Alexandria's Keeper - Lord Of The Mysteries Fanfiction

-13- Work Injury

She stumbled back, losing her balance as her feet failed to find the ground at the first step.

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

Just then, a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her upright with surprising strength. Not even a second later, she was yanked forward and lost her footing again, falling to her knees. Irina groaned, muttering under her breath, "I guess this is better than tumbling down the stairs."

A loud scoff came from above her. It was only then she realized her savior was still holding her.

"You could've said that louder," came the familiar voice. "Who stands in front of a door without entering?"

Ohhh, I know that voice.

Irina, thoroughly done with the entire day, looked up at the poet. "I was admiring the intricate design of the frame— Obviously I just got here! I was going to enter. Just who the hell opens a door with such force?!"

Leonard looked down with a slight smirk. "And now you're yelling at your savior? Truly unladylike, Irina."

Oh. He wants to play? Let's play.

"What can I say?" Irina shot back. "I take after my coworkers, especially the ones I've worked with most recently."

Leonard opened his mouth to respond, but Irina wasn't done. "And wouldn't you know, not long after starting with the Nighthawks, I almost fell down the stairs. I hear it's a common occurrence. You would know, right?"

Leonard's smirk vanished. "Hey!"

Without another word, he helped her to her feet, and they both entered the company building.

"By the way," Leonard added, glancing at her, "Why are you covered in bloody bandages? I assume that board you're carrying is related to your mission?"

Irina, her exhaustion evident, groaned loudly and looked at the ceiling. "It's a long story. Right now, I just want to drop this thing off, go home, take a shower, change bandages, and maybe take a month off. The only reason I'm still standing is that the painkillers haven't worn off, yet."

Leonard let out a low whistle at her annoyed tone. "Sounds like you've had quite the day, but you haven't even been out that long—"

"In those 'not many hours,'" Irina cut him off sharply, "I almost died multiple times. Thank you very much. You have an enhanced body; I got lucky I didn't die when I fell from the third floor—or get crushed by a chandelier!"

At that, both Leonard and Rozanne, who had been secretly listening from her desk, whipped their heads around in shock.

"WHAT?!"

Irina glanced between them before letting out a heavy sigh. She turned toward the corridor, heading to the only office she cared to visit at the moment, Dunn's.

"I'd rather be home with more painkillers," she waved a hand dismissively, "But if I don't deal with this board, I'll just keep running into more of these accidents."

Neither of them stopped her as she walked away. They simply exchanged bewildered looks, and Leonard, after a moment, left the reception area to return to the Nighthawks' lounge.

Irina forcefully pushed open the door to the captain's office, uncaring of the noise. Scanning the room, she was surprised to find Old Neil there.

Dunn immediately stood from his chair, his expression serious, but before he could ask anything, Irina launched into a brief explanation. "Sorry to interrupt your romantic chat, but I've got quite The Problem on my hands. I can feel the seal I placed slipping more and more by the second. This board is the source of all the weird stuff happening at the university, and it's trying to kill people. Specifically, me. I won't survive another fall from the third floor, and I'd be more than happy to throw this thing in someone else's hands."