. B O N E S . S H A T T E R . ;; Cryssie

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"You know that it's a he?" Phoenix asked, tilting her head.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Not really," Leo said, frowning. "Either it's a he, or a very muscular, tall she." He gave a bitter laugh. "See? A lot of either/ors."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"So you can rule out any small females? I mean, you make it sound like most women couldn't have done this," Phoenix said lightly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"That's not what I'm saying," Leo said, shocked that she'd even suggest this. "The analysts pegged a certain body type and height from the evidence."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Alright, so you're absolutely sure? It's not really helpful unless you are," She sighed gently.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I trust my analysts," Leo replied. "That know what they're doing."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"And I trust you," Phoenix replied softly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo gave a curt nod. "Thank you," he said. "So we can start by eliminating people who fit the wrong body type."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix attempted a smile, "I suppose we can eliminate ourselves, right?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo smiled sadly and used a pen to put an X next to their names. "Two down, far too many to go."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Two is better than none," Phoenix commented, trying to remain optimistic.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo nodded and flipped back to the first page. "We'll go one by one. We have extra information in the database if we need it. We can conduct interviews too if they fit our suspect."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Alright, just show me what to do and I'll do it," Phoenix smiled.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo nodded. For the next two hours, they went over the list, racking up a list of people to interview.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

It was an utterly exhausting task and by the time those two hours passed, Phoenix could feel it weighing on her shoulders. She yawned lightly, rubbing at one eye.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I think it's bedtime," Leo said. Through the windows, he could see that they had dimmed the lights that lit up the Refuge. Soon, they would go out completely, and the underground city would be plunged into darkness.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix blinked, trying to clear the sleepy fog from her head, "You're right, Leo," she nodded, yawning lightly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Do you... do you want to stay tonight?" Leo asked cautiously. "It's a long way back to your place."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix stared at him, her cheeks flushing pink, "Are..are you sure?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo cleared his throat. "Yeah, of course. You can borrow some of my clothes to sleep in."