The Beginnings of Onyx and Coffee Girl

When Onyx chose that random building to hurl bodies from, they hadn't expected much more than some terrorised, dramatic screaming and some running around. People were all ants to her... Still, this time, something was different.When Onyx chose that random building to hurl bodies from, they hadn't expected much more than some terrorised, dramatic screaming and some running around. People were all ants to her... Still, this time, something was different.

One of the ants wasn't running.

Opposite the building was a coffee shop. Within this shop was a woman (well, probably anyway) with long, dark curls and dark, dull eyes. This particular version of ant was tall, plump and bored out of her mind watching the show. Just like Onyx, she was watching the little creatures run too, letting the slightest hint of amusement pass her eyes when some random white guy tripped over himself running from the scene.

Onyx had made someone laugh. They blinked twice, finding a smile forming beneath the mask and hurriedly shook her head, hurling the last of their victims down to the ground even as he asked why this was happening to him. Good people, they would call themselves. God-fearing with a wife and two children, begging for one more chance, cried this particular kill.

One more stupid ant squashed. And yet, the woman in the coffee shop had stopped watching by then, returning her attention to wiping down the counters.

When Onyx returned to their home, she returned angry. Usually, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction with her kills. Even peaceful but not this. Not this weird nudge in her chest that they hadn't done enough. She'd never been one for spectacle but it called out to her now; in the quiet, uninterested gaze of an ant she didn't even know.

Ridiculous.

It would be foolish to return to the same spot for her kill. Utterly ridiculous. The police might be lurking about if she did. No, no, she had a much, much better idea...

With a little security camera hacking, they could see into the coffee shop perfectly. And there was the stranger, trying to detangle a bit of her hair, a light huff leaving her lips as she gave up. Onyx managed a giggle of amusement as the woman crossed her arms above her chest, muttering a threat of mass snipping to her long locks within the silent building. Beside her were three people; two men and a woman who shared terrified looks as the masked murderer finished what they felt was an unremorseful, villainous laugh.

The first ant-person was thrown into the street not moments after.

And the stranger's reaction? An arched eyebrow. Onyx felt a twinge of excitement fill their gut for the first time in... Ever. As stupid as it was, she couldn't help but hop from foot to foot, waiting for the woman to do more. And yet, they watched with a quickly deflating ego as coffee girl rolled her eyes and walked off, out of the camera's view.

Finding herself angry again, Onyx turned to their remaining captives, tears filling all their eyes. It made the inside of her mask feel incredibly disgusting but they kept a breakdown at bay, silently throwing both off the building instead as she hollered insults within her tired mind. And for a moment, they considered going down into the shop and showing that woman who was boss. She was the most interesting ant she'd ever seen, why couldn't she find her interesting in return?!

They were a little too shy to do that, though.

And then the door opened. Onyx had nothing to defend herself with but she was incredibly agile, already on her way off the roof when a gentle, sort of raspy voice called out to them.

"Hey. Wait up... Umm... Onyx, is it?"

They stilled, almost stumbling their way to a gruesome end. The woman reached a hand out to them, withdrawing when she caught her balance. Onyx flushed a little beneath her half-obsidian, half-azure mask. So... Perhaps she wasn't as invisible to the stranger as they had always thought.

She gave a silent nod. The stranger moved a little closer, stopping at the slight flinch the villain gave. Her eyes were even more tired up close, lined with fraggled skin underneath that told the tales of many sleepless nights.

No wonder she worked at a coffee shop.

"So... Umm... I don't know what I'm doing here. Don't get me wrong, I know it's stupid but- what's even more stupid is you coming here of all places to do this. I mean, I watch you on the news and - these people are looking for you. These sprees of yours- I was... Kind of hoping... You would take me as a hostage for a bit?"

Onyx's head nearly flew off. Yes, she was confused. But they were also bursting with glee and they didn't know why, struggling with the urge to stim in front of a new... Maybe... Friend?

The stranger scratched the back of her neck, chuckling softly... Sadly. "Fuck. That sounded stupid, I'm sorry, I just-"

Onyx shook her head hurriedly, gesturing with a slight hint of desperation in the overly dramatic movements for her to continue.

"Uh... Okay? Well... I just thought... I don't know why you're doing any of this. But I've done my research on some of the higher-profile victims... And I don't think you're a villain, per say. I think these people are worse than they seem on the surface. Am I wrong?"

A slow, reluctant shake of the head. The stranger gave a laugh, yet, the nervousness began to dissipate as she inched a little closer.

"Ah. Cool. I was worried you might actually be into murdering randos and I was offering myself up. Not that I've never thought of dying, I think most in our generation have given up by now. Assuming you're my age... So... Uh... Anyway. I'm suggesting you take me as hostage so they don't start shooting at you. Now, preferably, cos I can hear cop cars? And then we both win. I get a break, you get an escape plan. Win-win. Deal?"

Flustered, Onyx gave the tiniest nod.

"I'm Valeria, by the way. And I do wonder about some things... Like why come around this area twice when you always choose the most randomised locations? And why do you kill at all? Who are they? Do you have a connection to them? What's it like to murder people? Is it a... A rush? Are you addicted? Who is under the mask, anyway cos everyone says you're a guy but I'm sort of hoping it's more than that? Not that gender matters at all - you can use any pronouns for me, by the way - and I'm already rambling. Shit. Sorry. I guess we'll find out when you actually reply, maybe? Unless you can't speak or some- I'll try to shut it so we can escape, now. Pleasure doing business with you."

The stranger held out a hand, hoping to seal the deal and the young serial killer gave a frazzled gulp as she politely pulled off her dark gloves. The moment their fingers brushed, Onyx felt some fuzzy warm feeling they didn't understand trail across their small frame and immediately, instinctively knew she and this person were going to be great friends.

She would make sure of it.

And then, they began to tug at their newest abductee, suddenly remembering this was meant to look like unwilling coercion.