Multi-Dimensional Merchant System

Oliver sighed in regret as he reluctantly sent a text to Polina apologizing for being gone all night. She had left early to spend the day with her mom, and he was grateful for the chance to catch up on the sleep he missed.

And it had nothing to do with wanting to avoid the looming conversation. Or so he lied to himself unconvincingly.

(Eve) 10pm, at the abandoned storage place on North Sherman. You'll find the fucker that hired me there.

Oliver's eyes were still bleary from sleep as he read, and it took a moment for his sluggish mind to process the contents of the text. Sitting up slowly in the bed, he read it again as suspicion and annoyance warred with his eagerness at the opportunity. After a few seconds of hesitation, he fired off a return text.

(Oliver) And how can I be sure this isn't another setup? What possible reason do you have to help me?

(Eve) Because I want to, why else?

He wasn't really surprised by the prompt response. She had to have expected him to question it-or to just ignore her entirely, considering they weren't exactly on good terms after she kidnapped on of his friends.

(Oliver) That answer won't work with me. I was already planning to block your number, so thanks for reminding me.

(Eve) No point in blocking this number, since I can just get a new one!

Oliver just sighed in annoyance. Considering how many burner phones he had already gone through himself, he knew how easy it was to do. And it wouldn't surprise him if this chaotic gremlin of a vampire did it just to continue pestering him. Unless he changed numbers himself, he was unlikely to stop her. And that would be annoying all on its own.

It also wouldn't surprise him if she found some way to get his new number, as her plan to lure him in had shown she was at least somewhat intelligent.

(Oliver) I still don't have a reason to trust anything you tell me.

(Eve) Fine, fine. Those assholes gave me shit information. They said you were just some mundane college kid. If I had known you had some magic and shit, I would have taken precautions against it. And beaten you, obviously. Faulty intel sucks.

(Eve) So, it's their fault the job was fucked.

(Eve) Also, those guys are assholes.

(Eve) Also also... If I help you, you'll owe me and maybe decide not to try and kill me in the future.

(Eve) I mean, I doubt you could kill me, but you trying would definitely put a damper on our relationship.

Oliver mulled over what she said as he hopped in the shower. While it may have sounded like she was making excuses for losing, he knew that things could have easily gone differently if she actually had been prepared... Which is one of the reasons he had made so much of a point of keeping his secrets.

Shaking off the recurring dilemma of maintaining his secrets, he shifted his thoughts back to what she said. It wasn't her employers fault that they gave her faulty intel, as that was all they had themselves. But her holding a grudge over it... Yeah, that tracked, especially since she almost lost an arm because of it.

But her last text...

Stepping out of the shower, Oliver dried off quickly before firing off another text.

(Oliver) We don't have a relationship. And if this IS a trap...

(Eve) That's just because I haven't had a chance to woo you properly. Just give it time.

(Eve) And this is definitely not a trap, I swear. Vampire's honor!

Oliver stared at the phone, shock written across his face. While he was typically oblivious to things of this nature, even he could see that Eve was trying to flirt with him... He just didn't understand why. Their one real interaction ended with him cutting off her arm!

(Oliver) You can't woo me, Eve. I have a girlfriend. And all of my previous threats would be minor compared to what I'll do if you try to mess with her.

(Oliver) Assuming she didn't kill you first.

(Eve) I don't mind sharing ;)

Oliver just sighed as he tucked his phone in his pocket. It was clear that Eve had to be crazy. There was just no other explanation he could think of. And, if threats wouldn't stop her, maybe ignoring her would get her to just forget about him and move on.

He could hope, at least.

Opening the bedroom door, his stomach rumbled as he was hit by the scent of food being cook. He headed swiftly down the short hall to the kitchen, a small smile crossing his face at the sight of his girlfriend cooking dinner. In just a few quick steps, he cross the kitchen to wrap his arms around her from behind. “Hey hon. That smells amazing.”

Polina turned her head to give him a kiss before shooing him off. “I can't cook with you hanging off me, sleepy-head. You don't want me to burn it, do you?”

He reluctantly released her from his grasp and poured drinks for them before taking a seat at the table nearby. Caught up in the simple domestic moment, he almost missed her question.

“Is everything ok with Tyrone? I know you said he was in trouble and needed help, but I got a little worried when I woke up this morning and you weren't home.”

Oliver silently cursed his own stupidity for not at least texting her to let her know everything was ok. “I'm sorry about that, hon. It was a little crazier than I expected, and we decided to grab some food afterwards. I guess I lost track of time as we were talking.”

“I feel like an ass for not thinking to let you know everything was fine.”

Setting the plate down in front of him, Polina gave him a hug and a gentle smile. “It's ok, Oli. I know that happens sometimes. Just try to keep me in the loop if anything like this happens again, ok?”

Oliver shifted awkwardly in his seat for a moment before meeting her gaze. “About that...” Clearing his throat, he reluctantly pressed on. “I've got some stuff to handle again tonight. For work, I mean.”

“Your boss wants you to work tonight? I thought you set your own hours?”

Oliver sighed internally. Tyrone had made a good point about him needing to talk to Poli about things, but... He was struggling with the idea. What if telling her ruined their relationship? What if she hated him for the things he had done?

What if not telling her strained their relationship and messed things up anyway?

That thought hit him like runaway truck. He knew lies and secrets could damage or even destroy a relationship. He had experienced it himself with Jess. Was he sabotaging his own relationship by not being honest with her?

And could he really say that he loved her if he kept lying to her?

“This is more of an unexpected opportunity with a limited time frame. But... Once I wrap this up, we should probably sit down and talk about my job. I think...”

Staring at his food, Oliver let out a deep breath. “I think that, if I want this relationship to work, you deserve to know what it is I do. And who I am when I'm working, because that is a very different version of me than you have ever seen.”

“And because... I really want this relationship to work.”

“I love you Polina. I can't imagine not loving you.”

Oliver's heart was in turmoil. The prospect of opening up and showing Polina everything, even the darker side of himself... Scared him in ways he never knew anything could. Twice already his life had been thrown into chaos. First when his mother died and left him feeling lost and adrift, then again Hardeman did his best to destroy Oliver's dreams. And now he faced the possibility of things being upended once again, all of which hinged on the conversation they would inevitably have.

The fact that she was so open and eager for the conversation, even happy about the idea, just weighed on him more.

And now he was about to walk into what may be a trap. Again.

Because of a text from Eve. Again.

But this was the path he chose, and he wasn't planning to second guess it too much.

With a deep breath to try and calm his inner turmoil, he set off.

He had a problem to solve. Or a trap to spring and then destroy.

Either would take his mind off of thing for at least a little while.