‘A Raven with Blood on its Wings’ // OxO // OPEN

“What are you going to do?” She frowned. “If you don’t complete your mission within a few weeks…”

"I'll figure something out. I always do." he shrugs, straightening the cuffs of his black jacket.

“Fine, then. Meet up with me later at our normal spot near the cafe, okay?” She sighed and stood up. “Don’t get caught.”

"Okay." he nods, before smiling.

"Same to you."

He disappears around the corner.

That evening, she was sitting in their usual meet up spot in a park near a small cafe. She was sitting at the entrance of the park on a bench wearing a maroon colored dress that went down to her knees.

He shows up wearing just a simple charcoal grey suit, a titanium watch flashing on his wrist.

He smiles when he sees Reia.

"Good evening." he says, offering a hand to her.

She smiled as she took his hand and stood up. “Well, you’re acting very gentleman-ey this evening.”

"Hm? Aren't I always a gentleman?" he chuckles, examining her dress with appreciation.

“Mm, most of the time.” She walked with him along one of the pathways in the park. “So, how was work?”

"'Most of the time?' When have I not been a gentleman?" he grins.

"Oh, work was work. I delayed our search for you by finding a meaningless 'clue' to track you down with. A clue that was actually just a cleverly planted map of the area with a strange stain around one specific location." he sighs.

“You know, you can’t keep stalling for forever.” She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “They’re going to catch you.”

"I can stall as long as I need, and then if need be. . . I can flee to wherever you are. Being a wanted criminal on you behalf wouldn't be that bad." he shrugs. But he also thinks, 'I'm not sure I could do that. . . we both know I follow the rules too closely.'

“Being a wanted criminal wouldn’t be that bad?” She snorted. “Well, I don’t know about that one…”

"Well, I did say on your behalf. After all, we all know that any other way, and I'd have joined you already, or I'd have turned you in." he sighs.

“I’m kind of surprised you haven’t already,” she said. “I mean, I’m not doubting you, but… it’s easy to melt under all this pressure.”

"Mmmmm. . . you know I'm no stranger to being stuck between a rock and a hard place. After all, we've been friends for a long while now. You remember what my household was like." he shrugs.

“Well, to be honest, I’m just glad you got out of that situation.” She gently nudged him and forced a small smile. “But hey, let’s go do something. Get our minds off of all that.”

"I am too. . ." he nods.

He looks over at her and pinches one of her cheeks playfully.

"C'mon, lemme see a proper smile." he grins.

She laughed and swatted at her hand. “You’re such an idiot sometimes.”

"Yeah, but you find it endearing. If I remember right, you befriended me because I was such a doofus." he replies with a soft laugh.

“Well, I don’t know if that’s the only reason I befriended you…”

"I think it was a major one. I didn't have much of a sense of humor, after all." he replies.

“Oh, shut up. You have a fine sense of humor, love.”

"Sweetie, my sense of humor is broken. I laugh at people being dumb enough to be in the warpath of an angry horse." he snorts.

“Oh, I already know that.” She smiled. “So, where do you wanna go? What do you wanna do?”

"Fair, you do know that." he chuckles.

"Let's go get something to eat. I got off of work and got changed, and I am absolutely famished."

“Well then, you decide where we go to eat, alright?”

"I decided last time. You decide this time." he replies, shaking his head.

“There’s a nice restaurant down the road,” she suggested. “We could go there.”

"Sounds good." he smiles, taking the lead and stepping out of the park.