Lights in the Dark [K/DA x Male Reader]

Chapter 8: Liquid Courage

The two of us took my car, parking in front of the bar Evelynn worked at. Ahri was right, the area was pretty much dead. Considering it was a weekday, I don't doubt that at night is when a lot of folks head to bed early. Even if California's night life is dubious like Tokyo's.

"Welcome in." Evelynn greeted us behind the bar, wearing a modest dark grey suit as her uniform. "Oh, Producer and Ahri. Nice to see you both. Come have a seat, bar's wide open as you can see."

True to word, there wasn't a single soul in the bar, which was just all the more strange to me. It felt like a scene in a visual novel or something but I wasn't complaining against the privacy.

Ahri and I sat next to each other on the barstool while Evelynn put away the rag she was using to wipe down the bar, turning to both of us after.

"So, what'll it be for you two?"

"I'll take bourbon." I order.

"Soju, please." Ahri orders for herself. Hmm, Korean to the end I see.

"Coming right up." Turning around, Evelynn grabbed a glass and put a round ice ball in it before pouring bourbon. She slid down the glass to me before pouring Ahri her Soju. "Hey Producer, need me to light your cigar for you?"

Huh, guess she noticed the Cuban I was carrying in my suit pocket. Truth be told I don't know why I still have it, President Wright having given it to me as a present for my hard work with Silver Voice. I don't even smoke all that much but to hell with it, tonight is a good night.

"That I do, Evelynn." Pulling it out of my pocket, I hold it out for Evelynn as she grabs a cutter from beneath the bar and cuts off the end of it. Grabbing a box of matches, she would strike one and hold it to the cut end while I put the cigar in my mouth. Warming it up for a bit, I would push it closer for it to actually light.

Taking a long puff into my cheeks, I would exhale and feel the smooth tobacco. Dad would've killed me if I hadn't figured out how to properly smoke a cigar.

"I didn't know you were a smoker, Producer." Ahri pointed out, sipping her Soju.

"I'm not, the President gave it to me. Besides it's not like I'm inhaling the smoke into my lungs. The trick is to close your nose and just draw in the smoke like you're sucking a straw." I explained, gently tapping the edge on an ashtray.

"That's surprising though that you know how to smoke one." Evelynn gave me a look from behind her glasses. Wait why was she even wearing sunglasses indoors?

"I tend to have a lot of free time." Taking another long puff, I would exhale and enjoy the taste before starting a subject, "So, how do you two know each other?"

"Hmm, do you want to tell him or should I Ahri?" Evelynn leaned against the bar on folded arms.

"You can if you want to, Evelynn." Ahri smiled while still sipping away her drink. After tapping my cigar again I would take a sip of bourbon, feeling like I was already in my 40's despite being only in my 20's.

"Alright then. She and I met during college, both of us having similar passions in music and singing. Despite studying in separate buildings, we saw each other fairly often."

"Yup! So much so we started interacting after awhile and became friends."

My memory may still be a puddle of blurred garbage in my mind, but I do know with certainty I was around eighteen when I joined the military. Anything before or after that is like trying to look into the dark of the ocean.

"That we did. After graduation though she and I went our separate ways. I went my own trying to become a fashion model while Ahri began her career as a solo artist." Evelynn continued on with their origin story.