027 Her Weakness

"What?!--" Kitty started her sentence, only to realized she was basically yelling. She took a deep breath and a few seconds to calm herself before she tried again: "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm here for a drink, which I believe is the one you are holding in your hand." Erebus smiled innocently as ever, and stook up to take the cup on her plate.

Kitty backed a step at his action, trying to hide the plate behind her. She was NOT gonna give him her "Winter Night"! What was going on?!

"Yeah, well, are you aware that you have a bar, TOO?" Kitty stressed on the "too" hard with her mind a total mess, trying to process what he could possibly be here for.

"Ohh, this bar is WAY fancier than mine, right?" Erebus didn't try to steal the drink from her. He just stood there with still the huge smile, looked annoyingly confident and mischievous as if his appearing in front of her was absolutely normal.

"Yeahhhh!" Several voices rose from the table, agreeing Erebus's joke. Of course--

His loyal Dim Patronus.

Kitty couldn't help herself but to check them out. Themis was not there. Menoetius WAS, but he flinched at her observing eyes, fully aware who Kitty was looking for. Even though Kitty DID look a bit suspicious, it was out of the line for Themis to treated her that way.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Erebus made a "please" gesture to another table with a distance to theirs.

"I'm working." Kitty pouted without looking at him. Why was this man everywhere and disturbing her plan of forgetting him?! She wasn't sure whether she was upset at Erebus, or the anger was actually toward herself.

"I'm sure the owner wouldn't mind." Erebus led the way anyways, and he sat by the table, looking at her with anticipation.

"..." It was more like a comfort instead of a threat. Or maybe it was a threat but Kitty just couldn't assume evil of this evil, evil man! She walked over and put the drink between them, sitting in silence.

"How are you doing this past few days?" Erebus put his arms on the table and leaned towards Kitty. He was so good at making people feel noticed and cared for.

"Well, great, actually. I DO own that to you though. Thanks for the room." Kitty was leaning backwards, trying hard to not fall into his trap. She had NO resistance against this man.

"You helped me more. I found out some stuff with the information you gave me, so don't worry about it." Erebus nodded in satisfaction, "Wanna know what I found though?"

"No." Kitty looked away from his stare. She knew she should be paying attention. Perses's particular interest in her didn't feel like finished to her either. But she just wanted to hide from all the emotion mess, especially after Themis made the whole thing sour for her.

"I want to apologize for Themis again, I--"

"Why are YOU apologizing?!" Kitty got irritated again. She only realized that she was so upset because Erebus put himself on Themis's side against hers, and that suddenly rose a bitter jealous after those angry words burst out of her mouth.

"You are right, she owns you an apology. I'm only apologizing because I feel guilty of failing your trust." Erebus quickly explained, "I don't know how I can explain for what I did, I can only try to make amends and hope for your forgiveness."

"It's okay, you don't own me anything. And even if, pretty sure the debt is paid with the room." Kitty shook her head, upset at herself for her unreasonable desire AND anger at the man in front of her, who makes her lose her cool every time she saw him.

Erebus knew that nothing could buy her trust, and forwarding friendship invitation won't work on her either. She was so used to losing good things in her life that she was cutting them loose at the first second that she felt something was good, so she won't feel horrible when she actually loses them, even if it might not come to that.

It was the worst move of him to leave her alone when she was feeling vulnerable the most, and now it would be super hard to gain her trust again.

"I understand that you want to be left alone," Erebus had the next move planned already. It was her ONE weakness, and it was pretty clear the first time they met, "I really need your help."

Kitty nodded at his first sentence, and froze for the second half.

How could she possibly help him? She had nothing, knew no one, and couldn't do much either. How could she be needed by this legendary Alpha who basically owns the city?

"I totally understand if you don't want to help, it's no pressure. I will try to think of something myself--" Erebus faked a wronged face with sadness written all over.

"I'll help." Kitty cut him off, "What do you need?"

He knew she would agree. She might refuse a charity, but she cannot turn down a call for help. After all, she jumped out for him at giant wolves with no weapon or power the first she met him.

"Really? Are you sure?" Erebus kept on his performance. Such a waste. He could have go for the best actor award if he wasn't the lord of the wolves.

"I own you at least that much. I meant it when I say I do appreciate for all that you have done for me." Kitty felt better being in a relationship with him as a helper instead of a silly girl with a crazy crush.

"It's my pleasure." Erebus gave her a bright smile, "So, can I have my drink now?"

Kitty: "..."

Sitting in chair cross the table from Erebus, on the most luxurious root top bar in the city, Kitty suddenly felt her mood lightened for no obvious reason. If only time could stop at this exact moment.

The night just started.