Chapter Text
“Are you sure you have to take this job?” she asked, her voice reflecting the anxiety she felt. The uncertainty in the air underscored how much the situation weighed on her mind.
“Belle you keep stressing over this whole thing, it’s just a job” Wise assured as looked at the back seat of the vehicle to his sister
“Just a job? You’re literally going to another state for this job, New Eridu is a hell of a distance from Aerospace City” Belle spoke
“I know it’s far but I can’t pass up on this job, this is practically a dream” Wise said
“And a damn good offer too” Carole chimes in
“Come on, what could be better than working from home with your family?” Belle questioned
“Free apartment, health benefits, good salary. I love you guys a lot but this opportunity is something I can’t pass up on” Wise said
“I agree” Carole nods
“But come on, money over me and mom? What happened to you bro?” Belle said
“Nothing happened to me Belle, I’m still the same old Wise you know” he spoke with some assurance in his voice.
“Tch, same old Wise ditching us for paycheck”
“Belle, come on. You know it’s not like that” Carole said
“It is like that, my brother is ditching his lil sis for a paycheck and a free house”
“Belle, you’re deeping it too much. I’m still in the same country, just a different city”
“A dangerous city at that, you heard the crime rate is increasing in New Eridu? Thugs and robbers and all those creeps on the streets preying on vulnerable people”
“Belle, I think that’s not a big issue. It depends on where you’re headed” Wise said
“Hmp” Belle pouts as she crossed her arms and turns her nose up at Wise who simply sighed in response
“Don’t be pressed Wise, Belle is just worried about you” Carole said
“I can see that, very worried by the looks of it”
Belle’s anxiety was written all over her face as she voiced her concerns. “How can I not be worried? My big bro is heading to a city crawling with hooligans, and it feels like he's tearing our family apart,” she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration.
Wise, doing his best to calm her, replied, “Belle, New Eridu is literally the capital. I think there’s a decent amount of safety there.” He tried to sound reassuring, hoping to ease her mind.
Belle, however, was not convinced. She shot back, “Tell that to the country’s statistics,” her skepticism clear as she referenced the troubling reports she’d heard.
Wise let out a sigh, feeling defeated by the back-and-forth. “Why am I even trying?” he muttered under his breath, realizing it was nearly impossible to change Belle’s mind.
Carole, sensing the tension, decided to intervene. “Exactly, the airport is only a few minutes away. There’s nothing she can do now,” she remarked, trying to lighten the mood and remind everyone that the decision had already been made.
Belle’s frustration grew as she felt her worries were not being taken seriously. “You guys are mocking me now? When I’m the only one who is asking the important questions here,” she exclaimed, clearly upset that her family wasn’t sharing her concern about Wise’s safety in New Eridu.
Carole, attempting to reassure Belle, interjected, “These aren’t exactly important questions, Wise is a grown man and he can handle himself in the big city.” She wanted Belle to trust in Wise’s ability to look after himself, but Belle remained unconvinced.
Belle insisted, “Against other grown folk with criminal agendas, I can’t rest until I know my brother is safe.” Her protective nature was evident, and the thought of Wise facing potential danger in New Eridu weighed heavily on her mind.
Watching the exchange, Carole quietly reflected on the closeness between Belle and Wise. As she pulled into a parking space, she sighed to herself, thinking, ‘I made a mistake raising these two to be close, now I have to deal with these situations. It’s never easy.’ The family bond, while strong, brought its own set of challenges as they navigated Belle’s worries and Wise’s independence.
Arrival at the Airport
Belle gasped at her surroundings, clearly overwhelmed by the moment as Wise and Carole calmly unbuckled their seatbelts and opened their doors. The contrast between Belle’s anxiety and her family’s steady demeanor was striking.
“Oh no, we’re here quicker than I thought we’d be,” Belle muttered, gulping as she slipped out of the backseat to join Wise and Carole outside the car. The swift arrival seemed to catch her off guard, heightening her nervousness.
Belle approached the car boot just as Wise pulled out his suitcase and Carole grabbed the duffel bag. “Mom, didn’t you drive a little too fast there? I swear we had to have broken a speed limit or two,” Belle remarked, trying to lighten her anxiety with a bit of humor.
Carole responded, holding out the duffel bag to Belle, “Stop with the policing and come grab this bag.” Belle sighed and took the bag by its straps, still feeling uneasy.
Wise chimed in, “I think a traffic violation would have gotten us stopped a while back,” suggesting that they hadn’t actually broken any rules.
Carole speculated, “Police budget is down. Maybe they missed it?”
“On traffic cameras? I think not,” Carole said as she closed the car boot and began walking towards the entrance, Wise following close behind.
As they approached the terminal, Carole mused, “You remember how to check in?”
Wise, clearly familiar with the process, rolled his eyes and replied, “Mom, I’ve been here a lot of times. I know how to check in.”
Carole joked, “Just making sure, Belle might be worried about that too,” poking fun at Belle
Wise conceded, “Yeah, I guess that is a fair point.”
With a chuckle, Carole added, “And make sure not to trip on that tile, Belle will blow a gasket.”
Belle responded sarcastically, “Haha, very funny mom. You could be a comedian if you really tried.”
Carole smirked, “I know right, comedy is a hidden talent of mine.”
Belle simply groaned under her breath as she followed behind her mother and brother silently watching the two as they joked with each other.
‘New Eridu…..that’s pretty far’
‘Will he be okay?’
----------- THAT EVENING ----------
“Ahh,” Belle sighed as she rolled onto her side, her blanket draping messily over the edge of her bed. She stared into space, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, but her moment of quiet was cut short by a knock at the door.
“Belle? Are you sleeping now?” Carole’s voice called through the door.
“I’m awake, what is it?” Belle replied, sitting up as the door creaked open. Carole peeked her head inside, her hair tied up in a messy bun and a face mask covering her skin.
“You’re already sleeping? I thought you’d be watching your dark romance movies or whatever those are called,” Carole said, stepping fully into the room, her gaze still on Belle.
“I’m not in the mood for a movie tonight,” Belle murmured, burying her face in her pillow. Carole sighed and sat at the edge of the bed.
“You’re upset about Wise?” Carole gently asked.
Belle didn’t respond, keeping her face hidden in the pillow and remaining silent.
“Come on, little one, talk to your mother,” Carole said, poking Belle’s side. Belle squirmed and looked up from her pillow.
“Why do you keep doing that? You always like poking me,” Belle asked.
“Because you’re hiding in your pillow and not saying anything to me,” Carole replied, resting her hand on Belle’s head. Belle simply shook her head side to side removing Carole’s hand
“Oh, you’re not happy it seems” Carole spoke
“How can I be? Wise is all the way across the country by himself. What if something happens to him while he’s there?” Belle questioned
“Watch what you say. You know the tongue--”
“Has power, I know but it’s a real risk and I can’t just ignore that”
“Everything has risks in life and you keep forgetting Wise is not a infant. He can handle things on his own, he has enough wits to navigate the streets” Carole said
“Is that supposed to be assurance?”
“It’s fact. I got off the phone with him not too long ago as well, he’s landed and was checking in at the airport in New Eridu. He’s bound to be on his way to his apartment by now”
“At night, it’s literally 8pm” Belle said
“So? Does that make a difference?”
“Yes, everyone knows nighttime is more dangerous than day time”
“Belle, I don’t know why you’re so worried for a grown man. I love him as well, he’s my son but I’m not as concerned about this as much as you are. Wise is responsible and he can live just fine alone” Carole said as she rested a hand over Belle’s cheek, the girl’s eyes soften for a moment. A flash of sadness in them for a split second which Carole picked up on.
Carole simply sighed before a small smile appeared on her face
“Come on, cheer up.”
“Easy for you to say” Belle said
Carole, noticing Belle's lingering sadness, tries to lighten the mood. "How about I let you eat that ice cream tonight, huh? Banana split, caramel coating, cherries, the whole thing," Carole suggests, hoping to entice Belle with a treat.
Belle, however, remains unmoved. "Not hungry, I don’t have room for dessert," she replies, her tone flat and uninterested.
Not giving up, Carole offers another idea. "A movie?" she asks, searching for something to distract Belle from her worries.
Belle quickly shuts the suggestion down. "I said I’m not in the mood for a movie," she insists.
Frustrated but still patient, Carole tries to reason with her. "Come on Belle, you can’t mope around over something which isn’t a big deal. Wise is fine," Carole says, her voice gentle yet firm, hoping her reassurance will help Belle move past her concern.
Belle, unconvinced, buries her face once again in her pillow, prompting Carole to sigh in resignation.
“It’s fine to feel bit sad about him leaving home and I know there isn’t much I can say or do to make you feel better however….” Carole paused prompting Belle to slightly raise her head up from her pillow
“I know may not want be in the mood but I think you should pray for your brother. Pray for his safety and his endeavors. I think that’ll really help him out” Carole said as she gave Belle a pat on the small of her back
“Anyways, I have to go prepare my clothes for work tomorrow. Best to get it done early” Carole spoke as she stood up from the edge of Belle’s bed
Belle watched her mother walk over to the open doorway, the woman stopped just as her hand grabbed the knob.
“Good night baby. I love you” Carole said before shutting the door leaving Belle alone to her thoughts
‘Pray about it……’ Belle’s eyes flickered with contemplation for a few moments, her chest stirring about her brother’s wellbeing simultaneously
‘I can’t sleep properly if I can’t at least know his safety is somewhat guaranteed….’ Belle exhaled slowly as she shifted her weight off the bed and into a kneeling position with her elbows resting on the bed. With her hands clasped together, she closed her eyes and began to lightly whisper under her breath
---------- ELSEWHERE -----------
As the elevator ascended, Wise glanced at the changing floor numbers, his curiosity evident. “Eighth floor?” he asked, watching the numbers tick up every few seconds.
The man beside him looked over and inquired, “You’re scared of heights?”
Wise shook his head quickly. “Of course not, I was just surprised the place is on the eighth floor. You never specified this part,” he explained, a hint of playful reproach in his tone.
“Is it an important part to specify?” the man asked back.
Wise shrugged, “Ehh, probably not,” brushing off the concern.
Suddenly, the elevator chimed—“DING!”—and came to a gentle halt. The doors slid open slowly. Wise crouched to pick up his duffel bag, then reached for his suitcase, but the man next to him stopped him.
“No need, brother. Let me help you out,” he offered, smiling warmly.
“Thanks, Shepherd,” Wise said, nodding his appreciation as the two of them exited the elevator and walked side by side down the hallway.
Shepherd glanced over as they walked. “So, your key is provided by the company. If you ever lose it, just call Venus. Do you know Venus?” he asked.
Wise thought for a moment. “The lady from the airport?”
“Yeah, the one who drove you here. If you have any issues with the place, just give her a call. She’s usually the one who handles this kind of stuff,” Shepherd explained.
“Including if something breaks in the apartment?” Wise inquired.
Shepherd grinned. “You planning to break things?”
Wise shook his head. “No, I was just asking in case something is faulty.”
“I’m just messing with you. Venus is your go-to for all accommodation-related issues—whether it’s getting something fixed or dealing with rent disputes, just call her. She’s super reliable,” Shepherd assured him, following Wise inside with the suitcase. He watched as Wise took in his new surroundings.
Shepherd pushed the suitcase against the wall and looked around. “One-bedroom paradise, bachelor’s dream,” he joked. Wise, however, continued to look around silently for a few moments.
Shepherd glanced at him. “Too small? Want a bigger place? It’ll cost you more, and you might have to share with a roommate.”
Wise shook his head. “It’s perfect. I was just… I’ve never had my own place before,” he admitted, dropping his duffel bags on the floor.
Shepherd patted Wise on the shoulder. “First timer? You’ll get used to it.”
“I take it you’re going to settle in on your own?” Shepherd asked, crossing his arms.
Wise nodded. “Yeah, I got it. Don’t worry.”
Shepherd smiled. “Cool man, see you around,” he said, turning to leave through the door.
“Bye” Wise spoke as he watched Shepherd walk out of the door, an audible click was heard just as it was shut. Wise exhales slowly before picking up his duffel bags once more.
“New apartment” Wise murmured to himself as approached what he presumed to be his bedroom door. He dropped one bag down to the ground and opened it to fortunately be his bedroom.
‘First guess too’ Wise chuckled as he picked up his bag and walked into the room, he tossed the duffel bags onto the mattress and plopped down onto it with a sigh
“The whole day had me on my feet” Wise groaned
‘How many delays did they have to create for the flight? Now I’m here at 8pm’ Wise rolled his eyes
‘But at least the place is nice, maybe I should call my mom and tell her I’m here safely. It would help quell Belle’s anxieties quite a bit’ Wise thought to himself as he grabbed his phone from his pocket. His first action was to open up his contacts to find his mother’s number.
‘Mabye I should list her as Carole instead. Scrolling down to “M” on the alphabet does take a bit of time.’ Wise sat up and was now positioned at the edge of his bed.
‘Speaking of Belle, I wonder what she’s going to say on the phone this time’ Wise chuckled to himself as he tapped Carole’s contact. The screen showing her caller ID but not yet indicating it was ringing.
“Hello?” Carole answered
“Mom” Wise said
“Ah, you’ve arrived it seems” Carole spoke
“Yeah, I’m at the apartment right now.”
“How is it?”
‘It’s clean, single bedroom though so it’s a bit small but I’m a single person so it’s not really a big deal” Wise said as he stood up and began to slowly pace the room
“How is Belle?”
“You know that’s a funny thing, I just came from talking to her. She’s super down in the dumps”
“Depressed?”
“I think so” Carole said
“Where is she?”
“Sleeping presumably, I was in there just a few minutes ago and she seemed to be getting to know her bed better” Carole said
“So she really was super worried” Wise spoke as he walked out of his bedroom with his phone held up to his ear, he opened the door across his room to see the bathroom
“Extremely, you should have heard her after you went to the gates”
“I’m fine now, are you sure I can’t talk to her for a minute? Just to calm her down a bit” Wise said
“I think you can actually”
“I think I should” Wise agreed as he walked out of the bathroom and his attention turned to down the small corridor.
‘I didn’t check out the kitchen area.’
“So did you meet anyone from work yet?” Carole asked
“Uh, I met two people. This woman called Venus and this guy called Shepherd, they were working to move me in” Wise said as he walked out into the living room.
“Oh interesting, you made friends before your first day?”
“It’s not exactly like-“ Wise paused as his eyes landed towards the kitchen, the counter obstructing the lower half of the facility but one thing stuck out to him most. His fridge was wide open.
“This place is wasteland, no food?”
“Don’t be rude Nangong”
“Huh?”
Wise perks up as he heard voices from the kitchen, he scanned his surroundings to find nobody there but his suspicions grew to the counter.
‘Is someone in here? I heard voices just now, is it the neighbors?’
“It’s not like what?”
“Uh, I’ll call you back” Wise said before cutting the phone. With his eyes still locked onto the kitchen he slowly approached with caution.
“Maybe the food is invisible?”
“Aria, there is no food in the fridge”
“Don’t listen to Sunna, there’s definitely some inside. Just gotta look harder”
“Nangong….”
Wise slowly peered his head over the counter to find 3 girls crouched down by the bottom of his fridge.
‘Who are these people? The door was locked, I swear I heard the click’ Wise rubbed his head in confusion as he scanned the three who had their backs to him. The one with the pink hair cracked open the bottom compartment of the fridge and began waving her hand inside.
“Nangong, there’s no food in here”
“Just keep searching, I’m sure you’ll find-”
The one with black hair caught a glimpse of Wise standing behind the counter with disbelief in his eyes
“Oh” Nangong turned to the face the man fully, this got the attention of the other two who snapped their heads back
“AH! WE’VE BEEN CAUGHT!”
“Stop yelling Sunna”
“W-Who are you people? Why are you in my apartment?” Wise questioned as he took a step back from the three who were now standing on their feet.
“You don’t know us? You were the one who asked for us”
“Aria you dummy, he didn’t call us. His sister asked for us, weren’t you listening to Goddess Cersea?” Nangong crossed her arms
“Goddess? Calling for you? What are you guys talking about? Who are you?”
“Oh right, almost forgot about our introductions. Ahem”
“My name is Nangong Yu, the pink one is Aria and this one is called Sunna” Nangong spoke
“Who are you? Why are you here?”
“I’m getting to that, just wait a bit”
“Ahem, we’re the Angels of Delusion. Your protectors” Nangong smirks with a hand resting over her chest
“Protectors?”
“Y-Yes, w-we’re sent by the Goddess Cersea. S-She said……Nangong can you finish? I don’t know how to do this” Sunna spoke as she hid behind the Nangong’s back
Nangong sighed and rolled her eyes
“We’re sent by the Goddess Cersea at the request of your sister’s prayer for your safety
Nangong said
“Belle summoned you here?”
“No she prayed for you and Goddess Cersea sent us here” Aria corrects
“What?” Wise raised an eyebrow before rubbing his eyes
“This has to be a dream, you guys are pranking me. Are you college students or something? How did you get in here?” Wise questioned
“He doesn’t believe us Nangong, what do we do?” Sunna whispered
“Easy peezy, a show of power” Nangong said with a confident smile on her face
“A show of what?” Wise looked flabbergasted
“Watch this” Nangong said as she held out her hands, in the blink of an eye two large maces appear in her grasp sending Wise into shock
“Where did those come from? How did you do that?” Wise quickly scurried behind the couch, fearing for his life.
“Don’t be scared now, w-we’re nice” Sunna shyly steps towards him with a trembling hand outstretched
“Chill Sunna, I haven’t shown him my power yet” Nangong said as she winded up her maces, with Aria hovering backwards to steer clear
“A-Angels…..” Wise murmured before his vision went black
“Oh?” Aria’s eyes widen as she flew over behind the couch to see Wise face down onto the ground with his phone resting next to him.
“Is he dead?” Nangong quickly scurried over with Sunna in tow, the three surrounding the unconscious Wise. Nangong slowly poking him in the side with her mace
“Uhhhhhh……” Wise groaned
“Still alive, we didn’t fail the job” Aria exhaled in relief
“NANGONG YOU MADE HIM FAINT!” Sunna scolds
“Why are you blaming me? What did I do?”
“Y-YOU SCARED HIM!”
“He didn’t believe us. We needed to do something or he’d have called the police”
“Nangong….” Sunna pouts
“You want to reveal your true form and fry his brain instead? How will you earn your wings if you kill our assignment?” Nangong rebutted
“Hmp” Sunna turns her nose up from Nangong
“Stop complaining and get him”
"Aye Aye Captain" Aria salutes before slinging Wise's limp body over her shoulder
"Hehe, that's right"