The Agency: ICE (Book 1)

Chapter 15: Explosive Misdirection

"What's that ring on your finger, by the way?"

"Hmm? Oh, this? It's from my little brother."

"Is it amber?"

"No, but it's a similar color."

"Is it garnet, then?"

"Yeah! How'd you get that on the second try?"

"Well, it's your zodiac's birthstone, right?"

"Da! You remember."

"Of course I remember. Is that why he gave it to you?"

"Actually, the color of this garnet matches his eyes when the sun sets."

"Really? His eyes are that exact color?"

"They're like a honey tone. They're very sweet and warm, but once when the sun was setting and it hit them at the perfect angle... oh, it makes me want to cry just remembering his eyes."

"Aye, ¿porqúe? Has he passed away?"

"No. He's overseas right now on a military mission even though I've told him he shouldn't due to his PTSD. The reason why he gave the ring to me was that I told him that I'd miss the way his eyes glisten in the sunlight. He bought it so I can still technically look at his eyes while he's away. And if he doesn't return... well, I can still see the way he smiles when I look at it."

"So you are sentimental."

"Pfffttt, no way. That bitchass can go sass some other sister."

"Mmhmm..."

"...Stop staring at me."

"..."

"...UGH! Yes, I am very sentimental."

"Oh yes. I can tell by how much you stare at the ring."

"Yeah, well, looking at this ring is a little less sad than looking at his real eyes."

"Why is it sad to look into his eyes?"

"See, this gemstone is just that: a gemstone. It may be the same color as his eyes, but his eyes hold emotions and memories locked deep away into his heart that you can only see when you look at them, and uhh..."

"U tebya vse normal'no [Are you okay]?"

"Yeah, yeah... umm... n-no..."

"Come here..."

"..."

"You really love him, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I worry about him a lot. He's so sweet, and yet he doesn't let himself see through his past. He's just a baby compared to the rest of the world. I just want to protect him from anything that wants to do him harm."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. Eventually, I think he'll learn to appreciate his present rather than his past."

"You think so?"

"I know so, Lilli. I think, one day, he will always have someone there to protect him in any situation. Or at least help him out."