Omake Quest - Earth 2 - Affair (Patreon)

Fin took a deep breath. “This again?” It was like a gap in time. He looked around, sitting on the couch by himself. The TV was on a more reasonable channel, but it did not change the fact that he was not someone that watched TV. Moreover, his muscles were sore and the two buttons on his uniform were out of sorts. He looked at the time on his phone. Still early, as if fixing the fact that he was late the previous day.
`What's going on?` Fin heard something and glanced over. He furrowed his brow, staring into the kitchen. There was a clear line from the couch to the dishwasher where Fin could see his mother, Melissa, bending over to put a cup and a plate inside. Jacob came into view, placing a hand on her ass and pushing two fingers further between her legs. She squirmed, blushing.

Muttering could be heard from the kitchen. “I'm already late...”

“I thought you called in?” Jacob remarked.

“Not sure why.” She bent back up only to have Jacob pull her into an embrace from behind. She turned her head so he could kiss him over her shoulder with her eyes closed. They used a bit of tongue that Fin could see.
“I still have a lot of work to do at the Embassy so-” She opened her eyes and whispered sharply.
“Not in front of the kids, remember? Jeeze.” She broke off, accepting a quick smack to her rear. It was plump in the little pencil skirt she wore. Melissa scratched her head of auburn hair and walked into the living-room.
“Wouldn't you usually be on your computer upstairs?” She asked.

`So she noticed too.` Fin nodded.
“Yeah, I'm not sure why I'm down here. Did you feel like you lost-”

“Fin! Let me drive you to school so you aren't late.” Jacob interjected.

“It's still early...”

“You should get a head start since you missed some yesterday.” The man remarked.

“He's right, Fin.” Melissa nodded.
“I'll also try and get to work soon, even though I called in.”

In the car ride things were silent until Jacob brought up. “You look out of it. Something wrong?”

“Nothing you need to be concerned over.”

Jacob laughed. “Yeah, I don't 'need' to be, but... You know.”

“Know what?”

“Your Mom and I are getting into things pretty fast. Seems like I might be filling the empty spot pretty soon. That means I'll be your-”

“Sure, sure. We don't have to get along... I'll just mind my own business if you don't get on my back.” As Fin said 'get on my back' Jacob smirked.

“What?”

“Nothing. It's just funny. You should rely on me more. I can help you out if you let me.” Jacob hinted.

“Help me out how?”

“Figure it out. I don't get kids problems. I grew up in a different time. You're pretty soft so you probably run into trouble. If you need someone to take care of things let me know. It'll put me in good with Melissa.”

“Ah, so that's it.”

“Of course! What? You and I both know I'm not gonna do anything for nothing.”

“What would mom think if she heard that?”

“Your Mom knows me pretty well, actually. She happens to like that adventitious side of me.”

Fin stared out the window. “I don't think you're using that word right. You're trying to think of a way to say Advantageous or something. Adventitious has to do with lucky circumstances.”

“Ah, well that too. You're pretty smart, huh?”

“I guess.” Fin noted the familiar drop-off point, then asked.
“Can you drop me off closer to the side? My class isn't near the front of the Academy.”

“Sure, whatever.” Jacob pulled around to the side and dropped Fin off on the curb.
“Have fun, learn lots!” He waved.

“Hmm.” Fin lowered his head. He arrived on time, which was not unusual for him. He avoided the front to not get caught out by Mark, since he assumed they could be watching the front door for people to pass through. As Fin walked towards the side entrance for one of the first times he looked down as he felt grit on his shoes. It was ashes and cigarette buts next to the stairs. The walls provided a convenient barrier from the street and barely anyone would come through to see anything happening in this spot.

`Shit.` He ducked down and tried to get through but the moment he pushed through the doors he saw Mark and his gang walking out.

“Huh?” The boys looked surprised.

Fin looked at the time again as he was walking back from the nearby market with drinks. He had to pay for them of course, since he did not want that picture to get out. He arrived at the spot and handed them off.
“Haha. It's even cold. Thanks Rabbit.” Mark smiled.
“Other Rabbit tried to be rebellious the first time and got warm drinks. This saves you a trip.”

“I understand. Is it okay if I go to class now?”

“Hmm.” Mark seemed to be thinking about it.
“You're pretty smart anyway so hang out with us a bit. You can miss first period. They say making friends is more important than studying.”

`I don't think anyone says that. No one is trying to do well, anyway.` Fin nodded and moved to stand with them.

`If my first class wasn't important I wouldn't have it to begin with. I can coast pretty well but if I miss the tasks and don't get the homework I'll fall behind...` Fin gulped.
“Uh... Mark?”

“Mhmm?” Mark took a long sip from the bottle he was holding.

“Do you not focus on your studies?”

Mark smacked Fin lightly on the back of the head. “What kinda question is that? Of course I work hard.” He grins.
“I get straight B's. Speaking of... You're pretty good aren't you? Think you can handle a bit of extra homework?”

`Fuck...` Fin looked around nervously. He tried something.
“If I don't miss class I can probably raise the B's to an A.”

Mark's brows lifted. “Look at this guy!” He draped an arm over Fin's shoulder like they were friends.
“You're pretty bright about this stuff. Seems like you know how it works. How about this... When the other Rabbit comes by you can rough him up a bit. If you do that, we can be better friends, I think.”

`Friends... I doubt it.` Fin shook his head.
“I really don't want to beat someone up.”

“Woah! So you're saying you could?” Mark asked excitedly.

“I- I dunno I never fought before but I don't think I'm weak...”

“Okay. Put 'em up. Let's figure it out together.” He uttered in a giddy tone.

“Do I have to?”

“I dunno, do you?” Mark grinned, hand on his phone. Fin reluctantly put his hands up in what he thought was a boxing position. He felt two swift jabs to either side of his stomach.

“O-Oww...” He closed his eyes and when he opened them, Mark's hand was in front of Fin's face.

“Wow, you're pretty terrible. I think you'd probably lose to the other rabbit. That guy's at least a little scrappy. Meh, whatever. Get to class.” Mark slapped Fin on the back, urging him inside. The three boys began smoking as Fin entered the building.

`How the hell are guys like that even allowed in the Academy?` Fin wondered. Then is hit him.

`What was I thinking... Of course there would be.` He knew the history well. Suez Academy was the primary private institute within the Suez Mega-City. When a dispute erupted over the canal at the turn of the century a proposition was fielded by the lesser members of the League of Nations: Create an autonomous City around the Suez Canal that would manage all of it's difficulties and profits on behalf of each of the member states.

`In theory, this was a bad deal for the big three that owned the canal, but it was judged as being something that they would lose hold of overtime by analysts, given the political climate in the area. My family had one of the analysts. My great grandfather. The general idea was to bind the League by a common interest and a shared division of the Canal's profits. Money from the Canal would flow to all the members and if one stepped out of line they would lose their cut. Therefore the incentive to make the Suez a money maker was high. It wasn't greed but insurance. The League of Nations was pretty vulnerable to members just leaving or disobeying orders out of nowhere but if they stood to lose a percentage of GDP over something that was already unprofitable like a war or territorial expansion peace was an easier sell.` Fin looked around at the walls. The structure of the Academy was opulent and the Suez had become the world capital in under a century due to its importance. It wasn't merit that brought most students here.

`I wonder who Mark's Dad is for him to behave like that freely?`

He exhaled through his nose and entered class late. The teacher looked at him. She seemed unimpressed.
“I hope you aren't going to make a habit out of this.”

“No Miss Hart.” Fin walked over to take his seat and slung his bag under his desk at his feet. He stared down at his book as soon as he opened it and tried to find their place. A girl he was familiar with, Asuka, leaned over to help him.

“Page 57.”

Fin nodded to her. “Thanks.” Asuka was half of some kind of Asian but he was not sure what. She was a pretty girl with a modest chest and an athletic figure. She his blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and she typically wore running shoes instead of the school's black shoes and usually kept her jacket tied around her skirt. Fin looked down as she continued to stare at him a bit intently before apparently losing interest. He relaxed and settled into the rhythm he was used to for the rest of the day.

As he was leaving school he blinked and awoke in his room on the bed. As Fin stared at the sealing with his mouth agape sparse memories came back, but there were some rudimentary connecting lines. The bus, stuck in traffic, getting home, watching TV, going upstairs to sleep.
“This is getting ridiculous... It's like my body's getting piloted by someone that doesn't know me at all.” The memories solidified but the consistency was all off.
“Usually when I get off school I visit the store, but I waited at the bus stop the whole time. The bus is never stuck in traffic and... Again with the TV...” He narrowed his eyes and immediately thought of Jacob.
“I don't know what's going on but it feels like he's responsible somehow.”

Fin stood up and stepped on something. “Huh?” He crouched down and pulled a small black bit of lingerie out from under the bed.
“Fiona?” He began to check his room but nothing was out of place. The door was not opened by anyone except him.
“Hm. Still... This must be hers.” He walked across the hall with the lingerie between two fingers and knocked on her door. After a minute she answered with headphones on, nodding her head.

“Sup?”

“Did you leave this in my room?” Fin asked.

She looked taken aback as she saw the lingerie. Inspecting it closely, Fiona shook her head. “That's not mine. It's too small. Basically an A-cup.” She sighed.
“Since you can't seem to tell, that would be for a girl with an almost flat chest and I...” she motioned towards her own breasts. She was wearing a sweatshirt and some pajama pants.
“Am not like that.”

“Got it. Sorry to bother you.” Fin turned around.

“Hey! Stop right there. You found that?”

“Mhm. Not sure why.”

“Seriously...” She scratched her head.
“You cluelessly came to me even though you could hide it if you knew about it. So you literally don't know. Aren't you weirded out? It seems like some girl is sneaking into your room and throwing underwear.” She crossed her arms and eyed him.
“Usually it's the other way around. I was suspicious, you know.”

“Suspicious?”

“Some of my underwear is gone. Just gone. Missing. Thing is, it's pairs that I remember putting on for the day.”

Fin looked disgusted. “Someone's stealing your- your used underwear?”

“I thought it was you, but then you came with this. It wouldn't make sense for it to be you at this point. “ She reasoned.
“Any ideas or thoughts?”

“The only thing I can think of is, the person who is stealing from you is stealing from others. That would explain the underwear that couldn't belong to anyone here. If they came into my room to look around it's feasible for them to drop these. They were under the bed so they could've slid out of sight and if they were in a hurry as they should be when stealing stuff, they could've left them.”

“Woooow. Not bad, Bro. When have they been in your room since, you think?”

“I would've noticed them if they were here a day earlier. Under my bed is storage, as you know. I put my clothes in compartments under the bed, not in the dresser.”

“I don't know why we're beating around the bush here.” She stated forwardly.

“What do you mean?”

“For someone smart enough to figure out that scenario you're dumb for not guessing that it's Jacob right off the bat.”

Fin's eyes shot open. He felt his forehead. “You're right.”

“Yep. I guess you have blind spots.”

“No... I mean... I should have but it's like he wasn't even an option in my head? Even now it feels weird accusing him but if we think logically, it's obviously Jacob, right?”

“That's what I'm saying. It feels weird for me too... The guy dating our mom is stealing my underwear, and even other girls underwear.”

“No I mean...” Fin shook his head.
“Have you felt like you've been doing stuff you wouldn't and that you're missing time?”

“A bit.” She admitted.

“Me too.”

“Okay well... What would that have to do with Jacob? What could he do? If we're both missing time we should get mom to set us up an appointment with a doctor because we might have mold or something that we don't know about.”

“Mold?”

“Or lead paint... It's just a thought. All these buildings were built in the forties. Something's fucking with our heads and since it's more than one it could be some outside toxin or factor.”

“Got it. That makes sense.” Fin agreed.
“Can you message Mom about it?”

“Yep. I'll have her set something up for us. Gonna need some scans probably.”

“Goodnight, Fiona.”

“Night Bro.” She waved, shutting her door as he left.

Finally, Fin was able to settle into his chair and power on his computer. He immediately opened a web page. The front page of the internet, an aggregation board called kredit. He subscribed to the local Subkredits, as well as a few related to his interests. On the local site, hidden in the 'new' tab was a short video from a club close to the Academy. The title of the post was “Gross” with puke emojis. Fin played it out of curiosity, ready for it to be his first watch out of many different videos during the night.
“What am I looking at?” He watched the video closely, squinting. The shaky camera was centered on a petite girl with short black hair in a short skirt. She wore a revealing shit with some black lingerie visible underneath. Fin saw something peculiar and did a double take, dragging the bar back.
“The hell? Jacob?” He saw the unmistakable bastard dancing with the petite girl. Fin rubbed his chin. The face could not be made out due to the resolution but it was a flat chested girl with some moves.

“He's having an affair.” Fin grinned.
“This might be easier than we thought.”

He leaned back and texted Fiona. [Got something. Come see.]

[Later.] She texted back simply.

“Huh?”

[It's about Jacob. We got something on him.]

[Later.] She texted again. After a long, confusing pause where Fin was left wondering why she was ignoring him like this he got another text from her.

[What do you have on Jacob?]

[You can come see it, or I guess I'll copy the link since you're busy. Sorry. Just got excited.]

[Copy the link and we'll talk in the morning.]

[kk.] Fin pasted the link to her messenger and bookmarked the page for himself. He spent the rest of the night normally.