Today, Simon had a confidence stirring within him like no other. It was normal for a Signator to reach new heights, obviously, but he had done so earlier than what would be considered normal.
If not for the technique he had come up with to refine his core, it would've taken him another week to reach this sub-stage. Simon wanted to use the time he had now to explore the Earth Scale Eel Cave.
This would not come to fruition as the bureau had other plans for him. Once again, he was trapped in a room writing reports with Evelyn all day. Lunch break couldn't come any sooner. Oh, how he desperately needed this.
"Si, so how about that next time?"
Simon hesitated for a bit, looking at her with a hidden curiosity that he couldn't deny.
(I guess I can't really say no.)
Simon tried to think of a way to reject her, but he couldn't. At least, this is what he told himself. In reality, she had left an impression on him from their last "date."
She had called him out of his lie, something people didn't do much unless — they had some understanding of him that he didn't have himself.
"Sure."
Like usual, he kept his responses to her short and thought out. Because of the cold weather, he had brought an all-black trench coat with him today. The sleeves hung loosely on him, making Evelyn turn her head.
"Is black your favorite color or something?"
"Huh? No, my favorite color is yellow."
"Really? Yellow?! How can that be your favorite color? It reminds me of an annoying light when I'm trying to sleep."
"It reminds me of warning signs."
"Hmmm...?"
However weird Evelyn thought him to be, she had a small grin on her face that screamed excitement. She kept her gaze on him as he followed her out of the room and into the bustling streets of New York.
Obviously, neither of them had the time to sit down, go to a restaurant, and order something fancy. So, they decided on street food.
"You're from here, right? Do you know any stands nearby, Si?"
"I don't eat out much, so no."
"Oh, right! You still live with your parents, huh? N-not that it's a bad thing, of course, I'd kill to have a home-cooked meal!"
"I understand. Plus, it doesn't bother me. Naomi loves to cook."
Evelyn stared at him blankly for a few moments, almost as if comprehending his words. She counted on her fingers, the gears turning in her head as she put two and two together...
"Naomi Jackson is your mom?!"
"Not biologically..."
"Huh?!"
That reaction was normal for any person who heard that name in the bureau. On Simon's papers, it said Ms. Jackson, so Evelyn did not know her first name until now. But now that she did, she had the information that one of the most influential Cognitive Officers was his guardian.
But that's not what this moment was about; it was about the two of them, and no one else. After the shock had dimmed down, Evelyn settled, and the two of them began to point out a few stands together.
Eventually, the floating smell of grease and spices guided them towards a stand for chicken skewers and wrapped pastries. Both Simon and Evelyn got their share, but with Evelyn being the boss, she insisted on paying.
Simon accepted. A free meal was always going to be a free meal, no matter where it came from. He inspected the food for a little under a second before biting into it.
Evelyn giggled at this sight, making Simon arch an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Hahaha! Why do you always stare at your food like that before you eat it?!"
Simon thought about her question, and he knew the reason. It was a rather stupid reason to say out loud, but he could at least give her the courtesy of honesty.
"It could be poisonous."
This was an instinctive trait he picked up, although he didn't know where from. At this point, the only food he would not hesitate to eat was Naomi's. Still, a complex feeling showered over him at this revelation.
When had she noticed this small detail?
"I guess that's fine. But even soldiers eat, no need to be so cautious, Si."
Simon nodded his head, and they both began to walk together. A silence stretched between them, although this time, not awkward. It seemed the two were content with it, sharing a couple of stares as they ate.
The two of them eventually found a quiet bench in a park, with Evelyn finishing her food first. She wiped her hands clean of grease with a napkin before tossing it into a trash bin.
Simon was still carefully eating, but he sat next to her. Evelyn leaned in, perhaps a little too close to him. They sat thigh to thigh, and her face was next to his shoulder.
"Si, can I ask you a strange question?"
Simon shifted his gaze towards her, slightly retreating at her closeness that he didn't seem to notice beforehand. Her perfume practically punched his nose.
It smelled of a soft peony wrapped around his lungs, with a hint of calm jasmine. But the smell that stood out most to Simon — was something uniquely her.
It was almost as if she smelled like a moment that couldn't be perfectly replicated twice. Like something floral that hadn't yet fully bloomed, yet a sharp note of a cold night before snow began to fall.
"What was your favorite game as a kid?"
Caught off guard, Simon couldn't help but laugh at this question.
(Out of everything she wanted to ask, that was it? I guess I can entertain it.)
Simon thought for a while, his index and thumb on his chin as he thought.
"I didn't play much as a kid, so most of the games I played were just learning things for the bureau. But my favorite was a simple guessing game I used to play with my father."
"Really? How'd it go?"
"Well, my father had a multitude of weapons, so he would have me guess which one he would use on his next mission. If I guessed right, I'd get a sweet when he came back."
Evelyn nodded, then stared at him with anticipation....
(Uh, is she waiting for something? Oh.)
Simon cleared his throat.
"Well, what about you?"
"Hehe! It was a game I used to play with Alina. We would dress up as animals, and have to catch the other person."
"So tag?"
"Yes, but different. You'd have to pull each other's tail on their onesie to catch them! Oh, and whoever lost got to choose what we got to do that day."
What an odd woman.