The Redemption of Ace Merrill

Bring it on.

The cobras slowly walked their way back to the B&B. Each one moaning and groaning in agony. The sun was slowly beginning to set behind them.

"Still want the job?" Hugo asked with a laugh as he almost pushed his way through them.

"Can't even protect their own little asses, let alone hers." Nico said with a laugh as he pushed through the cobras to walk with Hugo.

"How the fuck do you even do this job?!" Eyeball snapped angrily at them.

Austin shrugged slightly as he walked beside him. "When it comes to it, it's either her life or yours."

"Has it ever come to it?" Eyeball asked somewhat cautiously.

"Come to what? Putting her life in front of ours?"

Eyeball nodded.

Austin nodded in response. "She was out with Salvatore and Hugo. Some wannabe peace protestors went for her, dad's daughter and all. Salvatore took a blade to the stomach."

Eyeball was silent as Austin nodded again. "It's her life or yours. If you ain't cut out for it, back out now."

Eyeball shook his head. "I wanna help her."

"Then you need to talk to Salvatore."

"Why-"

"Though me and Hugo are the heads of this team, he's the one you gotta learn from. Ain't none of us tougher than him." Austin mumbled.

Eyeball looked over at Salvatore. He was walking with his hands behind his back, alone from the rest but was still keeping a close eye on the cobras.

"Ready to change your life Chambers?" Austin asked as he gently patted him on the back before walking over to Hugo.

Eyeball looked about slightly as he caught Salvatore's attention. Slowly he walked over to who he still wanted to refer to as 'Mr Happy'.

"Can I help you Sir?" Salvatore asked as he kept a straight face looking forward but acknowledging Eyeball by his side.

"Austin said you're the one we're supposed to learn from." He mumbled as he looked over the agent.

"Somewhat correct. You are to learn from us all." Salvatore's serious expression remained.

"He told me you took a knife for her?"

Salvatore nodded. "This is correct."

"Did it hurt?"

Salvatore turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "You're asking me if getting stabbed hurt?" He questioned, beginning to see why Eyeball hadn't finished school.

"No like I meant-" Eyeball fumbled over his words. "Look I just mean-"

"Yes Sir." Salvatore interrupted. "It hurt but it is my job to protect the daughter so no, knowing she was okay meant it didn't hurt."

Eyeball nodded slowly. "You actually think we have what it takes?"

Salvatore shook his head. "Actually I am against the idea."

Eyeball stared at him blankly. "Seriously?! We can fucking do it."

Salvatore shook his head. "I have yet to see proof."

Eyeball didn't know what to say.

"We spent the entire day watching you fall on your arses with no real effort to fight back."

"Hey we fought back!" Eyeball tried to defend himself and the others.

Salvatore shook his head. "No you didn't. If you had fought back one of you would have achieved something worthy."