THE MOMENT
"This is somewhat embarrassing," Ozone didn't want to make the guy feel bad, but there was money involved. "You assured me you were ready to face any challenge. Now, you want me to go out and apologize to a paying customer because you're scared?"
"Scared?" Aiden shot a confused look across the desk to the rotund, green-haired man. Ozone was a heavyset businessman who owned a small curio shop on the beach; but, he sold anything and everything, whether it was in the store or not. He'd recently sold a deadly training session with Aiden, but the professional killer retreated as soon as he met his opponent. In a way, it was Aiden's audition to join Ozone's mercenary group. He thought he was ready until he looked into the blonde girl's small brown eyes. "She's what, TEN years old!?? Like I told her, I'm not fighting a child."
"Huh, you're not ready to join us at all," Ozone chuckled.
"Not if it involves beating up children," Aiden said it sternly. He'd previously held Ozone in high regard. The man's word was solid gold, and he had a generous heart, which was a tight line to walk in his business. And now, Aiden could see it was impossible to walk.
"It's not like I'm asking you to wreak mayhem on an elementary school," Ozone chuckled and shook his head. "She's a paying customer looking for a real fight."
"Kids do stupid crap all the time! It's up to the adults not to take advantage of that; I'm not going to assault a kid just because they saved up their milk money and think they're ready for the big leagues."
"Do I have to explain that she's a Unique Soul?" Ozone asked.
"Oh, wait. Really?" That caught his attention. He was still relatively new to the multiverse and hadn't fully integrated his awareness of Unique Souls. He knew they existed, but they were never his first thought. "Is she a Calavera?" he asked. Calaveras were the strongest Unique Souls and could shatter an entire Earth with little effort. It was starting to make sense why Ozone was willing to take her on as a client.
"A Luna," Ozone nodded. "She already picked up Calavera strength though," he said. An eager gleam sparkled in Aiden's eye; she wasn't even remotely normal. "Don't worry about it, you're off the job. Maybe I'll ask you to try again in a few months, who knows?" he shrugged.
"I'd appreciate it," Aiden nodded. It was useless trying to argue or bargain with Ozone. And getting physical was out of the question. Ozone was a Calavera too, and unlike the 10-year-old girl, he had a suitably threatening presence. Aiden stood and walked out the back door toward the beach while Ozone walked to the shop.
"Sorry about him, but I've got a backup on the way," Ozone smiled at the young girl, 23, as he emerged through a bead curtain to the storefront.
"You sure they'll want to fight a child?" the girl giggled, and Ozone nodded.
"That won't be an issue," he said.
"Hey, you wanted me to beat up a kid?" a new voice spoke up as a chubby teen walked out of a black hole. Ozone nodded and pointed down at the girl, and the two locked eyes.
"I call Towers," 23 said immediately. Aury, the teen, shrugged.
"That's not what I was hired for. If you want to fight, I'll fight you. If not, you can ask Ozone for another opponent."
"IS THAT ALL YOU'RE GOING TO SAY!?" 23 roared in anger and rattled the shelves of knick-knacks.
"Whoa, hey...," Ozone stepped between them. "Do you guys know each other?" he asked.
"Yeah..," Aury nodded with a shrug.
"He's my dad," 23 said with ice-coated matter-of-factness.
"Oh...," Ozone took a moment to study each one of them. Aury kept still while his eyes studied every other inch of the room except where 23 stood. Meanwhile, 23's eyes were locked on Aury, burning with raging determination. "... is that going to be a problem for either of you?" he asked.
"I'm here to fight," Aury nodded.
"I've got some things I want to work out," 23 nodded.
"Then, you're satisfied?" Ozone asked 23 directly. She answered without taking her eyes off of Aury.
"Perfectly," she said.
"Alright, then, thank you for your business, and I hope you enjoy your match," he said. He stretched his arm out and dropped a black card on the floor between them. It opened a circular black portal, and each of them stepped onto it; then, they descended like an elevator. The hole closed once Aury's head dipped below the surface.
Once they were gone, Ozone chuckled to himself and went about tidying up the rattled merchandise.
"Oh, right, I should tell Jen," he reminded himself as he kept busy.
[Happened sooner than hoped. - Ozone] he sent her a Whisper. The text appeared in glowing blue letters on his own wrist while he worked.
[Unexpected opportunity. - Ozone]
[They're fighting now. - Ozone]
[Awesome! Payment Incoming. - Jny] She replied. The text from her also appeared on his wrist, and he was able to hear her voice in his mind.
[It was a pleasure. - Ozone] He replied.
"Man...," he chuckled to himself with a happy sigh. The store was once again tidy, and he'd had two major paydays before lunch. A small celebration was in order to bask in his accomplishment. "...sometimes it's embarrassing how successful I am."