෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴

Duty and Avarice

Although the burly man was dressed in a white button down shirt and black slacks, his outfit completed by an understated tie, he looked somehow out of place in the ultramodern office conference room. It was hard to point at any particular reason why he didn’t fit. His clothing didn’t quite match the overall office vibe, but it was close enough. His long hair pulled into a tight high knot that would have looked more at home on a historical Japanese man than a broadly built Slavic man. It was more that an observer would immediately notice that his body language made it clear that he wasn’t someone who sat in meeting rooms often, if at all. The way he gingerly sat in the boardroom style chairs, as though they might break. Even down to his posture, how despite not being particularly tall, he hunched over the table as though it were far too small for him. All these things and many more subtle cues underscored his ill-fitting appearance in the room.

He was awkwardly finishing the writing on the last of many forms and paperwork when a smartly dressed professional woman strode into the room. She fit the room as though the room were a glove made for her.

She looked at him with cool disdain. “You didn’t perform your task. You had one job.”

The burly man with super strength and inhuman physical resilience looked at the tiny woman and swallowed. “I was otherwise engaged by—” Despite her standing not much taller than his sitting head, he seemed to be looking up at her.

She cut him off with an imperious glare. “Yes. As I said you would be. I needed WD-40 out of the picture. That is why your instructions were to use the weapons I sent and—” she looked at his face and stopped. “You have something to add?”

“Ah, yes Ms. Remington. Two things. First, Braithwaite took the weapons when they arrived and locked them up. I don’t know where he kept it.” He saw her mouth tighten into a scowl and hastened to his second point. “But! I put Hutch on the target. He was able to complete the mission. The mission was successful!”

"Successful? Are you sure? I should have known that." The petite woman blinked and seemed to become a different person. Her face lit up with an infectious smile as her whole countenance and body language shifted from the cold aloof taskmistress to a friendly and approachable young lady.

“In that case, I should greet you properly! Fidel! It’s so lovely to see you! I was worried that you’d have been swept up in all that unpleasantness down in Atlanta.”

He nodded with a solemn expression. “Almost. Your tip—ah, advice, it was very helpful, knowing just the right time to act allowed me to escape. I would have kept fighting too long, despite being unable to harm the silver man.”

She shrugged. “Sometimes I know things. I try to pass it on when I can.” she sighed theatrically, “It’s such a pity others in your group weren’t as willing to listen. Are you done with your report?”

“Da.—Yes. Yes I am.”

“Very good. For now, I recommend a nice vacation. I’m sure we’ll have something for you soon enough.”

He nodded. “You know how to reach me.”

She nodded back. “I do indeed.”

She took the report and led him to the door. On her way she walked with more than enough sway in her hips to catch his eye. She didn’t turn around, but as soon as he glanced down at her tight backside she giggled softly. “Made ya look!” she said without stopping her swaying gait.

Fidel shook his head with a chagrined expression and headed for the elevators. As soon as he was facing the other way, the ‘Candy’ persona fell away, changing her stride and somehow transforming her from a friendly and outgoing looking young lady that would be at home working as a receptionist, back into a severe high powered executive in the space of a single step.

On her way back to Martine’s office, she turned a corner at the same moment as Martine himself. The man was dripping with sweat, dressed in his workout gear. His expression clouded with irritation.

“Good afternoon, Candace.” he grumbled.

Her response was terse to the point of being curt. “Good afternoon sir, there’s no need to interrupt your workout. It’s just a message from your asset in Turnabout. The message is ‘Pawn to Queen in 2’.”

Martine stopped to think about that. Candace kept walking. As she was about to turn the corner, he nodded to himself and jogged back down the hall toward the gym.

෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴

෴Midnight෴

෴Paolo෴

෴Sasha෴

Paolo and Sasha both jumped at the soft knock on the door to Paolo’s flat.

For what felt like a long moment, but was more like half a second, they looked at each other, apprehension and outright fear plain on their faces. Sasha rolled off the couch and slid into his closet, pulling the door closed softly behind her.

Paolo picked up a length of carved wood from under the couch and crept toward the door on the balls of his feet. The knock sounded again.

He swallowed, took a deep breath and opened the mirilla. Upon seeing the old man through the opening he muttered something under his breath and let out a gusting sigh.

The young man almost sagged in relief as he opened the door and stood aside. “Come in, patrón."

Midnight came in, bearing a large wrapped parcel. He set it down on the kitchen table and then turned to his host.

“Paolo, didn’t you say Sasha was with you? She shouldn’t be alone after what she’s been through.”

Before Paolo could answer the closet door creaked open, revealing Sasha in her pajamas. Her smile looked hesitant but genuine and relieved.

Midnight smiled and turned his attention to the box. He set a large first aid kit on the counter and pushed it toward Paolo.

“I’ve brought a few things I thought you might need. Are you two hungry?”

Seeing their nods he began pulling sealed, frozen meat packs and air-tight dry goods containers from the box.

Over the next hour, he cooked for Paolo and Sasha, browning chorizo and pan-searing vegetables, herbs, and spices while gently learning all they had to tell him about the events of the bombing. Once the stew was simmering, he turned his attention to sauteing mushrooms and frying rashers of bacon.

Before he’d finished making the food, he’d learned all they could tell him. They sat down to eat.

Paolo dipped his spoon and tasted it. “Lentejas!” he closed his eyes and savored the hearty stew. He resumed eating with obvious delight.

Sasha looked at the stew and the gravy-smothered pork cutlets. “Is that Jägerschnitzel? Why? How?”

Midnight put his hand on her forearm with tender care. “Eat up, you’ll feel better.”

He served himself some of both dishes and began to eat.

She wolfed down her first serving of Jägerschnitzel and had started on seconds when she paused and looked at Paolo and then Midnight. “Did you know this was my favorite food?”

Paolo paused mid-bite, looked at Midnight, and then finished the bite. “You must have. Lentejas is my favorite food as well.”

For a moment, as he ate, Midnight looked like nothing more than a tired old man trying to find the right words.

Finally he just nodded, and kept eating. When they kept watching him eat, he sighed, “When you began working for me, you filled out a survey of personal information. One of them was what your favorite food is.” He looked at each of them in turn. “I read every single document you ever put in. You’ve both been through a terrible ordeal, and the least I can do while I come here for information, is make you a little comfort food.”

His gaze flicked to the icebox and back to his meal. “Also, I seem to recall Paolo doesn't keep a lot of food on hand.”

Sasha laughed. “You’re right about that! I wish he could cook like you. Maybe this will shame him into learning, or at least keeping some food at home.”

Paolo shrugged and took another bite, “This is delicious, I also wish I could cook like this.”

Midnight smiled, an expression that made him look like a grandfather indulging the young ones. “Well, let’s eat. We have a little more to talk about, but let’s talk about it on full stomachs.”

*** *** ***

Later that afternoon, in the living room.

“All you need to do right now, is for both of you to think the word ‘si’ or ‘da’ or whatever word for ‘yes’ feels most natural to you.” They looked confused, but nodded.

“Now think back to the attack.”

Paolo closed his eyes. Sasha held his hand with a nervous grip.

The young man went rigid, then his body relaxed bonelessly into the couch.

Several minutes passed, Midnight and Paolo blind to the world. Sasha looked from one to the other with concern. She was almost ready to relax when Paolo clenched and jolted upright, gasping.

“Dios! I was there, over and over I was there!”

Midnight wiped his eyes. “I’m sorry about that Paolo, I needed to know everything you saw.”

Paolo waved him off. “A moment. I need a moment.”

Midnight turned to Sasha. “You showed unhesitating bravery trying to save Emily. I’m very sorry for your loss.” his voice broke and he coughed as if to try and regain his composure. “We’ve all lost so much. I never told her, or anyone, but your sister was my favorite Norn. She was always so happy. A lot of days, I really need that.” He looked her in the eye. “Her death is not your fault though.”

“She knew.” Sasha whispered.

Midnight blinked. “Excuse me?”

She looked at the floor. “We talked. She knew you liked her best. We used to talk about getting more abilities, and once we talked about what it would be like to have as many as you.”

She leaned into Paolo; he put his arm around her.

“Emmy, she said she’d never want to have as much power as you have. If I remember, she said, ‘He has so much power, but he’s so miserable. Every day is more struggle, and he has the weight of the world on him. So no thanks, I don’t want that much power. I’m happy just being his favorite Norn.’ I asked her about that.” Sasha looked Midnight in the eye. “She said it was obvious that you needed to talk to someone happy, because you’re so sad.’

Midnight blinked and wiped his eyes. “I didn’t know that. She wasn’t wrong though.” he leaned forward and rested his forehead on his hands. “Everything about this situation is terrible. She’ll be missed.”

Sasha clasped Paolo’s hand tightly. “I didn’t really see it then, but once she said it, I couldn’t help but start noticing it. That’s one of the things that makes this so hard.”

Midnight didn’t look up. “Hard how?”

“I’m sorry sir, but we’re done.” Sasha said, her voice carrying a tone of finality.

Midnight sat up straight and looked at Sasha and then Paolo. He saw nothing but sorrow and resolve in their eyes.

He smoothed his shimmery black suit jacket and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t suppose there’s anything I can say or offer you to change your mind?”

They shook their heads. Midnight sighed and nodded. “That is unfortunate. I wish I could talk you into helping me get a new site going again. There’s so much to do, and not much time.”

“Sorry sir, we just can’t.” Paolo couldn’t meet his eyes.

Midnight levitated to his feet. “I hope you understand that this puts me in a difficult position.”

Paolo muttered something under his breath. He looked worried.

Midnight walked over to the window overlooking the city. The young couple exchanged a nervous look.

“I wish it were otherwise, but you two out there, not working for me, vulnerable, alone in the world. It’s a very dangerous path. I honestly don’t know how things will go for you.”

The two looked at his back, Paolo’s eyes widened and his body tensed.

The old man sighed heavily. “I wish having you both out there didn’t constitute such a liability to me.”

Paolo’s expression turned to one of naked fear. Sasha saw his reaction and began to look scared as well.

Midnight continued looking out the window, directing his gaze to the heavens. “I suppose that leaves me with no choice.” He sounded old and tired.

He walked to the kitchen and turned the water on. After splashing some water on his face and drying his hands he returned to the living room.

“Don’t kill us!” Sasha pleaded. “We didn’t mean it!. We’ll come back to work, just don’t kill us!”

Midnight reflexively looked behind him for a threat. “What are you talking about? I’m not going to kill you. I came all this way and did all this to make sure you two were ok.”

Paolo seemed to relax ever so slightly. “You’re not going to kill us?”

“No. I’m not going to kill you. What the fuck even gave you that idea?” the old man looked genuinely puzzled.

“Well, you got what you came for, and you were talking about us being a liability, and leaving you no choice. That usually comes right before someone kills someone else.” Paolo whispered, he sounded uneasy just saying it out loud.

Midnight let out an exasperated sigh. “Too many mob movies. It’s true, you’re both a liability to me now, and you do leave me no choice. That doesn’t automatically mean I’m going to kill you, what kind of monster do you take me for?!”

He looked them in the eyes until they both dropped their gazes. “You’ve both been on how many ops as my eyes and ears? Have I ever just murdered someone because they were inconvenient?”

They shook their heads without looking up from the floor.

“So anyway. As for the liability. Because you’re exposed, for your own good, you need to keep a low profile, and reach out to me using the secure channels if you think someone is watching you. I’ll do what I can to be here faster than the Policia if something happens.”

He shook his head again, “And as for leaving me no choice, you leave me no choice but to carry on without you, and bid you both farewell and good luck. Of course, if something changes, or you decide you want to do something about the people who really took your sister from us, you know how to reach me. Thank you for the information, and I’m glad you’re ok. Perhaps I’ll see you another time.”

They nodded without making eye contact.

He shook both of their hands and then left. Although he’d arrived carrying a heavy parcel of ingredients, and walked away from the door with empty hands, he moved down the hallway with the steps of a man that had just shouldered another incalculable burden.