Work Text:
Gin answers her phone with a sigh, having to abort a sip of tea to do so. “Yes, Ryuu?”
She can make out the other’s subdued voice, slightly tinny through her cheap burner phone. And though most would only hear a monotone, she can pick up on Ryuunosuke’s subtleties as if reading a newspaper.
“Don’t worry, everything’s fine for now.”
She knows he’s calling out of concern, not because he doubts her capabilities (she would cut him down if he dared insult her that way), but because of the high-risk nature of her current mission.
The Port Mafia is a deadly place — even the most seasoned of professionals can be killed at a moment’s notice if one of many variables goes awry. The Flags, who were a promising group of rising stars, were annihilated by Verlaine in an instant. Powerful Ability users like Chuuya and Ryuunosuke regularly brush against death in the line of duty. And even the Boss isn’t immune, as he’s faced near-certain death before.
“I hope you’ve been taking your medication while I’m gone.”
She’s tucked away in a safe house in Gion, dressed down and awaiting orders to commence a raid on a local Yakuza branch that’s gotten too cocky for its own good. But, for some reason, this particular branch has the backing of a Russian mafia group, a self-proclaimed offshoot of the infamous Russian Bratva. Which means a single mistake could spell absolute disaster.
She listens to his complaints about work, admonishes him for being rude to Higuchi again, and teases him about his budding camaraderie with the Man Tiger. To any outsider, it would sound like a normal conversation between siblings. But for them, it’s how they check in with each other, how to ensure that they’re alive and that they’d better stay that way.
And, if one of them were to perish, it ensures they’ve given each other as much intel as possible beforehand.
Ryuunosuke hangs up, and Gin returns to her tea.