Roman froze, listening to the familiar voice. His brain started flexing its memory power, making him remember the memories of his extreme youth, which he left behind after settling here in his ancestral house permanently. Those days of brotherhood, thrilling missions, dangerous situations and near-death experiences flashed like an unusually fast paced movie. A tired feeling with nostalgia hit him in his heart. He did not dare to turn around immediately. Even if he separated himself from his unit almost assertively back then, he could not forget their bond. Elektra could sense her owner's emotions. She lifted her paw and rubbed his hair. The soothing softness touching his head brought him out from his memory lane. Roman made a decision of facing them as he turned around.
"Yes. Go ahead." His voice cracked with emotion after seeing that familiar face.
The man was wearing black tight t-shirt and a slim straight camouflage cargo pants with an olive green bomber jacket. With the sleeves of the jacket folded exposing his muscular forearms he looked conspicuous among the horde of black and white uniformed bodyguards. Seeing the ultra AI security system letting in that attractive jeep, he was distracted from the screen showing the next itinerary of his tablet. The jeep was hooded and looked shiny as if the owner cherished it with all his might. A tall figure in dark trench coat stepped out and walked towards back of the jeep to fish out a very large package of take-out with a seal of a famous bakery of the town. The man in trench coat started walking towards the Manor. It was then, a white shadow jumped out of the passenger seat of the Jeep to the top of the hood and flew towards the man and sat on his broad shoulder. It was a cat and a very pretty at that with pure white fur and golden rimmed blue eyes like gems.
Ian put out the screen of the tablet and jumped down from the bonnet of the car. Well, even if the cat was cute he had to do a general checking before letting that man go in. The man froze hearing his instruction. He was slightly shorter than Ian, his back was tense. It took him tens of seconds, before the cat on his shoulder rubbed his brown soft hair, to turn around.
The man was rough but his stubble was trimmed properly. His eyebrows were straight, making his soft eyes look like a dormant animal. His brown hair was medium length and ruffled back casually with hand. He looked up at the handsome face and uttered out a few words.
Ian froze at the sound. He looked at the man to find out where the familiarity came from. He took a step further towards him and leaned in looking into those heartless eyes. The man, he was tracking for years, was hiding here.
"Ah. If it is not the mighty Sergeant Ambrosia. How are you here?" Ian spoke with a hint of mockery. His face was close to Roman's ear. Elektra smelled something uneasy on the other shoulder. She lifted her paw high and smashed down on the strange man's back of the neck with a meow.
"(Thump) Umph." Ian suddenly felt an instinct to dodge an attack coming from back, but he was too close to his hard won Sergeant. He could not defend but followed the inertia and hugged the man. The bodyguards on the sides stood up collectively at this action. Their boss was in danger. How could they sit around while doing nothing? Even if they are not armed, it does not mean they cannot fight a man and a little animal.
"Stay back." Ian quickly composed himself and ordered.
"Apologies. My baby is protective of me."
Baby?
"Meow." Roman took a step away and Elektra mewed loudly as if in warning. Those beautiful golden eyes looked really terrifying right now.
The men in black had already surrounded them. Roman clenched the handle of the bag containing breakfast. The air was firmly filled with tension.
"Oh. Thank goodness, Roman. You are finally here. I am so hungry…" Harper was strolling in the hallways while nibbling on the cookies. She heard a yelling of a cat when she came to the entrance. She came out of the manor to see what was going on. And what she saw was, two men hugging each other and bodyguards springing into the action. The taller guy ordered the men to stay down, and the other guy, whom she knew was Roman who came to pick them up, stepped away, full of vigilance. And the beautiful cat meowed loudly. The tension was thick and she felt that only she was the one who can break the moment.
"Hey, what's going on?" She successfully broke the moment, but what was Anna's cousin doing here, hugging a man at that?
"Ian? When did you come here? Weren't you in Parmarina?" The taller man looked at her in the confusion. How did she know my name? Who is she?
"Good morning, young lady. I shall go in. Greg should be waiting for me." Roman greeted her first as they seemed to know each other beforehand, and excused himself first to give them privacy.
"Stop. Checking is pending." Ian stopped him and signed the other bodyguard to check him. And put his attention on the lady who was greeted by his Sergeant oh so specially.
"Who are you?" Ian finally looked at her appearance and blurted out. Well, she was very beautiful indeed. But then what?
Harper narrowed her eyes and looked at the lad who she used to beat up in the childhood and would complain to her mother about that. Thinking about something she aimed a punch at his face. Ian was confused at her actions and raised his hand to catch her cup her fist which was very slow and not so threatening in his eyes. But his eyes widened as the girl did something out of his mind. She pulled her hand back which was caught by him and bit his arm.
"Ouch."
She took a bite. And very viciously at that. When she released, it was a perfect round tooth mark. Roman was looking at this scene, and was applauding in his head. Way to go young lady. You are awesome.
Ian gritted his teeth and endured. Why was his morning so miserable today? Every beautiful thing he sees is choosing violence today. First that pretty cat and now this pretty lady. But this bite is familiar. He looked at Harper, and remembered a stinky cute brat who was always with his cousin and used to beat him up when he used to stay at his aunt's and that is why after going back home he started training with his grandfather. And that brat is now all grown up.
"Cha… Charming?" Ian stuttered at the name which used to make him remember the horror at first. Now look at her. All beautiful and all vicious, just like before. At first glance you could not tell that she would be so violent.
"You finally remembered." Harper snapped.
Ian jumped and hugged her with a couple of slaps on the back, just like bro-hugs. Harper came down harder in return.
"What are you doing here? Is Anna also here? You all are here?" Ian asked with a smile on his face. Finally meeting someone of his generation. Staying with those old men has made him somewhat tired and filled with retirement vibes.
"Well, the middle aged people went on their precious honeymoon and we decided to visit here. What are YOU doing here?" Harper asked.
"Old men were summoned here urgently by Mr Davis. And I was on a visit in Coral city, so grandpa called me to escort them here at a time. I am on standby since yesterday night." Ian informed her.
"Okay, that aside. What were you doing here just now? Do you know each other?" Harper nodded in understanding. That was old people's business. What is it to her? What she wants is gossip. The fujoushi in her propped up.
"Who? What?" Ian asked her back innocently, obviously not wanting to answer.
"Ah. Here." Harper turned to Roman who had just been checked and dragged him beside her.
"Ian, this is Roman. And Roman, this is Major General Ian Alexander Verlice, Anna's cousin. He is commissioned at Opus Province of Parmarina country. He just retired last year. See? Now you know each other. Let's go, I am so fu*king hungry…" Harper's attention was finally drawn to the cat, because of whom she came here in the first place. The kitty was cutely lying on Roman's shoulder.