155 Change

Vixen sighed for a moment and then nodded his head. "I understand," he muttered as he began his walk up the flight of stairs, "this place is a bit stifling afterall."

Ace watched him walk past her before following after him, making sure to walk beside him. He hated it when someone walked behind him. She looked up at him curiously, trying to find something on the stoic expression his face was holding. 

"Are you not sad to hear that?" Ace asked, twirling the empty beer can in her hand. 

Vixen didn't bother to glance at her and shrugged. "What is there to be sad about? It's not like you'll be the first to leave. Neither will you be the last," Vixen chuckled, "I've seen enough people come and go to know when to let go."He turned to look at Ace briefly before turning back to the front. "I can see that it's time for you to leave."

Ace pouted, pretending to stagger a bit as they reached the last step before they reached the 3rd floor. "Ouch, you know you have these very harsh words… it makes it seem like you don't care about me at all.."

Vixen pursed his lips for a moment before continuing. "What made you think that I did?" he asked. 

Ace grinned, elbowing him in his waist, "I have known you for a while you know, can't fool me with those harsh words anymore. I'm very well immune to your harsh words." 

Vixen scoffed. "Yea yea, is that something you should be proud of?"

"Is it something you should be proud of if you say it enough for me to be able to get used to it?" Ace asked, "it shouldn't be a compliment you know?"

"Think of it as me being able to say whatever is on my mind without being concerned about whether or not it would be received well by the people who listen," Vixen shrugged, "it's not my obligation to check whether or not you're hurt by my words neither is it my obligation to be checking how hurt you are by the words that I say."

Ace smirked, throwing her arm over Vixen's shoulder. She laughed when he pulled out a tissue and pushed her arm off seconds after. "Said by a true arrogant being."

Vixen rolled his eyes as they continued down the hallway of the third floor. They sat in silence for a few moments as they walked down the hallway, both having things on their minds. Ones that needed to be said and others they would rather bury deep into their consciousness. 

"When will you be leaving?" Vixen asked. 

Ace immediately grinned, her eyebrows raising. "Are you asking to find out when you'll be wishing me off? I see you're concerned about me afterall since you're planning a farewell meeting and all."

Ace stared at Vixen for a moment before letting out a deep sigh, her hand ruffling her hair wildly. She chuckled when Vixen shifted away from her, clearly scared at whatever was in her hair that she was directing towards him. She gave him a little punch in the arm and smiled. "Sometimes you do need to filter your words though, I was a bit hurt by that one."

Vixen looked at her for a moment before nodded his head. "My apologies." 

Ace smiled, patting his back. That was one of the few things she liked about him. He was brutally honest, never hiding the truth for someone, never sugar coating. He knew how to give straight facts and nothing else. At the same time, he knew when to apologize for his words. He could tell when he went too far and immediately apologized for those moments. 

She snuck another glance at him. That of course, depending on whether he felt that that situation deserved an apology or not. 

Vixen glared at her. "Isn't that the 4th physical contact you've made to me after your warning?" he asked, his eyes narrowing, "getting a bit comfortable since you're going to leave now aren't you?" 

Ace smiled. "Oh please, it's not like a little contact is going to kill you."

"But your germs are," Vixen retorted. "Are you sure you're not doing anything else besides touching me?" his eyebrows raised suspiciously.

Ace stared at him blankly for a moment, wondering whether or not to take offense at that remark. She shrugged in the end and smirked, "Oh so now you know how to tease Mrs. Emotionless?" she teased back. "Don't worry, my days of trying to beg you into modeling for my clothing is over, I'll find a better model."

Vixen's eyes stayed on Ace for a moment before looking away. "Good."

"Your body will be missed though. You would have looked ravishing in one of my suits," Ace sighed, her shoulders dropping.

Vixen rolled his eyes. "Don't act like you're not satisfied with your new model. You're always bragging to me how good Adri looks in every single piece of clothing you make for her."

Ace's face revealed a smug smile as she puffed out her chest. "Damn right. Nobody knows my girl's proportions better than I do."

Vixen created a little distance between himself and Ace. "Too much information there," he muttered, slight disgust passing on his face. "I don't plan on getting images in my head, thank you very much. Keep your ideas in your mind."

Ace shrugged, "You're the one who thought that way, all I did was mere…" she muttered, her voice trailing off for a moment as she tried to find the right word. 

"Provocation," Vixen sighed, to which Ace giggled, a bright smile showing on her face. 

"Rightttt!! That word!" She exclaimed excitedly as she clapped her hands together, "that brain of yours is good for something afterall. Thank goodness those dictionaries you spent hours memorizing went into good use."

"No, it's just that I have a brain, to begin with," Vixen smirked, "having a dictionary only adds to previous knowledge."

"And NOW you're bragging?! Gosh, so many emotions have been shown in this one day," Ace exclaimed in slight mockery, "are you sure you're not turning human?"

Vixen paused. His steps slowly coming to a stop at Ace's words. She flinched when she noticed him stopping and immediately lowered her head. "Right… sorry." 

She walked a bit behind him when he started walking again, scolding herself by slamming her lips. 'This big mouth!' she scolded, 'always saying stuff without checking your words first! What happened to Adri's 'Think Before You Act' lessons??'

Vixen continued down the hallway, stopping abruptly once again. Ace, walking behind him, immediately walked into his back, her face hitting his firm shoulder blade muscles. She stumbled backward, her hand immediately touching her nose when it throbbed. 

"Hey?! What was that for?" Ace called out, her face twisting in slight annoyance and surprise. 

Vixen stared into her eyes for a moment, his gaze switching to her nose that she covered and then back to her eyes again. "Don't walk behind me," he muttered, his head turning back forward and continuing his way down the hallway. 

Ace stared at his back for a moment, a small smile forming on her face. She immediately caught up with Vixen and punched him in the shoulder again, jumping backward when his head snapped to face hers abruptly. She burst into laughter when she noticed the frustrated expression on his face and slowly put her guard down when he looked away in a huff.

They continued down the hallway, eventually reaching their destination. The little staff room on the floor next to the bathroom and the entrance to the security room. There, Vixen dropped Ace off. 

"Make sure you do well this time!" Ace shouted, her hand shooting into the air in a fist, "you got this!"

Vixen scowled at her for a bit before sighing, a slight smile on his face. "You're being too loud."

Ace grinned, "That's just a part of my personality," she remarked, her volume reducing a bit. She waved him goodbye, turning to enter the staff room. She was about to disappear behind the door when Vixen called her name.

"Ace," He called out in a tone that was neither loud nor soft, it was commanding. Just like his gaze.

She flinched, trembling a bit as she turned to face him. "Yea?" she asked. 

Vixen looked away, beginning his walk down the hallway. "Don't forget to put ice on your nose. You don't want it to bruise."

Ace chuckled, waving goodbye at him. "Got it!" she grinned, turning around and heading into the staff room. It was her shift next. 

Vixen headed a bit down the hallway before entering the elevator and pressing the 4th-floor button He waited a bit, once again avoiding the stare he felt coming from a corner in the elevator. 

Immediately after the ding of the elevator, he walked out into the fourth floor and took a deep breath, heading towards the employee room. There was something he needed to change.