jaws clenched ， avoiding saying more things she couldn’t finish.

“fine,” she muttered under a heavy sigh. “worried. that you might be in a ditch somewhere. that our last meeting ever would’ve been just me drunkenly insulting you the whole night. it was stupid.”

“well ， i wasn’t exactly waiting, i—” her eyes darted towards the food in her hand ， fingernails scraping on the paper box—unable to dodge it this time.

instead ， she took a plate ， a set of cutlery ， and put the warmed up box of takeout in front of him.

“i was hoping for a sign of life ， at least.” she shrugged ， shaking her head.

with the sound of the microwave’s timer ， she turned around once more ， taking the food out. “you don’t need to protect me ， i know the risk.”

oh ， now he sounds persistent.

“bigger fish to catch?” an eyebrow was raised. more in curiosity. “your last ‘client’ was sloppy but he got me my promotion too. i could’ve cleared those eyes for you.”

maybe she’s just trying to keep them grounded. wouldn’t want to take the wrong step if he won’t be there ， she thinks.

“i figured you were in hiding or something,” she set the timer on the microwave to heat up the food ‪﹠. turned back to see him. “didn’t think you’d be hiding from me.”

“yeah ， yeah ， whatever.” despite her bitter tone ， as soon as she closed the fridge and walked to the microwave ， a rather involuntary smile flashed on her face for a second.

“at least that isn’t happening in my apartment. i’m not liable for that.”

she took the small takeout boxes ， ones with the chinese stall across the street stamped on the lid.

“i would’ve gotten something fresh to cook if i know you’d be here. i don’t want to be liable for food poisoning.”

with an annoyed groan ， she got up from the couch ， lazily dragging her feet to the fridge.

“leftovers ， something stale ， something old. take your pick.”

“not sure i want to,” with a low groan ， she turned around ， hands still wrapped around her chest ‪﹠. eyes finally opening up to look at him.

“you’re here for free breakfast? is that it?”

“i don’t remember.”

sensing he’s even closer ， she’d sigh rather loudly. though ， her body stayed still—limbs too heavy to be moved.

“𝙗𝙤𝙝. i really do not remember anything.”

she buried herself deeper into the crevices of the couch ， face planted on the fabric.

“help yourself to the fridge … or whatever.”

alright ， that makes sense ， somehow.

“get out,” one hand was flailing around to find a couch pillow ， hoping to throw one at him. “you’re not real.”

the most welcomed—unwelcomed guest. he could’ve just get on that janky elevator and knock instead of looking like a petty thief.

sure thing. most of their encounters were just coincidences ， then?

careful there ， sounds like he’s the worried one.

and sit through a two hours queue? it’s a waste of time.

or a concussion ， not sure.

the buzzing of cheap electronics ‪﹠. the faint him of neon bleeds through the blinds ， enough to wake her up with annoyance ‪﹠. a headache.

élise rêvornay ， intergalactic investigator ，
ad—vice division ， galactic investigation bureau.

an original character crafted for the science—fiction / neo—noir / fantasy verses.