“One in three hundred”

“No, surely not! He’s good, but not that good!”

“Sorry, that’s the odds. He wins too much! Starting wager is 50 pesos, take it or leave it.”

Adelita and Doroteo step carefully around the gaggle of rich men who had emerged from a nearby bar. Teo pushes open the swinging doors, holding one side open for Adelita to follow.

“Think they were talking about him?” She asks quietly.

“I don’t have to think.” Teo replies.

“I know that, but... try?”

“I mean I don’t need to guess, smartass.” He gestures to the bar dominated by a familiar set of muscles, then pulls her back from approaching by the sleeve. “You ready?”

“Am I?” she retorts, her dark eyes searching his. He considers, then relents.

“I think you are. Anyone else, anyone who only learned to shoot three days ago? I’d say no... but you learned fast, neh?”

Adelita nods, then glances at the man leaning on the bar. “Right shoulder?”

Teo nods quietly and she crosses his path to put herself on the mountain’s right side. Her mentor raises an eyebrow, then moves to take the left. The two approach the bar nervously, then lean gingerly against it on either side of the meatslab.

“Mm! Buenas dias!” He says jauntily, looking first at Teo, then at Adelita. “Pleasant day, wouldn’t you say? Shame it'll be ruined with the bloodshed. Bah. A shame.”

Adelita and Teo exchange looks and the man continues hastily, a huge hand stroking his mustache, “Ah, not for you, yes? I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

He glances between the two of them, adding in his deep, silken voice, “You’re here to watch the match, yes? A little boxing, a little scrap with the fair men of this hacienda? No? Ah well, better for it. Terrible sport, but! Pay is better than agave farming!”

The amiable man holds up a hand to the bartender and a shot of tequila manifests before him. He holds it up somberly, adding “Yet agave tastes so much better than blood, yes?”

Rather than respond, Adelita reaches across his broad arm to slap the shot out of his hand. He stares at it forlornly, then raises his hand for another shot. Frustrated, Adelita grabs her bandana, yanking it down to reveal her face.

The meatslab glances at her, then does a double take, his face lighting up with recognition. “Ah! You live! Bartender, a shot for these two fine people as well!”

The shots arrive quickly before the bartender retreats to the far end, sensing danger in the air. The big man takes his shot with a cheerful gasp and, after a moment, the other two follow suit. Adelita’s face twists more than it already was at the burning sensation tumbling down her throat.

“I have to apologize!” Meatslab continues somberly, if slightly drunkenly, “Just following orders, you understand, yes? Believe me, I didn’t want to do that uh… unfortunate stuff either. Nasty business, yes? Glad I left, terrible pay, no benefits, no nothing for getting shot in the line of duty! What thanks I get, what great promises I was given! What I have to do to afford this tequila!”

Adelita remains silent, staring dumbfounded straight into the sun manifest.

“The little one, though, now he was dedicated! I just saw him today actually, biking around in his little uniform with his little pistols. Never understood that boy. Very nice, but ah… lost in his thoughts.”

Another shot appears before the three of them and the target seems to have a moment’s difficulty in locating it, drunk as he was. Adelita turns her gaze to the shot, considering it deeply.

“Sorry’s not enough.”

“Perdon?”

Adelita could feel Doroteo’s gaze boring into her, watching her closely for his cue.

“Sorry. is not. enough. Following orders isn’t enough. It’s not enough!” She grips the shotglass until a crack spiders along it’s rim and clear liquor sops onto the tabletop.

She begins to reach for her belt, but a reluctant, slurred grumble stays her hand. “You’re going to assassinate me? Here? In my favorite eatery? Not even a gentlemanly duel?”

Adelita locks eyes with Teo and he shrugs. “To the street then?”

“The street will have to do.”

“Fine.” Adelita relents, turning to lead the way. Suddenly, pain blossoms at the nape of her neck, casting her to the ground with the force of the impact. Stars bloom in her vision as a cold wave of numbness travels down her arms.

Teo draws his gun quickly, the bartender ducking, the other patrons hollering as the huge man turns to bring a hammerfist down on Teo’s head next.

Instead, his left shoulder suddenly explodes out to paint the ceiling in blood and bone.

From the ground, Adelita trains her weapon on the man as he sinks to his knees with a mighty, beastial howl. She rolls to her feet, stepping around him and pressing the hot barrel of her weapon into his right shoulder to drive him to the ground. She takes a wide stance, leans forward on her front leg, flicking her arm out to train the gun on his head. She rolls her shoulder, her expression remaining nonplussed as he begins to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” She demands and he wheezes, pointing to his left shoulder weakly.

“Ah, sorry for laughing… eh… and for the dirty trick of course. No gun on me, best I can do, yes?” He chuckles, then points between both of his damaged shoulders, “But uh… hey, at least I’m even now, yes?”

“Not yet.”

“Perdon?”

“We’re not even yet.” And Adelita fires. The man’s legs kick out straight, his fist flopping back to dent the wooden floor, his immense frame tensing… then relaxing.

“But it’s a step in the right direction.”

She stares down at the mess of brain matter and mustache leaking across the saloon floor, transfixed by the unexpected mess. All things considered, he wasn’t as vile as she’d made him out to be in her mind. Something in her stomach roils and kicks in protest at the sight… or maybe the act. Her mind races and her eyes dart back and forth across the saloon floor like frolicking mice, a voice in the back of her mind asking if this is who she is now.

A hand at her shoulder guides her to the door quickly, a voice muttering “We should go, neh? Cover your face, we’re leaving.”