Stay In The Dark

The next day, Fox woke up with Nala, who went to the bathroom to attend to herself while Fox picked the sheets. Just as he was grabbing the thin, soft sheet that endured their colossal face-off before a small 1-hour rest, Fox spotted a mark of blood. Just then, Nala came out of the bathroom and looked at him, as usual, before her eyes also went to that mark with Fox lowering it to look at her precious face.

Nala looked up and down at the sheet before blushing, looking at Fox with slightly upturned eyes. Fox tilted his head to the left. There was no need for words. Fox wrapped the blanket in his forearms and winked at her, somehow warmly, “I’ll get it clean before anyone can see it.”

“Burn it, or you’ll go down with it,” Nala proposed. Fox jumped his eyebrows, appearing so charismatic for an instant, before grinning. And then, out of nowhere, he began coughing. It was a bit at first, with a few glances exchanged, but it quickly turned into a coughing fit.

“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!” While Fox descended into a coughing fit, Nala walked to him and used her shoulder to carry him. She just stood there, wrapping her arms around his waist and letting him have her right trapezius muscle as his chin pillow.

After a little while, Fox wheezed a few extra coughs before it finally ended. He struggled to gulp, finding his mouth strangely dry. Nala separated from their gentle hold before looking at his mouth and neck. She flurried backwards and stepped on the edge of the wood of his bed before holding his face, her expression as natural as always before kissing him.

Every now and then, Fox’s throat gulped and gulped, continuing to find the sweetness of her mouth before gulping some more. A minute later, one that felt like half an eternity, their mouths separated. She looked down at him, supporting her arms on his shoulders. Fox looked up, softly hugging her waist.

“We’re gonna be late,” Nala whispered to his face, her breath on his nose. Fox replied, “I’m the boss.”

“I said-” Nala endearingly pinched his left lobe, but Fox smirked and brought her to the shelves where he stores his clothes. “I heard. Heard, Captain.”

“Hmmm.” Nala ignored her man and pulled many drawers as she kept her short, black, soft panty and full-coverage lilac bra on. Both looked dainty yet lacked some femininity. She looked at his clothes, curious and simply feeling the fabric of his stuff. While putting clothes there, Fox ignored the closets, leaving only shelves to store them. For a mega hotel, this was pretty uncommon.

Nala watched him dress up, having been bare around her up until now. She stood a few meters away as he put some clothes on, no longer that suit from before. Once he was all up and neat, Nala walked to him and turned him around, her hands pressing here and there to feel him up.

Fox looked down at her, just in time for her eyes to narrow dangerously and her chin to raise, “What do I wear?”

It wasn’t a petition or just a simple question. It felt like a request.

… After they dressed up and grabbed some of the edible breakfast Teon did, some eggs and white bread, Fox and Nala went to the Boutique. It was still pretty early, with the dark sky lighting one tiny bit by tiny bit.

A minute after they went inside the boutique, Miros arrived. It was a bit too soon, as the boutique still needed about half an hour before it opened. Miros brought several cases with him, all heavy and with locks outside and perhaps traps inside if forcefully handled.

Fox welcomed the kid himself, although the sapphire haired boy was probably just 15, not that younger than him. He nodded after seeing the quality of the cases. Fox gestured to be followed, saying, “While I get through the information with Nala, you’ll go ask the community ‘leaders’ about their thoughts on a situation of extreme emergency and importance.”

“Eh?” Miros followed Fox inside, feeling a bit perplexed. Fox spoke again without turning his head, proceeding to one of the storage backrooms he emptied for this, “You’ll help later. Colmillo would have arrived by then. You’ll join us with her, and then we’ll start calling around.”

“You’re already positioning the army and stuff?” Miros asked, feeling a bit better and intrigued. Fox nodded, showing the boy the backroom. Miros nodded, looking around before putting a despairing countenance, “How long do I have to work in this little hell, boss?”

“Until it’s over. The other floors are still the boutique’s shopping facilities,” Fox replied before checking the boy put everything in order, more or less. Miros passed him some digital keys and passwords through WID before looking expectantly at Fox.

Fox blinked and gave him a folded document from his rear pocket, “These are the addresses of the people in this section. Once you do, come back and we’ll get to do the planning. You’ll have to show me what’s so good about that head.”

Fox pointed at Miros’s glabella, when Miros looked down at the document and said, smiling and looking back at Fox. “Boss, I already have one in my information, I’ll just check it as I go.”

“…” Fox looked at Miros without saying a word, gaze expressionless. Miros blinked before looking down at the document again. He smiled and took it with his index fingers and thumbs, awkwardly smiling at Fox. “Hahaa… thanks boss. I’ll get to do the task, with your permission.”

Fox nodded and helped the fella out. Miros walked out with a positive face, looking forward to doing this little task. It was new, but not difficult. Meanwhile, Fox returned to the boutique and began discussing with Nala, this was just the first official day planning the operation.

They took only one storage room for this, leaving the rest for the boutique as the attendants and clerks arrived just on time when it was opening. Fox and Nala had a lot of investigation to do.

On Miros’s end, he went from house to house, surprising the first few community spokespeople before they communicated with each other to talk about the boy doing that questionnaire. At first, Miros was a bit awkward, as he had to show he was from the government yet deny all activity to related to the forces or agency and transparency.

Even then, he had many people still answer the questioning. A few didn’t, but Miros had the charm any cute boy would have to the eyes of any. If a man opened the door, he would look at the fragile boy with a heart of guidance. If it was a woman, motherly instincts were weak to this kind of cutie boy. If it was a dude, some ritualistic meeting would follow, almost always ending in good terms. And if it was a girl, she’d be smitten. There was no hope for those crazy young girls; and of course, some of the boys, too.

This was only when things went right, but Miros traversed the day as instructed, with his last community spokesperson being a grandma who gave him cookies. What better way to end the day than with this?

Just as the sun was threatening to hide in the evening, and Miros walked back to the boutique, he was met with a surprising eye candy standing just a couple of meters beside a fountain. The fountain was ‘just’ there, busy getting obscured by the fleeing sun while its small lights weren’t lighting up yet.

But the ebony standing there, looking at the setting sun leaving orange and gray clouds behind, was ‘lighted up’ before Miros’s very own eyes. He stopped, not noticing she noticed him, awkwardly standing there in a slight distance.

The girl had light ebony skin, thick, curly, and medium black hair, and gray eyes. She was tall, so she towered Miros, but not like Colmillo did, with slender muscles to back it, remaining quite effeminate. Only, this girl was much more girly than Colmillo, and thankfully, than Miros, who was besotted by her, apparent from his idiotic face.

Her bosom was slightly large, though, and as Miros just noticed this from her floral dress, she spoke to him amidst crossing her arms like a lady. “Ahem, I don’t want to be one of those girls… but if you stare at me some more, I might consider taking my burning spray out.”

“Oh, dear, no!” Miros reacted swiftly. He placed his hands forth, shaking them with no’s, and salvaging his image and time. “I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t see you there and, well, you look very girly. I have to get to work with… some big bros and big sis. Oh, and I truly feel bad for making you feel that way. Eh. Have a nice day.”

“Pfff…” The girl stifled a laughter. Miros stopped, marvelled by the sight. He didn’t notice again, but she did, shying away from his gaze. “Ah, sorry. It’s just… Your way of apologizing politely is so… fleeting. You must be very busy, sorry, I won’t take more of your time.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Why do you apologize? No, no. It’s fine. All on me. That’s what men do, you know?” Miros patted his chest, forgetting his duties for a bit. The girl looked up at his face before forming an amused smirk, “Men? Ey, boy. You may call me miss, but you can’t call yourself a man just yet.”

Miros was baffled after she spoke, for her lips hooked into a wide, generous smile. Feeling his breathing getting heavier, Miros blushed, not realizing she was, too. He extended his hand, almost like he wanted to stab her, “I’m Miros, nice to meet you. I do have to go, but I’d like to meet you more.”

Miros blushed like a teenager, which he is, in love as he felt his face burning more intensely than the sun to this side of the world right now. How could he dare to say those words like nothing? The light ebony girl comfortably smiled and shook his hand after a few hesitations from her extended arm. “I’m Zees, nice to meet you, Man Miros.”

“Wow, you gave me your name? Haha! I’ll meet you around again if I can. Good…night, Zees!” Miros smiled, shaking her hand contentedly before running away, not wanting to be left behind. Zees looked at the disappearing back of the young boy before easing her expression, looking elsewhere calmly with her hand falling to her side.

… When Miros returned, Colmillo was just arriving in one of her cars. She wasn’t wearing her mask, so she was Elega. Miros walked to her and greeted her excitedly before rushing into the boutique. He ignored his surroundings and went to the backroom, with the boutique already in the known. Meanwhile, the beauty Elega also walked into the boutique, gracing it even more, and followed the sapphireheaded boy.

Fox and Nala had already gone through most of the information, with digital and physical notes taken everywhere. With the other 2’s addition to the teamwork, Fox and Nala had time for some more chocolate. They had a lot of work, too, so it came in handy.

Nala stood from being surrounded by many maps and blueprints, with completely filled notebooks piling near her right knee where she had sat cross-legged. She went to the computer room and brought back a large and small hot chocolate. The large went to Fox, while she gave Miros the small one.

“Drink up, no one’s leaving until it’s 3 AM.” Nala suddenly decided to make up a rule before going back to Fox’s side, crossing her legs half a meter away from him. The evening continued, and night approached. One of many, where they’d make a bit of history.

… 3 days went by like this. The last day of the week, in which Fox had his birthday and was released from preemptive jail, Fox grabbed the documents ‘his team’ had studied and come up with to the President. He carried with him his huge ball sack to do this so soon after the task was just entrusted to him.

He didn’t do it alone. Although it was him who delivered everything, Nala, Miros, and Colmillo were just a step and a half behind him. The rest of Nala’s team could come, but being a special agent didn’t mean knowing everything. Freaks like Nala, Nauer, and Fox were few. For example, Teon was very powerful, and had such potential to grow, but she was barely learning business.

The plan for the city was almost over, and it would need further back to back cooperation between Fox’s planning team and Lýmoca’s forces. But that was for later. The most important part was to have the President understand what they wanted to do, and get the green light.

Fox stood before Luis’s desk, wearing his natural expression, with the other 3 behind him serious, except for Nala. She looked down and bit her lip, hiding her actions from the others’ eyes as Luis went through the several screens from his desk and Fox’s details.

“So, this is what you’ve decided on?” Luis reclined on his chair and rubbed his forehead before asking Fox. Fox nodded, his hands behind his back. “This is what I have in mind, yes. I recognize other possibilities, slower and much safer, but I want to go with this, President.”

“I can’t say that it’s erroneous, but going with this…” Luis rubbed his eyes, a bit overwhelmed. He looked up, reclining on his chair again. “It goes straight into… what I’ve been wanting to avoid. It will no longer be my presidency as a proper one in the Humane Key, even if Lýmoca is such in appearance. That’ll destroy everything and I won’t have anything to go back with.”

“Other safe routes might or not be completed before the elections later this year, but mine will complete the necessary result in… 2 to 6 weeks.” Fox simply replied. Luis looked at the screens again and pondered. He knew what those words meant. If the long run wasn’t successful, and Luis wasn’t elected for the third time in a row, then it’ll be regressed along with everything else.

If he accomplishes it earlier on and doesn’t let the rival candidates use the prolonged, slow deterioration of the city and even the country to exterminate the organized crime, resulting in social stagnation. Then, Luis will instead have a greater factor to become the President again. Not only would he be the first president in Ly history to re-elect, he’d also become the one and only to re-elect twice and thrice successively!

“President, it’s your choice,” Fox extended his hand, grabbing a small screen, showing a miniature of the capital in its full detail, albeit in a green interface. “You can either continue where you left it, following a notorious and acclaimed path, or just use the power at your disposal.”

“…” Luis looked at the capital’s image, delving into his thoughts. After a while of narrowing his eyes, he eased his eyebrows and eyelids. Looking up at Fox, he set conditions left and right; stern, and as he stood up.

“This cannot be accepted nationwide. You will have to show exemplary results from the cleansing of Proteros City. Do that, and you’ll have that operation spread throughout the country.” - “Yes, President. I was expecting this much at least. I won’t even need combat choppers.”

“Mn, good. Even though your target is the organized crime groups, you will prioritize the civilians’ safety!” - “It’s already on the plan, President. I won’t deviate from it.”

“I want an ensured, cooperative communication between all forces. There will be no tolerance for so-called ‘war crimes’ here, especially not from the Ly forces towards the Lys! Understood?” - “With the PSD, all of that is guaranteed, President.”

“You will come with me to the press conference where I’ll announce it.” Luis suddenly said. Fox was about to word a ‘yes’, when he stopped and jolted his head. The President looked at him sternly and nodded. Fox frowned and shook his head, “Why?”

“You have to show up more. Just having a role and being fought for by so many Lys in the name of emotional justice won’t be the way you achieve their hearts, or votes for me. Although I rather like your dates nowadays, showing you feel and long for the same as any other, you are still under the sight of what you’ve already suffered a defeat.” Luis stepped closer to Fox and said.

“Not only that, the people don’t know you well. They know your face, your killing likeness, and what things you might not be afraid to make. You have to show you need forgiving as well. No, let me finish,” Luis quickly added before calmly continuing. “I have pardoned you, and so has the Supreme Court Justice, but what about the people?”

“Those guards are still dead, their families may be with full pockets for the next few years, but they are grieving still. Want me to put an entire city in lockdown for a day of hell? Go through one yourself. Also, show them we aren’t just coming after their lives, but the false organizations they gave their lives to without knowing. You’ll meet with Emanuel and Rubén. You met Rubén in Coalely, you remember?”

“Yeah…” Fox looked elsewhere, as if into the distance. Luis ignored it and nodded, “You will also ask for forgiveness for the murder of one of Lesly’s secretaries from back when you saved her.”

“…” Fox tilted his head so much it became a motion to hang it to the side. Nala extended her left hand and pushed it back into position, with Luis holding himself from smiling, blinking profusely for a couple of seconds.

“Alright, I… Will that be enough to have my operation followed, ‘boss’?” Fox pushed everything to the back of his head. He couldn’t get distracted when he was this engrossed in machinating an operation for the first time in his fucking life.

Luis blinked and threw his eyes to the side, narrowing them in annoyance. “Miros can call me that because I won’t give him a spot in my cabinet until he grows old enough to drink and find a fiancée. You, on the other, hand, don’t call me that.”

Fox exaggeratedly blinked and stretched a little, lifting his arms. “You got it, Presi.”

“Neither that,” Luis almost barked at Fox. Fox rolled his eyes a little, cocking his head in an annoyed manner, and extended his hand. The documents would late on pass to the Ly forces. Luis looked at Fox’s hand and shook it, before the latter departed with his team after a nod.

While Fox had left, Luis stood rooted on the spot. His eyes went down, his heart beat, but not excitedly or for an unknown reason. He was afraid, but not of Fox or what the PSD was indirectly making him do.

He grasped his chin and kept looking down. It was warm outside. The sensation caused Luis to want to end this before it becomes a little cold. His reasoning? He didn’t want the young people in those organized crime groups to flee into their death by freezing in the wild. Luis didn’t want to see this operation turn into a savage war where every little tactic mattered to weaken or defeat the enemy.

The president knew what Fox was capable of, of course he knew. No matter how Luis wanted to tell himself that he shouldn’t let that ‘little devil’ speak to his ears, in his heart, it didn’t seem it like a wrong approach. Even more so, he relied on Fox with this enormous task, believing in him.

. . .

The days went by, and by, and by. Today was the year 1,026, 2nd month, 1st week, 2nd day. It was 1 day before the cleansing began.

During the past several days, Fox and his planning team had become much more cooperative with the army, air force, and national guard. Also selectively informing police forces of the incoming event. For this, a vast investigation was employed. The majorly corrupted authority or force in the nation was the police, from the SPDs more than anything.

With the army’s intelligence, together with the police and national guard’s intelligence and records, and even Miros’s information and modified, small drones in the air, things went smoothly. But gathering intelligence was just that, and acting on it was where the real difficulty lied.

After establishing communication with all these forces in the first few days, keeping it going after mutually connecting them with each other, all parties focused on solidifying their panoramic view of the city cleansing operation. Even the navy was added to their calls and discussions so they could learn what they did on land to get used to it when the coastal states’ turn came, if successful.

…