“I could have greeted your mortal enemy.”

Edward looked over at B from his desk. Feet up on the coffee table and thankfully wearing something business appropriate. He sighed and shook his head.

“I don’t need you doing that for me. Who knows what you might say unattended. Besides, Wilbur is more than capable of doing it for me.” Edward said.

He watched B furrow their eyes before pouting and looking away towards the doorway. It wasn’t like B was an official member of his organization so treating them as such was such a dangerous thing to do.

Their nature implied that once he got what he desired from him that they would cease to exist. He wouldn’t be sure about how things would end up and it would likely be best for him to not let him get too involved.

One of the only reasons that he had B here to begin with was simply to spite Zeus. He had given him something that was meant to clearly throw him off but yet here B was… possibly enhancing his life.

He watched as B stopped his pouting for a moment sliding himself onto the desk.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just thought I’d be better here.” 

“Really?”

B nodded and smiled. Clearly this just might have been their way of getting back at him for not letting him greet his mortal enemy which… was a bit childish and he didn’t get the point of such a thing. 

“Of course would you know me to lie to you?”

“We’ve only known each other for a short period of time. I have no idea if you would.”

“Then just think of it like… would Bay lie to you.”

Edward didn’t answer, choosing at this moment to pretend he didn’t mention Bay. Instead tapping his finger on the desk looking right at him. 

There was one thing that he was trying not to do and that was to think of B as Bay. The two of them despite their similarities were still two different people. Having the same body didn’t make them the same person.

“Would you like for me to refer to you as Bay while Zeus is here,” Edward asked.

“No need,” B said smiling. It seemed he had decided to let him get away with not answering their original question and carry on with the state of things as how they are.

“What do you mean?”

B put their finger up to his lips and winked at Edward. “You’ll see, just wait.”

Edward wasn’t sure how worried he should be about it but he didn’t have any specific follow up questions so he was choosing to just trust him.

He just let out a sigh and as he did the door opened.

“Zeus is here boss,” Wilbur said with a grin.

Standing there in his lavish fur coat was Zeus and next him was the same blonde from before. Sunken eyes. This time without the thick layer of makeup. 

“Hello, Eddy hope I’m not interrupting,” Zeus said with a booming voice. 

“Don’t call me that,” he said simply watching the man sit down on the couch putting his feet up. The blonde simply stood behind the couch, hands placed neatly in front of them.

“Why not it’s your name isn’t it?”

Wilbur walked out of the room without a word and Edward sighed looking over at B who had the biggest grin on his face, putting his hand on his forehead. This guy was always just casually trying to push his buttons.

“It is not and you know that,” he said, “I called you over here for a reason. Not to have idle chit chat.”

Zeus laughed loudly as Edward said that. The two of them weren’t friends when was he going to remember that?

“Then what am I here for?”

“The kidnappings it seems as though even criminals are being involved as well,” Edward said.

“Yes, that is inconvenient. It is hurting business,” Zeus said thoughtfully, “What do you suggest?”

The only time that man became serious was when it came to money. If it hurt his bottom line he was more inclined to listen to what Edward had to say instead of teasing him.

Honestly, what a greedy man.

“The only way to get results is for the two of us to pull our resources together instead of continuing to conduct separate investigations.”

“That does sound more productive,” he waves his hand up at the blonde behind him, “Alexia make the arrangements for me.”

They nodded and that was when B broke his silence. Crossing one leg over the other while still on the desk he said, “Is that what you’re called now?”

“Pardon,” the blonde looked up at B, their eyes meeting. There was not a hint of emotion behind their eyes.

“You heard me. I was under the impression you didn’t like to go by a name given to you by your charge.”

Not even a sigh. They straightened themselves and kept their poise.

“Should I assume he knows what you are?” they said looking between Edward and B.

“Yes, he knows the gist of it,” B said casually, waving his hand in the air.

“I see,” they said and bowed their head whispering into Zeus’s ear.

After a moment Zeus grined and looked over at Edward.

“Oh? So you got a little fairy too?”

“Fairy?”

“That is what he has chosen to call me,” Alexia said, “You may call me A, Mister Jameson. I am what you would consider a colleague of your companion…..”

“B,” he said with a smile.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Am I to assume you were inspired by me,” they asked. There was almost a hint of annoyance. Almost. 

For the entire time that Edward had been watching A they had not shown a hint of emotion. Everything they had done was devoid of feeling yet their movements were graceful and purposeful. They left no room for anyone to guess what they were thinking. 

Unlike B. Their movements erratic and their emotions on their sleeve. No matter what he does he’s always so easy to read in one way or another. Though it was because of his face he was always leaving Edward confused.

His face and words bringing back memories of how Bay and him used to be when she was still alive. Still making him yearn for her to be back but he was always constantly pushing back the old memories of her so he could treat B as his own person.

“Of course not that would imply I look up to you or something.”

“You do.”

The whole room was silent. It was a long pause. He was a bit lost but when did Edward ever have the ability to keep up with what was going on.

It was Zeus who broke the silence laughing. He was clearly enjoying this exchange with all his heart. Clearly he had once again forgotten why he was here this entire conversation more interesting than the thing that he had originally been having a conversation with Edward about.

“Well, this is an interesting development,” he said, “Alexia I wish you would have told me that they were like you. Would have just kept em to myself.”

Both B and A frowned at that statement and Edward watched as B visibly gagged when Zeus winked at them.

“That is not possible, unfortunately eventually fate would have allowed for the two of them to meet,” A said simply, “After which they would have ended up in the same arrangement as they are now.”

“I see,” he said nodding to himself, “I wonder though what the specifics of your arrangement is.”

“None of your business,” B said. He was clearly disinterested in exchanging stories with Zeus, maybe it was the wink…. Or the implication of wanting to keep him.

“Aw come on… won’t you tell me.” he cooed.

“... Sir,”

Zeus looked over at A smiled on his face.

“The arrangement is a bit personal,” A continued, “Unless you plan on explaining our arrangement details with them.”

Zeus was quiet but he was still smiling. He shrugged before speaking as he waved his hand in the air.

“Fair point guess I got a bit excited though….” he said looking at A, “Could it be you’re getting jealous of me putting my attention on another fairy?”

“No.”

Shoot that down right away. Edward almost laughed. B did laugh. Didn’t even try to hide his amusement in their acquaintance just shoots Zeus down. Though the man didn’t look bothered at all still smiling.

“Sure.”

Edward cleared his throat. He had seen enough and this was important to him. People were disappearing and they were no closer to figuring things out than the police were.

The purpose of this entire meeting was to try and figure out a plan of action. They were getting to that until they got off track.

“Any way we should get back to our meeting,” he said.

“But I was having so much fun.”

“How unfortunate for me,” Edward said, “I didn’t plan on you being around this long so I would rather get to the point and see what we can agree to.”

Zeus sighed. He really seemed to want to make friends with him. Whether it be for a friend… enemy situation or maybe he was looking for a cheeky rival but at this moment Edward was disinterested in playing along with him.

He crossed his arms over his chest leaning back on the chair.

“Well, since you are aware of the fairies I guess it’s fine for me to tell you this,” he said, “According to Alexia this is not the doing of a human.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Of course this is the doing of humans, why would anything else start taking people away.” B said.

He looked over at A for confirmation of sorts. They looked unsure of what he was saying but… A didn’t seem to waiver.

“Do you doubt my judgment,” they asked B.

“No it’s just… then what is it?” B asked, leaning forward from where they are seated.

“I am not quite sure,” A said dully, “I am sure you are just as aware as I am B that there are things in this world that we are not aware of and that like humans we mostly live on the same plane of existence. The only difference between themselves and us is our inherent supernatural abilities but just because we have them does not mean we are able to see what’s beyond the living world.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I know. I am saying that our ability as wish granters still come with limits. We are brought into this world and tied to a human so it is fair to say that we have limits as well,” they continued.

“Ok…. yeah.”

“I am assuming one of our limits is not actually being able to see beyond the veil of the living world. Especially since our main function is to grant the wish of those who are mourning the loss of a loved one.”

“Alright… Alright.”

A stared at B for a moment. Edward wasn’t sure B was getting it.

“You’re saying it’s possible that it’s the work of ghosts?” Edward asked.

“No, I am saying it’s possible that this is the work of another magical being,” A said, “Since we have not been able to find any evidence of trafficking and from the investigations I’ve done at the order of Zeus it is as if they have completely disappeared from existence.”

Now he was dealing with a mysterious supernatural… stuff. He should have known this is how it was going to end up look who he had been spending his time with.

“I see… the what is your suggestion for us moving forward,” Edward asked.

A looked over at Zeus looking for approval to continue. Zeus waved his hand giving them that permission.

“I do believe that combining our resources is the best way to figure out what is going on. There is also a possibility that I am wrong and this a completely human problem to which you should consider creating a group to investigate normally as well,” A said, “But I do think it would also be helpful if we asked someone from our side as well.”

Edward nodded as they continued. That made sense though he was curious as to how the next one would be like. There was B,.. and now A…. was the next one also a letter. 

He was now wondering if there was just the same amount as the entire alphabet. That would be an interesting development. Though B made it clear that he had never once named himself while in contrast it seemed like A had simply chosen that for convenience sake…. He wouldn’t have put it past Zeus to have just given them a name for fun.

“And how will you be doing that?” Edward asked.

“Well to my knowledge… we do have a colleague around here but it will take some time for me to find fae,” A said.

“I see then we should get things going on our end don’t you agree Zeus,” Edward said.

“Of course I’ll get a couple of my best together and we’ll have another meeting to explain the ground rules.”

“....Really?”

“Yes we have to make sure they are all on the same page and if they see the two of us together they will behave themselves.”

Edward gave a sigh. He really disliked having to do this but he was right. He loathed that he was right.

“Fine, then I guess it is your turn to choose the meeting place,” he said, “Please don’t make it at the gaudy casino.”

Zeus faked offense before laughing a bit. “Yes I know. I’ll choose a good place, promise.”

He was already regretting saying that but this was all he could do at the moment.

“...Sure,” was all Edward could say to that.