Don’t Wanna

I tugged at the stiff collar of my new Feilong uniform, hating how the black and yellow fabric clung to my skin. No more comfy hoodies or oversized jackets. Just this suffocating reminder that I was sold out.

Sorry, Inorin. You'd probably laugh seeing me in this getup.

My mind drifted back to that interrogation room, to Lung as he dangled information about Inorin like bait.

"Tell me what you know about Inorin!" I'd slammed my hands on the table, making Peng bounce again. "Where is she?"

Lung lifted one finger to his lips. "Knowledge has its price."

"Price? I'll show you a fucking price-"

"Join my Dragon's Eyes and I shall share what I know of the Cai Thirteen."

"Are you kidding me? What kind of deal is that?"

"I'd say it's a fair exchange. Unless your concern for this Inorin person is merely superficial?"

That hit like a punch to the gut. I slumped back, chest burning with frustration.

"You manipulative bastard."

"I prefer to think of it as... incentivizing cooperation."

I stared at the wooden pagoda on the table, its polished surface reflecting the harsh interrogation room lights. If anyone knew about Inorin in this realm, it had to be the Heavenly General. That creepy, all-seeing eye of Lung's must've witnessed something about her disappearance.

"What if..." I swallowed my pride. "What if I agree?"

Lung's lips curved into a smile. "Two conditions."

My hands clenched. Of course there be strings attached.

He held up one finger. "First, I shall provide information about Inorin, provided you don't step out of line."

"Second." Another finger joined the first. "You will not breathe a word about ascending."

"Why the hell not? What's wrong with-"

"Do we have an agreement? Or shall I have the guards escort you to your cell?"

I chewed my lip. The terms weren't great, but what choice did I have? Two years of dead ends, and now finally a lead. Even if it meant playing nice with this manipulative asshole...

"Fine. Deal."

"Excellent. Welcome to the Dragon's Eyes, Kuroha."

I'm coming, Inorin. Whatever game this bastard's playing, I'll beat him at it.

***

So here I was, trapped in this uniform, playing officer for a man who probably got off on other people's misery.

The uniform wasn't even the worst part. No, the real torture was-

"Stop staring daggers at me and focus on the job at hand." Fang's voice cut through the morning air.

"Don't wanna."

A muscle twitched in Fang's jaw. "As much as I fail to comprehend Master Lung's decision to appoint you to Feilong Corps, you are a Dragon's Eye now like myself. That position carries certain... expectations."

"Don't wanna."

"In Feilong Corps, Dragon's Eyes stand above all lieutenants and initiates. We must conduct ourselves as models of proper behavior and dedication."

"Don't." I yawned. "Wanna."

"Will you cease that childish response!"

"Peng peng" My penguin companion copied.

"What Peng said."

"Control your... companion… at once."

"Don't wanna."

Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, probably counting to ten in his head. "Could you please focus? We need to locate the dealers trafficking Black Leg blood in the lower districts."

That's right. The image of that scrawny kid thief flashed through my mind. His desperate eyes, the way he clutched that vial of black liquid like it was worth dying for. What was he planning to do with it? Who was he trying to kill?

The mystery gnawed at me like an itch I couldn't scratch. 

"Yeah yeah, I'm on it." I spun on my heel and started walking in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going? We should stay together."

I waved him off without looking back. "I work better solo. Your stick-up-the-ass will just scare off any leads."

"That is an entirely inappropriate statement! As your fellow Dragon's Eye-"

I ducked behind a fruit stall, letting Fang's shouts faded into the market's buzz.

"What a pain in the ass." I stretched, feeling the stiff uniform pull against my shoulders. "Well, that takes care of him-"

Wait.

"The suspect list." My forehead thunked against the stall. "He has the suspect list."

Peng patted my arm with its flipper.

"Don't console me, you enabler." I slid down to squat beside it. "What am I gonna tell Lung? 'Sorry boss, I ditched your top officer and now I can't do my job?' He'll never tell me anything about Inorin."

Peng stared up at me. Then, it spun in a wobbly circle in my arms before extending one flipper straight ahead.

"What're you pointing at?"

I followed its gesture through the crowd. That's when I spotted a familiar figure was setting up shop.

A grin spread across my face. "This is why you're the best partner someone could have." I cracked my knuckles. "Time to pay our favorite scammer a visit."

"Good to see you, Mr. Pei!"

The old man's face went through several shades of white before settling on a sickly gray. His eyes darted between my uniform and my face.

"Oh, i-it's you! What a pleasant- I mean, what an unexpected- I mean-" His gaze locked onto the Corps insignia on my chest. "A Dragon's Eye! Well, well, congratulations! Master Lung must have seen something quite remarkable in you. No woman has ever-"

"Mr. Pei." I smiled sweetly, making him freeze mid-gesture. "Remember that chalice incident?"

"N-now, there's no need to bring up ancient history."

"It'd be a shame if the Corps found out about your... creative business practices." I picked up one of his "priceless artifacts" and tossed it between my hands.

"You wouldn't-"

"Try me. Or you could tell me everything you know about the Black Leg blood market in these parts."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about! Black Leg blood? Never heard of such a thing! I'm but a humble antique dealer-"

My fist slammed into the wooden support beam beside his head. The aged wood splintered with a crack, sending a shower of wood onto Mr. Pei's shoulder. His whole shop creaked ominously.

Peng waddled over to inspect my handiwork, letting out a "peng" at the destruction. Meanwhile, Mr. Pei's face had gone from gray to ghostly white. He stared at the splintered beam, probably calculating repair costs in his head.

"Let's try this again. Black Leg blood market. Names. Places. Everything you know."

"Okay, okay!" He raised trembling hands in surrender. "I'll tell you everything I know! Just please, not the merchandise!"

"That's more like it. Now start talking."