"Put it in you?" Elijah asked, causing Léa to shudder. "I don't know, man. Sounds kind of sudden-"
"I meant put it on me and you know it!"
"You took your shirt off and turned around. It's not my fault if I misunderstand." He shrugged. "In any case, I won't put it in you. We're in public."
Léa rubbed her forehead and let her body fall on one of the bus seats at the back.
"Can you stop taking the piss already?"
"Yeah, alright. So what do you want me to put on you?"
Léa turned around, showing her back.
"The… Tattoo thing."
"The Slave Mark."
"R-Right."
"What made you change your mind?"
"I had time to think about it." Léa asked after a moment, scratching her cheek.
"I see."
"Well…?" Léa crossed her arms. "I'm getting goosebumps."
"I would assume, yeah. The bus is moving, and most of the windows are broken."
"Well, go ahead." Léa said, giving her back again.
Elijah stared at her bare back for a moment.
"No."
"N-No? What do you mean?"
"I'm not doing it." Elijah let out a sigh and let his body fall on the seat next to hers. "I like sitting at the back."
"But why not?"
He turned his head to face her.
"You know why not."
"I-I do not."
"Yes, you do." Elijah got a bit closer. "Don't play dumb, alright? The only reason you're here is because you're not." He clarified after a moment. "Dumb, I mean."
Léa looked away, frowning slightly.
"Is it because I took too long to decide?"
"You tell me." He smiled.
"Because not only did I take too long, but I also didn't prove my worth further than just what initially got me here. Basically, the time increased, but not my worth."
"Yeah, pretty much. Plus I don't like the fact that you think you can just give me your back whenever you want and I'll put it in… On, I mean."
"That was definitely on purpose." Léa sighed.
"You're catching up." He nodded.
"So you also don't like the fact that I took too long because now joining you is my decision, and not yours? Because I'm joining you instead of you taking me in?"
"I would never think like that." Elijah waved his hand in front of him, sarcastically acting offended. "That would be too childish. I'm quite hurt that you think something like that matters to me."
"It does matter though." Léa whispered. "So, you're sure, right?"
"Yes, put your clothes back on, woman. I'm not putting anything in or on you."
"Fine…" She grumbled. "I guess my charms won't work as well when there's Katherine and Zarath around."
"You're funny too, huh?" He smiled. "Indeed, you're here for your brains, not your charms."
"That's offensive." Léa said as she put her T-shirt back on. "To both me and Katherine."
"I didn't mean that Katherine-"
"I know, I know." Léa smiled. "Just taking the piss."
"Taking the piss, huh?" Elijah stood up and stretched his arms. "Feel free to take it elsewhere."
"So only you get to joke around? That's kind of childish."
Léa scratched her head as he stared into the distance silently.
"You get it, right?"
"It's insulting, but yes." Léa nodded. "Proof of how far behind I am. I'll prove my worth, somehow."
"Good." Elijah started walking forward. "Look at you two." He grinned, taking the seat that used to be Zarath's. "Things went off to a rocky start, but you seem friendly. Sitting side by side and all."
"Sure…"
"I guess…"
'Get this bitch away from me before I choke her!'
'I might seriously burn her hair off.'
The next moment, floating words appeared in front of everyone.
[Congratulations on Clearing the First Main Quest!]
[Rejoice, you will now have some time to rest.]
[The Second Main Quest starts in 48 hours.]
'Time to rest my ass.' Léa stared at the floating words with narrow eyes. 'Those who rest during that time will die… Or end up poor and weak.'
Elijah turned around for a moment, and the two made eye contact.
He turned away a second later.
That momentary gaze was more than enough for Léa to understand.
'I have forty-eight hours to prove my worth… Two days… God, I can't believe I have to work to become someone's slave.'
She gazed at the group at the front.
"I'll come sit with you." Katherine said, suddenly getting up to change seats.
"That's so not fair! I was sitting on the inside!" Zarath started climbing the backrest. "Fine, I'll just-"
Before the Succubus could jump into Elijah's lap,
"Um… Sorry." The blushing Katherine apologized.
"It's fine."
'The bitch! She's sitting on him while keeping her legs on the seat next to him!'
"I'm not too heavy, am I?" She asked, fiddling with her hands.
"Not at all." Elijah answered as he lay a hand on her thigh.
Katherine's blushing worsened.
Léa stared with narrow eyes.
The life of a slave doesn't seem too bad right now. Yeah, becoming his slave seems fine. Still…' Her eyes narrowed further, watching the scene carefully. 'The Slave Mark isn't going to make me fall in love with him all of a sudden, will it?'
Footsteps.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
The three turned in her direction.
"Are you okay, Marianne?" Katherine asked, getting a strange sensation from her.
"I am." She nodded. "So… How about we check out the museum?"
"Are you sure?" Elijah frowned.
"Yeah." Marianne answered. "We need to change buses soon anyway. Might as well make a stop. We need all the strength we need, right?"
"Right." Elijah nodded after a moment.
"A short stop should be okay, if my father is fine." Marianne explained.
All remained silent. Until,
"Yeah... The Quest starts in 48 hours, so he shouldn't run into trouble until then. And if he's dead, then he's already dead. No point in-"
The chains that had been taken off came back in full force, binding her voice and body alike.
"Why did you do that?" Marianne watched the muffled Succubus.
"What do you mean?" Katherine asked after a moment.
"Well…" Marianne scratched her cheek, her eyes seeming almost devoid of life. "The Succubus is right. If he's dead, then he's already dead."