[001] in russia, job fucks you.
Daniel hated this job.
He didn't hate his job, no; being a hit man, though he'd been leery of it at first, had been fine with him after a fashion. And he was good at it. He was even better at it when he had his twin, Arthur, with him. They made a dangerous pair, deadly competent.
That was part of the reason he hated this particular job.
The client had ( Read more... )
He didn't hate his job, no; being a hit man, though he'd been leery of it at first, had been fine with him after a fashion. And he was good at it. He was even better at it when he had his twin, Arthur, with him. They made a dangerous pair, deadly competent.
That was part of the reason he hated this particular job.
The client had ( Read more... )
Arthur had tried to fight back, tried to get Daniel to make a getaway. But of course his brother wouldn't leave him and then they had been forced to watch the other get beaten the shit out of. First Arthur beaten and Daniel giving in to their demands just so they stopped beating on his brother. And then Arthur was made to watch them do the same to his twin, too pained and weak to stop it. Arthur had only agreed when they held a gun to Daniel's head. He knew they would have done it and Arthur refused to let his brother die over this (and not for him).
They ended up bandaging each other up and sleeping for two days before setting off on what was going to be one of their worst jobs. And by "worst" Arthur was referring to the fallout it would cause.
His busted lip, cuts, and black eye were healing, as were the other bruises all over his body. He still walked a little stiffly but it wasn't anything that would slow him down too much when he had to move fast.
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That had been the worst kind of experience, knowing that he had given in and there was no way for Arthur to help him, that the only route left was yes; it was just what would push Arthur over that edge. And for one brief terrifying instance he'd been on the end of a gun, not in control of the situation. It had been sobering. For one instance he'd regretted the line of work.
And of course, seeing bruises and cuts over the body so similar to his. Neither Daniel nor Arthur were the nurturing sort, but he had still pressed close to his twin apologetically.
He tugged his scarf higher up his neck. Russia was damn cold; Daniel hated that too.
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He was tempted to keep a gentle hold on his twin's arm - if only because he couldn't hold him close like he did when they laid down to rest - just to have that small bit of contact.
"They consider getting us in and then out as one whole favor returned. Be glad that they actually like us - otherwise I doubt they would be so helpful."
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Being close to his twin in public was fine. Anything more and they drew too many glances, and right now it was too populated for the risk.
"Lucky for us. And they're capable, at least. Wish they weren't so crazy," he tacked on in a mutter. "Crazy's fun but I don't want it on this job."
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A soft snort, "They're more than capable; they are two of the best shots in the business. And, to be honest, you'd have to be a little crazy to pull something like this off..."
Adding with a slight shrug, "Plus, from what I understand insanity only runs on one side of their family." Arthur was willing to take any pro he could get in this situation.
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"And oh, only half crazy. That makes it so much better," Daniel rolled his eyes, but he went silent after that. He was bitching because he was unhappy. Arthur did the same thing.
The job would be a challenge, the kind he thrived on. Running was the part he hated, the fallout, the knowledge that they'd be tailed by both client and the mark's family.
It might be easier if they split - but they had never split up. Not in all their years of doing this. For a few hours, sure, but here it would be a month at least. Daniel's heart fluttered to think of doing it.
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Adding, half grumble, "And right now I'm willing to take any break we can get."
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At that line, though, stopping on a street corner, Daniel paused, then looked up. Even more quietly then before, "If that's so..." he hated to say it, but, "Do you think we should split up then?"
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But he waited until they were walking down a less open and populated street before turning to Daniel, "Where would you go? We've already got a route planned out." And, of course, what they both knew: they had never split up like this before. They would most likely be going a month without any kind of contact. That was going to be a very long month for the both of them.
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He stopped when Arthur turned, pulling his scarf down to talk. "Nida can split us up in Sweden and reroute me through the states and South America," he says. "She offered that as our alternate route, so I think it might work. Plus I know Francesca and Vinnie owe us for Paraguay."
His eyes spoke of how nervous he was of splitting up. He stepped closer, breath puffing in the little space between. "It's just an idea. If you don't wanna split, we don't; but if you want all the breaks possible..."
No Arthur would break him for that month. But the tail really would kill him, and Arthur, if they caught them.
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He made a frustrated noise, moving to lean against a wall, rubbing a hand over his face as he let out a heavy breath. It wasn't that he didn't believe in Daniel's abilities or that he lacked intelligence to move on his own, his brother was just as capable if not more than he himself was.
No, what made this so hard to agree to was the fact that it physically hurt, just the very thought of being separated from each other for that long. They had never, ever, in their lives been away from each other like that. The other was usually always there - and usually within arms reach. To go a whole month without even hearing the other's voice, knowing if they were still alive and well... Arthur bowed his head and rubbed at his eyelids.
"... you think you can handle it?" Arthur sounded smaller than he was, like they were kids again and sleeping in different rooms. But this was so, so different from that kind of separation.
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But that won't work for this job.
"Honestly, it's going to kill me. But if it's a choice between literal killing and figurative, I'll suffer the figurative one." His tone is soft and resigned, the littler brother trying to be tough. He glances around and steps closer again, since no one is on the street, and rests a hand on Arthur's cheek.
"I don't want to do it either but I can't lose you forever," he says, voice pained.
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He doesn't want to separate from Daniel but he knows it would make the chance of them both getting away alive greater than if they stuck together and were both caught.
Swallowing hard, throat clicking, he moves away from the wall and continues on the way back to their hotel room. Arthur compartmentalizes rather than deal with what he is actually feeling and while that isn't "healthy", it's how he is able to keep going most times. And his twin doesn't need him to fall apart now. Not with so much riding on the the job at hand.
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He can't seem to say anything, just following at Arthur's side through the cold streets. Silence pervades between the two, though they don't really need to talk to communicate, sometimes.
Daniel can compartmentalize, but not as well. At the same time, he works through those emotions, and finds a way to deal with them. Not to say he doesn't have his own repression issues, but neither does he ignore everything.
His arm presses against Arthur's again when they enter their hotel lobby, tugging the hat off with his other hand, hair mussed.
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When they were inside the cart, Arthur pressing the button for their floor, and the doors slid shut, "Told you the wool hat was better for you."
That and Arthur had flat out told his brother he would be forced to smack him for wearing anything as obnoxious as actual fur when wool insulated heat just as well if not better.
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"Just because you hate the local culture doesn't mean I shouldn't get a souvenir," he tells Arthur, lips quirking up in a slight smile. He knew the dishveled look worked better for him with his stubble, which he was letting thicken a bit to a real beard while they were in the cold weather. He had already decided to shave before they split, so anyone who might see them wouldn't know which of them was which.
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