Who do you think you are? A Superhero? ACT I The One About Trash

Chapter 10 - "The One About Memories"

Massimo was hunched over his desk, his back turned towards Clarissa's direction. Although she couldn't see his face, she could immediately tell that he was completely focused. "I should probably leave." She mumbled. But just as she was about to leave, she accidentally bumped her head against the door, causing her to yelp before she could stop it. "Ouwww" She shrieked, the loud sound echoing through the room and breaking the silence. For the first time, Massimo looked up, turning towards her direction. He looked up, squinting his eyes in confusion. "Clarissa?" he asked, a tiny frown forming between his brows. The side of his face was illuminated by the light of the screens.
Startled, Clarissa's cheeks flushed as she stepped into the light, revealing herself. "Uhm, yeah...Hello Captain." Clarissa mumbled. "I didn't mean to disturb you, I'm sorr--" She trails off as she notices something.
"You can't sleep?" Massimo asked as he turned back to continue his work. His eyes were entirely focused on the screen, his finger tapping across the keyboards with the speed of a professional.
"Yes..." Clarissa admitted, a little bit embarrassed. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear as she mustered up the courage to approach him. "Captain, you wear glasses?" She finally asked, her gaze drawn to his face. The glasses perched on his nose added an air of intelligence to his aura, making him even more captivating.
"Sometimes." He replied, his tone casual.
"Oh." She mumbled, still fascinated by that information. Her eyes slowly moved up, her attention divided between the screen displaying different reports. But even though it was written in all English, she couldn't understand any of the sentences written there. Frowning, her eyes flickered back to Massimo's face, studying the way his brows furrowed in concentration, his lips moving silently as he read the text. She did this for a few more minutes before Massimo couldn't take it anymore, and then looked up at her, startling her. "Arghh!" She jumped back, holding her chest.
"What?"
"No- nothing." Clarissa rushed out. "If I'm disturbing you, perhaps I shouldn't have come out. I can leave now before you can-
"Clarissa-"
"I am sorry once again, I'll leave now. Good night Captai-
"Clarissa!" Massimo finally snapped, pulling her out from her ramblings.
"Yes?" She asked, her voice out of breath.
"You're not disturbing me." He responded.
"Oh..."
"Yes."
"Maybe I should-
"Just stay," Massimo responded, continuing his work once more. "Or not, its just really up to you." Finished the remark the hard working wolf.
A few seconds passed as Clarissa stood behind him, but it made her more nervous, making her regret coming in. "Can I ask what you're working on?" She asked hoping to strike up a conversation and reduce the tension.
"The report for the last mission," Massimo responded.
"Oh..." Clarissa mumbled, nodding her head.
An awkward silence settled between them once again, stretching out into an uncomfortable pause. Clarissa stared at the screen since she didn't know what other place she could look at. But the more she looked at the report, the more interesting it became. Unconsciously, she leaned in closer, her curiosity getting the best of her. As she did, Massimo took notice of her proximity. He took off his glasses, and turned towards her, hoping she would move away.
"Hmm..." She mumbled, a bit lost.
"Do you mind?" Massimo asked.
The sudden realization of how close she was sent a jolt of embarrassment through her, causing her to quickly pull away. Sorry, sorry." She burst out, putting so much distance between them that Massimo couldn't help but sigh. His eyes searched Clarissa's face for a moment before turning back to his work. "You have nothing to do?" he asked.
Clarissa shook her head, as she peeked behind her fingers, trying to see if he was angry. "Not really," she replied in a tiny voice. She couldn't help but wonder why the captain had not sent her away already.
"Hmm..." Massimo nodded as he tapped his finger against the table. His gaze seemed distant for a moment before he finally spoke again. "The last mission..."
Clarissa's heart skipped a beat, her attention fully captured by his words. She took a few hesitant steps closer, eager to hear what he had to say. "Yes?" she replied.
"You handled your first mission well," Massimo continued, his words causing Clarissa's heart to race so fast, it felt like it would jump out. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard.
"Wha- t, Re- a - lly?" she stammered, her voice filled with surprise and excitement. She couldn't believe her ears.
Massimo's mouth twitched a little bit, a hint of a smile that didn't fully form. "Yes," he replied, his voice carrying a rare warmth. "Your help on the last mission halved the time we would have spent searching for the soldiers. Good job, Clarissa."
Clarissa felt a surge of pride and relief wash over her. To receive recognition from her captain meant the world to her. It was a validation of her abilities and a reassurance that she belonged here, among the ranks of the elite. The atmosphere in the room had also shifted, the awkwardness between them evaporating. Clarissa cautiously took a seat nearby, the floodgates of questions she wanted to ask coming in at once. "Will I join in future missions?"
"Yes."
"Will I be allowed to go on the field again, or I'll be joining the mission remotely?"
"It depends."
"Ok"
"..."
The conversation died once again
"Since have you been wearing glasses," Clarissa mentioned as she thought of another topic.
"Since two years ago. "
"Long-sighted or short-sighted."
"Reading..." Massimo paused, a frown forming between his brows. "Why does it matter?"
"Ah ha... true." Clarissa scratched the side of her head as she laughed sheepishly. "I hope I'm not disturbing your work?"
"Not really." Massimo shrugged.
"Should I leave?"
"If you want to," Massimo replied, and from the corner of his eyes, he could see how downcast she was. "Do you want to?" He finally asked as he leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her expression. His voice, usually filled with authority, was so casual, it made her pause.
"Not really..." Clarissa said sheepishly. "I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway." She mumbled. His earlier words played in her mind again, causing her heart to swell with pride. She couldn't help but offer a small smile. "Thank you, Captain. It means a lot to me coming from you."
The room fell into a comfortable silence as they both discussed multiple topics. She also looked around the room, taking in the small details of the captain's workspace. As expected, he had everything nice and tidy. She noticed a framed photograph on his desk, capturing a middle-aged couple, smiling brightly to the cameraman that wasn't visible in the picture. Curious as always, she pointed to the photograph. "Who are those?" she asked.
Massimo followed her gaze and then looked away. "My parents."
Clarissa leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with surprise. "Wow... you look so much like your dad, Captain." She was going to ask more questions about the picture but decided against it. Instead, she changed the topic to another direction once again. "Can you tell me about some of your past missions? I mean - if you can... uhm, if you want to." She rushed out, hoping she was not intruding.
"Do you want to hear it or not?" Massimo asked.
"Aye, Aye Captain!" Clarissa grinned, rushing to her seat immediately.
"2 year ago,---" Massimo began, as he delved into memories of one of his past missions. He began recounting tales of daring escapades, near-death experiences, and the unbreakable bond forged between him and his crew. Clarissa listened intently, her imagination painting vivid scenes in her mind.
As their conversation continued, neither of them noticed Izzy standing by the doorway, her eyes fixed on the pair. Izzy had harbored a secret crush on Massimo for quite some time, and seeing him open up to Clarissa, sharing stories and emotions that he rarely displayed, ignited a pang of jealousy within her. Unable to bear the sight any longer, she turned on her heel and quietly walked away, her footsteps echoing down the corridor. She wrestled with her conflicting emotions, unsure of how to express her unrequited feelings.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Massimo and Clarissa were lost in their own world, unaware of the presence that had greeted them briefly.