Through Different Eyes

 *Creek*

 The front door of an average sized apartment opened to show the outside, revealing a tired- scratch that, Takara always looks tired with the eye bags he has.

 "Wow, you're-.... um... " Jake paused to find the right words to describe the person at his door. "Healthy?"

 Takara sighed as he was currently had nail polish in his hair, it getting stuck like bubblegum. "Can I borrow your shower?"

 Jake raised his hands and stepped aside to let him in. "You know where it is."

 Takara stepped inside the apartment and headed up the stairs to get clean. Making sure to throw his bag onto the couch before doing so.

 Jake watched him leave and waited to hear the sound of water before going tiptoe to get a look at Takara's bag.

 The bag wasn't very big, but what made it odd was that it wasn't some normal bagpack or school bag. The smell of various strong or flowerly scents gave it away as Takara's "bag".

 "Jake?"

 Jake jumped and nearly dropped the bag. "Y-Yes?"

 "Do you have any alcohol? And also shampoo?"

 "Uh.... all I got is root beer-Who drinks in the shower?"

 "Im not drinking!-Ah!" Takara shouted before-

 *THUD*

 Jake looked up at the ceiling with a raised brow, taking a few seconds to put the pieces together of what happened. The only sound being the water falling onto the tiles.

 "Did you try to come out of the shower to ask but slipped?" Jake asked as he held in a laugh.

 "No!"

 "... did you carry your stick?"

 "Who uses a walking stick in the shower?!"

 "Hold on," Jake rolled his eyes and put down the bag. Opting to pull out his phone and ask the experts who may know how to deal with the situation.

 *VRRRM*

 *VRRRM*

 *VRRRM*

 "Hello?"

 "Honey. What did you do now?" Susten asked from the other end of the phone.

 "I haven't done anything. Just want a tip on how to remove nail polish from your hair." Jake replied as he got up to look around for something.

 "... you know what. You'll update me about the reason for such a question when I get back. This is what you do."

 Jake nodded and hummed in reply as he was now crawling down to look under the couches in search for just what Takara needed.

 Under the couches, behind the fridge, under the staircase, behind the door- how could something so long get lost within a few seconds. Jake searched around until he finished the call. Deciding to just ask the person instead of wasting time by searching.

 Upstairs, Jake made his way to the bathroom. Ready to hold onto the door handle and slide it open. Takara beat him to it though and slid it open, letting his hand peak out to get the stick by the door.

 "Oh. You have your stick. I was thinking it was on top of the fan like last time."

 Takara's hand grabbed his stick before gesturing for Jake to get closer with a finger.

 Jake leaned in only to get a whack on the head with the stick.

 "Hey! Dont blame me for your fall." Jake giggled while holding his head.

 "Its your bathroom."

 *click*

 Jake mockingly moved his mouth while Takara spoke from inside. Folding his arms before leaning aganist the wall.

 *shhhhh*

 "Youre still bathing?"

 "Do you know how hard it is to get nail polish out of your hair? But it's coming out."

 "Cool," Jake paused to think before shrugging his shoulders. "By the way, we have a new mission today."

 "Which is?"

 "Sus told me to check out a few malls to buy some groceries." Jake pulled out his phone. "Sent me a whole PDF budget."

 "And why am I involved? They sent you, be a man and finish the mission."

 "Well, fortunately for me I have two leeches which suck off every chance of change i have in my wallet." Jake huffed as Takara walked out of the bathroom in a simple shirt and sweatpants. 

 Takara raised his hands in innocence as Jake glared at him. "Dont look at me, who told you to have the cash."

 Jake raised a finger but just sighed knowing it won't be a valid point in this argument. Luckily something else made the man smirk. "Atleast you got your hair clean."

 Takara glanced up at his hair which had poofed up into a large afro. "Thanks.."

 As he combed his hair down Jake showed him the document, the file being more than three pages thick. Back to back.

 "We seriously need to buy all of that?" Takara asked after tying his hair into the signature long braid hanging down till his knee.

 "Yeah, and the girls are all out. So its just to get it done."

 "Well, we better start now. I have an appointment later in the evening." Takara sighed and turned to head down stairs.

 Once their mission was confirmed the two got the things men need to go shopping. Some cargo pants, a bagpack and the money needed.

 Leaving the apartment was the easy part of the mission, the rest of it though was more complicated as of all the things two needed foe the trip, they forgot to carry their words.

 What do I mean by words? The two were walking down the street, looking around, kicking a stone on the sidewalk and having a calm pace... without talking

 *tack tack tack*

 Takara watched Jake kick a small pebble down the street and looked up, seeing that the buildings were no longer clean and crisp. Them being broken, graffiti styling the buildings like a forgotten piece of artwork.

 "Hey," Takara tapped Jake's shoulder.

 Jake flinched and calmed down after seeing that it was only him. "Whats up?"

 "What happened to the building?"

 Jake looked up and shrugged his shoulders. "Oh. Civil War. Broke when a bomb hit it. Nearly blasted me too."

 Takara raised a brow as Jake smirked.

 "What? Surprised that I survived it?" Jake turned to continue walking.

 Takara huffed and rolled his eyes with a small smile.

 "Well," Takara caught up. "I've met all the races and ate with every. Single. One of them."

 "What?!" Jake froze as Takara chuckled and continued walking.

 *Taptaptaptap*

 Takara jumped after seeing Jake rush up infront of him and hold him by his shoulders.

 "You've ate with every race?!" Jake asked.

 "Yes I have." Takara pushed him back with his stick. "Why ask?"

 "This is what we need to rebuild our shop!" Jake beamed. "If we are able to cook for every single race out there we can attract more customers, get our sales up, help the struggling families in the refugee cities, and no longer be broke!"

 "Youre just doing that so that you can record the races in your notebooks." Takara deadpanned before walking around him to keep going. "Plus we'd need sponsors to boost our cash if we want to pass that deadline."

 Jake was about to speak but paused as Takara made silent jumps onto the broken debris. Moving like a cat before making a dismount on the third floor of the building. Surprised at how this is the same person who slipped in the bathroom.

 "Ta- aren't we supposed to be heading to the malls?" Jake pointed down the road.

 "That would take too long." Takara pointed behind him. "Besides, this is a shortcut I use when going up."

 Jake raised a brow and climbed up, taking a few seconds to know which part was safe before standing next to Takara.

 "Damn you Viners and your.... Climbing skill...." Jake slowly shut his mouth before looking out at what Takara was pointing at. Taking a few steps forward.

 Out far into the horizon, as far as the eyes could see, was the Forgotten City. Silvarien.

 The once a buzzing city, was crushed and blown about, creating a scene almost like the ruins of an old castle. Vines, grasses and even trees adding more to the natural silence as a gentle breeze blew through the hollow buildings.

 "How do you?-"

 "Many kids hang around here... and some refugees too." Takara stepped over, gazing out into the open. "I guess to some of us... it feels like home.."

 Jake glanced down at Takara before looking back out at the scenery. Deciding not to say much and let the moment sink, looking out at the horizon line as the faint shape of the Imperial palace could be seen.

 He didn't even realize how long he'd been staring until Takara nudged him with his stick.

 "You good?"

 Jake blinked. "Yeah. Just thinking."

 "Shortcut?"

 Jake nodded, not really processing. "Sure."

 Then Takara took off.

 No warning. Just a blur of movement and wind as the Viner leapt off the third floor, catching a metal pole, swinging down onto another ledge, vaulting across a broken staircase, and landing cleanly on the far side.

 Jake scrambled to follow, shouting, "We're shopping! Not in a chase scene!"

 Takara paused, looked over his shoulder and nodded to gesture for him to follow.

 Jake muttered under his breath, took a breath, and followed.

 They ran through the debris field, hopping low fences and zigzagging through collapsed rooftops and forgotten corridors. But something shifted. As they moved deeper, the quiet ruins began to fill with life.

 Children ran barefoot through the narrow alleys. Teens painted over old graffiti with bursts of color and wild designs. Families were patching tents, cooking, laughing. The buildings being covered and over grown with massive trees, mosses and vines. Birds scattering once he ran passed.

 The ruins were broken, yes—but they were alive.

 Jake slowed. His legs kept moving, but his mind drifted. Wondering.

 All he remembered are sirens. Gunfire. A boy's voice screaming for help in a language he didn't speak. Yet..

 He blinked.

 Now there were kids playing around a large destroyed airport. The place being nothing more than a quiet overgrown cave as the kids laugher echoed from the inside.

 He blinked.

 Snap.

 "Jake."

 Takara's fingers clicked in front of his face.

 Jake jolted upright to see colorful racks of clothing, the bright lights of a refurbished mall gleaming down. Finding the Viner who he was chasing covering himself behind the curtain of a changing room.

 "I asked if Susten would like the blue one or the teal. You alright?"

 Jake took a second to breathe before smiling.

 "Yeah. Teal's too fancy. She'll complain it's over-designed."

 Takara nodded and closed the curtain without a word, leaving Jake with the.... bags?

 Jake looked down at the bags which were leaning aganist the long couch and opened to see what was actually bought. You can't tell me he zoned out for that long.

 "Hey, Secretary." Jake called. "Why are we buying all of this? I thought she said we were broke?"

 "Broke to start the business. Not your daily living."

 "Daily living my butt, why would she need to buy decorative towels? They cost three times the price."

 *srrrk*

 "Says the guy who has a note book for each race." Takara shot back after pulling the curtain aside. "What do you think?"

 Jake looked over at Takara and blinked. Then blinked again. "I know this is a usual question but how do you keep doing that?"

 Takara was now wearing a long lavender dress with frills on the edges, a sun hat and finally white medium heels. He even twirled. "What do you think?"

 "Honestly it brings out your eyes." Jake nodded.

 "I wanted to know if it fits. Not if it matches my style." Takara folded his arms.

 Jake shrugged. "Well, you should have asked. Speaking of fits, do you always buy your disguises?"

 "No, just use a long shawl for the most part. Just buy the other things I might with it." Takara checked himself in the mirror.

 *snap*

 "Well~ " Jake smirked. "Since we are gonna be pulling some fast strings, don't you think you should work your speed of disguises?"

 Takara glanced at him from the corner of his eye, knowing well what that smirk meant in his language. The answer would be an obvious no, but he did bring up a good point on how desperate they need to bring back the shop.

 "Alright. So what? Speed test?"

 Jake nodded. "Yes... and I get to pick."

 Takara raised a brow as Jake scampered off. "Is this revenge for ditching you in Silvaren?!"

 "Yes!"

 Takara trembled with dread as his sunhat drooped down together with his mood. "There goes my dignity...."

 "Ha!"

 Speed run.

 On your marks.

 Get set...

 *click*

 "Change baby- Wise sage!" Jake clicked his new stopwatch.

 Takara slung the curtain open and held his stick. Long draping robes, sandals built for fantasy and even his hair being dyed a shade of grey. "Do we seriously have to do this? I'm not that old."

 "Well.. those bags under your eyes make it-"

 *whack*

 Takara's stick met Jake's foot.

 "Ow! Okay okay!" Jake whimpered as he held his hurting foot. "How did you even dye your hair?.."

 *click*

 "Change- Millitary officer!"

 *srrk*

 Dressed in camouflage patterned pants and rusty boots, Takara had a purple sash around the shoulders to finish the outfit. Some badges hanging off the shoulder and chest as his hair was slicked back in a tight bun.

 "Damn, even got the badges." Jake nodded.

 The two ended up taking more time as usual, from a nobles dress, a school uniform, a Hunters attire and even a villagers clothes- they ended up enjoying the little fashion show as Takara was even posing like a model.

 Unfortunately for them, you can't wear clothes without paying so they both knew who stood behind Jake with a pissed off face. Thus after giving a deep bow of apology to the shopping staff the two were kicked out of the mall with a ban which will last for two weeks. Wow, even a mall can ban you.

 However...

 "Hey Secretary~"

 "Im not helping you carry that."

 Jake whined as he was carrying more than seven large bags on his shoulders, between his arms and body and of course his hands. After claiming 'a man only travels once'. "Come ooooon, why not? I'm your boss you know."

 "Well, who told you to get married." Takara walked on ahead. Using his stick to carry only one bag over his shoulder. "Besides, why ask a leech for help?"

 Jake gasped as if he was hurt. "Dont insult the power of love. So you'll help this poor man trying to fend for his family?"

 Takara pulled out a pair of glasses and turned back to look at him with a peak 'glasses down judging face'. "Hmmmmmmm. Nope."

 A smug smile tugged at Takara's lips once he turned to continue walking. Leaving Jake's mouth gaping as he even held his hip and slayed down the sidewalk as if he was a model. His braid swaying like a proud cat.

 "Ah! Showoff!"

 Takara rolled his eyes. "You do know that we are using the shortcut right?"

 Jake paused and groaned in despair once he remembered that they had to go through Silvaren again with all the heavy, dragging, suffocating bag-

 "Come on, we can buy some drinks from the change." Takara chuckled.

 "Oo! I want root beer!" Jake popped up and jogged over.

 The two continued their merry way as Takara chuckled at his boss antics. Heading back home to accomplish the mission they were hired to complete.

 .

 . .

 . . .

 *fssssssh*

 The sun had already set leaving the stars and moon to take the night shift.

 Inside Jake's apartment the kitchen was calmly upbeat as the boys were cooking dinner. Jake handling the main foods while Takara took on making a weirdly deep red sauce with purple floating pieces.

 Jake hummed as he served the cooked octopus with salads on five plates, putting different amounts of each before getting bowls to serve the rice. Humming a simple song to himself.

 "Honey?....."

 Takara finished the sauce and turned off the stove. "Your wife is needy again."

 "Coming dear!" Jake assured her from the kitchen as he finished serving, stepping back for Takara to put his sauces. "Still wonder what you put that stuff."

 "Just do what my dad tells me when eating mom's cooking."

 "Which is?"

 "Eat first and ask questions later."

 Jake gave him flat stare as Takara turned and tapped his shoulder.

 "Go feed them before Melusine eats us."

 Jake remembered who was dying and quickly got to serving.

 At the dinner table he found the three dead bodies sprawled on the table, some groaning for life while others had already gone into the light.

 Melusine sniffed the air and immediately perked up. "Food."

 Jake chuckled and placed Susten's food infront of her before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Hold your hunger Mel."

 "Thanks Jake.."

 Jake patted her head before getting the next plate and bowl to feed his daughter. "Let me guess another sprain?"

 "Do you know how hard it is to cheer? My leg is still killing me." Toga whined with her head on the table, hearing her plate touch the table.

 "Ask Secretary, he's got them skills."

 Toga raised her head and brow. "You mean the guy who always has a walking stick?"

 "Trust me, that stick is not for walking..." Jake grimaced. "Its for violence-"

 Jake nearly jumped feeling something poke his back.

 "Relax, I'm not hitting you yet." Takara assured as Jake stepped aside for him to walk past and serve himself and Jake. "Better hurry. The guard dog is growling.".

 Jake hurried off to the kitchen after sensing Melusine's piercing glares of hunger.

 *clank*

 Jake placed two bowls of rice and a large plate for her before walking over to his chair. Sighing in relief that the day was over.

 However, before they could dig into their salivating meal the four all waited for Takara to start eating. Most importantly, eat the sauce.

 Takara chewed slowly sensing the gazes and let out a breath. "Its safe."

 Now they started eating. Small chatter passing around about their day and how everybody had a rough day.

 "Its so annoying dealing with uptight people all day, its like they think they have such high standards yet they came into a convient store near the refugee cities." Susten scoffed as she meticulously used her fork and knife to eat. "But, that's for another day of complaining. Did anyone find out anything about our deadline?"

 Melusine got a handful of rice and octopus, swallowing it before speaking. "Well," licked her fingers. "I found out we aren't the only ones. Four other shops got demolished in the last two weeks." 

 Toga slowed down after some of her hunger was quenched. "... so, does that mean we are next?"

 Jake and Susten glanced at each other.

 Jake sighed, tapping his bowl with his fork trying to pick good words. "I don't-"

 *KRACK*

 The four paused after hearing a plate shatter on the floor in the kitchen. Glancing at each other to see that it was Takara who was in the kitchen. Hearing a few angry mutters which turned into a long sigh.

 Jake got up but didn't step forward after seeing Takara walk out sticking a bandaid on his hand.

 "I cleaned the mess." Takara stood in silence. "... its just my rent... its been five months due.."

 Jake walked over and patted his back, Toga nodded over to the table.

 The two sat down at the table as Susten gave that glance of worry at Jake. Jake letting out a breath with a little shake of his head before sitting down.

 The table going silent as everyone slowly stopped eating. Melusine glancing at her empty bowls and plate knowing well of what was running through everyone's mind.

 "Mel?" Jake asked.

 Melusine leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, resting her head on the backrest. "Nothing, the hot season is still going so the pastures aren't large enough."

 Jake nodded and looked over at Takara, but from what he heard... Jake already knows what Takara would answer.

 Takara just shook his head.

 Looking over across from him, Jake looked over at Susten who just glanced down at her food and then nodded at the shopping bags in the living room.

 Jake looked over into the dark living room. Wondering why she glanced there, all that was there just new clothes for everyone, dried foods, some utensils as if she planned for them to live out in the woods for weeks.... without money...

 Jake gave her nod with a small smile.

 "I have a fifty?" Toga broke the silence.

 Jake's eyes widened a bit at this but gave a nod at her as well, the smile on his face staying a bit longer before looking down at his food. The smile falling back down.

 "I'm.. sorry I couldn't make the judge agree before the case." Takara rubbed his arm.

 "You knew the judge was going to give us the deadline before the court session?" Melusine leaned forward. "Then why didn't you say anything until it was sent to us?"

 "I thought I could try again. But-" Takara snapped before letting out a breath. "I couldn't."

 Silence....

 No words, no spoons being lifted. Just glances between them at the table.

 No money, no savings, bills to pay, few supplies and mouths to feed.

 Everyone knew how it would affect themselves and the other and the worst part is, as bad as their reputation is, they weren't the only ones affected.

 "So what are going to tell our few customers?" Susten asked and pushed her bowl to the side.

 "They are refugees," Melusine asked. "We're the cheapest shop at the bay, so if our shop gets shut down-"

 "They'll have to find a new place to eat." Takara added. "They are our regulars afterall..."

 Jake gently took hold of Sustens hand before looking at the group. Giving it a small squeeze. "Come on guys, we can't just give up like this."

 Everyone looked at him either a raised brow or just a glance from the corner of their eye, waiting to hear what he had to say. Jake gulped to find the right words before looking over at the TV in the living room.

 "Wait. Don't go back to your sad food." Jake got up and walked over to the living room. "Maybe something to lighten the mood."

 Jake searched around for the remote and found it under the couch. "Ah. Okay. What about a show? Any latest movies?"

 Toga sighed as she spun her fork in her bowl of rice. "Nope.."

 "Um, okay. Then, a tragedy?"

 Four unamused glares were shot at him as an answer.

 "Oookay, no sad shows." Jake scrolled through the list.

 "No romance." Melusine suggested. "Too much emotions.."

 Jake scrolled again into a new list.

 "Maybe something funny?" Toga asked.

 "We can't keep avoiding this though" Susten pointed out. "...Maybe something motivating?"

 "Like a war?" Jake raised his hand.

 Takara huffed with a small smile. "How is a war motivating?"

 Jake rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know, I'm just working with what I've got here."

 Jake tapped the "play" button but it got jammed. So like any average guy he banged it aganist his palm for it to work, the group giving some advice on it.

 "Smack it at the tip." Susten advised.

 "I thought that was for Wednesday?" Toga raised a brow.

 "Right, today is a Sunday. So is it to smack at the back or at the right bottom corner."

 Melusine sighed. "Just smack the batteries on the floor. Works for my remote."

 "No wonder you don't watch TV." Takara shook his head.

 *WHACK*

 *click*

 "There is goes." Jake smiled at the button working again, only to groan at what played on TV. "Urrrgghh, the ads are playing again."

 "Which ad is it?" Susten asked before walking over to see.

 Susten walked over and was not sure what the advertisement was about as it started with colorful smoke as some kind of pop song started playing. Getting everyone's attention.

 Jake didn't care and wanted to cancel it but Susten smacked his hand to stop.

 "Wait, what is that?" Takara asked.

 Susten shrugged as she was seeing some kind of musical??

 The rest got up and stood infront of the TV were the couple was standing. Toga accidentally tripping Takara to get a good spot to see.

 "Sorry."

 "Its alright,"

 "So... what? An ad for a music app?" Melusine folded her arms.

 The music became louder as the well dressed singers stepped out onto the stage. The pop song being a catchy rhythm as the singers danced and presented out dishes on shiny redwood plates.

 The group squinted their eyes at the color of the plates and looked up at the singers, seeing a golden icon which was all over the place.

 "Wait a minute." Toga tilted her head to the left.

 Once a large banner was dropped and revealed-

 "S-" Toga read the first letter before-

 "Savory Palace?!"

 Everyone scoffed and even stepped away from the screen just process this.

 "Oh ho, SP?!" Jake held his hip and forehead before pointing at the screen. "Those guys hired an idol? We are in the same place SP! Same Bay!"

 Takara furrowed his brows. "Its those stupid jerks again?"

 "I can't believe this." Susten pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is their one hundredth anniversary?"

 Toga clicked her tongue. "They even have the nerve to make it an ad,"

 "Fumd dimungs."

 Everyone glanced up at Melusine as she was stuffing her mouth with rice. Giving her a minute to say that again.

 Melusine swallowed. "I said 'food demons'. Bet they use people instead of meat."

 Jake rolled his eyes. "But why go so big? Don't they have enough customers already?"

 Jake glanced at his Secretary only to find Takara and Toga vibing to the rhythm moving their shoulders and heads in sync. But stopped after seeing the glare he gave them.

 "The song is pretty catchy, I'll give them that." Takara grumbled

 Melusine knelt down to read the words shown at the bottom of the screen as the ad came to a close.

 "It says that the nobles will be opening a resort by the Bay in the coming months."

 "So that's why these people are using such means to spread out!" Susten clenched her fists. "They want to get the eyes of the nobles so that they can get the food they need from them."

 "Makes sense in why they want us out of the picture." Melusine shrugged as she stood up. "We barely make any profit, not to mention how beat up our shop looks like."

 "Yeah...." Toga whined. "There goes our rivals in suits and dancing with sponsoring idols while we sulk in the corner with moss."

 Takars didn't want to say anything and just waved at Jake for him to switch it off.

 *click*

 After the screen went black the group turned back to clean up the table, though Melusine decided to continue eating. Leaving Jake staring at the screen.

 Jake looked at the screen as if the ad was still on play. Remembering every single detail as big words took the spotlight.

 "Idol... noble.... dishes..." Jake gasped and looked back at the group.

 The rest raised brows at the sudden gasp as a slow smile tugged higher into an evil grin from ear to ear.

 "... are you going to keep grinning or?..." Susten asked with concern.

 "Let me guess, an idea?" Takara asked.

 "Oooohhh yeah~" Jake grinned and rubbed his hands togther like a scheming villain, chuckling to himself as he did so.

 Leaving the group to glance at each and internally ask, 'what the heck is he planning now?'.