by S D Rogue
It was quiet for a moment. Then Riko asked, “So you and Bashir seem pretty friendly.”
Hana didn’t answer.
“Free advice? Girl to girl?”
“Sure.”
“It would never work out,” Riko warned. “I know he’s cute, but he’s also…fast.” She paused for effect, and added, “How do I put this? If you and him got together…he’d burn you raw down there.”
Hana didn’t speak. She looked down and thought, She’s basically a monster.
“That’s why the two of us were so perfect for each other. Speed is my ability, so speed was never a problem.”
“Doesn’t seem like it worked out alright.”
“That was never the problem,” Riko explained. “Bashir will tell you that much. He still thinks about me—about when we were together. You can see it in the way he looks at me. His eyes still practically burn with lust.” She added, “We’re just motivated by different things.”
###
After breakfast more people were on the street. She watched them hurrying along the sidewalk rushing to work; the chaos reminded her of New York.
Riko took her to what she said was the fashion district of Tokyo: Ginza. The area was lined with large flagship stores, many which Hana had never heard of, but for every foreign brand there was a Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Saint Laurent. Most of the stores didn’t open for another hour.
“I think this one will be your best option,” Riko said at the entrance of Mitsukoshi. “They’ll definitely have something your type.”
What’s my type? Hana almost asked. The store was on the corner and was several stories tall; a large black and white portrait of a fashion model in a dress towered above the entrance and stretched the entire length of the multistory building. The doors were locked, but the lights were on.“What time do they open?”
“Eleven for everyone else, but for me, they’ll open now.” She tapped on the glass door, and a young Japanese woman came from around a corner and held the door open. Riko said something in Japanese and they both turned and laughed in Hana’s direction. Riko motioned her inside. “Come on.”
The woman spoke to Riko again in Japanese, then left quickly in the opposite direction.
“Friend of yours?”
“Something like that,” Riko said as they passed the makeup counters. “What do you wear when you’re not trying to be so sloppy?”
“Dresses?” Hana said.
“Do you have a favorite designer?”
Hana shrugged. “I like Zara, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs...”
Riko rolled her eyes, annoyed. “You’re so American.”
She held up a very plain black outfit. “You should go with conservative,” Riko explained. “Japanese don’t like people who show it off—cover up what you have.”
Hana looked at Riko curiously; she was wearing a tight leather skirt and V-neck top. Her giant boobs nearly flopped out and Hana couldn’t figure out how she was keeping them in. She had kept quiet about most of Riko’s comments but couldn’t resist saying, “They must love you.”
“Some men do. It’s the role I play. I’m an agent—this is the look I need to get the job done. I’d never wear it around my family, of course. But if I’m not at home, I’m working.” Riko said, unfazed by the comment. “But you don’t need to worry about looking sexy or calling attention to yourself. You’re just a nurse—a basic girl.”
Hana gave her a dirty look.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
Of course you did!
“I just mean that you are an ordinary person. You get the luxury of being normal.”
Riko’s friend from the store returned and looked at the dress that Riko had picked out. “This would look perfect on you,” her friend said. “It’s just your type.”
Hana walked to a collection of Tom Ford dresses. The woman stood in front of her. “This really isn’t for you.”
“Excuse me?”
Riko came to her side. “She just means it’s a little too—formal.” She looked at the woman. “We want something more…every day.”
The woman walked them to a section of the store that was clearly marketed to older Japanese women.
“Got anything trendier?” Hana asked.
“Trendier?” the woman said, confused.
“You don’t want trendy—not here. Trendy makes you stand out.”
Despite some protest, Hana left the story with the most basic clothes she had ever seen. She knew Riko had done it to be mean, but she also knew that she had a point—she didn’t need fashionable clothes. She needed practical and simple. Clothes that didn’t turn heads. At least until whatever this was, was over.
###
After shopping, they went around the corner to a tea house. Embry was seated at a table in the back corner when they walked in and stood and waved when she saw them.
“I hope you don’t mind that I invited Embry to join us,” Riko said. “She’s been so bored since she got here.” Before Hana could answer, Riko said, “Show her what you got—Embry has even better taste than me. She’ll tell you if I did right.”
Embry grabbed the bag before Hana could agree.
These women are like vultures, Hana thought as Embry shuffled through it.
Embry held up a bra high in the air, and said, “Does this bra even fit you?”
Several people in the restaurant turned and stared as Hana’s face turned red.
“Sorry,” Embry said unapologetically, “I guess I shouldn’t have said that so loud.”
Hana immediately knew she’d be ganged up on and wanted nothing more than to go home.
“Relax,” Embry said at Hana’s apparent unease, “we are just giving you the new girl hazing. There aren’t a lot of female Paladins, so we are still working out the kinks to out welcoming.”
“You got a lot of work still.”
Embry smiled and handed the bag back. “It’s not pretty, but it will do. It’s exactly what you need right now.” She looked at the table. “Sit—let’s have tea. It will help you unwind.”
“So you and Leith?” Riko immediately said as she sat down.
Embry looked over at her and blushed. “Me and Leith?”
“Oh, come on!” Riko laughed, “I’ve seen those looks you’ve been giving each other. And I saw you both sneak out onto the balcony last night.”
Embry smiled. “Well I don’t kiss and tell.”
“So there was kissing?” Riko asked.
Embry rolled her eyes. “You know how it is being a Paladin—you are always on the lookout for guys who compliment your power. I think there could be something there—we’ll see.” Embry looked to Hana, who was quietly sipping tea and doing her best not to interact. “And you and Bashir? What’s that about?”
“Just two people who got caught up in something.” She looked at her annoyed, “I barely knew Bashir until he showed up at my door a few nights ago and asked for help.”
Embry looked at her intensely. “Well it looks like it’s more than that now.”
Chapter Eleven
A
fter tea, Embry suggested they do more shopping, but Hana made an excuse to return back to the EHA. She had had more than enough of Embry and Riko for one day. The tea was nearly an hour of bragging and passive aggressive insults.
Frank was near the elevator when she stormed in. He tried to say something, but she ignored him, and went straight for her room.
Frank came to her room with a plate of lunch not long after. “Thought you might be hungry?” he said when she opened the door.
“Thanks.” Hana grabbed the plate and immediately started eating. “I’m actually starved. Riko insisted I eat fish for breakfast while I watched her gorge on pastries and orange juice and lecture me about how fat I’d be when I hit 30.” She inhaled deeply as she continued, “Then it all finished with meeting up with Embry for some bizarre hazing ritual where Embry held up a bra and told
the whole restaurant that my boobs were too small for it.”
Frank laughed.
“It’s not funny.”
“She just sounds like a real piece of work.”
Hana nodded, “It was torture. She took me shopping and just kept telling me how basic I was and only wanted me to wear the kinds of things even my grandma would think was a little too old.”
“Oh, dear,” Frank said, rubbing her back. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Frank nodded and took a seat on the edge of her bed. “I talked to Bashir over breakfast.”
Hana looked up but tried not to sound too interested. “Why?”
“Just wanted to see what he thought of you.”
Hana didn’t say anything. She stared, waiting for him to speak.
“Ok then,” Frank said, “you must be tired, so I’ll let you rest—see you at dinner?”
“You’re really going to make me ask?” Hana said, annoyed, as he stood.
“Ask what?” Frank teased.
“You know what.”
“Bashir?” Frank asked. “You told me last night you were over him.”
“I am,” Hana lied.
“Then who cares what he thinks.” Frank smiled.
“Ugh, Frank! Stop being so lame.”
“I’m not the one running from something that could be good for you,” Frank pointed out. “You admit that you are interested, and I’ll tell you what he said.”
Hana stared him down and finally said, “Frank, you know I’m ex-special ops?”
He nodded.
“Do you know in training, they taught me five ways to torture a person and make them plead for death in the hand alone?”
Frank looked at Hana, surprised. “You can be real nasty sometimes—why don’t you show that trait off to the people who deserve it—like Riko?” He asked, then added, “Since you’re just going to keep being a stubborn brat—he said it was complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“Complicated.”
“What does that mean?” Hana said annoyed.
Frank shrugged. “Why don’t you ask him?” He stood and walked to the door. “He’s a good guy, Hana—but he’s not going to wait forever. If you want to play the ‘I don’t date paladins’ card, fine—I’ll still be your friend, but please don’t make me listen to you once you realize how dumb you were and he’s already moved on.”
###
Hana went downstairs not long after Frank left. She casually strolled the second floor expecting to find Bashir in one of the entertainment rooms. She didn’t want him to know that she was looking for him, but she wanted him to know that she was back.
The housing floor of the EHA was nearly deserted. The teens were playing video games in the movie screening room. They were playing a Nintendo Switch game, which made her instantly think about Mario Kart and Bashir.
“Want a turn?” Alex asked, holding up a controller.
“I’m good.”
“She’s too old.” Finn smirked. “No offense.”
Hana rolled her eyes. “Give me the controller.” Still standing, Hana intently stared at the large screen and took control of Donkey Kong in a buggy. She maneuvered the kart with ease past each of the other characters and won the race. She tossed the controller back to Alex, who studied her with surprised curiosity.
“Is video games your superpower?”
“It’s every woman’s superpower.” She smiled then turned and left the room.
At the library, Kenna was seated at a desk intensely studying the text of a large reference work. “He’s not here,” she said, not looking up.
Hana looked at her curiously as she stepped into the room. A few seconds later, Kenna looked up. “Bashir—he’s not here. He, Dallas, York and a few others left about two hours ago. They’ll be back later today.”
Hana nodded and started to leave.
“How’d shopping go?” She looked over Hana’s outfit and remarked, “I hope that’s not what you got?”
Hana looked at her offended. Kenna was wearing an oversized flannel button up over a black shirt and jeans. “Everyone really cares about fashion at this agency.”
Kenna laughed and nodded at the seat in front of her. “Sit.” As Hana walked over she offered, “I’ve seen it before—Riko takes some girl out and they return with something terrible. It’s sort of her thing. I didn’t mean to offend you. Look at me—I’m not exactly the queen of fashion here.”
“At least it’s not just me.”
“Oh, they’re definitely being worse to you.” Kenna smiled. “I’m surprised Riko hasn’t tried to slip something in your drink. She’s not over Bashir—even if he’s over her.”
“What do you know about that?”
Kenna shrugged. “Most Paladins get squeamish around my testing—they kind of just nervously start rambling about things. I guess they just see me as the nerdy lab girl who wouldn’t dare reveal how vulnerable they are.”
“And yet here you are,” Hana said with a smile.
“Here I am.”
“So what’s your story?” Hana asked, feeling more relaxed around her.
“My origin story?”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
“Nothing spectacular, I’m afraid,” Kenna said softly. “I was a graduate student at John Hopkins—my tuition was being funded by York’s company. He’s a big donor to the school. Late one night I was doing some lab work and just got tired—mixed the wrong chemicals. Long story short, I have crazy sensitive smelling now.”
“Did York trademark whatever chemicals you mixed?” Hana asked. “I’m sure he could make a killing off your misfortune.”
Kenna smiled. “Believe me—he had me do everything I could to retrace my steps, but we were never able to find the right ratio to make it work.”
“How long have you worked with York?”
“About a year.”
“What’s his story? He’s…he’s a good guy?”
Kenna looked up at her oddly. She didn’t answer at first. Finally she acknowledged, “He’s a bit eccentric, but he means well.” She explained. Her tone changed to more cautious, “But you don’t fly a jet like that without hurting a few people along the way—he’s a businessman. He sees people that stand in his way as threats. So just stay out of his path.”
Hana didn’t say anything.
“So, speaking of York—he wanted me to test you.” She looked up at her hopefully. “Busy?”
“What do you need?”
“Just a prick.”
Hana sighed. “Fine.”
Kenna took Hana one floor below the housing suites; as the elevator doors opened, a dimly lit room detected motion and illuminated. A narrow hall stretched from the elevator. There were several unmarked doors.
Kenna led Hana to the end of the hall and scanned her thumb. The door unlocked and inside was a room full of lab equipment. “Welcome to my office.”
“Is this all yours?”
Kenna nodded. “I share it with another guy that works out of the Japan branch. He’s on paternity leave though.” She motioned to a chair near the front of the room. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
Moments later she returned with a small needle and she was wearing latex gloves. “Right hand, please.” Hana extended it towards her and felt a quick prick on her index finger. “All done,” Kenna said, putting a drop of blood onto a microscope slide.
“That’s it?” Hana said, surprised.
She nodded. “I mean, I’d love to run some more tests later—see what you are really capable of. Right now, York just asked me to test your blood.”
###
Hana showered again, then looked at the plain dress she had gotten at the store; she turned to the one that Bashir had gotten her the night everything started. She still had not worn the Theory dress. She looked at the long metallic zipper on the
front. It was industrial—maybe even trendy. It wasn’t conservative, and it would definitely annoy Riko.
She pushed the plain one aside and reached for the Theory dress. “Screw Riko,” she said to herself, slipping it on. She reapplied her makeup and then made her way downstairs, quietly hoping that Bashir was back.
As the elevator door opened, she caught Bashir’s eyes immediately. He walked up to her and said, “I see you had fun shopping.”
Hana rolled her eyes and walked past him. “You don’t even notice this was the dress you picked for me?”
“Guess it just looks better on you then it did on the rack.”
Hana ignored him and walked to the balcony patio. The sun was set and the skyline was now illuminated. She watched people scurry on the sidewalk below, hurrying to get home to their families. She was a little envious as she watched them.
“I take it shopping did not go well?” Bashir said, walking outside.
Hana didn’t answer.
“I guess I should have warned you more about Riko. She can be a handful.” He added sincerely, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you got back.”
“Oh, Riko’s great,” Hana said, looking up. “Most the day she reminded me of how utterly basic I was. Not like her.” Hana explained. “But she did also find time to tell me all about the good times you used to have.”
Bashir’s hand reached over and touched her. “Used to have, Hana.”
Hana rolled her eyes and pushed his hand away. “What is this, Bashir?”
“I kind of thought we were still figuring that out—whatever it is, I like it.”
“That’s not what you told Riko last night,” Hana said.
Bashir looked at her, confused. “Were you spying on us?”
Hana rolled her eyes. “It’s my blessing… my curse. I wasn’t trying to.”
“That was nothing.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing—and trust me. She’s not over you. Not by a long shot.”
“Well I’m over her.” He moved closer. “I like you Hana. I’m sorry you heard otherwise, but that was just me trying to get a nosy ex-girlfriend away from me.”