Capítulo 18: Maybe...
~Amber's Pov~
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How long has it been now? A few days? A week? I must have come here every day since I met him... It sounds creepy now that I've actually thought about it... My coming here to this city was for a family trip, yet I spend my time here, looking at a complete stranger...
Yeah, I felt bad, terrible even... But, I doubt anyone would really blame me, what's an 18-year-old girl supposed to do in this situation?
I sat at my usual spot by the window, sipping my cappuccino and pretending to be engrossed in my studies. I glanced up at him, his name I found out to be Ezra, who was busy behind the counter, moving with his usual effortless grace.
'How can someone be this attractive?' I thought about it for the past week alone. Hell, I even promised myself I wouldn't be that type of gal, but for him, I just might be...
I couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious about my daily visits. 'Am I being too obvious?' I wondered, nibbling on my lower lip. But there was something about Ezra that drew me in, something I couldn't quite explain...
The way he talked, looked, moved, sounds...?
I recalled our brief interactions, each one leaving me wanting more. Despite his professional demeanor, there were moments when I caught him looking my way. I could tell that there was a flicker of interest in his eyes... It gave me a thrill every time.
'Maybe today...' I thought, 'Maybe today I'll finally get the courage to talk to him properly.'
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. A group of customers walked in, and he greeted them with his usual friendly smile. I watched as he took their orders, admiring the way he handled each interaction with ease...
I took a deep breath and decided to go for it. Gathering my books, I made my way to the counter. As I approached, Ezra looked up and smiled.
"Oh, Hey, Amber," he said, recognizing me. "What can I get for you today?"
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of my name. "Hi, Ezra. Just a refill on the cappuccino, please."
"Coming right up," he replied, starting on my order.
As he worked, I mustered up the courage to ask, "So, do you enjoy working here?" I tried my best to sound like a go-getter.
Ezra glanced at me, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Uh, yeah, I do. It's a nice change of pace from... Other things." He looked off saying that. I picked up the small change in his expression... I was good at that naturally.
So I asked, "Other things?" digging a bit, curious.
Yet he smiled, chuckled even. "Yeah, just stuff. You know how it is." When he said that, he lowered himself to fix something misplaced under the table, causing me to get a glance at his chest...
'He's so, toned...' I felt myself shrinking at the smallest gestures he made so easily... Could men look like that? Like this?
I had to keep it together; I had my pride too. So, I smiled, but still sensing he was holding something back. "Well, you seem to do a great job here. It's always a pleasure coming in."
"Thanks," Ezra said, handing me the freshly made cappuccino. "I... I appreciate that." He smiled that smile, it always hit me the hardest. It was so simple, yet so effective...
I took the cup, our fingers brushing briefly, "See you around, Ezra."
"Yeah, see you," he replied, watching me as I walked back to my table.
As I settled back into my seat, I felt a surge of excitement. It wasn't much, but it was a start... And it seemed like I wasn't the only one to think that. The cafe was filled to the brim with women, just staring at him when they could...
Hell, I've seen women glimpse at him from the outside.
I took another sip of my usual cappuccino, trying to shake off the jealousy that threatened to bubble up... It was silly, really. We'd barely exchanged a few words, yet here I was, feeling territorial over someone I hardly even knew. But there was just something about him that made me want to know more, to be the one he confided in...
Sure, he had the looks. But, his demeanor, his ways. Heck, his whole presence just screamed at me to just be around him.
Lost in my thoughts, I glanced around the cafe. The usual crowd was there: students with their laptops, couples enjoying their morning dates, and, of course, the gaggle of women who seemed to have the same idea as me. I couldn't blame them, though. Ezra had one hell of an undeniable charm, one that drew people in effortlessly...
As I looked back at him, busy with another customer's order, I made a silent promise to myself. Tomorrow, I'd try to talk to him again. Maybe learn a bit more about his "other things." Because if there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that I wanted to be more than just another face in the crowd.
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~Ezra's Pov~
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'Yeah... She definitely likes me.' I thought, glancing at Amber as she returned to her table. I'd noticed her coming in more frequently, and our brief interactions had become a highlight of my shifts.
I couldn't deny it, there was an attraction. Amber was very beautiful too, with her auburn blond hair and striking blue eyes. She carried herself with a confidence that was very hard to miss, and I found myself looking forward to her visits more than I cared to admit.
But there was something else that intrigued me about her... Despite the frequent glances and the unmistakable interest, she never pushed too hard and never tried to invade my space too much either. It was a subtlety that I never thought I'd appreciate, given how complicated my life had become over the recent year...
As I continued working, I couldn't help but think about our conversation. It had been brief, but there was something in the way she looked at me that made me feel... Noticed. Not just as a barista, but as a person. It was a rare feeling, one I hadn't experienced in a while, at least not working here or in this universe in general.
I shook my head, trying to focus on the tasks at hand. I had other things to worry about—my crime-detecting systems; Specifically, the occasional patrols I did around the city, and the secrets I kept hidden from everyone. But still, thoughts of Amber lingered in the back of my mind.
Plus, I didn't want to be lonely, just fighting crime and getting stronger. I hadn't had a girlfriend before, in this life or the one before. Then again, it might even be good for someone to wait up on you after a hard day's work of crime fighting...
I quickly moved efficiently behind the counter, preparing drinks and chatting with customers, all the while keeping an eye on the door. I knew Amber would be back, just as I knew I'd look forward to our next conversation. For now, I had to keep my cool and focus on the present.
As the evening rush began to slow, I took a moment to catch my breath. I glanced over at Amber, who was busy with her books and allowed myself a small smile. It was nice to have something, or rather someone, to potentially look forward to. And maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something more. But for now, I was content with the way things were—slowly getting to know her, at least with one cappuccino at a time.
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~Omniscient Pov, several hours later~
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Ezra looked down, perched lowly on top of a building. The wind blew, ruffling his coat wildly in the air. He stared sharply down at his target...
It was a group of around eight men, heavily armed. However, they weren't his primary concern. His focus was on their leader. This man had taken the serum, the one that hadn't had any noticeable effect on him. But rumors in the underworld suggested there was a newer version of the serum that made users even stronger, like a double awakening in a sense...
And that's what they called individuals like the ones he got abilities from, Awakeners.
The extent of its enhancements? Ezra didn't have all the details. The only lead he had, simply indicated that this man was the first of the test subjects. And Ezra could tell. The person below him was strong—At least on par with himself.
He gave off a similar vibe that Kara gave off, however, this one was incomparably weaker; yet it was still high enough to give him slight concern.
The leader stood out among his men, his presence commanding attention. He moved with a confidence that spoke of his newfound power. Ezra observed him closely, noting the subtle signs of enhanced strength: the way he carried himself, the ease with which he handled his weapon, and the intimidating aura that surrounded him...
Still, he smiled under his mask, 'Ahh... This'll be fun.' Ezra's muscles tensed. This was not going to be an easy confrontation. He had to approach this carefully, leveraging his agility and tactical knowledge... Confrontation might not be the best approach, given the leader's strength unknown strength...
He waited, watching the group as they made their way through the dimly lit alley. The leader was giving orders, his voice low and commanding. The men moved efficiently, obviously well-trained and disciplined.
Soon, the wind picked up, masking the slight noise as he shifted his position. He needed to isolate the leader and create a situation where he could take him on without interference from the others. Not like he needed to, but he couldn't stand group interferences.
As the group continued their advance, they split up slightly to cover more ground. This was the moment Ezra had been waiting for. He silently leaped down from the building, landing with cat-like grace behind a stack of crates.
He moved quickly and quietly, positioning himself between the leader and his men. The leader paused, sensing something was off, but before he could react, Ezra sprang into action.
In a blur of motion, he was upon the leader, delivering a powerful kick to the side. The man stumbled but quickly recovered, but his eyes blazed with fury. He turned to face Ezra, a snarl forming on his lips.
"Who the hell are you-" he growled, but stopped immediately, recognizing the person in front of himself, "Enigma...?" He said, realizing. His voice dripping with menace.
"In the flesh," Ezra responded.
The man's snarl deepened as he squared off against Ezra. "So, the infamous Enigma decides to show up. You're making a big mistake."
Ezra smirked and scoffed, his dark-visored eyes never leaving the leader. "I've made a few in my life." He cracked his neck, "But stopping sligh fuckers like you won't be one of them."
The man lunged decimating the concrete below his feet, and quickly followed up by throwing a punch with lethal force. Ezra sidestepped, delivering a swift counterpunch to his opponent's ribcage. The impact sent a shockwave through his opponent, causing him to stagger back.
"You think you can stop me!?" the leader spat, regaining his balance. "I'm stronger than you can imagine." He shouted.
Ezra remained unfazed, yet cautious... "Strength isn't everything. Skill and strategy matter more." That single punch confirmed his suspicions. That force and the speed it carried... This guy, at least in raw strength was stronger than himself, and luckily for Ezra, the guy was a pure physical type.
The man charged once again, this time, Ezra side-stepped, the punch going right past him while doing so, in quick succession; He used Aikido to flip the man over, using his force against him, before slamming him into the ground, causing a massive crater...
'Still, he's way too slow...' Ezra could see his movements rather easily. Even if he gave the guy a free hit, he likely wouldn't feel any damage. He was far too durable for any of the man's attacks to work on himself. In these instances, he was happy with his sheer toughness.
"Gu-Aaarhhh!!!" He yelled, clearly in pain. However, he slowly got up and charged again, swinging wildly. Once again, Ezra dodged with ease, his reflexes honed from countless encounters and simulations. This time, he countered with a swift uppercut, then followed by a spinning Brazilian high-kick that sent the leader crashing into a stack of crates.
The man groaned, struggling to get up, "You're outclassed," Ezra said, his voice steady. "Give up now before you get hurt."
The leader spat blood, his eyes filled with rage. "Never!" He roared, launching himself at Ezra with renewed fury. But his attacks were even more reckless, leaving him open to Ezra's precise strikes.
Ezra moved in, landing a series of rapid punches to the leader's midsection, each blow calculated to weaken and incapacitate. The man staggered, gasping for breath, his strength waning...
With a final, decisive move, Ezra swept the leader's legs out from under him and pinned him to the ground. The man's struggles were weak, his energy spent. "It's over," Ezra said firmly.
The leader glared up at him, panting heavily, "Y-you may have won this round, but you have no idea what's coming." He spat, laughing as well.
Ezra tightened his grip, his eyes narrowing. "Then I guess I'll have to find out, won't I?" He quickly threw a small ball towards the approaching men.
Pang!
In that small instance, Ezra quickly bound the leader's hands, ensuring he couldn't escape. The other men still disoriented from the smoke, began to regroup, but Ezra knew he had to get out before they could mount a coordinated attack. He activated a small device on his wrist, signaling for a pickup.
Within moments, a sleek, silent drone appeared, lowering a cable for extraction. Ezra secured the leader to the cable and gave a nod. The drone lifted off, carrying the man away for interrogation.
Ezra watched as the drone disappeared into the sky, then melted back into the shadows. He had accomplished his mission, but there were still many questions left unanswered... The new serum, the organization behind it, and their ultimate goal remained, with more mysteries he needed to take care of now.
'I can tell, these next few months will be annoying...' He mumbled in his mind. Disappearing in the night sky.
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END
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