“A gin girl?” Jack said, returning from the warmly lit bar in the corner of the intimate restaurant, adorned with fairy lights, which also hung from the wooden ceiling beams above our heads, intertwined with floral arrangements forming some kind of magical garden restaurant. “Don't see that too often,” he said, taking his seat across from me.

  “A gin and tonic is just simple and elegant,” I said, quickly raising the cocktail to my lips and feeling that sensation of relaxation seep over me.

  “I don't disagree,” Jack nodded, “taking a sip of his own amber liquid pooling in a short glass.

  I looked perplexed at him, admiring the drink, which Jack recognized.

  “Scotch,” he said, wincing as the burning elements coalesced within his throat.

  “Are you sure you like it?” I stifled a laugh, half covering my mouth.

  “If I'm being honest, I've never had it before,” he laughed.

  “Jack!” I sat stunned. “Why do it then?”

  “Maybe we need something different every now and then?” A slight smile pursed the edges of his lips, as he averted his gaze. “Or maybe I just wanted to impress you, give you that manly persona people look for?”

  “I think you already reached that in mortal combat, and saving me dozens of times,” I chuckled.

  Bemusement crossed Jack's face, though diminishing while he sat in thought and looked around at other patrons enjoying their drinks and meals with decently loud chatter between them. “You said the...bald man...was there?”

  I nodded, taking another sip of my drink. “He was behind Nanamin-san. Watching...waiting...”

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  “But he's not associated with them?”

  “That's what Nanamin-san indicated, but there's no way we can trust him.”

  Jack stroked his chin in thought. “They have to be working together...but...something does feel off. Is that what they want us to think?”

  “What if...” my mind started racing through the possibilities, “what if they didn't want to...take care of me?”

  “What do you mean?” He posited.

  “I mean...they could have gotten me numerous times...but they didn't.”

  Jack's eyes narrowed.

  “What if they want my Father?” I felt my heart beating rapidly.

  “What's to stop them from...” Jack started up, before stopping himself, as he noticed my spiraling state.

  I looked around the dimly lit bar, feeling my anxiety creep back up, before a hand rested upon my own...it was Jack's, along with a reassuring look. A heavenly glow seemed to wrap around him within this hidden little grotto.

  “We can get to your Father, we can protect him...but first, we need to worry about you.”

  “But--” I started up, but was cut off as he put a finger to my lip. It tickled, sending shivers dancing along my shoulder blades.

  “They sent a message, but they want to see how you respond. This...Exodus, is testing you to see what you do next. What we do next. They aren't moving for blood just yet.”

  “What happens if we can't reach him in time though?

  “There's always time. Especially time to plan.”

  I nodded, downing the rest of my drink, and nodding yes to an inquiring waitstaff about another one being sent my way.

  “Be careful there, you've already had quite a few, not including whatever Miss Starr had at the benefit,” Jack said, glancing at the empty glass in front of me. “We haven't even hit dinner yet.”

  “I'm looking at dinner,” I blurted out, staring at his soft pink lips.

  Jack's brow raised, almost comically, while I covered my mouth again, laughing in embarrassment.

  “I'm sorry, it just slipped out, I can't help myself!”

  “I can see that,” Jack grinned.

  We gazed into each others eyes longingly trapped in the visions of our desires...or so I hoped.

  “Your drink, ma'am?” A member of the waitstaff broke the moment, plopping another crisp gin and tonic in front of me.

  “Thanks...you....” I mumbled out somewhat incoherently, before shooting a poorly attempted eyebrow up at Jack, and downing the drink in one gulp.

  Ugh! I reached for my throat.

  “What's wrong?” Jack turned serious.

  “Felt like I swallowed a bug or something, blech,” I coughed out slightly. "Also, did he call me ma'am?!"

  “Maybe we should get you home?” Jack said, rising from the table, and offering a hand. “I can take you back to base.”

  “No, I slapped his hand away, sloppily, as I pushed my chair out and stood up staggering. I marched around to grab his shirt, pulling him in, and whispered salaciously into his ear. “I got a better idea.”