“I guess that means this kind of reunion won’t become a monthly kind of thing. ...Maybe it’s for the best, though. Some of them do worry me a bit... They seem a bit too trigger-happy.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, my Kitty! They all sound like a nice, happy, and merry bunch of killers!”
Eden rolled her eyes almost by reflex.
“I haven’t heard from you in a while, Loir...”
“Well, it was boring to only listen... The Edge part got me excited, though! Oh, but then it also got me very nervous, then I had to roll my butt to the bathroom, and... Oh! Did you know that eating mushroom pizza actually makes your–”
“I. Don’t. Want. To. Know.”
“Oh... Well, let’s just say my train exited the tunnel at a mighty speed!”
Eden put her hand on her head.
“My God, Loir, do you ever stop saying such gross stuff like that? Stop it. Nobody wants to know. Just... tell me if you’ve picked up anything new and then we’ll go back upstairs so you can shut up.”
“Well, there’s definitely some action coming up for my favorite kitties,” he sighed. “I have all my radars lightning up, it looks like Santa’s village in December! The Core is planning some nice little show out there, probably not too happy about having two of their favorite cat doors blown open...”
Eden grimaced. So they were definitely preparing for strong action as well... most likely the consequence of the previous attack. Neither side could wait any longer before attacking.
“...How long do we have?”
“Uh... I’m not sure Kitty, but I don’t think you should make a reservation for dinner tomorrow night...”
Eden sighed, but Dante put another kiss against her temple, gently.
“It will be alright,” he muttered. “...I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“You should worry about yourself first,” Eden retorted. “I need you, and a lot more people do too. Don’t worry about me, I can–”
“Eden.”
She stopped, meeting his cold eyes in the reflection. He had heard those words before, and she had said them a hundred times. Eden bit her tongue, swallowing them back. Her mental defenses were so well built that she would utter those words without even thinking. However, she knew she needed his support. Something she didn’t need before, a need that had been built by their relationship. Something choked her up a little. They were both used to risking their lives daily and seeing death. The other’s importance in their lives was the only new factor, and Eden wondered if that made her stronger or more dependent. She couldn’t decide.
“...I trust you,” she finally decided to say.
Dante smiled back. This wasn’t an “I love you”, but it was all she had to convey right then. He released his grip a little, so Eden managed to turn around and get on her toes to put a kiss on his lips.
“...Let’s go back,” she muttered before the Tiger was tempted to try and have more.
The brief disappointment in Dante’s eyes didn’t escape her, but there was no way she’d agree to anything more than a kiss in another Zodiac’s lair. She already had enough to worry about as it was, and she didn’t want to miss too much of the meeting either. She turned again, toward the door this time, and while Dante left his arm around her shoulders, they left the bathroom together without a word.
To their surprise, the Dragon himself was waiting for them outside. Eden stopped, surprised.
“...What about the meeting?”
“Oh, the meeting is still ongoing,” nodded the Dragon, “but see, an old man also needs a bathroom break once in a while...”
He visibly had no intention to walk into the bathroom, though. Even as they stepped aside, his eyes followed them, but the Dragon didn’t move an inch, making Eden very uneasy. He had been waiting for them to come out of there, hadn’t he? She could feel Dante was tense too.
“...Is there anything you wanted to tell us?” she finally asked, a bit impatient.
The Old Man smiled cunningly and tilted his head with a sinister expression. Until then, he had looked like any gentle grandpa, but now he was as scary as an old snake... His eyes were on her too and Eden could almost feel Dante ready to jump at any moment. The relative peace between the Zodiacs really was barely hanging by a thread...
“I’ve watched you for a while, little Eden, but you have grown to be an even more surprising woman than your father thought, haven’t you?”
“...Thanks.”
