Avani ate while listening to Kasai add her own details to their shared story, merely nodding every now and then. It wasn’t until the reporter spoke up and told them that she didn’t think there was anything for them to gain on the story that Avani left her food alone for a moment. She wiped her mouth on a napkin, trying to think of what they would get out of this in the end. It had been Kasai’s suggestion so she’d gone with it, but would it really help them or their friends? Probably not, and the dead wouldn’t care either way. She was surprised when Kasai squeezed her leg. Did she really think Avani would beat the reporter up over nothing in a café filled with people? 

She was pretty sure that Kasai was more likely than herself to attack the reporter at that point. The fire in her eyes and her creepily calm voice hinted at it. Good points, Avani thought to herself after her girlfriend had stated a list of reasons why they wanted this article to be written. She didn’t like the idea that they were in a way pleading with the mayor to show their friends respect, not when each of their lost ones had been better individuals than him. The idea that they would stand up against corruption or throw dirt had appealed to her more.

“How could it not be politically damaging?” Avani asked and scoffed. “Did he bribe the entire city or something? Four people died on what was supposed to be a routine mission, and you think it wouldn’t hurt him politically? I must have missed something, or you should definitely stay out of politics with such poor understanding.”

Avani had never had much interest in politics, but from what she had seen potential candidates or different sides would use literally anything to make the public think less of their opponents. Their story wasn’t made up, and it should be possible to use it as a powerful weapon. All someone had to do was pick it up.

She was about to follow up with more threats, how Avani liked to please her girlfriend and if the reporter didn’t write the article like Kasai wanted her to do she might have trouble walking for the next month. Turned out there was no need for that as the reporter was willing to do it, as long as she was told the details. Avani sighed. It wasn’t something either of them wanted to talk about.

Avani turned to the waiter when Kasai had stopped her. They’d be here a while if they were going to go into details, so she ordered a large glass of juice and some dessert for herself. She didn’t drink coffee, it wasn’t healthy. She filled in with her own perspective on the details whenever Kasai paused, and sometimes she cut in at the middle if something had been mistakenly left out. Eventually she sat leaned back in the sofa with an arm around Kasai to comfort her, and the juice glass in her other hand.