Archive of Our Own

Gears move, the clock ticks, the water droplets fall, the canvas show a green lustrous scenary... Fate binds all, choosing who experiences and see their passage, who sees them and name them. It is said those who see the future see the consequences of their actions, but those actions were under the tight ropes of fate. Seeing the future is not seeing the consequences of actions done by free will, but learning what is bound to happen. What was already to be.

Moving freely is truly a blessing, yet it would result in the falter of coordination of the gear, and the clock to break, and the waves of the oceans be unable to guide the sailors, and the people to not reach who they should have reached. All of them faltering in marking a experience to something or someone. Thus we conclude that it is better to surrender to the arbiters of fate, ensuring no falter in the grand machination fails.

Free will creates the illusion of coincidences, making patterns one could see and claim it as obvious. Yet, one can play the game in certain ways, moving the pieces away from such patterns, ensuring that the illusion persists. Long enough until the board of the game reaches the definite end.

This is why free will doesn't exist and maybe why it shouldn't, yet... the child broke free from its egg.

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'I will match her at the level she created, and I will tell her my feelings. I will respond to her honestly, though I’m scared of what that truth entails. What is it like to love someone? To be with someone?'

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It was one day after since he made that submission to the Tales of the Thumb for the Monthly Thumb-through issue. The child had submited a most peculiar submission, an unique one. Different from his other peers that had submitted for the issue showing their diligence and obedience, he had showed his fluttering of wings unbroken. Freedom. The child had met a young woman, Don Quixote. Since their first meeting, he continued to use his break time for his work in the syndicate to hear he stories, to talk with her, to see her saccharine smile... That beautiful simple smile.

That led him to learn, to learn that there is something outside the syndicate, that maybe he could find love, that maybe he could forget his Mistake that left him alive. And since the day she declared to him, the child seeing that there was the monthly issue, made a submission using what he learned from his sun, her.

Starting his work at the syndicate, nothing was out of the ordinary that day. The same gathering to start the day, with the superior levels making a speech and all of them with their heads hung low, for apprehension of disrespecting the superior and making a Mistake. Like always, the child listened like an unhatched chick following its mother, with some form of awe. But there was a difference today. Different from other times, there was some loss of his enthusiasm. He didn't know why.

After the speech, like always, there's the Congregazione. It's a short break, where the Soldatos talk between each other before their missions and affairs of the Syndicate. Like always, he was alone. Yet, different from the many times, he didn't feel so lonely. The stares were still there, the hushed talks behind his back and ears, and the stares and whispers felt different. And yet, he still found safety in her, the sun.

With the end of the gathering, he continued to the training the Syndicate provided for its Soldatos. Lately, these trainings have gone more demanding, the child speculated maybe that the syndicate is preparing this section of the Syndicate for a mission against another Syndicate. But to prepare against another syndicate meant it could rival The Thumb. The child didn't dwell on this line of thought too much.

The Thumb, at least in this section, had phases for its training. First was the simulation of battles, where Soldatos would battle each other in a non-lethal combat, taking most of the time of the phases due to the change of partners after each combat. Second phase was the evaluation of the superiors and combat partners, which because of those two different analysis it could be considered two different phases, but they happened simultaneously.

Almost reaching the end of the second phase, he was, with his knowledge gained from her, explaining to two of his peers from the combat training that had also been recently promoted to Soldato II. It was close range combat situations with the musket against more experienced fighters, using his knowledge he gained to tell how to analyse the next move of the opponent, how to counter certain actions, how to dodge, in the same professional voice he used, a dull and one that showcased extreme obedience. Because of this, he started getting that same feeling in his chest, wondering the same thing: her sweet, saccharine smile.

The child never allowed these reccuring thoughts to obscure his effiency while working, but perhaps today his mind was weaker. For a moment, his mind went blank, with the only exception being her name engraved in his mind and heart, in a link never broken.

And peharps because of this single moment, he noticed his two peers with a 'odd' expression.

Flustered, the child tried to dismiss his blinding thoughts and maintain his professional posture. He continued on with his explanation, but each time the thought resufarced and each time it was harder to dismiss it. Then it was their time evaluating, explaining things that he had already learned from her and was improving himself on. And so the time that a superior to evaluate them came, there wasn't one. The child thought it was strange, after all the superiors never lacked in their sense of ponctuality when evaluating the soldatos.

Waiting alongside the other two combat peers, the answer came to him in his peripheric vision. Althought through the child's vision most were taller than him, the man towered over all. This was perhaps the tallest man he ever seen. Shifting his gaze and looking at the ground, the child waited for the man to reach him. A Law of Respect followed.

When he reached, the child could note a few more details about that man. He was a Soldato I, with a steel jaw prostethic. Albeit taller than all people the child has seen, the Soldato I had his shoulders dropped, as if to embrace himself and hide in a blanket from the outside world. Perhaps, due to his Mistake, he thought.

"Emi Sinpai, Khoppkhet?" The man was unable to correctly pronounce the child's name.

The child quickly noticed this and understood that he had his tongue cut. 'Another Mistake... I won't make one, i promised.' The child while maintaining his gaze on the ground, slowly nodded.

"Yes." He spoke with his professional tone.

Perhaps it was sympathy, or empathy, or the simple fact that it had brought bad memories, the Soldato had continued with a meek tone and his inability to pronounce certain phonemes. "Our Capo IIII, Meursault, has wished for you to attend to his office."

The child slowly nodded once again. With this, he paid respect to both the Soldato I and his combat peers a bow, a common gesture of the district, and departed from the training grounds. He continued and entered the main building.

Following a path of corridors, he continued walking towards the office of the Capo. While on his way, he found the Mistake Room, also known as the Punishment Room. It was the room where, while in some of the days where he marched to the superiors to make reports of his cigarette mission transports, heard many anguish sounds.

It was also the room where Mistakes were permanently painted on your body.

He finally reached the office of Meursault Capo IIII.

Capo IIII Meursault, his Capo, was a man that showed no visible emotions in his expressions. His voice followed that, with a rhythm of someone dictating a book to someone, as one guide would tell someone the rules. And his voice, even if devoid of emotion, still showed some form of passion and confidence towards working with the Syndicate, using the rhythm of a guide with a rulebook as a form of ensuring the most ettiquete and order in the Syndicate. It was one of his traits that most notted, his given importance to ettiquete and order, being one of the Capos who gives most seriousness to the self-mutilation law, ensuring himself and others. Being the one that made most of the lower levels lose parts of their body, mostly the tongue and jaw, even if he was the newest promoted to Capo.

Indeed, he was comemorated by his superiors as a true symbol of the refinement of the Syndicate.

And the child wanted to be like him in the future, to grow in the syndicate and become stronger. Stronger for her. Stronger to forget.

The child, following the laws of respect, knocked on the door of the office three times. He made two steps back and averted his gaze from the door to look at the ground, waiting for the permission to enter. Two laws of respect followed.

A voice devoid of emotions exited the office "You may enter."

The child entered the room after being given permission. He opened the door, made only two steps in and closed the door. He then continued looking at the ground. Another two laws of respect inside the Syndicate followed.

The room had the same pattern the syndicate created, a red wine with golden accents, with some few minimalist decorations - that even if minimalist, showed refinement. Most of the objects inside the room had a efficient finality, being closely related to the personality of this Capo IIII. The couch - placed in the front of the desk of the Capo - was a red velvet, only for the esteemed guests of the Syndicate. Not even Capos are to be allowed to sit. The desk of the Capo had a small lamp, a elegant black pen with the symbolf of the mafia engraved in gold and a black book. These details were only possible to see because of his peripheral vision, in which he tried his best to limit.

The Capo was behind the desk, siting on his chair with one leg over the other in a proud passionate manner. "Puffff" the sound of a sophisticated cigar cloud leaves the lungs of the Capo, ending the silence that added weight to the back and neck of the other Child. The Chained Child was contemplating while smoking the cigar.

Perhaps the Capo was planning. Yes, not thinking. The Unemotional Child was known for his acts of cold-thinking that mostly were for the good of the Syndicate, simulating various consequences for actions, various plans, various ettiquete rules that had to be demanded for his lower levels, his peers and himself. Because of this, the other child waited standing for the next order, in a standing form followed by the Syndicate. Feet toguether, head lowered looking at the ground, bayonet resting on his left shoulder and arms near his body. Another Law of Respect followed.

"Take the chair and put it behind the couch. You may sit. As a promising Soldato, i musn't remind you: for this consultation, you are obliged to follow the procedures and laws. Answer me when i only ask you the questions. Most fall these requisites and have their tongues cut or bodies deposed." The words from the other Child are still devoid of emotion, but showed harsh consequences from failling to follow the philosophy of the world of dark.

The Child followed the orders as always. He made no sound while taking the chair and putting it in place, following another Law of Respect. Doing so, the child put his bayonet horizontally on his lap, with his two hands in the center of the bayonet holding it. Another Law of Respect fulfilled.

The Unemotional Child looked at the ceiling after the other had sited. He was still inmersed in his own plans. And his plans were on how to make this consultation with the other child. Mayhaps the other Child had noted this and chose to ignore, or simply had given up on making any thoughts when entering the room. Blasphemy against the syndicate was a Mistake. Thoughts on your superiors was a Mistake. And Mistakes aren't allowed.

While looking at the ceiling, the Chained Child spoke "What do you think of The Thumb?"

The child wasn't expecting this, in truth, he was expecting nothing. He was devoid of any thought after all. He was a bit reluctant for a few seconds and then answered in his professional tone.

"Capo Signore, The Thumb is where I can be special. It was some time since i joined The Thumb and they've saved me when i was at my worst. I have my utmost gratitude towards The Thumb." Do not dwell too much on the subject, minimum of thirty words, maximum of a hundred twenty words and pay respect by saying their ranks followed by Signore. Three procedures followed part of the Law of Respect "Follow the procedures your Superiors order". Each Capo and their superiors has procedures, each being different from each other, nevertheless important learning each one for respecting them. And honorifics said, a Law of Respect for all of your superiors. Three Procedures and two Laws of Respect honored.

"Hmm... Indeed you are worth and promising Soldato." He hummed and expressed a gratitude vacant in the emotions one would show when expressing it.

The Child Bowed. Gratitudes, even if expressed by superiors, aren't meant to be replied. Only are if the Superior says so. Due to that, bows are used to reply to the gratitude.

"...While it may appear unmannerly, this is, after all, my office; I do not believe my subsequent request goes against any reason. May i have your permission to continue indulging in the cigar?"

The Child replied with small voice: "Capo Signore, Yes". Questions of yes or no are to be replied with a small voice. Another Law of Respect honored. All yes or no questions are to be replied "Yes", another procedure that most superiors had is followed. It is a Mistake to not let your superior to indulge in their own offices, to not let them savor their own pleasures. If the child didn't know this or not, didn't matter, he replied "Yes".

Meursault then removed his gaze from the ceiling, now looking at the Child. "What do you think of your superiors?" He smoked the cigar and let out a small puff.

"Capo Signore, low-ranking Soldatos like us are always prone to making so many Mistakes, since we're still in the learning stage. And our superiors, Grazie, help us and teach us well. If i may, Capo Signore, i'm thankfull and i can attribute much of our grow thanks to Signore." Using you to refer to your superiors and peers is a Mistake. One must use signore for superiors and the ranks for peers. Another Law of Respect unbroken.

Meursault was silent for a exact minute. Looking at the child until he spoke again.

"... Why did you join The Thumb?"

The weariness in his heart grew by each question, but sucessfuly he dismissed every thought or feeling. he gripped lightly more the bayonet on his lap. "Capo Signore, The Thumb is where I can be special. It is also where i can get stronger for myself and The Thumb." The Child replied

Meursault nodded, seeming as if pleased by his answers until now.

"Now this mark as my final question for the consultation."

"Have you ever made any Mistake?" Through the entire consultation, there was this silence between the questions and the subsequent answers. The silence was heavy, palpable to be the alike the weight of a corpse. Now, this question didn't increase the weight of the silence, but added to the feeling of being nearby a real corpse, a dread of seeing the death of one where one could think to themselves "Would i be the next one?". The Child didn't think he made any Mistakes, he followed every Law of Respect and Procedure, so he replied with his belief.

"Capo Signore, No."

There wasn't a immediate reply of Meursault yet again, he allowed the silence to linger for a time the Child didn't count. He picked up the pen and made the sound of click two times.

"... Mm... You may have the day off. You can leave now, the consultation is over." Meursault said while looking at the pen.

The child got up from his sit and bowed to the Capo. Then, he removed the chair and put it back in its place. Doing so, he got to the door, opened it, took two steps out of the room, closed the room. During these entire steps, unbeknownst to the child, he was holding his breath. He let it out, removing the feeling of dread of that room.

'Did i make a Mistake? No, they made me take a day off.' Even if the child debated himself in his head, the thought was already there and it would linger, desperately knotting itself to his being.

He didn't let his thoughts stop him. He started walking towards exiting the syndicate area and head towards where he always had when going to his breaks.

'Maybe i can make this day more special to her...'

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The day was very sunny, perhaps an illusion created by the child anxiously thinking about seeing her. With the possibility of maybe spending more time with her, the child was thinking about all sorts of plans with her. All things he could do with her, maybe even tell his feelings to her, tell about her how sweet was her smile. His mind was indeed weaker that day, maybe due to restricting his thoughts on her on the work. The only cure for that was the same person who caused it.

If one were to look more ahead in the sky, although, there was the formation of some dark and grey clouds. It seemed today could rain. The child noted this.

'Maybe i could buy a umbrella today while we go shopping?'

The child followed the same steps he did on the first day he met her. With skipping steps, a loose and yet tense body, he continued walking. His heart was at his throat, his mind at his heart and his eyes the cameras for envisioning the near future and far future. It was strange look for passersby, a member of The Thumb with a smile, a smile that could show the emotions passing through him. Even stranger, his head hung high, looking forward.

The child thought ahead of himself, with every moment he tried to dismiss while at the Syndicate being tenfold now. To see her smiles created by her soft lips, tinted rosely that matched her cheeks, that he wished he could taste the sugary texture. The joyful laughter that made him laugh together with her, that made him to be present with her, that made him remember the warm light rays of the sun and the reflecting light of the moon that made him join her in the puddles of the street. The amber eyes, the ones that stripped him and held him, caressing him in attention. The voice, a loud that yet only was for him, to be listened by him and to hear his. Wings forgive him for his dirty mind, but he was daydreaming everything of her and showing it outwardly with his naive love expression.

To love...? To be with someone? Was it finally his time to do so after running without rest from his Mistakes? It was hard understanding that feeling, to even began comprehending how it started, yet it was the only thing the Child could think it was. Perhaps has he waited enough to find happiness. To finally crack the shell free and fly, to be greeted with the warm morning sun.

While in thought, it was broken by the sound of chaos. It wasn't uncommon to hear so in late of morning. People fought for the right of having a lunch break all the time. The difference was how these sounds came in the alleyway, not the food stall, being behind the trash cans.

"Shit! We shouldn't be dealing with this. Let's get out!"

"Wouldn't it be better if we called someone?"

"And make a group try to hitmark our heads, dumbass?"

Against his better judgement, the child walked closer to the alleyway. Before being able to ask what happened, his shadow was cast over the three figures in the alleyway, blocking the little light from reaching it. Because of that, one of them spotted it and shouted

"They're back, fuck!"

"Excuse us! We aren't part of this!"

"Forgive us, we didn't mean to intrude!"

Like rats, they ran away as if seeing a predator. This caused the Child to be more confused as to these reactions. Going further into the alleyway, he soon smelt a horrible smell that was common in his line of work. Blood.

It was a corpse of a young woman, tied to her wrists and ankles. Her body had multiple holes created by the special bullets The Thumb used, with the smell of gunpowder and smoke leaving from them. In her clothes, there was a small ticket, a business card. Taking more closer steps, he took it in his hands he read: "Cinq East Association. Fixer: Melissa"

Usually, the Child in his work would do errands for The Thumb. Having to kill a few enemies of the Syndicate while doing missions of protecting transportation of cigarettes made by The Middle. When he first began, it was hard looking at the corpses of the dead enemies, he felt empathy. But as the time progressed working for The Thumb, he lost the empathy for said enemies. He then lost the empathy for the people who disrespected The Thumb, a Mistake. If those people joined The Thumb - the Child thought - they would make Mistakes and consequentially lose their jaws or tongue, maybe even more. And then, common people, the ones who didn't fear making Mistakes, he also lost empathy for them. Why could they make Mistakes? Mistakes are fatal. And finally, he also lost empathy for himself after that grave Mistake he did in his town.

Yet, this was different. This person clearly made a Mistake against The Thumb from what he understood. And yet there was this nagging thought. A thought that made him scared. A thought that made him torture himself. A thought that made him forget his entire engraved philosophy of The Thumb, a blasphemy that would be considered a Mistake by The Thumb. And he didn't care at that moment. "... What if she had someone she wanted to meet? What if the Mistake was that that someone put her in the first place?"

He shut down this thought immediately. He couldn't make a Mistake. He couldn't repeat a Mistake. He did a Mistake a long time ago, and he lived, and he must repent for his sins by not making another.

And still yet... He couldn't but feel empathy for her and for the people that are gonna suffer for her.

He left the alleyway, distracting himself by feeling this bubbling sensation inside of his chest. In the end of the street there was the restaurant, just thinking about it made he be reminded of the fragrance of the food and her. Decorated in brown, gold and red, the restaurant followed the culture of the district. With some tables and chairs outside the establishment with some guests today. Today it seemed that because the chance of raining, there were few costumers. He hoped that nevertheless she was still here always, to even shine in the most dark days.

And there she was,

waiting for him.

Don quixote.

She was waiting for him already on one of the tables. She quickly noticed him and showed that smile. That large and bright smile with gentle sparkles on her eyes he could see at a distance. The sweetest thing he could ever think of. Because of that, he without thinking was already approaching her and took one of the seats opposite to her.

She was a young woman, apparently the same age as him and who was a few centimeters taller than him. Her hair was cut in a bob cut, with atop of the hair was a small blue hat. She was wearing the same coat over her shoulders and the blue dress that clung tightly to her figure, accentuating most of her curves. His eyes wandered more over more, and then he started looking at her face. He could see her amber eyes hidden behind the sunglasses, her delicate lineaments of nose and slight roundness of the cheeks. She has somehow fell in love with him. And... Her smile was a sweet mischievous grin now.

"Prithee, art thou enraptured by mine body and face, Cariño?" She leaned herself forward, using her right hand to push her sunglasses down to gaze into him with her amber eyes and asked in a mischievous tone.

"Hrk- I- I wasn't! I was... uh." His entire face was in a red shade, feeling a entire burst of flames. He covered his faces with his two hands, sensing her gaze. He now learned that he was looking at her for too long and didn't say anything. He couldn't try to say he wasn't as he saw that she knew. He had to stay calm and make a deflection.

"I... I was looking at you respectfully?" he spoke in a uncertain tone. It was too noticeable.

Sheiße!

He couldn't see, but he heard the joyous laughter of her. Without a ounce of cruelty, she laughed greatly amused by this. He could already imagine her smile and her face, even if he couldn't see because of his hands.

He uncovered both of them just to see that smile.

It was beautiful, he just wished he could kiss it.

He quickly said a apologize before he could get entranced again into looking at her. "Sorry... i-"

"Thou dost not disrespect me. 'Tis the same when mine gaze falls unto you." She leaned back and made her sweet smile, watching as the Child becomes more red and hides again his face.

'She does the same?' She said she loved him, but the child didn't yet understand. What did love make you do? He had many thoughts about her, many thoughts he classified as dirty, but did she have the same? Did he love her? He knew the answer, the more he talked to her, the more he, somehow, fell in love with her.

From behind the hands, the child mumbled "I was actually going to say i just find you too beautiful." He removed his hands and looked at her again. Now the turn who was flustered was Don Quixote. She averted her gaze from him, but he could see that her face was flushed.

"You're beautiful too." Don quixote spoke while maintaining her averted gaze.

A silence was created. Different from the times he was in the Syndicate, it wasn't consuming him in dread and apprehension of Mistakes. It was fresh, like resting his head on a tree and sleeping under it. He could see it was the same for her. Both of them were looking at each other, smiling. Smiling, something he never did during work, but around her. And again, he always loved that smile.

After this, they did what they always did. She had already asked for food, so they ate together and spoke about various things. She started talking about the tales of heroism of fixers, some tales, some stories from her line of work, tales from her companions at the association, her own stories as a fixer, topics the child never heard about. Everything just fascinated him again, no matter how much time he talks with her, he gasps at turns of stories, becomes happy at parts of the stories, sometimes sad. She also lets him talk about himself, some fresh stories he got after he started listening more from his peers at the Syndicate.

They were reaching the end of their conversation. While, if it were his normal break, it would've reached its end, but now he had the whole day off. The Child started biting his thumb and then spoke to her

"Don quixote... Do you want to go on a date with me again? It is my day off... so..."

"Yes! Cariño!" Her voice boomed and suddenly a flash of yellow stormed off, picking up him by his wrist and taking him off the chair.

"What about the-" She didn't left him finish and put one of her fingers ahead of his lips. "Shh, Cariño, today marks us our adventurous date! Thou have said so."

She tugged him to exit the restauraunt. While at that, he moved his gaze behind him, seeing the plates they left behind in the table. Because of that, he saw the owner of the restauraunt, an old man, giving him the thumbs-up and the smile.

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"Cariño, What dost thou have in mind for our date?" She said with her gentle sparkly eyes and sweet smile

"I... I think we could go get ice cream?" The child spoke timidly, with a lightly flushed face. Even if he did already go on date with her and talked with her every single of his breaks, he still couldn't not get abashed by this. Today was even worse, his mind seemed to be weaker today.

Laws of Respect: You shouldn't look to your superiors face.

Before he was to look at her face, his mind was struck by this: "I can't make a Mistake, i promised."

"Art thou alright?" Don Quixote spoke softly, with concern evident in her voice. She noticed on how he was about to look at her and then averted his gaze, not on embarassment, but on fear?

"I- I am alright, yeah. I think we could get ice cream first?" The child thought simultaneously 'Why couldn't i look at her face? I need to.'

Thinking so, the child tried to look at his sides to see her, but before he could so she was in his face looking at him. At this distance, he could note everything about her, to look better at her sweet smile and her sparkling eyes that grew at the mention of ice cream. Being this close to him, her breath tickled his face, bringing him back to reality more red than a lobster.

"IIIIICE CREAAAAM! I love IIIICE CREAAAM! Thou dost knowest how to make a knight delighted, Emil~ Thou sure that you haven't court a lady before?"

If it was possible for one to become redder, probably the first one to be would be the him. She hasn't distanced herself and added to that she said those words. She said his first name affectionately and teased him.

He changed his gaze to look at his right, being unable to answer her to how flustered he was. If he tried, he would've stuttered like a wreck. With this, he hear the bells of an angel, her laughter.

Honestly, he couldn't help but try watch her laughter, to see her face and beauty again.

They continued walking to go to the place the Child had proposed to get ice cream. He had heard from some stray word. It had many kinds of flavors, so he wouldn't worry as to it not having the one she had.

Laws of Respect: You shouldn't make physical contact with your superiors.

He wanted to. Yet he didn't know why he didn't take her hand while walking toguether with her.

They eventually found the place. It was small estabilishment compared to the restauraunt. Entering it, inside there no customers, with only the owner behind the counter waiting with a newspaper.

Laws of Respect: speak professionaly, be professional.

"Hello, could we get ice cream?" He spoke using the same tone he used at work, with minimal emotion, only expressing passion and awe for the Syndicate at necessary times.

The child could swore that he saw that Don Quixote had made a small frown.

"Huh?" The man took off the newspaper from his hands at looked at them, his gaze lingered more on him before looking at the newspaper again. "Didn't know The Thumb liked ice cream, neither that their members could get girlfriends."

Laws of Respect: speak professionaly, be professional. This was the first Mistake he made.

"We-" Flustered, the child tried to answer that she wasn't his girlfriend, but he cut himself off he could. That was what he wished right? Not only that, but more.

"What flavor you want, Donqui...?" He looked at his right only to see her already seeing different flavor. She was jumping like a energetic child who had too much sugar and who will have too much sugar. She was already saying to herself many flavors, imagining their taste and how would they look like.

Laws of Respect: think professionally. Blasphemy against your peers, superiors and The Thumb is a Mistake. This is the second Mistake he did.

He made a small chuckle seeing her like that. He always loved her energetic nature, her liveliness. He wished he could stay toguether with her the entire day and every day. The Child noticed this line of thought entered in direct conflict with his alignment with The Thumb, but he chose to ignore, yet.

She chose sundae, a type of dessert that just by looking at it, the he thought was too sweet. It had three different flavors, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. Sprinkled with a few chocolate bars, whipped cream and small cut pieces of fruits, it was covered by syrup. It was a total clash of different flavors toguether to join a suggary union that maybe even children wouldn't dare to eat.

For him, he didn't know much about ice cream. So he chose a random one, vanilla ice cream in cone. He paid for both of them.

Inside this dessert shop was some tables to the side of the window. She took her sit before him, already with sparkle in her eyes looking at her sundae. She giggled and squealed looking at the sundae. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to capture this beautiful image and store forever in his mind, to replay and replay in it. This was a unforgettable memory, like many others he had wit her. Perhaps every time he was with her was an unforgettable memory.

Laws of Respect: You shouldn't make physical contact with your superiors. This was the third Mistake he did.

He took his seat beside her so he could stay close to her. He always wished he could stay closer to her since that day and this was an opportunity. He let his bayonet sit on the side of the table on a while.

Laws of Respect: Never drop your weapon, always pay respect to it. Fourth Mistake.

He moved his eyes to her after setting the bayonet, his first friend, and looked at her and he noticed she was looking at him. She had a red shade over her face. She was blushing for the sudden contact they're now having. The chairs of the table weren't separated, making so one sitted at your side your bodies were touching each other.

He offered a small smile towards her. This flustered her even more, making her change her gaze to look at the sundae, hoping that maybe the food makes her less flustered.

So they ate toguether. They shared their own desserts and feeding each other. Indeed, her sundae was too sugary for him, but he still ate with her, because he didn't want her to think he wasn't enjoying being with her and also... that the food tasted better with her. Eventually they ended their respective food, but suddenly.

"Aha! Thou got a small sweet crumb on your nose!" Don Quixote with one of her hands lifted it up and got close to the Child's face. She then with her index finger swipe over some of the vanilla that was in his nose. With this, she slowly retracted the hand and ate the sweet crumb of vanilla. She smiled.

Because the sun lowered enough for its light to travel through the window, her smile shined. The shadows around him grew deeper and the only thing he could focus on was her, her smile. It was the sweestest thing, simple, but conveyed her true emotions without hiding them, not afraid nor apprehensive of making Mistakes. Since they first met, that was the thing he desired, to always see that joyful sweet smile that she only showed for him. And now, because of the suns light travelling, it looked like she was an angel with fiery rings and a halo. No, perhaps she was the sun itself. She gave him warmth he could never feel even in an open field and the brightest day glowing to him, it not only was felt in his outside, but inside his chest. That bubbling feeling.

He was entranced in this image, another image that he wouldn't forget about her.

"Art thou well? Emil?" He didn't notice how much time he was enchanted by this, but he was reminded abruptly of reality by her. He noticed that a single tear was now passing through his cheek.

"You're my sun... how do you give so much warmth to me?" The Child blurted mind absently, charmed by everything about her. He only noticed what he said after Don Quixote had blushed once again. This time, however, she kept her gaze on him and still smiled like that. They stayed like that for an eternity, for what the child felt.

"Donqui, want to go to a fixer shop? This time you guide me." The Child never believed or knew when he would be able to speak this softly, to smile and reply to someone's smile and to call someone an affectionate nickname.

Her eyes sparkled with that idea. He picked up his bayonet and they quickly left the dessert shop.

Laws of Respect: You shouldn't make physical contact with your superiors.

Seeing the opportunity and her guiding him, he intertwined both of their hands.

She quickly noted this and started humming a song, pleased by them holding hands. He didn't know when, but he also started humming that song toguether with her, making a perfect fifth resonance.

With her as a guide, they quickly found a fixer shop. It was something he heard from her, but never actually saw a shop only designed for the purposes of selling fixer merchandise. She hurriedly, upon seeing the shop, pulled him into entering the shop.

Surprisingly, the shop was bigger than the restaurant they always ate together. Inside there were various sections containing the fixer merchandise, some for clothing, some for the shirt pins, books, plushies and figurines. He remembered that in her apartment there was a huge fixer collection, one he didn't imagine that it was that big, even if she told him. The Child thought it could be one of the fixer shops she usually goes to buy for her fixer collection.

This confirmation was done by none other than the owner, who seemed to know her.

She dragged him along, maintaining their intertwined hands. She showed him various of the figures she already owned, explaining their stories to them and who they were. It was another thing he was reminded of, he wanted to know from her the stories of the collection she owned. She continued with her stories, sparkling her eyes. And like an audience, he listened to her as she was everything he paid attention to. Like all of the stories she told him, he listened with awe, gasping at every twist, being sad for the emotional occurrences and happy for the good inside the story. She also told him about the pins, the references jokes on some of the shirts and books.

One of the things that happened was that she particularly saw one figurine.

"OOOOOOOOOH! Is that the limited edition Siegfried #3?!" Don Quixote quivered in excitement seeing that figurine. Although she quickly noticed something, the price. Even with her cinq association pay, this was going to cost some contracts, so she would have to work diligently to earn so she could buy this. Her enthusiasm quickly melt down. She quickly regained her enthusiasm back so she could explain before he noticed anything.

Seeing that, the Child allowed her to continue her story telling.

When she was done with the stories, she bought a few books and pins from the store.

She pulled him by his hand again, expecting to already leave the store when she felt a tug of him to look. She made a confused expression and looked at him. She didn't know when, but he now had a small bag in his free hand and an umbrella in his waist. She also saw that the store owner made a small chuckle at this scene.

"Donqui, i noticed how you wanted that figure so... i- i figured you'd like it." The Child showed her the bag and inside it contained the limited edition Siegfried #3.

Don Quixote squealed in excitement upon seeing that. Almost immediatly, in gratitude, she used their intertwined hands to close the gap between them and hug him.

"Thou ask what i see in thee, 'tis is just one of many reasons." She moved her head closer to his ears and whispered. Afterwards, she leaned back, making a small distance between their faces. They looked at each other for a timeless moment, one that, not only would persevere unforgettable in the Child's mind, but in hers too. In reality, it wasn't only the Child that made sure to capture all of these moments they were together, but also her.

They separated themselves from the hug and hurridly left the store so it wouldn't become a public display and awkward for the owner of the store. The Child was less sure than her on this, after all, he saw the owner chuckling seeing that scene. Nevertheless, the day continues and the sun warms him.

They kept walking around the district, talking to each other and holding each other hands. The Child couldn't but just learn that everyday that he spent with her were his best days. The Child was becoming more sure every second he spent with her that he was in love with her, that these warm sensations he got from her were far brighter than the stars she told him, that they were far more welcoming than a perfect sunny day - that is, hot enough to make you join the light rays and cold enough to not hurt you - and he wished he could make wings and fly to her, the sun. To... escape the world he has created of dark and to go to her world, the world of light.

The sun had lowered and the moon shined. The clock ticked 8 in the night.

He had a final destination in mind for both of them. A park.

Before he was promoted and met her, he had small breaks which rarely occured. These small breaks led him to find this park. It was simply a spark compared to the district, but it held the memories of his home town seeing the green so close. It held the memories of his Mistakes, that unfortunally, left him the only person alive. Something that shouldn't have happened. So he made this park a vow, a vow to never make Mistakes, to become the strongest in the Syndicate.

But now, he wasn't here for the memories of his Mistakes. The Child didn't forget, however, it was here for a different reason. It was to forge a new memory, a new vow - even if secret - to her. His Mistakes are unforgotten in his mind, he still has no empathy for himself, but just maybe, maybe someone else could feel empathy for him, someone else could forgive him... someone else could love him.

Laws of Respect: always put The Thumb as primary needs, any other are useless. This Mistake wasn't the sixth Mistake, nor was it the first. Was it a Mistake?

So he told her. He told her about his true first Mistake. He lived.

He had lived after making that Mistake and yet received no punishment, no consequence. It was a true Mistake, because if he had gotten punishment, if it was only him, then maybe everything that happened wouldn't and he would've been able to forgive himself, would've been able to not fall under the world of darkness, to hatch into a little chick and fly towards the morning sun. So he told her. His family, his insecurities about prosthetics, kromer, their death, his nightmares and when he encoutered The Thumb. The truth is, he joined The Thumb because they promised something that he thought was impossible: To be strong enough to protect what he wished to. To be strong to protect, to be someone significant again, relevant.

And he told her.

And lastly, before she could make an answer, to forgive him, to tell he didn't make any Mistakes.

"... Don Quixote, i- I want to protect you! I still don't know if i love you and if i can answer you, but... b- but i think i am... becoming sure. And i want to have you always by my side so i can tell you the answer."

"Emil Sinclair..." She didn't continue further, she hugged him again with fierce force, driving him to be near him without any separation. And with the same affection she had, with the same smile she always gave him, with the same love, she said: "I love thee, thank thee. Prithee dost not blame yourself."

"Have you ever made any Mistake?"

"Yes"

These echoes passed through the Child mind. He answered no, he thought he didn't make any Mistakes. Yet it was a fleeting thought that died after he had answered "no", he knew the answer since then. The Child chose to ignore it, however he knew he did. He made many Mistakes, he made the Mistake of putting her first than the Syndicate. Then why? Then why they gave him a day off? Panic entered the Childs mind when he understood: They wanted to kill her. That was the consequences of this Mistake.

In the restauraunt, there were shadows listening to them.

While going to the dessert store, there were shadows following them.

While at the fixer store, there were shadows observing them.

The world of dark followed him no matter what. The Eggs shadows always tried to eat him whole, to break his flight.

And finally, there were shadows lingering some distance ahead of the park.

Perhaps because the Child noticed them, the shadows clad in red and golden moved out of their spots. The shadows weren't planning to attack them, only learning who was the person the Child put first against the syndicate and then finally kill her in the night and dispose her body at an alleyway near the restauraunt. A fitting punishment for the Mistake, after all, the bayonet eater considered her more important than himself.

The Child quickly warned her and both of them entered in a clash with the forces of the Shadows. There were 6, one of them was a Soldato Primo, ordering these forces and having taken the same authority as an Capo temporarily for this mission. The Child always wanted to see her battle and this was the perfect oportunity to do so.

He wanted to see how similar were their fighting styles. Perhaps because of their closeness and knowledge and information sharing, they would have a similar fighting style. Truly, it was somewhat similar, but hers was something he could only be mesmerized by watching while fighting his portion of the shadows. She was like the sun, she was protecting him from an total clash of six against one, it was like how the sun provided warmth to the egg who lacked the mother to hatch it. And so, the sun, in its most brightest form, even when lowered, even when outshined by the moon in the darkest night, shined. Shined brighter than ever.

One. Two. Three

Four. Five.

Six.

The shadows disappeared, they feared the sun, as it was their mortal enemy. They were of the World of Dark and the Sun shined above it, destroying completly them.

It started raining. Yes, the Child was correct. The Dark clouds that once seemed far away, that seemed to be pushed back by the clear and limpid sky, were now above them, shuddering their strong winds and rain. One drop of water fell on the leafs of a plant in the park, it then with its balance of the leaf, removed it, pouring it on the grass and feeding themselves and the ground. The rain took out the smell of the blood of the shadows and replaced it with the calm smell of dirt. A unforgettable memory.

After the clash of light and dark, the Child and Don Quixote returned close. The Child had noticed she was frowning because of the rain, maybe because of many other things, but he had a solution. With his left hand, he took the umbrella that was in his waist. It was a transparent one, letting the moonlight pass through it and illuminate them both. Because the umbrella was small, both of them were together with their bodies touching each other.

"Have you ever made any Mistake?"

"No"

"And still yet... He couldn't but feel empathy for her and for the people that are gonna suffer for her."

What if he had let his enthusiasm for the Syndicate run him over. What if he had let his insecurities win over him. What if he had let his fear of Mistakes win over him. What if he had let the darkness of his egg shell obscure his vision.

He thanked Fixer Melissa, she made him learn something. That he didn't have time, nor did anyone have all the time to find the window to express themselves to the people they loved. Missing the window most of the times meant there could be a next oportunity, but... what if it didn't have? What if you didn't get the chance to really express yourself and you didn't know it was the end for them and you?

With the illumination of the umbrella, she looked like the same from the ice cream shop, the Sun. He was sure it wasn't only the light from the moon, she was glowing all together, eliminating all the shadows behind him and inviting him to her world, the world of light. Her smile, her eyes, her personality, her stories, her body... her fixer hobby, her soft lips, her glow.

It all shined, shined brighter than any sun the Child thought he could ever see.

And so, if one looked at the puddle below them, you could see their faces closing their distances, their hands holding each others bodies and...

Laws of Respe-

They kissed.

The Chi- No, perhaps it is wrong to call him that anymore.

The chick broke free of its egg. And now he rose, rose to become a phoenix of fire that would rise and dance around the Sun. Forever.

The kiss continued, they continued uncaring for the world, as the world of light became them and only them.

With both of them ending their kiss to collect their breaths, the Chick spoke.

"I love you... Don Quixote. Please... smile, continue smiling... I love you."

And the sun replied, giving him more warmth.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

“Has thou ever made a "Mistake?”

"Yes... No, i think it's wrong to say they are "good" Mistakes. Honestly, i... i think they were my perfection. My perfect acts."

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

It is true, fate binds us, free will an illusion created and only continued for one to ignore pain. But is it really necessary to follow them? Is it necessary to give up your eyes to ignore the light so you could give up seeing your own pain? Is it necessary to live by not making Mistakes, by not faltering the grand machination of that which knows how to prevent disaster?

Aren't Mistakes that which makes us human?

Free will isn't the illusion of which you believe you're making your own choices, choosing to ignore the grand machinations and gears that move everyone and everyone, that which chooses people to reach who they should have reached. Free will is the choice of learning, of understanding that you have so little, but that you can experience so much from it. Love. Happiness. Joy. Anger. Sorrow. Pleasure. Delight. Satisfaction. Free will is the choice of continuing the arduous path of continuing. Free will is the choice of understanding that there is no tomorrow, nor a past, but the present where you gift the others you significance to them.

Break free from your shells and rise to the many stars that are present in your life. And like a phoenix wings whistle, whisper to your stars that you love them like there is no tomorrow.

And live. Find your happiness. Find their happiness.

See their saccharine smile, for you never know when it ends.