Chapter 20: Division
Zero hated the smell of moldy bread, and it didn't help that he had to be undercover, either. The Order used him for their dirty jobs, and on some days, he wanted to bash his head against the wall until he drew blood.
But on days like this, he didn't have the luxury to feel sorry for himself, not when he had a lot riding on him. In Alistair's words, "Do not be found out, and return when it's done," which wasn't vague in any way.
And, of course, I have to be the one to do it.
"Now, now, boy. Remember, do not be seen," Alistair said as a parting word, and he noticed the backdrop of the office; something lingered. Or was it… someone?
"You won't let me down, will you?" Alistair rarely asked such questions, and whenever he did, the consequences were usually dire.
"I won't," Zero said, left the office, his mind reeling. There was another aspect to the executive named Alistair, one that few people rarely got to see.
And when Zero stared into his eyes, many things became abundantly clear; Zero had a place only because Alistair deemed it so. If he decided to rescind the privileges, that marked the end of Zero.
What is my name anyway?
Zero wondered. He once knew his name, always on the tip of his tongue. But something happened, or maybe something didn't. Perhaps he just naturally forgot.
"Who's there? Come out before I blast you!" And Zero was flung back into the present, eyes darting from side to side. He raised his hands, wondering if he'd been spotted so early in his undercover mission.
"I dinnae recognize ye. Young'uns nowadays, planning to skip work, eh? I won't be having it!" A bald old man stood before Zero, wearing a shirt with an inscription that says "bad azz" boldly written. It was also blindingly yellow. And the man didn't have a dangerous feel to him.
"Sorry, sir. I was planning to rest for a while," Zero said sheepishly, and the old man shook his head from side to side, almost in disbelief.
"We are paying ye, won't we? If ye want to rest, say it." The older man smiled, showing a toothless grin. But Zero felt himself overcome by feelings he couldn't place, feelings that did not correlate with his line of work.
"Now, get your ass out there!" The old man blew a whistle, and Zero got into a jog, his heart lighter than it'd been in years.
Why would Alistair ask me to scout a bakery?
Nothing was adding up, but it wasn't Zero's place to question; he only followed orders.
~~
"We did have a run-in with them thugs that go about these parts; ye scared them away. How can we thank ye?"
Zero had a dilemma; One, he was with these people who should have been wary of him, yet they treated him like a son, and two, he'd been so immersed in his work as an undercover agent that he instinctively protected the couple. The older man had a hand slung over his wife's shoulders as though someone would appear and steal her from him.
What exactly makes such amazing people a threat to a powerful organization?
"It's nothing; I'm just doing what I need to since I've decided to intern here," Zero explained, waving their kindness away. He wasn't the type to get hung up on things like that.
"But still, we'd be doing you a disservice if we didn't give you something for your troubles," the man's wife spoke, her voice a tad higher than Zero was used to.
"That's me, missus. Her ears, they are a little wonky, ya see?" He caresses her head, looking down lovingly at her.
Then she hits him upside the head with the flat of her slippers.
"Ow, what was that for?" He rubbed the spot, sending her puppy dog looks every minute.
Watching the two, Zero felt a well of appreciation for a life that was this, moments that he couldn't own. Staring at those two sent a wave of sadness mingled with.. jealousy. Flooding down his spine.
"I should be going now; thanks for your hospitality." He bowed low, making sure to stare pointedly at the ground.
"Are ye sure? I willnae allow ye to go back without anything. Let me drive ye at least," the old man didn't seem to understand the concept of a No, and Zero wasn't sure what to tell him to make him drop it.
"You be Zeref, aye? Let us do this for ye," Zero didn't have a name to give them, so he gave them the one that came to his head.
"Okay, thanks." He was smiling, unable to help it.
Remember your true purpose.
How could he forget? The voice of Alistair still nagged him even when Alistair wasn't present, and Zero couldn't imagine taking out such a lovely couple. Even after becoming old, he could see the rings on their fingers and the loving hands they placed on each other; there was no doubt that they were in love.
How was he supposed to take them out? What exactly did they do to deserve such a harsh verdict?
Zero was lost in thought and declined to be driven home, promising to arrive early the next day to continue his internship. His actions weren't clear to him, but he couldn't bring himself to end their lives. However, if he didn't do it, someone else was going to. And the person would not be as kind.
Especially if it was one of the Enforcers, they were monsters with no qualms about taking lives, even if it meant burning a district to the ground. They did whatever they were asked to, and their clean-up crew handled the rest.
He didn't want to drive home, so he took a longer route and left with his thoughts. He wasn't scared of being jumped; there was no reason for anyone to jump him. And even if there was, he could hold his own in a fight. Maybe not to the mastery level, but few desperados became martial arts masters.
"Down in the dumps, I see," Zero turned towards the direction the voice came from. It was a familiar, velvety voice, but he had no idea why she'd be there.
"Here," he heard the voice from above and looked up to see Number 9 falling from the sky, her hair fanned in the wind. Then she landed without a sound, winking at him. She was wearing pretty tight pants as though she was dressed for biking.
"Good evening; I didn't expect to see you falling from the sky, no less." He wanted to grumble, but he had nothing to complain about.
"I watched you and those folks. Who do you think they are?" Number 9's voice had become plain, and Zero decided to pay heed. She played a lot, but when she didn't want to… things got dicey.
"I don't," he admitted out loud.
"Good, and you should know. They live in this city, yet they don't pay rent. That isn't a good way to live, is it?" Number 9 was seated on a bench, staring at the night sky. Zero had no idea what was running through her head.
"Is that all? Taxes? Are they going to be killed because they didn't pay their taxes?" He was steadily getting pissed off and wondering if Alistair was off his rocker or if old age was creeping up on him.
"It's not that simple," Number 9 said, but Zero forgot that she was technically his boss; his anger blinded him.
"Nothing ever is with The Order. Am I just a dog to be thrown out when I've outlived my usage? Is this what it means to be an eternal pawn? The old folks did nothing to deserve this. So, why are you making them suffer? Is this what it means to be one of you guys?"
Zero stopped and turned his back, his eyes colder than icicles.
"Then, I don't want to be a part of your games anymore." And he walked away, his eyes burning with rage.
I don't care about any of them; I don't care what they get up to. But this is a line that nobody should cross casually. I decide my fate henceforth.
Number 9 stayed at the bench for 30 minutes after Zero left, and then she said to herself, "You lied, though," before walking off into the distance.
The gears of fate are turning, and things are beginning to take form.
Who will rule the continent of Anthras and take over the known world?
And what's the fate of Adam?
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone