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He instead gripped harder, a sort of coldness flickering over his expression for a moment.

"Hey, kid. Calm down."

He mutered.

"People are watching. Don't make a scene."

--

"Y-yep! Leaving! Mhm! Let's g-go!"

Iliya laughed nervously, letting himself be dragged outside by Lydia his big sister

---

Stella even lowers her newspaper a little, her yellow eyes staring at them as well. She was not exactly subtle, since she never raises the paper back to the original height and her eyebrows narrow a little, before Stella raises them again. She made sure that her little act was visible, sighing a little. But then she folds the newspaper, reaching the final page of it.

Now the people around her could see her eyes almost vibrating... she was a quick reader. Well, people thought that. She just skips some words.

---

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Adrik Volkov

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Potential trigger warnings: Family problems, allusions to kidnapping, some uncomfy stuff in general. Take care of yourself :D.
---

Okay. I missed. Seriously, though, either way, this guy has got to built like a brick wall.

And apparently as dense as one too. He knew people were watching, everyone was getting concerned. So why wouldn't he just let Adrik go?

"Something wrong, kid?" A Kurai model stepped up. Her eyes were vast and empty, but as they settled on Aleks, something cold and hard seemed to solidify within them. "You know this guy?"

Adrik wasn't sure how to respond to that. He knew that Aleks would never hurt him. No matter how much distance had come between them, he would always believe that. But at the same time, it wasn't okay. Aleks kept ruffling his hair and joking around like nothing happened even though Adrik kept telling him to stop.

"Aleks," he said softly. "You're not my brother anymore. Stop acting like it. This isn't just another game. You can't keep pretending like we know each other, because we don't. I hate you. And when I tell you to stop touching me, you stop. I'm not a kid you can just pat on the head and-"

He sniffled, hating himself for the way his face felt wet. Why couldn't he just be mean and not care?

"It's fine," he told the woman weakly. He glanced back up at Aleksandr. "Aleks."

---

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Niwa Atsushi

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Niwa followed after them. He didn't look back until they were at the end of the street. The cat lurked in the window, eyes eerily fixated on him. The expression calm and peaceful, tail slowly curling around its paws.

That one, at the very least, was real.

Too real.

Gripping his messenger bag, unable to puzzle out the uneasiness which had suddenly gripped him, Niwa hurried to catch up with the others. And just before they turned the corner, he took one final look back and saw the cat was gone.

It was about time to head to the train station anyway. They might be able to take the buses in lieu of the north-bound train. This was probably for the best.

---

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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She noticed Stella's eyes were moving just a bit too quickly. Hmm.

"Hey, SDC," she whispered. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

---

Stella's eyes slow down before they slowly go up to Nora. She plays the "safe" route and just shrugs a little. "Depends. What are you thinking of?" She was thinking about calling her NM first... but it might not work, since the first thought she has when hearing NM was "newton meter" and calling her that would be very off-brand. So she stuck with Nora for now.

---

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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"We're detectives, aren't we?" Nora grinned at her. "And what do we do as detectives, if not snoop?"

She tilted her head to the side. "Besides... isn't it interesting? Two human men, travelling alone to a city that's recently come under a string of violent crime? It's slightly curious, particularly considering those long sleeves of theirs. Seems convenient for covering up some dec caled (1) tattoos."

(1) Dec caled is an underground network of crime. Members are identified through swirling tattoos which depict stylised goats.

---

"You do know me, Adrik. And I know this isn't a game. And sh*t, kid, tell me, do you really hate me? Cause I don't think you really do!"

Aleks sighed, letting go of Adrik.

"If you really hate me so much, then I'll stop! But, kid, c'mon! I didn't leave because of you or Iliya. I hated that place! I hated it as much as you do right now! is it fair to blame me for leaving?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I want to be your brother! I would've gone back to get you kids but I had problems too! What, do you resent me for leaving you there? Or do you resent me because I'm good at doing what I do?"

---

Stella looks at Andrael, then back at Nora and gives them both a little mischievious grin. Time for a little chaos... without getting into it herself. "Okay, let's do it like this. I'll theorize with you on that front, if you can win this card game against Cassowary."

Stella knew a little about Andrael's competitive nature. But let's see if it can beat Nora's fervorous one.

---

คภ๔гคєɭ ςครร๏ฬคгץ

~~~
קг๏Ŧเɭєг

---

She tossed the ten of diamonds across the table to Nora, grimacing at how the game was shaping up. Oh well, plenty of time to catch up. It was the endgame that made or broke Go Fish. But now, her interest was piqued by the shouting passengers.

"First rule of detectivery is to shut up and listen. If you two are anymore obvious, they'll switch compartments." Her voice was low so that only her companions could hear. And on the off chance anyone could read lips, her head was angled into the table as she pretended to straighten her pair of nines.

Andrael had yet to even look at the two men in question. That's how subtle she was. The moment you looked at someone, they unconsciously detected your interest. Andrael played the game assuming everyone was just as smart as her until proven otherwise. These two men were unknowns.

On the surface, they appeared to be careless, dropping information loudly in a crowded train compartment. But what if they had already pegged them as detectives? Then the information could have been purposely leaked as hook. They could either be drawn into a trap, or distracted from their main goal. Andrael played life like it was 4D chess. It was... incredibly lonely.

And then Stella spoke. Andry couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"For starters, they're not winning against me. And basing natural curiosity on the outcome of a cardgame is stupid. Why don't you do research, and we'll compare notes once I've beaten Nora?" Aside from Buraddo, who hadn't moved in a half hour (probably asleep again), profilers beat detectives in the power structure.

Well, it wasn't formalized really.

Andrael just usually took charge, and no one cared.

Because she was always right.

She always solved the case.

---

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Adrik Volkov

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"Know you? We haven't talked in years Aleks, don't even try that." And not hating him... was he really just going to say Adrik's emotions meant nothing? That his anger over being abandoned was some kid's grudge, mad about being left out on a trip to the ice cream parlour?

But Aleks let him go. So maybe he had gotten through to him, somehow.

Rubbing his arm, Adrik did his best to tune out his "brother's" excuses. I could throw my heart out on the street and you'd stuff it back in my chest cavity and call it fine. Because of course I can't be hurting. Nothing I say matters to you. Just your kid brother.

Why couldn't Adrik just not care?

"Whatever, Aleks," he mumbled. "We've got a job to do. Let's get with it."

Even if you wanted to be my brother at some point in my life, then you aren't now. And I don't want you Aleks.

The crowd dispersed as Adrik pushed through it. Everyone got back to their normal routines so quickly. They had jobs to get to, kids to drop off at school- why would they waste time on a situation already resolved? Why not just put a thought you didn't like off to the side and ignore it?

That's all he and Iliya were to Aleks. An afterthought, a couple younger brothers he forgot about until they became convenient.

But what do you want from me? He wanted to scream. Why can't you just forget it?

---

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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"Ooh!" Nora felt their heart give a little jump. Now things were getting interesting. They couldn't even keep the smile off their face as they said, "Well, that better be a promise. I'm holding you to it, y'know."

She accepted the card and examined her options. Hmmm, what to do, what to do... The king, maybe?

"Got any kings?" she asked Andy, trying to hold back her giggles. Andy was so stubborn, always ready with a spiteful remark or two. What a group we make. Throw us into a book, we'll make the perfect dysfunctional hero squad.

With Stella as the wise mentor, Nora as the awesome and hilarious sidekick, Andy could go on a journey of heroics and seriousness, saving the world one sarcastic quip at a time.

"We'll see," she teased her little hero. "Don't be surprised when my awesome go-fishing skills wipe the floor with you, though."

---

Stella folds her newspaper away, revealing her simple yet slightly sinister smile. Even if Andrael had an attitude, being that high would certainly be damaging for all of them in the long run. Better make them fall now than at the actual crime scene. At least that way, the only people that could mock her for it was a hyperactive detective and the patient oracle.

"I was just making sure your opponent was fired up enough to not let you win. I know you favour an actual competition, Cassowary." Stella rolls her newspaper up with a rubber band - well, a recyclable brand of rubber because sustainability and all - and taps her own left ear with it. It was clear what she meant: "I can hear them."

"I will compare notes when you are done playing, regardless of victory. Don't be arrogant, Andrael.", she said, using her first name for the first time, "it's unbecoming."

---

"...tsk."

Aleks turned away, with a click of his tongue.

"....Sure. Whatever you want."

he fell silent, no trace of his grin.

He. rushed breezily past Adrik, walkingdown the street. he glanced back.

"...hurry up."

---

คภ๔гคєɭ ςครร๏ฬคгץ

~~~
קг๏Ŧเɭєг

---

"It's not arrogance when you're being loud." She said simply. "You're too excitable... both of you. I may be arrogant, but I have finesse to back it up." Stella was smart about the big things. But the little things were where she tripped up. She was going to get shot for her smart mouth one day.

"Besides, have you even met your colleagues? Nora wouldn't let me win. Not if I promised to split a million dollars with them. A third miscalculation on your part, Detective. Yet I appreciate you fueling my vices all the same. Go fish." She waited for Nora to gesture for her to go.

"Now gimme your queen."

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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Humming absent-mindedly to herself, Nora swiped up a card, eyeing the luggage across the room. "Go fish!" she chirped.

The one by the older man's feet was bulging. She couldn't begin to guess as to what might be in there.

It sure did pique her curiosity, though.

Glancing down at her new card she realised it was indeed a queen. "Oh dang," she complained, handing it over with a roll of her eyes. "Guess I'n a liar. Sorry about that."

---

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Adrik Volkov

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Adrik opened his mouth to retort, but then closed it. Why bother? It wasn't like he'd be listened to anyway.

Hurrying his pace, Adrik took the first few steps up onto the train platform. A quick glance at the screen confirmed the west-bound train would arrive in two to three minutes.

---

"Arrogance is where great people fall, Cassowary. You're not loud yet have the largest ego on this table." Stella replies, smirking a little. At least when her smart mouth would get her executed, she'd have an ally to be executed with. "I know Nora won't let you win. But you know how passionate they can get. Why not make use of it?" Now she simply rests her hands in her pockets, leaning back in her seat and looking at Buraddo. How could he rest with the hyperactive, the defective and the detective?

---

Aleksandr silently took a seat on a nearby bench, checking his watch.

"...how annoying."

He muttered quietly.

"Stupid Adrik and his stupid... the hell do you mean 'i don't know you'... fine, then, that's okay..."

he grumbled quietly.

---

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Adrik Volkov

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Wow, awkward silence. Well, that seems on par for "Telling Your Estranged Brother You Hate Him And Then Running Off On A Detective Mission Thing After". Honestly, it could've been worse.

Adrik drummed his fingers on his knee, wishing the train would hurry up and come. It was taking forever and...

"Iliya, which bus is that? I can't read it from here."

Oh. Adrik paled. Come on Adrik. It can't be the same Iliya. He's probably long gone on a mission somewhere and definitely not here. There's probably tons of Iliyas in Trydanfaid.

"We'll probably want to take the train on the way back, so we can get report our findings to Head Detective Michon before the Agency closes."

And plenty of Head Detective Michons, presumably.

---

"I'm not sure- I can't really read it f-from this d-distance... sorry..."

Iliya's shoulders were slumped, a shaking hand on his camera.

Lydia was humming cheerfully, just there for the ride.

Aleksandr was just calmly sitting there, feeling rather embarrassed. And annoyed. And disappointed.

For a 29 year old, he really didn't hold himself like one, huh?

F*ck him, he guessed.

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Niwa Atsushi

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"O-Oh! Don't worry about it. It's seriously fine."

Geez, now Iliya was sad. Niwa winced to himself. He just wanted people to like him- how did he keep putting his foot in his mouth?

He was so caught up in his thoughts, that he barely noticed the person sitting on the bench in front of him until they started coughing. He jumped, surprised, and caught a glimpse of their face and their eyes behind those wide, owl like glasses and...

"Oh!" His mouth started working before he could stop it. "Are you Adrik Volkov?"

The teenager hunched in on himself, eerily quiet now, gangly arms wrapping around his torso.

Niwa was more sure than ever. "What're you doing out here? I thought you were a part of the Agency... and you should have a supervisor..."

"It's fine," Adrik said softly. "He's... keeping an eye on me."

"No, it's not fine. Did he abandon you?" Niwa narrowed his eyes. "You can join us, if you want. No intern should be on his own in a strange city."

"I'm not, but thank you."

---

"Niwa. He's with me."

Unnaturally quiet, Aleksandr spoke up once more. His gaze shifted to Iliya.

"Hey, kid."

"H-hey, Aleks!"

Iliya smiled softly. Aleks didn't reciprocate.

---

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Niwa Atsushi

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"Ah!" Niwa jumped, whipping around to stare at... Senior Detective Konstantin? He hadn't noticed him at first. Usually the man commanded a greater presence, always up to something, always smiling and just generally seeming like someone you should keep an eye on.

Hence why this quiet was so unnerving. Had something happened?

"Yeah, he's my supervisor," Adrik said. "Don't worry about it."

Adrik got stuck with him? Niwa almost winced. Getting labelled as a troublemaker on the first day was never great. It must've been because of that fight yesterday, between that angry girl and that other boy intern. He remembered seeing Adrik around there.

"Huh. Funny coincidence, seeing you here then. Waiting for a bus? Or a train?" Niwa shuffled his feet, not sure what to say. "We need the 3 bus. Do you know if it's stopped here?"

"We just arrived too," Adrik murmured. "You can check around there if you want."

Okay nevermind. Maybe they put the kid with Konstantin for a reason. The whole "quiet subordinate" thing Adrik had going on was surprisingly bad for Niwa's nerves. Possibly they wanted to balance the two out, hey?

As his eyes trailed over the two, Niwa felt a wave of inferiority pass over him. These calm, distinguished detectives just sitting there with no fidgeting or panicking...

Indignity replaced it. Why had he even bothered to worry? Clearly Adrik thought himself superior to his seniors and the Detectives of the Agency. This whole thing was a farce and Niwa had let himself be played right into it.

"Well," he said weakly, because he couldn't think of anything to say. "See you around, then."

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