Hang Up

April 16th, 1989

You pull up in front of your apartment building, and sigh. Another night spent murdering mobsters for fun and profit.

And there's no denying that you found it fun.

You look at the passenger seat, where a lone VHS tape case sits. Of course, there was money inside, but there was also an actual tape. Judging by the cover of the case, it was some kind of cheesy horror movie that you've never heard of. Probably not something for Rarity.

Stashing the tape in the glove box, right next to your mask, you exit the car and head back to your apartment. As expected, no one else is about at this time of night.

Unlocking your door, you enter your apartment, to find Rarity hard at work at the kitchen table. Upon hearing your entry, she turns around and smiles. You can see that she's doing something with her magic, though her body hides exactly what it is.

"Oh, welcome back, Father!" she greets you. "I was actually just about to finish my first piece of clothing!"

Curious, you ask if you can see.

"Hold on, I'm almost done with it." She goes back to her work, focusing intently on whatever she was doing. Then, she looks back at you. "Alright, done!"

She holds up her handiwork, and you can't help but stare. Being held in the air in front of you is a hand-stitched (or magic-stitched, rather) jacket, very similar to your own, made up of various different shirts. While your own jacket is a dull brownish-yellow, this one was white and blue, despite the fact that the shirts made to use it were various different colors.

You tell her that it's really good, especially for a first. She blushes and thanks you.

As the two of you settle in for some leftover pizza for dinner, Rarity begins to talk. "Father, I was curious, where did you go tonight?"

You pause mid-bite. Cautiously, you ask her why she asks.

"I was just wondering, since you didn't bring back any fresh pizza, or anything."

You think for a bit, then tell her that you had to go to work. Technically not a lie.

"What do you do?"

Once again, you pause. You have no idea how to explain, and you know for sure you can't tell her what you've really been doing, blowing out their brains, bashing their heads, spreading the blood

You tell her that you just do various odd jobs for cash. This seems to prove acceptable to her.

You both finish eating, and start getting ready for bed. Just after you put the paper plates in the trash, however, you turn around to feel Rarity hugging your legs.

"I love you, Father."

Your heart melts, and you stoop down to return the hug, and tell her that you love her, too.

After a bit, she breaks the hug, then goes to bed. You stay behind to tidy up a bit, and while doing so, your gaze falls on the jacket she made for you.

Should you start wearing it, you think? On the one hand, it would break Rarity's heart if you didn't. But then again, as nicely done as it is for a first, it's still kind of patched together, which would likely draw more attention to you than you care to have.

There's also the issue of getting 'called in' while you're wearing it, and the last thing you want to do is get it covered in blood.

With that thought, you once again start to dwell on your late night activities, and what they mean about you. There was no getting around it; you loved murder, and you loved enacting carnage on people. But at the same time, everyone you've killed up to this point have been filthy mobsters, scum of the city, and they very much deserved to die. After all, you were sickened back when you killed that hobo. So maybe you're not really such a bad guy?

You know you like it, there's no saving you

At the very least, Rarity seems to be enjoying her stay. And that display of affection earlier is proof that she certainly doesn't see you as a monster.

Though, you realize that there were a lot of things you couldn't really provide, or help with. You were, in essence, a single dad, caring for a young girl. True, that girl was actually a unicorn, but the point still stands.

You yawn, and decide that you can think over all of this tomorrow. Turning all the lights out, you crawl into the bed next to Rarity, and start falling asleep.

A little while later, you hear rustling from the other side of the room, and shortly after you feel a weight getting into the bed with you. Rarity must think you're already asleep.

Soon, you hear her breath grow steady and slow. Smiling, you drift off to sleep, yourself.