Memories of Old

Chapter 15: New Profession

Chapter 15—New Profession

Nothing was said as the scene faded out and was replaced with a new memory. There were two figures covered in dark black hooded cloaks that hid their features well. They were standing in an alleyway, shrouded in shadows. The nations had learned by now that any double suspicious figures were likely Feliciano and Lovino.

The twins stayed in the shadows of the alley for what felt like hours, before an expensive-looking wagon passed by. Without a word or signal, the twins dashed forward, one of them hopping on to the side of the closed wagon, while the other slid underneath. Neither made a sound and both remained completely undetected, even as one of them slit the throat of the guard beside the driver.

It was done so efficiently, that the driver didn't even notice that the man beside him was dead. The nations stared in shock. It was like watching a couple of shadows kill, and Japan in particular was strongly reminded of the ninja his nation was famous for.

The nations didn't realize that the other twin had snuck inside the wagon until they saw him slip out the door. Without any more time wasted, they slipped back into the shadows of another alley. A successful assassination.

The memory shifted before anyone could really start to register what they'd just seen. The two shadows stood before another, equally shady character. This man was dressed in an expensive-looking cloak, and his eyes darted around nervously. He held a pouch in his hand, heavy with gold.

"It's done?" He asked quietly, his voice sounded greasy and oily. One of the twins nodded, and tossed a ring to the man. It clinked to the ground. He quickly bent down and inspected it closely, before nodding with a large grin. "Yes, yes. You two do deliver! Now, about the payment..." One of the shadows reached into a pocket, keeping his hand concealed. The oily man tensed. "Now, now! No need to get violent! I have it here! The agreed amount! I just... was wondering if we could barter a bit on the price, I mean, it is a little high..."

At some point one of the twins had nabbed the pouch, and was looking through it to make sure the amount was what they'd agreed upon. And that it wasn't forged. He glanced at the other shadow and nodded, stepping back and disappearing into the darkness.

"Oh, um... all right, then! Very good, very good." Before the man could say anything else, the other shadow also vanished into the night.

As the next memory emerged, the nations finally seemed to break out of their stupor.

"Assassins for hire?" England asked. His tone wasn't accusing. In fact, it was more curious than anything else. Then again, he was a former pirate. He'd likely run across many contract killers in his time sailing.

"Si. This was a good number of decades after that last memory. We'd become rather well known for our... services. Best money could buy." Romano explained, his chest puffing slightly with pride, even after all these years.

"Yeah. But what we were really after was information." I told them.

"Ah, still trying to figure out who did it?" Prussia asked delicately, not wanting to bring up the last memory so soon.

"Si. And we weren't getting any closer. It was so frustrating, but we'd made a name for ourselves." I answered. "Everyone in the shadows knew our names."

Wait... you were assassins, or Assassins?

Haha... Both, actually. Though we didn't officially become Assassins until much later... Ezio actually brought us into the fold, but I'm not sure it'll show that...

Why wouldn't it?

Just a feeling...

The memory shimmered again, showing the twins, now devoid of their cloaks, relaxing in a rather nicely refurbished warehouse. "Well, that was another bust. No new information. Why is this stupid cult so hard to find?!" Lovino scrubbed aggressively at his hair, letting out a frustrated growl.