Disclaimer: While I think Train, Eve, and all the characters of Black Cat are totally awesome, they aren't owned by me, but by Shounen Jump Comics.
Oh, right. This piece of work mostly follows the Manga continuity, and contains some spoilers through at least chapter 163. I'd suggest stopping now if you don't want to read any spoilers.
Angel's Pure Heart — Side Red
The sharp pain from the electricity's fading away, leaving only a tight feeling in my muscles. There's only the bright light from the lamp above me to fill my eyes, and the sound of that crazy doctor to my left. The man's voice barely filters through my head, saying it's impossible to resist or escape. The prick on my skin barely registers in my mind, nor does the drawing of blood. In comparison to everything else, it's just a touch on my skin. It'll heal quickly, as the nanomachines do their work on my body. The doctor, crazy as he is, only sees people as objects, research specimens. He doesn't regard people as people. Even me, he only thinks of me as a research project, a little child created for the advancement of nanomachine technology.
People always think and treat me as a child. I suppose it's true, being only 13 years old. But, despite my intelligence and independence, they can't see beyond this young exterior of mine. Whether it's the bookstore owner who asks me if I can even understand the books I'm buying, or the waitresses asking Sven what his daughter wants, I'm always the little, cute kid.
Rins, especially, thinks and does so. Always hugging and calling herself my big sister, it's frustrating. It's not that I don't appreciate her warmth and personality. It's just not the type of affection that I like. Sven's the same. He's always kind and protective of me. He doesn't see me as a capable girl who can work alongside him as his partner, but as an innocent girl who he'd rather keep safe, far away from him. I know he only wants the best for me, with his gentlemanly behavior, but I don't want that. I don't want to be alone like that, again.
Train, he seems to understand. Whenever Sven seems to want to do something behind my back, or leave me behind, it's always him that tells me. Is it because of that Saya person? Or is it because of that one time—when Sven wanted to leave me behind, safe from the Messengers of the Stars, and I begged him to get me to talk with Sven again. Thinking about it, he never refused me, if I asked for it. Whether it's training, or an event…
After they left to pursue their next target, Annette pulled me aside and told me that according to Sven, Train looked positively furious after that Tao gunman left me battered, my blood staining the wall as a message. I wondered, still wonder, why he would act like that. Train and I weren't that close. I have even declared that he's my rival! Why would he do such a thing? Maybe he does see me just as a little child. He always calls me 'little princess'. Is it because I'm little, and am always in need of rescuing? I don't want that! I don't want to depend on Train! I want to be strong enough to protect myself and those who need protecting, so that I'm no longer a burden to them both!
Train's words back from the Sweeper Bar echo in my ears as truth. I really am weaker than he is. He's strong, independent—worry-free even—despite the growing debt looming over our heads. He can take care of himself under practically any situation, outside of his bottomless pit of a stomach. I can't help but smile weakly, the thought of the legendary Black Cat's weakness being his stomach.
The Doctor's mumbling reaches my ears, wonder and insanity mixed together. I realize now, that I'm just running away from reality again. I need to figure out how to escape. My eyes dart to my surroundings, but there's nothing of use. The bindings nullify my powers, the leather straps my movement, and everything is painfully out of reach.
"Well now, how about you let me cut you open in a moment?" The doctor's face suddenly looms over to my right. "But first, we'll have to get you out of those troublesome clothes."
I put on a brave front, but I'm sure he knows it's nothing. It's like he said, to my frustration—I really can't do anything. "Just what do you want to know by dissecting me?"
"Everything," he says. My focus shifts, up to the shining pair of scissors, as his words fade to the background. It's just like the murder novel I read at the hideout in Elsida. He wants to break me, so that I put up less resistance to his examination. He wants to rob me of my dignity before poking me like yet another specimen. In my position, I suppose it is close enough. I can't do anything right now, tied up and helpless. I really must look like a frog just about to be dissected for the classroom to see, spread-eagle as I am.
It's frustrating, but I want Train to rescue me. He may be just a carefree cat, but he's always there when I need him.
He leans over me, bringing the scissors down towards me. The movement shakes me out of my fear enough for a final push of will. "…Train is surely going to bring you some bad luck," I manage to scrape out with a level tone.
"That's impossible." The reply's matter-of-fact tone crushes the rest of my will, as does the slow, deliberate touch of the cold metal on my flesh as it lifts an edge of the tattered cloth around my body. "He's trapped in another dimension. There's no way he can interrupt me." Snip. I clench my eyes shut.
Where are you, Train? I don't want this...
"I found you. I found you… you perverted doctor!"
My eyes snap open at Train's voice, just in time to see the Doctor spin around in surprise just to get kicked by Train into the wall with a meaty thump. My eyes travel over to Train, as he stands there at my side, shoulders squared and looking past me towards the Doctor, Hades held at the ready. His face looked completely focused and angry. I couldn't help but be awed by him and the aura he gave.
"Tr-Train…" My words grab his attention, and he smiles down at me.
"Hey, lil' princess." His amber eyes seem to stare through me, almost amused, but completely serious at the same time. It feels like his confidence and spirit's filling me, rejuvenating my own. My thoughts suddenly turn to the fairytales I read, and how the princess was rescued by her knight in shining armor. I manage to suppress both a shudder and a blush. "Looks like I found you at the last minute. Thank goodness I made it in time." Thank you, Train.
"How'd you get here?" I ask, as he starts working at my restraints.
"Who knows," came his reply, almost banter-like. I flexed my hands as they were released. "When I stepped out of the light, I was standing right here." His voice and eyes seemed to soften. "She… guided me here."
"She…?" Rins? Anette? No, neither of them should be here. Then, who? My thoughts derail when I hear the Doctor screaming at Train. Oh, right. With all my bindings removed, I hopped off the table, giving the Doctor an evil look. We have some garbage to take care of...
The faux world started shifting out of existence after Train gave the final punch, knocking the Doctor unconscious. But, as that woman's—Saya's—voice, kept speaking, I stared at Train's face. He just kept looking up to the sky, a smile I've never seen on his face seeming to spread. So it's her influence that changed Train so much, to go from the legendary assassin to the sweeper I see before me. In that gentle, loving light, I suddenly felt like everything will be okay. Just then, a dark feeling washed over me. I suddenly felt that no matter what I did, or what happened, I could never be anywhere near Saya's equal.
I felt like hair-punching myself again, as the world before my eyes turned a blinding white, taking Train's form away from my sight. My world doesn't revolve around him. I only want to prove myself to him that I am strong, that I don't need his help.
But, he came. He rescued me from that hell that was just about to happen. He might not be my ideal knight in shining armor, more like a stray cat that was there at the right time. I suppose I wouldn't mind continuing to be his little princess, if he's going to keep saving me. I'm also sure he only sees me like the little sister he never had. So I'll wait, till I can prove to him that I can be more than a sister, or a friend.
Maybe that'll be my true happiness.
Author's Notes:
This one came from left field. Seriously. I blame my muse for prodding me with sharp, pointy sticks to read Black Cat. And read I did, over 24 hours. Then my silly muse said to me "oh, they'd make a cute couple." Thus, was this little one-shot(?) born.
... of course, if they didn't outright state their ages, I totally would've pegged Train for an 18 year old. But, ah well… Eve's 13, Train's 23. They'll grow into it.
Major thanks to xDianaMoonx for proofin' and editting, as usual. And to my muse, for prodding me to read this most-excellent manga series.
Eni LiNave
Omake:
5 years later. 12:30 pm, Elsida Hideout—
"Train! Eve!" Sven called out to his partners. Sighing, he picked up his newspaper and started searching the house. "Where are those two…" he muttered.
Just as he walked through the dining room, he spotted Eve at the stove, working her culinary skills. 'Nothing's looking toxic, so it really has to be Eve. Thank god she didn't get Professor Tiayo's abilities in cooking…' He shivered at the thought.
"Eve, have you seen Train?"
Eve turned around, strands of her hair lengthening and turning into a hand holding a wooden spoon to continue her cooking. "No, I haven't. Oh, wait. Here he comes."
Sven blanched. "Wha?" A blur passed by.
"Itadakimasu!" It's Train, just like Eve said.
"No, Train! It's not ready yet!"
Chuckling from the doorway, Sven watched on with his Glaspar Eye. Eve's mouth turned up into an unreadable smirk, as more of her golden hair formed into hands to keep Train away from her cooking. A minute later, a joyful cry and some delighted munching informed everyone of the cat snagging a piece.
"Ahhh, I was saving that piece of chicken..." Eve sighed as she plated the chicken stir-fry. She grabbed the rice cooker with her hair and marched over to the dining room."Well, the easiest path to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm pretty sure Train's especially vulnerable there," Eve whispered underneath her breath as she stepped past Sven. He caught Eve's confident grin before she lapsed back to her usual poker face.
"Wait... W-w-w-what was that!"