'Thoughts'
"Talking"
[ System Prompt ]
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The moon hung high over a warehouse near the docks. Crates of Dust sat untouched outside, while inside, the clash of steel echoed. White Fang members littered the floor, groaning. Roman Torchwick stood at the center, fear tightening his grip on his cane.
From the darkness a voice rang out, devoid of any emotion.
"Pick a number from 1 to 6."
Gunfire erupted toward the voice, dust bullets tearing through shadows. Dust and smoke picked up, the volley unending, after a few moments multiple clicks came from Roman's cane.
A dice fell from the ceiling. Roman flinched, as it rolled on the ground, before stopping.
"You rolled a 3. Unlucky."
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, BRAT?!"
"Right beside you."
A blade hissed. A body thudded.
---
Six hours earlier...
The shed door creaked open. Yang balanced a tray of pancakes and bacon, syrup glinting in the dawn light. "Mornin'! Oh, you're awake already."
Altair adjusted his blindfold. "Good morning."
"Hungry?" She set the tray on his lap.
He clasped his hands. "For blessings received, we give thanks—"
"What's with the prayer?"
"Habit." He offered her a bite, syrup dripping. "First taste is yours."
Yang blushed. "Smooth, real smooth"
The couple lingered in the shed, sharing breakfast and chatting about yesterday's chaos—the bike race, the brawl, Yang's teasing. Their conversation halted as Ruby stumbled in, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Hey sis, hey Altair."
"Greetings, Ruby." Altair offered Yang another bite of pancake, his smile serene.
"Hey sis," Yang mumbled around a mouthful of food.
Ruby wrinkled her nose, fake-gagging. "Ugh, get a room, you two!"
"You barged into our shed," Yang countered, syrup dripping down her chin.
"I must side with Yang on this," Altair added, calmly slicing another pancake.
"Now you're ganging up on me?" Ruby huffed, retreating. "Whatever. Dad's looking for you, Yang."
"Be right there," Yang called after her, then turned to Altair. "Let's job-hunt later. I'll sneak back once Dad's gone."
"Agreed. Farewell for now."
"Bye."
The shed door clicked shut, leaving Altair alone with the Swear Jar's faint hum. Awkward silence never stood a chance against those two.
"I forgot to tell her I don't need a job anymore"
---
VRRRRRRMMM!!
[Panthera]'s engine roared through the streets, its metallic body slicing through the city roads. Sunlight gleamed off its dark frame as Altair and Yang rode together, both wearing matching yellow helmets. Yang clung to his waist, her hair whipping wildly in the wind.
Older pedestrians smiled fondly at the pair, while others shot irritated glances at the noise.
"NOW THIS FEELS LIKE A PROPER FIRST DATE!" Yang shouted over the engine's growl.
"WHAT?!" Altair yelled back.
"FIRST! DATE!"
They blurred past storefronts and corners, luckily avoiding police attention. Yang suddenly tapped Altair's shoulder, pointing to a cozy little café. [Panthera] slowed to a stop outside "Cafè Serenità."
Inside, the cashier greeted them warmly. "Good morning! What can I get you?"
"We're here about the job opening," Yang said, leaning on the counter.
Altair added, "I have experience as a barista and waiter."
The cashier winced. "Sorry, the spot was filled yesterday. The boss hired her niece so it was immediately filled"
"I see. Thank you for your time then, have a good day"
Disappointed, they left. Yang suggested checking her usual bike shop next, but it also had no openings. They tried Crow Bar, Tukson's Book Trade, and Just Rite—all dead ends.
Exhausted, they slumped into a restaurant booth. Yang scowled, irritated. Altair calmly ruffled her hair.
The two sat by the window, waiting for their orders.
"Why's every place full?!" she groaned, face in her hands.
Altair chuckled. "Calm down we've barely started." He gestures to her scroll.
She let out a sigh.
"What good will my scroll do?" She said defeated.
"We can always search for openings online you know"
Yang froze. Quickly realizing what he just said. She pulled out her scroll, searched for job listings in vale, and pressed the first website she saw.
"This–"
She glared at him with irritation and annoyance. "You knew we could search listings online?!"
"Yes. I Wanted to tell you, but you were... focused." He pinched her cheek.
"You're...dead." She pouted, turning away to face the window
"How about we check listings now… then have a date after?"
"Bribes won't work."
"A hug?"
"Two minutes."
"Thirty seconds."
"Fine. Forty-five seconds… and a kiss."
"Deal."
"Later in the shed"
"Fine"
-----
Altair stepped out of the employee entrance, adjusting his sleeves as the shop's doorbell jingled behind him. Yang perked up from her slouch against Panthera, arms still crossed.
"Well? Do I need to burn the place down for not hiring you?"
"No arson necessary," he said, holding up a crumpled work schedule. "I start tomorrow."
Yang snorted. "Dust shop? Bold choice. You do know those blow up twice a week in this city, right?"
"Job perks include hazard pay," he replied, sliding onto the bike. "And discounts."
"Discounts on what? Funeral plans?"
The shop's owner leaned out the window, bald head gleaming under the sunset. "Stop loitering! And you—" he jabbed a finger at Altair, "—8 a.m. sharp! No helmet indoors!"
Yang revved Panthera's engine in response, drowning him out. "You're buying dinner with your first paycheck," she called over her shoulder as they peeled away.
Altair's chuckle blurred into the wind. "Deal."
Behind them, the shop's Dust crystals glowed faintly in the display window—pulsing, unnoticed, in time with the distant hum of a Bullhead soaring toward the docks.
"So have you collected everything necessary for the plan?" A lady in an elegant red dress leaned in a couch. Legs crossed, and eyes focused on Roman, who was noticably nervous, as he looked over the map of Vale, with spots circled in red markers.
"Give me some time will you? We just started this little partnership of ours" Roman said looking at the Lady "Plus I lack some manpower, so things will move a little more slowly than even I would like it to be"
"Lacking in manpower. That can be arranged. For now do what you can. I'm sure that you'll be able to that just fine"
The lady stood up, walking away into the darkness.
"Yes yes, I'll do just amazingly" Roman'e voice dripping in mock enthusiasm as he mutters "Hahh—truly a pain in every conceivable way".
He took out his scroll, dialing in a number, before putting it near his ear.
"Is it happening?...Oh don't worry, when have I ever cheated you on anything? Trust your good ol' pal here now. Yes. Wonderful I'll meet them at the usual spot. Huh, no I don't think trainees hit like a truck. Farewell then"
Sigh—
"What a long long day this is turning out to be"
Tap!
"HUH!! OH, Neo. I swear you have to stop doing that, it's too much for my heart"
' Yeah Yeah 👍'
"Truly, what a long day"
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A/N: THE FRICKING RAINNNNNNNN. I lack motivation and am sleepy af see you guys later.