Arc - Genesis of Flux - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Final Enjoyment

December 20, 998

Sunrise

Zofia woke up first, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. She glanced over at South, still deeply asleep on his side, one arm hanging off the bed. She smiled at the sight. Quietly, she got up and grabbed her things, heading into the bathroom.

The shower's warm water dropped over her, washing away. She ran her fingers through her hair, lathering the shampoo and conditioner. Zofia leaned against the tiles, taking a moment to enjoy the solitude. It wasn't often that she had time to simply exist without the weight of missions and responsibilities hanging over her. After rinsing off, she wrapped herself in a towel and dried her hair, slipping into a casual outfit.

Returning to the room, Zofia quietly set her belongings down and watched South sleep. He looked peaceful, almost boyish. She didn't wake him immediately, instead sitting by the window, staring out at the morning skyline of Orion City.

It was a sight she'd never get tired of. Zofia checked the time on the date. They still had time before they needed to head back.

Eventually, South stirred, blinking groggily as he woke. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, his hair a mess from sleep. "Morning," he mumbled.

Zofia turned to him, smiling. "Morning, sleepyhead. You were out cold."

South stretched. "Yeah... I don't remember the last time I slept that well." He swung his legs over the side of the bed, still half in a daze, and made his way to the bathroom.

He took his time in the shower, letting the hot water wake him up. He leaned against the wall, feeling the heat seep into his muscles. South rarely let himself relax like this. The water ran over his shoulders, and for a moment, he allowed himself to forget about everything, the missions, the searching, the endless grind to find his sister. After finishing up, he dried off and put on a fresh set of clothes that Zofia had helped him pick out.

Zofia adjusted the strap of her bag and glanced back at South, who leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"Ready to go?" she asked cheerfully, brushing her hair over her shoulder.

South's eyes flicked to her, then to the window where sunlight streaked through. "Been ready. You're the one who takes forever."

She laughed softly, unfazed. "You're such a patient guy. I don't know how I'd survive without you."

"Guess you'd better pray you don't find out," South muttered, pushing off the frame and opening the door.

Zofia stepped out first, her light footsteps contrasting with South's heavier ones as they walked down the hallway. She waved to a passing staff member, who smiled back. South, however, barely spared the person a glance.

"Morning," Zofia greeted the worker warmly.

"Morning," they replied, looking slightly nervous under South's appearance.

As they entered the elevator, Zofia pressed the ground floor button and hummed softly to herself, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. South stood in the corner, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring at the floor numbers lighting up.

"There's a nice café nearby," Zofia said, breaking the silence. "I thought we could stop there for breakfast before we get moving."

South raised an eyebrow but didn't look at her. "Long as it's not one of those overpriced spots where they serve a crumb on a plate and call it a meal."

"It's not," Zofia replied quickly, suppressing a laugh. "You'll like it, I promise."

"Hmph," he grunted, straightening up as the elevator dinged to signal their arrival at the lobby. "Guess we'll see."

The doors slid open, and they stepped out into the hotel's elegant lobby. Zofia smiled and nodded at the concierge as they passed, while South walked briskly ahead, hands shoved into his pockets.

"Good morning!" Zofia said warmly to a bellhop near the entrance, earning a bright smile in return.

South muttered under his breath, "You talk to everyone, don't you?"

"Why not? A little kindness never hurt anyone," Zofia replied, catching up to him.

South pushed the glass doors open with more force than necessary, holding them just long enough for her to step through. "Yeah, well, the world's full of assholes. Don't count on kindness to get you far."

Zofia shot him a glance but didn't respond, letting the morning air greet them as they exited the hotel.

The streets of Orion City spread out before them, alive with the buzz of early activity. Pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, and birds chirped.

Zofia turned to South. "Come on, it's not far from here."

South followed her without a word, his eyes scanning the crowds as they entered into the flow of the city.

Zofia and South walked side by side down the sidewalk. South's sharp eyes scanned the crowd with a wariness that never left him, while Zofia hummed softly.

As they turned a corner, a strange sight stopped South in his tracks. There, tied to a pole, was a German Shepherd. Its tongue lolled out of its mouth as it wagged its tail eagerly at passersby.

South tilted his head, his brow furrowing. "What the fuck is that?"

Zofia gasped, clasping her hands together with an almost childlike excitement. "Oh my goodness, South, it's a dog! Isn't he adorable?"

He stared at the creature, unsure if it was a threat. "Adorable? It's got a weird tongue hanging out of its mouth. Looks diseased."

Zofia crouched down near the dog, her face lighting up. "Don't be ridiculous! Look at him, he's perfect." She extended her hand cautiously, letting the dog sniff her before giving its head a gentle pat. "Aren't you the sweetest little guy?"

South folded his arms, still glaring at the animal. "Why's it tied up like that? Seems cruel."

"Oh, it's probably waiting for its owner," Zofia explained, scratching behind the dog's ears. "People here do that all the time."

South made a face. "So it just sits there, waiting? Sounds like a shitty deal."

Zofia stood up and grinned at him. "You've never seen a dog before, have you?"

"No," he said bluntly. "And I'm not impressed."

Zofia laughed, shaking her head. "You're hopeless, South."

As they continued walking, the lighthearted moment faded as they turned down a narrow alleyway. The lively sounds of the main street gave way to muffled voices and distant footsteps.

Ahead, three older men loomed over a young woman who was crumpled on the ground, clutching her stomach. One of them yanked a tattered purse from her grasp while another delivered a vicious knee to her ribs. She cried out, her voice hoarse with pain.

"Shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch!" one of the men growled, spitting on her.

"Think you can walk through here looking like that, huh?" another sneered, his greasy hair clinging to his forehead.

The third man laughed, nudging her head with his shoes. "You should be thanking us for even giving you attention. Look at you, pathetic little whore."

The girl whimpered, curling into herself as one of them grabbed her hair and yanked her head back.

"Hey!" Zofia's voice rang out.

The men turned toward her, their expressions shifting from amusement to irritation.

"Who the fuck are you?" the leader barked, a scar running down his cheek.

Zofia squared her shoulders, her voice unwavering. "Leave her alone."

"Or what?" one of them jeered, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "You gonna scold us, sweetheart?"

South stepped forward, his icy gaze locking onto the leader. "You better watch your fucking mouth before I make you eat it."

The man snorted, his bravado flickering for a moment before he regained his composure. "Oh, look, she brought her boyfriend. What're you gonna do, tough guy?"

South's jaw clenched, his fists curling at his sides. But just as he moved to step closer, Zofia placed a hand on his chest, holding him back.

"South," she said softly but firmly. "Let me handle this."

He hesitated, his glare never leaving the men, before stepping aside. "Fine. But make it quick."

Zofia raised her hand, and with a flicker of light, a sleek musket appeared in her grasp.

"What the fu-" was all he managed to say before the musket discharged with a silent bang.

The shot tore through his hand, blasting it clean off in a spray of blood and bone. The man let out a guttural scream, collapsing to his knees as he clutched the mangled stump.

"Jesus Christ!" one of the others shouted, his face pale with shock.

"Shit! Run!" the third man yelled, already stumbling backward.

The two uninjured men didn't hesitate, dragging their screaming companion away as his blood left a trail on the pavement.

Zofia lowered her musket, which dissolved into thin air, and crouched beside the girl. "Are you okay?" she asked gently, brushing a strand of hair from the girl's bruised face.

The girl nodded weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Th-thank you," she stammered, her voice trembling.

"Here." Zofia helped her to her feet and handed her a handkerchief. "Get somewhere safe, okay? And be careful next time."

The girl nodded again, clutching the handkerchief tightly as she hurried off.

South crossed his arms. "That was badass," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Zofia giggled, brushing her hands off. "Well, someone had to do something."

They continued walking, the tension in the air gradually decreasing.

"This city's crime rate is pretty high," Zofia remarked casually. "You'll see a lot of things like that if you ever come here on your own. When I'm not around, I expect you to deal with it, okay?"

South raised an eyebrow. "And why the hell would I do that?"

"Because you're strong, and I know deep down you are a good person South," she said simply, her tone warm yet firm.

He scoffed but didn't argue, and continued walking as they approached their destination.

When they finally reached the café, Zofia's eyes lit up, practically sparkling as she spotted the sign.

"There it is!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with joy. Before South could react, she grabbed his arm and yanked him forward with a burst of speed that left him stumbling.

"Damn it, Zofia!" he muttered, barely keeping up as she pulled him into the little café like a whirlwind.

Inside the café, the warm smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods greeted them. It was a quaint little place, cozy with wooden tables and soft ambient lighting. Zofia's eyes darted to the counter as she practically dragged South forward.

"Come on!" she said excitedly, weaving through a few patrons like she owned the place. "I know exactly what to get you!"

South muttered something under his breath as he stumbled to keep up, glaring at a barista who was clearly startled by their sudden arrival.

When they reached the counter, Zofia placed both hands on it, leaning forward with an eager smile. "I'll take an iced matcha latte, please! Oh, and a ham and cheese bagel." She then turned to South, who had already crossed his arms and was glaring at the menu as if it had insulted him.

"And for him," Zofia added before he could protest, "your specialty drink of the day, make it something iced, with sugar. Lots of it. And he'll have a breakfast sandwich too. Whatever's the most filling."

The barista raised an eyebrow but nodded, punching the order into the register. South, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes on her. "Why do I need to get a drink and food? I didn't even want either."

"Because you're in a café," Zofia said matter-of-factly, handing over a few coins. "And trust me, you'll like this stuff."

When their order was ready, Zofia grabbed her iced matcha and bagel with both hands like they were prized possessions, a grin plastered across her face. South followed her to a table with his drink, a frosty concoction topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle, and a thick breakfast sandwich wrapped neatly in paper. He slumped into his chair, staring at both.

Zofia took a sip of her matcha and let out a satisfied sigh, then unwrapped her bagel, taking a big bite. "Isn't this place great?" she asked with her mouth half-full.

South didn't answer right away, poking his drink with the straw and glaring at his sandwich before reluctantly unwrapping it. He took a tentative bite, chewing silently as his expression remained unreadable.

"Why'd you make me get this?" he finally asked, setting the sandwich down and jabbing the straw into his drink.

She tilted her head at him, her matcha paused mid-sip. "Because you can't live your whole life without enjoying good food and coffee."

"Coffee," South muttered, his expression darkening as the memory hit him. "The last time I drank coffee, it felt like someone scooped dirt into my mouth and called it a drink. Damn thing was so bitter, I thought my tongue was gonna fall off."

Zofia burst out laughing, almost spilling her matcha. "That's because you tried black coffee! Of course, it's bitter, it doesn't have any sugar or milk in it!"

He glared at her. "How was I supposed to know that? You didn't warn me!"

"I thought it was common knowledge!" she said, still giggling. "I even told you to try it with sugar, but you were all, 'I don't need sugar. I'll drink it straight.'" She mimicked his voice, over-exaggerating his cold tone.

South groaned, resting his head on one hand. "If I could've washed my mouth out with a knife back then, I would've."

That made Zofia laugh even harder, clutching her stomach. "Oh my God, South. You're so dramatic."

He glared at her but finally took a sip of his drink. His expression shifted almost immediately, his scowl softening into something resembling approval.

"This one's... different," he admitted, though his tone was begrudging.

"Told you!" Zofia said with a triumphant grin, taking another bite of her bagel. "It's iced, and it has sugar. You just need to trust me more."

South rolled his eyes but took another sip, the caramel sweetness masking the bitterness he dreaded. "Fine. It's not terrible. But don't think I'm gonna start liking coffee just because of this."

"We'll see," Zofia teased, sipping her matcha again and happily munching on her bagel.

As they sat there, the atmosphere of the café settled around them, warm and inviting. South leaned back in his chair, finishing his sandwich.

Zofia, meanwhile, glanced at him with a knowing smile. "You're relaxing. I can tell."

"Shut up," South muttered, though he didn't bother denying it.

Zofia just laughed, her eyes sparkling with the same joy she'd had all morning.

The two of them continued eating, South slowly worked his way through the iced coffee. Zofia, with her matcha latte nearly finished, looked thoroughly content. She polished off the last bite of her croissant, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.

"See?" she said, grinning. "Told you breakfast here would be good."

South shrugged, though there was a faint glimmer of approval in his expression as he glanced at his empty plate. "Not bad. Still not sure about this coffee, though."

Zofia chuckled, standing up and gathering their trash. "You'll get there. One sugary drink at a time." She walked over to the counter, her voice bright and cheerful as she called out, "Thank you so much! Everything was wonderful!"

The café staff smiled and waved back as Zofia threw the trash away, practically skipping back to South. "Alright, let's get going!"

Back on the streets of Orion City, the noise of early-morning activity greeted them once again. South adjusted his coat,

and Zofia walked ahead.

Just as South was about to comment on Zofia, a hand gripped his shoulder from behind. His body tensed immediately, instincts kicking in as he spun halfway around, eyes narrowing.

"Who the hell-" he started, but the words died in his throat as he caught sight of the figure looming behind him.

The grip tightened ever so slightly. Zofia turned too, her eyes widening as the air between them suddenly felt charged with tension.

"South..." she said cautiously, her tone losing its usual cheer.

And then the stranger spoke.

"Do you have a moment? I'd like to talk to you about something..."