural entities that surrounded him. He no longer had to feel subjected by the cacophony and maelstrom of human emotions that didn't belong to him - The thoughts he heard now were only his, and his alone.

He could now live a normal life.

“I need to drop those stuff “home" first then I can go to your place Saram”

“Ah, that's nic- One moment" Saramsrein stops as his cellphone start to buzz. “Miller? A case right now? Ok, got it.”

“Do you want me to drop your purchase at your home Saram?”

“A-Ah... Well, no, t-that is…” Saramsrein flusters.

“For me?” Safir blinks, surprised.

“I-I know you said to not use my money on you but this much should be fine right? It's not an expensive item" Saram tries to explain himself. “I can't really feel it myself but I noticed that there are a lot of people wearing more layers than usual so I guessed it had to be pretty cold”.

He didn't know what to say.

Now that he thought of it, the color that Saram had picked did go well with the clothes he purchased.

He picked the scarf from the shopping bag and wrapped it around his neck.

It felt just as soft as when he had touched it for the first time.

“Thank you Saram. I like it.”

“I am glad that you do" Saramsrein perked up, happy for his gift being accepted.

He wasn’t the only one that had been growing recently. Saramsrein had as well. He had become more aware and observant of his surroundings- Better at reading contextual clues, of socializing. He didn't get nearly as anxious as before when he interacted with him or other humans. He learned how to put himself more out there. To voice his opinions, to speak his mind.

“…That being said, you better not think you found a loophole mr. Saramsrein. Cheap or expensive, I am not going to accept it if it's from careless spending”

“I finally got you to accept a gift from me so I'm satisfied… For now" he grinned, very smugly.

“Go already Saramsrein, Miller is waiting" he rolled his eyes in fond amusement.

Disagreements were bound to happen now that they were both being more honest with themselves and each other but neither minded it. Their relationship was like a puzzle. A puzzle that they were trying to figure out where the pieces fit. Together.

After promising each other once again to meet up later after his work was done and after Saram disappeared Safir took one big supermarket’s plastic bag from the pocket of his coat and put his new clothes there, putting the branded bag away, folded so its logo was hidden.

‘Just in case' he thought as he walked “home".

He didn't want to risk being mugged after all.

After making sure he hadn't been followed and stashing his new purchases in one of the trunks of the cars in the bottom of the pile, the hardest place to reach and also the safest, Safir let out a huge sigh in relief.

“Thank God everything went well… Huh? Oh. I forgot to take this off" Safir touched the scarf on his neck.

That was careless of him. The scarf was clearly new, he could have attracted undesirable attention because of it.

But…

He buries his face on the soft fabric, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the feeling of comfort it brought.

Somehow it made him feel “safe".

He stretched his hand and reached for the driver's seat of his hiding spot, picking the cooking book that he now always kept close by.

“Maybe we should try making this one today"

He was surprised when Saram asked him to teach him how to cook.

‘I thought I couldn't do it because of my limitations but… Maybe if I learn the process I could find a way to reproduce it'

‘I don't mind it, but wouldn't it be better to ask Miller to teach you? She has far more experience than me in the kitchen'

‘Well, yes, but… You seemed to take a liking to learning how to cook recently so I thought you might enjoy challenging yourself like that'

‘It does sound fun' he smiled, incredibly touched by Saram's gesture. ‘Let's do our best then'

Teaching Saram how to cook was an interesting and fascinating process.

He thought he would get far more nervous and anxious about it as it was the first time he was put in charge of anything, but surprisingly, he didn't. His head was clear. He wasn't second guessing himself as he would have done before and he had now a far more critical look at the situation at hand. His focus was, first and foremost, at figuring out how they could make it work.

‘You are acting kind like Miller' Saramsrein one day pointed it out.

‘Did I? I didn't even notice'

Now that he thought about it, he kind did. He remembered Miller pulling something similar with him before.

At that time her actions seemed… Somewhat vague to him. He could understand that what she was doing was helping his growth but he couldn't make sense, for the life of him, of HOW she had figured those steps out. For a good while he thought it was just a “Miller" thing and thus something that was simply beyond him.

It really wasn't.

The more time he spent around her the more he understood that it wasn't that Miller was doing anything special, because she wasn't. It was just that she didn't overcomplicate things.

Like listening to his opinion. She didn't take any issue over listening to advice from someone younger than her or that had less experience on the field. On the contrary, she encouraged it because she didn't take those as legitimate issues that should stop her from hearing him out. She even took pride at him for coming up with some ideas she never thought before.

Which lead to another important thing he learned from her.

To not be ashamed of failure. Because the “questions" were what would guide your path.

He smiled as he went through the recipes he and Saram learned together.

It wasn't many of them and they were fairly simple, but the fact that they managed to pull it off at all was something worth of celebrating over.

In special the seasoning. Saram worked really hard to remember the types and measurements used -It was a work of trial and error, of mistaking salt for sugar, of no taste to too salty but they got there. He could now do it consistently and even developed a better grasp at using them when they tried new recipes despite his lack of tasting sense. He still remembered how radiant Saram looked when they first succeeded, it was a great boost to his confidence.

“Hum… I think some ingredients are missing. I better make a list and buy them before I head to his home"

Luckily for him they weren't the kind that was hard to find so he could pick them up at a small convenience store. He could avoid being stared at by other customers in those places and the cashiers usually only cared if you could pay up your stuff and left you alone otherwise.

“Bingo" he murmured as he opened the door and saw the cashier lazily play with his phone, not even lifting his eyes to acknowledge who entered his store.

Well then.

‘Better this than being kicked out.’ He shrugged.

“Now let's see…” He was going to pick his note out of his coat's pocket when he heard the sound of someone entering the store.

He felt a chill run up his spine.

He hid behind one of the shelves and looked at the person who just entered.

It was a fairly young man. Probably in his late teens, wearing nice clothes of what he could identify as from a pretty good brand, face fair without marks, walking casually as he perused through the goods at the shelves.

He looked like a normal person.

And yet…

His instincts screamed “DANGER!” at the top of its lungs. Now that he got control over his power to pick on people's emotions he could clearly sense the ill intent radiating from the newcomer.

Making sure to not been seen he discretely took a picture of the young man's face and then slowly backed away, his steps as light and as silent as when he walked on top of walls at night.

“Good, I got clear picture of his face"

He was deciding what he was going to do when suddenly he heard shouting.

Peeking over his hiding place he saw the young man point a gun at the cashier, threatening to shoot him if he didn't give him his money.

He felt his body freeze stiff in fear.

He couldn't do anything to help, except…

His hand trembled as he pressed the button to record everything.

The cashier was pale as a sheet and collapsed on the floor as the assailant ran away with his money, taking away a few beers away in his wake, laughing all the while as if proud of what he just did.

Making sure that the coast was clear and that the robber wasn't coming back Safir got out of his hiding spot and ran towards the fallen cashier, calling the police as he crouched next to the frightened man.

“I called the police, they will be here soon" he tried to assure the man. “Don't worry, I took a photo of them and recorded everything, they will be able to identify him in no t-"

Safir was startled by the aggressive and accusing voice.

“YOU NOTICED THE ROBBER AND YET YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP HIM?! I COULD HAVE DIED AND IT WOULD BE ALL YOUR FAULT!!”

Safir backed away.

“I…”

It was true. He noticed right away that the man was bad news but didn't do anything about it. He should have shouted, created a distraction, warned the cashier, anything!

Instead he hid away. Like a coward.

He stood in silence as he accepted the verbal lashing.He deserved it.

And he thought he could help people with his power… What a joke!

“I heard there was a robbery here?” the policeman asked.

“Yes, a young man just robbed my store"

“Did you see his face?”

“…No, he demanded to keep my face down all the time or else he would shoot me" the cashier denied. “But this boy managed to take a picture and even record him"

“… Here" Safir gave his cellphone to the policeman.

“Hummmm… I see…” the man hummed as he looked through it.

He felt his power flare again.

When the policeman looked over his evidence he felt something weird coming from him.

“I will need to take this as evidence young man"

“A-Ah wait!” Safir spoke, heart almost beating out of his chest “I use this cellphone for work so I might need to send a message to them so they know that I won't be available at this number for a while"

“…Of course" the officer nodded, giving the cellphone back to him.

He wrote a message to Saramsrein's number just like he told the officer and...

He quickly opened his e-mail page, the one he had created at Miller's insistence, sending her the picture, the video and a brief message of what transpired, making sure to then quickly log out of his account and erase it from his internet browsing history.

“…Here" Safir gave his cellphone back.

It might be paranoia from his part but it was better to be safer than sorry. Perhaps even consult Miller about it.

“...Saram doesn't seem to be here yet" He closed the door behind him with the spare keys Saramsrein gave to him.

He sighed as he dropped on the couch, suddenly feeling very exhausted.

“In the end I didn't buy anything huh?”

Well, even if he did he wouldn't been able to cook anything. He didn't feel like he would be in the mood for it.

“This feels the worst"

“Safir?”

He snapped his eyes open, meeting with the concerned face of Saramsrein.

“Did something happen? You don't seem so well"

“Ah, about that, can you contact Miller for me? I don't have my cellphone with me"

“Huh? That's odd, you usually carry it with you"

“I was about to buy some things for our cooking session when a robber entered the store I was in. I had to temporarily(probably) give my cellphone away as evidence".

“You don't need to worry, I am not hurt. I just want to talk with Ms. Miller because there are some things that bothered me about this case”

“Ok, I will call her” Saram squeezed his hands and got up. “I will also prepare some Chamomile tea for you”

“Thank you Saram"

They waited for Miller together.

The tea he drank was warm.

“Sorry for taking so long, took me awhile to wrap things up” Miller’s voice echoed the silent room as she closed the door behind her.

“I should be the one apologizing for calling you in the middle of your shift"

“Don't worry about it" Miller shook her head. “How are you feeling Safir?”

“I'm fine, but…” he glanced briefly at Saram. “Saram would it be ok if I talked with Miller alone? I am not sure if I'm at liberty to discuss this topic in the open"

“Of course" Saram nodded, standing up. “If you need anything just call my name”

“I will"

Saram squeezed his shoulder before vanishing.

“…Saram briefed me about the situation. He said you witnessed a robbery and wanted to talk with me about it?”

“Yes”

He told Miller everything. About how his power went off when the culprit entered the store, him taking pictures and recording what transpired and about the arrival of the police at the scene.

“…I-It might be paranoia of my part and I know he's a cop but… When he looked at the photo and video I took I felt… Something “off" about him" he twirled his thumbs in anxiety. “That's why I sent the proof I collected to your e-mail before giving away the cellphone you gave to me"

“I see… I will make sure to look into your case and find more about the cop that answered your call as well as the culprit"

“H-Honestly it could be nothing and just me freaking out of my own"

“With your current level of mastery over your power I doubt that your gut feeling would be wrong ” Miller assured him. “Besides, I trust your instincts. For that alone I think it's worth to check it out. Just to be sure"

“Thank you" he sighed in relief.

Count on Miller to be kind, understanding and supportive.

That's why he unconditionally trusted her.

"YOU NOTICED THE ROBBER AND YET YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP HIM?! I COULD HAVE DIED AND IT WOULD BE ALL YOUR FAULT!!”

...Perhaps that was why those words hurt him so much. He got so used to Miller's and Saram's kindness that he forgot that not everyone was like them. That just because he could now control his powers that people wouldn't be instantly nice to him.

“You still look troubled" Miller's soft voice snapped him over his thoughts. “If there's anything else you want to talk about then I will listen to it.”

“… When the robber entered the store I noticed he was bad news right off the bat.” He lowered his gaze. “I took a photo of him, but that was all I did. I was hidden when everything happened. The cashier… He got mad at me for not doing anything to help, anything to stop him.”

“Power or no power you are a civilian just like this person. To demand you take responsibility akin to a cop’s duty is unreasonable” Miller shook her head. “Your course of action was correct. Had you directly interfered it might have agitated the culprit AND THEN he would had more reason to react aggressively, putting both of you in needless danger"

“I guess so, but…”

That was no quite it. He didn't know why, but somehow, despite Miller's assurance , he didn't feel like the ugly and nasty feeling in his heart had gone away. He couldn't help but feel guilty for feeling this way.

“Say, Safir, do you know what's the first emotion humans learn?”

“Huh?” he blinked, confused by the sudden change of topic.

“It's to be upset" Miller smiles. “When we are born we cry because we are upset for not being in the safety and warmth of our mother's womb. We cry of hunger, of pain, of feeling discomfort. It's something that could even be said to be tied directly to our survival instincts. A defense mechanism to protect ourselves from taking further harm"

So that was what he was feeling.

He was feeling upset.

It was also why he was feeling so guilty and conflicted about it.

It wasn't like he expected anything in return for his actions, but he also didn't expect to be treated the way he did either. He… Somewhat resented it and yet, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel like he shouldn't feel this way. The intensity of their fear, anger and helplessness… He couldn't simply ignore it.

“Empathy is a beautiful and powerful thing”

His gaze snapped back at Miller.

“It's what allow us to form bonds with other people, understand and support them" Her smile was sad. “However it's also something easily taken advantage of. If you are too receptive, if you don't say when enough is enough then you will only end up being used to take a burden that isn't yours to bear"

Miller never told him the story behind those scars but there were enough clues for him to figure out what happened.

The warning she gave the first day about supernatural influence, pushing him to develop a strong sense of self and resolve to follow his desires through, helping him control his powers… She did everything in her power to ensure that he could live a life of his own choosing.

Miller was… Used and betrayed. That he was sure of. He might not know the specifics of what truly transpired but he got to know how kind and compassionate she was. To have someone take advantage of that… Regardless of what they did it could be only considered incredibly cruel and unfair.

“Well, I say that, but it's something that I'm not good at doing either" Miller shakes her head. “The world isn't that black and white. Committing mistakes does not make one a bad person and yet, at the same time, you can't have blind faith. To trust unconditionally is nothing but foolishness”

Her voice sounded far away, as if lost in her own thoughts.

Was she talking about something of the past? Or the present?

“…But somehow you did it"

“Huh?” he blinked as Miller suddenly addressed him.

“Saram accidentally repeated patterns that reminded you of bad things in your past and committed a lot of mistakes despite his best intentions right? And you still gave a chance to him, out of your own volition"

“Giving proof that you care huh?” Miller mused, wistfully. “…I guess you are right. Both sides have to show signs that they can make it work. After all a bridge cannot be built without a good foundation right?”

“Miller?”

“You are wiser than I will ever be Safir.” She smiled. “You will be fine. You just have to do the same as you did with Saram: To think if it's a bridge you want to build. Kindness and Forgiveness aren't something to be forced so it’s best to consider whether or not it will be something good for you before making your decision”

“My decision…” he repeated, trying to process the words Miller told him.

“…Perhaps it would be better if you have a break from your training this weekend Safir"

“Eh? Why?”

“It might be better if you lay low while I investigate your case. Just to be sure"

“Understood"

“Besides… It might be a good opportunity to think things thorough. For both of us”.

“Did you say anything Miller?”

“Nothing at all. Don't worry about it" she shook her head. “If you need anything else ask Saram to contact me ok?”

“Ok. I will"

“Good... And Safir?”

“Yes Miller?”

“You have grown. I'm proud of you"

[uselessboss]

Mistakes(3/3)

He still couldn't believe that this was happening. 

“Did you ever go on a trip Safir?” Miller one day asked. 

He shook his head. 

“I was planning on having a camping trip tomorrow so if you are interested I could take you and Saram with me" 

“Huh? Me too?” Saram asked, blinking and pointing at himself in surprise. 

“Yes. That sounds lovely” He promptly answered. 

“Good. Then I will see you two tomorrow afternoon" 

It felt so different. 

It wasn't as if he never entered a car before. He did, but it wasn't like this. It didn't smell of rust and old fuel, it wasn't pitch black from being buried under a pile of crumbing trash and terribly uncomfortable and cramped. It wasn't made of tears and moldy cushions. 

It was tidy and clean. He sat comfortably in the nice seat, a pillow prepped in his lap, the air feeling fresh as the wind wildly threw his hair around because of the speed of the moving car. 

“Look Saram! A cow!” he giggled as he pointed as they passed the animal leisurely eating grass. 

“Ah? Yes?” Saramsrein replied, dumbfounded. 

“I never saw one before. At least a real one" Safir laughed. 

He probably looked pretty silly right now. Pointing at everything as the car passed by, giggling all the way like a small kid and chattering non-stop about the sights he never saw before. It had been the most talkative he ever been in his entire life.

Thankfully his company didn’t seem to mind it. He could see Miller’s reflection smilling from her rear mirror and Saramsrein, despite not understanding his enthusiasm, nodding along his words - repeating them with a confused smile in place, before getting quickly wrapped up in his enthusiasm and starting to point to things on his own.

“It sure is different from seeing the monotonous gray concrete from the city right boys? Wouldn’t you say it’s a nice change of pace?” Miller laughed.

“It really does” he smiled in agreement.

This felt like a family outing.

They set camp close to a place with a small pond. 

While Saramsrein was in charge of their sleeping accomodations he and Miller started the preparations for their meal.

With practiced ease he started the campfire in no time. Miller complimented him and after setting a makeshift table made of the biggest rocks she could find they started prepping the ingredients they brought along, the sound of the knives tapping the wooden boards filling the cozy silence as they focused on their task.

Miller has been teaching him how to cook recently and he had been equally eager to learn. He even bought a cooking book to test some recipes out, the first “luxury” item he ever bought out of personal interest. His first hobby and something he took immense enjoyment in.

“The tents are up” Saramsrein announced.

“We also finished things here” he spoke back.

FLASH!

Safir turned to see Miller grinning as she took a picture of him.

“Some pictures  to remember this wonderful day” she smiled, ruffling his hair. “I will make sure to print copies to you too”

She gave him her camera and after teaching how to use its features she urged him to take a picture of his own.

What should be the first picture he would take? The pond surrounded by lush greenery? The breath taking skies painted with fiery oranges from the sunset? The delicious food they cooked together?

No. None of them.

He carefully placed the camera on a tree stump and after making sure he put the timer up he ran towards Miller and Saramsrein, motioning for them to bend slightly as they were both taller than him so he could place his arms around their shoulders, smushing their cheeks together as the camera went off.

“It’s a nice photo” Miller smiled as she showed him the photo. Saramsrein’s eyes wide in surprise, Miller’s giggling and amused face and his own smile, radiant and happy.

He felt his eyes water as he looked at the picture, chest filled with a warm and indescribable feeling of love and gratitude.

Who would have thought that all of this would happen when he accepted this job offer? Those dreams he had as a small and bright eyed kid that prayed for the stars he couldn’t see, the wishes he held close to his heart as he thought of “what Ifs”, the small wonders he conjured in his imagination as he tried to picture what being loved felt like.

He feels a warm and soft blanket being drapped over his shoulders.

“It’s getting chilly” Miller smiles at him.

“Thank you” he smiles back as Miller nods to him, drapping Saramsrein with a blanket as well.

They both knew that Saramsrein didn’t feel cold nor required protection from the elements, but he still thanked the gesture anyway as he hurdled inside the blanket as he could still feel warmth from it.

“Hey you two, take a look at the sky”

It was a stunning view.

That was... The first time he had the opportunity to look at the starry sky.

There was no opportunity to admire the view when you lived on the streets. Your only focus was to watch your back and worry about your surroundings until you could arrive in a safe spot and even then those safe spots were hidden from view. The only thing he usually saw when he looked up, when it wasn’t complete darkness, was the low, scratched ceiling of the car he used as sleeping accomodation.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

He can just nod in awe.

“It’s kind funny how long it took me to notice such a thing. Only very recently I could appreciate such a beauty”

He looks at her in surprise.

“For most of my life I was plagued with nightmares and bad memories. I was scared of this world. Because it was nothing but terrifying and painful to me”

She exchanged looks with him.

She might not have gone throught the same experiences as him, but Miller understood his pain better than anyone else. They both faced similar hardships after all.

“... Then one day someone told me that if I had some nice experiences it might help me overcome those bad memories and nightmares”

“And did it work?”

“Yes” her voice was soft. The most tender, warm and adoring he ever heard. It was clear how much this person meant to her. “This someone shared many wonderful moments with me, including a starry sky like this one.”

Miller looked at the stars again.

“It made me realize how beautiful this world was. The kindness and wonderful things I always dreamt of experiencing one day... They were real after all”

It startled him.

It was like hearing his own thoughts reflected back to him.

Safir thought about his own experiences.

The day when he met Saramsrein. When he had collapsed on the floor, on the verge of dying from malnorishment and his soon to be boss picked him up, placing him on a comfortable bed and even getting food for him so he could recover his energy. He stood by his side until he was sure he was well enough, never prying about his life and always trying to respect his personal space.

The days he patiently taught him what he knew. The day when, unknowingly he had pushed him past his limits and felt bad about it, apologizing to him, feeling genuinely remorseful and trying his best to be mindful of his needs.

The day he had made him acquaitanced with Miller, who had been nothing but caring, understanding and nurturing, like a mother to him. Someone he could confide and seek guidance from.

“Yes. They are real” he whispered softly.

“It’s mysterious isn’t it?” Miller chuckled. “The sky was always there. There was even a chance that we already saw it at some point, yet it’s only on moments like these that it feels like we are REALLY seeing it right?”

“I guess... I guess it’s special because someone gives meaning to it”

Like their meals.

Before he never gave much thought about it. Food was only nourishment to him, just a means to survival. 

He ate scraps, moldy breads and almost rotting fruits all the same- Taste was of no concern to him -As long as it could quell his hunger and not make him sicker than not eating he was glad to wolf it down.

When Miller started to prepare meals to him was when he noticed how different food was. Warm or cold, fresh... Even taste started to become distinct to him.

“Nnnghhh...” he remembered scrunching his face up.

“Hahaha, it seems you are not a fan of bitter food huh?” Miller laughed with humor.

“S-sorry!” He profusely apologized.

"For what?”

“For being picky. It’s not like me to be this way, moreso when you are the one providing me this food”

“You don’t have to worry, not liking bitter tastes is more common than you think” Miller chuckled. “I mean, it can’t be worse than me who dislikes sweets because that’s like... Rejecting half of the food category right?”

They had a good laugh at that.

 Homecooked meals weren’t something he had to shovel down in haste out of fear from having it taken from him. It was given to him, something to be appreciated slowly as he took in all the care put into it -From the taste, to the comforting aromas and neat looks. All appreciated in company.

It became something precious to him. A cherished memory. Even when he ate something by himself the “meaning” behind it stayed. It brought comfort to him whenever he needed it. A source of support and strength.

“The way you see the world...” Safir repeats.

He never thought about it before but how did HE sees the world? Or what answer would he give if someone asked him about it?

"You overcame a lot of obstacles by yourself. You are a capable person Safir."

What kind of person is he?

“...I wish I could stay up for longer, but as the designed driver it would be better if I don’t sleep on the wheel” Miller winked, getting up.

“I think I will stay up for a little longer” He replied. “I don’t get a lot of opportunities to watch the starry sky so I want to cherish this moment”

“Very well” Miller nodded before patting his head. “Good Night Safir”

“Good Night Miller”

It was only him and Saramsrein now.

Who has been oddly quiet so far.

“... I lived for a long time. Eons of existence, and yet this is the first time that I noticed the starry sky” Saramsrein speaks, as if reading his mind.

Nothing in existence could affect him so nothing mattered to him. No harm could befall him, nothing could stop nor change him.

Until he met Miller’s grandfather.

Faust Miller. 

The first human to ever change his status quo when he managed to seal him away and at the same time become a constant in his existence as the person he always saw when it came undone. 

They fought and met for inumerous lifetimes. Those small windows of time became precious to him before he was sealed again. It was the first time in his eternal life that he looked forward to something.

So he tried harder with every new clash. Because in his inhuman and simple mind it meant that the more effort he put in it the more time he could spend with him.

This culminated in him winning their last match.

As Faust lied on the floor he had stopped his attacks. He sat patiently, waiting for him to rise up.

“...What are you doing?” He had asked, surprised at him not delivering the finishing blow.

“Waiting for you to recover”

“Are you not going to kill me?”

“...No? I don’t want to kill you” he cocked his head to the side.

“You don’t want... HAHAHAHA!” he laughed, clearly amused.

Faust was something else.

He should be mad or even hate him for literally wasting his inumerous lifetimes on being saddled to fight an undefeatable horror like him and being beaten to an inch of his life but he was, instead, very amused by this turn of events. 

He didn’t have to, he could have sealed him and he wouldn’t have offered any resistence, but he took him in. In his life.

He was the one that has given “meaning” to his existence.

What made Faust happy also made him happy. Everything that reminded him of Faust gave him joy.

So when Faust passed away to “Eternity”, a place where a being of infinite life like him could never reach he felt life lose its luster again. Things stopped holding meaning to him. The only thing left being an immense and hollow gap in its place.

A gap he wanted to fill but didn’t know how to. Perhaps desperately so.

He finally understood.

Everything he did until now was for the sake of dealing with his loliness.

“I apologize Safir”

“This job was nothing but a sham. I wanted to fill in this lonely existence of mine but didn’t know how to do it so I tried to copy Miller after I saw how well she got along with her peers” . He confessed. “... I just mimicked what she was doing but with no regard or consideration put in what I was doing. It’s no wonder I have been handling things so poorly. Why I had been such an useless boss to you.”

“... I figured it would have been the case”

His eyes widened as he looked at Safir.

He... Didn’t seem mad. Nor hurt, betrayed or disappointed with him.

“When...?”

“Well, for starters your job offer was super sketchy” Safir laughed. “Being ‘small’ as the only requirement and not having any other details about what the jobs entails was odd. If I wasn’t almost starving to the brink of death I don’t think I would have picked it”

Saramsrein flushes at that.

Because he didn’t need anything per say he thought of going with the only thing he couldn’t be.

Small.

“... Well, that said I wasn’t entirely certain because I didn’t have a good frame of reference as in all my other jobs my bosses were trying to sabotage me to have a reason to kick me out without having to pay extra for it” Safir patted his arm. “It was only after Miller stepped in to give me proper guidance that I could really tell the difference.”

Going through protocols, teaching him about procedures of what he could and couldn’t do. Taking in consideration his growth, preparing him physically and seeking to constantly improve and adjust her training to optimize his performance to assure the safety of both parties... She took it very seriously.

“Honestly it also put in perspective my own way of living” He furrowed his brows. “You could say I also did things “half-assedly”. Doing my job just for the sake of “survival” and pleasing others... This isn’t a way to live. Tailoring your actions to fit someone else... How could that make you genuinely happy?  When you wouldn’t be living as yourself? Those wouldn’t be your own feelings after all”

“Not your own feelings...” Saram repeated as he tried to digest his last words.

“It’s totally different from doing something because you want to and because you mean it. There’s weight and purpose behind your actions.”

It was something he grew to understand by spending time with people that truly cared for him. They never tried to push their preferences on him or tried to force him to be anything but himself. In fact, what they did was...

"A friendly world where you can share happiness"

"A world of potential where you can take pride on your achievements"

"...A gentle world. Of a reassuring and warm touch. Kind, sweet and caring."

It was “sharing”.

Not trying to take away what made him... “Him”. Whether he accepted those realities was up to him. Just like with a meal the flavors could enhance his experience and give “meaning” and substance to it, but it still ultimately his decision to make if he liked it or not.

“My life wasn’t easy. I suffered a lot and went through many struggles just to survive. It was not fair at all”. His mouth set in a thin, but determined line. “But that isn’t the kind of world I want to share. A world of a defeated and resigned person.”

“Life was undeniable harsh for me but I’m still alive. That wasn’t achieved by doing nothing about it. Even if I had to scrape by with barely anything I still put my all to succeed at overcoming those hurdles.”

He always thought of himself as someone meek, weak and pathetic but maybe that was the complete opposite?

He wouldn’t have ran away from the orphanage, away from the constant bullying and risking a dangerous life on the streets if he hadn’t guts.

He wouldn’t have choosen to call quits when his working conditions became unbearable, risking his already precarious living stability if he didn’t think he could do better than that.

He might have accepted this job at first because he thought of himself as not having a better choice but now things were different.

“Safir... This is unlike any danger most humans would face, even for someone like you”

“I’m very aware of the dangers of this job, you and Miller told me enough about it” he stood firm. “My answer won’t change. If people need a fighting chance and hope to not give in to adversity... I know I can provide it. I now know this would be truest I would ever be to myself”

Saramsrein was speechless.

“... That said you don’t need to be my boss for that. If what you want from me is to be my friend... I would be sincerely happy to just hang around with you. I don’t want to force you to carry this burden and responsability.” He smiled. “ ...Maybe  I would probably still pester you with a question or another because you know this stuff more than me, but that would be the extent of the assistance I require from you”

“... I’m seriously hopeless as a boss huh?”

Saram smiled, somewhat shy.

“You are truly amazing Safir. I’m glad I was able to meet someone like you”

“I-I think you might be going a bit overboard with the compliments now”

“Perhaps this might be who I am then. Someone that deeply admire others” Saram giggled, looking the happiest and most comfortable he had ever seen. “...I can’t wait until we are back, so that we can properly spend time together now”

“... Me too” Safir smiled, sitting next to him.

“I’m looking forward to it”

[uselessboss]

Withdrawal

Because Saramsrein didn’t have much of an idea of how to train Safir Miller had to step up for the task and plan and train him properly, resulting in less time spent talking and hanging out with those two.