Filing, scheduling, number crunching; an easy way to wind down on the light work of the day. Miles was in his office like usual, typing away or else leaning back as he waited for his laptop to process information. He twirled a pen in his fingers, thoughts moving from place to place; Work, Kyrin, work, cigarettes, work, Kyrin, brief thoughts of the past, and then work again. He didn't like Kyrin being in his head so often, and pinned the blame on her. It was obvious what was happening, and it was foolish. So either do something about it or get back to work. Although perhaps it was natural that he'd get a soft spot for Kyrin, since he was around her so often. He had a soft spot for Jaydn and Charles too, although... it was different with a woman. Miles treated himself to a cigarette and continued the menial tasks, breaking out the calculator a few times. He was off in his own world of thought, until a soft knock brought the room back to reality.
Maddox? What does he want? " The door's open. "
Nori poked his head from behind the door. He felt a bit nervous coming to see Miles alone, but Nori figured that he should speak with him directly about fixing a schedule time or something of that nature with the gun training. This was the practical reason of course. But still fresh in his mind was the conversation he had had with Kyrin. "I know you probably don't like it, but Miles and I are just...having some fun." This was what fueled him to come talk to Miles. If he could, he wanted to have his say about it.
"Um, excuse me, can I come in? "
" Of course." The timid maid-boy was not who he had expected to see, but he wouldn't turn him down. Miles continued with what he was working on, deciding that the kid could wait a moment.
Nori entered a bit hesitantly. There was Miles at his desk, with two different laptops open and papers all over his desk. He looked busy like usual, but he didn't seemed stressed. On the contrary, he was like a kid busying himself with an art project. Nori looked around a bit, observing the office he'd never seen before. It was in a shape generic to Ky's, but far more crowded. There were many folders and file cabinets, but they were very organized, save for the papers at Mile's desk. Sitting down in one of the chairs, Nori watched Miles work until he could be addressed. He noticed that Miles didn't have his usual toxic cloud of smoke around him that was so characteristic, but he seemed to be working off of coffee. Beside an empty cup was an empty pot of coffee. Wow, that's a lot... but he needs real food to be able to fuel his body properly.
Typing away, Miles continued to work for a few minutes, and decided to multitask when some parts were out of the way. Looking over to Nori, the kid was staring disapprovingly at the coffee pot. " Do you have a question about something Nori? "
Snapping out of his thoughts, Nori gave a nervous smile. "Ah, I was just wondering, if you're not too busy I mean, if we could continue training tonight."
" Alright. " was the reply. He continuing to type, occasionally punching numbers into a calculator with the end of a pencil.
" Uhm, When?"
Miles sighed, looking over to Nori. It was good that the kid was so eager, but really, couldn't he see that he was still busy? He had only agreed to train him because Kyrin had asked. Miles was pretty sure Jaydn didn't want the guy in his group in the first place. Not to mention, why had he even worn a dress to one of the meetings? Had he lost a bet? Was it a joke? Miles didn't get it, but he wouldn't put it past the kid to be slightly... off. But, well, he was a good shot. Maybe he could be useful to Jaydn in the future. " I'm almost finished so we can leave soon. I hope you don't mind waiting."
Nori sat up straighter. " Oh, no, that's okay. Just, um, take your time." He crossed his legs Indian style in the chair and continued to look around as Miles worked. Although there wasn't much to look at. The window shades were only slightly open and there wasn't any sort of personal decor at all. Doesn't he have any interests at all? Hobbies or something? But there was no evidence of such thing. Nori decided to stare at Miles instead. He was passively moving his eyes all over the place, from the screen to papers,and to Nori staring at him. " Sorry." Nori mumbled, averting his brown eyes from Miles' hazel ones. Looking up slightly again, he saw Miles punching numbers into a calculator.
"... So uh, are you doing math?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Miles looked towards him again. The more he tried to talk to him, the longer it would take. " Yeah, something like that."
" I can help you if you need it. Math is my specialty. "
The word 'no' zipped into Miles' mind immediately. He had remembered Nori mentioning mathematics as a tool for his shooting skills, but had had no idea of what he was talking about. Well, maybe if it will shut him up; Like giving a kid a coloring book. Miles moved a paper forward with his fingers. It had numbers on it, but no sign of what the coding actually meant. He didn't want to give Nori any details of his work, so he let the numbers do the talking. " The column on the right is an example."
" Thanks!" Nori grabbed a stray pen off of his desk and casually started writing in notes on the paper. Within a minute he had finished, and, looking up, tried to spy if there were any more similar papers on Miles' desk, but couldn't tell. " Um," He said, nervous of distracting Miles again. " I was just wondering if you have another paper like this? "
Miles caught Nori staring around the room like a bored child, but at his question, looked to him curiously. " How can you be done already?"
" I can do it in my head." Nori replied smiling. Math came as easily to him as Beethoven to piano. " Hey, uh, if you need help with your number work, I can do it for you. I don't mind. And then we could leave earlier."
" So that's what you're up to? " Miles frowned a bit disdainfully, and turned his face elsewhere to hide it. Suggesting to do Miles' work for him was outrageous. Practically an insult. He's really that anxious to go? Miles stood up, collecting papers together in a pile and picking up his jacket. " If you're that eager to leave, then we should just go now. "
Nori stood up as well, apologetically. " Ah, I'm sorry! I don't mean to rush you or ..."
" Of course you do. That's why you came to see me directly." Miles put his arm through the sleeve of his jacket, and could see Nori looking down, a blush rising to his face. " It's alright. I suppose anyone would want an enthusiastic student."
Nori said nothing, but continued to feel the flush of warmth wash over his face. Miles had called him out on his impatience; but he didn't seem offended or intending to offend in return. He was... blunt. No-nonsense and to-the-point. Perhaps businessmen had to be. Passively following Miles out of the door, he stayed quiet, shadowing behind the steps of the well dressed man. Nori contemplated him on the way down. What was it that made Ky want to be involved with him? He was attractive, yes, and could probably be charming when he wanted to be, but Nori could find very little substance beyond that. A workaholic; a smoker; intimidating and dangerous. So why? Was it really just for shallow reasons that they got together?
Nori shifted his weight uncomfortably in the elevator. It was something that he could never understand.
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Miles went to the training room as Nori followed behind like a sheep. The kid seemed anxious, but he always seemed that way. People were usually on the look out to pummel feminine guys, so maybe it was best that he had his nerves high. Past the elevator and to the shooting area, he took up training with Nori like usual.
They managed different guns and practiced aim; Nori with his, and Miles practiced a bit himself. As much as he hated to admit it, the kid was good; better than himself at the rate he was learning with handguns.
Nori took to training well, and with some of Miles' guidance, picked it up naturally; as natural as math. He supposed that his former archery training helped with aiming, but beyond that, Nori didn't consider that it had to do with skill. To him, shooting was all just physics and geometry. With research, he soon found out that there was an entire scientific industry devoted to the study of ballistics. Now that was something he could enjoy dipping into! Force and gravity were the largest factors affecting a bullet’s trajectory, but Nori was always practicing inside a controlled environment. When wind and weather came into the equation, that would change a lot of things. He inquired about it to Miles, wondering if he could practice at an outside range, but it would have to be a long ways outside of the city. It would be worth it, in his personal opinion, considering out of everything, Nori was most fascinated by sniper rifles.
It was only a small while later that Miles told Nori that their training together had come to a stop.
" To be honest Nori, there isn't much left for me to teach you." Miles looked a bit sideways, not enjoying having to say these thoughts outside of his head. Nori looked up towards him. Was it worry on his face, or surprise? " For something advanced like sniping, you'll have to go to Jason for the artillery, and Jun for the method. I only have the experience for handguns."
" Oh, I see..." Was it really done that fast? It seemed like they had only just started. Now that it came down to it, Nori supposed he should feel relieved that he wouldn't have to work with Miles anymore, but instead, he felt rather indifferent. They would rarely have the chance to speak together now.
" I'll leave you here to keep practicing if you'd like." Miles still had a few things left to do after all. They weren't terribly important, but they were higher on the list than training. " Well then..." he started to walk away.
" A-actually ...Miles?"
At the bleating voice of Nori, Miles turned, cigarette case in hand.
" Uhm, Now that you're away from the office, do you have the time to talk with me? Maybe in the Library? " Nori knew that the library was pretty much ignored by most of the people on the rec floor. It would be hard to have this conversation, but he kept Ky at the front of his mind.
" What do you need to talk about?" Because depending on the answer, he may or may not have been too busy.
" About..." Nori could already feel his throat tensing up trying to say the words. Once he said it, there was no going back. " About Ky."
They stared at each other for a moment. Miles took out a cigarette from his case and lit it. He had an excellent poker face, but Nori could see by his expression that his mind was working. He's probably wondering how much I know. Before the silence became too much for him, Nori added "Is that okay?"
Miles slightly froze at Nori's words. What about Kyrin? In what way? This had better not be about what he thought it might be about. But he couldn't be sure. Taking out a cigarette, Miles weighed his options. The reply of " I have nothing to say about Kyrin" came to mind, but that would imply that there definitely was something to say on the matter. Nori wasn't stupid. But what if Nori really had no idea and just had something to address about her? No, the library was too private for that. Was this a trap?
The kid was intuitive, he'd give him that. At his last plea, Miles recalled that he still had a voice to use. "...Alright."
If this was going to be a problem, then he'd address it sooner rather than later.
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The two traveled in silence like always, although now Nori felt a brooding cloud over him, as Miles stared knives into his back. It felt like walking the plank. uhhhg, Just what am I doing? Is this really necessary? But he had already committed to it. Now he had to see it through to the end and to confront Miles about Ky. He wasn't sure what he was going to say. He didn't have the guts to tell Miles to leave Ky alone, but he could at least express his concern, or see just how serious things were.
Miles followed the slouching youth to the library. As the time had progressed on the way there, Miles felt himself get steadily more irritated. The maid-boy's nerves were only too obvious as to what he had in mind. He knew. He had to. And now he was going to tell Miles he knew, for what reason, he couldn't say. He usually didn't have much against the kid, but he must have a death wish to confront Miles about his personal business, and that notion was building up contempt in place of disregard. Once there, he took a seat in one of the reading chairs, enjoying how uneasy he was making Nori. He's smart to be scared. Regardless, they sat across from each other; Miles smoking silently with the discontent openly showing on his face, polluting the calm dusty air, as Nori tried to collect words into his mouth.
" Okay, well... um." Nori wiped the sweat of his palms onto the jeaned knees in front of him. It was now he realized that there were no security cameras in this room...
" Okay, I'm just going to say it outright." But he paused a moment to collect himself.
" Then say it." Miles said flatly. He looked at the bookshelves to his right, pretending to be uninterested.
" Okay." He already knows what I'm going to say. Nori inhaled deeply. " I know about you and Ky."
There it is.
Miles let the kid sit there and stew in his discomfort as he took a drag. So ...what now? He couldn't deny anything, and this would cause problems if he let it leak. But looking at him now, he was defenseless in the library; the two of them. It was obvious now who had the upper hand.
" Well," Miles looked down to him with condescending eyes, exhaling smoke. " Do you plan on doing something about it?"
Nori looked up from his knees. Miles was starting to show his true nature, with menace on the edge of his words. Leaning backwards into the chair, Nori subconsciously recoiled from him.
" I'll admit ... I don't like it. I just want to compromise with you someway."
" Compromise." Miles repeated. He leaned forward now, his tone growing darker by the moment." Let me say this. By sharing this information, you've just tread yourself into dangerous waters. Now there's no backing out, and don't think I'll forget it. If you're planning to use blackmail in some way-"
" I swear I'm not trying to blackmail you!" Nori exclaimed. Things were getting out of hand faster than he had imagined. " Ky's my best friend; I'd never do that!"
Miles narrowed his eyes further, his voice sharp. " Don't interrupt me. I'll only say it once." Nori looked at his feet, shriveling back into his chair like a defeated child. He continued. " I don't know what your intentions are, but because of what's at stake, just mentioning it is a threat. Trust me when I say you're not someone who wants to be on my bad side."
The room seemed significantly more shaded as the threats increased. But with the situation unfurling, any fear was replaced with condolence. " I understand." Nori said quietly. He could see it now. Miles was throwing anger at him, but really, he was scared of losing his job, his connections, and his friends. " I've made you feel cornered by this. But please take responsibility for where you've put yourself."
The nerve of him almost made Miles laugh. Was Nori seriously considering to give a lecture? The fact that he even had to bring it up was ridiculous. But it was the lacing of truth within his words that pricked at his pride and provoked him more. He was quickly losing his temper, but that wouldn't due. This kid really doesn't know anything. His mind eased, Miles replied coolly, anger still just below the surface. " Responsibility is something I'll take when the time calls for it." He took another drag, but didn't taste or enjoy it at all. " As it is, there won't be anything to acknowledge later when we get tired of each other. I won't be ruined for something as trivial as a fling."
" You really don't care for her at all..." Nori replied softly. He spoke of Kyrin as if she was just a flavor of the week. " How can you use someone like that?" He asked, more to himself than to Miles.
Taking off his glasses, Miles shook his head in disbelief. All attempts at hiding his agitation were long forgotten." Do you think Kyrin isn't doing the same thing?" He cleaned his glasses with a scrap of cloth salvaged from his pocket. " How naive."
Those familiar words flashed into Nori's mind. " Miles and I are just having some fun." Even so, Miles didn't have the right to defend himself over foolishly sleeping around with Ky. With stakes so high, why would he continue to risk it week after week? And why would Kyrin as well? She clung to his jacket so faithfully. She'd defend him when Nori would make a comment about their activities. She even teased Miles openly in front of him. And what about Miles? He went places with Kyrin all the time. They had work together sure, but they'd often go shopping as well.
Nori mustered his courage the same way he had when butting heads with Jaydn, but still speaking softly. " I don't believe you." he took longer inhales of breath to calm himself. " This has been going on for too long for it to be like that. Maybe from your prospective it's a 'fling', but you can't speak for Kyrin. And the reason I'm in this library with you is to tell you not to hurt her." Nori looked back to Miles, studying his face. He was listening, albeit extremely annoyed. He seemed to not be completely dismissing Nori's words, however.
Not to hurt Kyrin. For Christ's sake... Miles sighed, more exasperated now than angry. If he wasn't planning on ratting them out, then what was the point? Just to proclaim that he disapproved? Miles didn't give a damn whether he liked it or not, and considering that Nori was planning on keeping the secret, it may actually be convenient not having to hide it around him. He was just sappily standing up for Kyrin's feelings.
" I'll make this clear because you don't seem to understand. Kyrin is not my girlfriend, and she doesn't need to have her feelings coddled by you. She's a grown woman who made her own decisions and that's where we are. I can say with almost certainty that she wouldn't appreciate you being here, wasting my time, as you try to tell me how I should behave. How we spend our time together has absolutely nothing to do with you, and really, I'm starting not to care about whatever opinions you have, because it won't change anything. I plan on being around Kyrin as much as I want." Miles stood up from the reading chair, looking utterly disappointed. " It's too bad this chat couldn't have been a pleasant one." With that cue, he made his way for the door, trying to shed his anger behind him.
" Miles, wait!"
Miles turned around from walking for the second time that evening. He gave a look that dared Nori to argue him.
" Please take care of Kyrin."
" ...What?"
A warm blush passed over Nori's face again. " If you refuse to leave her, then at least take good care of her." He hugged his arms to his slim body. " She at least deserves that."
Of course she does. But Nori's words were so sincere. He was prying into business that wasn't his, but it was only because of his unconditional adoration for Kyrin. If he hadn't known better, he'd think of Nori as competition. It was almost suspiciously pure. " I know." Miles replied.
Nori looked up; his chance at ending on an unpleasant note decreasing slightly. Again was Miles' attempt at not caring, but his words were still partial to Kyrin. There was still the possibility of something more happening between them. And if it made Kyrin happy, then Nori would trust her judgment. "You were right about it being Ky's choice but... I still worry about her. I'm sorry for making you so furious."
Miles turned back around, staring at the door but not moving towards it. Just annoyed, not furious. People die when I'm furious. With a sigh, Miles rubbed a hand over his neck and continued to the door, having nothing more to say on the matter. " ...Remember to keep up with your training Nori." He turned the knob, and was gone with a shut.
Nori nodded, but Miles wouldn't see it. It was strange how things had turned out, but he could only hope that the two of them would work things out. Alone in the library, the smell of smoke still lingered, and Nori lay back, exhausted. Soon he was napping like he usually did, while Miles was back in his office, punching away numbers and shaking Kyrin out of his head.
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