Sitting on the bus I begin to collect my thoughts, slowly and methodically I think of possible outcomes for the butchering I'm going to commit.
All of them leading to a rather tragic end.
"Now reaching twenty first street" the announcement goes off stopping the bus.
So caught up in my own head I didn't even notice the two men in long coats looking suspicious as hell making there way toward me.
Pretending not to notice I reach down into my pants, pretending to scratch my nethers. Cocking the hammer on my revolver I keep my finger on the trigger, spreading my legs, keeping the point of the gun away from any of my own limbs getting hit.
They slowly inch closer, my sweat beading profusely as my thumb continues to play with the hammer. Standing right in front of me, one of them reaches into there coat.
"Sir, do you have a receipt for your bus fare." He says pulling out a scanner of some sort. "Also would you mind not doing whatever it is your doing" his face construed into a frown as his other hand points to my crotch.
"Oof, my bad officer. I didn't uh" my hand immediately left my pants upon realizing what it looked like I was doing. "Of course" I say pulling out my chipper bus card.
____
The rest of the bus ride was slow, seeing the city one last time was cathartic in a way. City of sin, my mind wandered around, remembering times long past. Fighting bad guys, having fun, being loved. But this place gets to you eventually, it always does.
I could just move on, start a new life. I have no more ties to this city, everyone I've ever loved or cared for had long met their end, Jose being my last connection, my last responsibility. But now I had another root taking place in my heart. Now it's time to pay some long overdue respect to my fallen brother.
Leaving the bus, I look at the building in front of me, a fat neon sign protruding from a rather expensive and well maintained building. Barred windows, security everywhere, and a line that seemed to stretch miles.
Stalking around the building, I see a way inside. The connecting building, a metal ladder protrudes from the side. Walking up to it, I start my ascent.
Making it to the top, I make my way toward the main building. Scanning for a way inside, I see a door and begin to stalk forward, eyeing my surroundings.
Getting to the door, I check the time. Twenty one hundred on the dot, I have time to kill before my target arrives. Climbing atop the bulkhead connected to the door, I lay down flat, a bit winded.
Staring at the night sky my mind wanders again, day dreaming of the past. Thoughts of my family, my friends, everything the city had taken.
The crescent moon lay high above, alone and noble, the light pollution from the city lights drowning out its companion stars.
Taking the picture out of my pocket, I place it above, next to the moon in my line of sight. Staring blankly at the picture, I begin to reminisce diving further into the crevice of my own mind.
Remembering my friend, my brother. My only trusted ally in this world.
I begin to feel the all too familiar sting begin in my eyes, the wetness of my nose, the downturn of the corners of my mouth. This time, I let it happen. I break into a quiet sob, and hiccup, snot and tears falling past my ears as they slide down to the back of my head to the floor, they were hot, almost scolding.
"Fuck you man, I hate you." I try rubbing the tears away, my skin feeling irritated and hot. But it wouldn't stop. "But fuck do I miss you" placing the picture away into my pants pocket, I rest forearm atop my eyes. "One more mission friend, just one more." Sniffing and sad sobs filling the empty and quiet roof, the busyness of the city drowning it out.