drinks

It wasn’t all that long ago that Reese had the cold metal of his gun pressed into Viero’s back, but now they sat face to face in a booth, each nursing one of the Nine of Cups' famous cocktails. This bar was safe, according to Vie, but Reese knew better than to get sloshed with possible eyes and ears on him. Viero was into her second drink and melting into her seat.
Far, far too trusting of a contract killer. Reese thought to himself while he watched her run fingers through her hair, letting loose some of the tightly spun curls.

“So, how did you get into cloud surfing? I’d never heard of it before I heard of you.” Reese tried for some small talk, and the question got Viero chatting more than she would sober. 

“Well, I’ve always known about it… it’s a pretty popular sport here.” It was. It had to be for Viero's influence to be what it is.

“And I’ve always loved that sky. Like... wanted to feel it. Just headed out to a surf class one day to try it out and it’s all I’ve done since, you know?” Her voice and face softened while talking about her passion. Reese preferred it to the other upset and scared looks she'd given him before.

“Does it feel like anything? The sky, I mean. Surely you can’t feel much through your suits, otherwise you’d be electrocuted to death.”

“Mmm… yeah.” Vie chuckled, not fazed by the thought of dying out in the atmosphere. "But the adrenaline is special, you know? And not knowing where the wind will take you, you just gotta ride the wave. And there is a bit of electricity. Not a shock though… it’s like a thrum. Makes your body feel warm and alive, like when you’re with someone.”

Vie was satisfied with her answer, but Reese took a thoughtful sip of his drink with a furrow in his brow. "Sounds strange. I don’t know what that feels like. What you mean by 'with someone'... you mean a partner?"

“Mhmm… with Beetle. His name is Feliks but I call him Beetle.” Just the mention of him made Viero sigh wistfully, and Reese felt a pang of jealousy he didn't expect. “I’ve known him forever but… he’s so beautiful. I’m lucky he’s somehow my boyfriend.”

No more questions. The Viero he was paid to kill was stubborn and reckless, a threat to Provident propaganda. But they never told him that she'd be compassionate and sentimental. That when faced with a killer, she'd gently peel his fingers from his weapon and want to give him a chance.

That kind of trust can be dangerous. Reese knew this, because he'd been taught to take advantage of it. Viero either didn't know that or didn't care. She playfully kicked his foot when his face became too stern.

Viero finished her third glass, Reese pulled it away from her before she could get a refill. "You’ve had enough of that.”

She just laughed. “Probably, yeah.”

He took a hard look at her before he stood. His feelings about her were as unsure as they could be. Not that long ago she was his prey, but now she was… something else.

“I’m walking you home.” It wasn't phrased as a question or a request. Reese stood in front of her side of the booth and offered out his hand, which she tentatively took.

“That’s sweet of you, but you don’t gotta-”

“I’m not the only bounty hunter in this side of space.” He answered quickly, and that shut her right up. Teal eyes were slightly wide, as if she'd never considered that before. Far too trusting.

Reese helped her to her feet and covered the check before leading her out of the bar.

"I’m getting you home to Feliks.”

She didn't object. They walked with her leading the way and him lagging slightly behind, eyes flicking down every alleyway and corner, just in case. 

Viero was no longer his prey… but that didn't mean he'd just let anyone take her away from him.