drinking time

As Alexander and Adam headed to the bar, Eve followed, her distrust clear on her face. Adam's presence unsettled her deeply, but Alexander seemed entirely unfazed, cracking a joke or two along the way. Adam, though dangerous, had an eerie calm about him, making their casual walk to the bar feel surreal, like a predator walking calmly into a den.

Eve couldn't help but mutter, "I can't believe you're doing this, Alexander. You can't seriously trust him."

Alexander shrugged, keeping his arms loosely draped around Adam. "Trust? Maybe not. But like I said, I'm not here for your family drama. He said he'd fight, so until then, let the man have a drink."

Eve rolled her eyes. "You're insane."

As they reached the bar, Adam scanned the area, his cold eyes dissecting every inch of the place as though sizing up the battlefield. Eve, still on edge, sat next to Alexander, never letting Adam out of her sight. Despite the tension, Alexander ordered drinks and food, trying to lighten the mood.

"You know, Adam," Alexander started, "for someone who claims to have pride as a warrior, you don't seem too picky about keeping company with us 'lesser beings.' What's your angle here?"

Adam took a drink, not bothering to look at Alexander. "You're not as lesser as you think, soldier. You have power, but you don't let it blind you. That's more than I can say for most."

Eve, sitting across from them, clenched her fists. "Don't try to play nice, Adam. We all know where this ends."

Adam finally looked at her, a smirk curling on his lips. "I never said it wouldn't."

The tension in the air thickened, but Alexander leaned back, grinning. "Good thing we're all in this for the long haul, right? Let's eat before the world comes crashing down."

Eve and Adam exchanged a wary glance, neither entirely trusting the other, but for now, they both had a temporary truce. The night continued with strained conversation, filled with the sense that their uneasy alliance might be the only thing standing between them from killing each other.

Eve felt a chill run down her spine as Alexander's words sank in. His cold, detached tone, coupled with the expressionless look in his eyes, told her everything she needed to know about the man sitting in front of her. He wasn't someone who placed his faith in others, not even for a moment. The contrast between his heartless statement and the way he casually shifted back to a relaxed smile only unsettled her further.

Adam, noticing Eve's reaction, gave a low chuckle. "He's right, you know. Trust is a weakness. I've been betrayed by my own blood, and yet this man..." he gestured at Alexander, "...he understands. He doesn't play the game of loyalty or affection. That's why he's still alive."

Eve clenched her teeth, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "That doesn't mean you have to live like that. You don't have to become like them."

Alexander took another sip of his drink, not even acknowledging her comment. "It's not about becoming anything. It's about survival. You survive by doing whatever it takes. I've fought enough wars to know that trusting people, getting too close, is what gets you killed."

Eve's heart ached as she watched him, realizing that whatever humanity he had left was buried deep beneath layers of cold pragmatism. She couldn't argue with him—not with what he had probably seen and lived through—but it hurt to think someone could live like that, so detached from others.

Adam leaned back, clearly enjoying the discomfort in the air. "You see, sister? This is why people like us win. We don't waste time with pointless ideals."

Eve stood abruptly, her eyes narrowing at both men. "You may both be right about survival, but you've lost something far more important—your souls."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out of the bar, leaving Alexander and Adam to continue their conversation.

Alexander, now alone with Adam, raised his glass. "Well, that was dramatic. But, I get where she's coming from. Just not my style, you know?"

Eve looked at Alexander, her eyes narrowing as she studied him carefully. "Why do you trust Adam so much? You're too casual around him, like none of this matters."

Alexander, who had been sipping his drink, set it down slowly, his relaxed demeanor vanishing in an instant. His eyes grew cold, a chilling void of emotion replacing the casual grin he had worn moments ago. His voice dropped, low and sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

"You're making a wild assumption," Alexander said, his gaze dark and unyielding. "I don't trust him. I don't trust anyone. Not my allies, not my friends, not even my commanding officer." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Don't trust anyone, and I wouldn't hesitate to kill every single person in this city if they point their blades or guns at me—regardless if they're civilians."

Eve stared at him, taken aback by the shift in his expression. For a brief moment, Alexander's face showed the heartlessness of someone who had lived through unspeakable horrors, someone who had survived by any means necessary, even at the cost of his humanity.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Alexander's cold demeanor melted away, replaced by his usual grin. "But enough about that. Let's drink and relax. Plus, the food here is good." He lifted his glass, as if the heavy conversation had never taken place.

Eve, still reeling from his sudden shift, glanced at Adam, who had remained silent but observant. She couldn't help but wonder just how deep Alexander's darkness ran—and if she or anyone else would ever truly understand what lay behind his casual exterior.

Adam smirked. "Neither of us has room for sentiment. We'll win this war, but we won't have anything left afterward. You're just like me, soldier."

Alexander's smile faded briefly as he considered the weight of Adam's words, but then it returned, as cold as ever. "Maybe. But right now, let's eat."

Eve narrowed her eyes at Alexander, the remnants of their earlier confrontation still fresh in her mind. "Why do you fight me to convince me to raise my sword again?"

Alexander leaned back in his chair, folding his arms with a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Because I despise the weak more than anything. And I'm not talking about those who lack power—I mean people who have weak wills. Those who give up, who allow despair to swallow them whole. That's not what warriors do."

He paused for a moment, letting his words hang in the air. "Plus, you're needed for my survival. You're supposed to be the strongest being on Earth. But to hear you act so defeated and powerless now… It surprises me how arrogant you can be while still being defeated by mere humans like myself."

Eve's expression hardened, a mixture of anger and realization swirling within her. "You think I'm weak?"

Alexander shook his head. "Not weak in strength, but weak in spirit. You've lost your way, Eve. You once fought for your family, for your clan. Now you hide away, burying your power and your purpose."

Eve's fists clenched, a flicker of fire igniting in her gaze. "I've suffered losses you can't begin to understand. It's not just about power; it's about the burden of what I've lost."

Alexander leaned forward, his expression serious. "Exactly! You've suffered. So rise from it! You owe it to your fallen family, to the legacy you've inherited. Stop hiding in this self-imposed exile. That's not who you are."

Eve opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss. His words pierced through the veil of her despair, and for the first time, she felt the weight of expectation pressing down on her again.

"Maybe you're right," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But how can I ever be the person I once was?"

"One step at a time," Alexander replied firmly. "You don't need to be who you were; you just need to fight for who you want to become. Pick up your sword again, and let the world see the true Eve."

Eve took a deep breath, uncertainty swirling within her but a flicker of determination igniting in her chest. "Maybe... maybe I will."

"Good," Alexander said, raising his glass. "To new beginnings."

Eve listened intently as Alexander spoke, her curiosity piqued by the raw honesty in his words. She could sense the weight of his experiences, each syllable echoing with the trials he had faced.

"There's our time when I am in despair," Alexander continued, his tone steady. "But I always remember my duty and my will to survive. I may not care about anyone else, but if I had to choose… there's only one person I care about, and that is Ty."

Eve raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Your family?"

He shook his head. "We may not be blood-related, but she's the only family I have. She raised me when my real family died. Taught me the sword, taught me how to fight and survive. That's why I enlisted in the military and became a soldier. I agreed to take high-risk missions because the stronger my opponents are, the stronger I become when I defeat them."

Eve could feel the intensity of his conviction, the depth of loyalty he had for Ty. It was a stark contrast to her own turmoil, and she couldn't help but admire his determination.

"At the end of the day," he said, his expression hardening, "I fight for myself. I fight to survive. My life is my first priority. If I don't survive, there's no one else to carry on what I believe in. But I will not let my past consume me; I'll use it as fuel for my future."

His words resonated deeply with Eve, stirring something within her. She had been lost in her sorrow, focused solely on her pain, but here was Alexander, raw and unfiltered, using his experiences as motivation rather than a shackle.

"Perhaps I've forgotten what it means to fight for myself," Eve said softly, the realization settling in. "I've been so consumed by my losses that I neglected the fight within me."

"Then don't just remember who you were—create who you want to be," Alexander encouraged, leaning forward with earnestness. "You've got the strength; it's just buried beneath the hurt. Use that hurt. Let it drive you."

Eve looked at him, a newfound determination beginning to replace her doubt. "Maybe you're right. I can't hide from my past, but I can choose how it defines my future."

"Exactly," Alexander replied, his confidence unwavering. "And together, we can face whatever comes next. You just have to be willing to take the first step."

Eve took a deep breath, her resolve building. "Then I will take that step. I'll fight for myself, for my family, and for a future that I can shape."

Alexander raised his glass again, a triumphant grin breaking across his face. "To new beginnings, then."

Eve clinked her glass against his, her spirit reignited. "To new beginnings."