Winter Eyes (JuuzouxOC)

A Cold Day

I watch the snowflakes fall, their tiny bodies hitting the line separating my hair into two equal parts. It's cold here, not like in Canada though, and I'm happy with that. The long alleyway is covered with ice, its frozen nature smoking over the ground. It's nice here in Tokyo, its huge streets seem to never end, its bright lights blinding me.
"How are you, Alexsu-san?" I hear a familiar voice from the left.
It's Jūzō, his face covered with a thoughtful dusk, his black, dry hair flowing under the cold wind.
"Please don't call me that, I'm just Alex," I try to smile, but it seems just impossible.
"Ah, okay, okay," he says awkwardly, leading his eyes away from my figure, "I'm not gonna do it again."
I don't answer, my hair waving over my forehead. He stares at me, his shoulder touching mine. This guy doesn't see the boundaries, it makes my skin crawl.
"Y'know, I think you're pretty nice, why won't you show that?" Jūzō asks, moving his gaze away from my hair.
"I don't care what you say," I whisper, my voice filled with invisible rage.
"Oh, sorry."
We sit there for around five minutes, doing nothing, just staring at the ice fog. He's different today, it makes my day the happiest day, here, in Japan. This job makes me sick, this guy makes it worse for me.
"Y'know, why did you choose this job? I see you don't like it..." he interrupts my train of thought, bringing me back to reality.
"I have my reasons, and if you're too stupid to realize what they are, it's gonna be a secret to you."
He doesn't reply, he just stares at the snow and ice just as I do.
"It's the coldest I've ever seen in Japan," he starts again, his eyes not blinking, "and it happens you come here at this time, you're special, haha," he grins, looking back at me.
I don't reply, I just frown without any control over it. He stands up after two minutes of waiting for an answer, taking his qlinque with him.
"I'm sure we'll get along," he finally says, leaving the alley.
He knows this is not the problem, he knows I hate killing the ones like me. He knows it, but he just doesn't care.
***
"Okay, we're finally done with this case, are you happy?" Jūzō said, grinning as he threw the qlinque aside with a loud crash.
"No, we're gonna move to another one, not different at all."
"Okayyy."
We moved through the corridors of the huge building we worked at. It was a nice sunny afternoon, different from what I was used to.
Our interactions were limited to partnership and these weird phrases while walking through the corridors to exist.
"Y'know, I think you should come to the cafe with me," he said, his eyes frozen in one position.
"How so?"
"I just want to get to know you, you're my partner after all," he smiled again, his eyes closed.
"No," I said, walking out the building with him.
"Nah, we should."
I looked over to the roof, its peak invisible to me. It wasn't the day to do anything for me, maybe i should actually go with him? How much I wouldn't hate him, maybe boredom would change this? What a stupid thought.
"Well? Are we gonna go or not? Our workday is pretty short today, so why not do that?" Jūzō pushed me to him, his short height making me feel like a giant.
I don't give it a second thought. Why actually not?
"Sure," I said, looking away.
"Yes!" he cried, jumping up slightly.
We moved through the cold streets, me staring at the frozen rock of asphalt. My arms and legs were in place as always, I didn't move around like Jūzō did, and it bothered me that the people around would think something of it. But I had no choice at that point, since, well, it was impossible to control the guy's actions. He was never a person I would trust as it seemed he wasn't sane at all. How childish he wouldn't be, he always understood everything. Maybe even more than I did. Maybe that's what made me hate him so much, I didn't know.
"Here we are!" he shouted, pointing at a small cafe, the low roof of which was covered with a messy layer of snow.
There was no one in the cafe, the place had only four places to sit, with only two chairs by each. I didn't comment on it, I didn't feel the need to.
We sat by a table before a small window looking out at the empty street.
"Put your clothes here, and let's go get some coffee!" Jūzō said, grabbing me by my wrist.
I ripped my hand from his grap, trying to appear judgemental. I was too tired for that.
"I don't like coffee, and don't touch me..."
Suzuya's face vanished in a slight distress, he was trying to hide it, but it didn't seem to work out well.
"What do you like then?" he asked, his face owing for a thought again.
"Tea, do they serve tea here?"
"I guess," he led his gaze away from mine, getting to the counter, a troubled guy standing there doing absolutely nothing. I guess this piece of drama was enough for him to make his day.
"Do you serve tea?" Suzuya asked, looking at the surface of the counter.
"Um, yes, what kind of tea do you need?" he asked seemingly annoyed.
"Uh," he turned to me face to face, "what kind of tea do you want?" he pushed his gaze away from mine, confused on what else to say.
"Green, please," I said, moving my eyes from Jūzō to the barista.
"Alright," he said coldly, leaving Jūzō and me alone.
We sat by the table we chose. Looking away from each other. I guess it's actually my fault I couldn't make it less awkward. I always do this kind of thing.
"Well," Jūzō started, his face gaining an unnatural for him expression, "what do you like to do besides work?"
"I don't think it's important," I answered, throwing a slight gaze at him for a moment.
"Heh, are we just gonna sit here in silence?" his face took a natural for him smug, he seemed to take his usual emotions back.
"Oh," a realization poked at me, "are you not going to get anything?"
"No, I don't want anything."