Villain Retirement

"You recognize me by my breasts…!?"

And almost as if everything that happened that day was erased in her mind, the previously exhausted Liza just jumped from the sofa and quickly returned to Riley's side; but with her tactical vest now gone, her breasts just violently bounced until she reached Riley and placed them in front of him on top of the counter,

"That's really rude, you know! I have like a very recognizable face!"

"Hm," Riley could really only look up and down between Liza's breasts and her face, "You have a very forgettable face, Miss Liza."

"Wha—if I weren't tasked as your guard I would have already committed violence here!" Liza pointed at Riley.

"Hm…" Riley squinted his eyes before retrieving his tablet while still completely staring at Liza's face, "...I will report you for having thoughts of harming someone, Miss Liza."

"Wait, wait! I was joking, that was a joke!" Liza quickly grabbed Riley's tablet from him and hid it beneath her breasts, "So… do you remember which universe she's from?"

"The very same universe where Darkday was born."

"What…!?" Liza covered her mouth as she started looking around before lowering her voice, "You're from that guy's universe!? So, is it true…? Is he really stronger than the… gods?"

"Hm…" Riley placed his hand on his chin, "...Yes."

"What!? That's crazy!" Liza backed away; almost causing Riley's tablet to fall as her breasts dragged it across the counter, "Do… Do you know what really happened to him, or her? Wait, don't tell me. I don't want to know. What I do want to know, however…

…were you and my variant close?"

Lina's eyes started to shine as she returned to the counter and looked Riley in the eyes; a very nervous smile, starting to crawl on her face. She waited for Riley's answer, who seemed to truly be thinking about her question deeply,

"Come… come to think about it," Liza took in a small gulp, "You know, I think… you look weird, but you're just my type. Were you and my variant a—"

"No," Riley then answered with a straight face, "I believe we are not really close, Miss Liza."

"...Oh," Liza could really only sigh in disappointment, "It's just… I rarely meet someone who actually knew my variants — even more so someone who actually knew me back then."

"But I do believe you and my sister were close, Miss Liza," Riley shrugged as he walked away from the counter and started checking the refrigerator for something to cook, but aside from a stick of butter and some leafy vegetables; there was nothing at all — the cell he was in earlier had more supplies than the actual apartment provided for him. There were, however, several canned goods in the pantry.

"Your sister…?" The look of excitement on Liza's face very slowly faded away as he watched as Riley started heating up a pan and opening some of the canned goods.

"Hannah Ross," Riley glanced back as he started cooking what he could with what was provided to him, "You were part of a superhero team called the Baby Crew."

"The Baby Crew…" A small smile crawled on Liza's face, "...I don't really remember much from before the Blink, I… had some of my memory erased."

"Erased?" Riley stopped moving as he glanced at Liza.

"Yes — not a lot, just the painful stubborn parts," Liza let out a sigh, "What happened before and right after the Blink are the most painful memories of everyone, and throughout the years when people try to remember them… all they remember is the pain — after a hundred years some have forgotten on their own, but those who remember…

…those who remember chose to take their own lives. I had some of my memories erased to prevent that because I want to live."

"Hm," Riley continued cooking whatever it was he was cooking.

"Honestly, I don't think I needed to," Liza then started laughing before letting out a very long and deep sigh, "Most of our kind, humans, aren't really meant to hold that much memory. If I wasn't reminded, I wouldn't even remember what I was doing a hundred years ago."

"But during the time you had some of your memory erased, the pain was still fresh, correct?" Riley removed the butter from the fridge and placed it on the pan with the rest of whatever it was he was cooking, causing a sweet aroma to linger in the air,

"Your pain was valid, Miss Liza. Please, do not treat it as something that just disappears on its own."

"W…wow," Liza scratched her chin as she looked away, "I didn't take you for the sentimental type since you're like, all stoic. So, wait…

…you remember everything before and after the Blink!?"

"I suppose," Riley then shrugged as he started plating his meal.

"Can… can you tell me more about my variant? You—" Liza could not finish her words as Riley placed a plate in front of her, causing her to slightly furrow her eyebrows, "Is… this prison food?"

"It's risotto," Riley nodded, "Garlic beef risotto with tomato."

"It… sounds better than it looks," Liza squinted her eyes as she grabbed the spoon Riley handed to her.

"Italians do have the tendency to make food that resembles vomit, Miss Liza."

"I… I only said prison food," Liza's eyes twitched, "Now I really don't want to eat it. You know what, I think I'm not really that hung—"

And before Liza could finish her words, Riley gently but suddenly placed a spoonful of the risotto in her mouth. Liza was completely shocked at first as she just stared at Riley. But after a few seconds, she leaned her head away and just started tasting the food and swallowing it.

"This… this isn't bad at all," Liza's eyes widened as she ate another spoon, "What the fuck, Zero!? This is really good!"

"Hm," Riley only bowed his head as he also started eating.

"Wait, wait…" Another smile crawled on Liza's face; this time, as wide as it could be as she looked Riley in the eyes, "...I have it, Zero…

…I know just the job for you!"

***

"Why is no one hiring!?"

The day after, Riley and Liza were currently in front of a restaurant, where the two of them were just previously just kicked out for causing a ruckus, well… mostly Liza,

"Ack, I didn't realize finding work as a chef would be this hard!"

"A cook, Miss Liza. I would have to start as a cook."

"Chef, cook. Whatever!"

Liza stuck out her tongue in front of the restaurant, causing everyone who was eating inside to look at her. And as soon as the manager saw her, Liza quickly grabbed Riley's hand and ran until they reached some sort of neighborhood park a few blocks away from the restaurant.

"Ack…" Liza gasped for her breath as she almost felt faint from having run without pause, "You… you're tired, right? Zero?"

"No."

"You're tired," Liza breathed in hard as she made her way to a nearby bench, "Sit, sit and rest."

"...Hm," Riley did not sit, however, and just stood in front of the gasping Liza as he started looking around the park, "I do not remember there being a place like this anywhere near New York, Miss Liza."

"Really?" Liza found it hard to respond, "Well, it's not a 1:1 copy — some are just parts of other cities, I guess. Speaking of, maybe we could find more luck in other cities. Although, they would have different cuisines there since the citizens won't be mostly humans anymore… and we would have to take the train too, which we don't have the budget for anymore."

"Can we not just fly there, Miss Liza?" Riley tilted his head to the side.

"What…? No, no. That's illegal," Liza waved her hand, "I'm only authorized to use my abilities in case of danger. That goes for you too, remember? Powers equals bad. Can't risk it."

"Is it possible to just build my own restaurant, Miss Liza?" Riley continued to look around, "I saw a vacant lot next to my apartment."

"Yeah, and with what money?" Liza forced out a chuckle as soon as she heard Riley's words, "I just said we don't even have money to take the train anymore."

"Perhaps I could just trade some things?" Riley placed his hand on his chin, seemingly deep in thought.

"What things?" Liza sighed, "The only thing you have are your clothes, which mind you, you haven't even washed or taken a bath yet. But… why do you still smell so nice? Wait, don't tell me you're using your abilities! I would have to report you, you know!"

"I believe I might have a few things that could be sold at a high price, Miss Liza," Riley then nodded, "Especially in a place like this."

"Zero…" Liza squinted her eyes as she looked at Riley,

"...Why does it feel like we're about to do something really illegal?"