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A hand grabbed my shoulder as I walked out the door of the Maia Planetary forces headquarters, and I froze until that person let go and started to actually talk to me instead of grabbing strangers.
“Sorry! Ah, Kelsey, right?”
I turned around; of course it had to be Ale. I wouldn’t say the guy gave me completely bad vibes—just something pathetic, desperate, and maybe a little too fucking weird for my liking. Fine coworker, but not someone I’d go out of my way to call a friend unless he begged for it. Yet there he followed, wanting to talk to me, and I couldn’t just run unless I wanted to piss him off or get a creepy stalker on my ass.
“Yep,” I said and tried to hold back a bitchy tone. “That’s my name. Thanks for remembering it.”
“Uh, I didn’t mean it like—nevermind, I just…” He trailed off, one hand moving to fiddle with the faux-fur on his jacket collar, “Charya left already, so I didn’t get a chance to tell her, buh, but I’m sorry. For not being of much help earlier and all.”
I couldn’t help it, I groaned, and I could see him flinch like I slapped him. He opened his mouth to say more, but I intercepted him.
“Zip it,” I snapped. Thankfully he had the common sense to. “I don’t need an apology. I don’t care, we lived. Y’know what does annoy me? That you’re gonna get yourself killed tonight. You do realize this job requires combat expertise for a reason, right? We literally had to sign waivers.”
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“I…er…” He looked to the side. “I thought it’d be desk work. A lot of front jobs require that, and I did learn some magic in school? I’m not nearly as good as you are with your Axel magic, but…”
While he rambled and mumbled, I began to walk away. He hesitated for a moment before walking alongside me, for some gods damned reason. “Okay,” I started again, “But when they’re looking for Planetary Forces members, it’s always the deadly stuff. Doesn’t matter what stupid terms and titles they attach to it, they’re looking for people desperate enough to put their lives on the line for a living. If you’re not cut out for it, you can quit now before it’s too late. I’ll even see if I have a friend who can room you for a while if that’s an issue. Just. If I have to drag your guts, you’re dead to me.”
“You’d do that?” he said. He looked surprised, then stopped. “No, I don’t deserve it—I mean, it’s a kind offer, a shooting star traveling through my dull night to give me hope, but that’s not the problem.”
I couldn’t help but find dull amusement in how badly this guy reeked of insecurity. He folded in on himself like a shy kid hiding behind his parents, he stared so intently at the ground he tripped over bumps on the sidewalk, and he winced and covered his ears as people honked the horns of their cars. He continued to look unnerved as we crossed the street and transitioned into the busy commercial strip away from headquarters.
The smell of freshly cooked meat from the restaurants around us made me think of what food I wanted to grab with my first paycheck. Weekly payments? Best thing ever. Pressuring a god with no concept of money into paying us more? Somehow even better.
“What’s the big deal then?” I said. He flinched again, and my eye twitched from the annoyance probably scribbled on my face. “That’s just what I sound like. Don’t act all scared.”
“Sorry,” he said again, “It’s a personal matter. I can stop bothering you if you would like.”
“You’re not—“ I began, but he quickened his pace and all but ran down the sidewalk before I could finish. He slammed full force into a young woman, and this time I couldn’t stop laughing as he apologized to her ten times straight before continuing his escape…
Only to run into someone else—Yeah, the walk home today was gonna be a long one.