The Mark of Duty

I sat in the back of the patrol car with my knee's resting in a comfortable position against my rib bone. Those without knowledge of my singular biology might prefer to call it a rib cage, but that would be inaccurate. My rib cage had been fused into one solid bone, which was harder than steel. Sure it made me basically bulletproof, but it came at a cost. Namely the ability to sit comfortably in the back seat of a cop car. Sunset had lapsed into a quiet silence as she stared over the front of the car, trying to tease out its secrets by sight alone. After getting a home and a few necessities I would probably buy her a few books that covered the basics of human technology. I could imagine her smiling at tomes of unknown knowledge, and my smile at how mundane it all seemed. A mirror of what happened between Flash Bangs and myself millennia ago.

I was only half listening to Alice and Armor talk about agency politics and how it relates to police politics. I also teased out more about Alice's cover story for us. Something about me being some sort of super-soldier from a small civilization that has been hidden away for centuries. I wasn't paying much attention, but a noticed a few sad looks at me from Armors rear-view mirror. I ignored it, and instead focused on just how defenseless I felt. I knew it was stupid, but it had been ages since I was unarmed. Despite my past-self being a man who lived by wits and guile, I had grown accustomed to having a weapon on me at all times. I guess it was a security blanket at this point. Something to keep paranoia from beating down my doors. With them gone I was much less confident.

I jumped as the car reached a halt, slamming a knee into a metal bar between me and Armor. he looked at me from the mirror again, worry etched onto his features. "Hey, you alright back there?"

He was obviously a good man. One who I would freely admit I would probably only drag down. But, that was my curse. Watching those around me fall. Though it being figurative instead of literal would mix it up a little bit. I waved him off. "Fine, sudden movements and I don't get along is all. They tend to herald things best not experienced."

Another look of worry, though Alice just nodded. I might have been the only one to notice her unclenching her fist from where it rested on the dash. The biggest surprise was the worried look from Sunset. I had expected it to be one of confusion, or maybe curiosity. Actual worry, however, was not in my mental list of response to my jumpiness. She hid it a second later, but I still saw it. Armor turned on his blinker and sped up. "Well, our turn is right here." I heard the smile on his face as the car slowly turned into a house with 'Sunny Skies Realty' written on it. "I know the realtor who runs the place, so she can set you up pretty well, what's your budget?"

I paused for a moment and shrugged. "One moment." I reached for the area between me and Sunset, where my backpack sat. It was now sans-bolter but still held the box. I opened it up and grabbed the first Manila envelope. I opened it and looked in it. I had assumed it was full of hundreds. I was very incorrect. Apparently, Trader thought the deal deserved us buying a house because it was filled with one-thousand-dollar bills. I had heard of them, used in a bank to bank transactions. However, seeing one was a totally different story. I guessed they were in stacks of twenty, and the Manilla envelope was full to bursting. I did some mental math and nodded. I probably had a few hundred thousand in here, so I could buy a house, some cheap transport, and buy amenities. The leftovers could be used for a very comfortable six months. Or stretched much farther by living frugally.

I wasn't going to go crazy, but a good house and set up in the house would pay back in dividends. "I'd guess we max out at two hundred thousand, but I would hope to spend less."

Armor looked at Alice who nodded and he just shrugged. "Fair enough man." He pulled into a parking space and killed the engine. "Alright, so lets lay down some quick rules. Be polite to the lady I'm taking you to, and try not to mention your past too much." He flushed. "She'd probably interrogate you for details so she could include it in her books."

I smiled wide. "Don't tempt me with a good time sir, I always relish in telling my stories." Alice gave me a cough and a glare, reminding me of our cover story. I held my smile. "The completely false ones that no one would believe anyway."

Alice kept up the glare, but I could see the it recede as some laughter flared in her eyes. I tried to open the door and found my eternal nemesis. There was no handle. The rear of cop cars didn't have handles. I sighed as Armor opened up the door for me, Alice mirroring his action for Sunset. Sunset seemed put out from her inability to leave the car, but paused to examine the door as she stepped out. She stooped up with a vicious grin as Alice closed the door behind her. I turned to follow Armor as he moved towards the door. I guessed she figured something out about the door and was glad she actually seemed happy about something.

We walked in the house into a small reception area, Shining smiled as he waved to the lady behind the counter. "Hey Smiles, is Mrs.Velvet in?"

She nodded and waved to all of us. I waved back, trying to be polite. She set her eyes back on Armor. "Of course she is officer, leading in some lost travelers again?"

He smiled and laughed easily. "Of course, can you ring us on in?"

Sunny smiled. "Of course." She raised a hand up to a small buzzer beside her computer. She leaned into a microphone. "Mrs.Velvet, Officer Armor and three guests to see you."

There was a crackle, and a voice came from the small speaker. "Of course, I always have time for my little lawman!" Armor's face grew a few shades darker as I thought over the voice. It was high pitched and seemed to ooze motherly love. If it was less excited it could almost be a match for Tsunami's. I smiled at the memory of my motley crew's team mom. I was forced to abandon the thought as Armor and Alice pulled ahead to walk through a door ahead of us.

We walked the halls for a short time, as I took in every little detail of the room. I paused as I realized I was already deciding which way to go in case of an attack, and which routes would be good for a quick withdrawal. I sighed as I felt the lack of weight at my hip and back. I really did need some sort of security blanket, something to calm down my growing paranoia. We reached an unassuming door that Armor walked through quickly, only to have something latch onto him from the side. I was halfway through a bull rush at the offending item before I felt Alice put her hand on my chest. Without the plate carrier, I felt her hands warmth, which was enough to calm me down.

Sunset looked between us with a raised eyebrow before Mrs. Velvet noticed us. She quickly released Armor from a hug and smiled at us. "Oh and look at these three! She walked straight to Alice and stuck out a hand. "Hello there ma'am, I'm Twilight Velvet, realtor extraordinaire."

Alice shook her hand politely and nodded. "Alice Walker, but I'm just here as a guide. Your shopper is the guy who's towering in your doorframe."

I smiled and nodded. "Evening ma'am, I was told you could help me find a house?"

She paused, looking between me and Alice, before shrugging. "Of course dearie, and what are you looking for?"

I paused. I knew what I always wanted when I was back home, but since I moved to Equestria that had all changed. Fuck it, I wanted my American dream. "Of course, three bedrooms at least, with a fenced in yard for animals, and enough room to entertain guests."

Her eyes widened a little before she nodded. "Of course, I have a few homes nearby that might fit, how centralized do you want it."

I looked to Sunset, who leaned in. Whispering, she tried to reach up near my head. "Could be kinda close to the portal?"

I smiled down at her. "I think we'd like it close to Canterlot high. That way the little one has easy access to school."

Mrs. Velvet nodded, now the smile on her face much more genuine. I noticed that was only after Sunset whispered to me. Freaking A, this was gonna be a repetitive annoyance, wouldn't it? Mrs. Velvet nodded. "Of course, if you'll sit across from me here we can look over the two or three houses I have that match your criteria." She looked over to Armor. "Do you need anything else dearie?"

He looked to me, before nodding. "I gotta stick around here for a bit, all his stuff is in my car."

I nodded. "Indeed, I am, as the locals say, fresh off the boat."

She nodded. "Ah, moving in with your daughter here?"

Sunset instantly flinched in almost horror, causing me to laugh. "Ah, is the thought of being my daughter that awful?" She nodded, causing me to laugh even harder. I calmed myself while holding out a placating palm. "No worries Sunset, I'd be terrified to be your father. No Mrs. Velvet, Sunset is my adopted sister."

Mrs. Velvet nodded. "Ah, I see. Well if you'll sit down..." She gestured towards the chair across from her. The chair that was very pretty with inlaid wood that was about as thick as a toothpick. I was about four-hundred pounds of regrets and muscle. I wasn't great at math, but that didn't add up. I tapped Sunset on the back of the head and she followed up, moving to sit as I sat behind her, placing myself between the door and her. I only realized when I stopped I had done my normal set up when body-guarding someone. Mrs.Velvet spoke again,l appearing to accept our compromise easily. "Yes, so if I can direct you to this first one. She rotated the screen around, showing off a few houses.