Hunter, Hunter (A Love and Deepspace FANFIC)

Prologue: Of Crows and Albatross

I splashed water on my face, still grief-stricken even after months of that protocore related accident. My eyes bore into my own reflection. Huge dark circles that made me look like a dehydrated racoon. My heterochromatic eyes looking dull. Maybe this is the way of life for a workaholic.

My room is dark and the only source of light is a small table lamp as I shut off the bathroom door and switch off its light. Last night I fell asleep on my desk again.

My phone starts going off. A familiar face and name appear on top, Dr. Zayne (Li Shen Ge). A smile crept onto my face. He used to be my childhood crush but now we are friends at best.

"Li'er." His husky voice was laced with worry and urgency. "Yes..." suddenly a yawn escaped from me. "You did overtime again?"

"I am fine." I replied not wanting to answer his question, suddenly my stomach made a loud rumbling sound that echoed in my room. I could hear him chuckling. "Well then, since you just woke up, I assume you haven't eaten anything yet."

"Yes." It came in higher pitch than I wanted it to be.

"Alright see you in twenty minutes." And he hangs up the call.

I groan and squint as I pull my curtains away and midday sun hits my face like lasers. I have fifteen minutes to get dressed.

I use heavy-duty concealer under my eyes to hide my panda eyes. I don't want to either get him more worried or get lectured by him as he's my doctor too. Still, I manage to make my makeup as natural as possible. Pulling my hair into a ponytail I wear casual white sweatshirt and denim skirt.

Luckily, I took leave today. I don't want to disappoint Jenna. I can always ask Tara to update me whatever goes at work.

I gave Li Shen Gege a call as I arrived outside our designated lunch place. "I have booked a table; you can sit down already. I'm just gathering few things and coming up in a moment." He spoke.

"Sheu Li, long time no see."

I looked up to see, Li Shen in white crisp suit. He had a soft smile. He put a thick file on the table. "Your grandma asked me to give this to you."

I nodded as I took the file.

He took the seat opposite of mine. "You can read it in the comfort of your house."

He ordered savory pancakes while I ordered some shumai.

I stared at him in awe when he meticulously removed carrot bits from his pancakes. "You still don't like carrots, do you?"

"Li'er, I just have refined taste." He scowled at me. I snickered. "Who knew 27 years old renowned cardiologist, Dr. Zayne was a picky eater."

"It is called knowing what one's interest is..."

No matter what he added to support his disdain for carrots I laughed.

"You are still the same Wang Sheu Li." His voice softer than usual. It made my cheeks heat up. The waitress returned with desserts, egg tarts and taro ice-cream. "Taro ice-cream is on the house."

I and Li Shen thanked the waitress in unison.

"No one can make savory pancakes like your grandmother." His eyes looked glassy. "As her last wish, I'd always try my best to keep you safe."

I froze on my tracks. "You should take sometime off and rest, you can fool the world but not me, I can see your dark circles." He added.

I sighed out of relief. I almost thought he is going to propose or something. I burst out laughing. "Gege, I almost thought you were going to propose me or something as it was grandma's last wish."

"What?" He looked at me in disbelief. "My grandma's last wish was to see us getting married to each other." I laughed. "But who's going to tell her that we are just good friends."

His eyes widened and opened his mouth to say something but he quickly shut it. Even I felt embarrassed at this admission.

He looked at his watch, "My shift is going to start soon."

I nodded as grabbed the file. "I'll also head back home and read what she left for me... and maybe take your advice and take break."

He paid the bill and we parted our ways.

At home I retired on my armchair. My heart still racing. I open the file. As I went through the file, I had more questions than answers.

It was late evening when I finished reading. Suddenly someone knocked on my door.

I sighed out of relief when it was Xavier. His face reflecting moon's light. "Tara sent these files for you." "Oh yes, I asked for them earlier. Welcome inside."

I showed him the way to my living room. "Do you want tea, coffee or anything else to drink?" I asked him as he settled down on the sofa. "Whiskey will do." He hummed. His eyes stuck on the enshrined picture of grandma and Yingzhou Gege.

"They were my brother and grandma. After my parent's passing, she single-handedly raised us."

"Oh. I'm so sorry for your loss." His voice warm like honey. "You don't have to... It's been months since that accident."

Till morning I was barely holding it together but now I'm surprisingly calm. I sighed as I took down the Whiskey from the upper cabinets, it was supposed to be Yingzhou Ge's present.

When I returned to living room, Xavier was holding an old picture frame when Yingzhou and Li Shen were in their early 20's while I still was a teenager.

I cleared my throat. He fumbled with that picture, when his eyes met mine. He quickly grabbed the frame before it could touch the ground.

All of a sudden, a crow cawed close to one of my windows. Xavier straightened his back as if some wanderer was outside my house. He darts towards my windows and pulls the curtains close.

"A crow has recently laid eggs outside those windows."

After hearing my explanation, he sighs in relief. "Oh, and I thought..." But he doesn't finish the sentence. "This whiskey looks expensive." He proceeds to change the topic. I glare at him as if he is purposefully omitting something.

As he downs three glasses of whiskey, he stands up to stretch.

"You, okay?" I asked. "Nothing special, my shoulders are still sore from last night's fight." He sheepishly replied.

"Do you need heat pack?"

"Well... it won't be necessary. If I hit gym tonight, I'll work this soreness out." He raked his hair with his left hand. "Sheu Li, by the way I..." He swiftly fills another glass of whiskey and gulps it down in one go as if he's trying to muster up some courage. "I was wondering if you'd go out with me someday."

"Shen Xinghui, you're not being serious, are you?" I froze. "Nothing serious we can just grab lunch before work or something..." He took a deep breathe. "You don't have to answer it now." He added.

I nodded, unable to comprehend what's happening.

"I better get going." He sprints even before I could open my mouth.

I take a seat on my study table as I prepare all the files old and new that I got from Tara. I don't have appetite right now. All I crave is the knowledge, that this universe is trying to conceal from me.

Suddenly a crow loudly caws waking me up from my nap. But it seems different than before. It sounds almost mechanical. I go close to the window from where the sound is coming from. To my surprise, it really is a mechanical crow with rubies as his eyes.

Astonishingly it is quite affectionate towards me. My phone rings scaring it away. Tara texted me, "The protocore accident that happened months ago might be connected with the Onychinus."

This reminds me, few months ago Xavier was saying something about them. Thinking about Xavier made my feelings rile up again.

"I got it, thanks." I texted her back as chucked my phone away and laid on the bed.