Waking up at dawn, Slady realized what had happened that day. He had spent the whole day with Faller and Victoria. Normally, the day was very slow for him, always busy with Elisa and Shaphira, his work as a librarian and as a criminal assassin.
Looking around, Slady saw Shaphira by his side, as always. When he remembered that he was in Faller and Victoria's mansion, he realized that he had slept there.
He didn't know why he had woken up that morning, he was someone who would go days without sleeping, but he would never wake up at dawn without a specific reason. Hearing a sound coming from the kitchen, he came to his conclusion.
'Did someone break into the mansion that morning?'
Slady thought, his bionic hand sharpening its nails or claws, preparing to defend the place. When he entered the kitchen, his eyes were shown to... Elisa?
She was drinking milk from a glass, maybe it would make her fall asleep faster or calm her down. She was wearing women's pajamas and she looked a little... sad, maybe that was one of the reasons why, despite still being attentive, she was distant.
"Slady?"
She got a little scared, putting the glass in the sink.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
She lowered her head, still depressed. Slady didn't know how to help her, but she couldn't stand seeing the mental state Elisa was in at that moment.
"Don't apologize. But you seem a little depressed, do you want to talk about it?"
Slady asked, speaking in a low tone and walking towards Elisa.
"I would appreciate it... but I don't want to wake anyone."
"We can walk around the street for a bit, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Elisa looked at Slady with a little surprise, but saw that he was serious.
"Okay... I'm going to change my clothes."
***
Walking through Libretãnhya, Slady and Elisa walk side by side. Elisa observes the lights that make up a part of the city with a calmer, but still melancholic look. Slady remained expressionless, not wanting to put pressure on Elisa to say what she feels.
"Slady..."
"Yes?"
"Can I hold your hand?"
She extends her hand to Slady, it was like a gesture of trust, intimacy and comfort. It was something that would do Elisa good
"Of course."
Slady places his mechanical hand over hers, Elisa observes his prototype with curiosity.
"I never asked you about this, but how did you lose your arm?"
Her voice was soft, not wanting to be disrespectful. Slady nodded in understanding, answering her while intertwining her fingers with hers.
"I ended up losing my arm a long time ago in a fight against a Renkai Creature."
"Was he strong?"
"No, I was weak."
Elisa was surprised, but nodded.
"I see..."
She intertwined her fingers with Slady's so firmly, as if she didn't want to let go of him for a while.
"I... still haven't gotten over my father's death."
She finally declared, Slady listened carefully and attentively.
"Humans create connections that make them fear their loss. When the loss of an individual happens, it must be overwhelming."
"Yes."
Elisa's lips trembled, as if she wanted to control her tears, not wanting to cry in front of Slady.
"Elisa, I beg you not to control your crying."
Then Elisa clung to Slady, starting to cry on his chest.
"I... want my father..."
It was terrible for a 15-year-old girl to have to go through all of this. Seeing Elisa cry was too much for Slady. Her desire to avenge Raizer's death grew even stronger.
"..."
Not knowing what to say, Slady puts his hand on Elisa's back, caressing it very gently. He pulls her onto a swing in a park discreetly, sitting on the toy and pulling Elisa onto his lap. Elisa didn't hesitate once and continued to cry.
"I don't want to lose anyone else... my mother and father are gone... I don't want to lose you, Slady."
Elisa says, hiding her face in Slady's chest. In an attempt to calm her down, Slady began to gently slap her buttocks, like he used to do when she was just a little girl.
Despite being surprised, Elisa felt like she was a child again. The memory of being on Slady's lap when she was little, hugging him and feeling his hand carefully patting her bottom made her calm down very quickly.
It was a childish gesture, of course, but of great importance to Elisa, especially when Slady was the executioner.
"Hmmm..."
She begins to calm down, falling asleep in Slady's arms, the memories of her childhood wandering through her mind clearly.
***
It was a sunny day, Raizer had gone out to take care of some things in Libretãnhya, asking Slady to take care of Elisa. He trusted him to do so.
Upon entering the house, Elisa, who was playing with some dolls, wearing a childish outfit and a diaper, stood up excitedly when she saw the familiar figure of Slady.
"Uncle Slady!!"
She hugged him on the leg, wanting to climb on his leg. Slady looked at Elisa with a naturally cold look, but it wasn't mean.
"Excited, child?"
He picked her up in his arms, supporting her on his chest.
"Yes, daddy told you to make me food, bathe me and play with me."
Elisa said in a madame and childish voice, but without necessarily being spoiled. Slady rolled his eyes, he didn't like being ordered around at all, especially by a child, but he couldn't feel angry at something so adorable.
"Your father is a mean man to me."
He puts her down on the floor, giving her hair a quick, clumsy stroke.
"No, he's not a bad man. Daddy's good!"
Elisa says, putting her hands in the shape of fists and resting them on his waist, pouting childishly.
"I know..."
He puts his hand on her forehead, massaging her temple.
"Anyway, what do you like to eat, girl?"
"I like... hmmmm... hamburgers!"
"You can't."
"Why not? I like hamburgers!"
"I know you like them, I'll make you something healthier."
Elisa crosses her arms childishly, turning around and sitting back on the floor to play with her dolls.
"You're evil, Slady!"
"If being evil is good for you, I'll do it with pleasure."
Slady puts her hand on Elisa's short hair, who couldn't stay mad for long.
"Sorry... just make sure the food is good."
"Great."
A few minutes later...
After making lunch, Slady crouches down to Elisa's small height, who looks at the plate of food.
"That doesn't look-"
"Shut up and eat."
He puts the spoon in Elisa's mouth, who obediently consumes the food. Her eyes shine with pleasure.
"Oh! How delicious! Uncle Slady, the best cook in the world!"
"Thank you."
Slady places the plate of food on Elisa's lap, who begins to eat the food with pleasure.
"Hmmmmmm..."
Slady moves away to eat, even with the coldness in his expression, there is great affection in his eyes for that girl.
A few minutes later, Slady had given Elisa a bath, who behaved properly and felt comfortable being bathed by him.
After all this, Slady found himself with Elisa in his arms, asleep and salivating through her rest, with Slady slapping Elisa's butt almost automatically.
Those memories were like a pleasant image in Elisa's mind. Despite knowing almost nothing about Slady's past and who he *really* is, there was only one certainty in her mind.
He was someone Elisa could trust with everything she had.
***
In a distant laboratory...
The machines were turned off, the scientists were sleeping in their dormitories. But there was a single light that was on.
In a containment room, there was a human-sized capsule that contained a woman. She had beautiful red hair and she was completely naked in that capsule, showing a very strong and built body. What humans would normally call a "perfect physique"
His head was connected to some wires, as if his mind was somewhere else... his body was tense and twitched from time to time, as if something that could not be seen was happening.
Suddenly, his eyes opened. Revealing a cold and penetrating gaze...