The Calm Before the Storm
While Gu Erin was in his room meditating with a serious expression on his face. James and Lucy were in a surveillance room watching him closely, waiting for him to call someone, or do… anything for that matter.
"Ugh this is so boring! He's been sitting there for hours now!" Lucy complained as she flicked her cigarette over the ash tray, she had reverted to her normal self after drinking about half a bottle of whiskey and still steadily nursing it.
"Ease off it Luce, the kid just tortured a guy, I didn't expect for him to do it either, but I think he felt cornered at the time. Which only makes me think more." James said slowly keeping his eyes trained on Gu Erin, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Huh you think this disaster nonsense is real?" Lucy asked in a somewhat mocking and singsong voice.
James decided not to answer her, hoping the booze would do its work and make her go to sleep. Lucy however, had a different plan in mind, she got up and walked out, much to James relief, however, after a minute he started to curse.
"Fuck! Lucy you goddman lunatic." James quickly got up and started to run. He had just witnessed Lucy kicking in the door that belonged to Gu Erin .
Gu Erin who had just finished his meditation opened his eyes and was just about to check the clock when the door was kicked in. He did not know what was happening but in a blink of an eye Gu Erin stood up and dashed towards the threat. He had no intention of letting them draw their gun.
The overly drunk Lucy however, was not expecting the previously still Gu Erin to make such a quick movement, especially one fast enough that her drunk mind couldn't even understand till Gu Erin was right in front of her. However, her brain worked overtime as Gu Erin stopped at simply grabbing her collar, no doubt if she was at full capacity she would have noticed that if Gu Erin wished it She would have been overpowered in more than a half dozen ways just in that instant.
The drunk Lucy however, only noticed Gu Erin's eyes, the dullness from before now transformed into a sharpness that even sent her drowning mind into awareness as her instincts started to ring warning bells. Both of them only stood there, one not willing to move out of fear, and the other not moving out of confusion.
It only took Gu Erin another second to realize the state Lucy was in, her cheeks were blushed red and she was holding a half empty bottle of some verity of poison. Understanding the situation Gu Erin let Lucy go before taking a step back.
He did not blame Lucy for her actions, if he were a normal man he would probably be in a worse state than Lucy, and he had no doubt that she had seen and done worse. Alcoholism was common in Ex military or those who had seen the darker side of life. Understanding this point better than most Gu Erin internally shook his head and let it go.
"A knock could have sufficed." Gu Erin said simply before walking back to his bed and sitting down. He no longer felt a threat for his life, and even now Gu Erin could hear someone running towards them.
Lucy who had frozen up felt her shoulders slump, before the rest of her body followed as she sat down against the door frame, letting her head lean back against the cool metal. She broke the brief silence the only way a drunkard could.
"Goddamn I hate your eyes, they're ugly as fuck." She laughed breathlessly, as she took another swig of her bottle.
"Thanks." Gu Erin replied, nonplused by Lucy's insult, he had worse thrown at him. To be honest Gu Erin didn't mind this, he half liked and appreciated Lucy's blunt personality and lack of filter. It made things more… real.
However, despite everything seeming to happen all at once something happened that brought both Lucy and Gu Erin pause. A loud grumbling sound filled the room, Gu Erin's stomach reminding him that he indeed hadn't eaten all day and now most of the night.
"Pfft… Hahaha!" Lucy broke out into an almost hysterical laughter slapping her free hand against her leg.
At that moment James the one who had showed Gu Erin to his room cautiously approached. Hearing Lucy's laughter down the hall made him wary and seeing her slumped in the doorway only made that wariness turn into confusion, as countless possibilities flashed through his head.
Many of the Blood Jackets avoided Lucy for her unhinged if not downright crazy behavior, only those with a certain confidence in their ability could handle her personality. Most if not all of the group including the two other women didn't dare joke with her, and those brave enough even to attempt to flirt with her would find themselves in two situations. One beat down to a pulp, second hunched over on the ground holding their pride and joy praying to any god willing to listen to spare their future generations.
Yet the same Lucy was laughing happily in a doorway when James fully expected to find a black and blue Gu Erin. On request of their boss, they dug up information on the young man, thus they all knew that Gu Erin was just a normal college student, and whomever hired him was hidden deep as not even a trace of them was present. The boss was tempted to bring the kids family in, but he decided to take the wait and see approach instead. However, this seemingly average kid managed to at least partially, subdue this madwoman?
James tried his best not to show his disbelief, but he did not have time to collect all of his thoughts before they were broken by Gu Erin. "James, correct?" Gu Erin asked, though at his voice James found himself once again frozen. Lucy likewise also stopped laughing even in her state seeming to feel a slight pressure.
James finally turned his gaze to Gu Erin , and immediately regretted it, he did not know why, but simply looking at Gu Erin made him feel like a blade was up against his neck. James quickly looked away, not daring to look directly at him. "Yes, sorry about this…" James spoke awkwardly all confidence seeming to escape his grasp. His throat felt dry and it took everything in his power to keep his calm front.
He was just about to reach for Lucy when Gu Erin stopped him. "She's fine, but if you don't mind, I'm pretty hungry, if you have something to hold me over till tomorrow I would appreciate it." Gu Erin spoke, his voice soft, yet to James every word felt like a hammer strike.
Gu Erin did not know, but his constant perfection of his Dao heart had reached an unprecedented level, if he were in Heaven's Mercy he would find the Laws and Concepts of the Dao of both the world and martial arts would naturally gather around him. On Earth without these available, it simply manifested in his aura, and without his notice made his very presence a strain on most.
James only dumbly nodded as he shuffled away from the room, leaving an awkward silence between both Lucy and Gu Erin. Gu Erin wasn't sure how to break this silence, he still felt like he was walking in a minefield when it came to this woman who only looked a few years older than him
Lucy seemed to be having the same problem until her drunken state did its magic and her normal outlandish behavior took over. "Pfft you made that meat head your errand boy!" She then burst back into laughter as if the previous tension didn't exist. Gu Erin did not know why they became stiff, but paid it no mind right now.
Although he was curious about the reason he didn't care enough to investigate, and he felt somewhat at peace now if only a bit troubled. But, that's why he enjoyed this moment of laughter, even if one sided, it was a different form of catharsis for Gu Erin.
Gu Erin decided to try getting more out of this happy drunk, before he could though Lucy abruptly stood up swaying precariously. Before falling on her face, Gu Erin watched this all happen in what seemed like slow motion but in reality it only took a second. He couldn't help but laugh bitterly. He liked this drunk Lucy; she was far less scary.
Gu Erin walked over to the now passed out Lucy and picked up the bottle, after she had nursed it in his presence only a quarter of the bottle was left. He would have been concerned if not for the loopy smile on her face, sighing Gu Erin picked up Lucy noticing how weak his body was. He would ask James for another room as he did his best to lift her into the bed. Hopefully it wouldn't affect her performance tomorrow, as he would need to move immediately after entering Heaven's Mercy.
Not daring to even think of sharing the same room as this woman Gu Erin left as he went to find James in hopes of food and a new room. Once that was settled he would try and get some rest before everything fell apart tomorrow, or should he say today?