⇒Picture-based Drabble
Title Winter London Nights
Rating PG
Universe In The Shadows-verse
Character(s) Nevan (Lavi)
Word Count 707
Warnings/Notes Based around this work of art.
Lavi grinned against the all too bracing cold of the London winter night, the bite of the air just gave the assassin more energy instead of zapping at it like so many of his counterparts. The night was his time to shine and pull away from the pack, the grin turned wolfish in the darkness of his alcove, glinting as it caught a bit of moonlight fancying the idea of shining in there. It wouldn't, not this time of year and not at this time of night, Lavi knew.
Just like he knew how to slip soundlessly down from his hiding spot, numbed fingers gripping the same spots they had many nights before. All the time keeping to the shadows, all the time pushing his own limits.
Another alcove and another five minutes of respite, his target for this evening often wandered back this way from the pubs. Always checking over his shoulder and down the alleys, but he never ever checked up on the roofs. Giving his trust to the angel statue behind him Lavi leaned against it, cupping his hands around his mouth to blow warmth back into them. Briefly his thoughts went to the warm bed waiting him back at the Order, so strong the memory of previous ones that his body relaxed and tingled at the imaginary defrosting.
Then his target appeared, even more sloshed than usual, the wolfish grin returning to the young man's face. Thoughts turned to the job at hand, eager to return to such places in person. But first thing was first~ This low ranking noble had to disappear from the court, a minor annoyance but a vital one in putting into place the Crown's plans. Not that he cared about that sort of thing, it was just a contract he had been offered personally. Because they knew he'd take the utmost care with it.
Glancing in any spots where he might have chosen to hide himself - and a few he wouldn't - Lavi slipped down to the rooftop of the closest house. His target continued on his drunken way, attempting to sing his bawdy tavern tunes, guaranteeing that he wouldn't lose the fellow for a while. His soft boots barely made a sound as he trotted perfectly balanced on the angle made by the tiling. He wasn't afraid of falling, never was despite several hard falls in his childhood. It wasn't anything he couldn't recover from and move on, as the saying went "get right back on the horse", or something like that. Lavi paused at an intersection, perched on a house's chimney, the fire within having died hours ago.
A close-lipped smile crossed his face as he watched the man struggle to pick himself out of the garbage pile he had fallen into. A giggle caught his ear and Lavi lifted his head, peering into the darkness as the full moon hid behind a cloud. A little girl, no more than eight, was staring down at the same sight as he, unaware of how close the assassin was to her. Then she looked up and stilled, spying the new ornament on her neighbor's chimney. Lavi kept his mouth shut, smiling still as he brought a finger up to shush the child, after all, there was nothing threatening about his demeanor. Not at the moment, what should she fear from him. The girl gave him a sleepy smile, mimicking the motion and shut her window, the curtain falling moments later.
Lavi waited on his perch, watching her window and the door to her house as well as his wandering target. No alarm was being raised and so he left his spot, running across rooftops once more in order to corner his target in the thoroughly investigated ambush spot. It was the perfect place for any murder and the perfect place to be found come morning light. A gold eye roamed once more over the sleepy city, stray wind catching the darkened strands. The girl - if she came forward - would be describing a man who didn't exist to the constables come morning. Little to fear but another assassin or the drunk target being less drunk than he appeared. It was a chance - and a thrill - he was willing to take.
Rating PG
Universe In The Shadows-verse
Character(s) Nevan (Lavi)
Word Count 707
Warnings/Notes Based around this work of art.
Lavi grinned against the all too bracing cold of the London winter night, the bite of the air just gave the assassin more energy instead of zapping at it like so many of his counterparts. The night was his time to shine and pull away from the pack, the grin turned wolfish in the darkness of his alcove, glinting as it caught a bit of moonlight fancying the idea of shining in there. It wouldn't, not this time of year and not at this time of night, Lavi knew.
Just like he knew how to slip soundlessly down from his hiding spot, numbed fingers gripping the same spots they had many nights before. All the time keeping to the shadows, all the time pushing his own limits.
Another alcove and another five minutes of respite, his target for this evening often wandered back this way from the pubs. Always checking over his shoulder and down the alleys, but he never ever checked up on the roofs. Giving his trust to the angel statue behind him Lavi leaned against it, cupping his hands around his mouth to blow warmth back into them. Briefly his thoughts went to the warm bed waiting him back at the Order, so strong the memory of previous ones that his body relaxed and tingled at the imaginary defrosting.
Then his target appeared, even more sloshed than usual, the wolfish grin returning to the young man's face. Thoughts turned to the job at hand, eager to return to such places in person. But first thing was first~ This low ranking noble had to disappear from the court, a minor annoyance but a vital one in putting into place the Crown's plans. Not that he cared about that sort of thing, it was just a contract he had been offered personally. Because they knew he'd take the utmost care with it.
Glancing in any spots where he might have chosen to hide himself - and a few he wouldn't - Lavi slipped down to the rooftop of the closest house. His target continued on his drunken way, attempting to sing his bawdy tavern tunes, guaranteeing that he wouldn't lose the fellow for a while. His soft boots barely made a sound as he trotted perfectly balanced on the angle made by the tiling. He wasn't afraid of falling, never was despite several hard falls in his childhood. It wasn't anything he couldn't recover from and move on, as the saying went "get right back on the horse", or something like that. Lavi paused at an intersection, perched on a house's chimney, the fire within having died hours ago.
A close-lipped smile crossed his face as he watched the man struggle to pick himself out of the garbage pile he had fallen into. A giggle caught his ear and Lavi lifted his head, peering into the darkness as the full moon hid behind a cloud. A little girl, no more than eight, was staring down at the same sight as he, unaware of how close the assassin was to her. Then she looked up and stilled, spying the new ornament on her neighbor's chimney. Lavi kept his mouth shut, smiling still as he brought a finger up to shush the child, after all, there was nothing threatening about his demeanor. Not at the moment, what should she fear from him. The girl gave him a sleepy smile, mimicking the motion and shut her window, the curtain falling moments later.
Lavi waited on his perch, watching her window and the door to her house as well as his wandering target. No alarm was being raised and so he left his spot, running across rooftops once more in order to corner his target in the thoroughly investigated ambush spot. It was the perfect place for any murder and the perfect place to be found come morning light. A gold eye roamed once more over the sleepy city, stray wind catching the darkened strands. The girl - if she came forward - would be describing a man who didn't exist to the constables come morning. Little to fear but another assassin or the drunk target being less drunk than he appeared. It was a chance - and a thrill - he was willing to take.