CHAPTER 81: CH 81: SUIT.

Besides, this is way above your pay grade."

Those were her last words before she got into the car, leaving Aegon standing confused on the sidewalk.

"..."

’Above my pay grade.’ He repeated her words in his head before the driver sounded the horn to shake him from thought.

"Sir we have to go. Miss Claudette is... Impatient."

Aegon quickly entered the car as they took off. The driver had pulled up the blink so as to not interrupt their conversation and now Aegon and Mira just sat in silence.

He stared out the window, focusing in the sun on his skin and beautiful scenery that blurred past him, but he couldn’t take it any longer.

What did she mean by above my pay grade?

He thought but ultimately kept to himself as he tried to enjoy the ride in the fear of being seen as neurotic.

"..."

A second.

A minute.

Thirty minutes.

"What did you mean by that?" He asked finally.

Mira turned back to him, half startled half annoyed. "What?" She said simply.

"When we entered the car you said that whomever—" at the point she rolled her eyes. "—worked with was above my pay grade. What did you mean by that?"

Sighing, she faced him. "For your sake and mine. Please stay out of it." She paused for a second. "If it makes you feel any better — No, I did not orchestrate the attack on the school."

"I figured that already."

"Uh" she scoffed. "Could’ve if I wanted to. But I didn’t."

"Is whoever you’re working for even invested in the school’s attack?"

"Not exactly. He’s concerned with more existential problems not mercenaries shooting up a school."

A soft him filled the space as the driver pulled down the blink. "We’re here." The driver let them know.

Aegon peered out the window, half expecting his mind to be blown away.

"..."

It wasn’t. His expression stayed excited, still expecting more but the driver then unlocked the doors.

This was it?

It did look bad. The problem was after seeing the school, the houses and then even the simulation room—he expected the number one awakened tailor to have a city for a shop.

Dresses in the display stand near the window, simple wooden door, a slightly cracked wall and a sign above in a cursive font that said ’Claudette’s’.

~Ting-ting~

Mira pushed the door open and the miniature bell above chimed throughout the shop.

The place was littered in pieces of fabrics they trampled upon yet no one came. "Hello?" Mira called out finally.

"Yes. Who is it?" A man in the back answered before rushing out. White average height chubby man with Rosy cheeks and curly brown hair. "What can I help you with?"

"We’re actually—"

"No! Wait!—" he cut them off. Placing a finger on his nose he thought long and hard. "You’re getting married."

"What? Absolutely not!" The two said in unison before shifting away from each other.

"Oh my mistake. Then what are you doing here?"

"I’m Aegon and that’s Mira." Aegon stepped forward. "We were sent here Principal Miller to get awakened suits."

"Oh." The man said with monotonously. "At the back."

He turned on his heels as Aegon and Mira followed behind him. The back room was even more unkempt than the front—fabrics, loose thread and dust everywhere they touched.

He, however, navigated the maze with ease until he reached the back of the room and with one swift, violent motion drew the curtains back to reveal a lift.

Partly rusted bars and in a condition that looked anything but safe. He turned to them. "Go down." He said simply, as if that explained anything.

But they obliged. Pulling the bars to the side they stepped into the lift and, after a quiet prayer, pushed the button.

"..."

It didn’t work.

The man sighed. "It does that sometimes. Push it again."

And so they did.

The elevator didn’t slid. It dropped.

"Arrgh!" The screamed as gravity pushed their bodies up in the air just before it all came crashing down.

"..."

"What the fuck type of tailor is this?" He groaned as he got up.

"Let’s just get this over with."

They pulled the creaky doors once more and Aegon smiled. High ceilings, bustling liveliness, fluorescent lights that touched everything and how all eyes turned to them immediately the doors pulled open.

Uncomfortably, they stepped into the new floor, surrounded by eyes of everyone else. Aegon leaned to Mira. "What’s going on?" She leaned back. "Just be ready to run if anything happens."

"Who are you?" A lady who black curly hair and rather stylish clothes finally said.

"We’re Aegon and Mira from Aetherion Academy. We were sent here by Principal Miller to get out suits."

"..."

Silence took over for a minute as they continued to watch them, as if determining if their words were true.

Then the animation returned like nothing had happened. The lady who addressed them continued. "I’m Chloe." She smiled. "Anything particular you’re looking for in a suit?"

The both arched a brow, confused by her question.

She explained. "Like when Nightwalker came here all those years ago he said—" she rolled her eyes. "—he wanted nothing but white and gold.

Which was impossible, you’re a superhero not a mascot. You’re gonna bleed, you’re gonna be thrown into the dirt... but he insisted on white and gold—so we made him the suit we call Star-spangled."

A beat of silence came before she continued. "When do you need the suit?"

"Today."

Her eyes peeled open. "You need the suit today?"

"Yeah." Mira said. "Is that gonna be a problem?"

The smile completely disappeared. "You—" she pointed at Mira. "—with me. Then you, go to the second floor and see Miss Claudette herself."

Aegon nodded and made his way to stairs for the second floor. He stopped in front of a door which had the name overhead as he knocked.

"Who is it?!" An angry French voice screamed from inside. "Come in!"

Aegon stepped into the dimly lit office as Miss Claudette, elderly old woman with a bob cut black hair and rimless glasses on her face.

She was leaned into her leather chair, who cried with every slight motion and in her fingers sat a stick of cigarette. "Who are you?" She said, voice crackly.

"I’m Aegon Dha—"

"Oh yeah." She tapped the edge of her cigarette along the edge of her ashtray. "Alex said you’d be stopping by... where’s the other one?"

"She’s downstairs with someone else."

"Alright." She gestured to the seat in front of her. He sat down and took one last drag before putting it out.

Aegon sat, uncomfortably in the chair that felt older than he was. "Sorr—"

"Shh!" She shushed him again. Leaned over the table, breath reeking of cigarettes. "I’m gonna let you in on one little secret.

You know the similarity between a tailor and a therapist?

... confidentiality. I’m only as good as my word and the only way you can tell me what you really what is when you’re sure it’s not leaving this room."

She crossed her arms over her heart. "Well I’m here to tell you, nothing you say leaves this room...

so, what do you want in a suit?"