A Brief Encounter With A Acquaintance

The streets stretched ahead of him, littered with food stalls, malls, and small stands, people calling out prices and aromas drifting through the air.

The modern, traditional mix of the city still baffled Rose, because the last time she had been here was when the city was barely filled, it was abandoned.

They walked further into the market, the smell of grilled meat, roasted corn, and something sweet and fried lingered in the air.

People passed by in light clothing, laughing or shouting at each other, eating, drinking... they were happy.

Dorian found it strange, considering the fact the world was so close to getting destroyed, yet they were just living like nothing was wrong.

His scarf was pulled a little higher than necessary, covering his mouth and nose, mostly because he wanted to resist the smell of the food.

His eyes darted around, he avoided every shoulder, arm, and even the gazes of people. Even when no one was looking at him, he acted like they were.

"You're glaring at a fruit stand," Rose muttered under her breath as they passed a stall stacked with mangoes.

"It looked suspicious," Dorian said stiffly, his gaze still fixed on the yellow and green fruit that had been sprinkled with water, giving it a more palatable look.

"It's mangoes."

"Exactly."

She sighed and kept walking, not letting go of his hand. He didn't even notice how tightly he was holding the straps of his bag, or how his shoulders never relaxed.

They finally found a small café with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving a view of the spacious inside.

It stood between a bookstore and a teashop, with plastic chairs and wooden tables outside, open to the street but shaded by a tin roof.

She picked a table close to the edge, in case of emergencies, but Dorian didn't sit.

He scanned the inside of the café, then around him. He stretched to catch a glimpse of what was behind the counters, the roof above them, then slowly....very, extremely slowly, lowered himself onto the seat.

He stayed still, making Rose wonder if he was going to bolt at any second.

"You're acting like they're going to tie you up and dissect you," Rose said, pulling the menu closer.

"That's because they probably are," he replied without hesitation. "What if someone here works for the facility? What if this is some kind of... public testing site?"

Rose gave him a flat look. "This is café."

"Exactly. Its name alone is weird. What the hell is a Gary's Sweet Palace Of Sweets?"

She didn't even have the energy to argue; she just shifted her gaze to the menu.

The waitress arrived with a notepad, wearing a pink apron and a polite smile. Dorian stared at her like she was holding a scalpel, not a pen.

Rose quickly ordered, "Two plates of waffles, eight pieces for the boy, two for me, milkshakes and tea. Thanks."

The waitress gave a short nod and left, then returned not long after with their orders.

Dorian finally let go of his bag strap and placed his hands on the table, but his fingers drummed on it anxiously.

Rose finally placed her full attention on him. "Dorian, no one is going to come out of the walls to sedate you," she whispered. "So relax."

He looked at a woman not far from them, who seemed to be checking out the store as well. "I'd be disappointed if they didn't at least try."

"You were like this even before the lab, weren't you?"

Dorian didn't answer, he turned his head to look at the street again, squinting at a man who was peeling oranges. "Probably "

"And...this is your first café?"

"It's my first chair that isn't bolted to the floor, so if you wanted to tell it to a simple man, then yes."

Rose rolled her eyes and looked down at the menu, while Dorian noted his surroundings, mumbling lowly.

"Four open exits, one behind us, the café exit doors, Six alleyways in sight, possible ambush zones, an unguarded jewelry shop. Shadows on our right of a man and child, the tea woman at the corner table is left-handed and the guy behind the counter is stealing...some blue candy."

He glanced at her. "Are you writing this?"

"Dorian," Rose snapped with a low tone, "you are safe, and please stop acting like a bot. It's going to creep people out—"

She didn't get to finish her words when a voice came from behind them.

"Rose?"

She turned around, a tall guy in a grey windbreaker with messy brown curls and a smile approached their table, brows slightly raised.

Dorian's shoulders tensed again, hand already back beneath the table, preparing for an attack.

"Trent?" Rose blinked as she rose up from her seat. "What are you doing here?"

"I've been looking everywhere for you. I knew you weren't dead," Trent grinned, "I figured you'd come to this district eventually. You always said this was your comfort zone."

He stopped beside the table and gave Dorian a quick, polite nod that Dorian didn't return.

He didn't blink either, he just stared at the guy like he was trying to figure out the fastest way to slit his throat.

Trent glanced between the two, obviously sensing something weird. "You okay? It's been a while since training... you just vanished. You didn't even pick my calls."

Rose gave a short laugh. "Yeah, things got really complicated, so I had to stay permanently."

"And him?" Trent asked, tipping his chin toward Dorian. "He your brother or something?"

Dorian blinked, his fingers flexed under the table.

Rose didn't answer immediately, so Trent shrugged and added with a smirk, "He kinda looks like you. Just... more intense." He squinted. "A lot more intense."

"He's... staying with me," Rose said with a smile.

Trent didn't pick up on the shift. "Oh, cool. That makes sense. You always had that 'protective big sister' vibe going on in class."

Rose only smiled in response, but it didn't reach her eyes. She was trying too hard to remain calm, so she wouldn't trigger Dorian.

Trent looked like he wanted to say more but stopped. Then he glanced toward a nearby alley and scratched the back of his head.

"Hey... do you mind stepping aside for a second? I wanted to talk to you privately... just catching up."

As he said that, he gently reached down and took her hand carefully. Rose's cheeks turned a pale pink when she felt his fingers close around hers.

He flashed Dorian a smile and turned to leave with her, but—

Screeeeeeech

Trent froze, his eyes went to Dorian, who hadn't moved, yet his hands were beneath the table, and he could've sworn he saw something drip to the ground.

He didn't bother to look away from Dorian, because with how he stared at him, one move would actually cost him a body part...ironically.

'Wait, why am I even terrified of a kid?'

Trent asked himself. He opened his mouth to speak, but Dorian beat him to it.

"Let go of her hand," he said in a calm voice. A little too calm. It already had Rose panicking.

Trent blinked. "Uh—sorry?"

"I said let go... of Rose's hand. Now."

Rose quickly pulled her hand back before Trent could reply, and she moved over to Dorian and took both his hands.

When she touched the warm liquid that trickled down his wrist, and the sharp stick that poked into her fingers, her eyes widened.

"Dorian, he's harmless. I know him," she quickly said.

Dorian didn't look away. He just scoffed,

"A guy that looks like he's going to eat you if he had the chance."

Trent took a small step back, laughing awkwardly. "Okay, wow, wasn't trying to start anything—"

"You were just trying to take her away from a secure location in an open area with three exits and a blind alley ten feet away," Dorian said, still not blinking. "That is not normal. It's suspicious and is deserving of punishment."

Trent looked between them again, confused and a little pale now.

"I... I was just gonna ask if she wanted to see some old classmates. There's a hangout spot nearby. I didn't mean any harm."

Rose exhaled slowly and withdrew her hands, wiping them on the napkin on the desk. Then she placed one on Dorian's hand and smiled.

"Hey. He's just clueless, not dangerous."

Dorian tilted his head a little and relaxed, but his hand didn't return to the table.

Trent forced a weak laugh. "Man... you've got a real guardian dog here, huh?"

Dorian smiled. "Dog implies loyalty, so yes."

Rose stepped between them before Dorian said anything else.

"Thanks for checking on me, Trent. But I'm fine. We both are. Tell the others I said hi if you see them."

Trent nodded slowly, still glancing at Dorian. "Yeah... sure. I'll call you, so stay safe, okay?"

He backed off like someone leaving a bear cage, waved one last time, and disappeared into the crowd.

Once he was gone, Rose turned back to Dorian.

"You didn't have to act like that."

"He touched you."

"He used to sit beside me in training and steal my lunch."

"And now he wanted to take you down an alley."

"It's not that deep."

"It is very deep."

Rose opened her mouth to reply, then closed it. She just watched him stab the waffle and stuff it into his mouth.

"...You really like waffles, don't you?"

Dorian nodded frantically with a mouth full. "They always made that at the lab, and it somehow always tastes better every time," he smiled. "At least I don't suspect this."

Rose gave him a wry look. "You're talking like you didn't just scare off a grown man."

Dorian swallowed what was in his mouth and pointed at her. "He wouldn't be scared if he had pure intentions."

"Or maybe he thought you were a paranoid, dangerous child."

Dorian shrugged. "If it keeps creeps away, then it's not paranoia."