Brannock, Back in the Saddle?

***It is recommended that anyone who has not already should read "Into the City" and "Thistle's Story" before reading this.  Things'll make more sense that way.

The time away with Thistle had been awesome, but, he couldn't lie.  The last few weeks on the street found him with a renewed vigor.  He'd had a rep among the supernatural underworld types, but even they didn't know what had hit them lately.  Part of it certainly was his anger over what had happened to Thistle and also to his friend Bobbie, but he also just felt. . .good.  If he didn't know better, he would have sworn the rehab people had made him younger.  In any event, he had been cutting a path through the ranks of the undead and otherworldly; this was what he was meant to do, what he was good at.

Thistle had settled back into her routine, working at the grocery store and starting to look at various college-related options.  He was very proud of her, but it was very true that they hadn't seen much of each other since they arrived back in the city.  Working her hours at the store made her feel more independent, and his weird schedule also limited their interactions on many days.

Last night, he had taken down a single Arkakark, the shell-covered demon who even alone can be a real challenge.  But Brannock had splintered the outer shell with several kicks and dispatched the creature with relatively little effort and fanfare.  A pack of Jouster Demons also had the misfortune of stumbling across him as he was cleaning off the dirk he usually carried.  Seven of them later, Brannock was winded but not tired.  Before the night was out, he had scouted out several nightclubs, prowling the alleyways behind them since vampires tended to hang out there in wait of drunk, and thus easier to subdue, prey.  Vamps generally posed no real challenge, even in some number; tonight was no exception.

Each night, as he returned home, Thistle would emerge partially from her sleep, turn her small frame towards him as he slipped under the covers, and ask "You okay?", sleep slurring her words.  Regardless of how he felt he usually kissed her on the forehead and whispered "Yeah", not wanting to wake her too much.  Most nights she would turn back over, and he would hold her until she fell back to sleep, then attempt slumber himself.  Some nights he was just too wound up, but most nights he fell fitfully to sleep.  Some nights, when he arrived, she would be sitting up in bed, usually reading or working on one of her stories on the computer.  If she was awake, with the lights on, he knew what to expect; some fervent lovemaking was bound to follow.

Several new operatives had emerged in the city, and so part of his weekly tasks included checking up on them.  He could tell which one or two would survive, and the one or two who would not.  It wasn't a question of "if" the others would be killed, just when.  Some were careless, or reckless.  Some trained half-heartedly, for whatever reason.  Others were too cocky or confident for their own safety, and there were always some who were just not strong enough to make it.  Still others just had bad luck.  It was unfortunate; since there was a shortage of agents, there was also a severe shortage of training experiences for newbies.  Usually, once they realized what the deal was, and why they had emerged, they pretty much had to hit the streets and learn on the fly.  Some could handle that, most could not.

Of the five new agents who had appeared since Brannock returned, and the two who had been called while he has gone, only 3 remained.  Even though the survival rate among new agents was generally not great, that was bad.  Brannock wondered if it was more the luck or the lack of training, so he tried to mentor as best he could.  The organization was stretched so thin that new operatives were hitting the streets without even knowing who or what it was they were really working for.  Years ago, Brannock had sat through what seemed like hours of orientation-like sessions, learning the history and background of what he was about to do.  Honestly, nowadays it was pretty much, "Yeah, you're gonna fight monsters.  And don't worry, you won't have to look hard to find them."