Chapter 3
I run my fingers through my hair and gather it all up in my grip, feeling the cold air hit the back of my neck as the beads of sweat falling down my neck cool down. My hands sore as i fix up the pieces of mechanical manoeuvres like a puzzle, firing and screwing bits into place, my tinted binoculars shielding my eyes as i feel my sweat mix with the tar oil, its black smudges reminding me of her. The strong smell of metal and fire fills the room, soon mixing with the scent of cigars as i turn around to see my customers lips wrapped around it, the smoke leaving her lips in thick and heavy clouds. Now obviously disturbed, i frown and turn back around to finish up her arm in less time to get her out.
Finally in my studio alone, i lean back against my chair, sigh and close my eyes, realising I didn’t see as much people as i did in the past couple of weeks. I could feel something was up and i was quickly proven right.
“Gotcha”
i throw my head up at the sound of her voice, she wasn’t covered in the black makeup and sweat anymore, i could see her face clearer now. I narrowed my eyes out of curiosity, “your not on the ring?”, i spoke in a slight bit of confusion and some amusement as it started to make sense why i haven been having as many people come see me. She had that smirk on her face, that smirk that made her look infinitely more appealing and made me in equally amounts more annoyed.
“Figured i might give you a break, cupcake”
“Don’t touch that…”
I spoke as i watch her walk around and mess around with my tools, watching as she hisses in pain and flinch away after touching a tool i just used and was freshly still hot “Ow!. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at how all her arrogance be replaced with embarrassment after that, smiling to my self as i turn around and continue working on one out of my many unfinished projects for the periods of having something to do with my hands. My hands moving expertly, steady as every movement is of purpose. Soon i feel a soft blow of wind over my shoulder and all of a sudden my heart skips a beat and my hands pause in their movement, I could feel her leaning over me and watching my movements carefully, i don’t stop nor do i push her away. Silently she watches as i do what i do best, my eyes glued to my movements as hers move up to my face. Not even noticing as i was too deep into my thought process which I'm very quickly snapped out of as i feel her softly blow against my face, i swiftly turn to her to notice how close she’s been this whole time, catching me slightly off guard.
“I thought you didn’t need any ‘fixing up’?”
I said as i quoted her own words from what felt like years ago but in reality was a couple of weeks only. I tilted my head with an amused little smile as i was now curious why she was really here. I watched her eyes glanced down at my smile before back up at my eyes and quickly look away to what she could mess with next. I watch as she leans away and turn back, my attention drawn to the dragon design on her black leather jacket, tilting my head to the side and into my hand as i move down her figure, a body of a fighter and yet so…
“Just checking on you, you know, from the last time i saw you”
“I’m fine, i promise”
I responded in a small bit of confusion and amusement as i never would have thought she would even care, feeling a small tinge of warmness reach my untouched heart, allowing a small smile to creep up my lips watching as her eyes catch them. She scoffs softly as she glances away in the same level of amusement.
“Of course you are… i guess i came here for my own curiosity then”
I watched as she spoke with her voice somewhat softer, refusing to look me in the eye as she spoke, her hands fidgeting with my tools again. I smirked softly at the fact that I wasn’t the only one replaying the small conversation we had, trying hard to stop the feeling of my stomach fluttering take over me. I glance down and undo my hair as i feel it tight holding up my hair, running my fingers through it as it falls down around my face.
“I’ve been curious too then…”
I spoke in i way i wish i never did, my voice vulnerable, all the threat and coldness diffusing away with no struggle. I glance up at her, curious and still impressed at her ability.
“How did you even learn to take down these big and threatening men?”
She pauses, her hands freezing for a second as she glances back at me with a small sparkle in here eyes, surprised like no one ever asked her that, no one ever cared to know who she was. She smiles softly and glances back at one of my old inventions she hold in her hands, picking at it gently as to make sure it doesn’t come undone in her hands.
“You learn when you live in the undercity… you must know”
I bite the inside of my cheek softly and glances away as if to not look suspicious that i really don’t know.
“Don’t you?”
She asked as she turned to me even more curiously with a raised eyebrow after seeing how clearly suspicious i look. I glanced back at her with a small almost guilty smile, raising my shoulder as i speak in a low voice hoping she wont hear me.
“Not really…”
“I always had these to… compensate”
i said as i glanced around at all the tools hung on the wall, all the mechanical limbs and body parts I’ve made, using them as a gateway to get into almost the entire of Zauns good side now. I watch her face intently just to see a wave of sadness and a small bit of bitterness wash over her and i could feel the small ache in my heart just thinking of everything she had to deal with… probably even as a child.
“I knew someone like that”
“Not a fighter but smart… way smarter than me”
She chuckled as if to lift the heaviness in her voice. Up to that point I never thought of my self as an empathetic person, after all we where in the Undercity but she somehow did. I held onto the edge of my chair a little tighter as i knew there was no going back now after i heard that chuckle of hers. I sighed as i had a softness in my expression i never had before as i got up and stood across her, leaning against the shelf filled with failed projects, smiling softly.
“You have to be pretty smart to fight the way you do Vi”
Once again i could see that small glimmer in her eyes but much longer know and looking straight into me, seeing the more innocent and pretty side of a ruthless and bloody fighter, never knowing how much that look would make me feel so weak in the knees. I saw as she chuckled softly, back to her cocky smirk, shaking her head softly as she spoke teasingly this time.
“Never know you where such a flirt, cupcake”
“Get out of my shop”
“Ok”
I tried hard not to chuckle at her immediate surrender as she slowly walked out, dramatically blowing me a kiss before she left. I could feel the remains of the heavy air after she left, mixed with a small flutter in my heart. I bit the nail at my thumb as i caught my self smiling as I played over our conversation again and again, i quickly snapped my self out of it after catching my self being all vulnerable and flustered and finding it quiet stupid. I was interrupted with once again another client even before i could think about her again, but apparently that wouldn’t stop my mind from wandering off… wandering very far off.