"More or less," she said nonchalantly, with her lips pressed together as she spit a hard smirk. "But sure, that's a certain..."
In times of loyalty, she can't deny that Weiss therefore, was lacking. To one, he seemed illusive, one who never appeared during any of his business negotiations outside his peers, but in a personal agenda, the man is nothing but a breathing disaster.
Many would think it's funny since he is known for being too elusive, but the truth wasn't one they would realize to be a reality. Because, the Weiss Shop owner is actually a coward who had nothing but running away from on-field operations.
It's a complicated story, and even Rubi once was surprised by that revelation during their first operation together when Weiss squirmed and left, leaving her to take care of the fighting and cops chase.
Unfortunately, she learned that despite his reputation in the street. No one knew how elusive he really is — except his more elusively a coward than just being the epitome kind.
"Let's go back," she muttered to him. "I'll get information from Selena, you form a tactical plan and strategy," she paused as she peered. "Don't forget plan D. In case we need one…"
--+--
The shackles of the city hall were deafening, it was midnight after all. The usual traffic on the street has subsided, while the road ahead is filled with thugs and homeless or lesser people than what it is during the day.
If anything less, the only light was the traffic lights, most of them are broken anyway. She silently walked by the pedestrian lane, with both of her hands clutching the inside of her jacket, as the breeze of cold air continued to gust a wind off to her side.
There was a silence after, then during. But as Rubi walked, her stride followed. She could see the lights of the building open, her feet stopped at her pace as she looked up. Then she grabbed her phone in her pocket, swiped it up with her thumbs and then she dialed a number.
A few moments later, the number she called rang and was picked up. Rubi gazed at the opened window of the building as the lights turned on, then she grumbled. "For someone running away from the mafia, you are careless," she spoke, her voice carrying a sass and attitude that made the woman flinch.
"Wh.. who's this?" The woman asked, uttering the word. "W… who are you?"
Rubi chuckled as she chimed. "What do you think, lady? I am from the Weiss Shop, the one you called off this mid afternoon," she said as she walked at the pole, and leaned on it.
"From… But you sounded so young," the woman gulped as she listened to her introduction.
She flinched as she chuckled. "Lady, I may sound or look young, but I am enough to swoosh away your worries," she said as she snorted. "Besides, I won't be shocked if someone enters your home because of your carelessness."
The woman looked at her phone as she pressed her lips. Then she looked around the room, after that, she looked at the door as she sneered. "Where are you?" She asked, her voice filling her with a demand, yet also quite cautious.
But then, she noticed the wind cluster from her window, then towards there, where her children were watching, a shiver ran through her spine. She immediately moved towards the window, slammed her curtains as she looked around with the phone still clutching on her fingers.
There, she stood. Her structure was nonchalant, yet soon as her eyes met with her jewel blue eyes. She irked the woman below, her features that were looks like in her twenty or below, gazing up to her with a hand on her phone clutch near her ear, suddenly a smile formed from her lips as she looked at her.
"Close the damn window next time," said Rubi in a murmur. Then she waved her hand, motioning the lady with a bit of silent mock, as she looked up at the woman.
"Shit," the woman swore, with a low voice. "Are you the person he told me he would send, then?"
Rubi nodded as she raised her phone and shook it. "I am here to tell you, Lady… You're not exactly free, since you had The Hags chasing after you like a wanted criminal…"
She gulped, as she lightly stepped back. "T…that can't be," the horror in her voice was unmistakable as she retreated. It was as if her emotions were dropping low.
Rubi got off from leaning on the pole, then she suddenly lunged on the stairs, used the railing as she jumped up, with her hands grabbing the ladder hanging on the platform of the fire escape. Then she dynamically slid her phone back to her pocket, while parkouring the fire escape with swift sloped.
Not knowing what was happening, the woman, listening to the subtle clang of metal, immediately moved forward again, her eyes locked outside in anticipation as she lifted her hands down.
But… As she gazed outside, the gust of heavy wind had her pulling back, and all she knew was that a girl stood on the fire escape of her apartment, with her hand clutch at the railing as she sat on it.
That's because the young woman flipped, as she jumped and landed on the platform. The woman inside the apartment grasped as she looked at her daughter, her voice hoarding as she dropped her phone. "Denise, go to your room now!"
Her little daughter, Denise, had her eyes widened at her mother's command, but she didn't question it as she ran towards her room, her footsteps rushing as she locked her door.
Rubi chuckled at the woman's attempt to protect her daughter. It was admirable for someone who's considered a criminal. She stepped towards, her foot landing on the floor, with a thud sound as she looked at the woman. "I am slightly insulted," she feigned a mocking gesture as she looked at the woman.
"Cut to the chase, will you?" The woman retorted as she cautiously stepped back. "What do you mean wanted?"
Rubi crossed her arms as she slightly pursed her lips. "Watch the news, Lady… But, I guess your strategy did work."
The woman she kept calling as Lady, peered through her with a sharp gaze. "I told you, cut to the chase…!"
"Alright," said Rubi as she stretched her back. "I am here to discuss the matter of our mission and the price of my labor, as well as to forge a contract based on your needs."
Her voice trailed off, as her tone became more serious as she spoke. Selena's eyes widened, her seriousness suddenly and her voice, it was film, almost formal and it didn't show any sign of ploy. She couldn't help herself be impressed at the young woman's change of impression.
It was as if the girl turned into an adult at the blink of an eye. The woman silently pressed her lips as hard as she could, her breathing ragged as she looked down. "Seat down," she offered, as she raised her hand slightly and pointed at the chair beside the dinner table. "I was expecting someone from Weiss Shop," she said as she breathed in and began skimming through her unfinished dishes.
The young adult, Rubi, nodded her head, with a sly smile as she accepted her gesture. "Selena, right?" She confirmed.
"Yes, I am Selena, or alias that is," said Selena as she sneered. "So, you've read my files, then?"
Rubi chuckled, leaning their back on the chair, with her two arms placed on the table. "Well, I had too," she said as she smirked. "Besides, I didn't think I could meet Selena, the one and only woman who ever double crossed the infamous mafia group, The Hag."
For a moment, Selena was left shivering at the mention of that group. Her hands stopped, clutching the plate she was wiping with her hand, and with a gentle breath she purred. "I didn't," she said, before she continued. "I need a bodyguard," then she put down the plate on the dish dryer. "A friend of mine recommended Weiss Shop for this kind of situation."
Her eyes widened as she looked at Selena. "Bodyguard…?" She said as she sneered. "Well, ain't that unfortunate, Lady," she said as she grumbled. "We are bounty and treasure hunters, not hired mercenaries."
"What!?" Selena stepped forward as she asked.
The look on her face was clear, it was filled with surprise and shock, one she can't seem to comprehend, but understand. "You really didn't think we were mercenaries, didn't you?"
Selena looked at her, the gripped of her fingertips digged through her skin as she nodded. To be exactly honest, the woman probably didn't dig more into that detail when she was trying to escape. She was desperate enough to reach out, not knowing what specific kind of agency the shop she contacted but now…
"Y… You said, bounty and treasure hunter," she said, squirming as her voice uttering quietly.
Rubi nodded her head gently, as she pushed herself from her seat as she stood up. "Yes, but we have no obligation in jobs requiring the specialty of a mercenary," she said as she tapped her fingers. "And clearly, you called the wrong people to help you."
Selena gritted her teeth as she watched Rubi preparing to leave. "Hold on!" She said quipping as she looked at her. "My situation is connected to a treasure," she added, her voice sounding desperate as she looked at Rubi.
"Please," she said, her hands clutching next to her, her voice becoming more desperate as she begged again "Please help us…"