Your Story in that Stars

Ch. 08

Neeve POV

I woke up earlier than I wanted to, silently pouting as my squinty eyes read my watch, 8:34am. I've only gotten like five hours of sleep. I moved my arm under my pillow but found that space already occupied, I bumped into kyros hand. With a large inhale and a grunt like exhale he snakes his arm back and rolled over to face the balcony door.
I moved also, inching closer to leach off his warmth and in part curiosity. His back was tan and toned, each muscle a hard line accompanied by soft shadows. Ripped shoulders lead down his arms, reaching for his torso. But for as much muscle he had an equal number of scars. Some were purple, most had sank into the skin but some still bubbles. The birthmark on the nape of his neck shadowed by whispy and wide bedhead. Kyro hand layer now on the empty pillow space next to his head, he breathed from his mouth quietly, still sleeping.
I slipped out of the small spaces in the futon bed and I quietly left for my bedroom. My bedroom wasn't anything special. There was a large bed in the center of the wall under the window, cubbies around the wall housed books and general things, a small dresser on the other wall; most of my sweater hung on a hanging rack against the wall with the dresser. I picked up a pile of clothes from my drawers and a towel from the cubbies next to my door.
I snuck past the living room and down into Kyros room, where the bathroom was. Kyros room was tidy, an organized mess I'd give him. Books took the form of piles on the floor, scattered clothes and blankets. The room had a slight red or orange tint to it.
I wasn't here to pry, I didn't stay focused long on his room or his belongings. I closed the door to the bathroom and locked as a habit. The shower cut on with a quiet hiss, steam started filling the room. I looked at myself in the mirror. The cut my cheek now a small scab and light pink shade, my hair slicked back from sleep; I don't look my worst but I've looked better.
I showered quickly, making sure to enjoy the silence accompanied with the running water tickling my scalp. I dried and dressed quicker and listened against the door before unlocking it. Kyro wasn't in here yet.
My hair dropped down my face so I flipped my hair up and pushed it back; it fell to the sides but was much more manageable this way. I tip toed past Kyros things and left the red room. Kyro was stretching awake in the living room, I tried not to look- that was a lie, I looked at his muscles just before averting my eyes.
"Someone knocked." His voice was groggily heavy with sleep.
I nodded, my old clothes still bundled in my arm and went to answer the front door. No one was there, but a package sat on the doorstep, my full name sprawled on the front. I tucked it into my arm and shut the door, locking it again. When I returned to the living room Kyro was gone, both our blankets remained on the futon. I took my things to my room, setting the dirty clothes in the Landry hamper in the bathroom.
I then sat at my computer desk and looked for something sharp to break the tape. Scissors from my pen cup worked fine and when I got the package open i gasped a little. As promised I was an official recognized agent now.
The contents in the box got payed out one by one on my desk as I discovered each new price. A new badge and key card, new ranks and emblems for my uniform and padding. A new agent number, I was given an updated card with my new face on the back, the numbers read 113. A big jump, but maybe I was always 229 because I wasn't anyone at the time. They gave me a phone- a means of ensured communications- and my heart jumped a little at the sight of the device.
There wasn't a lot to this box, but everything in it spoke a thousand words to me. I quickly hopped to replacing my agent number and rank on my uniform, and placing my new badge and clearance cards in the small pocket tucked to the inside of the suit, made specifically for that reason.
Using a blow dryer in the corner next to the window I blew dry my hair, drying it back but giving it volume. I real my fingers through the short strands and gave my head a shake. My eyes were still a little red from the day before, but nothing that can fixed now.
I read through the the boring papers detailing my enhanced clearances, and for future weapon upgrades. I read through, activated and added every important number into my new phone.
I exited my room and found Kyro in the living room. He was still as sleepy as earlier, his hair pointed and rustled; heavy sleep bags under his eyes. But he had changed. Long loose black pj pants pooled around his bare feet on the bottom. A long loosely hung v neck long sleeve shirt dipped low on his chest and hung over his collar bones. He was pulling the futon back into a couch when he noticed me, standing up straight.
"Morning'" he chipped, " What's that in your hand?"
"My phone." I held the white item up, " I don't have your number."
He beckoned me to come closer, his hand digging his own phone out of his pocket. I stepped forward, only a foot apart in the mid mornings soft pink light. He held his phone up, back to me. I did the same, holding my phone up back facing him. He pressed the back of his phone against mine,
"Tap the screen." He ordered.
We tapped the screen at the time, a notification popping up telling me about the shared information. A moment later I received kyros information, his number and name.
"That's cool."
"It became normal in three thousand something, it's handy I guess."
He pushed past me and headed for the kitchen, I watched him start a pot of coffee with his long nimble fingers and veiny hands. He filled the water, filled in the grinds, and set aside two mugs. I leaned on the counter as the pot brewed, only a few feet from Kyro.
"Have you showered yet?"
"Mhmm." I nodded and reached for a hot chocolate powder packet.
"Sorry about the mess."
"I didn't see anything." I shrugged it off.
"How are you today?"
"Are you gonna ask everyday?"
"I might."
Kyro smiled, wide like normal, but soft.
"I'm better. I won't let any of this effect the way we work."
"That's not what I meant."
I chewed at my lip, thinking about this answer carefully, "I'm good, I think I would've been better without sleep."
He accepted this, filled the two mugs with dark roast, handing one to me gently. I placed it on the counter before me and stored in the hot cocoa, and a dash of milk.
Kyro stood out on the balcony with his coffee and a cigarette, I sat close to the door on the futon and inhaled as much of the smoke as I needed to clear my head.
"I tried my best to find intel of our other cases but I was unsuccessful." Kyro said, setting his mug on the table in the corner of the balcony that housed my cacti.
"Don't do my job for me, you suck at it."
"Gee thanks Neeve."
"I mean well ,  nothing against you, you're just better at being brutal. I keep us from getting lost. Is today an off day?"
An off day wasn't really an off day. It meant working from home- or outsourcing- information on our filed cases. It was essentially my half of the project. Once I found their most recent locations I fact checked, I hunted, and brought them right into kyros waiting hands. He doesn't what he needs to do with them. Wether that be capturing alive for transporting, or killing and disposing of any body or element.
"Yeah, I haven't heard from Redford yet. Keep your ear out too, I'm sure his been informed the mail was delivered."
"Will do."
I turned to head into my bedroom but Kyro extended an arm dangerously close to my face.
"Don't over work yourself."
"Whatever." I brushed him aside.
In my room, against the far wall besides my platformed bed , was my desk with two monitors on it. I set my mug down, set up my playlists and got started with work I could've finished two days ago.
-
I yawned and leaned in towards my computer screen.
"Come on, where are you.." I said, my music drowned out the sound but I felt the vibrations on my chest.
I was on the cusp of finding the location of our last file for this upcoming week, I was so close, I had watched through hours of cctv footage and gone through several hundred online claims. Maybe just a few more seconds ahead. I clicked forward in the scene slowly until I saw him, then I took a picture of the image. I put the picture into a specialized search engine and came up with his name, age, residence, and family tree.
"Got you."
I brought the info over to the separate screen and added it to the file, then routed the final completed file over to our vessels waiting hub. I was in the midsts of leaning back and closing my screens out when my door opened, I saw out of the corner of my eye. I took my headphones out and leaned back on my chair. Kyro invited himself into the space and look at my plants hanging next to the window.
"What's up?"
"Killdozers in the shop, something about the internal program." Kyro said, Killdozer was the name of our vessel, "I already spoke to the mechanics, were grounded for two days while they do maintenance."
"That's fine by me. Nothing like my own bed."
"Also...do you remember the list you made on dystopia? The haircut and crap."
"Yeah?"
"I got something for you."
Kyro started for the door, I got up from my chair and followed him. Past the living, past the kitchen, down the hall for his bedroom. He held the door open and motioned for the bed; the room was far less red, more muted yellow, but I sat where I was told to on the bed. His room smelt faintly of smoke, I found it very comforting, watching his broad back as he walked for his closet across from the bed. He retrieved a white box with a small black bow on the top, a gift, and tossed it on the bed next to me.
I picked the light item up and brought it to my lap, it weighed almost nothing. Next to the bow was a tiny envelope with kyros ugly handwriting: Junky. I opened the small envelope with small tears. The card inside opened up and fit in one of my palms: You shine brightest when you allow yourself fun.
I tucked the small black bow in the card, tucking the card back into the envelope, and placing that in my pocket.
The lid to the box was taped. When I asked Kyro if he had scissors or a knife he rolled his eyes and said, "Just rip it, it's a box. Plenty more where that one came from."
I tore the tape, and uncovered the box, below a layer of tissue paper was my prize. It was knit, as I pulled the item out it unfolded fully. It was a knit pull over sweater with baggy sleeves, so many vibrantly bright colors, and in so many contradictory patterns.
"This has be the ugliest one I have yet. Thank you!"
He nodded to the box, I set the jacket besides me and looked into the box. Sitting in the center at the bottom was a smaller black box, one that fit in the palm of my hand.
I looked up at Kyro who was grinning and watching me. I opened the small black box, laying on a small black velvety cloth was a beautifully crafted, pale light blue, adjustable watch. On the front it had a normal 24 hour watch, on the side in a smaller bubble it had a digital screen projecting the time per time zone. On the back of the watch, etched in the metal, were my initials and my birthday.
A little confused, but mostly flattered, I looked back up at Kyro. He stood still by the closet and pulled up his long black sleeve. On his left wrist was- surprisingly- an identical watch, same color blue and same set up. He unclipped his watch's band and flashed me the inside of his watch. It had his initials and birthday on the back. Just as quickly as he let me see it, he hand put in back snuggly around his left wrist.
I placed my new watch on my right wrist, removing my old one and placing it in the box. I set the big box on kyros bed, now empty.
"Thank you, Kyro, really. "
"I'm glad you like it."
I snickered thinking of the ridiculous sweater, it really took the top of the cake on ugly, I don't think I'd be able to wear it.
"What are you laughing at? They only came in one color.."
"Not that, this."
I held up the sweater. It looked ugly as all hell but it was so soft, the yarn felt warm as it weighed in my hands.
"Yeah it's pretty bad isn't it." He laughed, "I figured it was right up your alley. "
"Oh yeah, you really hit the mark." I said sarcastically.
"Really? Let's see it in then."
"No." I laughed out loud, a giggle close to the edge of my lips.
"Oh come on. It's a gift, you have to. "
"You're not going to trick me."
"Oh aren't I? I've got the next two days to wait."
I sat on the bed, scoffed after a moments though and then sighed.
"You are the worst."
I said,but I could already feel the tug of a smile as I shrugged out of my oversized washed out hoodie, tossing it to the bed and reaching for the ugly sweater. I didn't look at Kyro, I shrugged into the sweater, pulling it down over my head. It was also a size or two too big, but it was warm as my heat circulated in the extra space. As soon as I had it on I heard Kyro bubbling laughter.
"It's not honestly that bad."
He pointed in the direction of the bathroom, trying to cover his laugh with his hand. I stood up and to the bathroom I opened the door and saw my reflection in the mirror. I immediately covered my red face with my hands.
"It's so much worse on a body." I laughed.
"Noo. No, what are you saying? You look great!"
"You can't even say that with a straight face!"
I realized now how close Kyro had come, standing on a breath apart as we laughed at my stupid awful sweater.
"I'm never wearing this again. It's going right on the hanger."
"Oh you think you're taking it off? Good luck."
Before I had a chance to react or process his words he swept me up into an almost bone crushing hug, my feet lifted off the ground. I felt his arms around my stomach and my waist, I felt my weight on his shoulders, he was completely unbothered.
"Put me down." I giggled as a reflex to being lifted.
"No I like it, it's soft."
He rubbed his head into my shoulder blade to prove a point. I felt tingles and couldn't help the laugh escape my throat.
"Please put my down." I said broken between small bitten back snickers.
Kyro did as I asked, he set me down and spun me around. Instead of facing him I lost balance and fell back on the corner of the bed.
"You're the worst." I was out of breath.
"You keep saying that, but the doors open and you haven't left yet."
I felt the butterflies bouncing caged inside, I lay looking up at Kyro, but I tried to stand up I'd be stand up right against him. I knew this pull, I knew better. I stood up, and as I said I was dangerously close to Kyro, speaking almost against him.
"Then,get out of my way." I whispered, enunciating with a smirk sticky on my face.