“Arlo?” an equally puzzled Atlas called back from where he sat across Aya. What would he be doing here of all places? Weren’t the Eos Conquerors supposed to be in Evangels? Atlas wondered.

  Aya looked back at him, recognizing that name. It was one of the members of Mars’s former gaming group. The ones trying to find her after betraying her trust.

  Her eyes widened, and because Atlas and Mars hadn’t spoken in such a long time it was possible he didn’t know she was hiding from them.

  Aya grabbed Atlas’s hand, forcing his attention from Arlo to her.

  ‘Don’t tell him about Mars.’ Aya mouthed to Atlas. He returned her plea with an expression of confusion but nodded nonetheless.

  Arlo approached their table with a smirk, allowing Aya to get a good look at him up close. He was a tall silver-haired man dressed in his team's silver and blue branded jumpsuit. He wore square rimmed glasses over grey eyes that stared condescendingly at her.

  Arlo made no move to acknowledge her only focusing his attention on Atlas. That didn’t bother her, she was used to such treatment after her time at Nue Corp. He reminded her of Viviana, another person who got by on status alone.

  “Are you still in touch with Mars?” he asked brazenly.

  “No.” Atlas said shooting him a steely gaze. If Aya didn’t want him mentioning Mars to this guy, he would trust her. After all, Arlo didn’t look trustworthy himself.

  Aya kept her lips pressed together tensely observing.

  “Weren’t you two on the same team? Why are you asking me?”

  “And weren’t you supposed to be her husband or something?” Arlo shot back with his lips still curved in that infuriating smirk.

  ‘What brand of asshole is this?’ Aya thought. His presence had made her lose her appetite so she calmly sipped her tea as she watched another type of tea unfold, and it was piping hot.

  Atlas clicked his tongue at Arlo’s audacity. He hadn’t even offered a greeting before he started trying to pry into his affairs.

  “Well, it looks like neither of us knows where she is then.” He said, folding his arms. Arlo huffed, moving his gaze from Atlas to Aya who had been sitting there quietly.

  “I see you moved on quickly.” Arlo said coldly.

  “I genuinely don’t have to explain myself to you.” Atlas retorted icily.

  Arlo seemed to think Atlas’s angry face was funny, he laughed loudly, attracting attention to their table. Atlas glared.

  ‘This might actually come to blows if I don’t say something.’ Aya thought.

  “Hey, maybe things are getting a little too heated.” Aya said to Atlas in a bid to calm him down, the man already had his fist balled so tightly his nails were digging into his palms.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “This conversation doesn’t involve you, so zip it.” Arlo said making a motion for Aya to be silent. Aya blinked.

  Once.

  Twice.

  She stood up lifting a finger the same way she did when Dylan was rude to her as Yvlena.

  “I’m Atlas’s friend whose get together you ruined with your shitty attitude, so either have a donut or shut up and leave before I show you my street credibility.” Aya’s eyes burned with a fury Arlo didn’t expect to see from a nobody.

  She didn’t break eye contact as she spoke, letting him know she was serious about the beatdown she wanted to deliver.

  He met her threat with a stony expression but internally he panicked at the thought a girl this short might actually do something. Arlo found himself unable to look her in the eye for much longer.

  ‘Ugh I didn’t even want to come to this city, now I’m getting threatened over donuts.’ He thought.

  “Whatever, enjoy your meeting.” Arlo said storming off, the bell at the entrance clinked, signifying he had left the bakery. The other patrons breathed a sigh of relief

  “Rubbish.” Aya muttered and sat back down. She released a frustrated breath, she really wanted to smack Arlo across the face but he left before she could raise her fist.

  “Wow, you really showed him.” Atlas said.

  “No, next time he should try me. The audacity of coming into a fine establishment such as this and causing trouble. The thought of it is making me so mad.”

  “Well don’t be so mad that you can’t finish your donuts.”

  “Well I can’t be that mad, but my tea is cold.” Aya pouted. Atlas signaled the waitress for more tea and soon a bubbly young woman hurried over with a steaming glass jug.

  “Thank goodness you asked that guy to leave miss.” she said. “I was worried this was going to be another gang thing.”

  “Oh, it’s no problem. I’ve had some encounters myself.” Aya said smiling. The waitress nodded and returned to her station.

  “What a day huh?” Aya said.

  “What a day indeed.”

  ----------

  Arlo stormed out of the bakery into the streets of Axen city, cursing the man and his friend who had made him look foolish. Who did she think she was? If this were Moon Valley he would find her and destroy her avatar!

  He fumed all the way to the ride he hailed from his phone and all the way back to the Easton Hotel he was staying at. He couldn’t wait to be done organizing the tournament so he could go back to Evangels.

  Arlo turned his nose up at the sights of the city, Axen’s luxury wasn’t even a thousandth of the beauty he experienced back home.

  “Ugh, I just want to leave already!” He groaned, resting his head on the car’s headrest. He closed it for a moment to calm down and think.

  Arlo’s eyes snapped open as he recalled the girl’s outfit. He sat up wracking his brain to figure out where he had seen that custom bomber jacket. A style so distinct one would remember it if they saw it again.

  Only one person he knew had that jacket tailored and It was Mars Seelim. She had worn it a few times around the headquarters over her jumpsuit, Arlo was there when she had it made. Even without the trinkets, there was no mistaking the piece of attire which meant...

  That girl knew Mars and she had kept it from him.

  He growled, grinding his teeth so hard he was sure he would chip a filling. She had watched him make a fool of himself asking Atlas Nue questions he clearly didn’t have the answer to.

  Then she had made a fool out of him by threatening him.

  Arlo gripped his white strands tightly from the anger that coursed through him. Whoever she was, he would find her and crush her.