The man leaned against the cold metal wall, his gaze wandering over the faces scattered around the room. It was easy to pick out the veterans—those with hardened eyes and steady postures, examining each other with quiet calculation. They were predictable after so many tries. But there were always new faces among the crowd, rookies with expressions ranging from nervous anticipation to barely contained excitement.
And then his eyes landed on her.
She was different. Standing near the edge of the room, looking around with careful curiosity, the young woman was taller than some of the others hear her and seemed to have some muscle on her. She had a doll-like face, large pink eyes and paler skin that made her seem strangely out of place here, in this tunnel of worn metal and grime. Her long, black hair fell over her shoulders like ink against paper, and her gaze was calm, if not somewhat cautious, as she scanned the crowd. She was a rookie, no doubt about it. He would've remembered if he'd seen her before.
He smirked to himself. Rookies were easy to read, and she looked about as out of her depth as anyone he'd ever seen take their first steps into this waiting room. She hadn't put up her guard yet, hadn't braced herself for what lay ahead. To him, she looked like a fresh target, a delicate flower thrown into the lion's den, the kind of rookie that wouldn't last the first trial. Perfect.
He gave a small, knowing chuckle. A girl like her, unprepared and unassuming, would make an easy target for his usual welcome routine. He'd done it dozens of times before—after all, every rookie could use a helping hand... or so he let them think. His eyes followed her as she took in her surroundings, completely unaware of the plans already forming in his mind. He could practically taste her failure, and the idea of it brought a flicker of satisfaction to his face. She'd be just another rookie crushed by her own naivety.
A soda, that's all he'd need. The same trick had worked time and again, and if this girl was as green as she looked, she wouldn't suspect a thing. He shifted his weight, readying himself to approach her, already preparing the friendly smile, the easy banter that had fooled so many before her.
Quasar kept her focus on the room, her gaze flicking from one person to another. The energy here was dense, almost electric, with silent tension radiating from everyone around her. She noted the types who stood out: those with sharp eyes and relaxed postures, who observed others with guarded interest, and a few who looked uncomfortable, shifting where they stood as if trying to make themselves invisible.
She leaned against the cold metal wall, arms crossed as her eyes swept over the room, taking in the varied expressions of those around her.
Her gaze drifted to her left, and she noticed a man approaching her. Stocky, with a loose, blue v-neck shirt and an overly friendly smile, he carried himself with a strange ease that felt oddly misplaced amid the nerves and focus in the room. As he drew closer, Quasar's eyes narrowed slightly in recognition. It was the man she'd pickpocketed the day before—the one whose Jenny she'd taken so easily. A faint flicker of apprehension sparked within her; he hadn't seemed to notice her yesterday, but his approach now felt too pointed.
"First time here?" he asked in an easy tone, leaning against the wall beside her as his eyes swept over her badge.
Quasar nodded, keeping her expression neutral, "Yes it is," she answered him shortly.
The man chuckled, his laughter overly friendly. "Don't worry. The first time's always the hardest," he said, giving her a light nudge with his elbow. "But you look like you'll be just fine. I've been through this a few times myself. I'm something of a veteran around here."
He was laying it on thick. The casual demeanor, the helpful tone—it all felt carefully constructed. She kept her smile polite, but something about his friendliness made her wary, even beyond the fact that he was the man she'd pickpocketed. If he recognized her, or had even a hint of suspicion, he might be trying to draw her in.
YOU ARE READING
ECHOES BEYOND THE DOOR || Hisoka X OC
Fanfiction|| MATURE CONTENT "Careful now...A game's only fun when the pieces survive long enough to bleed." Caught between life and death, she awakens in a realm of endless doors, each one a path into the unknown. Drawn to one, she steps through and finds he...
