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Post by Zuyuri on May 21, 2018 14:44:45 GMT
Shadow was trying to decide whether or not to lean over to comfort her or just nod with understanding. He kept his hands to himself and just nodded sagely. It was clear she kids had done nothing but annoy her until she was at the end of her rope. He was impressed she held on for as long as she did. Most people would buckle under the stress of being threatened by a student for the sake of a grade. Sure, there were worse threats to be made, but a child should not be able to get away with making remarks and even threats to a teacher.
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Post by skyeknight on May 21, 2018 18:50:14 GMT
"They're good kids," Jane insisted. "But it's like a slap to the face when they act like this."
She scrubbed a hand over her face, hiding away from Shadow for a moment. He must have thought she was nuts. She waltzes into his apartment (with food and drink) to complain about her day. She wasn't even sure how she felt about it. She was frustrated and confused and tired. It was all wearing on her. She normally had her act together. She prided herself on being an anchor for people who needed her like Yang or Namine. Now, she wasn't even sure she could do that.
"I'm... sorry for busting in like this."
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Post by Zuyuri on May 21, 2018 19:19:44 GMT
“You needed someone to talk to. It’s been a tough week.” He smiled, rare for him, “but it’s nice to get a visitor, even if it’s for a vent.”
He sipped the wine again. He was telling the truth. No one really cane by. The Colt brothers and Sunshine were the only visitors he ever got. Jane was the last person he expected to see. Yet Shadow wasn’t complaining. He was happy she wasn’t uptight either. It was them sitting over food talking like friends
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Post by skyeknight on May 21, 2018 19:26:10 GMT
"You're only saying that because I brought food and booze," she laughed.
She took a bite of an egg roll as if to prove her point. She knew it was a bluff. Shadow could have easily told her to go away, but he didn't. He welcomed her in if anything. That was what was great about him. And equally frustrating. She shouldn't like him. He was a cop, but her argument for that was growing weaker and weaker every day. To the point where, when she was distressed, she sought him out over any of her other friends. That made her feel strange. She honestly hadn't expected that from herself.
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Post by Zuyuri on May 21, 2018 19:48:59 GMT
“That’s only half true!” Shadow objected.
But as he said this, he had grabbed an egg roll. Okay so maybe she did bring food. Food that seemed to be the go to for them when they were hanging out. Some of his other friends had been busy with other things. Jane was breaking the huge bubble he had been putting himself in. He bit into the egg roll, swallowing with a dry chuckle. As he washed down the roll with wine, Shadow changed the topic. Venting was nice, but if Sunshine taught him anything, staying on a negative topic for too long was bad.
“Besides your shitty week, what else has been going on?”
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Post by skyeknight on May 21, 2018 20:06:55 GMT
"I see you only like me for food," she teased. "That's fine. I'll remember that."
She deftly snapped up a pair of chopsticks before digging into the drunken noodles. Venting was nice, but she was starting to feel much better than she had. Good food, good drink, better company. She couldn't go to Namine and swear up and down and drink like she wanted to. The blonde would freak. Yang wasn't drinking legal yet. Yang could handle the swearing but probably not badmouthing kids, even if they were misbehaving. Her dad would preach on patience and probably not let her drink her problems away.
"Dad and Aqua are being grossly romantic every weekend when we do family dinner?" Jane offered. "I suppose your partner and her new beau are the same right now..."
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Post by Zuyuri on May 21, 2018 20:37:15 GMT
“Next time, I’ll provide the food,” he fired back with a smirk.
Jane had been the person providing. That wasn’t fair, she was a teacher. With an incredibly limited budget. Buying for this would be denting her wares. Shadow stopped his racing thoughts. Why was he going out of his way to ensure her safety? Was it because he wanted someone besides her father to treat her well? To have some positive male role in her life and she had gravitated to him. She mentioned Omar and Aqua getting mushy and he imitated a fake gag as he filled up in drunken noodles.
“It was a ticking clock. I’d be making photo copies and Sunshine and Riku would be making bedroom eyes at each other. Only a matter of time before they hit the sheets.”
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Post by skyeknight on May 21, 2018 20:45:37 GMT
"Sure. I guess that's fair." She was telling herself that it was because if he brought food next time, it mean he survived whatever was supposed to happen this summer. That she didn't want to lose the only decent hunting partner she had in a long time. That he was a decent guy and she would hate to see anything bad happen to him. She had to fight back a laugh when he feigned a gag over the mushiness that surrounded the two of them. It seemed cupid was going around striking hard and striking fast, not giving anyone any time to even react.
"Please, those two come back from the honeymoon and she'll be expecting. I'm betting on it."
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Post by Zuyuri on May 21, 2018 21:57:56 GMT
"Cool."
He wanted to..wait, slow down. He had things to think about before her. His line of work and getting as much done before he left this world. Yet, her taking time out of her day to be with him. The only other woman who had done that before had been Sunshine. But they were strictly platonic. This was the only time he ever felt well, wanted. He wouldn't dare it out loud, not while they were teasing her father about his dating life. Whatever love potion was brewing in Bellerouge, it was working potent wonders.
"What a great welcome home gift. 'Hey, Shadow, I'm pregnant, going on maternity leave, have fun fighting demons without me.'"
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Post by skyeknight on May 22, 2018 0:17:54 GMT
"Well did you tell her about the demons?" Jane asked.
So that was still a thing. Shadow hadn't found some way to stall. Either way, she was taking extra time at the shooting range and stocking up on ammo. She probably seemed like those doomsday preppers but she certainly felt like one. She was scared of what would become of the city. After the black war, bad things happened in the town. A demon attack would set them to square one.
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Post by Zuyuri on May 22, 2018 0:23:37 GMT
“I’ll tell her when she comes back from the honeymoon. Though it has been a while since Lilith targeted anyone.”
There was the slightest trace of hope in that sentence. Lilith hadn’t succeeded in getting the four vessels. That meant there was time for planning. He was already working on ideas of capturing Lilith. It would mean talking to Pitch, obviously his least favorite person, but the fate of the world was at stake. This wasn’t just a demonparty of witch organization to interrupt. This was stopping the end of humanity.
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Post by skyeknight on May 22, 2018 0:52:32 GMT
"Lilith... the woman who attacked me?" Jane guessed.
They hadn't exactly exchanged names in the time that the woman stole Cindy's appearance. She had been too busy coaxing Jane's disgust for authority and corruption out of her. The woman seemed to revel in the aftermath of what she had done to Jane. It only made Jane sick to her stomach. She put her chopsticks down, feeling ashamed for her part in this. Humanity was in danger because she couldn't move on and let go of the past.
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Post by Zuyuri on May 24, 2018 23:54:43 GMT
Shadow nodded. "It took us a while, but we were able to put a name to a face."
He was truly sorry it had taken so long to figure it out. He had wanted to find the demon that hurt the people. No, not just the people. He had hurt Jane, hurt her in the worst place someone could be hurt. By forcing her mistakes directly in front of her face. He frowned as Jane looked away. He hesitated before reaching across to take her hand in his gloved one. A reassuring squeeze was applied, and that was the only thing he did.
"Jane. It's not your fault. None of this was."
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Post by skyeknight on May 25, 2018 13:30:12 GMT
It certainly felt like her fault. If she hadn't felt that way in the first place, Lilith wouldn't have targeted her. Used her to do... whatever it is she did. She sighed before looking up at Shadow. He was too kind to her. She honestly felt underserving of his help or his attentions. Granted her opinions had changed since then. She supposed Shadow's persistence had something to do with that. The fact he was a sincerely good cop and a too good to be real person in general.
"But it was my fault... She came at me because she knew..."
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Post by Zuyuri on May 25, 2018 15:41:02 GMT
“So she knew. That’s not what’s important. The important thing is you learned from it do nothing like this happens again.”
He was looking at her with his red eyes filled with sincerity. It felt odd giving someone who taught kids this kind of advice. She had probably fired this same knowledge to the kids. He had been in her position, wallowing in guilt and self pity over mistakes. A lesson that was still difficult was moving on.
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