Mr. X

Chapter 4

Amy's jaw dropped as she took in her new room. It was beautiful. The bed was immense and looked incredibly comfortable, and from her window she could see the NYC skyline. She couldn't stop staring through the window. "You know, the view is best at night." Amy flinched in surprise, and turned around. Mr. X was standing in the doorway. "You look shaken," he said. "Yeah, it's just... a lot to take in, all of this. I mean, yesterday I was just living a regular life, now my best friend is dead and I'm living together with two people I don't know so that I can be protected from demons I never thought existed. It's weird," Amy explained. "It can be quite a bit to get used to, yes," X replied. "Go get some rest. Come Monday, your self-defense training starts." Amy looked puzzled. "Self-defense training?" she asked. "If you're going to live a life involving demons, you better be prepared to take one down, should you need to," X answered. "Once your training is done, you'll be free to leave, if you so wish." Amy nodded. "Now go get some rest. You'll need it," X said, and he left.

James was pouring himself a brandy as X entered the bar room. "Want a drink as well, X?" he asked. "Sure, I'll have a beer," X replied. James poured him one, and sat down next to him. "That Amy girl, X... Any other reasons you brought her in?" James asked. "James, she's here because it's my fault the demons are looking for her. I always make my mistakes right," X replied. "X, you've literally never given a shit about anyone except those living with you," Watson said as she entered the room. She poured herself a good glass of liquor. "So how about you cut the bullshit, and just tell us what she's doing here?" X rolled his eyes as she stood next to the table. "What exactly are you two trying to say?" he asked. "Well, she is pretty," James said. "And sweet," Watson added. "Seems smart," James said as he took a sip from his glass. "And perfect boobs," Watson added. "Admit it X, you're trying to get her to ditch the panties." X sighed, downed his beer, and got up to pour a new one. "Alright, fine," he said as he walked over to the beer tap. He started tapping. "I may have some... physically romantic motivations. It's not like that wasn't the plan from the moment I laid eyes on her. She knew that, you knew that, I knew that," he said, as he finished tapping. "So I think we all know that if Mephisto hadn't interfered yesterday, I wouldn't have had a dry night, okay? So yes, my motivations to keep her safe may have slightly physical motivations, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel some remorse about ruining her life." He downed his beer in one go, and tapped another one. "I too have my needs. Shoot me."

Watson took a sip from her liquor. "I'm not judging you, X, but at least be honest to her about it instead of making her scared to leave with stories about staying and fighting and not running and protecting and whatnot. Just tell her you want to fuck her and that protecting her isn't your highest priority with her. Be honest." X glared at her. "She's receiving self-defense training starting next Monday, Watson. Same training you had," he said. "Oh boy, poor girl. Does it include the ding-dong package?" Watson replied as she finished her glass. She threw to X, who caught it. "Be a lad and pour me another one, will ya?" she said. "Look, I'm going to protect her, and I'm gonna make sure that she can protect herself," X said as he filled the glass. "After that, she's free to go. And if we in the meantime find ourselves having a bit of pure-natured fun, then that's a good thing and it'll make me very happy. But it's not my final goal." X put the glass on the counter, downed his beer, and filled the beer glass to the brim with Jäger. "Now stop nagging me about it, and drink your drink." Mr. X pointed to Watson's glass on the counter. "Fine, fine. Just remember that keeping her safe means doing it safe," Watson replied as she walked over. James finished his drink, and got up. "Right, I better get to my patrol," he said. "You two get to bed on time, okay?" Mr. X took a few gulps from his Jäger. "As per usual," he said.

Watson walked through the corridor on her way to her room. She stopped at Amy's door. Was that sobbing she heard? Probably. Amy did lose her best friend yesterday. Watson's hand rested on the doorknob, ready to enter, but she retracted her hand. A vague memory had surfaced. She suddenly remembered something that she had suppressed for way too long.