Twilight was practically skipping in excitement as they walked toward the glass doors of the public library. Allen glanced around nervously, worried that his new companion’s antics would attract unwanted attention. “Hey Twi? Not to kill your buzz or anything, but could you tone down the giddy schoolgirl act?”

“Right, sorry.” she said sheepishly, though still grinning like she’d just won the lottery. “Learning about another culture firsthand is…interesting…but there’s no substitute for a well-stocked library. By the way, I hope you don’t mind staying for a few hours.”

“I don’t have any plans today.” he replied with a shrug, his voice immediately dropping in volume as they entered the building. “I actually used to spend a lot of time here back in the day, even when I wasn’t in school. Still do, in fact.”

She looked at him in surprise. “You didn’t strike me as the type to enjoy reading.”

“I do occasionally, but that’s not the only reason for coming here. I mostly come here for the peace and quiet…and also the indoor coffee place that gives discounts when you show them your library card.” he added with a grin, making her roll her eyes. “The crime rate around this place is actually the lowest in the city, believe it or not.”

“Really? I mean, I know it’s a library, but why the big difference?”

“Two reasons. One…and don’t ask me how this happened…this place has become some kind of holy ground. If you even raise a fist around here, you will be targeted by the community. There isn’t any actual mandate on the issue; it was just some kind of unspoken consensus among the people who live here. There’s only ever been one fight here, and it was ended pretty quickly.”

“By the community?”

“Nope.” he said, jerking a thumb to the right. “By reason number two.”

Twilight looked right and felt her jaw go slack. Leaning against the wall by the librarian’s desk was a man that dwarfed even Baird in size. He was completely bald, of a much darker complexion than Allen, and bore a large scar over his right eye, said eye now rendered useless. It was a sight that would have been all the more terrifying had it not been for the book that held his attention and the happy tears rolling down his face, attention unwavering even as they approached the desk.

“Hey Robbie, what’s that?” Allen asked.

Robbie looked over to find the source of the voice, smiling when he saw him and raising the book so he could see the title.

“Huh. I didn’t think you were into romance.”

The larger man nodded briefly, then looked past Allen to frown at the newcomer with the pink fringe, who hid behind her companion with a small squeak.

“My cousin from out of town.” he explained. “Don’t worry, she’ll be as quiet as a mouse.”

Robbie simply nodded again and returned to his book, smile and tears returning within seconds.

“He was arrested for three counts of murder, but got a reduced sentence because it was technically self-defense.” Allen explained as they walked away from the desk. “He was practically a time bomb when he finally got out of prison, so they sent him here to perform community service. I guess he liked the atmosphere, because he asked if he could work security.”

“Is he…dangerous?” Twilight asked, still eying the giant cautiously.

“Only if you disturb the peace. He’s a pretty cool guy, never says much and spends most of his time reading…but hell hath no fury like he does when you start a fight in his library.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t come here for a fight.”

“Amen, sister.” he replied before turning towards a counter on the far wall. “I’ll be right back, I’m gonna go get my coffee.”

Twilight was left to comb through the library’s many bookshelves, grabbing book after book and making a mental note of where she’d found each one so she could replace them later. She also made sure her selections covered as many topics as possible, ranging from history and social studies to anatomy and modern science. By the time she finished, her collection of books was taller than she was, the table she’d set them on creaking slightly in protest.

Allen returned just as she opened the first one and stopped, staring. She noticed this and stared back, blinking twice in confusion.

“Hey Twi?”

“Yes?”

“You’re funny.”

“Um…thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

They continued their impromptu staring contest for a moment longer, then Allen took a seat on the other side of the table, Twilight shaking her head in dismissal and returning to her book. Allen watched for a while, smirking in amusement at the fortress of reading material surrounding her, before growing bored and looking around for something else to occupy his time.

Kinda slow today. he thought as he sipped at his drink, enjoying the near-perfect silence. Normally, the place would be packed with high school students cramming for whatever quiz or test was coming up. Today must have been a holiday, however, as the only people there besides him and Twilight were diehard bookworms like her and caffeine enthusiasts like him. And, of course, the ever-present Robbie.

Eventually, he looked back at the bookshelf behind him, frowning slightly as he took note of the rather broad selection of paperbacks adorning the space. He scanned the cover of each one, his eyes suddenly lighting up as he recognized one of the titles and leaned his chair back to grab it. He righted himself a second later and gave the mystery novel in his grasp a closer inspection. “Study in Scarlet. Man, the titles really don’t give anything away, do they?” he muttered as he opened to the first page.

An hour, then two passed in silence, he counting clues while she steadily filled her notebook. Any outside observer might have found the scene almost comical, her upright posture and unwavering concentration a stark contrast to his slouched position on the table, head in one hand and book in the other. It wasn’t until almost noon that Twilight finally set her pencil down, flexing the discomfort out of her fingers.

“I might have passed physics if I’d had that kind of focus.” Allen remarked.

“How do you fail physics?” she asked incredulously.

“You take a nap.” he replied with a chuckle.

“That’s not funny.” she said with a frown. “Your parents must’ve been furious.”

If she’d been paying any less attention, she might have missed the brief change in his expression. It wasn’t one that she could readily identify, and it was gone before she could give it more scrutiny.

“You…could say that.” he said simply, taking a sip of his now-cold drink.

Deciding her observation warranted investigation, she set her hands on top of her book. “What are they like? You don’t talk about them much.”

Allen smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Not so fast, lady. Questions about the universe I can handle; but if you want any more dirt on me, then you’re going to have to give me some on you.”

“Such as?”

“You can start with yourself and your family.”

Twilight stared at him suspiciously, then shrugged. “I live in Equestria’s capital city of Canterlot. I’ve had an interest in learning since I was a filly, which led me to be accepted into Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. My mom’s an author, my dad’s an alchemist, and my older brother is the captain of the Royal guard.”

“What about Equestria?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is it a nice place? You know I’m looking to move.” he said with a grin, earning an eye-roll from her.

“It’s definitely more…conservative…than your world probably is, but the atmosphere is much more peaceful. The ponies are nice…well, most of them anyway…and it seems like there’s always something interesting happening nearby.”

“Do you partake in these interesting happenings, or are you the introvert that I think you are?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she answered with a deadpan look.

“True.” he replied, taking another sip of his coffee. When he sat it back down, he found Twilight staring at him with a small smile and a raised eyebrow, drawing a sigh from him as he began formulating yet another story. “Alright, fine. My stepdad-”

He was interrupted by a loud ringing coming from his coat pocket, and immediately put a finger over the earpiece to muffle the noise. He glanced up to find a disgruntled-looking Robbie glaring at him, grinning sheepishly as he waved an apology and hit the reject button to silence it. He then looked at the caller ID, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the number.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

“Nothing, it’s just the band manager. I’ll be right back.” he reassured her before getting up and walking back to the entrance, mouthing an apology to the giant by the desk. He received a good-natured shrug in response and proceeded outside, where he scanned his surroundings for potential eavesdroppers. Once he was completely sure he wouldn’t be overheard, he redialed his boss.

“Admin.”

“Didn’t you say I was off until Wednesday?” he asked bluntly.

“You would have been furious with me if I’d let this wait until tomorrow.” they replied. Allen could have sworn he detected excitement in the usually monotone voice.

“Fine, I’ll bite. What’s the job?”

“Mayor Goodman will be giving a speech on Saturday at about noon in front of city hall. Your job is simple: eliminate him.”

Allen whistled in surprise. Mayor Harold Goodman told sweet lies about making Vegas a safer place by tracking down and locking up fixers, while at the same time hiring fixers to take out key supporters of his opponents to ensure he was reelected. Anyone else he deemed to be a threat to his position and reputation was eliminated in the same brutal manner.

He was also indirectly responsible for his family’s death.

“You're right. I would have had a fit.” he said with a smile.

“You think that’s good, just wait until you hear how I’m paying you.” The Administrator continued.

“Oh?” Allen asked, his interest piqued. Killing that fat snake would be a reward in and of itself, but to promise something even better was a tall order.

“Mayor Goodman has been poisoning this city for far too long. The cartels, the attacks, the corrupt police force…it’s time to put an end to it. It’s time for you to put an end to it.”

“You never struck me as the righteous type.”

“Since his first election, I’ve been forced to watch as he slowly lowered this city into chaos. You remember what Vegas used to be like, right?”

“Party central. People were much happier, more carefree, and the biggest problem the cops had to worry about were the folks who partied a little too hard.”

“And then Goodman took over.” the Administrator agreed. “Now, the air is thick with tension and the smell of gunpowder. You and I are going to fix that. You know Kyle Remington, right?”

“Of course. I’ve been protecting him since he left the army six months ago. I never found out why, though.”

“Because he’s a revolutionary. He knows what this city should be like, and he’s planning on running for mayor. If he replaces Goodman, this city will take a huge step in a more peaceful direction.”

“Fantastic.” Allen said.

“It really is.” the Administrator agreed. There was a moment’s pause, then Allen continued.

“Not to sound like a dick or anything, but you still haven’t gotten to my reward.”

He heard his boss take a deep breath. “You know...this organization has really grown since I recruited you. Cartels have been either completely taken over or cut off from the city, allowing me alone to benefit from their wares and business. I have over a hundred fixers at my beck and call, and almost twice as many informants. The best in Vegas if I do say so myself.”

“Your point?”

“While I have many skilled individuals in my service, you are and always have been the best in the business. You’re efficient, you’re quiet, and…your best quality in my opinion…you hate your job. You’ll walk away and I won’t have to worry about you causing any grief.”

Allen leaned forward slightly, suddenly devoting all attention to the phone. “What do you mean ‘walk away’?”

“Exactly that.” Admin replied simply.

He was silent for a long time, hardly daring to believe where this was going. “You’re kidding.”

“I assure you, I’m not.”

“I can leave?” he asked quietly.

“In peace.”

He could have jumped for joy right there in the middle of the library’s courtyard, but skepticism held him down. “How do I know you won’t just whack me when the jobs done? You don’t seem like the kind of person to just let their former assets roam free.”

“I never assign hits on my own people.”

Allen scoffed. “Now that’s complete bullshit. What about the hit you put on me a few months ago, huh?”

“It wasn’t a hit. It was a scare tactic to keep you from leaving. Every one of the fifty fixers I sent after you had strict orders not to kill you. Mildly wound, if necessary, but not kill. You were never in any real danger.”

“Really?” said Allen, irritated.

“Well, you’re alright aren’t you?”

“Alright!? I have PTSD because of that fucking stunt you pulled, jackass! I haven’t slept properly since then, and I’m always expecting armed gunmen to break down the front door!” he suddenly looked around, hoping nobody had heard his little outburst.

There was a pause. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t part of the plan.”

Allen took a few seconds to calm down. Apologies weren’t going to get him to sleep, but holding a grudge wouldn’t make life easier for anyone. “We’re going way off-topic. Can I trust you to keep your end of this deal?”

“You can bet your life on it.”

“Then let’s talk about how we’re gonna make this happen. I need a list of buildings with a view of city hall, and you can disregard distance. I don’t care how far it is, I’ll make the shot.”

“Cocky much?”

“Cocky never.”

“Noted. I’m working on a list as we speak. Is there anything else?

“Depending on the distance, I might need a better bullet. Less friction with a little more powder in the casing, maybe. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. I might have more when I pick a spot.”

“I’ll only be a phone call away. And Ghost?

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. I will not forget this.”

Allen heard them hang up and put the phone back in his pocket, then turned and started for the library again, staring at the ground the whole way.

One more. One more and I’m free. One more and I can stop.

Three years. Three years since Frost, since the Demon, since the City Slayer activation. Three years of guilt and brandy-fueled nightmares and suicidal thoughts, of killing people simply because someone told him to. It had taken three years to reach this moment, and freedom could not have felt better.

His elation was short-lived, however, as the looming prospect of an empty future made itself known. His career as a fixer had cost him any chance he’d had at a decent future, and had turned him into something of a stranger to the community he’d grown up in. There weren’t many avenues he could take out of this situation.

Mentally, he slapped himself for his pessimistic attitude.

I can figure that out later. Maybe I can convince Admin to help me dust off my old life, or maybe I can get Skeeter to help me until I can get my life sorted out. Anything would be better than this.

Twilight looked up as he approached the table. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he responded casually. “My manager just gave me the time of our next practice session.”

Twilight lit up. “Neat! Can I come?”

“Sorry, no.” said Allen as he quickly tried to think of a good cover story. “It’s in the same neighborhood where those thugs attacked you. I don’t want to take any chances that they’ll be there and recognize you.”

“Alright.” she said, looking slightly disappointed.

“Speaking of which,” he continued. “I’ve got to head to a store in that area to get some strings. I’ll drop you off at home first, so…you know, don’t open the door to strangers.”

“Okay…but what if someone breaks in while you’re gone?”

“Then you have my permission to do to them what you did to me yesterday, only make sure they stay down until I get back.”

“Can do. Do you want to leave now?”

“If you wouldn’t mind. I’d like to beat the traffic. C’mon, help me gather these up and we’ll go check them out real quick.”

“Thanks, and thank you for bringing me here.” she said with a smile.

“What’re friends for, right?” he said with a grin.

Twilight shook her head and turned to grab half of her stack of books, never noticing the frown that replaced her new friend’s grin as he took his.

Well, definitely not for lying to. he thought to himself as he started for the front desk.

Why was he lying to her? It wasn’t like he had to fear her finding out, since she’d take her knowledge of his existence with her when she left.

But if she finds out, she might get scared and run off. he rationalized. If that happens, she’ll either die or put the both of us at risk.

He nodded to himself, satisfied with that logic, and fished through his pocket for his wallet.

What she doesn’t know can’t hurt us.

Author's Note

And now the end is in sight.
Let me know in the comments section what you thought about the chapter (because I do so enjoy talking to you fine ladies and gentlemen), and be sure to give me a thumbs-up if you enjoyed.
Thanks!