Eyes of Azure | Assassination Classroom

:: Attempt 04.5 | Pale ::

:: Attempt 04.5 | Pale ::

"An imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, a counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trace of innocence?

"So how do you portray the sentiment?
The ruse is brought, the truth is bent
And much to our dismay, they're ignorant
The more that we make up the more it fits."
-"Pale" by The Birthday Massacre

x + x

[Location: Sibyl Headquarters; San Francisco, California.]

"Why did you lie?"

He turns on his heel, pressing the tiny button upon the phone's surface as he does. He looks back, a passive look in his green eyes as his stare meets a pair of cold blue oculars. 'Miles' raises a hand in a half-hearted wave, continuing on his way.

"Well then.. Guess I'll go now, 'Treis'. Still have a lot of stuff to--"

"Answer me." The woman steps further into the light, narrowing her eyes upon the younger male. He halts his footsteps rather abruptly at her menacing presence, his features set in an impassive facade. "Why did you lie to 'Venatrix'?"

"That's not the problem here, isn't it?" He says shortly, crossing his arms over his torso as he stares back at his partner's superior with equal frigidity. "I gave her a hint, that's it. I didn't lie."

A wry smirk curls Treis's lips at the reply. "You do know that she will find out the truth sooner or later, don't you? She is an intelligent young woman, as I'm certain you know very well."

"Maybe so." He shrugs, rocking back onto his heels. His gaze softens as he looks away, directing his gaze upon the tinted glass to his left. He sighs, shaking his head as he glances up at the veteran mercenary.

A laugh sounds from behind him as a calloused hand ruffles his hair, a familiar face grinning down at him. He frowns, slapping the person's hand away.

"Bloody hell, mate," the man says, hooking his thumbs into his belt loops as he inclines his head. Snowy white locks drift into his cerulean eyes, nearly blocking the boy's view of the playful glint in the aquamarine irises. "You seriously think 'Atalanta' won't figure it out?"

'Miles' shrugs, pulling his shoulders back. 'Treis' purses her lips, crossing her arms beneath her chest at the sudden appearance of her parabatai. "'Novem'." She says crisply, succinctly - the code name pronounced with a frigid undertone. "I presume you haven't reported to the Head yet."

'Novem' merely smiles, taking a lock of the woman's long blonde hair and twisting it around his fingers. "Aw, you weren't even worried about me, Adele?" He teases, raising an eyebrow.

The blonde automatically grabs his wrist, and 'Miles' barely manages to catch a glimpse of the annoyance in her impenetrable stare before it disappears in less than a second. "Your mission only lasted three days, Benedict," she replies shortly, adding emphasis to his given name. "I won't worry about an idiot. And if you ever kick the bucket-" a gleam of amusement flickers in her eyes, "-then good riddance."

The ivory-haired man frowns, a pretend gasp of hurt escaping him. "So cold."

She rolls her eyes, and the brunette takes it as his cue to clear his throat. The two looks at him with almost identical gazes, and he grins. "This ain't the place for your lovers' spats, 'Treis', 'Novem'."

'Treis' narrows her eyes, jabbing her elbow into her parabatai's side. "What sort of lies have you fed this boy, Benedict?"

He shrugs. "I thought him all I know."

She frowns, "Well, that explains it, then."

"Oi!" 'Novem' says indignantly, "You never know what may come out of a liar's mouth, Adele."

x + x

"Urusai na,'
Boku wa chotto no saki o,
Furikaezu no aruita.

"'Honto no kokoro wa?'"

"Hey, what song are you singing?" The boy questions, curiosity lurking in his currently azure eyes - courtesy of the contact lenses he was testing. "I don't get what it means though."

"'Your real heart is..?'" The redhead replies curtly, turning away from the slightly older brunette. He tilts his head to the side, propping his head up on his arms as he stares at his partner.

"What?"

'Venatrix' sighs, removing her headphones and letting them dangle around her neck. Her icy blue eyes fixated upon the boy, she twirls the cord around her finger as she ponders ways to explain. "That's the rough translation of the line you heard me sing, 'Miles'."

He blinks, sheepishly scratching his cheek. "Oh, so that's it. What's the title?"

"'Rosutaimumemori.'" She murmurs beneath her breath, much to the confusion of the boy.

"What?" He leans in even closer, staring at the petite girl with evident puzzlement. Her pale lips curl into an amused smile at his expression as bubbles of laughter escapes her mouth. Flustered, she presses a hand to her mouth, clamping it shut as color creeps up her pallid cheeks.

He grins, teasingly poking her forehead. "Y'know,'Venatrix', for such a stoic girl, you have a pretty voice."

"Liar." She retorts, nuzzling her face into the warm confines of her scarf.

"What? I'm not allowed to compliment your singing?"

"Y-you weren't supposed to hear me sing in the first place!"

"Oh come on. Don't tell me you're being shy?"

She blushes, whacking him on the arm as she averts her gaze. "I'm not, you tactless idiot!"

"Don't try to deny it, 'Venatrix'." 'Miles' chuckles, "'Cause I can see right through you."

"Shut up."

-To be continued.

[Originally written: March 12th, 2016. Edited: July 29th, 2016. Changes: New character introduced, minor edits.]

Translation Notes: "Lost Time Memory" as sung by IA ("Kagerou Project / Mekakucity Actors")

1. "Urusai na,'
Boku wa chotto no saki o,
Furikaezu ni aruita."
["You're so annoying!"
I walked a little bit ahead,
Without looking back.]

2. 'Honto no kokoro wa?'
["Your real heart is..?"]