DEVIATE X / / AN UNORDINARY FANFICTION

XLIX.

After School.

".....Yeah, so then Cecile got fired, then next thing you know I'm the head of the newspaper."

Isen ran his hand through his hair in disbelief before shifting his eyes to me.

"Dude, I can't believe she actually tried to challenge you for Ace! That was a death wish," he said.

I sighed as I crossed my legs, settling myself against the side of Remi's bed.

"I would've been glad to give up the title, but if I did it in front everyone, Arlo would probably just bother me about it, and more importantly, I'm doing this for Sera," I said. "In my opinion, you were better suited for the position anyways. Granted, Cecile is a strong leader and she knows how to manage, but you know how lure in an audience, and no one's written more top articles than you."

"Yeah," Blyke said as he looked up from his laptop. "Why do you look so deflated?"

"Are you kidding me? I don't want to be in some stuck in some stupid leadership position. I'm a free spirit, you know," Isen said as he cockily crossed his arms.

Remi, Blyke and I exchanged questionable glances.

"You're literally talking to three Royals," Remi said pointedly. "Didn't you contend Blyke for the Jack position at one point?"

"T-that's aside the point....!" Isen sputtered. "People can change, you know....!"

"Yeah," Blyke scoffed. "In your case, that translates to 'becoming lazier'."

"(Shut up!)"

"Anyways, Isen," Remi said as she showed him her laptop screen, "Look at what I found yesterday."

On her browser was an article with a large png of Remi and I in action, followed by an overview of what we did, and how the townspeople praised us.

"And look," she said as she jabbed her finger to the corner of the screen, "we already got one-hundred and fifty two views! Not too shabby, huh? We're getting our name out there!"

".....You're kidding? With this badly written article and crap quality picture? We're not gonna get anywhere at this rate," Isen replied bluntly.

"Wow. Way to be a downer, dude," Blyke commented.

"Listen smart ass, I can get us five-hundred plus views by throwing stuff in the school newspaper. If we want EMBER to notice X-Rei and Mako, we're going to need to step up our game. We have to do something big," Isen said. "Make the news. Spread their profiles all over the place."

"Hold on," I said, sitting up, "I didn't agree to getting my name out there. I'd rather maintain a low profile and be underground, you know?"

"But people in Branish already know and appreciate how you've changed the town! Especially that one lady!" Remi winked.

I sighed as I averted my eyes to my lap.

Remi and I had the same end goal, yet at the same time we still have different focuses. In the larger picture, I did want to tear down society's traditional form of the hierarchical system, but unlike Remi, I don't want my efforts to have a spotlight point to me. As much as I wanted to help people at the moment, investigating Irel was still a higher priority for me.

"I agreed to these late night runs to support you, Remi. Granted, I do care about the cause behind your actions, but I think it's better if your moniker took point," I said. "You'd have a much better public image than I would."

A somewhat conflicted expression crossed her face.

"If that's what you want, then.....fine. If you don't want Mako to be known, then you can stay on the sidelines with Blyke and Isen," she smiled. "Of course, you'll be my support when things get wiry."