Reggie's House
The dull morning sun stretched through the window of Milo's room, casting soft light across the floor. Jaxon and Milo had stayed up all night, their conversation filled with excitement over Black Mask. Milo sat in his computer chair, while Jaxon lounged on the bed.
Laughter lingered in the air.
"Seriously, man, I'm telling you—it's only a matter of time before a snack is named after you," Milo said, still catching his breath from laughing.
Jaxon's face lit up again as he burst into another laugh. "Come on, that's never gonna happen."
"And that time when you were like 'Milo, call the cops'—now that was badass!"
"I guess so," Jaxon said, still grinning.
As the laughter settled, Jaxon's gaze drifted toward the window. His expression shifted. "Oh, look at that—the sun's up."
"Yeah," Milo said, leaning back in his chair. "Haven't gotten any calls about damages, so I guess we're free today. Okay, so what do you wanna do?"
"I'm not exactly free, Milo."
Milo frowned. "Why not?"
Jaxon sighed. "Did you forget? I'm supposed to meet Sophie today."
Milo's head tilted up as realization struck. "Ohhh yeah, that's right." He smirked at Jaxon.
Jaxon narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Are you anxious?" Milo teased. "It's totally okay to be nervous—I mean, you are about to spend three hours with the most beautiful—"
Jaxon cut in. "First of all, I'm not anxious. And second, stop acting like this is some kind of date. We're just working on a project. Plus, I'll use the opportunity to learn more about her dad. That's it. It's not some fancy date or anything."
Milo stared at Jaxon, his eyelids lowering in boredom. A slow yawn stretched his mouth wide. "Well, whatever this is, I'm off to bed." He stood up from his chair, dragging his feet toward the bed.
"Dude, it's already morning," Jaxon pointed out.
"And? How's that supposed to bother me?" Milo mumbled. "I was up all night—the least I can do is get some sleep. You should too."
Jaxon shook his head, heading toward the door. "Whatever, man."
Just as his fingers touched the doorknob, Milo's voice stopped him.
"Hey, Jaxon."
Jaxon paused, sensing a shift in his tone. "Yeah?" he answered without turning around.
A brief silence hung in the air before Milo spoke again. "Listen, man… You're a really cool guy. I appreciate you being my friend and helping out with everything, but I gotta ask—who are you?"
Jaxon's grip on the doorknob tightened slightly.
"I mean, you just showed up out of nowhere—no second name, no relatives—crazy strong. We've been together for almost two weeks now, and all I really know about you… is that your name is Jaxon. Don't you think I deserve to know more?"
The air in the room thickened. An awkward silence settled between them.
Jaxon exhaled softly. "Get some rest, Milo," he said.
And with that, he opened the door and walked out.
Milo stared blankly at the door before letting out a heavy sigh. He collapsed onto the bed, and within seconds, he was fast asleep.
****
The classroom was quiet, sunlight streaming through the windows, casting long streaks of light across the floor. Sophie sat by the window, her gaze lost in the world outside, unaware of the subtle movements behind her. A gentle breeze swept through, making her hair sway gracefully. She wore a black skirt and a snug pink top that hugged her figure, the sunlight enhancing the soft glow of her skin.
The door creaked open. Jaxon stepped inside, his hand pressing lightly against the wooden frame. The first sight that greeted him left him momentarily speechless.
The golden sunlight turned Sophie's silhouette into something ethereal, her hair catching the light as it shimmered and swayed. His lips parted slightly as he stared, caught in the moment.
Realizing himself, he quickly tilted his head down, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger. "Get a grip, man." He took a deep breath, steadied himself, then stepped fully inside. His fingers curled around the door's edge—
BAM!
The sudden slam made Sophie gasp. She spun around, eyes wide—only to meet Jaxon's smirk.
"You ready for our project?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery and amusement.
****
The Belmont Mansion
BAM!
The office doors flew open as Giovanni stormed inside, his face twisted in fury. Across the room, Belmont sat behind his desk, fingers laced together, his jaw resting lightly upon them. Beside him stood Alfred, calm as ever—perhaps even more composed than Belmont himself.
"Renzo got arrested, and it's all thanks to that Black Mask bastard! And here you are, sitting like nothing happened!" Giovanni seethed, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, waiting for a response.
Belmont leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest. His voice was unsettlingly calm. "And what do you suppose I do, Giovanni?"
Giovanni's brow twitched. "What do you suppose I do?" he echoed under his breath, as if struggling to process the words. Then, his voice erupted, shaking the very walls of Belmont's grand office.
"WHAT DO I SUPPOSE YOU DO?!"
His nostrils flared, fists clenched. "I was a fool to think you had this under control! Renzo was a valuable asset to me, and now he's gone! And you're asking me what I suppose you do?!"
He stepped closer, voice low and seething. "Here's what I suppose you do—I want you to figure out a way to kill that Black Mask, or I'll do it myself."
Belmont chuckled, the sound sharp and mocking. "You mean like when you sent Renzo?"
Giovanni's jaw locked.
Belmont leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his fingers still loosely laced. His voice was lower now, but edged like a blade.
"Listen to me, Giovanni." His tone was slow, deliberate. "I'll let you off the hook only because you've been useful to me in the past. But if you ever speak to me in that manner again…" He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
"I'll have your head slit from your body."
Giovanni's breath hitched. His rage evaporated in an instant, replaced by pure fear. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, his pupils quivering. He swallowed hard.
"Have I made myself clear?"
Giovanni nodded—once, twice, three times.
"Good." Belmont exhaled, his cold expression easing just slightly. "Now, about the Black Mask situation. I am handling it. The man has proven to be quite the nuisance, and I refuse to underestimate him any longer. So, I've decided—"
A slow smirk pulled at his lips.
"We're going big. My next move will put me a step ahead of him. And when the time is right…"
His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk.
"He'll meet his end."