Recommended Music: This is what falling in love feels like - JVKE
Yoru spent the afternoon playing video games. He was about to finish a game that he had been putting off for months due to the intense Protocol routine when someone knocked the door.
- It's open. - He spoke loudly, without taking his eyes off the TV.
He heard whoever was at the door enter and close it, walking around his apartment.
- Sup? - He heard Jett's voice and his body became alert. He paused the game, turning to her. - A lot of work?
- Always... - He spoke quietly, watching her go to the kitchen. - What are you doing?
- Well... - From where he was, Yoru could no longer see Jett. He leaned forward, catching a glimpse of her. Jett wore a long, light blue windbreaker that almost completely covered her black running shorts. Yoru blinked, noticing that Jett's legs were toned. He parted his lips involuntarily. - I brought you something. It wasn't the dangos. An unexpected event occurred at the last minute and I have been reassigned. I ended up in Portugal.
Jett turned around and Yoru quickly looked away from her legs, back to her face. She walked over to him, placing a plate of dessert on his lap.
- Prove it. - She spoke excitedly, sitting next to him, crossing her legs.
Yoru raised his eyebrows, observing the dessert.
- Lemon pie?
- Yep. - She nodded, smiling proudly to herself. - It's a joke.
- We already know you're terrible at jokes, Jett. - He placed his palms together in front of his face, muttering a "itadakimasu" before tasting some.
- You didn't even hear my joke. - She made an indignant face. - "If life gives you lemons, make a lemon pie!"
Yoru savored the pleasantly sour pie as much as Jett's simple speech, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.
- This is not a joke. It's a saying. And you still said it wrong.
- I made a pun.
- My God. - Yoru let out a genuine laugh, taking another piece of the pie. - That's not even remotely a pun.
- Argh. - Jett rolled her eyes. - You're terrible. Give the pie back. - She tried to take the pie from him, but he quickly pushed her away. - Hey!
- No. It's mine! - He ate another piece, giving an amused smile.
- Give it back to me! - The Korean snorted and moved her hands, controlling the wind. She made the pie float under Yoru's head, out of his reach.
- Yoo. - Yoru made a sullen face. - Very mature of you Jett. Using your powers against someone disabled.
- Yes, of course. - She smiled, taking the plate and moving away from him, just enough so that he couldn't reach the pie. - You didn't say thank you for the pie.
Yoru made a disdainful face at her.
- Thanks.
- Too dry.
- But it was a thank you. - His expression changed to indignation and he tried to reach the pie. Jett giggled, turning away from him. - Jett!!
- I would like more emotion and a "please." - She took a piece of the pie, eating it in a theatrical way. - Oh my God, this is great! I should...
- Yeah, yeah! - Yoru cut her off, snorting. - Oh great lady of puns Sun-woo, thank you very much for that delicious lemon pie that added sugar to the sour disgust that is my life. Now could you, out of the kindness I know you have, give it back to me? - He raised his eyebrows when he finished speaking, extending his hand. - Good?
- A bit of sarcasm, but it's worth it. - She smiled amusedly, giving him the pie back.
Yoru mumbled something in Japanese, sullenly, as he went back to eating the pie. Despite his expression showing irritation, he was... Happy. Jett could bring out Yoru's funniest side with ease. This was big news for him, as he was a chronic frowner.
- I'm glad you liked it. - She commented, looking around the apartment. She noticed an unwrapped package with a pair of boots on it. Jett whistled. - Wow, your order was Timberlands?
The smile that played on Yoru's lips disappeared. He looked at the boots for a moment and exhaled, turning back to the pie.
- Uhm. - He took a piece of the pie, eating it.
Jett noticed Yoru's change in mood and watched him. She parted her lips in an "ah" remembering that the agents had planned to go on a trail around Protocol Island on the weekend. Yoru should have bought new boots for that.
- Hey... - She caught his attention gently, smiling sideways. - You'll be fine... Soon you'll be able to wear your new boots. - Yoru nodded slowly, without looking at her. The Korean bit her lip, shaking her head. - We can postpone the trail and...
- No.
Jett blinked, frowning at the harshness in Yoru's voice. Until he sighed. His shoulders slumped and he squeezed his eyes shut with one hand.
Since the age of 15, Yoru had decided that he would be independent. This included making his own money and sorting out his own messes. Sometimes he felt melancholy about being a lone wolf. However, Yoru liked not to be a burden to anyone.
That's why that broken bone was his nightmare expressed in reality. He no longer wanted to be so dependent on others. He didn't want them to change their plans or do things for him because he needed to. Damn, Yoru was capable of bending dimensions and now depended on someone to bring her a mere dessert.
- Sorry...
- No... Too... - Yoru spoke first, softening his voice. He turned to Jett, biting the inside of his cheek. - Please don't do all that... - The Korean woman questioned him with her eyes and he shook his head. - I appreciate it... - Yoru swallowed, looking away so as not to see the surprise in Jett's expression at him saying that. - For everything you've done but... Seriously. I can manage it. What happened was an accident. You don't need to help me with everything.
- But I want to help you.
The impulsive speech left Jett's lips and floated through the air. Yoru opened his lips, surprised by her readiness to say that. For a moment, he saw Jett differently. As if the lighting in the room was completely focused on her and his eyes could see her differently. Whatever it was made her more than she had ever been to him. More interesting, more beautiful, more intelligent, more passionate, more, more, more...
"But I want to help you." A simple sentence, but so impactful. Capable of becoming engraved in the heart of the Japanese.
Yoru's heart was warmed in a way he didn't know it could be warmed by what she said. He just wanted to look at Jett. Enjoy her. Delight himself in her company.
All he wanted moments ago was for his problem, his lemon, to magically become his lemonade.
But... Apparently, he had found something better. A lemon pie to be exact.
Upon realizing what she had said, Jett blushed. She stuttered before she could speak.
- I mean... ahw... We want to help you.
Yoru nodded. Slowly and cautiously, without looking away from her. That feeling that was born inside him was difficult to identify. Joy, gratitude, affection... Whatever it was, it was good...
- You are part of our team. We need you well. Oh yeah, Sage or Skye should be arriving...
By heavens, she looked beautiful when she was nervous. Why on earth had Yoru never appreciated this before?
- You know what? It's not like you want my help anyway. I'll be on my way.
That made Yoru come to his senses. He blinked, straightening his posture as Jett stood up.
- Jett, you don't need that. I thanked you, didn't I? - Jett shook her head, turning around the couch. Damn, that should have sounded rude. - Hey, Jett! - He reached for her arm. Unlike the previous day, electricity passed through Yoru's skin. Suddenly he was much more aware of Jett's body than before. The Japanese looked at her, moistening his lips. - Thanks. Really. - He spoke sincerely. He hoped that the look the other had sent him meant that he wasn't in as much trouble as he thought. - I just... - Yoru softened his voice, moving his hand down to her wrist. - I'm not used to it when... Someone do this for me.
The Korean agent's face caught on fire with that line. She was silently grateful that he looked away, just as embarrassed as she was. Jett looked at his hand and took it gingerly, sighing. Yoru stiffened, feeling her hand next to his. They had never done this before. It seemed like the fit was a good one.
- It’s okay... - She mumbled and let go of his hand, scratching her hair. - But I have some things to do and...
- Don't you want to see a movie? - Yoru spoke quickly, desperate to regain his characteristic confidence. Jett blinked her eyes and shook her head, considering the proposal. Her seconds of silence only made him more nervous. Yoru tried to smile, looking at her. - I promise not to complain about the popcorn you're going to make.
The Korean raised an eyebrow, smiling amusedly. Jett's softened features relaxed Yoru. Jett looked different in his eyes but... After all, it was Jett.
- But I didn't even say I was going to bring popcorn.
- I know you will. - Yoru shrugged. He rested his hands on the back of the sofa, in an unassuming pose. - See you later?
The Korean narrowed her eyes, thinking about joining in on the game. She smirked, crossing her arms.
- As I said... I have a lot to do... - Yoru raised her eyebrows, looking at her as if he didn't believe in the slightest that she would deny his request. - But... I can come by later...
- Well... - Yoru spoke slowly. He relished the idea of seeing a movie with Jett. Something that had always been so common but now... It seemed like something much more important.
Jett smiled, nodding. She opened her mouth as if she were going to say something more but bit her lower lip. Yoru's eyes focused on her mouth. Okay, he could do much more interesting things than watch a movie with her.
- See ya... - She spoke quietly, sending him one last smile before leaving the apartment.
The Japanese agent stared at the door for a while, resting his head on the back of the sofa. As if he could still see Jett's silhouette and didn't want to let her out of his sight.
He felt his cell phone vibrate. He picked up the device, reading the message someone had sent him.
*Sage*
"Ah Yoru! I'm sorry"
"I just listened to your audio"
"I will return as soon as possible"
Yoru raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't expected that his humiliating emotional blackmail to Sage would have worked. The Japanese looked at his cast, feeling victorious about the possibility of getting rid of it.
He was about to type a desperate request for Sage to hurry up, until Jett opened the apartment door, only poking her head inside.
- Hey. - She called him and he turned to her, looking at her carefully. - Will you need something else...?
The Japanese smiled, shaking his head.
- Okay... Are you sure?
He raised one of his eyebrows, giving a mischievous smile.
- Well... I'm going to take a shower in a bit... If you want...
- I'll be here again in a couple of hours. - She cut him off, slamming the door before he could say more.
Yoru gave an amused laugh, shaking his head. He looked at the cast once more, admiring Jett’s drawings. For a brief moment, which lasted almost nothing, he felt a little happy that this unfortunate incident had earned him all of Jett's attention. And something else that he couldn't quite explain. But he was certainly as eager to find out as he was to spend more time with the Korean girl.
The Japanese agent turned to his cell phone, responding to Sage's message.
When Jett said that Yoru was unbearable, she didn't imagine that he was worse than she thought. She had never met anyone who complained so much about someone else doing the dishes. Which characterized him as unbearable and strange.
As Jett insisted that he should rest as much as possible, Yoru only complained loudly about her washing the dishes. When she finished, she helped him get up and go to the Protocol common room. Yoru was mute and frowning the entire way, while Jett complained about how terrible he was.
The Protocol common room was on the first floor of the apartment building. It was a large space, conveniently close to the coffee shop and game room. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave a view of the garden, which seemed to enter the space due to the various species of plants scattered in pots throughout the space. The place had groups of sofas and armchairs for agents to talk. One of the groups of sofas was occupied by Chamber, Deadlock, Iso and Breach, who were chatting while drinking coffee. At the opposite end were Phoenix, Clove and Gekko, who had already started the RPG.
- I thought you guys would never come down. - Clove commented when they approached.
- Let them enjoy themselves. - Phoenix made a dismissive gesture, pointing to an empty place on the sofa. - Jett told no one to sit there. It's your place.
Yoru looked at Jett from the corner of her eyes and clicked his tongue. However, the place she had marked for him was comfortable and he could rest the cast on the coffee table. He sat down on the couch, letting out a groan from the effort. Jett tried to get a pillow to put under his foot but he stopped her.
- I'll do it. - He grumbled, taking a cushion and arranging it on the coffee table, then putting his foot on it.
Jett rolled her eyes, sitting down in an armchair.
- What did we lose?
- I'm trapped in a trap because someone activated a device they shouldn't have trying to open a chest. - Phoenix narrowed his eyes at Gekko, while taking some candy to eat.
- A slime ate me. - Gekko sighed sadly. - I have three rounds until its acid corrodes me.
- By God Gekko, were you eaten by a slime? - Yoru raised an eyebrow, giving an ironic smile. - How ridiculous.
- Oh come on. I was distracted!
- You could have just given up trying to open that chest. - Clove sighed and then looked at Jett and Yoru. - I'm glad you arrived. You will use the character sheet from last time.
- Whatever. - Yoru shook his head, leaning back on the sofa. - I'm going to have to save you all anyway.
The others complained about Yoru's comment. But, he wasn't completely wrong as he managed to save his friends and even steal the treasure that Gekko was looking for. The role-playing session was full of exciting moments, laughter and some discussions. Nothing out of the ordinary.
However, after a while, Jett became bored. She watched Yoru and Phoenix trying to solve a riddle and looked at his cast. It was something boring, not to say ugly. Jett knew how vain Yoru was and it was ruining his style. The Korean agent nodded and walked over to him, sitting on her heels next to him.
- Can I draw on your plaster?
- Ahw? - Yoru turned to her, furrowing his eyebrows. - What? Why?
- Because this thing is ugly. - She gestured to the plaster, making a disdainful face. - And I want to improve that.
Yoru looked from her to the cast. Again, he didn't want to make Jett right, but unfortunately, she was right.
- What are you going to draw? - He spoke suspiciously, to which Jett responded with a naughty smile.
- You'll have to trust me to know.
Yoru wasn't used to trusting people, especially when it was about his appearance. He looked at his leg and pondered how difficult it would be to customize the cast himself. He remembered how uncomfortable it was to move that thing and he thought he wouldn't be able to have the same flexibility as before. He wouldn’t be able to do it by himself.
Phoenix, who followed their conversation, decided to support his friend.
- Jett makes some really cool graffiti, man. - Phoenix winked at Jett, turning to Yoru. - Let her do it.
- Oh, I want do it too! - Gekko said, already looking excitedly at the plaster.
- No. - Yoru soon cut Gekko off and then looked at Jett, who was still watching him, waiting for his answer. He had already seen some of the graffiti that Jett and Raze had spread around the base and, he had to admit, they were incredible. It wouldn't hurt to have an original "Jett" on his leg... The Japanese agent exhaled slowly and nodded, resisting the natural instinct to deny everything from everyone. - You can do it...
Jett let out an excited scream and left for her room, going to get the pens to draw. Phoenix gave a satisfied smile, snapping his fingers at Yoru.
- We still have to figure out what the hell this crazy one wants us to say. - He pointed at Clove, shaking his head. - I'm smart but not Sherlock Holmes to figure out every riddle you tell me.
Clove raised their hands, as if to say they weren't to blame for anything. Yoru rolled his eyes with a smirk and conjectured again with Phoenix about the trouble that Clove got them into. Jett soon returned and began drawing on Yoru's cast.
The Japanese stood still and did not interfere while she drew. He felt a little uncomfortable that she was drawing on his leg and he was still suspicious of what Jett was going to do. But just for a moment, he let himself be at Jett's mercy.
...
To Yoru's surprise, Jett actually made some cool drawings on the plaster. cTheomposition was based on making Yoru's mask in detail surrounded by clouds in an oriental style. Yoru loved how she worked the blue tones. He only grimaced when she showed him that, on the sole of his foot, she had signed her name. Gekko joked that he was the Woody to her Andy. Secretly, Yoru had even enjoyed the joke a little.
- Agents. - Brimstone called, entering the common room. - Prepare yourselves for your missions. We left in an hour. - The commander looked with a little pity at Yoru, which irritated him deeply. - Rest Yoru. We need you to recover soon.
Okay. That made Yoru very angry.
He pulled Jett away from him, picking up his crutches.
- I'm going up. - Trying to demonstrate minimum effort and maximum ease, the Japanese stood up. Jett accompanied him.
- I'm going to Japan. - She commented unpretentiously. - How about if I bring you some dangos from Crown Café?
Yoru let his excitement show briefly. He loved the dangos at Crown Café Japan, and for him, there was never enough of it. But he remembered that accepting this meant he would be more indebted to Jett than he already was. He hesitated to accept the offer, thinking he was more dependent on her than he had ever been.
Just as he was about to give an answer, his cell phone vibrated. He picked up the device and read the message received, clicking his tongue.
- Kuso... - Once again, he aimed at his leg angrily. He let his shoulders slump and looked at Phoenix, exhaling slowly. - Can you help me?
- Ummm? - Phoenix raised an eyebrow, finding the request strange. Especially who it came from.
- What do you need? - Jett spoke gently, tilting her head to the side. - Phoenix does whatever you ask.
- I do? - The British agent turned to Jett, with a mixture of spite and surprise.
- You do. - Phoenix was going to argue, but Jett narrowed her eyes at him in a much more threatening way than someone her height could normally have. The Brit sighed.
- Tell me...
Yoru hesitated again to speak. Indirectly, he would still owe Jett. It was a damn dead end.
- An order arrived for me. - He murmured, lowering his head. - You know that delivery people are not allowed to go up.
Phoenix grimaced.
- If it's something bigger than me, I'm out.
- Are you that weak, Phoenix? - Jett teased, crossing her arms.
- Oh, my spine is killing me. - Phoenix whined, imitating Brimstone's voice. He turned to Yoru. - Let's go.
Yoru's ears were red and he refused to look anyone in the eye. What a damn irritating discomfort that broken leg was. He wouldn't have had to go through this humiliation if it weren't for that stupid accident.
Yoru started walking with crutches, passing Jett right away.
- You don't need to bring me the dangos... - He spoke quietly, walking with Phoenix to the entrance of the base.
Jett frowned but didn't protest, watching the two friends walk away.
Phoenix shook his head in disappointment, hearing Yoru's grumble, but didn't comment anything. He accompanied him to the entrance of the base, waiting for him to sign for the order with the delivery drone. He picked up the medium-sized box, analyzing it.
- Brimstone is still going to kill us for compromising the location of the base like that.
- Iie... - Yoru grumbled, walking with Phoenix to the elevators, entering one that was already open and pressing on his floor. - He likes burger deliveries too much to complain.
- Americans and their addiction to hamburgers... - Phoenix clicked his tongue in spite.
Yoru gave a sideways smile.
- Says the winner of the protocol's burger eating competition.
- Of course, I'm the best at everything.
- For six consecutive months.
- Look, bro, I have a fast metabolism even for a radiant, okay? - He got out of the elevator with Yoru, smiling at his smile.
- Okay Okay! I just don't understand why eat like there's no tomorrow if you're immortal.
- Immortality is still a life and it needs to be lived.
- And do you live yours by eating? - Yoru looked at Phoenix from the corner of his eyes, raising an eyebrow as he opened the door to the apartment.
- Exactly. - Phoenix smiled, entering with Yoru, leaving the package on the sofa.
Yoru rolled his eyes with a smirk, leaning against the wall of the apartment. His smile faded when he realized the fatigue that had taken over his body from walking so much with the heavy cast. The Japanese agent punched his thigh a few times, partly trying to alleviate the pain and partly taking out his frustration on himself. Phoenix noticed his friend's attitude and, in that measly second that Yoru saw pity in Phoenix's eyes, he felt angry again. Not from the other, but, again, from his current physical condition.
- Thanks for bringing it here. - This time, Yoru tried hard not to sour his tone, crossing his arms. - Get out of here before the old man comes after you with a sledgehammer.
- Ouch. If you wanted me away from here, just say it bro. - Phoenix spoke dramatically, receiving a punch on the arm from Yoru when he approached him. The Brit gave a sideways smile, letting out a sigh. - You know, back to the subject of food... You should have accepted Jett's dangos.
Yoru furrowed his eyebrows, looking at Phoenix with a "why are you butting into my business?" look. Phoenix clicked his tongue.
- My God, you are stupid. Jett has done a lot for you. You should accept her help instead of resisting so much.
Yoru moved uncomfortably, both due to the discomfort of the cast and to the other's speech. He thought a little about the last 24 hours and how Jett had been an important support for him. More than he would like to admit. If she was trying to compensate by having broken his leg, she was doing a great job.
- She feels guilty about what happened. That's why she’s doing it. - Yoru let his voice sour this time, limping towards his sofa.
- Yo. - Phoenix smiled, shaking his head. "He's really stupid." He thought. - When a girl breaks me and makes lunch for me, I can already consider myself a lucky man. - Phoenix walked to the door but stopped, thinking about the perfect grand finale for that conversation. He looked at Yoru thought his shoulder, who had already sat on the sofa and rested his leg on the coffee table, on a cushion. - Your pride will make you lose the girl. - The British man spoke with amusement, observing the other.
Yoru took a deep breath, taking the TV control and turning it on.
- Close the door when you leave. - He spoke sharply, hoping that the other wouldn't notice how red his ears were, indicating that Phoenix's grand finale had really been a great catchphrase.
Recommended Music: Carinhoso - Marisa Monte (feat. Paulinho da Viola)
As usual, Yoru was having another nightmare. And this time it involved a lot of broken bones. Just as his torturer approached to break his arm, Yoru woke up, scared. He sat on the bed with his knife in hand. He picked it up at night to try to relax, playing with the blade between his fingers until he fell asleep.
- Hey hey hey hey calm down there. - Gekko spoke several times, pale from the knife in his neck.
It took a while for the Japanese control his breathing and think. His eyes roamed over Gekko, Phoenix, Clove, and Jett. He exhaled, irritated.
- What are you doing here? - Yoru made mention to bring the knife closer to Gekko. Wisely, the youngest took a step back, moving away.
- Good morning sunshine. - Jett spoke with fun and irony, leaning on Phoenix.
- What are you doing here? - Yoru repeated slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Someone had opened the curtains in his room and the morning light bothered him deeply.
- Jett wanted to see you in your underwear. - Phoenix commented, to which he was elbowed by Jett.
- Shut up, idiot.
- Today is RPG day! - Clove said excitedly, sitting at the edge of Yoru's bed. - We thought about doing the session here with you. With breakfast too.
Yoru raised his eyebrows, surprised by the care they took to include him in the game even though he was partially incapacitated. And also because he found it very audacious of them to invade his apartment.
He felt... Strangely grateful.
- Get dressed. Wingman will bring the food.
And that's when the magic ended.
Yoru remembered that Gekko was unable to stay away from his radiant creatures, who were agents of chaos wherever they went. And Clove loved to spice up RPG sessions using the agents' powers. This included Jett's wind and Phoenix's fire.
The Japanese agent saw the scene before his eyes. His books flying off the shelves, his ceiling scorched, his carpet full of Mosh's goo and Wingman's footprints. He shivered just thinking about Dizzy's plasma on his walls.
- Thank you for the offer. - Yoru said, showing a slight smile. - But let's do it down there. I'll be down in a few minutes.
- Oh come on. - Gekko whined. - Jett already made the pancakes!
- Dude, you're not going to come between me and the pancakes. - Phoenix glared at Yoru.
- Take it downstairs.
- But...
- Now. - Yoru spoke incisively, looking at each of his friends.
Clove opened their mouth to object but Jett put a hand on their shoulder, shutting them up.
- I'll bring the pancakes. Let's go down guys. - Jett nodded to the others, smiling at Yoru as she left.
Only after Yoru heard the others leaving his apartment, he allowed himself to relax his muscles.
- Urusendayo... - He whined.
He scratched his eyes and, after staring at the plaster on his leg with mortal hatred for a considerable time, imagining his miraculous cure, he decided to take a shower.
Again, it was humiliating. He seriously considered calling Sage or Skye and begging in a shameful way for them to come back to the base to heal him.
The idea didn't seem so absurd. At least, compared to the prospect of spending a whole week stuck with that thing, it sounded less bad. While taking off the plastic protection to prevent the plaster from getting wet, Yoru looked at his cell phone. Skye was firm, perhaps she wouldn't accept ending her vacation early because of him. But Sage... She might be tough on the outside, but she was soft. She might come back if he used the right emotional blackmail.
Yoru wore a blue basketball shirt and black shorts. He walked with the crutches (he was also irritated because his arms were getting sore from the effort) to the kitchen. He filled a glass of water, leaning on the kitchen counter and staring at his cell phone screen, watching his latest messages with Sage. He bit his lip, took a long drink of water and turned on the audio message.
-Nihao Sage-sama. Eeeeto... Did I say it right? You know my mandarin is terrible. - Yoru closed his eyes tightly. At what point... At what point was he lowering himself? - Okay. I'll be direct. I have a broken leg. And this thing sucks. Could you please heal me? You know, come back a little earlier? I do whatever you want, I behave like a great duelist. - Yoru swallowed, looking at the plaster. - Kudasai Sage. I can't stand it.
He carried the pain in his voice in the last sentence and sent the audio. He hoped it was a good enough emotional blackmail. He stared at his cell phone screen, waiting for Sage to respond. Five torturous minutes passed without the message even being received. Yoru breathed out, defeated. He pondered about retreating into his self-pity, stuffing himself with sweets and rewatching his favorite episodes of Doctor Who. However, he knew that if he took any longer, the others would invade his apartment and that would be to stay.
He mumbled to himself as he headed for the door. He opened it abruptly.
- Ouh... - He stopped before he bumped into Jett, who was at the entrance, holding a plate with two pancakes and a glass of orange juice. She wore gray legging shorts and a light blue cropped jacket over her white running tank top. - I was about to go down.
- I know. - Jett rolled her eyes, walking past him. Her white Vans made noise as she advanced into the apartment. - "Thank you Jett, it's very kind of you to bring my breakfast." - She imitated Yoru's voice, placing the food on his coffee table.
- It’s unnecessary. - Yoru spoke with a little of impatience. - I said I was going to go down.
The Korean agent looked at Yoru with disdain and then looked at his shelf, observing his collection of action figures.
- I didn't know you collected action figures. How cool is this Jotaro.
Yoru let his shoulders slump. Okay, Jett's presence was less bothersome than the others. He could allow her to stay. And, remembering the bento from the day before, he concluded that it wasn't a good choice to refuse Jett's food.
- Don't touch anything. - He grumbled, closing the door and going to his sofa. He sat there, looking at the pancakes that came straight from some overproduced anime. Yoru licked his lips, realizing he was hungry. He placed his palms together in front of her face. - Itadakimasu. - He said, before attacking.
- You're welcome. - Jett said with a smirk, without looking away from the action figures. - This Zoro is wild.
Yoru looked at the statue of Zoro on his shelf, giving a sideways smile.
- I ordered this from an artist.
- Wow, rich boy.
- What's the point of saving the world every week if I can't spend my payment however I want? - Yoru shrugged while drinking the orange juice. Wow, even her orange juice was good.
Jett nodded, recalling the various purchases she made with the generous Valorant Protocol salary.
- My best purchase since joining Protocol was a collection of pokemon kitchen utensils. There's even a pokeball-shaped waffle maker.
Yoru's smile grew a little as he imagined Jett's entire kitchen decorated in a pokemon theme. He ate some more of the pancakes.
- Do you have a Bisharp knife?
- Ahw... No... - Jett spoke cautiously, receiving a look of disdain from Yoru.
- You don't know which one is Bisharp, nee?
- Noup. - Jett shrugged, sitting next to Yoru.
- Poser.
- I buy my knives in a specialized store. - Jett ignored Yoru's comment, resting her cheek in her hand.
When she mentioned the knives, Yoru became a little more excited about the conversation. He had been trying to get the origins of his famous kunais from Jett for some time, hoping for adding a similar model to his collection of bladed weapons.
- Oh really? What's the brand? - He tried to disguise his excitement with an uninterested tone of voice, while he drank the rest of his juice.
Jett raised an eyebrow, quickly realizing the other's intention.
- Buffaluz. They have some beautiful collectible knives. - The Korean woman's smile grew when she noticed the sparkle in Yoru's eyes. - But don't get excited, big boy. Only my kitchen knives are from this brand. I will never tell you where I got my kunais.
Yoru's bad mood, which for a few moments he forgot he had, returned.
- How irritating. - He spoke sourly, eating the pancakes. - Why don't you tell me where you bought them? - He spoke with his mouth full.
- You don't deserve it. - She commented, reveling in the other's frustration.
- What if I buy from you? - Yoru proposed after swallowing, speaking on impulse.
- Oh. My. God. - Jett spoke slowly, turning to Yoru. - I can't believe you said something like Chamber would say.
Yoru made such an indignant face that Jett couldn't help but laugh.
- Get out of my apartment. - He pointed to the door, without taking his withering gaze away from her. Now that was an offense. - Are you crazy for comparing me to that fancy waiter?
Jett controlled her laughter for a moment to answer him.
- It's not my fault if you were infected by ChamB-19.
Yoru furrowed his eyebrows, confused.
- What is that?
- Aigoo... - Jett broke the smile, rolling her eyes. - You are so slow. Covid-19, ChamB-19. See? It's a pun.
Yoru blinked a few times, following Jett's reasoning until he understood the joke. He gave a tiny smile.
- Dude... That's terrible.
- It wasn't that bad.
- Yes, it was.
- You don't know humor. - She made a dismissive gesture with her hand, resting her chin on it.
- You don't know nothing. I'm still angry about comparing myself to that guy. - Yoru looked at his plate, sad that the pancakes were over.
- It was a valid comparison. You have more in common than you think. - Yoru looked like he was going to vomit and Jett raised an eyebrow. - I doubt you'll do that. My pancakes were amazing.
"They really were." Yoru thought. But he didn't want to make Jett's naturally inflated ego bigger, so he held back the compliment.
- I'm more stylish, smart and beautiful than him.
- Uhum... - Jett looked him up and down, giving an amused smile.
- Am I not? - Yoru raised an eyebrow, seriously thinking about letting his childish side speak louder and throwing one of his sofa cushions at Jett.
- Oh yes.
Yoru narrowed his eyes, trying to identify whether Jett was being ironic or not. Until he smirked, deciding to play with her words.
- So you think I'm stylish, smart and beautiful. Good to know. - Jett's jocular smile faded. - You are too. But hotter.
The provocation made her blush. He had never flirted directly with Jett before, like she and Phoenix did constantly. And, by the way she acted differently when he spoke, it indicated that flirting with him was different from flirting with Phoenix.
- You're ridiculous. - She shook her head, taking the plate and glass from his hands. She got up, heading to her kitchen.
- I prefer the term sincere. Hey. - Yoru held Jett's arm gently as she passed him.
She turned to him, her eyes showing a certain anxiety. For a second, Yoru realized what he had done. He had hit on Jett. And that was reckless, inappropriate, even ridiculous. After all, it was Jett there... It was Jett there and since when was Jett so attractive?
Yoru looked at her lips, noticing for the first time how full, pink and shiny they were, due to the care she took with them every day and that Yoru and Phoenix got tired of hearing. Yoru imagined they should be soft...
- What? - Jett spoke harshly. Harshness that hadn't reached her eyes.
Yoru blinked a few times, returning to reality. He scratched his throat, letting go of Jett's arm and turning forward.
- Leave the dishes in the sink. I wash it. And let's go soon. They will be annoyed if we take longer.
The Korean agent raised her eyebrows and clicked her tongue in disgust.
- You are unbearable.
- Thanks. I strive for this. - Yoru gave a smirked. But he wondered if there would be another opportunity to provoke Jett. Because he couldn't deny that it was much better than he thought.
There is a saying that goes like this: "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Yoru's broken bone was the most sour lemon that life had given him in recent times. And he wasn't the kind of person who receives a lemon and makes a lemonade. He was the kind of person who complained that lemons were sour and oranges were much better.
The incident that gave him his lemon occurred at the worst possible moment, in the dumbest way that Yoru had the displeasure of having suffered.
Some agents continued on missions while others went on vacation. Consequently, when some returned from vacation, others were still on vacation. Including the only two healers in the Protocol. This was something dangerous, considering the damage the agents constantly received. Brimstone decided that the agents would only go on reconnaissance and other lower-risk missions, for not inappropriately use the resurrection chambers.
And everything was fine. While Skye was surfing in Hawaii and Sage enjoyed her spiritual retreat in a spa in Nepal, the agents came back from their missions with few scratches. Nothing that a simple medicine for wounds couldn't solve.
Yoru's fateful incident happened a week before the girls returnal.
The duelists were playing of jumping from one side to other in the middle of Abyss, after a successful mission there. It was a pretty stupid game - Yoru was the first to comment about it - but no one had fallen.
After about three successful jumps, Yoru watched the others jump from one side to the other with their skills. Neon used her speed as a boost to get further. Raze exploded her bombs to reach the other side of the abyss. Phoenix pretended to be a human torch and tried to fly like Jett. And Jett obviously used her wind to show off.
Yoru observed Jett manipulate the wind. It was fast, strong and fluid. Yoru liked how light she was, contrasting with his dense darkness. He thought she could blow away everything that troubled him and leave a calm breeze in his heart.
It was a great irony that what Yoru appreciated most about Jett would be the cause of his accident.
He felt his cell phone vibrate and checked the message from Brimstone, telling him that they should return to the base. Yoru called the others to go and walked towards the stairs at the top of the abyss. Jett wanted to jump one last time to the low side of the abyss and used her wind, propelling herself upwards.
However, neither Jett nor Yoru expected her wind to be stronger than usual, reaching where the Japanese was. And he was basically thrown down the floor.
It wasn't such a different height from when they were jumping from one side to the other in the abyss. But not being prepared to fall made a big difference when landing. The sound of Yoru's foot bone breaking echoed in the abyss, as his scream of pain. Even though he wanted to disguise his pain and limp to the jet alone, he had to accept, with groans and grumbles, Phoenix and Raze's help.
Jett sat across from him on the jet. Yoru thought she would make fun of him for being injured in such a ridiculous way, like Neon was doing. Jett laughed at the Filipino agent's provocations but didn't agree with them. She watched Yoru as if she were alert. With every movement he made to get more comfortable, Jett leaned towards him, as if she could catch him if he fell again.
Yoru found this quite irritating. So much so that he avoided Jett's gaze the entire way to the base. And he only accepted Phoenix's help to go to the Protocol infirmary. He thought that Jett mumbled a “sorry” for him, but he wasn't sure. Anyway, it was an accident and he was more bothered about what was coming next.
Nobody liked being treated by Protocol doctors. They were very arrogant. And it was common knowledge that they thought the ways agents hurt themselves were stupid. Unlike Skye and Sage, who were in the field and understood how incidents occurred. Whenever he ends up being attended to by those people, Yoru intensely wishes that a meteor would fall on their heads.
Only this time, they were right in thinking that a bone broken in a stupid accident wasn't worth the cost of putting Yoru in a resurrection chamber to be restored. The Japanese agent was unhappy to have his foot in a cast.
Despite giving him a pair of crutches, doctors warned that he should rest.
These words made Yoru shiver to the core.
Anyway, that's how Yoru found himself outside the infirmary, trying to walk with crutches alone, as the nurses wouldn't help him. And having to deal with one of the worst lemons that life had given him.
He was feeling pretty sour. More than normal. And not in the mood for making lemonade.
- Wassup bruv? - Phoenix stood up as soon as he saw him, looking at him with concern. Jett and Sova were also with him.
- What are you doing here? - Yoru wrinkled his nose at them, looking at each one.
- Caham - Jett scratched her throat and imitated Yoru's voice. - "Thank you so much friends for coming to see me. You are so nice!"
- How kind of you. - Phoenix placed his hand on his chest, as if he was emotional.
Yoru rolled his eyes, leaning back and forth, but without moving in place. Sova raised an eyebrow.
- Do you want to...
- No.
- Ok. - The Russian agent crossed his arms. - Walk on then.
- I don't want to.
- He's a big tantrum child. - Jett shook her head. - Stop being proud. I got two strong men to carry you. - She crossed her arms with Sova and Phoenix, giving an amused smile.
Yoru looked at Jett with disdain and then looked away, his ears turning red.
- I can help myself. - He mumbled.
Sova gave a comprehensive smile, taking a step forward. He knew the Japanese well enough to know he would never admit he needed help.
- I already broke my foot too. I help you to learn how to walk with crutches.
- I'll be your moral support! - Phoenix smiled excitedly.
- Or, if you want, we can get you a wheelchair. It's really fun to ride them. - Jett suggested.
Yoru considered the possibilities for a moment until he leaned against the wall, handing the crutches to Sova.
- Show me.
Sova took the crutches and patiently explained how to walk. It took almost an hour for Yoru to finally walk without being afraid of falling. Phoenix and Jett celebrated like it was the biggest achievement of the century, leaving Yoru more embarrassed than he already was. When he was able to walk, he muttered a “thank you” to Sova and set off for his apartment, his ears red as tomatoes. When he got there, he silently prayed for Skye and Sage return soon.
He realized he was hungry and decided to heat up one of the cup noodles from his stock. He went to the kitchen and, arriving there, he saw a bento that wasn’t his on the table. Yoru took the post it stuck to the bento, reading it.
"1 minute in the microwave with lid =) "
The handwriting looked like Jett's. Yoru bit his lip, considering whether he should refuse the bento or not. His stomach growled and he gave up thinking, putting the pot in the microwave.
As soon as the preparation was finished and Yoru opened the lid of the bento, a delicious smell invaded the apartment. Jett had made tuna onigiris with kimchi and pickled eggs. Yoru sighed with pleasure with each bite, enjoying the delicious food. Damn, he should make more use of Jett's culinary skills.
When he finished eating, Yoru washed his dishes and went to the bathroom. Once again, that damn broken bone was a big hindrance in his life, as it took him a long time to create some barrier between the plaster and the water so that it wouldn't get ruined. Yoru's mood, which was already bad, became terrible when he realized that the injury was between him and his beloved bath. It was a living nightmare.
He tried to be positive as he managed to finish his shower and put on his underwear to sleep. However, all his positivity went out with the discomfort of trying to find a comfortable position using the cast.
Definitely, he wasn’t the type of person who makes lemonades.
