Revenge Fantasy

#9 - Spilling The Tea Between Two Equals

... crap.

"... who? I don't know who you're talking about."

"Chouko Ashford..." E repeats, a cautious tone to his whispering voice as he explains. "Little girl that appeared in New York for the Vanilla presentation. Some forgotten heir and college dropout, disappeared off of the planet months after."

He... he knows... how does he know? How exactly does he know? Did I- did I give it away? Did he already know long before I arrived? He does, he does know. What else does he know?

"I don't understand the connections, E. Nothing I am remotely resembles her."

"Your sunglasses. Your eyes," E comments, leaning forward with a grin. "I am willing to bet that they're red. One of the only people to have natural, red eyes... even brighter than anything an albino can have. Even if it's fake, or you're wearing contacts, why would a delivery woman need to specifically have red eyes?"

Tch.

"So. I am not confirming whether or not you are correct, but... in the slim chance you do have my identity, what is your objective?"

Eugene rolls his eyes, almost- scoffing at Kuroiwa still trying to hide it. "Insurance. Woman comes in here, pinpoints something secret, intends to intimidate me by pointing it out... only makes sense that I'd want to confront her, level the playing field. Stand on equal footing and all."

.......

Kuroiwa puts the car into park, and glares at... Eugene... through her sunglasses. Taking off her sunglasses and gazing at Eugene with her red eyes. A morbidly wordless stare as her eyes lock onto Eugene.

"Oh." Eugene comments. The red eyes are real. This truly is Chouko, the famed "Apple-Eyed Child" in the flesh and all. Right on the money, grinning in mild surprise.

Kuroiwa is frantically plotting her next move right now. Her carelessness, her... her need for superiority, her pure petty action. All of it has put herself in grave danger, face to face with a random client that knows her identity. Unsure what to do, and... the worst part is that Kuroiwa can't even do anything about it, if she comes up with an idea. Leaving now leaves E in a position to blackmail her and spread her identity. Killing E will jeopardize the job, a needless death of a seller that will simply put a beacon on the person who kills him. Informing Charon of her mess-up will...

Kuroiwa takes a deep breath, continuing to glare at E as her hand lowers to her side. Keeping his attention as she rests a hand on her baton... her extendable, defense baton. Highly powerful, conceptually non-lethal... at least, more than a gun and a knife. She could take E out right now. Knock him out, hold him hostage, something.

"... o... oh god. I see that look-" E blurts out, backing away from the car door. "Hey- hey, heyheyhey, I'm serious. No harm intended. What's said in this garage stays between us, not a word out to anyone. You know about me, I know about you. Just setting up something- mutual, y'know?"

Kuroiwa grips her baton, eyes tensely narrowing. "Bugs? Witnesses? Anything underhanded that you've got against me?"

"S-Security cameras, but that's it," E admits, blurting out that there are cameras to record Kuroiwa's appearance.

"... mhmm..." Kuroiwa cautiously noises.

"C'mon. Let's open a dialogue. Equal terms, equal footing, act in the other's best interest, right? I need a delivery guy, you need work. Again, again- whatever reasons you have to keep secret, you have my word that not a single word leaves this garage. If- If you want, I can close the garage door, REALLY soundproof everything, but- if we keep things quiet to a whisper like this, no one's gonna hear."