Jay's hands trembled as he reached for his phone to pull up the camera feed. He was never a lucky person and deep down, he had a feeling that he was bound to run out of it out sooner than later.
Despite his hopes, he was met with a familiar figure.
A man, short in stature, dressed in a messy business casual attire, sleeves pulled up and ruffled, his shoes creased beyond belief. He stood there with an unnerving stillness and a dreadful stare like he could see Jay through the camera's lens. No mask this time, but he was still easily recognizable. He possessed those damned scarlet eyes after all.
Though he didn't want to reach this conclusion, there was no other reasonable explanation. Inoue was the same masked person in his dream, there's too many coincidences for him not to be. Jay lingered in stasis and his brain jumped immediately to think of a way out.
There's no way he would know I was hiding her, right?
But his walls were paper thin, so his music has most likely leaked outside. Additionally, his blinds were far too translucent to hide his occupancy. Ignoring the doorbell would simply make him more suspicious.
If Jay decided to ignore the outsider outright, he could always force himself in anyways. Those pupils belonged to an unstable killer who would do anything to satisfy his bloodlust afterall. The safest choice was to elude him entirely.
Jay sweeped his hair back as he stepped towards the entrance, taking a deep breath in, preparing for the worst before giving the door the slightest opening, just enough for his eyes to peek through the gap. On the spot, Jay mangled his expression to one of irritation, rubbing his eyes like his precious beauty sleep was rudely interrupted.
Jay: "The hell do ya want?"
He feigned a rough, raspy croak, as he looked down on the shorter man. However, against a man who could easily put ten holes in him at any moment, Jay wasn't sure how much his stomach could twist until his facade would eventually be overwhelmed.
Jay: "Oh shittt, wait you're the dude from earlier… what do ya want? Did you follow me home or something? It's fucking midnight man."
Jay creaked the door open a bit more to show himself leaning on the sidewall, trying to sell the act of a bothered and ignorant teenager. Feigning ignorance is a tactic that Jay exercised plenty of times before whenever he needed to get out of an annoying situation, though this time the situation was much more dangerous than annoying.
Fortunately, it seemed like Inoue bought this false front Jay managed to conjure up, his smile unfaltering as he replied.
Inoue: "Ah, very sorry for the late bother. I did not mean to disturb you. I have an urgent matter and wondered if you had any leads."
Jay: "Urgent matter? Leads?"
Inoue: "Perhaps, have you seen a girl around here? White hair. A bit taller than me. I saw drops of blood nearby and unfortunately I think that might be related to her."
Inoue lifted his hand to a small couple inch gap above his skull, demonstrating a rough size comparison, his gaze sublty averted to the small gap in Jay's doorway before returning to him, like he was invading his home with suspicion.
Inoue: "She's my little sister and she went missing recently. I am asking around for any evidence so I can find her."
Jay: "hmmmm."
Jay nodded, just to show his understanding of the situation.
He feigned to be in thought but in reality he was focusing his attention towards the terribly awkward phrasing and logic that Inoue used.
No contractions. Formal language. Evidence to find her… it was far too out of place. He called the injured girl his younger sister but the girl was quite a bit taller than him. The age gap was unnatural as well, she seemed to be in her teenage years while Inoue seemingly in his late 20s in the very least. It didn't add up.
Jay: "Nah man, no idea at all, sorry."
He stammered out the apology hastly and started to shift his weight back into his home. Jay wanted nothing more to do with this terrifying man. He reached for the door handle, the motion deliberate and smooth as he pulled it towards him but—
The knife was there.
The blur of silver targetted his lower back, a movement so fast it seemed like it broke the law of physics. Jay's body twisted before his brain could even process the danger. It was like his body fully understood the consequences if the blow were to land. Jay slammed into the wall as he coiled his body, carbon dioxide forcefully expelled out his frame.
Inoue aimed at the same spot that incapacitated Jay in the alleyway and it seemed like his body learned a lesson even if his mind didn't quite catch up yet. Instantly, Jay's hands moved to cover up where he narrowly avoided the stab and gripped on the phantom wound.
Inoue: "Wrong answer."
The attacker murmured to himself as he readjusted his grip on his dagger.
!!!!!
Now as Jay's mind finally caught up, this time he decided to go with the flight reaction rather than the fight. But now, his body was the part that held him back. His desire to flee was halted as his legs locked up.
The first weave was out of pure luck. Inoue's speed and strength that he derived from his mag turned him into a walking weapon. For someone like Jay who had no such possession of such power he was simply prey. Even if his legs would listen to him, Inoue would catch up in an instant and place several holes throughout his backside.
Every crevice in Jay's body knew that it was over.
Thus Jay simply stared at his murderer, both past and present as the jagged edge shot towards Jay's neck.
It was an unfortunate end to his mundane life. He had a couple of regrets, but there's nothing he could do now anywa-
A petite hand slammed into his shoulder.
Jay was knocked down to the side with great force, crashing into his laminate flooring, his palms peeling from the friction.
The impact shook his conciousness momentarily and he had barely any time to make sense of the situation before a white figure barged into his vision.
A fierce expression, her luscious pale locks fluttered across her face like a flock of doves as she launched herself towards Inoue, his eyes widening.
Her fingers split apart symmetrically as the girl thrusted her palm forward, causing the air to rip apart.
The sound of thousands of mirrors shattering echoed along the walls of his apartment and a beam, about the size of a soccer ball, was unleashed from her fingertips, its blinding white laser fragmenting into prismatic edges, like sunlight bleeding through an abstract stained window.
It illuminated the night sky as the raw force penetrated through Inoue's chest to the starry atmosphere, melting him away before it expanded in diameter, capturing Inoue's entire self as he disintergrated into the background.
Jay laid there in shock, his arms shaking from the encounter. Inoue was simply there one second before and gone the next.
The girl withdrew her hand and clenched her fist and the beam followed, cutting off abruptly. A loud static dissipated into the street and the light levels dimming to what they were before.
She staggered as her knees hit the floor with a thud, faceplanting into the floor in front of Jay. Her shoulders quivered as her oppressive breaths consumed her actions.
But despite her condition, she was smiling.
He stared at her in disbelief. The girl's white hair, now streaked black as if the colour had bled into it like a chameleon, curtained her pretty face. His eyes jumped to his missing doorway where only burn marks were left over, then back at his guest who had left those very burn marks and saved his life.
Jay: "…"
Injured girl: "…"
Jay: "…"
Injured girl: "…"
Jay: "Huh?"
Jay stared blankly at his savior. What unfolded in front of him was far outside his logical expections.
He was alive. This random girl had just defied every possibility that he could've conjured up in that certain death scenario. Her face was also currently smooshed into the ground grinning like a complete idiot to herself. It must've been a solid fifteen seconds of silence and still before Jay realised that he should probably help her sit up.
Jay knelt down beside her and flipped her over carefully to avoid reopening her laceration.
Jay: "Hey! Are you alright!?"
The girl, her eyes lazy from fatigue, tilted her round head up to Jay. Her grin was a bit wobbly and her white teeth drew upwards, signalling her feelings of triumph.
Injured girl: "Heh, saved your ass!"
Jay: "Sav— huh?!"
It was a soft sarcastic wheeze that caught Jay by surprise.
His faced morphed into a confused sponge. He couldn't believe the first words she whispered into his ears.
What is she talking about?!
Jay stopped his words, frozen as his senses picked up the scent of the scorched doorway before it was blown away and replaced by a much more pleasant midnight wind. His eyes blinked as he stared down at the girl resting on his floor, her smirk unwavering and bright.
His mind replayed the events just a minute ago; Inoue's assault, getting shoved into the wall, and seeing a laser beam annihilate his murderer while simulatnaesouly decimating his entryway.
Jay: "Are you alright?!"
In the end he chose to repeat his concern.
Injured girl: "…"
No answer. Just a continued smile.
Is she alright in the head? Is she some weirdo?
Then Jay realised he was insane, attempting to do the same thing and expecting a different subsequent result. So he decided on a simple way to get a proper answer—by venting his frustrations.
Jay: "Are you some weirdo?! Not only some crazed fucking maniac almost sent me to Fibolo, you almost blew up my apartment!"
Jay had hoped that the cause of all of his unfortunate circumstances would apologize or atleast answer his worry. She was the abnormality here. Instead, she rolled her eyes in sass, her smile replaced with an annoyed pout.
Injured girl: "Oh, boo-hoo… how about you be grateful I saved your ass back there, huh?"
The girl waved her hand in annoyance, dismissing his inquiries casually like they didn't matter at all to her and giggled hysterically at her own comeback.
Jay: "…"
Jay's right eye twitched at her response, wrinkling his forehead.
Jay: "…how about YOU be grateful that I saved your ass back there, huh?"
He let a humourless laugh as he threw out what he thought was a reasonable rebuttal.
She's fucking insane!
Jay: "I wouldn't have almost died if I'd just left your ass to deal with your own shit! I don't even know yo—"
Injured: "pfft."
Jay's heartfelt rant was rudely interupped by a loud scoff which stemmed from the girl sticking out her tongue at him.
Injured girl: "Well you had some impressive reaction dodging him over there so you would've fine anywayssssss…"
The girl spun her eyes around again like it was her favourite habit.
Injured girl: "Mister four eyes if you really want to know… I was being chased by that 'maniac' and he was the bad guy not me! I was just tryna not to dieeeeee."
The girl huffed as she propped herself up on her elbows, wincing but still beaming like this was all some hilarious prank that she pulled on him.
Injured girl: "Anyways that was pretty cool right! My powers I mean!"
Her fingers twitched, and the air around them began to shimmer an iridescent white. Faint, glass-like edges formed along her fingers, catching the dim LED light. She tried to stretch them farther, but the strength left her hand, and it dropped back to her side.
She smirked at the sight of her mag, then winced as the movement sent a fresh jolt of pain through her side. A dark, wet patch was beginning to respreadi across her cardigan, the fabric adhering tightly to her ribs.
Jay looked at the girl with a deadpan face, in absolute disbelief from her silly antics and demeanor.
The silence stretched out thin as the injured girl awaited for what Jay believed some form of praise or compliment to her powers that he definitely did not want to give. Jay can be quite stubborn sometimes if he wanted to.
Eventually, her smirk began to falter from Jay's lack of response to a pout. Jay responded with a displeased glare the entire time hoping she would answer his question but in the end he gave in. As he opened his mouth, the girl's smirk reinvigorated instantly, impatiently anticipating the commendation she felt she rightfully deserves:
Jay: "Get the fuck out of my house."
He snapped at her, his voice a mix of shock and a bit of fear as well. In the end, the person in front of him was some unknown person who had a killer after them and has mag capable of erasing dreamers from the world.
The girl furrowed her brows, her expression deflating slightly before letting out a soft, annoyed mutter to herself, though intentionally loud enough for Jay to roughly hear.
Injured girl: "okayyyy, fineeee you flippin' hard ass…"
She then suddenly flopped her body on the floor as she gripped her side in pain as it zapped through her drained body.
Injured girl: "Owwwww! Ahhhh, it hurts so much!"
Her eyes squinted from the throb, her face wrinkling as she flailed around on the floor. Though it seemed like she was genuinely suffering, the onlooking Jay managed to catch the occasional glimpses between her winces that tried to gauge his reaction.
What is she trying to pull now?
Seeing this Jay chose to ignore her and the girl decided to go with a different strategy. Her flailing stopped as she directed her big, dark eyes that were pathetically hopeful in his direction. Her thin, pretty eyelashes batted, a drastic and sudden shift from her earlier performance causing Jay to look away in embarrassment as she tried excessively making eye contact.
Jay: "Those are some shit puppy eyes by the way."
Jay mused at her attempt to persuade him but then she started… whimpering?
Her lower lip started trembling as her eyes started to water, which for a moment made Jay hesistate.
But alast, Jay did not budge.
For a moment her face returned to a monotone look before exploding into—
Injured girl: "AHHHHHHH! ARE YOU SERIOUS! I'M BLEEDING TO DEATH! LIKE A LOT!!!! ARE YOU REALLY GONNA KICK ME OUT AND LET ME DIE ON YOUR DOORSTEP! YOU HEARTLESS MIDGET!"
She started thrashing about even more violently than before, similiar to a child throwing a tantrum when their mother wouldn't have let them have ice cream for dinner. Her arms jerked uselessly as her sides and she let out exagerrated groans and whines that reverberated in Jay's poor receiving ears.
Injured girl: "YOU'RE HORRIBLE! A MANLET WHO WOULD LEAVE A CUTE, PRETTY, AND BEAUTIFUL GIRL TO FLIPPIN' DIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!"
Another one of Jay's unfortunately common sighs slipped out as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew she was manipulating him. But his eyes flickered to the darkening stain on her hoodie.
She did pushed me out of Inoue's way….
Unbidden, another image shoved its way in: the two of them lying too close together, blood soaking into the ground between them in that cursed dream.
Jay reconsidered how dangerous she was, considering how she saved him when she probably oculd've killed both him and Inoue if she wanted to.
And also… she doesn't seem really threatening at all right now.
She doesn't seem harmful. Just really weird...
His gaze fell back upon on the zebra haired beauty whose limbs wildly flew in all sorts of direction as she continued to wail in front of him.
Jay: "Fuck."
He exhaled sharply, dragging both hands through his already messy hair before pointing a finger at the injured girl who temporarily put her antics to a pause as she listened to his frustrated reaction.
Jay: "Are there any other 'maniacs' after you?"
The girl frantically shook her head sideways as her lost puppy eyes returned, now as quiet as a mouse. Jay glared back at her.
Jay: "You stay one night alright? Don't go blowing up random shit. I already made dinner for two anyways."
Her face immediately spawned a triumphant grin, which annoyed Jay as it felt like she actually managed to convince him to stay.
Injured girl: "Awww, see! I knew deep down that you would come around! Admit it, you only let me stay 'cause I'm super cute right?"
Jay: "…"
Injured girl: "…"
Jay: "Yeah whatever, keep telling yourself that."
He responded with a middle finger as he turned on his heel and stormed towards the kitchen. Behind him, the girl let out a snort of laughter, then flinched again.
Injured girl: “Hey!”
She called after him, her voice suddenly bright, like she hadn’t just been faux-bleeding out thirty seconds ago.
He reluctantly froze and looked back at her, expecting another snark remark to escape her mouth.
Injured girl: “Thank you.”
The girl gave a sincere and warm smile, her eyes sparkling against the warm violet LEDs.
Jay sighed, then glanced back at her and despite himself, smiled back.
His left hand held a sponge, the right with some disinfectant as Jay strode back to the cupboard after disinfecting the entryway tiles, the odour of ammonia now interwoven into his attire.
The mess was even worse that what he thought. Dried blood formed its own trail to his couch and the smears were a reminder of how close her life was from slipping away.
It was silent while he cleaned, heavy but welcome. Following the chaos of the past twenty four hours this moment was especially tranquil in contrast and was much needed for Jay.
Now, as he leaned against the doorway, he glanced at the girl who sat slumped on the the hallway wall, her long legs pulled against her chest all scrunched up. Her torn cardigan sat along her petite shoulders, the fabric loose upon her frame. The strands of her hair was now oddly a mix of black and white, resembling the pattern of a zebra, the soft colors reflecting and absorbing the warm atmosphere. She had eyes bags so dark that they looked more like bruises, her fingers absently tracing along the edges of the bandages he'd wrapped around her abdomen.
Jay: "Why are you just sitting there?"
He kept his voice low, not wanting to startle her.
The girl lifted her head, blinking slowly as if surfacing from a daze. A faint smile pulled at her lips, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Injured girl: "Yeah I'm good, thanks for asking. I'm just a bit tired. Anyways, you did a decent job with the bandages though. Pretty impressive."
She stretched her arm above her head, the movement stiff as the fabric pulled tighter across her torso.
Jay returned her compliment with his signature shrug, a telltale sign that a sarcastic remark was comment.
Jay: "Had to look cool in front of a girl of course."
The girl stuck her tongue out in mild digust before retracting it into a grin, her earlier spark returning.
Injured girl: "Ew. Who knew you had it in you? So now you admit I'm cute now…"
Jay: "I never said you were cute. I don't want to hear that from your floppy ass who was kissing my floor ten minutes ago…"
Injured girl: "I couldn't move 'cause I used all my mag! Saving YOUR butt by the way!!!"
Jay: "Aight fine."
Jay let out a defeated grunt as he crossed his living room in a couple strides towards the zebra haired girl — all really without thinking. He bent down low, hooking his right arm under her scrunched up knees and the other behind her back.
Injured girl: "wah!"
The girl yelped, her hands flying towards his neck for balance as he lifted her effortlessly. Though she was roughly the same height as him, her narrow frame barely added any real weight to his arms than what he's used to carrying.
Injured girl: "What the hell— what are you doing! Put me down, you—"
By the time she managed a response, he was already carrying her towards the small dining table near the kitchen.
Jay: "You're the one who's crying out 'Help me! I'm so fucking tired please fucking carry me!!!'. "
There was a flicker of amusement in his voice as he teased her, but as a matter of fact, Jay was primarily trying to compensate for her being right about him not having the guts to do anything bold.
Jay: "We're even now alright? Consider this payback."
He readjusted his grip underneath her like it was nothing.
Jay: "No point in you walking when I can just—"
Injured girl: "Weirdo. You're an awful flirt, especially considering you're a midget."
The girls comment was soft and didn't have much bite, her fingers curling slightly into the fabric of his hoodie. When he set her down gently in one of the chairs, she shot him a sheepish look, her cheeks a light shade of pink.
Jay rolled his eyes, pulling out the chair across from her and slipping into it. Jay: “Yeah, yeah, appreciate the compliment. Real smooth of me.”
He reached for the counter, sliding the already plated bowls toward them, the aroma of basil fillling their appetite.
Jay: "Sorry, its gotten a bit cold — didn't really expect a murderer at my doorstep."
He fed himself some of the penne, pondering on its flavour before nodding his head in approval of his own cooking proficiency. The girl watched him briefly, her expression unreadable. Though she was quite friendly earlier, something about sharing the meal made her hesistate.
Maybe she thinks I poisoned it or something…
I mean it makes sense for her to be cautious considering I'm a stranger and that she almost died just now.
Jay: "Don't worry, the only poison I put in the food was parmesan."
He laid out his palm in front of her, inviting her in for a bite.
Jay: "I'm a good cook, trust me."
The girl's pupils snapped back from thought as she picked up her fork, taking one bite. Her face slowly lit up as she took another mouthful, her initial hesitation melting into a sweet, tender enthusiasm.
Injured girl: "mmph hmph!"
Jay: "Hmph… what?"
Jay gave her an overexagerrated puzzled look, like she spoke some foreign tribal language which made her cheeks hue in embarassment as she realised.
Injured girl: "Not bad."
She raised her left hand to cover her mouth and her blush as she clarified mid-chew again.
Silence settled between them for a few minutes as they ate, broken only by the clinking of utensils against ceramic. Jay studied her as she ate, the way her bangs fell over her eyes and how she naturally tucked them behind her ear with her free hand.
There was something oddly intimate about the scene. Just two strangers sharing a meal in his small apartment. It felt like one of the missing puzzle pieces of his life was finally found and slotted into its longful place.
Jay: "So… you never told me your name. Oh sorry, my name is Jay by the way."
He cleared his throat, trying to stir up a conversation. The girl paused in between bites, her fork hovering over her plate before she lowered it.
Injured girl: "I'm… Mai."
The girl gave her name after a short moment, like she was trying her name on for size, making sure it fits before owning it out loud.
Jay: "That's a pretty name."
Mai: "The prettiest!"
Her upbeat attitude suddenly returned to Jay's relief, since it was getting a bit awkward. A large weakness of Jay.
Huh, doesn't sound familiar…
Jay: "I don't want to sound weird… but have we met before?"
Mai gave him skeptical glance before taking another bite, chewing in thought before speaking again, words slightly muffled.
Mai: "mmph! Are you trying out some kind of lame pick up line? ew no tha-"
Jay: "No I'm not, I was being serious. Anyways I wouldn't like some girl who would call her savior a manlet and is built like a cutting board herself."
Jay brutally cuts her off indifferently and Mai responds with an overexaggerated offended expression like she wanted him to feel the full guilt of his harsh words. She believed that she was a fair maiden afterall.
Mai: "What are you trying say huh? I'll use my imag on you buddy, don't get too comfortable!"
Chewing on the roasted zuchinni, Mai gave a half-assed threat.
Jay: "Holy shit, I'm terrified! …Says the person who can't even stand up…"
Mai crossed her arms and huffed away his sarcasm.
Mai: "Anyways, no this is the first time I've seen you. Do I look familiar or something?"
Jay: "Yeah you kinda do. Maybe my minds not in the right place, sorry."
Then the dream can't be of the future either is it? If so she should've known my name. Or she;'s lying. But what would she gain by lying about not knowing my name? That would make her even more suspicious.
As the table return to quiet, Mai chooses to breaks the uncomfortable pause.
Mai: "Well uh, Jay, since we're doing the whole introductions to each other and stuff… I just want to let you know now that I'm not actually from here."
Jay: "Really? So which city are you from then if not Nythe?"
Mai: "A city south from here. I ran away from it."
Mai's voice dropped down to a lower whisper as she clarfied.
Jay's eating motions slowed as he processed her change in behavior.
Jay: “From what if you don't mind me asking?”
Mai: "From what…? From everything I guess? My family's a bit complicated and I didn't want to stay with them any longer. I didn't want to dream like how they did. So I left."
The girl corrected Jay, her smile dwindling again as she picked at the edge of the table, her uneven nails leaving faint crescents in the wood.
Mai: "And—"
Jay watched her hand worry the wood, then reached out without thinking and stilled it gently, his touch light, easily withdrawn if she wanted it to be.
Jay: "Hey, you don't have to explain anything if you don't want to. Just eat, alright?"
Mai, who had been avoiding Jay's eye contact, finally returned his gaze and nodded, her posture relaxing a bit.
Mai: "It's okay, you're letting me stay over so I'll tell you some things atleast."
She finished the last of her food on the plate, leaving it licked clean.
Mai: "I didn't really plan to be here to be honest. After I ran away, my family sent Inoue after me to bring me back. I thought he was creepy and had some grudge against me, but I didn't think he would try taking my life."
Jay listened and gave her his full attention, meeting her eyes and nodding along.
Mai: "To be honest, we should've died. We got lucky since he didn't know I manifested my imag. If he had known…"
Her expression turned to one of gloom and Jay frowned at the point she was alluding to.
Mai: "Anyways, he had a lie detector imag, which was why he lunged at you when you lied about hiding me. So thank you for that, Jay."
She bowed her head a bit, her sincere appreciation clear. The room felt somewhat smaller after that.
Jay shook his head unable to emphasize, trying to understand her perspective.
Jay: “But why? Why go through all that just run away? If your family’s that powerful to send someone like Inoue, wouldn’t it be easier to just… I don’t know, play along? You don't need to be a dreamer.”
She tilted her head to the side like she was completely bewildered by Jay's statement, her brows knitting together.
Mai: "Why do would ask that?! It's like you're saying you don't want to be a dreamer!"
The question caught him off guard.
Despite the popularity, dreaming was an absurdly dangerous profession and for somehow risk averse, it wasn't Jay's cup of tea.
How could someone still want to be one after being that close to death's doorstep?
Jay frowned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, like he what he was admitting to something that was so different from everyone else to the point where became embarassing.
Jay: "I don't know. I don't really have any dreams so there's no point in me climbing the steps. And I also can't use mag, just a bit of visus, so I can't really compete anyways."
Throughout the conversation, absentmindedly, Jay still had his hand overlapping hers, but after hearing Jay's confession, Mai reverses the position, her hand now on top and her grip tightening. She narrowed her eyes, thoughtful but wary.
Mai: "Then can you explain how you dodged Inoue's attack? A bit of visus isn't enough to dodge that! Inoue cleared the second trial! That shouldn't be possible!"
Her head drew closer to jay, their breaths touching as she analyzed his face like she was trying to peer into his thoughts.
Mai: "Plus everyone else can use mag, are you sure you can't? It's like saying you can't breathe!"
Jay scoffed and fell back further into his chair, shaking away Mai's grasp from his wrist as he crosses his arms in a defensive position.
Jay: "Just luck and fast reflexes. I was always been known for being quick to react."
Jay gave another one of his trademarked shrugs, a slight grin to boast his not so impressive ability.
Mai: "Jay."
Jay: "Guess I'm just full of surprises huh?"
The angle of the strike. The exact moment he’d need to move.
Though it was part luck, his dream played a large part in dodging the strike as well. But he can't just tell some girl he just met that he had a prophetic dream of them dying together.
I mean who would believe that?
Mai: "Fine, keep your secrets."
Her eyes stayed on him like she was searching for an answer she can only find in his appearance. The two teenager were hushed for a long moment, Jay finishing up his plate while Mai was halfway done her second already.
Then out of the blue, Mai jumped out of her chair, her hands clamping upon the table edges as she leaned towards Jay.
Jay: "…"
Mai: "…"
Jay: "…"
Mai: "…"
Jay: "What? You gonna say something?"
Mai: "Uhhh"
Within a tangled dense forest of words, sbe was trying to find her way around while being as considerate and encouraging as she could. It was a way to reciprocate Jay's earlier kindness and sympathies when the topic of her personal life was brought up and she appreciated that.
Mai: "Just cause you're a little different, that doesn't mean you have to give up climbing to heaven."
Jay: "…"
She gave Jay a long, serious stare.
Mai: "You're telling me that you're just happy existing!? Doing the same thing every single day?! You don't want to see things!? Or meet people!? Or explore the realms?! You could be remembered like Bones, the legendary pathwalker who was the first to clear the fifth trial! Or maybe x the noble prince of Lunfey who's united his kingdom with one of the ancient x! Or even the Dream Reaper who's strength is feared across the realms if you want to be evil… or something! Well I hope not atleast. But in the end, the freedom to choose how you make your own impact in the realms, all while climbing the steps to heaven is why I ran away!!!"
Mai went on and on, her enthusiams infectious. Her ambience during her passionate monologue had an innocent sparkle, not one of obsession nor desperation.
Jay had never seen anyone who seemed so alive before, so consumed by the idea of ambition and dreaming.
It was a form of passion that Jay had never heard enunciated in such a way before. Something that he never really had in his life.
Truthfully, he thought it was little terrifying.
This foreign concept of ambition and dreaming that is.
Jay: "I don't know if I want to be remembered. Or to have a crazy impact."
Jay reluctantly confessed his reply, his voice quieter than what he wanted it to be, knowing that his answer was one she wouldn't like.
But she didn't show any disatification on her face. Instead she gave him a mindful look.
Mai: "Then what do you want, Jay?"
Jay opened his mouth instinctively to reply, but her question turned his thoughts into a tangled maze.
Every answer he reached seemed to lead somewhere else, until no words could find their way out.
The rest of the meal past in a haze, both of them returning to the quiet — other than Mai devouring her second plate. The crude and loud slurping unbefitting her appearance amused Jay though he made sure to not let it show at any cost.
Mai: "So… where am I sleeping?"
Jay: "The couch pulls out so you can crash there. Give me a sec, I can get you some blankets."
Mai's eyes followed his path to the closet where he rummaged through his dusty belongings for a blanket. Returning, her eyes stopped short as Jay began walking back towards her and not the couch, Mai's face lighting up in horror and humiliation like she forgot something drastically important.
Mai: "Hey wait!!! I can walk on my own now! You don't have to uhh… keep picking me up…"
She stumbled, shifting her weight between the balls of her feets as she got up. She took a few careful steps to prove her point before gradually waddling and wincing her way to the couch, plopping onto it with a dramatic aaah\~\~. Jay watched from afar, snickering at her resolve to not further embarrass herself.
She's like a fucking penguin, I can't believe it!
Mai: "Hey what are you smirking abo- Ew its kinda lumpy. What the flip do you do on this couch for it to get like this!?!?"
Jay: "pfft —Just deal with it."
Jay laughed out loud at her shenanigans while tugging out the harness, releasing the hidden mattress free, the springs complaining as it unfolded. As Mai spectated in curiosity, Jay chucks the blanket and spare pillow on top of the unsuspecting girl who tumbles backwards.
Jay: "Bathroom's down the hall if you need it. And don't be loud, I like my sleep alright?"
Mai grabs the pillow, cocking it back to retaliate. Jay lowers his guard, turning his back to her as he makes his way to his room, but before she can unleash her assault, another jab of pain hits her and she reluctantly ceases her ambush.
Mai: "ah\~!"
Jay snaps his head back to her groan, briefly seeing Mai retreating her pillow from what seemed like a catapault position to him. Seeing her cover her guilty face, he couldn't keep a smirk from accidently slipping out.
Jay: "You say someth—"
Mai: "Nope."
As he straightened, he had the brief, almost absurd thought that it was a good thing he’d kept a spare bedding set around. He’d never really had anyone over before, so his dad's strange advice of always being prepared for guests actually paid off for once.
Mai began rolling around the couch, testing its comfort like a ecstatic child jumping onto a hotel bed while on vacation befores stopping abruptly, laying on her back like she had some sudden epiphany and sighed.
Mai: "This isn't what I imagined my first time sleeping at a guy's place will go…."
Jay: "Ugh, what are you talking about?"
He asked while simultaneously offended but curious.
Mai: "I meannn, usually there's like romantic tension. Or dimly lit candles. Rose petals scattered across the floor to the bed. Soft music with vocals of loveeeee. Not some lumpy couch."
She gave an annoyed pout, doing her best impression of :/ , trying to guilt Jay that it was somehow his fault.
Jay flicked her forehead, eager to get that bored look off her face.
Mai: "wah!"
She let out an unintentional yelp, rubbing the spot like it some real damage.
Jay shook his head, but as he reached for the light switch, he paused. The mellow hum of music from before filled the room, a little louder and apparent in the present somehow.
Guess I forgot tto turn it off after cooking…
Miguel's Girl With The Tattoo Enter.lewd was shuffled on again, the smooth, sultry beat filling the silence.
Mai’s head popped up from her pillow.
Mai: “What's this? Are you tryna make this romantic somehow, you single loser!?”
Fuck I forgot I was using the same playlist from earlier!
Jay: "Hey why are you flustered, it's just music."
Jay put on a poker face, trying to keep his cool while his face heated up realizing his position, his voice cracking slightly between the vowels.
Jay: "And who says I'm single huh?"
Jay says not taking the remark lightly, feigning that he could be in a loving relationship currently, knowing full well that he has gotten zero play his entire life.
Mai: "Cmon, your room literally screams virgin!"
She rolled around, overly twisting and turning around in her makeshift bed as her mocking laughter thwarted Jay's chances at refuting.
Jay: "Hey, fuck you."
He threw up a middle finger at the very deserving troublemaker.
Jay: "Also, how does a room even scream virign huh?"
Mai ticked points off on her fingers like they were obvious facts.
Mai: “One, you have anime figures on your desk. Lame. Two, there’s no evidence of a girl ever being here before me. That says a lot about you. And…. just look!” she gestured vaguely at the apartment like it was supposed to mean something.
As she pointed her hand, Jay saw an opening to retort, but Mai cut him off with a couple waves of her hand.
Mai: “It looks like… you’re blushinggg.”
Throwing up his hands in annoyance, Jay couldn't let this disrespect slide.
Jay: "Says the girl who’s never been over to a guy’s place. And hey, I coulddd kick your ass out right now.”
Mai: "Yeah, sure. Besides, I’m saving myself for my true love.”
She didn't buy his threat at all, which kind off pissed of Jay even further.
The music continued and she glanced around the room, eyes flicking briefly to the speakers. A beat, then her grin turned teasing.
Mai: “Though I didn’t think you like this stuff. Guess you’re not as boring as I thought\~”
Jay: “What, because I like nerdy stuff?”
Mai: "Because you’re you, I guess?”
Jay: "That's probably the worst insult you can give someone…"
Then her voice dipped, softer, almost hesitant. She looked away, fingers drumming the edge of the pillow.
Mai: "i mean, its cool that we like the same stuff…"
It wasn't loud enough for Jay to pick up but it was more like an off comment to comfort herself. There was something vulnerable in the admission, something she wasn’t sure she meant to let slip, especially to a stranger.
Jay: "Huh, what'd you say?"
Mai: "Nothing\~"
Sounds like she's gonna be a pain in the ass…
Jay slapped the light switch off, plunging the apartment into darkness, save for the slivers of the streetlights filtering through the blinds.
He shut his bedroom door behind him, leaving a crack just in case Mai needed anything. The weight of the day pressed down on him as he collapsed onto his bed, the sheets were cool against his skin, the creases wrapped over him like a hug, and the familiar scent of his floral lavender detergent grounded him in a state of tranquility.
First time having a girl over…
He thought wryly, staring up at the ceiling.
and she fucked up some assassin on my doorstep.
He should’ve been terrified. That would've made much more logical sense. Should’ve been calling for help from the Path Order.
Instead, all he felt was a strange, fuzzy anticipation, like he was experiencing the first notes of a song he’d never heard before. The feeling that sometime far in the future, that song will grow to be one of his favourites and may also be the one that he'll hold closest to his heart.
Mai: "Jay?"
Her voice carried through the thin walls, soft and sleepy, interupting Jay's internal reflections.
Jay: “Yeah?”
Mai: “…"'
Jay: "…"
Mai: "Thanks for not asking too many questions. ”
Jay:: “Yeah, yeah. Night, Mai.”
Mai: “Night night\~”
Her giggle was the last thing he heard before sleep pulled him under.
Jay closed his eyes, the ghost of her laughter lingering in the air.
Shit….
Even though she's a pain, she’s still kind of cute.
Jay conciousness began waning as a familiar feeling enveloped his body.
Hopefully tonight's dream has a happy ending.