From Dusk Til Dawn

Staring

Malice

Partner. Air claws its way out of my lungs as I expel nothing but stomach acid and bile from my mouth. Please be some kind of joke. My lungs desperately try to fill with air as I remain doubled over, arm wrapped around my midsection, the other keeping me stable against the wall. I hadn't realized the other guy was still speaking (or rather, yelling), and once the sound of blood relented, my face flushed a new shade of red. Redder than the eyes of the man staring me down.

I had just thrown up. On Benjamin's office floor. In front of my new partner.

I cough in a way that can only be described as horrific, and try my best to readjust myself. Stand straight. Face forward.

Red eyes.

My fingers lose all feeling.

Benjamin clears his throat, speaking up. "Malice, are you alright?" Nodding, I decide it wise to keep my mouth shut. "Okay." He sighs, scratching his eyebrow. "I guess I should have someone clean that up. Moving on," he steps forward, standing beside the red eyed menace who doesn't fail to stare straight at me. Unwavering. Unsettling. Unnerving. "This pertains to your mission. I need you to work with--"

"The name's Ezekiel." He cuts Benjamin off, respect evidently not present. He doesn't stop staring at me. "I'm the fuckin' best there is, you hear? You left me waiting. You better have a good excuse, because I am this close to --"

"Watch it." Benjamin's voice is sharp, but I do not look towards him. I keep my eyes fixed on Ezekiel, noticing things I did not the first time. His teeth are sharp, shark-like almost, locking together like an identical piece puzzle. He is taller than me, but shorter than Benjamin, his height an obvious rung in his self esteem ladder with how he prickles (albeit, minutely) to Benjamin being just that bit taller.

"Ezekiel Mallows," I breathe, voice finding me. That feeling of familiarity, as though I remembered him -- that was why. "I read about you, so much, my goodness --" I stand straighter. "You're Ezekiel Mallows?"

"How many fucking times are you going to say my name?" The scythe beside me in the wall is removed forcibly, returning to his side. Knuckles turn white with how hard he grips, almost as if it pained him to be apart. "And you never answered my question. Why the fuck did you keep me waiting?" His eyes don't move. I scramble to answer.

"I overslept," I answer quickly. Thick brows furrow, jaw clenching. "I had been--"

"I don't care." He seems to deem his scythe unimportant, dismissing it and causing it to vanish from sight. My breath gets caught in my throat. Fascinating. "What I am pissed about is, why am I stuck with some pathetic, vomiting shit like you? Who even are you?" I narrow my eyes, jaw clenched slightly to the insult, but I let it slide.

"Malice Zeklos." He raises a brow, clearly unimpressed. "I'm no 'Class A Grim Reaper', but I'm also not pathetic." Hand raised to shake, I wait for him to reciprocate. He sneers, and for the first time, breaks the demoralizing eye contact. He turns to Benjamin, grunting. Fingers twitch with annoyance. Remain calm.

Benjamin clears his throat audibly, glance full of irritation directed towards Ezekiel. Ezekiel merely rolls his eyes, turning back to face me with complete disinterest. I ignore him. "Malice is one of the best, Ezekiel. Don't get ahead of yourself because you think yourself the one and only." Ezekiel groans loudly. Childish. "Malice is one of the few dragons from the shadow dragon bloodline. He has power you couldn't even fathom." I can feel myself flush. I haven't used my powers in years, I think, but I don't let my thoughts show. I wonder if Benjamin is saying these things because he believes it, or because he likes me. Either way, it's nice to hear. "So I want you and Malice to work together. Your mission is this: there has been an insurmountable amount of people, be it rapists, murderers, traffickers, you name it, who roam the streets of New York. I need you, Ezekiel, to be the brawn of this operation, and you, Malice, to be the brain." Ezekiel rolls his eyes again and crosses his arms. I catch a glimpse at him. He instantly catches my gaze and doesn't blink. I look away.