#feubrulantis

          “--- Excuse me? Not fast enough for your liking?“

     The mere implication that the speed of his operations weren’t up to snuff made Roman go stiff, his hand stopped right at his pocket before he could grab his lighter. He’d be lying if he denied any possible hint of fear at the moment. He’d have to be blind to not acknowledge the risks that come with earning the displeasure of Cinder Fall... But the emotion that vastly overshadowed that glimmer of fear was irritation.

     It didn’t matter to Roman just how strong his employer was; just where does she get off on criticizing him on how the crime lord played his own game? Surely she must have some idea on how complex these operations could be. Just because there was the occasional Dust store that one could walk up to and rob with little worry, such examples were the exception, not the rule. With a blatant scoff of annoyance, Roman turned around to meet Cinder’s gaze directly for his incoming tangent.

HEY

“ ... Promise me you won’t do anything reckless when you go out with Watts and the others... ”

Crimson eyes flickered upwards, watching Cinder as she walked; As she moved from one length of the room to the other. Her back was aflame with pain but that was... nothing new. There was always a constant low thrum and it worsened when the metallic implant that ran the length of her spine needed upgrading or replacing. Emerald hated those days-...

A faint clear of her throat echoed the stagnant lab, disinfectant reeking in the air.

“Cinder?” The thief was slow to move, any minor jarring gesture causing that burning sensation to flare like the ebb and flow of water. When the hell were these painkillers going to kick in? 

Emerald’s jaw set, legs dangling off the bed she had woken up on. It was always hard to understand what was going through Cinder Fall’s mind, her expression always seeming to be some form of pleasant lie that she could never decipher. Hopefully, nothing had gone wrong again.

Please, let everything have gone to plan this time.

    “ I don’t understand what you of all people could possibly want      from me. Aren’t you getting tired of all of this? Wasting your time      chasing after someone you murdered? Nice cover up... by the      way... letting my friends think I’m dead. ”

OH MY GOD