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"Fine," he said after a long pause. "Three questions. Then you stay here and do whatever Luce asks of you." Chain girl squinted at him, as if this was something worth lying about, before sticking out her hand and saying, "Fine. Deal." They shook, and she immediately followed up with, "Is D your actual name?"

"It's the only one you need to know," he replied, leaning against the counter.

There was a short pause while she considered the next question, then continued with, "What were those chains and wire that you were carrying for?"

D raised his eyes to the ceiling, also considering his answer before replying, "For protection."

She squinted at him, clearly wanting to delve deeper into that answer but not willing to waste her last question. Creds to her for being smarter than she seemed, then. There was a considerably longer pause as she carefully weighed her options for the last question. She'd open her mouth momentarily then shut it as she thought of another possibility. Finally, she asked, "Why are you so scared of people?"

D, for the second time that day, was entirely taken by surprise. He blinked, working his jaw as he processed the question. Chain girl kept talking, saying, "I noticed that you don't like walking by other people, and you were really twitchy, always looking around if there was a noise or anything. I was just wondering if you're like scared of crowds or something?"

Some distant part of D was impressed that this random girl off the street was so observant, but that part was drowned out by a sudden explosive mix of emotions from the question. He abruptly stood up, walking quickly to the door and yanking it open. "Wait! You didn't answer my question!" the girl said, taking a few steps after him and giving him a momentary pause. He exhaled heavily and stepped outside, looking back at the girl one more time, locking her confused and anxious eyes with his own, oddly tired and pained eyes.

"It's not people that I'm scared of."