Roofrats 10

"Good. You know, I thorn you right here on the street in broad daylight and nobody will have seen a thing."

He would still obviously have preferred it if this stupid alien looked more scared. In all likelihood, he'd got used to being feared purely because of the people he knew.

"Yes. You do that now, or in the next few minutes?"

"Yes, now!" There was a hint of whine and he was clenching his right hand repeatedly. "And then we're going to dump your body right outside their precious monastery. As a message. To show we're serious."

Nico nodded with a half shrug, slid of the barstool and skipped back a few steps.

"Come, do!" She spread her arms and smiled, looking at him with open eyes.

"Right. About time." The gangster ran both hands twice through his hair and looked all around. Most people were carefully not noticing him.

He ran his left through his hair yet again and looked around again.

"You're still here, are you?" he said over his shoulder. "Well, make yourself useful and pour me some churn top. I'll be thirsty after this. Because killing, which I do a lot of, makes me thirsty." Then Mr. Smooth stepped off his stool, eyes on Nico, and started to draw.

"Full fat? Are we sure that's wise?" asked the man behind the counter.

The gangster spun round, brandishing his curved dagger. "How dare y--oh shit!" he exclaimed.

While the boy was busy being distracted by Weft, Nico removed the dagger from his hand with a practised move.

"Pay attention!" she scolded, trying to give the impression she was rather disappointed in his performance.

"W-whuh?" articulated the gangster, looking at his empty right hand.

Weft hung back. This one was Nico's.

Nico took a bit of distance, shaking her head. She kept the knife, but wasn't particularly threatening anyone. "One question. You came her for your boss, or just for yourself?"

"It was Missus Wirin's idea... to save face... she's not the boss. Don't kill me!"

Weft yawned as soon as the youngster looked his way.

Nico rolled her eyes and said, "Go away."

"Can I have my...?" He had, at least, the sense not to reach for it.

"Go away. Get honest job, get girlfriend, do not bug me. I keep that."

The fellow cringed a little and turned away.

"Tell Wirin," said Weft after leaving just enough time for him to think he'd got away with it.

The gangster jumped and turned back. "What?"

"She's already got our attention. And desperate stunts wouldn't be a very good idea."

At this, the youngster decided to cut his losses and commenced walking away very fast.

"Want me to follow and beat him up in an alley?" Weft asked Nico conscientiously.

"Nah, thanks." Since it didn't look like the boy would be returning, Nico returned to her seat, putting the dagger on the counter, and scowled at the rest of her now lukewarm at best meal, before looking at Weft.

"You are here why?" she asked curiously.

"I was..." Weft paused and switched to the interworld language with which Nico seemed more comfortable. "I've been set to following him, since yesterday evening. Sorry I butted in. I didn't know if you could defend yourself."

The cookstand owner slunk back into view and pretended not to notice either of them.

"Thanks," she said with a mild smile, and, stirring the stew a bit, asked, "Do you know why you were set to following him? He didn't seem very interesting to me."

"I think we thought they might try something like... well... what he had in mind. Everything's grand gestures among criminals. If one couple won't pay protection you have to look tough or nobody else will pay, either.

"I'm only guessing, though," Weft concluded.

Nico snorted. "Difficult to look tough when you send a wet noodle to stab someone." Her frown changed from annoyed and slightly offended to thoughtful and slightly worried. "Though I guess I should consider cutting my visit here short." She started eating the remains of her meal. It had tasted better warm, but it wasn't too bad now.

"That would be a shame..." He'd gone and spoken without thinking again. "Uh, I mean... sorry. You could find somewhere else to stay. I don't think they're going to want to try again."

Weft was clearly feeling guilty. He'd got Nico involved somehow, and of course a foreigner on her own was a more attractive target than a bunch of occasionally-violent pillars of the community.

She nodded. "I can consider for a bit longer, which is saying nothing about the result."