Kirian looked around his plain room dejectedly. He was hoping he'd be back in his apartment by now. If he had really put his mind to it, he was sure he could have escaped by now, but he was enjoying speaking to the enigmatic owner of the building.

He smiled, thinking back to how the larger man had lunged forward before catching himself. Forcing himself to sit back and directing his men to do the same. It was fun pushing his buttons, and his face was easy to look at. More than that, Kirian was fairly sure that he could turn this into a regular job.

Assassin work could be quite difficult to find at times, and he hadn't been in the city long enough to make meaningful connections. He got by, but one bad week and he was screwed. Now, Mr. Radashawn had said nothing about paying him, but if he showed his worth, he was sure it would work.

After causing a small stir in the office, the man had given him the outline of his first mission. Thankfully, it was tonight. Another day trapped in this room with nothing to do, and he might revert to his worst self.

Kirian shook his head and frowned, focusing back on the task at hand. He had been given a small file with some essential information about the two targets, a blueprint of the seedy establishment they would be infiltrating, and details on his persona for the night.

On the desk across from him sat some hair products, cologne, his assigned clothes for the night. They had also allowed him a mirror, deciding that if he wanted to use something to hurt them, he would do it no matter what. He took the clothes into the bathroom and started changing when he heard the door to the room open.

He adjusted his clothing and popped out of the bathroom curiously. In front of him was a still upset Tobias. The older man looked him up and down with distant distaste and closed the door behind him.

"Mr. Radashawn is being uncharacteristically merciful to you, for reasons I don't understand. I've accepted that there is nothing I can say to change his mind but that doesn't mean that I will stand by while you take advantage of his kindness."

Tobias stared at Kirian for a long moment before continuing, "I know more than anyone how far Mr. Radashawn will go to achieve his goals. If you are beneficial to those goals, then we will get along. But if you serve as a hindrance, or worse, I will not hesitate to neutralize you."

Before Kirian could respond, the older man walked out of the room and slammed the door shut with more strength than necessary.

Kirian couldn't help but wonder what the relationship between Mr. Radashawn and Tobias was. Clearly, Tobias had been in the business longer, but he was fiercely loyal to the younger man. What does a man have to do to survive in this business as long as Tobias has?

He ruminated over it while styling his hair. It had grown quite shaggy in the last few months. Two years ago his hair was buzzed to his scalp. Now it fell down to his shoulders in a shaggy mullet. The products made the raven black hair shiny and luscious. He sprayed the cologne behind his ears and on his wrists, leaving behind a faint aroma. It was tropical and spicy, and held a faint trace of oud. Whoever picked it out had good taste.

He sat in front of the mirror, playing with his hair and collar until he was satisfied. He was wearing flowy black dress pants and a gauzy silk shirt with the top few buttons undone revealing smooth pale skin with olive undertones. His collarbones were prominent and his elegant neck connected them with his slightly pointed jaw. His face was a mixture of striking features. His button nose held a bump from when it was broken. His eyes, which were a brown so dark they looked black, were rimmed by thick, straight lashes. A single piercing ran through his right eyebrow.

Kirian bit his dark pink lip, happy with how he looked. He had no misgivings about just how attractive he was. For the first time in days, he felt like himself.

After another half hour of running over all of the information in the file again, Kirian heard faint footsteps headed towards his room. He stood quickly. The anticipation was eating him up and he wanted to leave as soon as humanly possible.

The person who opened his door was not Tobias, but Mr. Radashawn himself. He stood in front of him in a full suit. His tall, broad physique filled the clothes well. Again Kirian found himself lost in thought, admiring the dark curls swirling around the man's head.

The taller man froze in the doorway, looking at Kirian with an unreadable expression before barking out a curt "Let's go."

This time no one bothered to handcuff the assassin and Mr. Radashawn brought no one else. To Kirian, it seemed an unwise decision. It would take almost no effort at all to kill the man in front of him. If he wanted to. But Kirian found himself trailing the man in silence, feeling no urge to take the man's life.

Because he needed a job.

They made their way into the elevator, going all the way to the garage beneath the building. Mr. Radashawn walked them to a sleek, unimposing black car. It seemed expensive but Kirian had no frame of reference.

They both got in the back, as close as they had ever been, while the driver drove them out of the garage. Kirian looked out onto the city with interest. This city was quite beautiful at night. Bright lights came from every direction, making the dark sky seem far away. Tall buildings rose on either side like walls and the cars around them spoke in growls and horns. Drinking in the sensory banquet, he felt soothed. He barely registered that Mr. Radashawn didn't look at or speak to him the entire ride.

Sooner than he expected, they pulled into a parking lot of a building on the outskirts of the large skyscrapers. The timeworn, unassuming brown brick building was nothing special, but the parking lot was full of extremely flashy, luxury cars.

Finally, Mr. Radashawn turned to him.

"Me and the driver will wait for you here, if you are not back in two hours, we will barge into the building."

"Understood"

Mr. Radashawn looked at him with apprehension. "You may not believe we can catch you, and you may be right. But if we do, it will be a fate worse than death. Do you understand?"

Kirian's eyes held a smile. Giddy at the prospect ahead, he couldn't stop himself from being his usual, quippy self. "I think I like when you threaten me. But don't worry, I understand."

The larger man's jaw clenched but he didn't respond. Accepting that the conversation is over, Kirian steps out of the car. He adjusts his shirt once, then walked towards the building with practiced confidence.

This is going to be fun.