"Rai..."
"Rain..."
"Rainer!"
"RAINER! WAKE THE FUCK UP!"
"Bleueueurgh!"
Rainer's consciousness slammed back into his body as Rommel grabbed him by the collar and shook him violently on the couch. The world swam, a dizzying carousel of cheap hotel art against dull painted walls.
"A'ight. Alright! I-m—I'm up!" he slurred, flapping a hand weakly to push Rommel back.
He struggled upright, staggered a step, and fell back onto the cushions with a groan just as Rommel fetched a glass of water from the table.
Yawning, Rainer finally sat up and looked out the window.
Night had fallen.
Rommel thrust the glass into his hand, and Rainer nagged.
"What is it, man? I was having a nice nap."
"We just received their call," Rommel said, retrieving Rainer's suit and coat from the wardrobe, his frown etched deep.
"It's time."
"Time?" Rainer gulped the water and glanced at the wall clock. "It isn't even tomorrow yet!"
Rommel shoved the garments into his arms. "Ma'am Messmer said we wouldn't get a better chance than now."
"Messmer? Who's that?!" Rainer asked, quickly dressing.
Rommel groaned in pure exasperation.
"The bitch you were ogling this afternoon!"
Rainer's eyes widened. "Ah!? That's her name?"
Rommel grabbed a holstered glock and tossed it to him.
"It was the name given by the organization. If you want her real name, ask her yourself!"
Rainer shrugged into his long coat and snatched his hat from the coat rack.
"Meh. I don't fancy her enough to bother yet," he remarked, setting the fedora at its perfect, jaunty angle.
Rommel walked up and handed him a thick folder.
"An Initiate stopped by with this. The so-called intel. Let's go."
He was out the door before Rainer could reply. Rainer followed, fiddling with the folder, and kicking the door shut behind him with a heel.
A few minutes later...
They strode toward a lively bus station. The nightlife of Corinthian Cross was in full, vibrant swing. High-rises blazed with light, storefronts brimmed with activity, and the air was thick with the scent of street food and perfume.
A woman of the night sauntered past, offering a sultry smile that effortlessly pulled Rainer's gaze from the files.
He couldn't help but reveal a pleased smile.
"Damn, Rommel. Why didn't you tell me the nightlife here was this lovely?"
"Focus, you dolt," Rommel scolded, his tone a low grumble of pure mission focus.
They soon boarded a large intra-city bus, Rommel flashing their tickets to the driver.
The vehicle was a capsule of city life—passengers sporadically seated, some upright, others with legs splayed across the aisle in deep, oblivious sleep.
Legs, which Rainer with his face buried in the files, stumbled over repeatedly.
It didn't take long to find secure seats with no one behind them.
Rainer, seated by the aisle, leafed through the final pages until a particular piece of intelligence instigated an intrigued smile upon his lips.
At that moment, a small figure peeked from the side of the seat in front of him. The moment he looked down, it vanished.
Rainer raised a curious brow.
"A... baby?"
He glanced at Rommel, but his partner already had his arms folded, hat tipped down over his face, feigning sleep.
Suddenly, Rainer felt a soft pressure against his thigh, and he looked down to find a toddler in a pink floral onesie standing on her tiptoes, her wide, doe-eyed stare fixed on the photographs on his lap.
Her soft puff of red hair wobbled as her gaze then traveled up to his face.
Rainer blinked, momentarily stunned by the adorable creature that had materialized before him.
Without a word, he closed the file and dropped it onto Rommel's lap, making him tip his hat up in annoyance.
"Hey, are you done reading that?"
Instead of answering, Rainer beamed and scooped up the toddler. He held her up, letting her stand on his knees while he supported her sides.
"Who's this cutie pie?! Who's the most adorable slice of pizza in the world?!" he cooed, his voice dropping into a ridiculous, singsong register.
The toddler's mouth fell open, her eyes wide with wonder at this strange man's enthusiasm.
Rommel scowled. "Where the hell did you find the baby, Rainer?"
She turned at the sound of his voice, but upon beholding his intimidating glower, her lower lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes.
Instantly, Rainer slapped Rommel's hat down over his face, and the toddler, startled by the swift movement, held her cry.
"What are you scaring the little princess for, bucko?!" Rainer scolded, then slapped the hat even lower.
"Hide that ruthless mug of yours! I don't even wanna see you smile. I can already imagine how that would go!"
"Kyaka!"
"!!"
"!!!"
As one, they both turned to see the toddler laughing; a pure, delighted peal that seemed to delight in the spectacle.
"..." Rainer paused for a single, calculated second, then without a word, reached out and flipped Rommel's hat up and then slammed it down again.
"Kyakakakaka!"
Rainer reached out to continue the game, but Rommel's fist came crashing down like a hammer on his head.
*Bam!*
"Ow!What did you do that for?!"
As Rainer nagged, Rommel grabbed his cheek and pulled, stretching his face like mochi.
"You piece of—! Ugh! Will you quit playing with my fedora!?"
Rainer struggled against him.
"Shut up, bucko! If it makes the kid laugh, I'll play with your nose if I have to!"
They devolved into a one-armed scuffle—Rainer using his free arm to reach for the hat, while the other held the toddler aloft, Rommel using one to fend him off while the other hand kept his precious hat far from Rainer's reach.
All the while, the toddler's excited laughter echoed through the bus.
"Oh my! Maple!"
An alarmed cry suddenly cut through the ruckus, and the trio froze. Then as one, they turned to find a woman standing at their side.
She was a brunette with a striking blend of Latina and American features, apparently inheriting more of the killer curves from her Latina half.
She had her hands clasped over her mouth with her eyes filled with fear and alarm.
Soon, her hands fell, and an awkward, strained smile took over.
"I'm sorry, gentlemen. D-did my child trouble you?" she asked, her gaze flicking nervously from Maple to the bronze family pins on their hats.
The two men comported themselves instantly, the fight forgotten.
"Aah. So this little angel's yours? I see the resemblance," Rainer smiled, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, ma'am. She was a joy. You can have her."
The woman—Esmeralda, visibly relaxed at that. She soon reached for her daughter, but the toddler didn't seem keen on leaving her new sources of entertainment anytime soon.
She immediately latched onto Rainer's tie, and with every pull from her mother, Rainer was gently strangled by the tightening silk.
Esmeralda offered an embarrassed smile before giving up and hurrying off to fetch her belongings.
She returned moments later, lugging a baby carrier, a picnic basket, and a small, fabric-insulated icebox.
"D-do you mind if I join you here? I'll sit across the aisle," she asked, her voice still tentative.
Rainer shrugged magnanimously, and Rommel looked away, tipping his hat back down over his face.
Seeing this, she sat, arranged her things, and waved at Maple before glancing at Rainer with a polite smile.
"My name is Esmeralda. I own a food stand back at Corinthian Cross, but I live in Gray Town."
Gray Town was the residential district west of the Corinthian Cross. Once a middle-class haven, it was now a haven for low-income earners, where crime was high and housing was cheap but of poor quality.
You could scarcely get to the docks without passing through its weary streets.
"Esmeralda, eh?" Rainer looked into her emerald-green eyes.
"Quite a fitting name." He smiled.
She nodded, looking down bashfully before her gaze returned to Maple.
"She's a really smart girl. I had her hooked up to me with the carrier and decided to rest a while, but she somehow broke free without me even noticing."
At that, Rainer grinned and looked at Maple.
"Ah! So you're not an angel after all, but an escape artist, eh?!" he exclaimed, playfully jiggling her as she giggled with delight.
"Hah. I guess you could say that..."
Esmeralda's smile turned sad, her gaze drifting down to her hands.
"It can be hard—being a single mother."
Rainer froze, and Rommel glanced at her from under the brim of his hat.
"Ah!" She quickly smiled, flustered, as a blush crept up her neck. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be saying that to strangers, should I?"
As if to bury the awkwardness, she reached into the cloth-insulated basket and brought out several steaming, golden-brown pastries.
The scent of baked dough and spices suddenly filled the air around them.
She offered an innocent smile. "Thank you for being kind to us. Please, have these. I made them myself."
At that moment, Rainer's stomach growled audibly.
"Oh!" Esmeralda instantly remembered something else and opened the icebox, retrieving two frosty bottles of soda.
"These as well."
Rainer blinked, then turned to his partner.
"...You want any?"
Rommel huffed.
"If you don't have beer, then forget it."
She bit her lip, helpless.
"I'm sorry. I only have soft drinks here."
Rainer laughed, a genuine, warm sound.
"Hey. I don't mind as long as it's free."
He quickly handed the toddler to Rommel and reached for the snacks.
"Hey!"
Rommel fumbled, quickly securing the suddenly airborne child.
His eyes soon twitched as he found himself locked in a stare-down with the little girl.
"..."
"..."
She suddenly reached up, tiny fingers grasping for the hat he had just rescued.
Rommel gently pulled her back.
"Oi!"
They stared at each other again for a long, silent moment, a battle of wills between the hardened gangster and the determined toddler.
Until eventually, with a sigh so deep it seemed to come from his soul, Rommel broke.
In the end, Maple wore Rommel's fedora with a proud, triumphant smile, even though it sank down over her entire head, leaving just her joyful smile, and peachy, puffed-out cheeks visible.