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The Chief of the Minos Bureau of Crisis Control should not be here. She should not be marching through the maze-like hallways of the bureau, barely noticing and returning the greetings, smiles, and salutes from her subordinates. She should be in her office, making preparations for her meeting with the old fogeys from the FAC in the afternoon. That should be what the MBCC’s top authority was burning her eyebrows for, but that was not what was happening.
The Shackles throbbed incessantly under the Chief’s skin, notifying her of a Sinner’s unaddressed affliction. It was not as painful as it should have been, but the constant reminder these past hours was grating against her nerves. She had tried to ignore it, expecting it would dull soon with the medical team on standby for Sinners who returned from dispatches. It was a routine procedure that everyone was familiar with. Some were prideful or reluctant to receive such thorough care but would relent after a few nags from the Chief or threats from Doctor Iron. Some were fussy and had to be persuaded with a compromise. It had come to a point where the Chief had to put her foot down - a rarity - and personally ensured everyone got examined after every mission. The Sinners eventually simmered down and went along with it despite an occasional grumble here and there.
Except for one.
The infirmary door swung open, and the Chief was greeted with the familiar bustle of the facility. The pungent mixture of disinfectant and blood in the air filled her nostrils. White-clad medical personnel scurry to and from occupied beds separated by curtains, attending to patients with practiced calmness, accuracy, and precision. Those with worse injuries were swiftly brought to the private rooms or the intensive care unit further down the hallway outside.
The commanding officer greeted the nearest employees and moved along the rows of beds. She did not need guidance to her target - the Shackles told her where the Sinners were. She saw some of the usual visitors of the infirmary - Ninety-Nine and Corso - and a few less regular patients - McQueen and Lisa. Those who returned from their dispatches were also there, including the person she was searching for.
The Chief heard someone arguing at the other side of the curtain and took a deep breath. She pulled the curtain aside, nearly tearing it off from its rod. All three - the patient, the doctor, and the nurse - froze at her sudden appearance; the third was holding a tray with a glass of water and a couple of pills the MBCC’s top authority was familiar with. It did not take a genius to figure out what was happening.
“Ah, Chief….”
The said woman regarded the two medical personnel with a nod before sweeping her eyes at the patient’s physical condition. It looked worse than the initial report declared. The once-pristine bandages and hospital gown were soaked in red. She could not see the actual wound, but she was sure it would scar permanently. Cases like this should be attended to in a private room, but she could bet her right arm what happened. If she were not swamped with work today, she would have come and checked things earlier.
“Well, well, well. Ain’t this nice? To what do I owe the pleasure of the esteemed MBCC Chief’s visit?”
The Chief’s glare was met with a self-satisfied smirk that would have turned her legs into jelly if she had not been furious. The patient leaned back against her pillow as if watching a good fight on the sidelines. She did not seem bothered that the MBCC’s top authority went to see her first despite the other Sinners in the infirmary. If anything, the goddamn bastard had the audacity to grin at her as if she was not shot in the abdomen and bleeding on the white sheets hours ago. The Chief would have let it go if the other woman had not been so stubborn.
“Why don’t you tell me -” The Chief retorted. “- Sinner-028?”
Something dropped on the tiled floor with a loud CLANG! Silence fell over that side of the infirmary, spreading like wildfire to the rest. Heads turned in their direction - their stern expressions morphed to complete shock. The Chief could not blame them - she rarely addressed the Sinners in their official designations outside interrogations. If she did, it only meant they were in big trouble.
Zoya, to her credit, was unfazed. She chuckled, sitting up to look at the other woman properly. The wince had not gone unnoticed by the latter - the pain echoed through the Shackles like a red-hot knife stabbing against her side. “I don’t know what you mean, Chief.”
“Oh? Then why don’t you tell me why you disobeyed your orders?” The Chief shot back. “Your dispatch mission should be a piece of cake, especially for someone of your caliber. A fight could have been avoided. So, pray tell, why did you get a bullet in your abdomen?”
“Are you worried about me, babe?”
Oh, this fucking shit!
It was well-known within the MBCC that the Chief and the commander of the Legion were dating. The couple did attempt to conceal their relationship, but with the other Sinners trying to make a move on the Chief, it did not take long before S-Rank Fury Sinner took matters into her own hands. The shock was too much for some, and the Chief had no choice but to be honest with her subordinates before things spiraled out of control.
It was not unexpected that the couple would become the center of attention for the next few months, nor were some bureau employees disapproving of their relationship. The 9th Agency had been lenient as long as the Chief’s duty came first. Because of this, boundaries were discussed and set to avoid interference with work. There was nothing much to compromise - the two admired and respected each other’s interests and dedication to protecting and caring for everyone under their wings.
Since then, it had become typical to witness Zoya publicly displaying affection to her girlfriend to ward off those who had not given up trying to woo the latter. It worked, though flirting with the MBCC’s top authority in front of the commander of the Legion had been a favorite in rounds of truth-or-dare. The entire bureau eventually accepted their relationship, even joking that the two sometimes acted like stern, doting parents.
However, that did not mean the S-Rank Fury Sinner could escape the Chief’s wrath when she rightfully deserved it. “Don’t you fucking ‘babe’ me!” The latter growled. “Otherwise, you better have a good excuse for not taking the painkillers.”
Still, despite that cold, sharp tone, Zoya remained infuriatingly composed. She had heard it before and had been a subject of it a few times, especially during the mandatory interrogation. However, it did not mean she could brush it off. If her girlfriend used that tone, it only meant she was genuinely agitated. God knew how much Zoya hated making her upset.
“You know me. I’m fine.” The commander of the Legion reassured her, emphasizing the two words. “I’ve had worse injuries than this. This is nothing.”
However, the Chief refused to fall for that. That alone would not be enough to appease her. She had heard that excuse too many times. “Ho? Trying to be smartass, huh? Cut the crap, Zoya. The Shackles don’t lie.”
The people around them, both Sinners and non-Sinners alike, were taken aback by the aggressive shift from the usually warm and gentle Chief. While the MBCC’s top authority was no pushover, everyone assumed that the S-Rank Fury Sinner was the one who wore the pants in their relationship, given how overwhelmingly dominant and intimidating she was. Only for the current lovers’ quarrel to rouse doubts and shift betting favors.
“Babe, I mean it.” The commander of the Legion insisted. “I’m fine. I’ll be out of here today. Right, doc?”
The doctor hesitated, glancing between the Chief and his patient. He seemed close to running away from the increasing tension between the two. No one in their right mind would want to be near should this verbal fight escalate. “That’s….”
The Chief crossed her arms. “Don’t drag others into this. I asked you a question. Why aren’t you taking the painkillers?”
“I don’t need it.”
“You don’t need it?” It sounded incredulous to the Chief’s ears that she could not help but chuckle humorlessly. Her patience was running dangerously thin, and she was this close to smacking her girlfriend. “What? Do you want me to test it out and see if you don’t really need it? Do you honestly think you can hide how much your wound bothers you from me? Really, Zoya?”
“Remind me how much you fussed over me the last time I was transferred from the ICU a month ago. You told me I was too reckless and stubborn for my own good. Well, guess what? You also fall into that category!”
“Now, take those painkillers, or so help me. I’ll ban you from missions for the next three months!” The Chief raised her hand to stop the other woman from interrupting her. “If that’s not enough, well…see you after those three months.”
Zoya’s eyes widened. She would have jumped off the bed if her abdomen were not killing her. “Are you shitting me?” She exclaimed. “Don’t you fucking dare -”
“Reach out through the Shackles, love.” The Chief challenged. “I’m sure you’ll sense how serious I am right now.”
The S-Rank Fury Sinner clicked her tongue in annoyance, earning her another searing glare. She ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “Hahhh… fine. I’ll take the goddamn painkillers.”
Hearing that was a relief. The Chief was about to let go and take that as a win if she did not glimpse the familiar smirk on Zoya’s lips. She should have known that the commander of the Legion would not surrender so easily. That mischievous twinkle in her lover’s eyes was everything she needed to predict what would happen next.
“Only if you make me.”
Something snapped inside the Chief. The raging fire inside her was fueled not by anger but by something else entirely. She stepped beside the nurse, snatching the pills on the tray. “If I did that and succeeded,” She motioned for the doctor and the nurse to give her space beside the bed. “Are you going to stop being stubborn and do as you’re told?”
Zoya grinned wolfishly. Her posture never failed to ooze arrogant confidence. “Sure, babe. Only if you - HEY!”
Calloused hands harshly shoved the S-Rank Fury Sinner back onto the bed with one swift movement. Red light erupted from them and pierced her limbs, firmly pinning her to prevent any escape. Even if the commander of the Legion tried to, she would not do as much of a struggle because of her injury. The metal headboard rattled above her as one of the hands gripped it. Hair as black as the darkest storm fell like curtains on both sides of her head. A pale face leaned down among it - its platinum eyes shone like a predator in the night. Any shred of shame of the situation was nonexistent.
“You’ve been a bad puppy.” The Chief husked. “It seems I’ll have to discipline you properly.”
“What are you -”
The Chief popped the pills into her mouth and grabbed Zoya’s face with her free hand. Any protest was drowned by her lips crashing down on the other. She heard scandalized gasps in the background but could not care less. She drank every muffled resistance in a drunk-like frenzy, sliding her tongue inside her girlfriend’s mouth and forcibly transferring the pills down her throat. The commander of the Legion could not do anything but accept and swallow.
The Chief held their position in place briefly before pulling away breathlessly. Her face slid down the crook of her lover’s neck, and she sank her teeth. A groan vibrated under the sensitive skin as she sucked and tasted blood, leaving a mark that would definitely get her in trouble with the medical personnel. She kissed the swollen skin and let go. The commanding officer wiped the corner of her lips, looking down in satisfaction at the flustered form of her girlfriend.
“Did you just…” Zoya panted. “You - Fuck....”
“I told you I’ll discipline you, right?” The Chief pressed a gentle palm on her girlfriend’s chest. “Everyone might see you as a dangerous wolf, love, but not me. You’re my puppy. My adorable, fierce wolf pup. If anyone has a right to teach you a lesson, it’s me.”
“Now, will you be a good and listen to the doctor’s orders? If you do,” The Chief said, leaning down against the other woman’s ear. Her warm breath sent a pleasant shiver up the latter’s spine. “I’ll reward you generously once you’re out of here. What do you think, love?”
That offer sounded dangerously seductive to Zoya, just like how she wanted. It was something she could never resist or turn down. The humiliation from earlier melted into an insatiable hunger and unquenchable thirst - one that only the MBCC’s top authority could satiate. The Chief did not need to reach into the Shackles to know she was triumphant. The wordless growl and the dark glimmer in the S-Rank Fury Sinner’s eyes were all the answers she needed. She sat straight and patted her girlfriend’s cheek fondly.
“Good girl.”
The Shackles disintegrated into pinpricks of red light, and the Chief stood up. She patted her uniform and turned to the doctor and the nurse, slipping back into the air of professionalism in a second. “I’ll leave her in your care. Make sure she’s transferred to a private room. If she resists, report to me immediately.”
“...Understood, Chief.” The doctor coughed. His fist barely hid the light red he shared with many others. “And if I may be so bold, I ask that you please avoid engaging in any strenuous activity for the entire month. Miss Zoya needs to rest and recover as much as possible. That includes activities outside missions and dispatches.”
Oh.
“Also, please avoid injuring the patient again, regardless of your intention and meaning. If you must, please do so after the patient recovers and in a private setting.”
It was the Chief’s turn to blush. Only then did she realize what she had done, the implication of her earlier words, and the fact that they had an audience the entire time. Her authoritative confidence faltered in the face of embarrassment. “I-I will keep that in mind.” She hurriedly answered, trying and failing to keep her dignity intact. “Now, if you’ll excuse me....”
The Chief did not waste another second to make her exit. Even if she managed to take a breather, the news would spread like wildfire inside the bureau and would follow her whenever. She could handle that, but not the consequences that came after. She might have to accept Bai Yi’s invitation for late-night drinking tonight just to forget her woes.
Suffice to say, Nightingale gave her an earful the next day while Langley laughed gleefully at her plight.