the other side of paradise | bsd x gn!reader

thirteen.

Edmund is already in your room when you return. You're surprised how quickly the middle-aged reporter decided the two of you are partners and how quickly he got attached, but you're going to have that conversation with him another day. The current issue is that he isn't even alone in your room. Next to him, stands a literal child. Their chin-length white hair compliments their delicate features, as bangs fall just above their dark grey eyes. Arms crossed and foot tapping against the floor, their piercing eyes follow your every move.

"Who the hell-"

"This is Uriel!" Edmund answers with a bright grin before you even finish the question. Uriel looks at you with a blank expression. His foot stops tapping the floor.

"Finally," he murmurs.

"Well, why is this Uriel here?" You wonder out loud. "Is he the next person you're planning to interview? In my room for some reason?"

Uriel rolls his eyes, and the tall man lets out a chuckle. "Of course not, partner! You see, after Lazarus came back, I asked about the thieves. Turns out, he has no idea who they are. Which is a red flag in my opinion, because Lazarus knows everybody in the casino..." Edmund trails off.

"Really?" You perk up at the new information. "That fits with what Sig- Uh, the manager told me. Apparently, the two thieves aren't in any casino records."

The young boy's eyes widen and for the first time in this conversation, he looks interested. "Finally, some actual information!"

You turn to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "Actual information?"

His pale cheeks flush slightly, as he clearly wasn't expecting you to talk to him. "Uhm, well, yeah. This guy just told me some of his crazy theories while trying to escape; like that the thieves weren't even supposed to be here. I thought they were more interesting than just sitting around my room all day and forced him to take me along."

Mr. Hyde laughs once more. "This young lad is very observant! I was very stealthy during my investigating, so I'm surprised he noticed me at all! I thought he could be helpful with our case."

Uriel's face hardens, showing his dislike for Edmund's loud personality. "This imbecile wasn't stealthy at all. I caught him trying to enter the security room. He told me about the situation, and I thought it sounded interesting. I threatened to tell on him unless he let me in. So, here I am. "

You give a tight-lipped smile to the boy and look at the man next to him. "But why did you tell him the information!?"

Edmund scratches the back oh his head and gives an apologetic look. Well, at least you think he's trying to look apologetic. "Well, I couldn't risk him turning me in!! I'm in so much trouble with the staff already! If Lazarus gets a whiff me doing something like this again, he'll kick me out!"

"...What do you mean by again?"

Uriel takes a deep breath and looks up for a minute like he's asking some unknown entity to help. You hold yourself back from giving him a comforting pat on the back. You completely understand his exhaustion. The reporter is a nice man, but sometimes a bit too much.

No one speaks for a minute, and then Edmund continues. "Continuing on, the boy is here, because he is the only one in this casino who agrees with me that there's something else going on with these thieves."

What does he mean by 'the only one in this casino'? Oh no, did he go around talking about them all around the place?!

"Edmund," you start. "This is a ten-year-old."

Uriel lets out a cough and pouts. "Uh, I'm actually twelve. I have an IQ higher than you two combined. I'm a genius, thank you. Also, my parents own Themis Law Firm. You might've heard of it. So, I know a bit about criminals and their motives. I could be a huge help to you.".

"Uriel, I'm a detective myself. I don't need help from a child. This is a dangerous situation and I'm not going to allow you to get involved with this."

The white-haired boy looks away from you, chin raised. "Fine. I didn't want to use this on you as well, but here we go. Either you let me help or I tell the casino staff that you plan to investigate and sneak into top secret areas. Who will they believe first? Me, the child genius with influential parents, or you two old people?"

Your eye twitches. This brat has the audacity to threaten you? What, does he think that you'd be scared of some little threat? That you'd give in immediately like you're some sort of–

"Pleaseeeee..." Edmund begs in a higher pitched voice. "Please partner, let him join us." Your jaw immediately drops. This guy feels no embarrassment, does he?

"No, I'm not letting a random kid join – "

"Let him do it! I'm already attached to him, he's just a silly little guy..." The broad-shouldered man dramatically waves his hands towards the small boy. Uriel widens his eyes in shock, about to complain about that description, but Edmund continues, his hands still theatrically waving around. "Just give him something not dangerous; like a distraction."

"Edmund... what?"

The black-haired middle-aged man stares at you, making a strange face. You take a step back.

Wait. Is he... trying to make puppy eyes? Having a whole grown man stare at you like that is kind of terrifying, and Edmund doesn't seem like he's going to give up anytime soon. Uriel awkwardly shuffles on his spot.

"Fine," you sigh, and both perk up at the sound of your voice. "I guess I have no choice. I can't stand to look at that – " you point at Edmund's horrible puppy eyes " – any longer." Edmund pumps his fists in excitement, and you ignore the way your heart swells when Uriel's face lights up in joy.

"But!" You interrupt their celebrating and step closer to the white-haired boy. You stare straight into his eyes, completely serious. "You have to listen to me whatever I tell you to do. If I tell you to run, you run. Alright?"

"Yes!" Uriel exclaims, but immediately catches himself. "Uh, I mean yes, don't worry. I will."

He's trying so hard to hide it, but his excitement is clear. Man... this kid just wants something fun to do, doesn't he? He mentioned how boring spending time in his room is and that his parents are some rich lawyers. They don't sound like the type of people to spend a lot of time with their son. Maybe this experience will be good for him, you nod to yourself, unconsciously already adopting Uriel as your little brother.

"We should make a plan," the white-haired boy blurts out.

"Good idea!" Edmund exclaims in agreement. "Let's put together a plan! Uriel, go grab some pens and markers from your room and I'll bring paper from mine. We meet back here in 30 minutes!" The reporter runs out of the room, not being able to contain his giddiness. You meet Uriel's grey eyes. The two of you sigh in unison.

This is going to be a long day.

a/n: if you need help imagining uriel, he looks like uraume from jujutsu kaisen! they were the inspiration for uriel's appearance,,,
I'm doing my best with these original scenes here,,, I start to write and suddenly I forget how real people talk lmaoo