#daniel andrews(useless boss)

[uselessboss]

Crowa Miller's Circle

Wolf Hunter

Daniel Andrews

Hills Johannes

[torentialtribute]

Klopp’s Liverpool are an F1 car… now for the chequered flag?

It's like buying a suit. It is like driving a Formula 1 car. Rafa Benitez has enough metaphors to compete with the strongest teams in the history of [PremierLeague . What he doesn't have is a way to curb them.

Nobody does that. Citizens, those outside the industry, can enjoy this most exciting, high-quality title race, but from where Benitez is seated there must be no small despair. His Newcastle team came close to Liverpool points and lost; in January she actually defeated Manchester City by Pep Guardiola but look at them now.

That Newcastle was undone by Divock Origi, in fact Jurgen Klopp [fifth-choice-streamerthegapedinthegapofthecompetition-wasboughtfor£10millionin1909[1945] 2009909 [1945] 2009909 [1945] 2009900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]900 [2009 ]9009 [1945]900 [2009 ]9009 [1945]9009 [1945]9009 [1945]9009 [1945]9009009009 [1945900]

[19459009009

2009900 [0900] -1a329b19877f4a62 "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/21/13125888-6995377-image-a-6_1557089842633.jpg "height =" 337 "width =" 634 " alt = "<img id =" i-1a329b19877f4a62 "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/21/13125888-6995377-image-a-6_1557089842633.jpg "height = "337" width = "634" alt = "Liverpool kept pace with Manchester City in title race thanks to a big win at Newcastle"

Liverpool kept pace with Manchester City in title race thanks to a winning win over Newcastle

<img id = "i-99ac4c3fd8e23bea" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/20/13123236-0-image -a-88 _1557083281105.jpg "height =" 437 "width =" 634 "alt =" Newcastle from Rafa Benitez came to the rescue and he was very close to getting points at Liverpool on Saturday. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom

Rafa Benitez & Newcastle desperately came close to getting Liverpool points on Saturday

<img id = "i-101b7d55855a380e" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/20/13123224-0-image-m-90_1557083305711 .jpg "height =" 524 "width =" 634 "alt =" Divock Origi was the man who came up with the winning goal for the visitors "

<img id =" i-101b7d55855a380e "src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/20/13123224-0-image-m-90_1557083305711.jpg" height = "524" width = "634" alt = "Divock Origi was the man who came with the winning goal for the visitors "class =" blkBorder img- ]

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Premier League

Premier League

Championship

League One

League Two

Scottish premiership

Scottish Div 1

Scottish Div 2

Scottish Div 3

League 1

Series A

La Liga

Bundesliga

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has cost £ 35 million. Riyad Mahrez no longer starts in Manchester City, but has been raised for £ 60 million.

& # 39; We were competing – but then their team makes the difference, & # 39; he said. & # 39; People ask me about my Liverpool against this Liverpool. We had players from the bank that were £ 1.5 million; this team has players that are nearly £ 40 million.

& # 39; These clubs have larger squadrons than the others, so even if you make a mistake as a manager – the player who comes off the bench makes the difference. "

If this sounds like pop to Klopp, that was not the intention. Benitez was full of praise for Liverpool and the way they played under the intense pressure to keep pace with Manchester City. His argument, however, content

The winning goal of Liverpool was scored and made by two substitutes: Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri.

If plan A does not function as hoped for, plan B will invariably introduce more high-quality players , individuals who would be the body names at a club such as Newcastle.

Liverpool has a much greater depth in depth than Newcastle, a point made by Benitez

Liverpool has a much greater depth in depth than Newcastle, at a time made by Benitez

So on the one hand, it's good for the competition to have a title race of such incredible intensity; on the other hand, it is useless for the competition to have two teams so far ahead. But don't worry, Benitez has an analogy for that. Different, in fact.

& # 39; As a coach you can improve players, bring them to a certain level & # 39 ;, I explained, & # 39; but ultimately you will achieve maximum efficiency. It is like being a Formula 1 driver. You can fight around the bends because you can use tactics – but once it is straight, they pass you because they have more. You can be the best driver in the world, it doesn't matter, they pass.

& # 39; With a better team you can get injuries and stay consistent. If we lost Salomon Rondon, it would be very difficult for us. Liverpool can lose Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino and they play Daniel Sturridge and Origi. And those players can make a difference. These clubs play the big money, the big wages, they go early on the transfer market.

& # 39; So it's like buying clothes. If you have £ 1,000, you can shop in this section, but if you have £ 10,000, you can shop in that section. And the material is much better. So, if you have no idea about clothing like me, you will look good.

<img id = "i-1427213818d62931" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/20/13123220-0-image-a -93_1557083559279.jpg "height =" 427 "width =" 634 "alt =" The Newcastle manager is held in such high regard, but says coaching can only go so far "

<img id = "i-1427213818d62931" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/20/13123220-0-image-a-93_1557083559279.jpg" height = "427" width = "634" alt = "The Newcastle manager is held in such high regard, but he says coaching can only go that far" class = "blkBorder img-

It's a fair point, but only so far, Liverpool and Manchester City have more depth in their team, that's true, and it must be hugely frustrating to be an excellent coach, Benitez, undoubtedly fighting the glass investment ceiling and therefore potential.

Benitez is right, he spent money on Liv erpool, but the last time he played this competition – Newcastle away – on December 28, 2008, one of his substitutes, David N & Gog, was recruited for £ 1.5 million. Nabil El Zhar was unused on the couch and bought from Saint-Etienne for £ 200,000.

Yet it is not only the recruitment that has brought Klopp & # 39; s Liverpool to the top of the league with another game to go. ] A clearly defined style – the rapid counterattacks started by keeper Alisson via for example Andrew Robertson – supported this victory, and Klopp & # 39; s man management has produced heroic performances under enormous pressure

Twice, through Rondon and Christian Atsu , Newcastle came back in the game, but Liverpool found reserves of mental strength to win.

<img id = "i-ee22da92f784fe45" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05 /05/20/13123338-0-image-a-94_1557083680742.jpg "height =" 434 "width =" 634 "alt =" Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hugs Sadio Mane after the crucial 3-2 victory on Saturday "class = "blkBorder img-share" Sadio Mane after the crucial 3-2 victory on Saturday "

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hugs Sadio Mane after the crucial 3-2 victory on Saturday

Fabinho's horrific plunge to leave the crucial late free kick to the bad taste, but Shaqiri & # 39; s pin-point delivery and Origi & # 39; s header were the embodiment of resilience required to capture titles

Yet there is another scenario in which Liverpool collects 97 points and City on the last day, 98. Liverpool would have lost one game the entire season and did not win the League. They would, perhaps, be among the top five teams in English football history – and still not be champions.

Psychologically, it could be devastating.

What would be the last, what would he say? If so what would he say? to inspire his team and overcome the disappointment? I have greeted the question with something close to disbelief. & # 39; We don't think about it, why should we? & # 39; he insisted

& # 39; Before the season you want to become champion and the moment you realize that this cannot happen, you are always disappointed. For some it is the first day of play, for the last day of play. It is clear to us: we have tried everything we can.

We cannot do more. The boys have already done more than I thought was possible. So we don't prepare for what happens after the game, we prepare for the game and we'll see. Let's try to get 97 points and then we are ready for judgment.

<img id = "i-47deac5417815c9d" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/05/20/13123364-0-image-a-96_1557083797422. jpg "height =" 450 "width =" 634 "alt =" Liverpool has placed themselves in such a strong position but their fate is out of their hands "class =" blkBorder img-

Liverpool has placed themselves in such a strong position but their fate is out of their hands

& # 39; I am not a journalist. I just say it. And in my mind we win. I know it may happen that we don't, but frankly I don't think about it. Negative scenario & # 39 We treat that when it happens.

& # 39; When I came to Liverpool, I realized that we should do it the hard way. Happiness is not always with us. not: "Wow, luck again." So hey The club, the boys, is ready. And whatever happens, it will be a successful season. "

Of course, some will argue against that. No time for losers and all that nonsense. If a team with 97 points and a defeat can be considered failed. Real Madrid once reached 96 points, at that time their highest totally ever in La Liga, and second in Barcelona.

Manuel Pellegrini, the manager, was promptly fired – no chance that with Klopp – but a point shortage and the mental preparation for next season must possibly five minutes after the end of this campaign.

Meanwhile, Benitez and the rest of the Premier League continue to focus on closing the gap on the biggest losers of English football, whoever they are, who they are they also are.

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[uselessboss]

Character Bio - Daniel Andrews

As a professional Andrews was responsible, competent, hard working, cooperative and immensely proactive. The perfect partner anyone would wish for.

Which also made him the perfect target for opportunists. Those that not only earned renow from his efforts but also that twisted the narrative to downplay his achievements.

Andrews became bitter and jaded as a result. He stopped putting in effort and even put a façade of a slacker to drive opportunists off but even that was used against him as they now accused him of trying to sabotage others on purpose to bring them down, making him distrust others even more after that.

When Miller picked him as a partner of choice he thought she was trying to pull the "reform the problematic one into an upstanding individual" on him as a way to gain renow so he tried to be as unhelpful and uncooperative as possible to frustrate her "efforts".

But to his surprise Miller didn't react negatively towards his actions. Instead she responded with belief and support, kindness and understanding.

Thanks to her unconditional belief in his inherent goodness Andrews slowly changed. Back to his old self, to trust again, to be willing to try again.

But his decision came too late. First when Miller got hurt protecting him after his careleness at handling a situation and after the "Incident" that forced them apart.

He made a vow to himself after that. To get his act together. To become the upstanding person his dear partner believed him to be and to be the partner she deserved to have.

Because it was now his turn to reciprocrate that trust.

[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]

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 -(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 - (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]

Father's Day!

Happy day for the super doting and loving dad Hunter o7o

Bonus:

[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.

[uselessboss]

Mistakes(2/3)

He was an existence of “nots" and “don'ts".

This appearance, this “disguise" might fool people at first but it wasn't an easily sustainable lie. Spend enough time around him and the farce would easily crumble away. He might look human but couldn't act like one.

He was an unending existence. There was no danger to threaten him nor sustenance required. He didn't need to sleep, eat nor drink so he lacked most of the sensory “motivations" other beings had.

He could not taste, he could not feel the extremes of heat and cold, his sense of smell was very limited and he couldn't experience physical pain derived from a wound as his body could never be harmed.

He couldn't relate. He couldn't share in suffering nor happiness. He couldn't experience life as a human.

Perhaps it was why he admired “them" so much. 

Faust Miller and Crowa Miller. 

They were special and unique even among others of their kind and he didn't mean that just because of their spiritual powers.

(Although that also made them different from others as well)

They were the most empathetic humans he ever met.

He always had viewed himself by his limitations. By what he wasn't, by the differences that separated him from others and could create a rift between them. An outcast that didn't belong anywhere.

‘You might be deprived of some experiences Saramsrein, but that does not mean you are entirely excluded from it'

But they… They always saw him as more than that.

‘See these tarts Saramsrein? What do you think?’

‘I… Cannot taste or eat them Faust'

‘Yes, but you can see its colors right? Look at the artful way the berries were placed and the design of the crust, isn't it pretty?”

‘…Yes. I like it'

‘Taste is nothing more than one of the ways we can perceive and enhance our experiences so even if you are unable to appreciate something in one way there will always be other options available to you’

No question was stupid, no doubt was insignificant and no inquiry went unanswered. Always so gentle, understanding and patient, they extended their hands to him and made him feel welcomed. It was easy and comfortable to be around them.

Maybe he didn’t need to know everything. Perhaps understanding everything did not matter after all. What was important was that Faust and Miller did and that was enough for him.

...He was so naive.

“Saramsrein... Why... WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!”

Miller had found out what he did.

“Why did you spirit away... Why did you kill all these people?!”

“To protect you”

He barely managed to save her the first time. The inferno of fire surrounding her, the injuries her body sustained, the way her heart and mind had been almost broken by the work of the almagamation of vengeful spirits of spiteful humans taking hold of her... It was a miracle she was alive.

And there were people that wanted to snuff out the light of her life. That small flame, just like a candle, that flickered in danger of going out at any moment as she laid defenseless in her bed, so emaciated from everything she went through.

He couldn’t let that flame go out.

“You promised grandfather! Promised that you wouldn’t kill anymore!” her already feeble body started to quake uncontrollably. “How could you break your promise so easily? To him of all people?”

“He wouldn’t have thought that if it was to save his granddaughter” He tried to justify. “They were going to hurt you Miller. I NEEDED to do that”

“...Needed?” Her voice faltered

...No matter how difficult it was, no matter what kind of question he had, no matter what mistakes he did Miller had always explained him everything. She always taught him what he did wrong and how to fix his blunders.

But not this time.

Miller took a step back. Mutely, petrified, her eyes were unfocused, as if she couldn’t see him, as if she couldn’t RECOGNIZE him.

Rejection.

He felt shame creep up inside him.

Of what, he didn’t know.

He didn’t understand what he did wrong but knew that he DID do something wrong. He had messed up. Badly. He hurt her and didn’t know how to apologize, how to make up for it.

“Mi-” He reached out.

She strumbled backwards, hitting the wall and then slid to the floor, curling into a ball, voice incoherent and frantic, shoulders quaking as she sobbed pitifully.

He let his hand drop.

“I... I am sorry” He uselessly apologized.

He disappeared. Out of her life. Out of the world. Not a trace of his existence left in her reality.

It would be the last time they would ever see each other again.

...Is what he thought.

“Saram... Saramsrein, I need your help”

She had called for him. Once again.

For a perpetual being like him time usually meant nothing. If he had to compare numbers, the time they had not seen each other wasn’t that long as the inumerous lifetimes he had to wait to see her grandfather, Faust, again.

Yet that felt like the longest time ever.

He didn’t know what happened, but even he could tell that Miller went through a lot during the time they hadn’t see each other.

“It has been a long time, hasn’t it?”

She filled him in on everything. About the new role she had undertaken for the sake of protecting people, how hard it had been to deal with the scorn, distrust and envy from others and the heavy responsabilites that have been placed on her.

About the people that gave her strength during this time, her expression going soft at the mention of certain names, “Hunter” and “Johannes” being mentioned a lot, specially the later as she described how he lost his life when he got involved in a supernatural event and how she was unable to save him. The loss, sadness and grief still palpable in her voice.

She talked about lot of things.

...Except what happened prior to all those events. She didn’t aknowledge nor seemed to want to talk about what transpired between them back then.

Nor did he.

She made arrangements to introduce him to the people she trusted, the people that had been supporting her all this time and that were pivotal in assuring that new tragedies won’t happen again.

He recognized one of them.

“After we met that day you stopped visiting her”

He flinched. His face scowling in pain and regret.

Oh. He said something bad. He hurt him.

“... 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”

He felt something drop in the pit of his insides.

“... Does Miller knows that?”

“No, or at the very least I didn’t tell anything to her” he shook his head. “I didn’t want to burden her any further”

The feeling of dread crystalized as a horrifying realization hit him.

The consequence of his actions. Because of what he did Miller was driven apart from the only person that could be there for her.

And he had abandoned her. Out of cowardice. At her weakest, when she needed help the most. Left with no one else, Miller was forced to pull herself up together on her own accord and keep struggling with no respite. All alone.

Even if it was for the sake of saving lives, to reach for him despite everything he did was a testament of her strength of heart.

No. It was not because she was stronger, but because she BECAME stronger.

He could only guess that it was thanks to those two.

She didn’t look lonely anymore.

Miller... She seemed genuinely happy when with those two.

He didn’t want to ruin the happiness she fought so hard to achieve.

So he avoided being anywhere around them, to Miller, as much as possible. To only manifest when Miller called to help solve cases but otherwise sticking straight to the boundaries of the home Miller provided to him or not being in the human realm at all.

Speaking of his “home”, it was still a mystery the reasoning behind why she would ever do that.

Didn’t he disgust her? Didn’t she seem him as a monster? Hate him?

He... Didn’t understand. Everything was so confusing.

Too much happened to be simply brushed off and for them to go back to how things were before his screw up. It was hard to say if they were even in “good terms”. Miller might not have show open hostility to him but he could see her troubled and complicated expression whenever they interacted.

It made him sad. To know that things could never be the same again.

He thought he accepted that, that he deserved it, but as he kept watching the strong bonds between her and the other two, how close they were, it made a small and persistent thought form in his head.

Maybe he couldn’t go back to how things were before but perhaps he could make new bonds of his own?

But he didn’t know the first thing about making friends, let alone how to connect with people that weren’t Miller or Faust for that matter.

“Miller, how did you became close with those two?”

“You mean Hunter and Andrews? Let me see...” She tapped her chin in deep thought. “I guess you could say it was a matter of “respect””

“Respect?”

“Yes” She nooded. “It might come off as a surprise but I didn’t start in good terms with either Andrews nor Hunter. In fact, they disliked me quite a lot when we first met”

“Huh? Really?”

“Really” Miller chuckled as she recalled their first meeting. “It was a long process. To learn to trust each other, see past our own prejudices and the good inside ourselves”

“And how does “respect” plays into it?”

“Our actions, our decisions are reflections of what we are. Make sloppy choices and it will lead to unreliable and flawed results” she explains. "...On the other hand, if you do things with care, dedication, integrity and commitment then the results will be far more positive. It will be something that you can take pride on and that can instill respect on others. A respect that can turn into admiration and appreciation”

United by a sense of “purpose”.

He didn’t really have something like that.

But maybe, just maybe he could replicate it by “coping” her? 

Her two closest confidants were her colleagues after all.

Safir was the first human he approached of his own accord after Faust and Miller.

He knew not all humans were the same but it still surprised him how Safir was nothing like “them”.

Faust and Miller stood tall, wise, strong, confident while Safir was meek, shy and insecure. His body looked so small, delicate and thin that it made you think he was made of glass and could shatter easily as one.

And yet appearences could be misleading.

Safir was far more resilient and braver than he looked.

He might doubted himself a lot. He might have been scared of reprisals and cowered under the mental scars of the abuses he went through but he still pressed on to try his best regardless of his fears.

If anything HE was the one that have been struggling the most here.

He winced as he remembered their first day together. How he had pushed him too far, how unattentive and careless he was with his needs, leading to Safir collapsing from sheer exhaustion.

“No matter how thoroughly we are there’s always a risk of one measure not being covered because there are too many of them for us to remember. It’s something that could easily fly under our radar so you might run in a situation where you lack this vital information in no fault of yours”

He was wholly unprepared and lacking in more ways than one.

Despite how their first meeting went, how apprehensive Safir had been, he had quickly warmed up to Miller and often looked up to her for guidance.

It was only logical after all.

Miller knew everything. She was wise, mindful and nurturing. She knew how to play around weakness and bring out your strengths. Just like her grandfather before her Miller was someone that inspired the “admiration and respect” she talked about.

Meanwhile he was a screw up. A total failure. Overlooking so many important things, commiting so many careless mistakes.

It made him wonder if perhaps it wouldn’t be better if Miller directly took Safir under her wing. If she became his “real boss”.

It made him wonder why she didn’t speak against him being it. Why she left Safir under his care. Why, despite fixing and covering for his inumerous blunders and mistakes, that she hadn’t called him out at all.

He needed to talk to Miller.

“Thank you for coming and sorry for calling you so suddenly like that”

“It's alright, after all you seem to want to talk about something important isn’t that right?”

“... Miller why didn’t you bring attention to my mistakes? The inumerous things I have been doing wrong, things that could have jeopardized Safir’s safety?”

“Because I was waiting for you to reach me”

“What?” He blinked, owlish.

“Both me and grandfather have coddled you too much” Miller sighed “We readily explained everything to you, sometimes unprompted and that had a... Detrimental effect on you.”

“I... Don’t understand”

“Exactly” she stated. “And that’s the problem. We didn’t even give you a chance to try and figure things out by yourself, to develop critical thinking, to determine what your own set of morals and values were”

Her gaze softened.

“To find out what your wants and needs are”

“But I don’t require anything”

“I’m not talking about survival needs Saram” she shook her head. “Sometimes you face shortcomings and you require the means to overcome them. It’s also a “need” just as much as basic instincts are”

“...”

“The reason to why you are not improving from your failures is because you lack focus Saram, you don’t know what you want to do nor what you are aiming for”

“Our work...”

“You are not doing it because you want to save humans nor care about stopping supernatural activity. You are doing it simply because I asked you”

He flinches.

“Don’t get me wrong Saram, I’m not demanding you to see things this or that way, in any case, I’m still grateful for your help”

“Then... What should I do?”

“I don’t know. But I think you are beginning to have an idea of what YOU want”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because you sought my help” Miller smiled “You identified that something wasn’t right and tried to find a solution for it. On your own accord, because you judged it was the right thing to do”

“But...”

He was still not very convinced.

Even more when all he had to show for his attempts are disastrous results.

“I... I can’t do it. I’m not like you or Faust. I can only hurt others. I don’t know how to do the right thing or know what it’s even supposed to be like”

“No one is perfect and exempt from failures Saram. Not me, grandfather or anyone else for that matter”

Her voice was filled with sadness and regret.

“I... Did so many mistakes, hurt so many people with my words and actions. Bystanders, friends, people dear to me” Miller looks him in the eye. “Including you”

She was talking about their fight.

“The words you had spoken were similar to “theirs”” Miller confessed. “The words they used to justify the torture, the massacre, the bloodshed they forced me to do”

A horrible nightmare that still haunted her to this day. An unending horror that had gripped her heart in captivity even after her physical body was free and her wounds closed.

“The way they betrayed... Used me shook me to the core. So when you tried to justify your own actions I thought... For a moment I couldn’t see anything else but you being the same as “them”“

So that was what had happened.

“I wanted to apologize for hurting you, for treating you like a monster, but I couldn’t shake my trauma away, even after that horrible nightmare came to an end. I coudn’t stop the tremors, the fear, the weakness in my heart”

That explained the complicated look on her face. 

It wasn’t a disguised feeling of hatred or ressentment. 

It was a feeling of guilty.

“It took me a while, but thanks to everyone’s patience and kindness, thanks to Andrews, Hunter and even you I could finally overcome some of that fear”

“Me?”

“You sought to interact and bond with other humans of your own volition, with no prompting from my part. The way you became more aware, more mindful of someone else’s needs and tried to provide for them and make up for your shortcomings... It was reassuring. You were nothing like those things.”

“You are doing much better than you think. You are capable of figuring things out by yourself Saram”

“...But what if there’s something I can’t understand? What if I try my hardest and that’s still not enough?”

“Then you can seek help. It’s not something you need to do alone. Find your questions and keep trying. If you lack the tools to find your answers then we can provide it to you, but the answer you create, the conclusion you reach I want it to be your own”

“I... I will try. I will try to do my best”

“And that’s all I ask of you”

“Miller?” He asks, shyly, as he buries his head on her shoulder.

“Yes Saram?”

“Are we... Are we still friends?”

“Yes. We are. Always, Saram”

[uselessboss]

April Fools(After)

[uselessboss]

You Took her WHERE?!

This comic happens straight after the third part of “A Path We Walk Together”

[uselessboss]

A Path We Walk Together(2/3)

Deep breaths.

He was undeniably nervous. It has been a while since he last went to an outing. Years in fact as the only one he ever went was his first, and last one as well.

They weren’t a bad group of people. They were nice, easygoing and had no ill intentions when they invited him to hang out. It was just them trying to be friendly.

The issue really relied entirely on him.

Things like smoking, drinking, frequenting bars until dawn while music blared in the background and dancing among strangers... It’s an interest he didn’t share with his peers.

They didn’t mock him or shame him for not sharing their interests but he could clearly tell how awkward he made everyone feel with his poorly unconcealed discomfort. He was always bad at faking things like that and it made him feel even worse the more they tried and the more he failed to connect with them.

“Wow look at that person, very eye catching don’t you think?”

“Do you have any type Wolf-boy?”

The topic of relationships, dating, and attraction to other people was something that came up quite a lot.

“I... Don’t think so”

“Nothing? Really? Or is it dating something you feel it’s not for you?”

“No, it’s not that. I don’t really have anything against it”

He didn’t dislike the idea of being in a relationship. To be drawn towards someone's qualities and being able to appreciate and cherish them sounded like a wonderful thing.

It wasn’t a problem of lack of interest, but more so his inability to do so in general. He didn’t know what he wanted from people or what kind of companionship he sought out.

He couldn’t stand the disconnection.

It was why he refused every single invitation later on. Because of the fear of messing up, of souring the mood and ruining everything for others. In the end he isolated himself.

He touched his reflection on the mirror.

Back then he always had a constant irritated look on his face, always frowning, terrribly uncomfortable and very hostile. The kind that kept everyone away.

Now his features looked softer, kinder, gentle.

Happier.

His life really took an unexpected turn ever since he met her.

Who would have thought that the person he had deigned as foul and immoral at first was the one to teach him the meaning of kindness and empathy? To be the one that seemed to understand and accept him the most?

His cellphone rang with a new message.

‘Meet us at this address, but don’t look up what it is, we want to see your reaction’ -Andrews sent.

Hunter chuckled at that.

Another unexpected surprise was how he and Andrews became good friends.

He didn’t think he would have got along with him either. Andrews was very extroverted, a “people’s person”, the type of person he usually had the least in common with.

It was another thing he had been very wrong about.

Despite his carefree and easy-going nature Andrews knew when to be serious. He was as much of a dedicated hard-worker as he was and very reliable, specially in social situations. It was impressive how Andrews had the ability to fill any silence, to make any conversation flow easily and make it work. He seriously looked up to the guy.

It was reassuring to have these two there for him and also why he agreed to their invitation. Because he knew that even if he somehow messed something up things would work out thanks to them.

He took another deep breath to steel himself and walked outside.

“A PaintBall Match?” Hunter blinked.

“Did it surprise you?” Andrews grinned, snapping a picture, no doubt finding his surprised face hilarious.

“We thought it would be a good way to starts things up, something that we three would be familiar with” Miller explained with a wink. “Althrough I might be a bit rusty with that”

“Ah that’s ok dear partner” Andrews grinned, mischiveous as he put an arm around Hunter in a complicity way. “Today me and Hunter are going to team up to take you down!”

“Wait. What?” Both Miller and Hunter spoke in unisson.

"Look, Miller would beat both of us in seconds if this was a “melee à trois”, so let’s make this a game of “catch” where we both try to get her”

“But... Wouldn’t that be unfair?”

“You are right” Andrews nods “We would need our entire unit to be fair, but I’m not paying for that so we have to make do with only the two of us”

Andrews might have said that as a joke, but at the same time it was very much not a joke.

He only saw small glimpses of it as they had to be more focused on the mission and danger at hand while on the field, but now that they were in an environment where she could go all out and he could take everything in properly he had to say...

Miller was indeed something else.

He had always wondered how his skills compared to hers but he was clearly beaten.

She was nimble, fast and so incredibly agile! He and Andrews came at her with everything they got (and Andrews was pretty skilled on his own too) but despite their best efforts she dodged everything they threw at her.

“Time’s up!”

“Awwww I thought we could pull it off” Andrews deflated. “Damn, you are way too strong partner, you make us look like peasants”

“What are you saying Andrews, you both are super strong” Miller took of her helmet, shaking her hair off. “It was pretty nice to see you go all out, no other human could match what you did in this match”

“Boooh you are trying to be nice”

“Well” Hunter cut, coughing. “Maybe we did it?”

He pointed at the side of Miller’s leg, where a small splatter of paint, barely a speckle stood among the black protection.

“Oh? I’m pretty sure I evaded all hits. How this thing ended up here?” Miller looked at it with interest.

“The paint must have bounced off on one of the walls” he explained. “If this was a real shot you could say... It was a ricocheted shot...?”

Hunter felt himself flush.

That was a very sad and lame attempt at doing a witty remark. 

He was so embarrassingly bad at making jokes and quips.

“Andrews, wasn’t Hunter that landed the shot?” Miller grinned, amused.

“Hey, I played an important part on this feat!”

“Which is?”

“I distracted you! Being a live bait is a tough job you know?”

Their laughs echoed in the air.

Hunter didn’t remember the last time he laughed so much, or had this much fun.

He always worked hard and put a lot of thought and efffort in everything he did. If he ever attempted to better his results then it was more out of sense of trying to improve himself than anything. He wasn’t really competitive and didn’t care much to compare himself with others in a contest of pride.

This was the first time he felt like showing off.

“My Fucking God you two are merciless” Andrews dramatically cumpled on the chair.

The results were him in first place, Miller in second and Andrews in third.

“You two are not human” Andrews whined, “You make me look like an out of shape middle aged man having a mid-life crisis!”

“That’s... Oddly specific and descriptive Andrews”

“Ok, ok, time out you two” Andrews pouted. “This is my turn to rig the game in my favor, I’m picking what we do next”

“Andrews you don’t need to say the last part out loud”

“It’s a giant chess! Cool right?” Andrews smiled smugly. “I can’t even dream to beat you two in any physical activities so a battle of wits it is!”

“Are you calling us dumb dear partner?” Miller feigned mock offense.

“Nah, I’m calling myself smarter. And more cunning” Andrews jabbed back.

“So, who are you going to battle first?”

“Well, a certain SOMEONE gave me the ass beating of my life so maybe him?” Andrews zeroed on him. “C’mmon Hunter, this is payback”

Andrews was up to something.

He noticed as soon as Andrews insisted on him picking the white pieces, refusing to eat his peon piece or killing his queen at every chance he had.

He decided to play along, curious to see where he was going with that.

“My peon reached your base, so it can be promoted now” Hunter announced, placing the piece on the other side.

“Oh boy whatever should we do? You still have a queen piece so we don’t have a spare queen to use!” Andrews dramatically placed his hand on his head, really milking it, sighing very loudly. “Unless...!”

He gives a mischiveous smile as he walks right where Miller was sitting watching their match and offers her his hand.

Miller giggles with humor as she takes Andrews’ hand and allows herself to be lead to the spot where he had placed the peon, carefully nudging the piece aside.

“There we go! Miller can be “your queen” Hunter” Andrews grinned teasingly as he wriggled his eyebrows.

“I’m waiting for your orders your Highness” Miller also teased, making a mock bow in his direction.

“Y-You two are shameless! How can you make such an embarrassing joke with a straight face?!” He felt himself flush a deep red, his heart beating so fast to the point of making him think it would jump out of his chest at any moment.

Somehow Andrews still beat him in that match.

The results didn't surprise him, after all it had been quite difficult to pay attention to what was going on in that match.

After all, having to direct Miller to where she should go by taking her hand and leading her around was VERY distracting.

...Through maybe he was being a sore loser because Andrews beat both of them fair and square in subsequent matches. He did really have the smarts and skills to back up his earlier trash talk.

 “HECK YEAH THE FIRST WIN OF THE DAY!” Andrews cheered. “Finally First Place of the day Baby!”

“Congratulations” Hunter chuckled. “And I guess that’s the first time I ended up in last place as well. I had no idea you were this good at playing chess Miller, were you secretely training for it?”

“I guess it's thanks to Johannes” Hunter felt his insides get frosty at the mention of that name. “Sometimes, during our spare time, we would play chess together and he would teach me a lot about the game”

Miller’s smile was fond.

He felt an ugly and unbecoming feeling stir inside of him.

“Welllllllll folks it’s almost lunch time so how about we follow up with our plans for it and guarantee a nice spot for our picnic?” Andrews thankfully diverts the situation, something he feels very grateful for. “Let’s make haste so it won’t get super crowded shall we?”

Hunter dropped his shoulders, sighing heavely as he entered his car, laying his head on the steering wheel as he tried to calm himself down once again.

 He should have been happy for her.

She wasn’t flinching or in pain whenever she mentioned that man’s name anymore. It should be a good thing she can smile again, because that would mean she moved on from what happened.

“It’s none of my business if she decided to forgive him. That’s her choice to make, not mine” he berates himself. “...Besides, It would be a hypocrisy from my part when Miller also forgave me for everything I did as well”

He tried to tell that to himself over and over but it was no use. That foul and putrid feeling that festered inside him didn’t go away. The more he learned about their relationship, about how close they were, the more nauseous he felt.

Miller had moved the skies and earth for Johannes’ sake.

He had heard the stories. About how she had mobilized her entire unit to save his life and how she got the the person who conspired to harm him to be fired from his job. It always seemed like nothing could get under her skin and yet she completely lost her cool and got into a murderous rage because he was hurt.

When he and Miller stopped their daily routine of checking documents together he felt... Empty inside. He didn’t have any good reason or excuse to be around her anymore and it made his heart ache with longing. He sorely missed her warmth and companionship.

That was why he started to wait for her at the cafeteria and common room. To spend more time with her, even if only a few minutes more.

But she barely if ever frequented those places.

People told him that she constantly spent time together with Johannes, discussing plans, overseeing past reports or talking about improvements to be made for the sake of their team.

It was because he was her second in command, it was for the sake of work.

That’s what he thought at the time, or what he chose to believe it was, but...

‘during our spare time, we would play chess together’

Miller... She didn’t spend time with him exclusively for the sake of her job or out of obligation. She did it because that was something she genuinely wanted and enjoyed doing too.

It was frustrating how he had to struggle so hard to be allowed to have a bit of her time while Johannes had the monopoly of her attention.

It was easy to see that he was undoubtedly the most important person to her. It was so painfully obvious to everyone.

Everyone except that guy.

That day, despite them being still at odds because of their first disagreement ever she didn’t doubt his loyalty even once. Her wholeheartedly trust was not shaken at all, she still unconditionally believed in him.

Even the whole thing that lead to their disagreement in the first place happened because Miller was only thinking about his wellbeing. Even if she had went about it the wrong way there was no denying that it came from a place of care. She valued him so much that she was willing to put her own feelings and needs aside to prioritize what she perceived as his.

That day had been the first time he saw her tears. The first time she crumbled apart.

Maybe that was why the thought of that guy still mattering to her bothered him so much.

How ungrateful and selfish one could be?

How many of her precious memories and feelings were treated like worthless trash?

“... Sorry for taking so long, I hope I didn’t make you two wait for too long” Hunter apologized.

“Don’t worry about it” Andrews waved it of.

“Let’s dig in! I can’t wait to have a taste of your guys’ cooking!” Miller chirped, clearly excited.

“Damn Hunter you can really cook!” Andrews nodded in appreciation as he chewed the food with gusto. “Miller too, which is honestly the biggest surprise here, what with her screwed tastebuds”

“Andrews, the only thing I dislike are sweets, everything else is fine”

“Your food is also pretty good” Hunter nods back. “There are some pretty elaborate things here”

“Well, it’s only because you two were eating my food” Andrews shrugged. “Usually I don’t really bother, I just scrap whatever isn’t spoiled to eat”

“...Are you sure? Because that didn’t sound like a joke”

“Andrews your eating habits worry me a bit, I don’t think I saw you eating properly recently”

“Yes mom number 1 and mom number 2 I’m eating my veggies properly” Andrews rolls his eyes. “Also, you are one to talk dear partner, wasn’t Hunter feeding you his homecooked meals because you kept overworking yourself and skipping lunch?”

“W-Well, that’s...”

“See?” Andrew smiles smugly. “Althrough I bet that you two enjoyed the hand feeding, how scandal-mahwhahsh”

He shoved a mouthful of food inside Andrews’ mouth before he could spout any more embarrassing stuff.

“... Before we go I think I will need to use the bathroom. Could you two wait for me?” Miller announced after they finished eating everything and wrapped things up.

“Sure, go ahead Miller”

“Thanks!”

They watched as Miller disapperead in the crowd.

"So... How are you feeling now Hunter?” Andrews asked as soon Miller was out sights.

“Better. Thanks for the save back then. I hope I didn’t ruin things with my sudden sour mood”

“Nah, I understand.” Andrews shook his head. “Sometimes I also feel like that”

Andrews trully was something else.

His charisma was the real deal. It was what allowed him to diffuse any situation, no matter how awkward it was and to convince others to follow his lead and heed his words.

It was thanks to him that their unit got closer with each other and to Miller.

They were her unit, the people she handpicked herself, the ones that spent enough time with her to see past the rumors and understand her true good nature. Despite what Miller belived this wasn’t the main reason to why they felt discouraged to get closer to her.

Miller felt, for the longest time, unapproachable.

Even to him she felt like she was way out of his league. She was strong, composed and never seemed to need to rely on anyone but herself. She never showed weakness, never allowed herself to be vulnerable, always taking care of everyone but not allowing the same to herself. She didn’t allow anyone in.

Andrews changed their view on her. He showed everyone what the true Miller was behind the facade she had forced on herself.

Someone who laughs like them, someone who bleeds, someone who gets angry, someone that wanted to get close to them but was equally too awkward and unsure to know how to go about it.

Honestly it was no wonder why Miller seemed to regard him so highly. Not only because he was her old partner but also because he got her. He understood her needs better than anyone else.

“I wish I was like you”. Hunter voices his thoughts. “I wish I was able to support others like you do”

“You could be”

He snaps his head back at Andrews in surprise.

“I wasn’t like this from the start” Andrews smiles. “I was more like an anti-social loser who held a a grudge against the world because of the way I was mistreated by some rotten apples and because people wanted to forcibly change me to fit their standards”

Althrough the context might have differed Hunter felt he could relate to the experience. About people having their own ideal image of what he should be, getting disappointed and offended by said image not fitting their expectations and treating their real selves as something “wrong”.

“Then I met my dear partner, Miller” Andrews��� voice goes soft. “The circumstances of our first meeting were far from ideal. I was a very uncooperative asshole. Even told her point blank that I was only willing to do the bare minimum, and you know what she said?”

He chucked at the memory.

“That’s a surprising amount of leeway you are giving me”

“That sounds like her” Hunter smiled, recalling his own first meeting with Miller and how she had equally blindsided him with her unexpected answer of calling him a “good man” after a rough start.

“Miller never once tried to intrude on my boundaries. What I wanted to share about myself was enough to make her happy”. Andrews recalls the happy days spent together. “She... Always saw everything with a sense of wonder, cherishing every single moment like it a precious treasure and wanting to understand everything you showed her. She had a way to make the world around you seem far more interesting and better than you thought”

A kinder world. Where it existed someone that not only would accept you but also validate your existence, telling you that there was nothing wrong with being yourself and you could make someone happy like that.

“I started searching for ways to spend time together on our days off, to be more fun to be around, to be less moody and more appreciative. I wanted to share more things with her, good times”. She was really a wonder of a person, someone you would be lucky to meet in a lifetime. He was forever thankful that he was fortunate enough to have her in his life. “She really changed me. Where others had failed to do so, Miller had succeed without even trying and you know why right?”

“Because she never asked anything out of you”

“Yes. She never asked me to be anything but myself. Everything I did was out my own volition. I became a better person, but not a “different person” if that makes any sense”. Andrews nods. “If I smile, if I laugh it’s not because I want to humor her or anyone else, it’s because I really mean it”

He pats his shoulder.

“You might not think so because you still have some things you want to figure out but I think you are doing fine yourself Hunter. You’re a good person. You helped us a lot you know? Both Mille and me”

It made him happy to hear that.

He already considered Andrews his friend but it was still nice to know that he also thought of him as one as well. It seriously touched him.

“Hunter you don’t have worry so much about what we will think you know? Both me and Miller are also trying to figure this thing out as much as you are so take as much time as you need to find your pace”

“Figuring things out... Huh?”

“Hey everyone, I’m back! Sorry for taking so long, it was super crowded” Miller returns before she stops to stare at him.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No. I don’t think so” she shakes her head, smiling in an enigmatic way. “Are you having fun so far Hunter?”

“Yes. I really am”

“If you aren't too tired would you like to hang out a bit more with us?”

Hunter looked at their faces.

They were both smiling at him.

“Yes, I would really like that”

[uselessboss]

Some Funny Miller-Hunter Parent Stories

[uselessboss]

Handcuffed

I like drawing Miller with her harem :V

But real talk she’s unaware she has a “harem” in the first place XD

[uselessboss]

Streaming