In the hallway, casting streaks of golden glow, faint with twilight orange gleam.
Benson, in his vested coat, blue collar attire, came around the porch and opened the door using his spare of keys.
When he walked a few steps. He suddenly saw Melissa, still bearing that black bonnet with fish net drapes on parts of it. She was still in her uniform.
Benson was quickly confused. He dropped his bag right at the door entrance and carefully undid his coat, hanging it on the rack.
After untying and tucking away his shoes and cap. He tip-toed to approach his sister, acting unsual, like spying someone in the kitchen.
Spying? In our own home? Benson's curiosity deepened.
As he reckons, soft melodic voice spiraled around his ears. It was coming from the kitchen. His pace die down and he halted.
"Hmm~"
Benson was very confused. That voice sounded like a woman!
He approached, took Melissa by surprise by leaning to her and whispered, "Who's at the kitchen?"
...! Melissa jumped in fright.
Whoosh!
Her hand flew, and her eyes quickly reflected her brother. She almost slapped him!
"Oh!" Melissa exclaimed without a sound. Then she said in a hush voice, "You startled me!"
"E-Eh... Sorry, but who's in the kitchen?" Benson rubbed his neck out of self-reflection. He added, "And why's our utensils clanging?"
"It's Ms. Selina." replied Melissa as she turns her head again.
"Selina?" echoed Benson in a low voice.
Nodding, Melissa continued, "It seems she's preparing a feast... There's roasted beef, skin strips, and other dishes that I'm not familiar of!"
"A feast?" Benson repeated the word before poking a head from the door frame.
Selina was there, with her tied curled silver hair, right by the stove, hurling vegetables into the air before seeing it fall right back into the frying pan.
She was clad in her night gown and Melissa's apron, fingers tracing the handles of the spatula.
Captivating fragrance drifts into the air alongside the charming sizzling sounds that mixes with her soft voice, humming a lullaby.
"Hmm~"
Benson's lips slit agape. He turned toward Melissa, who's now genuflecting below him, straining to watch.
"What's on the occasion?" he blurted out in a murmur.
Melissa shook her head. "I'm just as confused as you are. If I've know, I would've been at the living room studying my materials for tomorrow."
Benson was about to retract his head again to watch. But only to realize that his sister hadn't taken her hat off since entering!
"Why's your bonnet still on?"
Melissa frowned slightly, "Big brother Benson, you ask too much! I heard Ms. Selina so I came to check!"
At that moment. Selina's voice suddenly got delayed. She turned and was heading for the dinner table.
Melissa snapped and pulled on her brother's jeans. Benson caught on and both of them hid to the corner.
"Hmm~" then Selina's voice resumed.
"Why are we hiding?" Following their action. Benson suddenly asked out of genuine bafflement.
Melissa thought for nearly five seconds before replying, "I don't know. But for some reason... it feels like having a parent around for once."
Hearing that, Benson felt a sting in his heart. He opened his mouth, but that's all.
Indeed, having someone to care enough to prepare dinner, especially something that they would normally be too occupied to place attention of, is an alien feeling of warmth.
"...But don't you think Klein can finish all that?" he averted the topic.
Melissa's eyes drooped half-close, appearing discontent. "Of course not. It's probably... meant for us as well."
"But can we eat all of it?" Benson quickly reasoned. "It would be a waste if—
"Waste and not appreciated?" Melissa in turn, retorted.
She sighed. "The leftovers can be offered to our neighbors too. Don't you know that we've been neglecting about that?
"As newcomers. It is mandatory to present an offering to show openness and hospitality." Melissa began explaining. "What you and Klein have been doing about our finance severely limits the chances of having good relationships with the people of our surrounding. Especially since we'll be living here."
"But isn't our finance mostly under your care?" Benson's lips twitched.
Melissa stopped. "I guess... I'm also a contributor..."
Benson sighed and reverted the topic back to the lady, using their kitchen. He started spying again from the door frame.
"I never considered Klein receiving that much paycheck from being an officer... wait, how long did he mentioned Ms. Selina's duty has been going?"
"Two months." Melissa recalled swiftly and acutely. She poked her head again to watch Selina's back while tasking.
"Two months?" Benson echoed again with mild disbelief. "Isn't that how long Klein had been in duty as well?"
"She might've entered a few weeks prior." said Melissa suggesting a hypothesis.
Benson then remarked, "Perhaps I should become an officer as well? Any opinion?"
"Well, to be honest I can picture you as one. But it requires a specific level of decree unfortunately." Melissa said in a hushed, melancholic tone.
"Huh..." Benson replied, quite disheartened.
In around those moments that he dazed. He suddenly felt an itch at the back of his head.
Instinctively, he lifted an arm. And in a hurry, Benson suddenly tumbled Melissa's bonnet down.
"...! Big brother!" Melissa was shocked when her hat was thrown off.
Thud!
It hit the door pane. Producing a prominent sound that would likely be heard across the hallway and the kitchen.
Both Melissa and Benson glanced instinctively to check Selina is she noticed it. Thankfully, she still had her back turned on them.
"Welcome home." Selina suddenly spoke while reaching for a plate of sliced pepper.
The siblings was startled.
"How long have you been there?" as she said this, she began adding rosemary to the pan.
Benson stayed silent. While Melissa calmly left his side to retrieve her bonnet.
"I'm sorry that I used your apron and kitchen..." said Selina as she adds the cause into the pan in low-medium heat.
"It's alright." Melissa held her hat closely. "When can we eat?
"...Ah! I meant when will you be done?" she hastily added.
Selina chuckled while tending the pan. "It'll be done soon. You can rest in the living for now, you and Benson. I assumed it must've been a busy day?"
Melissa nodded timidly. "Yes..."
"Really? Then how's school? Did the things I taught you came around?" Selina lowered the heat and went on to stir a bowl of meat.
Benson casted his gaze to his sister. He instantly knew what she was experiencing. Turning away and watching Ms. Selina tap the wooden spoon three times to remove the excess grinded meat.
"It was fine. We have practical lessons today." replied Melissa after thinking.
"I see..." said Selina in a lightly surprised but soft tone. "Do you want me to continue teaching you?"
Nodding, Melissa suddenly blurted out, "Ms. Selina, have you finished college before?"
"Hmm... yup." Selina lifted the two plates of what seems to be seared mutton and sautéed vegetables with self-made oyster sauce.
"Where?" Melissa asked innocently.
Upon placing meals at the table. Selina paused. "I... went for programs. Yes, around Constant City."
"Programs...?" asked Melissa.
"Yes." Selina answered earnestly.
At that moment. Benson walked out from hiding, massaged his shoulder and saying dismissively, "I'll uhh—continue reading the Legal Handbook and Dictionary by the living room. I'll excuse myself..."
Selina and Melissa watched him left. During which, the former said, "You can accompany your brother in the living room for now. Let's wait until Klein comes home."
Seeing her gentle smile. Melissa nodded without saying anything and went for the hanging rack by the door.
...
Klein looked at Swain standing before the monster's corpse before looking sideways towards the Mandated Punisher who was helping his semi-conscious partner up by the arm. Klein suddenly felt an indescribable sadness.
It was almost impossible for members of the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and the Machinery Hivemind to be known as heroes. The things they did were never made known to the public but only hidden in confidential dockets. But the danger and pain they endured were ever so real.
Perhaps there would be a day when my enemy will be one of my teammates... Klein sighed silently. He felt the heavy weight carried by all Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and Machinery Hivemind.
At that moment, Old Neil let out a sigh.
"Let's go. Let's not disturb them."
"Okay." Klein picked up his cane. Just as he widened his stride, he suddenly noticed that Old Neil was still holding his left hand. He asked, concerned, "Are you hurt?"
Old Neil chuckled briefly before saying, "I got stabbed by one of the shrapnel earlier. If I was still young, I definitely would've been able to dodge it. Luckily, it's just a small cut."
He moved his right hand slightly to let Klein see the tiny wound that was still lightly bleeding on the back of his left hand.
After he confirmed that it wasn't a big issue, Klein walked off along the gangway as he sighed.
"Mr. Neil, you're much calmer than I imagined. Despite being less than two meters away from the monster, you could still chant the incantation calmly and use the charm."
Although the rampaging Mandated Punisher had leaped towards Klein in the form of a monster, Old Neil was physically very close to him the entire time.
Old Neil chucked at the compliment.
"I'm an experienced Nighthawk. Among the dangerous things that I've done, what happened just now isn't even in my top ten. Once, when I was patrolling Raphael Cemetery with Dunn, I had no idea that a corpse had turned into a zombie and left its tomb to lie in ambush in the shadows of the trees. I passed by without noticing it at all since I was looking for some hidden spot. Heh, you know what I mean. In the end, he leapt onto my back and seized my throat."
Klein felt gripped by terror when he heard the recollection as he voiced out his guess.
"And under such a situation, you were still calm enough to use a charm? Or did you use some spell that a Mystery Pryer could cast quickly?"
Old Neil stole a glance at him and chortled. "No, Dunn managed to drag that zombie into a slumber in time. I'm telling you this story to tell you that, as a Nighthawk, you not only have to believe in yourself, you also have to trust your teammates too."
Klein fell silent for a few seconds. Then, he replied both sincerely and jokingly, "Mr. Neil, you are so wise today."
Old Neil did a tiny hop and found his footing on the pier. He replied in disdain, "That's because you only get to know the most trivial side of me usually."
The two of them left the harbor and walked towards Evil Dragon Bar.
Klein put away his revolver, set his cane aside, and took off his jacket. Under the light of the gas street lamp, he started checking if there was any damage to his jacket.
"How lucky. There are only a few splinters and a patch that got dirtied..." He removed the splinters and roughly patted the dust away. Then, he put it back on.
Old Neil looked at him with a smile and mimicked his tone by adding leisurely. "What a pity, there's no way to claim compensation."
Klein was temporarily at a loss for words.
I'm not such a person! He emphasized in his heart.
As the public carriage arrived, Klein took out his silver vine-leaf pocket watch and flipped it open to check the time.
"If there's nothing else, I have to head home," he turned to tell Old Neil.
Old Neil nodded slightly and said, "Enjoy your dinner at home. You don't need to think about the Slumber Charm. I'll get Swain to compensate me. He's a rich man after all. Of course, I won't go today. I have to consider his mood."
Klein opened his mouth, but in the end, he only said, "... Thank you for your generosity."