Shadows are more than darkness

Devil lifted his menu, amber eyes peering in a squint over his sunglasses to read it over. “I think she’s at the age where she recognizes an armed escort,” he said carefully.

“She probably resents it. What teenage girl wouldn’t, if she’s trying to live a normal life? No privacy. I imagine you and I are the compromise, and what she doesn’t know won’t kill her. …Will protect her, in fact.”

“I’ve known our friend Great White for a long time; awful man, but loves his kid. We’ve been in and out of business for years now.”

Seline hadn’t had much interaction with anybody in the Americas having based her entire life in Europe. Even her hire with Great White had been through one of her previous contacts. It was flattering that he would go so far to come for her, regardless of the job. Only the best for his daughter from the sounds of it.

“By my own estimation I’m entirely reasonable. If I can’t get along with myself I probably run a bad business.” He was grinning. Something about her smile– and the teeth that showed beneath it– was a bit magnetic. Alluring maybe, in how different it was.

Maybe Devil just wasn’t ready to admit that he got excited in seeing someone else who wasn’t quite normal. But before he went on, his head tilted.

“Would you like breakfast? I was about to order. We have a good view from here and I’m seeing at least an hour before her class lets out…”

“I won’t say no.”  Seline answered with a chuckle.  Regardless of whatever other faults she had heard whispered or that his own comments had suggested at, he was charming.  It was a charm that could be make this job more than just a job, but it could also make things more dangerous. 

She had learned that dropping your guard too far only allowed you to be a better target to be used. 

His handshake was light and easy, self-assured. “I’m hardly expecting this to be a tough job, but I guess that’s kudo’s to Great White for hiring double for his little girl.”

Devil shrugged– he knew jack shit about parenting, but understood this was walking a fine line between over-prepared and smothering. Not his call, though.

“I’ll try not to be too much of a handful for you.”

A hint of her usually hidden fangs peaked through the amused smile at his reassurance. Something about that statement told he was often seen as difficult by a number of others. 

“Difficult are you?” Her tone was almost teasing, for all that her attention returned to spotting any potential threat.  Still quiet but it wouldn’t be until the girl got out of class that something was likely to come up. 

“Seems fairly self-explanatory.”

Off on the right foot– that was good enough for him. Usually he dealt with too many egos to get a word in, and usually they ended up dead. A feminine touch, maybe. Or she was just smart enough to play her hand well. “I’ve got my eyes where they ought to be. I know what I’m doing.”

Devil gave a gentle smile and leaned further into his seat. “Interesting accent. Where are you from?” 

Seline had no reason to argue with someone she was supposed to be working with.  Unless her life or the job was at stake she was usually willing to ignore the ego trips some people felt the need for.  So far it didn’t look like she needed to this time around. 

Thank the heavens that was the case.  The few times she had been required to work with others she had been on the receiving end of some rather misogynistic behavior, one time of which ended up with a death and a failure.  The death of the man she didn’t care about.  The failure of the task she was hired for still rankled.

Codenames were easier, Devil had learned over his many years at work. Easier to meet people, easier to keep his distance, easier to file taxes appropriately. Amber eyes wandered over her, taking note of the claws, the dark hair, the marble pallor to her skin. Sizing her up, checking her out, it was all the same to him.

Sunglasses hid it alright, though. “In the flesh.”

A gloved hand finally reached out, an offer to take hers in a gentle grip. “Pleasure to meet you. Let it be known I don’t usually work security with a second detail, but… at least you’re easy on the eyes.”

An eyebrow rose as he offered her his hand.  Not so much the gesture as much as the flirtation.  Not that she was offended by it as evidenced by the fact that she took his hand.  It wouldn’t have been the first time. 

She smiled again, obviously amused rather than irritated.  “Unfortunately for you I’m not the one you are supposed to be looking at.” She once again turned her gaze to the outside, casting about for any possible threats.  Still clear.  Good. 

Devil didn’t move much save for a polite, cloying smile up at her. He sipped his coffee, and finally lifted a gloved hand to push his glasses down. “Good morning. A little early for my tastes, but work is work.”

“You look like you’re working too. Skydancer, is it?” He lifted a hand to tip his hat at her. “Howdy.” 

A clawed hand gently wrapped around the cup to lift it to her lips.  Fortunately, for the most part, most people in the modern world simply saw them as fake nails rather than the deadly weapons they actually were.  She was odd, but not a notable odd.

 “I will have to agree with you about the earliness.” She inclined her head in return to his greeting and confirmation as to her identity.  “I prefer to do much of my work when the sun isn’t quite so high in the sky.”  

Still those same ‘defects’ helped defend their town against the predators that would descend on the livestock pens or against bandits intent on a quick profit.  As she grew older however, it was made clear to her that this wasn’t going to be a place where she would be welcome as anything but a superior guard dog that could communicate better than any of the other mongrels that watched the flocks. 

So when her elderly parents died, she packed up and left without a glance back.   Life in the wider world was difficult.  Her animal-like mutations weren’t entirely hidden, nor were they regarded with anything resembling acceptance; Seline knew that she would struggle regardless of where she went until she managed to learn how to hide in plain sight. 

So, she turned to being hired for what she could do.  If she couldn’t help the claws or the superior senses then she would make every effort to get paid for what she did.