It had been months since Tae had gone to sleep without suffering a nightmare. Normally the only cure was a strong drink before bed which left her with an equally miserable headache. Since she had met Eren, Tae had slept easier at night. Her dreams transitioned from awful memories of her past sins to more recent recollections and ideal futures. 

Perhaps she now resided in such an ideal future. She certainly felt that way the morning before Christmas Eve. 

Like every morning for the past week since she confessed her love to him, Tae woke up with Eren snuggled safely between the valley of her firm breasts. The beating of her gargantuan heart lulled him to sleep at night, and staved off bad dreams of his own which had haunted him on occasion from that fateful night in Ginny’s.

Their nightly escapades often left him exhausted and slightly sore, so she typically roused earlier in the morning. Although she was not Eren’s first, she was definitely his biggest and that made sex a challenge at first. He took to the task well though, and demonstrated an eagerness to please that surpassed most partners Tae had in the past speck or not. 

On occasion at bars when she was drowning her sorrows away, men and women would throw themselves at her in droves for a potential one night stand. Despite the temptation, her days of casual hook-ups were over. All she had wanted to do was wallow by herself, until she met Eren. 

He stirred upon her bosom, as if able to sense that she was awake. Before he was fully aware of his surroundings she carefully turned onto her side and deposited his little body on her pillow. Eren’s eyes blinked open just in time to see a massive pair of plush lips above his torso.

“Good morning.” She whispered softly before smothering him in a passionate kiss. Eren mumbled something similar in response and embraced her immense mouth. Her hot breath washed over him, pleasantly warm in the cool winter daybreak. 

This is heaven. Tae thought blissfully as she showered her boyfriend in affection. After a few intense minutes she tore away and flopped onto her back next to him and let out a satisfied sigh.

Eren wiped some of the moisture from her lips off his face. “Did you sleep well?” He asked and reclined on the pillow.

“Very.” Tae craned her head to the side to glance at the clock on the nightstand. “We slept in. It’s almost noon.” She noted and sat up to stretch.

After a few more minutes of lounging about Tae finally felt ready to begin the day. She slipped out from under the sheets and extended her hand for Eren to step into like a roaming platform. With a yawn he did so and brushed long dark strands of hair out of his face. 

Once she reached the bathroom Tae placed him on the edge of the sink where a small speck-sized station was set up for Eren. Both of them went about their morning routine; for Eren that included trimming off whatever hairs had formed on his cheeks or chin and putting his lengthy hair up with a few pins and hair ties, and washing his face. Tae meanwhile accomplished the first parts of her complex skincare routine with a variety of different personalized products. 

After they were all finished with the bathroom, Tae took Eren into the living room while she brewed some coffee. He had the day off due to the holidays, so nothing would interrupt them from relaxing.

The first thing he did was check his emails to make sure he had not missed anything from Eureka. To Tae’s understanding, the EurekaBot or rather ‘Franklin’ was almost complete and a test run intended to demonstrate the potential of the machine to investors scheduled on New Years Day. Understandably Eren’s boss, Madeleine, was stressed about the deadline. 

All the advanced artificial intelligence and kinetic mechanics would be useless without an efficient power source. Although the technology behind robots had advanced greatly in the past century, they were notoriously power hungry and therefore expensive to maintain. Whereas a human employee could take a fifteen minute break to recharge during a long shift, the average robot needed thrice that to reach an acceptable level. Therefore robot customer service was considered a gimmick or novelty at select stores. 

It was a tall order for anybody to design a stable core; somehow Eren was supposed to accomplish what entire research teams had failed to do. And yet the results on the EurekaBot thus far had been remarkable. With his modifications, Franklin had enough juice to utilize every system for an extended period of time beyond what was normally possible.

Still, it took a heavy toll on Eren. “Do you want any cream?” Tae asked as he rubbed the dark bags under his eyes.

“Black is just fine.” He replied with a yawn. She returned to the living room with a mug shortly afterwards, and poured a drop of coffee into a cup shallower than a bottle cap.

Tae blew the steam away before she took a sip. “What would you like for breakfast?”

“Y'know, today is payday and I still owe you dinner for the suit.” Eren noted. “How about I buy us something for breakfast?” He offered.

“Oooh taking me out for a change! Well if that’s the case there’s that cafe that just opened up near the airport.” Tae suggested. “Mind if Grace tags along? She’s been cooped up in her hotel all week.”

Eren shrugged and closed his laptop. “Bear in mind I’m making slightly above minimum wage so you two will probably be sharing a croissant.” He teased as Tae snatched her phone from the coffee table.

No sooner had Tae shot a text to her cousin when she heard the doorbell ring. 

Odd. Tae thought as she closed out of her text messages to pull up the security feed from an app on her phone. I was not expecting a visitor today.

Eren noticed her confusion and frowned. “Christmas carolers maybe?” He wondered aloud.

“Not sure just yet.” Tae murmured as the security camera began to load. Once more she heard the doorbell ring. Whoever it was happened to be rather impatient. Finally the live feed for her security camera activated. 

Fuck.

Tae felt her heart turn to ice. Her fingers froze above the screen of her phone and she felt her skin become cold and clammy.

Outside of her front door was a police officer. A woman with dark hair tied into a neat bun with a pair of round glasses perched on her nose. She wore a heavy navy blue jacket with the Norwich Sheriff's Department’s symbol emblazoned across the back. Although it was covered by her heavy clothes, Tae knew for certain on the deputy’s belt was her standard issue firearm as well. 

She saw the woman go to press the doorbell again, thought better of it, and this time knocked on the door. 

“Who is it?” 

It was at that point Tae realized she had gone completely rigid. Eren had noticed the immediate change in her demeanor and looked deeply concerned. He tried to glance at her phone and she considered turning it away so he couldn’t see.

Calm down. Breathe. Text Grace. Immediately she exited the app and informed Grace that an officer was at her doorstep. Then, she looked at Eren with a look of surprise. 

“There’s a police officer at the door.” Tae asked, her tone of voice expressed the kind of confusion Eren should expect. “Hang on, I’ll go see what she wants.” She told him and stood up from the couch.

“The police? Why would they be here?” Eren asked in bewilderment.

Tae stepped towards her front door. “No clue.” She called back.

Her front door had a security camera with a microphone attachment outside to allow her to converse with someone without opening the door. With a deep breath Tae pushed the bright green button and spoke into the receiver.

“Good morning.” Tae said conversationally. “How can I help you?” She asked in her friendliest voice.

The officer’s attention turned to the video camera facing her and then the voice receiver above the doorbell. She leaned forward to reply. “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you so close to the holidays. My name is Lt. Claire Weaver, with the Norwich Police Department. Are you Miss Tae Park?” 

“That’s me, yes.” Tae replied. She concealed her anxiety and frustration in both her voice and appearance, lest Eren who was watching closely from the living room couch grow suspicious.

“Good morning Miss Park, like I said I hate to bother you today but I would like to ask you a few questions regarding an incident at Ginny’s about a month ago.”

Ginny’s?! The bar Eren was attacked at?! Tae felt her fingers grow numb. How the hell could someone possibly suspect anything after all this time? I was drunk… it made me sloppy. 

Tae weighed her options carefully. She had no idea how much this deputy knew about the events of that night, which was a big problem if she intended to keep her story straight. The worst case scenario was for her to be caught flagrantly lying, which would definitely attract even more attention. Conversely she could politely claim she was busy and wait for Grace and a legal representative to come speak on her behalf, but if she went through all that trouble would Eren be suspicious? To his knowledge she had defended him from an attempted murder, and should be eager to tell the police so those girls would face punishment. 

Seconds felt like hours as she made her decision, with Eren’s gaze fixated firmly on the back of her head. “May I come inside?” 

“If she wants to talk about what happened, maybe you should clear your name of any wrongdoing? You saved me after all and those girls were never apprehended.” Eren suggested. “Who knows what they told the cops?”

“Good point.” Tae replied through her teeth. She sighed and pressed the green button once more. “Sure thing.” Her voice came over the intercom and she unlocked the door, wary of any sudden movement from the other side. 

As the door opened, Tae felt her phone vibrate as Grace replied to her text message. She could not see what it said since she was preoccupied with the police officer, but could only hope it was good news and her cousin was en route. 

The deputy nodded her head and stepped into Tae’s apartment, careful to dust her boots off before she crossed the threshold. 

She was shorter than Tae,  around the same age in her mid to late twenties. Definitely a bit younger than the average fully-fledged police officer. From her posture Tae could tell the deputy felt relaxed and unconcerned about the possibility of a violent confrontation, which meant she certainly did not know everything. 

Tae strolled back into her living room, her eyes flicked over where Eren was on the couch before she gestured to the kitchen counter. “Would you like a cup of coffee? I just finished brewing some.”

“I’m alright, thank you.” Claire responded in a neutral tone. She scanned over the room, eventually her gaze went over Eren. The officer’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.” Claire said and took a few steps towards Eren. Before she could reach the couch Tae cut in front of her and took a seat right next to Eren, putting herself between him and Claire who took a step backwards. 

“You said you had questions for me.” Tae cut in. Although she was a part of law enforcement and her host had been gracious so far, the look in Tae’s eyes conveyed her thoughts clearly:

So much as look at him the wrong way, and I will kill you. 

There was something about her expression that frightened Claire. In her time as a cop she had stared down countless wannabe tough guys in the interrogation room who hurled threats her way. Oftentimes men twice her size and a violent criminal record that would unsettle even the most hardened deputy. Not once had she ever betrayed fear, but the glare the woman gave her sent shivers down her spine like a knife drawn against the skin. 

Claire cleared her throat and regained her composure before she replied. “Right. On November 27th, the department responded to an emergency call to Ginny’s. Two young women were found badly beaten in the bathroom.” The officer shifted her weight. “A few witnesses placed you at the bar that night, can you confirm if you were there?”

“I’m sorry, but am I a suspect in a crime?” Tae asked and set her mug down on the coffee table.

“I never said that.”

“Well what other reason would the police have to come knocking at my door?” She replied pointedly. “If that is the case I would much prefer my legal representative was here to speak on my behalf.”

Claire raised an eyebrow. “Ma’am I am not here to accuse you of anything, on the contrary I am actually here to help you.” She folded her arms. “I simply want to hear your side of the story and prevent lawyers from getting involved, once that happens who knows how complicated this may end up being, for no reason at all.” 

“Your concern is greatly appreciated, however I would prefer my legal representative be here.” Tae informed Claire and crossed one leg over the other. “She is on her way right now actually, hence why I offered you a drink. You may be here a while and would not want to be a discourteous host.”

As she spoke Claire paced around the living room casually, eventually she passed the other side of the coffee table. The tension in the room had grown significantly, especially after she reached the point where Eren was visible once again. 

He listened to each word with rapt attention but made no effort to interrupt. Claire stared at him from across the living room with an unreadable expression. It was not contempt, which Eren was used to. The best way to describe it was like she was attempting to discern what he was, like he was some strange trinket or peculiar thing. 

“What’s its name?” Claire asked, akin to how someone might inquire after a dog’s name. 

Eren frowned and opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Tae who immediately chimed in. “My apologies, but he will also be represented by my legal advisor.”

“I only ask because allegedly, one of the bartenders at Ginny’s had an encounter with a speck that night as well. She refused it service for a while.” Claire mused. “Would it be a stretch to assume this is that same speck?” She asked.

Tae smiled. “Well I am sure he does not particularly enjoy being called that, ma’am.” She said, Eren noticed her fingers squeeze the couch cushions slightly. “You should apologize.”

“That same bartender was officially reported missing a few days ago.” Claire said dismissively. “Ma’am I would really appreciate your cooperation. Believe me, lawyers will only complicate things. Why don’t we step outside and just talk this out and I’ll be on my-.”

“If you are going to disrespect him like that, in my own home, and ignore my request you apologize like a decent person would, then we have nothing more to discuss.” Tae interrupted and stood up suddenly. Claire instinctively stepped back and her hand hovered closer to her holster as the considerably taller woman with a murderous glint in her eye rose to her feet. “You may wait outside if you like until my lawyer gets here.”

“Miss Park-!” Claire began but was cut off by something over Tae’s shoulder. Tae frowned slightly as the officer’s gaze was enamored by something else. 

At first she hesitated to turn around as well to see what Claire was staring at, but relented after a few moments passed and the brunette made no sudden moves. Claire’s gaze was focused squarely on something happening outside Tae’s living room window on the street below the apartment building. Tae looked outside as well and paused.

Parked outside of the building was Claire’s police cruiser. It appeared to be the epicenter of a commotion which involved several people, many with guns drawn at a single individual who was held down by a few familiar people dressed in suits. The man they were focused on just outside the police car was unfamiliar to Tae, however.

From beside her, Tae overheard Claire say two words before she turned around and bolted out the front door. 

“Goddamnit Thomas!”

(A few minutes earlier)

The person who assaulted Alice was a woman named Tae Park. Thomas was absolutely sure of it. It had taken a full week since he reunited with Claire to gather enough evidence under the radar of the police department to figure that out. Although this was a strictly unofficial investigation, a few choice words and dollar bills slipped to the right people had led them in the right direction.

Claire parked her police cruiser outside of the suspect’s apartment, a luxurious high-rise in downtown Norwich populated by the city’s most elite and wealthy denizens. Somewhere inside was the shitstain who assaulted his sister. 

Next to him, Claire readied herself. “So what’s our plan?” He asked as Claire fished out her winter gloves from her pocket and slipped them on. 

“You stay here. I’ll go see if she’s at least willing to talk.” She replied. 

She better, or I’m going to smash her fucking face in. Thomas thought vindictively.

He hesitated. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you? I don’t have to say anything-.”

“Out of the question. Look, I get that you’re convinced she’s the one who hurt Alice. And honestly I am inclined to agree, but remember we aren’t exactly doing this by the book.” Claire murmured. 

Truthfully nothing they had done in the last week was ‘by the book’. Thomas was no expert but he could ascertain that it was illegal to bring the victim’s brother along to question a suspect. And everything they had done up until now was based entirely off a single witness’s memory.

Things would be different if I didn’t have to return to active duty so soon. Thomas thought begrudgingly. Once the clock hit New Years he would be obligated to return to the Air Force, and any hope of him finding Alice’s assailant would vanish.

Otherwise, if he had the time then he would have been able to rely on an official investigation led by the department. But with such little evidence anything actually sponsored by the authorities would take time to make it through the bullshit bureaucracy and legal process. 

Thomas sighed. “Alright. I’ll wait for you.” He encouraged as Claire departed. “And don’t go easy on her either.” 

“I won’t.” She replied and shut the door. Thomas watched Claire stroll towards the entrance to the high-rise, where she exchanged words with a security officer stationed there. 

After a bit of back and forth she was granted access. Fortunately nobody had called their bluff and asked for documents that proved Claire was on official business on behalf of the sheriff’s office. With luck, Park would be no different and she could be manipulated into a confession.

Minutes bled together as Thomas continued to wait. He tapped his finger against the console anxiously. He tried to imagine the conversation between Claire and Park. What was the woman’s justification for assaulting Alice? Was she a drunkard who decided to pick a fight? It had been bothering him for a while now that Thomas had no clue who in their right mind could ever think to hurt his sister. She was the kindest person on the planet, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Thomas slipped his phone out of his pocket. Nobody had heard anything from her yet. His parents insisted she was probably with a friend from school and would return of her own volition eventually, but he refused to believe it. No way she would miss Christmas dinner over something like this.

Just as Thomas was putting his phone away, a black limousine came to a halt nearby accompanied by several tinted SUV’s. A few people stepped out, clad in suits and appeared to be some kind of entourage. He watched with mild interest, until he caught a glimpse of the woman who stepped out of the limousine.

His heart skipped a beat. 

A rather tall woman with distinct Eastern Asian features, dressed sharply in a white winter coat and heeled boots. Her dark hair billowed in the cold air. 

Is that Park?! Thomas thought and scrambled to get his phone back out. Rapidly he began to text Claire and let her know to rush back downstairs. He glanced back up and realized the woman he presumed to be Tae Park was approaching the apartment entrance. If he did not do something soon, she would vanish.

He set his jaw. I’m sorry Claire, but I can’t miss this chance!

Thomas threw the car door open and practically flew out of the cruiser. His jacket was still inside and the frigid air stung, but the adrenaline which coursed through his veins made up for it. Thomas’s face contorted with fury, confronted by the woman who had beat his sister to a pulp. He broke into a sprint after the woman who was just across the street, her back turned towards him.

“Hey wait a second! I want a fucking word with you-!” Thomas roared before he was interrupted by a tremendous impact against his midsection. He grunted in pain and was sent crashing to the snowy pavement under the weight of three men and one woman all clad in formal suits. 

Before he could fight back his stomach was on the ground and his hands behind his back, a boot pressed firmly into his cheek from one of his attackers. He hurled insults at them and attempted to roll over before they could fully pin him to the snow. Fortunately he maintained control of his legs and managed to gain some leverage to buck one of the men off his back. 

“Get the fuck off me!” He shouted and swung wildly. His fist struck something that felt distinctly like a human nose, and he was rewarded with a warm splash of blood and a gasp of pain. Whoever he hit reeled backwards, which left three more. 

Temporarily free he looked up to see the woman dressed in white was gone, in her place was a swarm of her bodyguards. Many rushed towards him and barked orders in some foreign language with their weapons drawn. 

Then, without warning he felt all the muscles in his body tense up and an immense pain flare in his back. Distantly Thomas could hear the electric pulse of a high voltage taser. He went limp on the ground where two of his assailants immediately held him down.

From the corner of his eye he could see the woman who had first tackled him to the ground stand above him before her leg swung out towards his face. He squeezed his eyes shut just before her boot rammed into his temple. Everything went blurry and he briefly blacked out. 

When he came to a few moments later he was completely surrounded by the bodyguards. Perhaps twenty of them. While several kept his arms painfully restrained behind his back, others grappled his legs together until it was impossible to move an inch of his body. Helpless, the woman who had kicked him unleashed a flurry of brutal strikes upon his skull.

Mercilessly she stomped, smashed and bludgeoned his face into the concrete until finally someone pulled her away. Thomas gasped in pain, his nose now deformed beyond recognition and eyes both almost swollen shut. Blood poured from his busted up lips, which pooled next to a pair of familiar high heeled boots. 

Feebly he looked up into a pair of almond shaped eyes. He snarled with what strength he had left and spat in the direction of her shoe. “F-Fuck you.” Thomas cursed at her, his jaw most certainly fractured.

The woman in white cocked her head to the side in response. Behind her a few of her lackey’s attended to the man whose nose Thomas had broken. Next to her was the female bodyguard who had damn near kicked him to death. Her breath was ragged and she regarded Thomas coldly.

Who he assumed to be Tae opened her mouth to speak when there was a commotion behind her retinue. Several of her bodyguards spun around and began to shout, some of it in English and some in their own tongue. 

“Grace?!” He heard a feminine voice shout distantly. At that the woman in white finally tore her gaze away from Thomas and stepped away.

Grace? Thomas thought in confusion before his one working eye went wide. That… that wasn’t Tae Park just now?

Amidst all the other voices he recognized Claire. She appeared to be engaged in a tense stand-off with the bodyguards who had apprehended Thomas. He could hear her demands for them to drop their weapons, but even in his current state he could tell she sounded terrified.

Fuck… what have I done?!