Niche

WHEN NICHE AND HER SIBLINGS entered the penthouse, Sora offered each of them a glass of milk.

Seriously? Milk?

"You guys can stay here until your departure tomorrow. You can eat as much as you want. I also got extra clothes, you can choose from them." Sora said as she laid down her couch.

"How about weapons?" Niche asked and sat to the chair next to the couch.

"You'll get them later. You need to rest first." she paused. "Although I'd love to talk to Arrow."

Nica and her two twin brothers just nodded, the latter entered the room Sora pointed. All four of them were sharing a room, no contest. At least that was what Sora said. And besides, Niche thought it was a good idea if they were all together.

"What do you think the two were talking about?" Nis asked as he laid down on one of the beds.

"Dunno. It's probably about the weapons. I do hope Nica gets good choices of weapons." Nico answered.

"Did you guys enjoy the fight a while ago?" Niche asked again her siblings who were on the verge of sleeping.

"Yeah." the two answered in unison and eventually slept.

'They must be really tired.' Niche thought. Later on, she fell asleep herself.

***

Niche woke up because of a thud. She immediately took her gun out from under her pillow and scanned the surroundings. Nothing was wrong. It was all normal, if you considered sleeping in a gangster lair normal. Nico was asleep, half his body was already off the bed. Nis was hugging the pillow tight. While Nica was drooling on her pillow.

She couldn't help but chuckle. It had been a long time since they slept together in one room. And it had been longer since they worked together. She then wondered how their parents were doing.

Two o'clock in the morning. That was what the digital clock on her bedside table said. Niche stood up, she was thirsty.

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On the way to the kitchen, she clutched her gun. It was never wrong to be prepared. Once she reached it, she immediately opened the fridge and got a carton of fresh milk.

"I see you're a light sleeper, Aka-chan." a voice said on the kitchen counter. Niche pointed her gun in that direction. "Chill, Aka-chan. It's just me, Sora."

Niche sighed. "Don't just go sneaking on people then, Sora." Sora laughed.

"I was here first you know?"

Niche took a glass and sat beside Sora on the counter. She poured the milk and took a sip. It was silent. Awkwardly silent. Niche wasn't used to it. She was not the silent one, Nica was.

Suddenly, the kitchen door opened and a blonde girl appeared. Niche noticed she had the aura of a Casanova.

"Sora, do you have juice?" the girl asked.

"Take a look on the fridge, Natsu." Sora replied. Note the sarcasm.

Natsu? Fairy Tail protagonist, Natsu Dragneel? Niche tossed aside the thought.

"You still got jet lag?"

"Obviously. Who's that?"

"Aka-chan. One of Arrow's siblings. Aka-chan, that's Natsu. She's my cousin." Sora said. The two shook hands.

"Aka. Red huh." Niche heard Natsu mutter. "Nice to meet you."

Natsu gave one last smile and left the kitchen. Okay?

"Daijubo. She's just cranky when she's jet lagged." Sora said.

"Why is she jet lagged? Isn't she staying here?" Niche asked and continued drinking her milk.

"No. She's based on the Philippines. She's a part of a gang there. Oops, I might've said too much." she smirked.

"Don't worry, I'm not a tattle-tale." Niche assured her.

There was the deafening silence again. But it was broken by Sora.

"Arrow told me your parents got kidnapped and you're out here to save them. I must say New York is quite far from Arizona." she started and looked at her. "You know Aka-chan, your name is quite familiar. The English term that is."

Niche gulped the non-existing lump on her throat. She was hoping Sora wouldn't figure it out.

"How could you say that?" she asked and kept her cool.

"Well, Red is a famous Gang Leader back in the Philippines. As for America, there's a certain Interpol elite agent with the name of Red. Tell me, is that you?"

"Do I look like Interpol material to you, Sora?" Niche asked in a cold tone. A tone that would surely send shivers down someone's spine.

But Sora looked unaffected. "Well you don't look like much, but I've seen you fight. It could be possible, Aka-chan."

"Those moves were taught by my dad. He's a general in the Navy Seals." Niche covered her mouth immediately. She was saying too much.

"Ooh? Hontou desu ka?" Sora laughed. "If that's really the case, why did your moves came straight from the Interpol combat manual? And Tantei-kun, his moves were somehow associated with the FBI. Now tell me, Aka-chan. Are you and Tantei-kun, government agents?"

There was the nonexistent lump again. Her thoughts, and fears, were suddenly cut when she heard Sora laugh.

"You should've seen your face!" she laughed even harder.

"Tch. You got me there." Niche laughed too.

"But seriously. Anyway, go wake up your siblings. It's time for you guys to leave, Libero has infiltrated Ground Zero."

"You said what now?"