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Chapter 8: Diner date
Kokobiel took the towel off the cat, he was all puffy now that he was dry and much calmer than before. He cradled the cat as he walked back into the living room as a bowl of food and water was laid out for the cat. Kokobiel sat the cat down as it immediately went to the wet food.
"The little thing is orange, god it was so dirty I thought it was calico," Sam said as she appeared beside Kokobiel a model of a warthog in hand.
"Yes, also where the hell did you get that?" Kokobiel asked as he noticed the model in her hands.
"What do you think I went into that store for? I'm a collector. I collect models and I don't have a warthog model. Look the wheels even spin," Sam said as she spun one of the wheels. Kokobiel looked at her strangely before he shook his head.
"What else did you get because there was more than one bag?" Kokobiel asked as he spotted the other two bags on the counter.
"One just has a dumb shirt and the other has a few pretty glass jars," Sam said as she set down the model.
"What did Rykard get, I saw a box but never saw what was inside," Kokobiel said as he looked around for Kokobiel.
"Dunno, he keeps some stuff private and I'm not going to question his privacy." Sam said in return. Kokobiel let out a light huff before he shook his head.
"That's fair I was just curious is all, I will just ask him, well try to. I don't know sign language." Kokobiel said the tinge of embarrassment in his voice.
"Well he can teach you, and I probably could at least somewhat." Sam replied back.
"I'd be happy if you did, but let's wait till after me and Morgan go back into town, I should probably go bathe and freshen myself up," Kokobiel said as he turned around and headed down the hallway. He entered the room he had slept the night before, Morgan sitting on the bed as he messed with his metal arm with a screw driver.
"You do that a lot, are you trying to fix something on it?" Kokobiel asked as he went to the small closet. He didn't have anything in it but he would wear anything that would fit.
"No, it's just more of a nervous tick you could say. It calms me down and I get to do something," Morgan said as he stopped fiddling with the screwdriver looking to Kokobiel.
"Huh, interesting. So are you ready to go to that diner? Because I'm going to shower then just clean myself up before we go," Kokobiel replied as he grabbed a shirt out of the closet as he turned around presenting it to Morgan.
"Clashes too much with your hair and I think it's too small. But yeah I'll be ready by then, I just have to put on my jacket and brush myself." Morgan said.
"Didn't expect you to be one to brush your fur, but maybe I'm thinking too much about your brother," Kokobiel said as he put the shirt back and grabbed out a white shirt with a brown button up.
"This will do," Kokobiel said as he turned back to Morgan who looked slightly grouchy.
"I am very different from my brother. Thank you very much." Morgan said in annoyance.
"Well bitch runs in the family apparently," Kokobiel teased as he left the room. Morgan blew a raspberry at him as he left. Probably not his best doing but it was very easy to tease Morgan, he opened the bathroom door as he set the clothes on the floor. He lifted his shirt off of himself as he looked at the bandage at his side, no blood patches and the bandage hadn't come off. He would have to take it off to shower anyway. Removing the bandage he could see that the wound began to heal properly and scab over, fur had even started to grow back. A flash of memory came back, the ringing and barely audible sound of yelling with a sharp pain from his right side. The memory was fuzzy and there wasn't much visual to it. Kokobiel could feel his breath quickening as his head began to ring, the guilt, the pressure, the pain of what he had done. There was no getting rid of the memory of him killing the two, he wouldn't allow it to begin with. Kokobiel leaned down as he turned on the water as the bath began to fill before he switched it to the shower head. The noise of the water drowned out the memories as he fully undressed and stepped in, the water was warm and soft against his skin and fur. He hummed the tune he had heard so often when he lived with the lady that took care of him.
She was very kind to him, she understood him or at the very least listened to his woes. The word love came to mind when he thought of her but it was a motherly love and a warm memory. The water turned off as Kokobiel stepped out of the shower wrapping himself in a towel as he dried off, looking into the mirror he could see the scars along his body better, but he traced the one from above his eye to under his eye. He shook his head as he hung up the towel and put the clothes on he had laid out. Stepping out of the bathroom Morgan was waiting for him by the door, cat in hand.
"Ready to go?" Morgan asked as played with the cat who clawed his metal hand.
"Yes I am, just have to grab something from the room," Kokobiel said as he walked into the room he had stayed in the night before, he had set his journal on his shirt the night before. Going to the side of the bed he found it missing and he looked around.
"Are you looking for this journal, I didn't realize it was yours and had just kept it in my pocket," Morgan said as he stood in the doorway, journal now in hand. Kokobiel came up to him as he took the journal and put it into the shirt's pocket. "I did read it, you make some pretty good art," Morgan said as he smirked and turned around.
"This was kind of personal. I don't just go through your stuff," Kokobiel said sternly as he stepped out of the room. "I didn't know, and I'm not stopping you from going through my stuff," Morgan said as he turned around.
"That's not my point, you went through something personal, you didn't even ask," Kokobiel said as he threw out his hands.
"I also didn't know what it was, I had found it on the floor. I'm going to read it." Morgan said sternly back. Kokobiel took in a breath as he calmed himself.
"Just don't go through it again unless I say you can, please?" Kokobiel asked. Morgan relaxed his demeanor as his face shifted the same face he had made after punching Kokobiel in the gut.
"I will, sorry for just going through stuff, my curiosity gets the better of me." Morgan said back. Kokobiel accepted the apology, it's clear that Morgan regrets some stuff he does but tries to hide it his best.
"Come on let's go get food, we can talk at the diner," Kokobiel said as he walked past Morgan. Morgan nodded as he followed him before setting the cat down in the living room.
Kokobiel opened the door as he let Morgan walk out first before walking out behind him and shutting the door. It wasn't very hot outside and the clouds had begun to darken overhead.
"Hopefully it doesn't rain before we get there," Kokobiel said as he walked onto the sidewalk as they made their way into town.
"It's just water, don't be such a big baby about it if it does rain," Morgan said as he joined him.
"I'm just saying is all, plus I will just use you as an umbrella." Kokobiel said.
"Uh huh, sounds like you just want to hold me," Morgan said as he poked him with his elbow.
"Oh yeah that'll definitely happen later." Kokobiel shot back. It wasn't long before they were in town and inside the diner. It wasn't super busy but there were a couple people sitting down and eating, the smell of coffee still present. They sat in a booth away from the door as they sat across from each other, the place was clean and in nice conditions.
"What can I do for y'all boys," a waitress walked up to them and asked. She set down two menus in front of them.
"An ice tea please." Kokobiel asked.
"The same for me," Morgan said as he looked at the waitress. She dotted down the order on a piece of paper.
"I'll get that for you two in a moment," the waitress said as she left the table. Kokobiel took the menu as he looked over the items, nothing exactly took his interest but there also wasn't a lot.
"I'd say get the loaded fries, they're pretty good," Morgan said as he grabbed the other menu.
"That doesn't sound bad, have you been here before?" Kokobiel asked.
"Yeah a few times." Morgan replied back.
"Where all have you been?" Kokobiel asked. Morgan looked up to him as he thought for a moment.
"A lot of places but I've never been to Omegrad though." Morgan replied back.
"I went to Omegrad once, it's how I was able to skip basics, I was an "asset" to them but they didn't watch me too well," Kokobiel said as he set down the menu.
"You got in trouble with The House?" Morgan asked as he lifted his head in interest.
"It wasn't heretical but tagging a House member's home is a violation," Kokobiel said as he leaned back.
"You must have been a troublemaker as a kid." Morgan said back.
"I was a bit of a dickhead but you have to have an ego if you want to survive the ring." Kokobiel said, it was pretty common to flaunt and be a show off in the fights he attended.
"You were a boxer? Or does this relate to the scars?" Morgan asked.
"It does relate to the scars, I'd rather talk about that somewhere else," Kokobiel said as he leaned back down.
"Oh cmon you can trust me, I can tell you my secrets if you tell me yours." Morgan said his tone made it sound like he was a demon making a deal.
"What are you? The devil himself with the way you ask for stuff," Kokobiel said as he chuckled. Morgan rolled his eyes before chuckling as well.
"Sure, you tell me one of your secrets and I'll tell you one of mine," Kokobiel said as he leaned in.
"Well what do you want to know?" Morgan asked.
"Dingo mentioned something about finding you in an alley, what was that about?" Kokobiel asked.
"Oh that, well before joining her I had to work odd jobs to keep myself afloat? No afloat wouldn't be the right word for that. Alive? Yeah alive, so I lived in an alley until I had pickpocketed Dingo and she chased me down when she found out. She didn't beat my ass but gave me an opportunity to join her." Morgan replied, it wasn't exactly a secret but he didn't mention it very often to most people.
"Here you boys go," the waitress said as she finally came back with their drinks, setting them on the table. Morgan nodded as she sat down the drinks.
"Thank you," Kokobiel said as he sipped from the drink.
"Yall want to order now or ya need a little more time?" The waitress asked.
"A little more time please." Kokobiel said. The waitress nodded before walking off to give them extra time.
"Now for my secret I guess, I wasn't a boxer, I was a ring fighter, a damn good one. But the more dangerous or the more boundaries set the more money you made, I only lost a couple times first starting out. There even was fights to death which I rarely did but they were the highest paid one." Kokobiel said to Morgan.
"So why did you stop?" Morgan asked.
"That'll cost you another secret." Kokobiel said as he took another sip.
"Bleh I aint got nothing, you're no fun," Morgan said as he slumped back in his seat.
"And you are?" Kokobiel said sarcastically.
"Don't be a dick, I'm just taking interest in you." Morgan replied back.
"Should've done that more last night." Kokobiel said teasingly.
"Fuck you," Morgan said as he flipped him off. Kokobiel chuckled to himself.
"Okay maybe I have one thing, guess it's kinda weird but when I had first joined I thought a way to celebrate would be to pierce my nipples. Not exactly a secret but who's going to know I have them without telling them." Morgan said to him.
"Id definitely find out eventually." Kokobiel smirked. Morgan rolled his eyes before trying to hide his smile.
The waitress came back again, notepad still in hand.
"Have we thought of anything?" The waitress asked.
"Yeah I'll get the fried chicken and fries." Kokobiel said. Morgan looked at him weirdly.
"I'll have the loaded basket of fries," Morgan said as he handed over his menu.
"Okay, will that be all," The waitress said as she jotted down the order and took the menus. The two nodded in agreement before the waitress walked away towards the kitchen.
"Really fried chicken and fries, what are you a picky eater?" Morgan asked Kokobiel.
"No, I just didn't see anything that I really wanted." Kokobiel replied back in defense. Morgan eyed him suspiciously before he shook his head.
"I guess I shouldn't judge, I have my weird things about certain breads," Morgan said as he picked at the chipped paint on his hand.
"So what does this guy look like, should I be watching for anyone?" Kokobiel asked as he just looked around the building.
"No, he'd be at the door and I would see him first, he doesn't exactly have a style but his face is recognizable," Morgan said as he sat up. It wasn't long before the sound of a bell came from the door before the sound of the door shutting.
"Ask and you shall receive," Morgan said as his eyes followed the person that walked in before they sat down beside Kokobiel. The stranger wore business attire on top with a pair of jeans on the bottom. His fur was almost jet black but he wasn't bulky but the suit made it hard to tell, he was roughly the same size as Morgan.
"I see we have a newcomer, another one of Dingo's mutts?" The stranger asked. Kokobiel assumed that he was talking about him, this must have been CJ.
"Not a mutt, a friend he works for us." Morgan said his tone was much more serious than before.
"That's what most of your mutts are, I remember you were a mutt once too. But this is just business, no reason to insult the customer, where's Dingo?" CJ asked.
"Not here, I was swapped with her position instead, what do you have and what's the price." Morgan asked, annoyed by CJ. The waitress had come back with the basket of fries and spoke to CJ.
"CJ it's so nice to see you, the usual?" The waitress asked.
"Yes please ma'am." CJ said his tone completely changed now to be much nicer.
The waitress nodded before walking away and back to the kitchen.
"The price isn't credits this time, but a favor," CJ said as he turned his head back to Morgan, his tone had changed back to the much more serious tone he had before.
"Then what's the favor?" Morgan asked.
"I require you and your gaggle of mutts to fetch me a device from a H.A.D.E.S officer." CJ said.
"You're fucking nuts, the officers are almost untouchable and they don't just wander around willy nilly and they are always guarded." Morgan said, his voice growing in volume.
"I know it's a hard task but if you want the full info you'll need to get it but I can tell you this. The House is stacking their cards and whatever they have in the deck isn't good for anyone on Sirca." CJ said, it was ominous and foreboding but he didn't make it obvious what he meant.
"Fine, just give us the target and his last location." Morgan said with annoyance.
"Great choice mutt, his last location was in Woristan the place is a bit back water but you'll hold out. His name is Chester Sinclair and wears a signature blue beret. You can't miss him," CJ said as he took a fry from Morgan's basket. Morgan glared at him as he ate the fry, if it wasn't for the fact he was an informant Kokobiel would just think he'd kill CJ right here. The waitress came back again with a drink and another plate.
"Can I get two togo boxes and the check, separate from his," Morgan asked as he sat up, never breaking eye contact with CJ.
"I'll be right back with that," the waitress said as she then went to the kitchen soon coming back with two togo boxes. Morgan put the fried in his box before sliding the other to Kokobiel who then packed his. CJ got up from the seat as he let Kokobiel out of the booth before he sat back down after Kokobiel got up. Morgan grabbed Kokobiel almost half dragging him out the door before going a block down before Morgan spoke.
"That dude can be such a dick head, he's so stuck up I swear someone shoved a scarecrow up his ass," Morgan raved as he opened the togo box.
"Don't get so worked up over it, we need the info don't we?" Kokobiel asked.
"Well yeah but he pushes us around all the time and that name he gives us! Mutt, we aren't mutts, not hounds, not someone's dogs!" Morgan said as he ate the fries in anger.
"I think you're stress eating." Kokobiel said.
"Shut the fuck up, im annoyed and angry and food helps and im hungry," Morgan barked at him as he glared at him.
"Just don't choke on it, i'm not trying to do the heimlich on you." Kokobiel joked. Morgan let out a small sigh as he slowed himself.
"I just wanted a small break for once is all." Morgan said.
"We can get one as soon as we finish that job for him, I do think you need a vacation." Kokobiel replied back as Morgan nodded in agreement.
It didn't take them very long to get back to the house, the streets were much more lively on their way back. Stepping into the house it wasn't quiet as the radio played out loud, it seemed to be one of The Houses ceremonies that played. Sam was sitting next to it just listening before she looked to see who entered the door.
"So what did CJ give us?" Sam asked as she stood up and turned down the radio.
"Another job, a favor for info, that dirty rat," Morgan said as he sat down on the couch.
"What's the job?" Sam asked.
"Retrieve something from a House officer, he didn't say what but I can only assume it will be on the officer." Morgan said with annoyance in his voice.
"I mean we could just kill the dude, one less officer and probably guards," Sam said as she sat down on the couch as well.
"Yeah but that means a lot of heat on our asses, it's just going to be a hard job is all." Morgan replied back. Kokobiel made his way to the chair as he sat down.
"Hey you said you could teach me sign language, could we start now?" Kokobiel asked Sam.
"I mean yeah sure I'm just not the best at it," Sam said as she turned to face Kokobiel.
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