Rebellious Duo (#Wattys2016)

9: Blackhearts?

Kaine groaned as she saw Nori stomp off into town. "This is my fault," she told Akira.

"No it isn't. You tried your hardest. Nori couldn't ask for more." Akira came up from behind to stare over her shoulder at Nori's angry figure stalking away. "The captain just needs some time to herself. Now what do you say we take a break?"

"I don't deserve to take a break," Kaine said crossly.

Akira placed his hands precariously onto her shoulders. "I am disinclined to acquiesce your request to wallow in self-pity. We're going out into the town and that's that."

She slapped his hands away with a scowl. "Fine, but I'll be miserable."

He smiled. "Be as miserable as you want, my dear." Akira docked the Oxblood and the both stepped onto the dock. Kaine couldn't help but notice faint black burn marks where Nori must have landed earlier. This only made the leaden feeling in her stomach heavier. "Now, you can tell me what's on your mind or I'll tell you," Akira said promptly.

"It's this case! Each piece of evidence... it just doesn't make sense!" Kaine bit her nails angrily. She took long strides out of the dock. "The dart gun... the drugged pirates... the disappearances... " She saw a weathered bench next to the street and sat down to try and clear her head. "Akira, I'm so stupid! If I can't solve this, how the hell will I defeat the Divine Skulls?"

"Pardon?" Akira sat next to her, draping his arm around her neck.

"The Divine Skulls. The gang. In London. They're selling terrible drugs, one that bring nearly anarchic destruction upon everything! If I can't protect one pirate crew, how can I protect my city?" Kaine almost felt like crying she was so frustrated. "You were right, you know."

Akira took Kaine's fedora off her head, fitting it around the corner of the bench. "Right about what?"

"I'm slipping! What the hell is wrong with me? Everything is just crashing around. My brain... it's overloading. I can't sift through everything."

"Kaine." Akira turned her head to face him, gripping her chin with the tips of his fingers. "Let me tell you why I wear this hat."

"Are you trying to cheer me up? You're doing a terrible job."

"This is a vintage Gambler top hat, custom made," Akira told her in all seriousness.

Kaine rolled her eyes. "Do you think I care?"

"And it was my father's before me," Akira said, in a slightly louder voice. "The band around it was the one he wore on his wedding."

"So he passed it down?"

"I stole it, but that's beside the point."

"What is the point?" Kaine asked impatiently. "If you've got something to say, spit it out!"

Akira took his old top hat off his head and placed it on Kaine's head. It was much too large for her. The velvety brim slipped down to her eyebrows. "I use it to hide my eyes," he whispered. "My nanny trained me too well. That's the problem with magic, you never know what it'll do to you. And now I can't control it. My power."

She cautiously pushed the brim up so she could see his face. Now for the first time she could concentrate on his large violet eyes. The weak setting sunlight seemed to reflect forever in his irises. And his pupils were endless voids, unlike anything she had ever seen. She felt dizzy just looking at him. Kaine tried to pull away, but he kept his grip on her chin, fingertips sliding down to her collarbone. "S-stop! I know you're using magic!"

"I've been trying to tell you all the time, but do you listen to me?" He swooped down and kissed her full on the lips. When they finally pulled apart, he grinned to reveal his pointed vampire-like teeth and swiped his hat off her head again. "Is your head clear now?"