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“You think I’m disgusting?”
“No! ...I think what they did is disgusting. To do that to... young boys, and you... I was always somewhat shocked that you had killed him, but now, I’m starting to understand what a sick, rotten bastard the previous Tiger was.”
Dante gently caressed her forearm, waiting for her to calm down. Eden couldn’t stand how emotionless he looked, again.
“...Aren’t you shocked?” she muttered. “This is about you.”
“The Dragon is good at trying to play mind games,” he calmly said.
“You know there has to be a bit of truth, though. Your headaches, and that data about the memory technology we found...”
“Does it change everything?”
His blunt question took her by surprise.
Eden looked at his sincere, unwavering, golden eyes. Dante didn’t hold an ounce of sadness, fear, or anger in them. He was staring right at her, as calm and composed as before, letting her decide how she handled the situation. Pretty badly, so far. Eden was still ashamed she had vomited. She tried to breathe in slowly.
Did it change everything for her? ...No, not really. Adam was still dead, and Dante was still Dante. Nothing would bring back the kind boy she had known, the one she had considered her older brother for so long. And Dante wouldn’t change, either. He was still there, with her. She let out a long sigh, trying to rationalize what she could. She had always known Dante was unique and a Part. In a way, they were a bit similar, with their broken, modified, and unnatural bodies. However, Eden was having a hard time processing everything… Perhaps the real monsters of this city weren’t on the other side of the wall but assembled in a room around a Chinese buffet.
“Eden.”
She realized she had remained silent for too long. Eden lifted her eyes, meeting Dante’s.
“We can talk about it,” he said.
“I’m not having this conversation on a toilet seat.”
“I won’t change. I’m still Dante, regardless of what that man did to me. I haven’t hidden anything from you.”
“Oh, so I guess we are having this conversation on a toilet seat...” she grumbled, looking away.
“Eden.”
She sighed, but Dante grabbed her hands.
“Eden, look at me.”
She obeyed, and his golden eyes instantly captivated her.
“I’ll do what you want.”
“...Do you find it strange?”
“What?”
“Your... infatuation with me. You’ve never acted like this with anyone else before, have you? Why me? You’re so... kind to me, and you treat everyone else like gum under your shoe. Well, except for maybe a couple of people. But you’ve always been too… strangely tolerant of me. And I did my best to piss you off a few times.”
“...You don’t like that I’m like that with you?”
“I like it. I’m just curious as to why. ...Don’t you find it odd?”
“...I did use you as a human shield once.”
“Seriously, now’s the time you’re going to admit that? ...For the record, that only happened once.”
“And you’re going to defend me?”
A smile appeared on Dante’s lips, which Eden helplessly mimicked despite a hint of annoyance. She sighed and opened her arms to lean against him, wrapping them around his shoulders. To her surprise, Dante grabbed her hips and lifted her up without any hesitation, although he grunted a bit.
