Work Text:
If anyone was curious, Hidari Shouko was working her own, separate case. Primarily out of spite.
It just so happens to be that it overlapped with her boss’ case.
(In another World, Hidari Shoutaro is there. In another World, everything that transpires becomes his fault because of a simple mistake. This is not that World.)
She’s not stupid. Sure, she’s not a genius, but the main reason her boss even keeps her around is that she gets people in ways a lot of others don’t. She even got bullied for it before she decided “fuck that” and fought back.
That’s how she got involved with her boss in the first place.
…all this to say that, when a girl a year or two younger barrels into her carrying a case and a familiar white hat, now stained with blood, wearing nothing but white pajamas, not even shoes, she rapidly comes to understand her boss did something in really fucking stupid.
“Sorry,” the other girl says. “I gotta go—”
“Not so fast,” Shouko says. “Where the fuck did you come from and why do you have my Boss’ hat?”
“He died for me, and people are trying to capture me,” the girl says, rolling her eyes. “Now, please, get out of my way .”
“No,” Shouko says. She grabs the girl’s arm, and she flinches. Shouko puts that aside for later, wondering just what mess she got involved with. “What’s your name?”
“M-Marlowe sounded good,” the girl says. “But really… oh no.”
And, here’s the thing.
In this World, the Museum is a known quantity. Which is to say, mooks with guns, a dead boss, and a girl who quickly hides behind Shouko means an absolute fuckening.
“I told you,” Marlowe says. Shouko huffs.
“Museum,” she says. “Of course he—”
“Give us the project and you will be let go,” the one in the front says. Shouko sighs.
“I would love to,” she says. “Unfortunately, I hate bullies, and I hate Museum. You’ll have to go through me .”
The damn things lunge.
(Marlowe puts a belt around Shouko’s waist.)
Shouko doesn’t know what the fuck is happening, pacing the office while Marlowe sits quietly on the couch. Her bravado fled as soon as they reached some modicum of safety, of course.
(Shouko’s might follow, if she spends more than about 5 seconds thinking about how the man who took her in is dead in some creepy Museum lair of a lab.)
“So, let me get this straight,” Shouko says. “The boss was there to rescue you, because of that belt you put on me.”
Marlowe nods.
“Shit went sideways—”
“My fault,” Marlowe says, “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave. They hurt me, but I like the research. Took too long.”
Ah. Important information to file away later.
“It’s not your fault,” Shouko says. “Museums owns the entire citystate, anyways. Do you have anywhere to go?”
Marlowe shakes her head.
“I don’t remember,” she admits. “I don’t remember anything before Museum.”
Oh, so Marlowe was named by the boss. Unsurprising, really.
(Shouko is going to have a very ugly mental breakdown when this is over, she thinks. She’s probably hysterical already.)
Shouko sighs.
“They’re going to keep hunting you, aren’t they?” She asks. Marlowe nods. Shouko is sure there are things she isn’t saying.
But fine then.
“I guess you’re staying here, then,” Shouko says. “That… belt thing. I can use it to fight. No one can hurt you, here.”
Marlowe nods. Shouko sits down next to her and takes the younger girl’s hand.
“I don’t know what you’re feeling,” she says. “Really, I don’t. But I’m willing to help, if you let me. I guess this makes us partners.”
Marlowe turns to her, eyes wide and surprisingly trusting.
“Partners,” she says. “I like the sound of that.”
Shouko smiles. It’s a start.