As Mai and Serena reached the resting area for initiates, Mai couldn't help but notice the awkwardness in the air.
Trying to break the tension, she flashed a friendly smile and gestured towards a nearby bench. "Let's take a load off, shall we?"
Serena nodded hesitantly and followed Mai to the bench, her expression still troubled.
As they sat down, Mai couldn't shake off the feeling that she needed to lighten the mood. "So, Serena, how's life treating you lately? Any exciting adventures in the Silence?"
Serena's troubled expression softened slightly as she let out a small chuckle. "Well, you know how it is, Mai. Same old, same old. Dodging demons, navigating through alliances, and trying not to trip over my own two feet."
Mai laughed, feeling relieved that Serena was opening up a bit. "Oh, tell me about it! I swear, if I had a merit point for every time I stumbled over something in this place, I'd be rolling in riches."
Serena grinned, nodding in agreement as her face scoured again. "I hear you. Sometimes I think the biggest challenge in the Silence isn't the demons, but trying to keep a straight face during these life-threatening experiences.
Mai nodded sympathetically. "I see what's up with you, it's Arlet isn't it?"
At the sound of Mai's words, there was a strange stillness that threatened to seep into her bones.
Just as she was about to change the topic to avoid killing the conversation, Serena finally spoke. "It's not like that Mai-"
"Then can you tell me what it is?" Mai interrupted with a genuine tone before adding. "I may not have known you, I mean we didn't talk much during our time together at the enclave but, I feel like we're close, and like it or not girl I consider you a friend, after all, we did fight together, now I may not know Arlet but I know you feel the same way about her as I do about you."
Hearing Mai's words, Serena smiled bitterly before saying. "Our team is falling apart Mai, Bruce wants to cut ties and I don't know what to do about it."
"What do you mean?" Mai's inquisitive voice sounded out prompting Serena to say more.
With a distressed look in her eyes, Serena said. "Bruce knew, but he didn't say anything."
"Shit," Mai exclaimed feeling shocked at Serena's words, turning to her she muttered. "It's all adding up now, they were together, that's the reason he acted that way after Arlet's death, but even with that there's no need to just cut ties."
Serena let out a sigh, her chest heaving slightly as she said. "Arlet was an informant for a terrorist organization called the Resistance, since they were dating, she came clean to Bruce who promised to help her. It was because they were dating that Arlet also came clean about the fact that there was another terrorist in our group, the problem is she didn't know who it was."
Hearing this, Mai frowned a bit as she shook her head. "Well you can at-"
"Save it, Mai," Serena interrupted, her voice softening as she said. "It's over, what I'm thinking about now is what job I'm gonna take to earn points."
"What about you and Felix?" Mai suddenly asked, her voice probing as she asked again. "Have you both discussed?"
"Why would I have to discuss with him?" Serena asked in confusion.
Noticing Serena's confusion, Mai laughed. "Common girl, everyone knew you both had something going on back at the enclave, and now that I've brought it up I have to follow up, how'd it start?"
Serena was quiet, she seemed hesitant, but upon looking into Mai's eyes, raw with expectations she blushed a a bit and said. "We, em, I slept with him."
"Oh my god," Mai's eyes opened wide, as she leaned into Serena.
"You're more daring than you make yourself look," Mai whispered before asking. "So go on, give me the details, you can't just drop a bomb and leave me hanging, my first question is."
As she said this, Mai suddenly widened her arms leaving a long space between them before slowly closing it.
As Serena watched Mai do this, she raised a brow in confusion, but upon seeing the look in Mai's eyes, she thought a little deeper, and the next moment she blushed.
As Mai reached a certain point in her little show, Serena pointed out and said. "It's something like that."
Hearing this Mai's eyes widened, as she gave Serena another look. "Are you sure? That went inside you?"
"Stop," Serena muttered as she adjusted a strand of her hair trying to hide the look on her face.
Seeing Serena's expression made Mai's smile widen, but just as she was about to say something, Serena darted in. "Thank you, Mai, this means a lot. You know back when we were in the enclave, I looked up to you, and I still look up to you."
"You're welcome," Mai replied as she looked into the distance."It's amazing where life throws you at, who knew that things would turn out the way they did."
"Are you talking about you and Aiden?" Serena's voice sounded out from the side.
Laughing at Serena's question, Mai asked. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you and Aiden," Serena retorted before saying. "Come on, first you make it out of the enclave together, then you stick together like peas in a pod, everyone sees the way you look at him."
"Hmm, let me stop you there Serena, I'm what you'd call Aiden's safety pin, there to stop him from making any reckless decision," Mai said, her lips curling up as she added. "We're just friends."
"Ok, keep telling yourself that," Serena said. In that moment she glanced at Mai's luggage and said. "It seems like I've kept you, why don't you continue on your trip."
Hearing Serena say this, Mai stood up and she looked at her watch, turning to Serena, she said. "It seems I really have to go, but I'll give you my number and we can chat later."
------------
(A few minutes later)
Mai pondered, her heart heavy with the decision to tell Aiden about what she'd learned from Serena or to keep it to herself.
Meanwhile, outside the Silence headquarters, one could see a cab parked on the roadside, outside this cab were two familiar men, Aiden and Jonathan.
"Why is she so late?" Jonathan grumbled as he leaned on the taxi, his chest heaving as he let out a sigh.
Ignoring Jonathan, Aiden concentrated on going through the book on hand, his eyes scanning the pages as he eagerly absorbed the words on it.
Noticing Aiden's disinterest in the topic, Jonathan turned to him and asked. "How can you read at a time like this?"
Before Aiden could answer his questions, they both noticed a red-haired woman strutting in their direction, her person exuding an air of confidence.
It took a minute for her to reach them and when she did, she smiled brightly at the two men, her tone tempting as she said. "Did you miss me?"
"No we did not, get in," Aiden responded in a scolding tone while entering the cab, prompting Jonathan to follow suit.
Pouting at Aiden's tone, Mai opened the trunk of the cab and put her stuff inside before getting into the back seat with Aiden and Jonathan.
"Vroom!"
The car drove into Twilight City leaving the Silence behind.
Meanwhile, as soon as she got into the cab Mai noticed a difference immediately, different from the rich and calming scent of the Silence, the cab smelled like shit.
Cigarettes, Street food, and the smell of cheap air fresheners animated by a mix of sweat and alcohol, it was lovely.
Although the smell was bad it reminded Mai that she was back to the place she grew up in, the seventh shelter.
"Why did you take so long?" Jonathan's voice suddenly sounded out as he turned to Mai, he sat on the left side of the cab, while Aiden sat in the middle.
Hearing, Jonathan's question, Mai said after a bit. "I ran into Serena, a friend from the enclave so we chatted for a bit."
"Ohh, about what?" Aiden butted in, closing his book as he paid attention to Mai's words.
Hearing Aiden's voice, Mai remained silent as she glanced at the driver, and Aiden getting the message resumed reading his book.
It took about three hours for the cab to reach its destination, and during that period, Aiden had been buried in his book, while Mai and Jonathan read their books.
Looking out the window, Aiden noticed that the high skyscrapers had reduced and could only be seen in the distance.
"Are you guys gonna get down or what?" The cab driver's grumpy voice sounded out from the side.
Noting the cab driver's voice, Aiden glanced at Mai and Jonathan who both shook their heads at him.
Sighing, Aiden got out of the car and walked to the back of the cab, opening the truck, he got their stuff out.
Meanwhile, Jonathan paid the cab driver, prompting him to drive away.
As the cab drove away, Aiden took in a large breath before saying. "I didn't expect you to live In this kind of place Jonathan."
It was a safe neighborhood, nestled among other family residences, a charming apartment building.
Seeing the shocked expression on Aiden's face, Jonathan asked with a raised brow. "What did you expect? A billion Creda mansion?"
At the sound of Jonathan's words, Aiden chuckled before walking In.
As they approached, they were greeted by a well-kept exterior adorned with potted plants and a small garden patch tended by the residents.
The building exuded a sense of warmth and community, with children's bicycles parked neatly by the entrance.
As they reached the front door, Jonathan walked in front of Aiden, overtaking him as he leaned into the door.
Looking towards the door, Aiden noticed some kind of special lock, earning a quip from him. "At least one thing is how I pictured it, you got a high-tech lock."
Hearing this Jonathan rolled his eyes before placing his thumb firmly on the high-tech lock.
"Beep!"
A mechanical beeb suddenly sounded out as the door opened up, allowing them entry.
With a small and barely noticeable gesture, Jonathan urged them to follow him, as he walked into the house.
Inside, the apartment was spacious yet cozy, with ample natural light streaming through large windows. "Welcome to my house, this is my crib, my cave, my base," Jonathan said as they arrived at his living room.
Looking around, Aiden and Mai nodded at the sight before them, the living room was inviting, furnished with comfortable sofas and adorned with vibrant artwork. A soft rug covered the hardwood floor, muffling any sounds of footsteps.
As they checked out the living room, Jonathan urged them to follow him showing off the rest of his house.
The kitchen, although compact, was efficiently designed with modern appliances and plenty of counter space for preparing family meals.
The bedrooms were havens of tranquility, each uniquely decorated to reflect the personalities of their occupants.
The master bedroom boasted a plush king-sized bed with crisp linens and a cozy reading nook by the window.
The children's rooms are adorned with colorful posters and stuffed animals, creating playful and imaginative spaces for rest and play.
The more, Jonathan showed them around this house, the more Aiden and Mai felt like something was going on.
It took less than a minute, and after they were done with inspecting the house, Jonathan stopped in front of them, with an expectant expression on his face. "What do you guys think?" His voice sounds out again, his tone setting the stage for a reply he patiently waited for.
Seeing Jonathan's expression, Aiden and Mai glanced at each other, and with a sigh, Aiden said. "The house is perfect, but this looks like a family house, not somewhere a bachelor would stay."
"Did your family live here as well?" Mai asked playfully, her tone gentle as a smile formed on her lips.
Hearing Mai's question, Jonathan chuckled as he responded. "I see where you guys are going, don't worry, I didn't really get the chance to know my family so I don't have anyone I'm not telling you about."
"What did you say?" Aiden suddenly asked, his voice laced with shock as his eyes widened in worry.
Meanwhile, Mai's first reaction was different, her face, softened a bit as she said. "I'm so sorry Jonathan."