SWAN SONG / damian wayne

THIRTEEN, TRAILS TO NOWHERE

FIVE YEARS AGO,

GUANGZHOU WAS A busy city. Busy enough that no one seemed even slightly confused at the Wasian teenage boy and the younger Chinese girl chasing after him. They blended right into the background of the city.

And a part of Odile was acutely aware that she was only around an hour or so drive away from Hong Kong.

If she wanted to, she could hop onto a train and she'd be in Hong Kong by the end of the hour. She could go back to Remiel, and they could go back to their usual routine, and everything would be alright, but she wouldn't do that because she still had a mission to complete.

Odile wasn't sure how Damian had gotten a hotel room booked, but somehow, he had. One room. She wasn't sure how well they passed for brother and sister, but the hotel staff didn't seem to question it. Or perhaps it was the huge wad of cash Damian had shoved in their hands.

Two beds. But Damian still looked a bit awkward. "I hope you don't mind."

She sent him an exasperated look. "You used to camp on my bedroom floor."

That seemed to calm him a bit. "That's true. We won't be here for long anyways."

"Have you ever been to Guangzhou?"

"Twice. You?"

"A bit more than that. Sometimes, criminals in Hong Kong flee here, so Remiel and I have to cross the border to chase them down." She yawned. "Are we going to find Nian Ruiwen tonight? Or tomorrow?"

"She works night shifts. She's a nurse. I was thinking we should head over to hers when she gets off work."

"You're going to scare the shit out of her."

"She'll be exhausted. Easy to get information out of."

Odile glanced at him, eyes narrowed. "You're evil."

He rolled his eyes. "Do you want answers or what?"

"I'm not saying we shouldn't do it, I'm just saying that you're pure evil for coming up with this."

Damian blinked. "It's basic interrogation tactics."

"Thank you, Damian. But not everyone receives an education on how to interrogate people." Odile yawned. "So we have time until tonight, then? When does she leave her night shift?"

"I hacked the hospital records, she usually gets off at three in the morning. It takes her around forty-five minutes to get home."

"And how long is it from here to her apartment?"

Damian grunted. "You know you can search up this information by yourself, right?"

"I can. I could investigate everything by myself if I wanted to, but you're here and you're making my life easier." She flashed him a grin as she flopped onto her bed. "So, how far away are we?"

"Fifteen minutes on foot."

"Let's leave at three, then. Give us some time to get ready. Break in. All that stuff."

"I didn't bring my Robin suit."

"I didn't bring my Cygnet suit either," Odile said with a shrug. "We're not here as Robin and Cygnet. I'm here as Yu Lan of the Eyu Sect, you're here as... my help. I suppose. My assistant."

"The assistant who's been running the entire investigation."

"Get used to it, Damian."

He seemed to have decided it was pointless to argue. Instead, he turned towards the window. "I haven't sensed anyone trailing us yet."