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A woman dressed fully in black, her shoes being her favourite pair of high-legged leather heeled boots that were dressed with some leather jeans and a laced black tank top. All that was paired with a black leather jacket over the top with the jacket unzipped. Of course, with a bullet vest, she didn't wanna get fucking shot again, that was the last thing she needed.

The brunette was dressed in jewellery, her fingers had rings up and down her fingers and each step she took left a click clacking sound from her heels.

The brunette woman didn't pay attention to the stares she had gained as usual as she walked down the train station, her hand holding her phone that she had to her ear, whilst men and women shamelessly gawked at her, oblivious to the blood on her hands and the deeds she had done.

"Em?" Arabella called out through her phone as she walks through the city of Tokyo, heading over to where the bullet train was located to board, "Fuckin' hell, took your time, didn't ya?" She scoffed, her Londoner accent clear in her voice as she spoke.

"Sorry sorry," Maya apologised, a sigh escaping her lips which was heard through her phone, "I got hold up, where you at?"

The other girl Arabella was on the phone with is a close alliance and her handler, one of the people she trusted the most. And Arabella didn't trust many people. They had met when Arabella was 23, a couple years after she had met the twins, and had ran away from everyone and everything again, meeting Maya Inalda on her journeys. 

"I'm about to board." The woman responded, walking past a blonde man who was on the phone too, taking a sharp left.

"You know what you're doing, right?" Maya asked the older girl, her finger tapping continuously over her desk, despite this being her job, her anxiety never lessened.

"Do I—" Arabella couldn't believe she was hearing as a sharp exhale escaped through her nose as she continued her steps over to the train area, "Do I fuck?" She scoffed, the audacity of Maya getting the better of her.

"I'm guessing that's a yes." Maya nodded to herself, holding back an eye roll, looking over at her computer and got down what she needed, her fingers typing on the keys of her computer. Maya was used to the woman's attitude already so she wasn't phased much.

"Of course I fucking do," The Viper shook her head in disbelief, "I'm Arabella Pierce, y'know?"

"Of course I do, you never stop going on about it." Maya couldn't help the dry sass in her voice as she retorted. She had been spending way too much time with Arabella.

"Oi," Arabella clicked her tongue to the roof of her mouth, "Tone it on the attitude darlin'."

Maya ignored her words and decided to ask another question, rephrasing her words, "I just meant are you okay with what you're doing?"

"Murdering a couple people?" Arabella's face twisted into an expression of confusion for once in her life time, "Obviously." She answered, it wasn't as if it was her job or anything.

"No, I mean seeing Tangerine again." Maya returned, not phased by the woman's bluntness.

Arabella almost tripped over her own feet at that, cursing under her breath as she fixed her strides, her gaze locking on the train she was supposed to board that is right at the end of the line she was walking by.

"The twins, you mean." Arabella's face turned into an expression of non-understanding, her voice quieting as if they were going to pop out at the mention of them.

"No. . Tangerine." Maya corrected the woman, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"I don't give a fucks arse about that geezer," Arabella retorted through the phone as she paid no notice to her own tone that was akin to defensiveness, "What are you waffling about, Maya?"

"I mean from the things you told me about what went on last time you saw him, it was definitely..."

"Definitely what, hm?" She challenged, not knowing what the other girl was getting at.

Her 'relationship,' if you want to even call it that, was simple. She hated him, he hated her. She finds enjoyment in the fact that she can easily piss him off, he allows her to, hating her even more. That's all there was to it.

And she's still pissed he got blood on her favourite dress even after all these years so there's no way she would ever think of the man without hatred following after it.

"You know what I mean."

"Explain the mission to me again, won't ya, lovely?" Arabella changed the subject as she slipped out her comm in her pocket, not wanting people to see her walking around with her phone the entire trip.

"I thought 'The Viper' didn't need to be told things?" Maya retorted, her fingers still not stopping on her typing, her tone holding an amused mockery to it.

"Oh fuck off would ya?" Arabella slipped the comms piece in her ear smoothly, untucking her hair before reaching up and running a hand through it, letting it flow down against her cheekbones.

Maya laughed, "Alright alright, there's this guy, not sure of his name, but he's got blonde hair, a hat on that even I find repulsive, and some thick black-framed glasses." The twenty one year old woman explained, reading the information off of her computer that she got from intel.

Arabella hummed as she continued her strides now that she had pocketed her phone, "Right and that geezer has the briefcase I need?" She asked just to make sure, muttering a quick apology to a young girl she had accidentally knocked into.

"Exactly."

She nodded before another thought came to mind, "Okay and where do the twins come into all this?" Arabella questioned, wanting to get all the facts straight. Despite being an incredibly impulsive woman, she tried her best to think logically, even if to others her actions weren't the smartest.

"All I know is they're also looking for the briefcase," Arabella listened to her handler's words as she bit back a cursed mutter, "Not sure if they've already got it."

"Well that's fuckin' 'helpful ain't it?" Arabella let a frustrated sigh escape her lips.

She looked around as she walked, pulling a face to herself after seeing a young boy, probably at the age of 4, looking over at her after hearing her curse.

"Oh bollocks." Arabella cussed under her breath, steering herself the other way after seeing the mother's gaze dart over to her, no way was she fighting with an angry Japanese mother right now.

"What?" Maya's attention turned back completely over to Arabella after hearing her sharp mutter, "Are you in trouble already?" She asked, her tone full of resignation and a hint of annoyance.

"What? No!" Arabella immediately remarked in offence, "This nosy little bugger heard me and snitched like the little shite he is."

"So you're scared of someone's mother but not the fact that you're probably going to walk out with at least five wounds when this mission is completed?"

"Oh don't be silly, five is nothing, I'd be shocked if I hadn't been shot at." Arabella waved off the girls mocking claims with an eye roll as she muttered a thankyou to the man after giving him her ticket, heading into the train now.

"Is that you boarding now?"

"Yes, Sherlock, it is." The viper quipped with her usual snark before letting out a quiet oomph when she felt a strong build barge into her shoulder when she was distracted, taking her by surprise.

It was a man who seemed to be in too much distress to see where he was going. He had short dark hair, stubble on his face and was wearing a brown jacket, teal scarf and matching trousers— what an ugly outfit.

"Fuck me sideways!" She yelled, the words slipping from her lips, looking over to the man who had bumped into her, "Maybe look where you're going next time, you wanker!" Arabella snapped over at the asian man who didn't look back for a moment as he stayed in his own overwhelmed thoughts, clenching her jaw as she ignored the stares she got, continuing her walk as she ignored the man who was now heading over to first class.

"What was that?"

"Some dickhead pushed me." Arabella muttered as she walked through the carriages before a thought popped into her head, "Yo maya?"

"Yeah?"

"Not to sound too optimistic but how in fucks name am I supposed to find a briefcase on a bloody train full of them?" Arabella questioned, the obvious sarcasm clear in her voice as she looked back and forth between two ways before continuing forward.

"Well intel says there's a train sticker on the handle." Maya's voice came through her comms but her words made The Viper groan under her breath, pausing on her steps for a split-second.

"Fuck sake, they have it already." She complained, subconsciously looking over her shoulder before looking back in front, continuing her struts down the route that seemed to be more first class.

"Who?"

"Who the fuck do you think?" Arabella snapped back, her patience dropping and after hearing a beat of awkward silence from the younger girl, she answered her own bloody question, "fuck me maya, the bloody twins."

"And you know that, how?"

Arabella bit back the prideful retort she wanted to spew and instead ran her tongue over her teeth, letting a frustrated huff escape from her nostrils, "because one of them is bloody obsessed with 'em, never stopped yapping about trains when I was on that mission with 'em."

"Which one was that?" Maya asked as she continued to type on her computer, the sound of her mouse clicking and her keys being pressed down heard through Arabella's ear piece, "Your husband?"

"Fuck no, the bloke would whine about it whenever his brother began on the subject even the slightest." Arabella scoffed, not even deciding to bate on Maya's teasing comment.

"Ah so Lemon's the train-obsessed-freak?"

"Oi don't call him a freak, he's not actually that bad," Arabella scolded as she slipped through to the next carriage, "But yes he is, called me.. what was it again?" She murmured under her breath as she thought back.

Arabella and Lemon were sat together by the bar, a drink in both their hands as they talked back and forth. At first, Arabella thought this bloke was going to be even more annoying than the other but it seemed like for once in her life, she was wrong.

She thought Lemon was rather kind actually, she found it amusing when he would talk non-stop of fucking thomas the tank engine, of all things, but he seemed to be very passionate about it. She found it even more amusing when the dickhead with a stache would bitch and moan about it.

Not that she would ever mention it though.

Lemon was currently going on about which train he thought she was, "well at first I thought you were a diesel.. but I guess you aren't that bad so then I thought thomas but honestly I think you might be a henry." He went on as she listened to the man, taking sips of her whiskey every so often, "you're very hardworking and strong, from what I've seen you always try your best to get your way but.. it's for a good cause, you just wanna live y'know?"

Of course she knew.

Arabella didn't know exactly how to respond to that so she just let a grin tug on her lips as she clinked her glass against his, "Thanks Lemon, maybe you aren't as bad as I thought either."

Arabella brushed away the memories as she responded, "Called me a henry, whatever the fuck that meant." She muttered, feigning carelessness and forced ignorance.

She was never one to show her true emotions after all.

"Ain't that the black painted one?"

"Yeah think so."

"Ironic, you do wear black quite a lot." Maya snorted, oblivious to the fact The Viper had even dressed herself in all black this time too.

Arabella frowned stubbornly, looking down at her outfit before her eyes lit up when she noticed a good seat which was also close to the bar, "What's got your panties in a twist?" The woman switched the subject, deciding to switch it on Maya's attitude that's a vast difference from her usual sweet self.

"Ew, never say panties again." Maya cringed making the other reluctantly agree as she slipped into the seat she had spotted, letting out a sigh as she was finally able to rest for a moment.

"Yeah— I cringed too, dunno why I did that." Arabella pulled a face of disgust too which matched Maya's through the comms, "But either way, fucks up with you, my lovely?"

Maya sighed lightly, knowing she would have to say it, "Dunno. Just feel like something is gonna happen is all." She shrugged, stilling on her typing for a moment.

"Aw, you worried about me, poppet?" She teased, an amused grin on her face that Maya could practically see through the comms.

"No." She responded almost immediately, "Well yeah but shut up, y'know what I mean."

"Woah someone's getting brave."

"I know right?" Maya smiled for a moment before adding, "You'll try not to be too reckless this time right?"

"Oh come on em."

"Please?"

"Fuck you." She squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again, "Fine, but i'm not promising anythin', you hear me?"

"Thankyou." Maya let out a breath she didn't even realise she was holding.

"Yeah yeah, with you on the other line nothing could go wrong anyways." Arabella remarked, her smug grin turning into a small smile even though Maya couldn't see it.

"And people say you're a bitch." Maya chuckled.

"I am though?" Arabella's smile turned into a lost expression, her words as blunt as ever.

"Okay yeah true." Maya gave in.

Arabella snickered under her breath, her eyes darting around the train as she surveyed every person past her and after seeing the coast was clear, she lifted up her shirt to reveal a holster around her waistline which held a pistol along with a throwing knife beside it. She lifted her shirt back down after checking it all to be perfectly sturdy.

"You don't think this mission will take up much running do you?" Arabella asked, taking a look down at her fresh manicure as she spoke.

"If you tell me you're wearing your heels again I swear—"

"Fine, fuck me, I won't tell you then." Arabella interrupted with a grumble before a sly grin of amusement appeared upon her face as she chuckled to herself.

"Arabella! Really? Even after last time?"

"That was an accident and you know it." She immediately retorted over the comms, "Not my fault I'm a sucker for accents now is it?" The Viper snarked back, watching a guy when he walked past her before looking away after noticing it wasn't her guy.

"It absolutely was and is your fault."

"Aw cheers, you sure do know the way to a woman's heart, you know that?" Arabella chuckled as her finger ran off the front of one of the couple knife rings she had on her fingers.

She paused on her actions when she noticed another man, seeing him wearing an ugly arse bucket hat with thick black-framed glasses heading further down the carriages.

Arabella kept her eye on the guy, "Wait Maya, hold on, I think I've got our guy." She murmured under her breath, sitting up straight after noting his tense walk and the briefcase in his hands.

"Try not to kill too many people Vi."

"Sure." Arabella chucked dryly, her single word being absolute bullshit which they both knew of as she got up from her seat, slyly following the American who seemed to have not a clue of what she was doing.

The Viper walked past the doors that had just closed shut, heading into a heavily decorated bar which she noticed him head into, just to see it empty except for a guy who looked suspiciously still.

She stared at the man a moment longer before taking a couple steps over to him, letting a gasp fall from her lips at the sight of The Wolf dead on the train.

"What?" Maya immediately said after hearing her friends gasp.

"There's a dead body and I didn't do it," Arabella muttered as she took in the way whoever had placed him— it was rubbish, "Damn it, I wanted to be the first to twat someone." She groaned, her words only half taking the piss.

Maya just rolled her eyes, "Is the body anyone special?" She asked the woman as she gets up a new tap, starting her typing.

"Mm yeah it's The Wolf." The Viper informed back as she took in the sight for a moment longer before letting a puff of air fall from her lips as she reached over and grabbed a bottle of alcohol, pouring herself to drink.

Maya sat up straighter at that, "You're telling me you've just found the Wolf dead on the bullet train?"

"That's exactly what I said," She nodded as she took a swing of the whiskey she had just poured herself, letting out a content sigh as she felt the rough drink slide down her throat.

"The twins could've done it?" Maya suggested, trying to rule out each and every possibility.

Arabella paused on her actions, theatrically leaning back on her heels as she looked over at the dead body before standing up right again, "Nah not their style." She shook her head.

Maya hummed, trusting the woman's judgement, she always seemed to be right one way or another anyways, "I guess he isn't as American then we thought." Maya pointed out.

"Or he got lucky." Arabella shrugged.

"Yeah okay, miss optimist," Maya mocked, "Who are you and what have you done with Arabella?"

Arabella rolled her eyes lightly, "Oh hush, I'm an open-minded person y'know?" She said, which was true, as she got up and looked back over at the body, "He's either better than we thought, like you said, or just a lucky guy. But he's still not better than me so I'll be fine."

"Don't jinx it."

"I'll try my very best." The woman replied with her voice full of sarcasm as she peered around the room to make sure it was all clear, taking one last look at the deceased man who was slumped in one of the corner seats, a blanket covering his body and a bottle of tequila in his arms, before exiting the heavily decorated room, passing through the trains mascot as she does so who was leaving through economy.

Arabella scoffed to herself when the mascot stared at her for a moment too necessary, guessing it as a creepy man being dressed under it, not one of her many rivals themself.

"Alright I'm heading through economy, haven't seen the twins yet sooo," Arabella trailed off as she walked past a group of giggling children, "so far so good."

She paused, paying no mind to Mayas words that she heard echoing through her ear, as she noticed another younger man who was slouched against a window as if he was looking outside the window but Arabella knew better.

Her attention was momentarily turned over to this man as she reached over and grasped his shoulder as if to turn him around before dropping him back the way he was before after seeing literal blood coming out his eyes. Oh for fuck sake.

"Arabella? Can you focus on your mission please?"

"I've just seen another dead geezer," she bluntly told the younger girl, "He was well fit as well, proper shame." She clicked her tongue to the roof of her mouth before her gaze turned to the end of the hallway, noticing Tangerine and Lemon having a spat. Is she surprised? Not one bit.

"Arabella."

"Oi, The Viper to you, still dunno why I told you my real name to be honest." She muttered more to herself as she continued her walk, hurrying up her pace down the aisle, immediately noticing the guy she was looking for who matched the description she was given— the fact that he was holding a silver briefcase was enough for Arabella to know that this was her guy.

Maya pressed her lips together as she held back the hurt that tried rising in her heart, it was Arabella that's just how she was like, she had to remind herself as she forced herself to stay professional.

"Found our guy Aya." The Viper smirked as she noticed him attempting to leave the train but the doors shut behind him.

"Don't mess this up."

"The Viper never messes up dear." She spoke through the comms arrogantly as she kept on the blonde guy with a stupid hat mumble something under his breath, making sure the coast was clear before walking over and leaning against the hallway frame behind him, his back to her.

"Hi there." She grinned slyly after he got over his little tantrums and turned around, stifling a chuckle when he jumped in shock, not expecting anyone to be there.

"Hi— lady— um— hi?" He spluttered out, his hands covered in dried blood as he held the briefcase was something he couldn't explain, he looked back up to the smirking woman, finding her to be familiar to him.

"Bucket hat." She nodded at him as if to say hello before her eyes flickered over to the briefcase in his hand before back to him as her expression never wavered, "You have something of mine." Arabella spoke bluntly, this was an easy mission after all, there was no need for small talk and pissing around this time.

"No I don't—" His expression turned up into one of confusion as he shook his head before noticing her eyes flickering back down to the briefcase.

"Yes you do, I'd appreciate it if you could just hand it over," She softened her smirk into a sly smile, "You obviously don't want to be here, if you pass the briefcase over then I'm sure you'll probably say you've lived today, go see a zen bath or something." She coaxed, her eyes never leaving his in a persuasive manner.

"I'm sorry but I can't do tha—" He told her as he ignored Maria's questions to what was happening in his ear.

"You can or you won't?" She cocked her head to the side.

He paused and as his eyes never left her, the expression on her face made all the sense to him now, "Oh shit you're The Vipe—" Ladybug gasped.

He was silenced by her next actions as she had stood up straight, kicking him painfully in the groin before pushing him to the ground by his shoulders.

"Shitballs!" He wheezed out before he dropped to the ground, the last thing he felt was his heeled boots being kicked in his face and he was knocked out unconscious.

"Sweet dreams."

. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ AUTHORS NOTE ࿐ྂ

─────── "Everyone wants to be me, Maya, not the other way around." ───────

⇢ okay yay first chapter, I have been very offline on here and on TikTok so I apologise life has been hectic lately but yay I'm back

⇢ happy late halloween!!!!

⇢ please let me know what you think of the dynamics, if you like/dislike anything and if you wanted anything specific in this book — I read all your comments so please don't be afraid to share