Chapter Text
Arkha Corvus knows each and every one of his cleaners very well. He knows their backgrounds, motivations, personalities, likes and dislikes, combat style and where their journey in life will take them. Some of this information comes naturally from his role as their boss, with every new member eventually having to converse with him to join officially. Certain, usually more personal or specific intel about a person, he seeks out directly. Never forcing someone to share something that they are not willing to, but heartily encouraging them to be open an honest with him. This is crucial for assigning someone a fitting role and team, as well as distributing jobs and other tasks while still having the individuals goals and improvement in mind. The majority of what Arkha knows however, comes from simply watching.
Despite his large frame, he is incredibly elusive. Appearing and disappearing from rooms and headquarters themselves without anyone noticing, let alone knowing where he came from or where he went. He often looms in various areas of the cleaners HQ to observe the day to day life within its corridors.
There is much to be viewed of a persons soul during seemingly mundane activities. While resting, eating, preparing for a mission, training or interacting with colleagues, the guard necessary while out and about is dropped, making room for genuineness of character. How this watchful habit is perceived by the observed doesn't concern Arkha much. After all, the boss is only noticed when he wants to be.
A large part of his overly analytical behavior stems from the desire to be the best leader that he can by balancing the cleaners not only as a company unit, but also by acknowledging, respecting and supporting each individual members' personal goals and interest. A smaller part which Arkha can not deny, will always come from his own curiosity. The intrigue of finding out and getting to know all the different kinds of people that end up in this particular part of the ground. What drives people forward, what potential might lay dormant within and what made them the way that they are.
As invasive as this approach might seem, especially considering the leader of it all ironically makes sure to never reveal much of himself to anyone, it does harbor an immense perk; creating a sturdy foundation of trust on which the cleaners can rely on. Between Semiu's incredible ability to peer into a persons very core and Arkha's seemingly all seeing eyes, everyone knows that they never have to suspect a fellow cleaner of being a traitor or concocting harmful schemes. This creates a largely harmonious and relaxed atmosphere within headquarters, enabling everyone to focus mainly on the job.
Knowing that each of your team mates has your back makes most regular missions swift and easy, significantly reducing inter-company disputes which Arkha would otherwise have to take time to diffuse. Truly, being the head of such an efficient, well put together and cohesive crew is a privilege not every boss can claim to have.
And all made possible because Arkha Corvus knows each and every one of his cleaners so very, very well. All except for one single man.
The one who is never seen in casual wear or joining grand social events, never losing a word past casual shallowness about himself. The one who on the outside, seems just perfect; always calm and level-headed yet friendly and overall well liked, heavily reliable and never declining a job or turning up late, never unprepared and always wielding his vital instrument with graceful expertise. The one who speaks only in riddles and mischievous vagueness when you try to prod him for any personal info, never letting any thoughts or emotions show too clearly on his face.
Tamsy Caines.
The only person who watches Arkha back. Sternly catching his gaze with an unreadable expression, when Arkha is sure that no one should even be aware of his presence. It unnerves him whenever his gaze unexpectantly locks with a pair of light golden irises. If anyone else would notice, it would be a strange scene. The two men only ever looking at each other very briefly, but when they do, it is with an intensity that would make any regular person crumble on the spot.
A few seconds of eye contact that speaks volumes of questions, but not a single answer. Both parties immediately raising their shields noticing the other, and still peering over its edge to cautiously await their oppositions next move. But no move ever comes. The two avert their eyes inconspicuously and go about their day as if nothing happened.
That is what it would seem like from the outside, at least. For when the two most perceptive forces among all the cleaners have an exchange that subtle, nobody but them will ever know.
This exchange precisely, Arkha thinks has been happening much too often lately. This strange type of encounter with Tamsy that always left Arkha feeling uncomfortably seen and exposed, used to only occur once every couple of weeks or so in the past. Back then, he chalked it up to the smaller man having exceptional senses and trying to figure out his boss like many before him have tried.
Ever since Enjin dragged in a young giver by the name of Rudo, oozing with potential and rage, this thing with Tamsy has turned into an every day irk in Arkha's day. And as if that is not enough, he now feels lusciously framed gold eyes on him before he looks.
Meaning that he is not merely responding to his bosses all encompassing gaze anymore, but actively seeking it out. To add insult to injury, he decided to shed his previously defensive demeanor to smile at Arkha. Only the tiniest quirk of lips, but the ever watchful head of the Cleaners notices right away.
Arkha is uncharacteristically unsure of how to feel about it. Angry? Impressed? Insulted? Surprised? It frustrates him that the blonde managed to catch him this off guard without having done basically anything, yet slowly forming cracks in his confident and relaxed exterior. And stupidly, the fact that this is bothering him so much at all is frustrating him even more. He should be above this and ignore it- ignore him. Just shrug it off and forget about it. But the whole ordeal keeps snaking its way into Arkha's mind, refusing to let him go.
There has to be a reason why he's acting like this... some behavioral detail i missed, a clue in his past or- It hits him then;
Arkha Corvus knows absolutely nothing about Tamsy Caines.
Which at first strikes him as silly, and impossible. He speaks to every recruit personally, making an effort of getting to know them and accustom them to the reality of being a cleaner. There is no way. The more he thinks- or tries to think about Tamsy however, where he came from, when he joined and why, the emptier his mind becomes. He attempts to force the memories to come back to him, thinking long and hard about Tamsy's personality, how he interacts with other cleaners, his vital instrument, possible ancestry, motivations, fears, how he spends his free time, everything, anything-. Desperately, he tries to dissect every aspect of long haired man's life hoping that some small aspect might stir his recollection back to life. Even going as far as mentally analyzing Tamsy's cleaner uniform and full face, going over every minute design detail at the off chance that it might remind him of something.
But every time Arkha tries to think of anything that goes beyond the obvious, the memories appear strange in his head. He knows that there should be something. Vaguely he recall shapes and colors, small figments of a memory. He tries harder to cling on, clear the fog in his brain and make them clearer, but that only serves to obstruct them further. The last chance of solving this walking mystery of a man vanishing into obscurity behind black static.