"Lydia, are you alright?" Alex asked, his voice filled with concern as he looked into her troubled eyes.
Lydia sobbed softly, her shoulders trembling. "I just... hate that I had to expose myself like that," she confessed, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "I know it will happen, but...it sucks to have to do it today as well. I...really wanted today to be special and start this city date perfectly, but now..." Her voice trailed off, and she blinked back tears.
Alex immediately realised what Linda and Jeb had hinted at earlier. They had known how special this day was going to be for Lydia, especially if she saw it as a date. His guts immediately urged him to make things right. He glanced at her, resolved to turn things around.
Alex pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he murmured as he kissed her forehead. "I wish I could have stopped it. But, you know, look on the bright side. At least we can continue our date now. We can still make this a fun day, I promise."
Lydia leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his presence. "Okay," she murmured as she wiped away her tears, her voice steadier now. "Thank you, Alex."
Seeing her mood slightly improving, Alex smiled. "You're very welcome." He then held her hand and walked forward, pulling her along. "Come, let's go walk off the bad mood."
Soon, Lydia gradually regained her initial excitement, her energy rising as she walked down an unfamiliar path.
"Oh, look," Lydia said suddenly, pointing to a narrow alleyway lined with colourful murals. "I've never seen that before. Let's check it out!"
They wandered into the alley, admiring the vibrant artwork that adorned the walls. Each mural told a story, depicting scenes of hope, struggle, and resilience, capturing a beauty amidst the decay.
From there, they strolled into a quiet park nestled between towering buildings, its overgrown greenery a stark contrast to the urban landscape. They found an old carousel; its paint faded, but its charm was undeniable.
Alex teased Lydia about riding it, earning a playful shove in return. They laughed, starting to soak into their own little world of romance, forgetting the outside world.
They then stumbled upon a small abandoned bookstore tucked away in a corner. The shelves were filled with weathered books, their pages yellowed with age. Lydia eagerly browsed through the titles, occasionally reading aloud passages that caught her eye. Alex listened intently, enjoying the sound of her voice as she shared her discoveries.
Their exploration continued after they had satisfied their interest in the old books. It eventually led them to a bustling market square, where vendors hawked their wares amidst a cacophony of voices, and the scent of exotic spices filled the air. Lydia's eyes lit up as she spotted a stall selling handmade jewellery. She admired a delicate bracelet adorned with shimmering stones, her fingers tracing its intricate patterns.
The vendor, a gruff-looking man with a cybernetic eye and a stern expression, noticed Lydia's interest and scowled. "Hey. You can look, but don't you touch my stuff," he grumbled, eyeing her with suspicion. "I don't need your kind messing up my merchandise."
Lydia's smile faltered, hurt flashing in her eyes. Alex suddenly snapped out of their romantic trace and glared at the man. "Hey. You don't have to treat us like this, you know?" Alex snarled, intending to give him a piece of his mind.
"Ha! Look, you can count yourself lucky that I ain't chasing you Flawed monsters away. I may be doing badly here, but ain't no one more pathetic than you mutated low-lives." The man sneered back, no sign of remorse showing on his face.
"Why you!" Alex raised his voice, about to retort, but Lydia immediately held him back, pulling him away.
"Alex...don't fight with the people here...let's just go," Lydia whispered softly as she tried to lead Alex away.
Unfortunately, Alex's raised voice had attracted some unwanted attention, and a group of city residents approached, their faces contorted with hostility. They blocked Alex and Lydia's path, and their faces coloured with disdain.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them sneered, eyeing them with disdain. "A Flawed couple, wandering where they don't belong. Who knew Flawed had the capability for love, huh?"
Lydia's hand tightened on Alex's arm, fear flickering in her eyes. "A-Ah. We're so sorry," she pleaded softly, her voice trembling. "Please, we didn't mean any trouble."
"Trouble?" another citizen scoffed, stepping closer. "Ha! Waltzing into our city and acting like you belong here, huh? Face it, you've already are trouble since the moment you set foot in here! Just get the hell out of our city, you freaking monsters!"
The group before them started to become rowdy and aggressive, hurling insults and slowly stepping forward, with the obvious intention of getting physically violent.
Alex's jaw clenched with frustration, but a voice cut through the tension before he could respond.
"Hey. Leave them alone," a young man said firmly, stepping forward from a nearby doorway. He had striking green eyes and tousled black hair, his presence commanding respect despite his simple attire.
The group of citizens hesitated, freezing in place, eyeing the newcomer warily. "Huh? This isn't your business, Erza. Just screw off elsewhere, you sympathiser." one of them retorted defiantly.
The young man stood his ground, his expression unwavering. "It certainly is now," he replied coolly. "Now, back off before I make you."
Reluctantly, the group dispersed, muttering insults under their breath. The young man turned to Alex and Lydia, his gaze softening.
"Are you two alright?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
Alex nodded gratefully, relieved by the intervention. "Thank you," he said sincerely. We...were just trying to browse the goods around here for a bit, but it's...surprisingly unpleasant."
The young man nodded understandingly. "You're welcome. I'm Ezra, by the way." He introduced himself, offering a small smile. "I'm not Flawed like you, but I live around here and try to help people like you guys whenever possible. I'd guide you two to a safer place, so do come with me."
Glancing over to Lydia, who was slightly saddened by the aggressive encounter, Alex figured it was best to leave here as soon as possible.
He nodded to Erza, "Yes, that would be great. I'm Alex, by the way, and this is Lydia."
"It's nice to meet you both. Quickly now, do follow me." Alex then held Lydia's hand tightly and pulled her along while following Ezra.
Alex sensed the tension in the air as they followed Ezra through the maze of alleys and decaying buildings, sensing several hostile glances as they passed by. Lydia gripped his hand tighter, her unease palpable after the encounter with the hostile citizens.
"Hey, Ezra, thank you for stepping in back there," Alex said, breaking the silence. His voice was earnest, tinged with gratitude and concern. "We didn't mean to cause trouble. We just wanted to explore a bit."
Ezra glanced back at them, his green eyes sharp and penetrating. "Exploring here is dangerous, especially for you guys," he replied curtly, his tone firm but not unkind. "Really. Take it from me: this city isn't safe, even for those with cybernetic enhancements. You really shouldn't be wandering around these parts, even as a couple."
Alex frowned, his brows furrowing in frustration. "We...just wanted to see the city," he explained, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Lydia loved the city and wanted to bring me around to explore."
Lydia nodded quietly beside him, her gaze fixed on Ezra. "I thought maybe things had changed since the last cycle," she admitted softly. "But I guess some things never do."
Ezra sighed, his shoulders tense with a mixture of empathy and resignation. "I'm sorry, but things haven't changed," he admitted, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Not for us, not for the Flawed. And it never will. This city has a way of reminding us of that every day."
They walked in silence for a while longer, navigating through narrow passageways and avoiding suspicious glances from passersby. Finally, Ezra stopped at the edge of a populated street, its sights and sounds a stark contrast to the desolation they had just traversed.
"This is as far as I'll go with you," Ezra said firmly, turning to face them. "You'll be safer around here. Next time, stick to the more populated areas where the city's security is tighter. At least the guards there keep the city type in check."
Alex nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Ezra's warning. "Thank you," he said sincerely, meeting Ezra's gaze with a newfound respect. "For helping us earlier. I'll remember your kindness."
Ezra nodded in acknowledgement, his expression unreadable. "Ha. Just take care of each other. See you around next cycle, maybe." he said gruffly before turning on his heel and disappearing into the shadows of the alley.
As they watched him go, Alex felt a mix of emotions swirling within him—gratitude for Ezra's guidance but frustration at the city's harsh realities.