LAYERS

Genes Scars(TW//sh)

(TW// sh)

Humidity had thickened the air something unpleasant as Mint was returning home from her job one Friday night. The excitement for the weekend was dampened by the heat, and she had no expectations or plans for the next two days. However, any thoughts of boredom were erased when a muffled voice, familiar in key, travelled down the alleyway walls as Mint was walking by.

Normally, she wouldn't have given it a second thought, but the words caught her attention.

"Alright, and the cash?"

Falling victim to her curiosity, Mint backtracked to peek over the edge of the building so she could continue listening covertly, if only to figure out just what was going on.

Two figures, hidden within the shadows of the buildings and the darkness of the setting eight o'clock sun, were standing mere feet apart. They were conversing in hushed words, both extremely tense.

"The cash?" the familiar voice insisted, this time irritated.

"It's fine. I got you, man," the other said. Their voice didn't strike any bells for Mint, unlike the other.

The unfamiliar figure began to take what Mint assumed to be the cash from a pocket, but froze at the realization they were being watched.

"Bro, what the fuck!" The unfamiliar figure shoved the money back into their pocket, quickly switching to their opposite pocket to pull out a knife. "You a cop or something?" They questioned aggressively, swerving the knife to the familiar figure, then to Mint, then back to the familiar figure again.

The familiar figure had already turned around to get a look at Mint, and his eyes widened to the size of plates once his eyes landed on her.

"This is a misunderstanding—" Mint had tried to explain, though her sentence was cut short when the unfamiliar figure lunged at her. The heart in her chest felt as though it had stopped prematurely, and through the static fear buzzing at her eyes, she almost didn't notice when the familiar man jumped in front of her.

"Bro, back the fuck up! She's a girl, leave her alone!" The familiar man's sentence was punctuated by him punching the other figure.

Even through her terror addled mind, Mint couldn't help from noticing that despite how skinny the familiar man was, he definitely knew what he was doing.

The unfamiliar being retreated, cradling their face and yelling, "Fuck this, I'm out!"

When the unfamiliar being turned around the corner and disappeared, Mint let out a shaky breath Mint. After regaining motor control of her neck, she looked up to the familiar man. Every nerve in her body was shrieking the urge to run, but her legs remained frozen to the spot. "I'm sorry," she said with trembling words. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"No, it's, it's whatever," the familiar voice responded, though the consolation was twisted with his apparent frustration. He turned to face Mint, and this time she got a good view of his face.

"W-Wait," Mint said, eyes enlarging when she finally recognised him. "Gene?"

"What are you doing out here at this time, Mint?" Gene asked, pinching the bridge of his nose with overt irritation.

"I was closing up at work—" She interrupted her own sentence, shaking her head. Any fear she had of the man dissipated. "Wait, what are you doing out here?"

"It's none of your business," Gene responded sharply, then forced himself to loosen up when he saw at the disappointed look the shorter girl gave him. He sighed out his frustration, and looked around the street before returning his eyes to Mint. "Let me walk you home," he offered, knowing it wouldn't be safe for her to go alone, especially at this time of night.