//------------------------------// // Chapter 28: What's Done is Done // Story: A Long Way to Fall // by Cinders of War //------------------------------// Mahogany Wood paced the inside of the lab before stopping at the window, still clutching on to his phone, in case reports came in. Cough Drops had been attacked by Assassins and Mahogany could only hope that the man had made it out alright. Ironic that he was attacked right after requesting to keep their secret war away from his daughter. Cough Drops was also a valuable asset to their plans. If the Assassins killed him, the Templars would lose their way out of media problems. "Everything alright, sir?" Crescent Wing asked after Mahogany wiped sweat off his head with a handkerchief. "I hope so, Crescent..." Mahogany stowed his cloth as his phone buzzed in his other hand. He put it to his ear and muttered, "What is it?" "Chairman, it's Cough Drops. We're sorry. The Assassins got to him first." Mahogany's face voiced irritation and despair as he turned around to face a blank wall. "Do you know where those Assassins went?" "No, chairman. We lost them. They took Cough Drops' car and headed off. We're tracking it now." "Keep me informed," Mahogany said before hanging up. "Mahogany?" Timber walked up to his brother, concern all over his face. "Did Cough Drops make it out?" Mahogany scrunched up his face and tilted his eyebrows. "No. He didn't." That was another Templar lost. They've lost many good men over the last few years. Mahogany looked to the machine. That was their last hope. If the artifact could just work, the Assassins stood no chance. The world would bend to them, and even the Assassins couldn't win against overwhelming odds. “Very well…” The Mentor nodded at Frigid and Mirror’s report. “But that’s life. Most of the Templars have family. Mahogany Wood has family.” “You two have killed quite a few of them now,” Star Lance added in. “So what difference does it make that this Cough Drops has family too?” “I suppose so…” Frigid had already killed countless Templars in his years serving the Brotherhood. Most of them must have had family. Family that had no idea what they did at work, only to learn that they were killed. In that light, the Assassins were the bad guys, but it couldn’t be helped. The Templars had set up a good cover as the Board. The Assassins didn’t even have one, being just a building in the city of Trottingham, or whichever city they were in. Frigid didn't know if there were Assassin bureaus in every city, but he knew they had one in many cities. “You may go,” the Mentor said as she moved to her study table. “I have… matters to attend to.” Frigid and Mirror nodded and headed out of the office. Earlier, they had run all the way back to the bureau after leaving Cough Drops’ car near an abandoned factory, just in case the Templars had bugged it. They had made it back just before sundown and went straight to the Mentor for their mission report. “Shall we go to the roof, Friggy?” Mirror asked. “I think you could use some fresh air.” Frigid nodded and followed her. “Yeah, I think I could do with some.” “You don’t seem yourself,” Mirror put a hand on his shoulder as they traveled up the steps. “Is this about Cough Drops? Star Lance already told you. We’ve killed plenty of Templars. Cough Drops is no different.” “Yeah… but what he said on the phone. He wanted to keep his daughter in the dark on their true operations. He wanted to protect her.” Frigid bunched up his fists at the thought. Cough Drops’ daughter was never going to see her father again, and there was nothing more to be done. “What’s done is done, Friggy. We can’t do anything else,” Mirror tried to convince him. “There’s no point thinking anymore about it.” Frigid pushed open the door to the roof and looked out at the darkening sky. He still wasn’t convinced. This wasn’t something he could just forget like that. He looked down at the streets as people in the cars rushed to get home to their families. The sight made him think that some fathers and mothers just don’t make it home. Suddenly, he felt a pair of hands grab him and spin him around before Mirror pulled him into an embrace. “It’s alright, Friggy,” she tried to console him. “You can’t turn back time. This is what we do. Cough Drops fought for the wrong team. That’s what happens in wars. People die. It’s not your fault that he had to die.” “Having some trouble, you two?” Frigid and Mirror turned their heads to see Dust Fencer, Rose Petal and Trueshot, sitting by the edge of the roof, all three heads looking at them. “Oh, it’s fine, really.” Mirror let go of Frigid and gave them a big smile. “Friggy’s just having trouble with his thoughts.” “It’s not about Mirror is it?” Rose asked as she stood up and walked over to the younger Assassins. She put an arm on Mirror’s shoulder. “She’s just a perfect little girl. What more could you ask for?” “Oh, it’s not about Mirror,” Frigid shook his head. “Mirror’s everything I need. It’s… about today’s contract.” “What about?” Trueshot chugged at a bottle of vodka. “You didn’t let the Templar slip away did you?” “We got him,” Mirror explained for Frigid. “But before we killed him, we listened in on a call. He was talking about enlisting one of his daughters into the Order, but without telling her she was going to be in the Order. He wanted to keep her safe.” “Ah, so Friggy here is having seconds thoughts about killing, eh?” Dust crossed his arms and joined the others. Mirror nodded to his question. “Frigid. We are Assassins. I’d like to say we’re the good guys, but if you look at it from the outside world, we’re the bad guys. The world doesn’t know that we do what we do for the better of everyone. Killing Templars is what we have to do to protect everyone. That’s why you signed up, Frigid. Isn’t it?” “I guess…” Frigid sighed and decided to change the subject. “What are you three doing up here anyway?” “What, we can’t be up on the roof when we want to?” Dust pretended to look shocked. “Woah, Frigid Night can come up to the roof with his girlfriend, while the rest of us are not allowed.” “Good one!” Rose fist-bumped her friend. “He’s joking of course.” “Yeah, I know,” Frigid brought out a little smile. “Same old Dust Fencer and his cheap jokes. Gotta say, Dust. You always know how to lighten the mood.” “Of course!” Dust beamed. “I’m a pro.” “You should be proud, Frigid,” Trueshot finished the rest of his bottle before moving his body over to join his friends, still in his sitting position. “Having someone like Dust teach you to be an Assassin. Don’t think there’s a better teacher out there. Sure, Star Lance gets results, but… you know.” “How about Sparky?” Rose threw out a suggestion. “He’s not bad at shaping up these young ones.” “Sparkplug? Sure, I guess he’s good. No one tells jokes like Dust, though.” “Don’t know if that was a compliment or an insult,” Dust laughed. “Alright. By popular vote, I guess I was the best teacher.” “You got that right,” Rose slapped his arm. Frigid and Mirror joined in with the laughter, but after a while, Mirror grabbed Frigid’s arm and started dragging him to the other side of the roof. “Well, it’s been fun here, but I was looking to spend some… private time with Friggy if you don’t mind.” “Oh, go on ahead,” Dust bowed. “Don’t let us stop you. You two have a wonderful time.” “We’ll be here if you need anything.” Trueshot gazed over the sleeping city. The stars in the sky were already starting to appear. “See you guys later,” Frigid called as Mirror brought him around the corner and to the opposite side of the roof, where it was more quiet. The two Assassins sat down against a short wall and looked up at the glimmering sky. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Mirror asked as she focused her eyes to the stars, more appearing as time went by. Frigid looked up and smiled. The world truly did have some wondrous sights. He also had one very close to him. He put his hand on Mirror’s and held it. “They are, but they don’t compare to you, Mirror.” “Really?” Mirror’s cheeks grew red from the compliment. “You’re just exaggerating.” Frigid nodded and looked at his hands. “Mirror, I’m sorry. You’re right. The past is the past. I can’t change it. This is how it has to be.” “Yeah. Don’t worry, Frigid.” Mirror got up and placed herself in Frigid’s lap. “Don’t fret over what you can’t change.” She leaned her head against his chest. “I’m glad I met you, Mirror,” Frigid whispered and put an arm around her as the two of them continued to look skyward, spending the rest of their evening together.