Sappho's Commando

TWENTY-ONE (ISELEN POV)

My eyes travel all over the body of the boy who's screamed at me, from head to toe, assessing him automatically. I don't even have to think about it, it's part of my training and my brain switched to autopilot, turning me hypervigilant immediately. A few seconds are enough for me to check is age, body type, if he carries a weapon or if there's more people around. He doesn't look dangerous but you never know so I remain on alert. He's young, slim, is holding a small knife and there's another boy waiting a few steps behind, far away from the lamppost light.

These two morons are very lucky because I'm on holiday, my belly feels happy with the pastries I ate and I'm not in a bad mood because I'm hungry, tired, frustrated with the orders I got from a senior officer or because I'm sleep deprived, something pretty common among soldiers. I'm relaxed and my mind is clear because I'm not full of caffeine. And they're also lucky because I'm not carrying a pistol right now, otherwise I could've shot them without thinking twice, a reflex movement, something I've done a thousand times in my job. And yet, I should kick their butts hard right now because they tried to steal my wallet. Idiots...

"Drop the knife, laddie, you're going to hurt yourself," Ruby grumbles next to me and looks more upset than worried because two brats are trying to mug us. I guess the doctor feels the way I do about the situation. "Is this what you did when you were a young badass?"

"Of course not, I specialized in picking pockets and snatching wallets from old ladies' bags but they never noticed it. I was never a dumbass like these two, I soon learnt not to fight against older and more experienced boys," I reply keeping an eye on the guy that's carrying a weapon. He has little chance of winning a hand-to-hand fight if he decides to attack me, but a knife has a sharp blade anyways and I'm not invulnerable; he could hurt me if I get distracted. Or he could hurt Ruby. Never underestimate your enemy, even if he looks pathetic.

"Didn't you hear me? I said give me your wallet..."

"Listen, laddie, you've bitten more than you can chew this time," I reply copying the doctor's Scottish accent. "Get out of here before I kick your skinny butt."

"You did great, Iselen," Ruby laughs amusing, ignoring our attackers. "I'll let you order the steaks and they'll give us the locals' discount instead of charging us the tourist-rate."

"I told you to give me..."

"For fuck's sake," I grunt angrily, moving my arm abruptly and hitting his wrist with my hand. He drops the knife on the ground and stares at me in disbelief, too shocked to complain about the pain he must be feeling. His friend seems smarter and has jumped back, moving away from us and ready to start running. I kick the knife and it falls inside a gutter before rising my index to point at the boy's face. "Get out of here before we call the police and give them your description. Go back home and do something decent with your lives."

"Don't even bother, I'm sure the police knows them well already," Ruby shrugs while watching the boys run down the street. "Habitual offenders that mug tourists, but never big money so they walk into the police station through the main door and get out through the back door half an hour later. They're pretty common in every big city, I'm sorry that you had to bump into them in Edinburgh. It used to be a safe city when I was young."

"You're still young, baby," I say kindly, grabbing the shopping bags and offering her my arm. The doctor chuckles but takes it and we walk back home. We both look relaxed but, actually, we're keeping an eye on dark alleys and the people that comes our way, just in case.

*****

"You didn't need to do that," Ruby shakes her head while kicking the boots off her feet, taking her jacket off and walking to the kitchen barefoot to put the bag with our dinner on the counter. I close the door, dropping the shopping bags on the floor, and make sure that it's securely locked up before relaxing finally.