As Dalton hobbled home, he found a well-dressed man standing outside his apartment, wearing a very fine blue suit that cost a thousand, looking at his golden watch. His hair was black, speckled with grey that made him look handsome. When he spotted Dalton, he gave him a smile.

“Just the man I was looking for,” he said. “You look quite awful, a terrible day at work?”

“Who are you?” Dalton regarded him suspiciously. “What do you want?”

“I guess you could say your boss.” The man threw out a hand. “Jack Kramer, Director of the Bureau, at your service. I am here to talk to you, and your significant other. That would not be any trouble, would it?”

Dalton gave him a blank stare. It had been a day, but he didn’t consider the Director to come to his house.

“Sure, whatever.” Dalton shook his head. “Come on then, you want to meet Maya.”

“Well, she is one of the reasons.” Jack stroked his chin. “But I am more here for you.” He pointed at him.

#

Maya turned towards the door when she heard the lock turning. Of course she knew who it was, there was only one person who wouldn’t activate the security she had set up. Maya left her lab to greet Dalton.

“Welcome hom-”

Dalton limped inside, looking like a dead man, while Jack Kramer surveyed their home with interest.

“What are you doing here?” Her tone was icy.

“Maya.” He bowed. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

Dalton gave the two a tired look. “You know each other. Go ahead and talk, I need to go to bed.”

At a different time, Maya would have confronted Dalton on why they brought that monster in their home. But as he limped past Maya, she could see his eyes had lost light. She decided not to push it. It helped that he whispered an apology as he moved past her.

Only when she heard him close their bedroom door, did she speak.

“I will ask again, Jack, what are you doing here?”

“Not going to offer any coffee or tea?” Jack took off his shoe and walked past her, looking around the room. “Not even for an old friend?”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She crossed her arms. “Friends…that’s not the word I would use to describe our relationship. No, if anything, it would be the relationship between a boot and a spider.”

“You know it’s more than that.” Jack was looking at some of their pictures hung on their wall with interest. “You could say, it’s a very special relationship.”

The room grew colder as her mana emanated from her. “I am not fond of your jokes Jack. Hurry and speak of what you want.”

“Well.” Jack turned around to face her. “I came here to meet your boyfriend, but he is not in the greatest of shapes right now. So, I would like to say a few things to you, and then you relay them to Dalton.”

She highly doubted that. She had known Jack for ten years. It was ten years too long. From those ten years, he came to her to try and pitch something. Sometimes it was getting rid of a hero that strayed too far from their intended path or retrieving some treasure that he needed to obtain. Regardless, they were miserable times, but they also paid well.

So, she expected a miserable time from him as he explained the situation with the Bureau.

“A subordinate of mine has been possessed by a ghost. He has devoured about thirty percent of the work force and created a small militia of ghost users.” Jack scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.

“So? Get rid of the subordinate.” She snapped.

“Well, that’s the problem.” He scratched his nose. “I have already sent a few teams from the Transportation Department, and they got beaten by his Best Men.”

“Then send some of yours.”

“No, the group of people that he commands is called the Best Men, and I already sent a few of my own best men. Before they were devoured, they were asked to put on tuxedos. I do not have that many ghost users in staff, but the one I usually depended on has been captured.”

“And you want me to go clean up your mess?”

“While I would want nothing but the help from the Witch of Eternal Ice, alas, I cannot afford your price.” He held up a finger. “The help I want, is from my employee, Dalton.”

She threw up her hands. “I cannot believe you would use my boyfriend to try and get me to clean up your mess.”

“No worries, Maya. You do not have to get involved in this mess. If you want to give your lover, some advice, then by all means I would love nothing more than that.” Jack walked around her, getting a whiff of his citrus cologne.

“What cologne are you wearing?”

Jack turned around. “Do you like it? It’s called Intense Orange. It’s made by the hands of angry men that smash oranges with their brain fists.”

This was why Maya did not like him. Excessiveness. Everything about him was about getting only the best, even if it meant crossing the barrier to ridiculousness.

“You have psychics crush oranges for your cologne? That’s ridiculous, and a waste of good telekinesis.”

“I hope you can give Dalton my best.” Jack nodded to her. “You have a nice…home. Reminds me of a farmer’s hut.”

“Get out!” Anger caused her hair to lift with mana. She tossed a rudimentary ice spell at Jack.

As it hit, the spell was blown away by a protection magic imbued in his black suit. He tipped his hat to her.

“Imbuement. It won’t protect me from your more obscure spells, but it can protect me from-”

Maya started to chant under her breath. The threat of being hit by a stronger spell was enough for Jack to skedaddle. The door closed, and Maya let her spell lose its fizz.

Then she went into their bedroom. Dalton was sleeping soundly, looking like an infant. She grazed his cheek and smiled warmly.

Even after all the times he has reincarnated, she would never leave him.