11:30 PM. A few hours after being dropped off at the base.
Mickey Mannix was walking through the agents' residential corridor, completely unaware that in just a few seconds, he was about to be ambushed.
Whoosh!
He really was. A hand grabbed him and shoved him up against the wall.
Thud! (Body hitting the wall)
"Whoa!?"
His reflexes kicked in. He raised one arm to shield himself and used the other to grab the attacker's wrist. But once he realized it was Sera Pina Gilmour, still in the same outfit from dinner, he let go.
"Why aren't you asleep?"
"Heard some creep wandering around."
Mickey glanced left and right, confused.
"You."
Smack.
She slapped his cheek.
"What do you want?"
"I'm anxious. Couldn't sleep."
"And?"
"And what?"
Sera folded her arms and stared him down.
"Hey. I've got training starting tomorrow, alright? Can't sleep 'cause I'm nervous."
"Then go sleep."
Smack.
"...Again?"
His cheek was now visibly red from her handprint.
"That's for embarrassing me at dinner."
"What?"
"And for stealing my sushi."
"You noticed..."
"Time for you to pay up, Mannix."
"..."
"How?"
And right then—she'd been waiting for the question—Sera undid the top button of her shirt, leaning in.
"Put me to sleep."
"...Ah. So that's the real reason."
"Well, being casual partners isn't the worst thing in the world, is it?"
"..."
"Hey! I'm talking to you. My eyes are up here."
Mickey looked up at her face.
"I thought you said you were done with that."
"Did I ever say that?"
"...No. You didn't."
"Exactly. Don't think this ends at just one night."
"Then admit you wanted it too."
Sera leaned in close and whispered by his ear.
"So did you."
8:00 AM.
Beep. Beep.
Sera's gold-and-black cased iPhone barely managed two chirps before being silenced. She was already awake.
She turned over, draping her arm across Mickey's chest, casually tracing the skin.
One thing she noticed, ever since that drunken night, were the scars on his body—scars from abuse. Though most had long since healed, the discolored lines and uneven textures beneath the skin were still visible.
"...So that's why you always wear long sleeves..."
She muttered, fingers gently running along a line near his shoulder.
It was hard to imagine what kind of life he'd endured. Even just lifting his sleeve revealed the damage—and every inch beneath Mickey Mannix's clothing felt like a haunting mural... not unlike the sketches he so often drew.
"Don't tease. If you broke it, fix it."
"I know."
Sera tapped one of the fresh scratches she'd left and focused. A soft shimmer ran over the mark, and the skin sealed up seamlessly.
"Can your power fix old scars too?"
Mickey asked.
"No..."
She answered honestly. She could feel how much he hated those scars.
"Healed scars are already fused tissue. My ability works on open wounds. They're completely different."
"...I see."
He didn't say more, but his expression turned a little distant.
"I could... make new skin over them, though."
"Like cosmetic surgery?"
"But I'd have to tear the skin open first and regrow it. Otherwise, it'd look like a tumor. Ever seen one of those zit-popping videos? Exactly like that."
"...That's terrifying."
She gave his chest a light slap and stood up, completely unbothered.
Still bare.
"Why didn't Thrak offer to get them surgically removed for you?"
"I refused."
"Why?"
"Didn't want the pain."
"What?! You get hit by helicopters and bombs like it's nothing—but a scalpel freaks you out?"
"It's the recovery time. Too much hassle."
"...But what if I did it for you?"
"Still no. I don't want to die."
"Wow. Can't believe you're this annoying even in the morning."
"If you did it... maybe."
He got up, pulled the blanket over to cover Sera, and casually folded his side.
"But you'd have to do the whole body. And if people saw the scars gone, they'd know you did it. Then they'd also know..."
"...That we've been sleeping together."
"Right. I mean, there's no normal reason for me to strip down in front of you otherwise."
"...Fair point."
"I'm okay with people knowing. The question is—are you?"
"...Hey. Wait a sec—Mannix. Have you told anyone?"
"No one's asked."
"And if they do?"
"I'll tell them."
"Hey!"
Sera stomped over, grabbed both his cheeks, and made him look her in the eyes.
"Don't you dare tell anyone!"
"Why?"
"Because it's our business, damn it! You're not embarrassed? What if this gets out? What are we even gonna say?! Did you think about that!?"
"...Nope."
"Unbelievable."
She gave him a light slap again.
Mickey: "You act like no one will ever find out. Some probably already know—and just aren't saying."
"Who?"
"Annie."
Thud.
"Don't be ridiculous! She couldn't possibly—!"
"Then maybe she doesn't. Who knows?"
"...Wait. Are you serious? You really think she knows?"
"She was young once. She'd know the signs."
Mickey gently took her hands off his face.
"Know why I looked at you differently than I did Syd—when we first met?"
"Because I've got boobs and he doesn't?"
"If Syd hadn't clearly said he's into women... what makes you think I wouldn't have slept with him too?"
"Uhh—😰"
She started sweating.
Imagining it just made her shake her head furiously.
"Then why me?"
"Because they weren't born rich. You were."
"..."
"...What?"
"The three of them—Annie and her kids—they weren't born into wealth. Annie fought her way up from nothing. That's why she is the way she is. Her logic is way beyond mine. Even Syd, for all his attitude—his logic's solid. You? Let's not even start."
"Watch it, smart mouth."
Smack.
"See? I knew. I just didn't say anything."
"...Knew what?"
"Knew about Jody and Syd. Knew what they're feeling."
"!!"
"You knew this whole time...?"
"Toshi figured it out before me—by a few days."
"And you didn't... do anything?"
"It's their business."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, then casually trailed it down her arm to where a red mark peeked out beneath it—one he left.
"But our business... is that you've got training at 10. Don't forget. You're meeting Annie and your trainer."
"And what are you guys doing?"
"Probably working. Or maybe cheering from the sidelines."
"...."
Grab.
Sera caught his hand mid-mischief and gave a sly grin.
"...What are you up to?"
Mickey asked.
"You, me, the bathtub. Take a wild guess."
"Can you reflect on life for once?"
"Spiritual awakening. Ten minutes max. You know all my weak spots now."
Meanwhile, at the same moment...
Roxxy, dressed in workout clothes, was the first to step out of her room—fresh and ready to start the day.
She walked over to Jody's door and pressed the buzzer three times—an agreed-upon signal. Jody would definitely be up.
Next, she headed toward Sera's room. On the way, she bumped into her older brother, who was jogging back to grab something.
(Thai)
"Have you seen the gay one?"
"..."
"..."
"Huh? Wasn't Mickey with you?"
"No. Knocked on his door this morning—he's not there."
"...Oh. Then I have no idea."
"Weird... Where'd he go? Toshi's with me too... Tried calling. He's not picking up."
"Maybe he went outside?"
"Maybe."
Roxxy watched her brother dash into his room, then turned back and rang Sera's buzzer.
"...Where did Mickey go?"
She still wondered.