ODE TO THE MURDERED, bonten

50

PART FIFTY !
within rough waters.

            TONIGHT, KOKONOI IS DRESSED IN a red velvet vest and dark trousers, reclining against the soft sofa, hand loosening his tie a bit, collarbones exposed from the collar. he looked opulent but he was anything but sophisticated.

"shit." he's fucking exhausted, and he wants out of this mission already.

"relax." Rindou attempts reassurance.

"all we need to do is to investigate, secure the liability of the threat and the supposed leaked database from Kojiro." he's sitting on the seat in front of him, Sauvignon blanc in hand, bubbling under the golden light.

"this entire thing is fucking idiotic." Koko cannot help but hiss out through gritted teeth. "we should not even be here to begin with, we are inside the lion's den. Quoia won't let the opportunity of me being here slip from their grasps."

"when we entered..." Rindou's voice is apathetic, staccato at best. "for the most part, this venue is packed with art critics, aesthetes, rich scums." he takes a long sip of the white wine.

"civilians." Rindou states finally, voice hoarse from the alcohol. "the promise of a grandeur event in honor of Quoia's successful anniversary, most guests are civilians."

"of course i noticed, Rindou." Kokonoi retorts. "but that doesn't mean just because almost everyone here are civilians, Quoia won't do shit. because they would."

"Shion and his guys are waiting outside for countermeasures, everything will go smoothly as planned—"

"can i ask you a favour?" Kokonoi's tone is too quiet suddenly, it catches Rindou's attention.

"what?"

there was silence for a moment. "if something were to happen to me—"

"shut..." Rindou snaps. "shut your fucking mouth."

Koko flattens his lips immediately, his dark eyes clashing with Rindou's stormy ones.

"i'll make this clear for the both of us." Rindou uncrosses his legs and places his empty champagne glass on the table. "no one will hurt you. they'll have to get through me before anything happens to you. you hear me, Koko?"

Kokonoi could only muster a short nod.

he feels sick to his stomach. too many things have happened for him to be calm. too much fucking incidents enough to give him whiplash. he cannot swallow upon the idea of the truth about you, or the sight of Sanzu slashing you, or Mikey's order to keep you here like a bird in a cage. then your disappearance. Kakucho and Wakasa's punishment. and much to his chagrin, this fucking event he has to attend because they were threatened.

    he doesn't want to deal with Quoia right now, especially if the chances of having a fucking target on his head is high.

"Kokonoi." he hears Rindou ask. "you good?"

"i'll be honest, i really don't know." beneath the quiet chamber and away from the hubbub and bustle of the crowded event—vulnerability and fragility melts on his shoulders like heavy thawed ice.