OCtober Day 20: Roux

The kind of man that could hold your life in his hands, and would watch it leave your eyes until he got paid, or got approval. That was Roux, the supposedly less volatile of Mally’s bodyguards. Unlike the urban legend of his fellow metamour, he had not accrued much of a public opinion. 

Following the slaughter at the indoor garden, I had called the rest of the Street Soldiers to come collect their fallen. After that, vengeance had been sworn against the rest of the samurai’s damned crew. There remained maybe four; the Field-Marshal, her General and the two privates who had the common sense not to participate in the blossom challenge. This time I was told I would not have to join, but I chose to anyway. I felt as though someone should bear witness in the worst case scenario. They took up arms, taking from the strongest depths of their arsenal for a storming assault. Though I did not wish to participate, I did keep one pistol strapped to my leg in case of emergency. 

From a contact on the street, the targets had been observed entering the Supernova club not too long ago. Plan was to wait in the alleyway and ambush them. So, there we were. After shooing away some drunkards pissing about, the four of them and I stood quiet, waiting. They were there for some time, a couple patrolling up and down the alleyway whilst the rest of us kept watch around the corner.. All of a sudden, the Field-Marshal drew her rifle. She saw something. As promptly as she aimed and fired, her speed was outmatched by the bullet from nowhere slamming into her chest.

The brave woman didn’t even stumble, but flopped right on her back. No movement. Not so much as a twitch. Too cautious to get anywhere close, I squinted at her body in the neon lights. The bullet hole had perfectly pierced where her heart should be. Such precision. The General checked her pulse, shaking his head.

“She’s...dead”

“It...it’s gotta be Roux!” one private squealed.

“He’s the one with the sniper rifle, he could be shooting from really far away!” the other private wailed.

The General grunts, standing ready for war.

“Stay alert soldiers, he’s around here somewh-”

Thud.

The General falls too. His gun skitters across the floor, coming to a halt at private number one’s foot. After that, the sniper fire stops. I see the young soldiers both shaking, desperately pointing their guns at every little noise. 

We stay like this for a long time, frozen in fear. 

Then, from deep within the alley come the hushed sound of footsteps. Both privates aim in that direction. I step back, carefully observing the enemy emerging from the shadows. 

The first thing we see is a spark of fire, followed by a tall, pale man coming into view. He’s lighting up a cigarette in his mouth, the light from which illuminates his mildly freckled face. Lifeless grey eyes scour his opponents. His hair is short, and bright red, with a small fringe. All of his clothes are black, from the boots, to the trench coat and everything underneath. A rather sizable sniper rifle is attached to the back. From the way the privates trembled, I could assume this was the Roux they mentioned. Casually, the sniper takes a drag of the cigarette.

“So, two worms and an elf. This should be easy” he says in French. There’s no emotion to the way he speaks.

It seems the other two don’t seem to understand him. They speak with actions, not words, the first one chagrin at the frenchman.

“Idiot” he groans, and my heart sinks when I see the glint of a combat knife within his sleeve. I’ve barely any time to cry out before the knife is slashed purposefully across the neck. The private sinks to the floor, choking for a moment, which turns to gurgling, then to silence. Their body drops in the pool of blood. Shaking, I’m shocked to see the other private still standing, gun aimed at the ruthless man. He simply sighs, taking the same knife and throwing it her way. This time I’m able to react, managing to pull her away just enough that the knife still hits, but not at the fatal spot. 

Roux clicks his tongue, clearly frustrated.

“Sakura wasn’t kidding. What are you, their mascot?”

I do not answer. He shrugs.

“Whatever, let’s finish this”

Those boots crunch on the gravel as they approach.

I knew how this was going to play down. Standing up, I move myself between him and the injured private. He narrows his eyes. But, before he can do anything I speak up.

“However much you want, I’ll pay it. Just save her. I know you can” I desperately plead in French.

He briefly looks surprised that I’ve been able to understand him the whole time. It fades as quickly as it comes though, the apathy creeping back in a shrug. Roux retrieves his phone, holding it out in my direction.

“Five thousand. Not up for negotiation” he mutters, refusing to swap to speaking in English.

I pull out mine and we complete the exchange. Then, he sighs, and the sniper kneels down beside the dying private to get on with the job. Removing his trench coat, he reveals the med kit hiding inside. I keep my distance but shuffle close to watch him work. Pumping the patient full of something to alleviate the pain, he straps on a pair of medical grade gloves and a mask before diving into the rough part. It’s over and done remarkably quickly. His hands and eyes move rapidly and without hesitation, like he knew perfectly what to do before ever laying hands on the patient. 

As the wounds are stitched up, I decide to sit down so I can be ready to comfort the private.

Despite careful efforts, the blood still manages to make something of a mess. I manage to get some on my trouser leg. 

“You can clean that up. Not my problem” Roux grumbles, pulling down the mask. 

He packs up his things and moves to leave.

“Hey...thanks” I call out in French before he can disappear.

Roux stops in his tracks. Red hair rustles as though he’s about to turn his head. However, he shakes it instead, retreating to the darkness once again. I get the impulse to follow him for a moment, but then I remember there’s more important things at hand. We don’t mention his name again, not as I take her somewhere safe. The gang is gone, and she needs to focus on staying alive.

I know danger when I see it, and that crew are not to be fucked with.

It was only a matter of time before I met the boss of the bodyguards, I just knew it. For once, I didn’t know whether to be excited or scared.