Collection TSV - One Shots

Red Carnation Part 4 (NSFW)

Crosspost from Ao3

Chapter 4 Act 3

Eddy's most enjoyable marks were the ones that were killers, too - he used to despise them with a passion until he realized that there was some merit to challenging himself. It was always more fun to hunt someone who knew the tricks of the trade than some civilian who couldn't defend themselves no matter how hard they tried; it was then that the thrill was heightened because these marks felt more like games than they did anything else: a game of strategy that required immense planning and consideration.

With these, he continued to take his time. Hitoroshi, if anything, taught him to be hyper-aware of the details - so why not utilize it to his advantage? Eddy was going to leave details behind and see if anyone picked up on them, a test as to whether or not they deserved to live - puzzle pieces falling into their rightful place as Eddy traversed the second movement of the symphony; little threats, clues, and information being dropped at every corner as the slow swell of music grew louder, as Eddy swirled around his target, waiting for the paranoia to strike, for a good moment to constrict, for the perfect time to begin the next act.

But playing games meant bigger risks, and growing careless with any aspect of the kill was dangerous. Eddy hadn't expected this absolute beginner to resist and succeed in landing a hit right on his arm - that was a careless move, a precaution he should have taken. If he was still with a mentor, he would have been demolished for the slip-up; but considering he was entirely alone in the middle of Australia, with crimson dribbling down his arm and a warm corpse still left on the ground, the only person that could tear Eddy apart was himself.

Well, and one more person, he'd imagine.

He stifled a sigh, tossing his sweater off and hastily wrapping his arm, before beginning to clean everything up; everything moved quickly in Eddy's eyes as the cut in his arm flared - it wasn't that deep, he hoped - and soon, he found himself parking his car right in front of the now-familiar café.

The warm lights greeted Eddy as soon as he stepped in, along with the delicacies of the wind chimes - Eddy had grown close enough to some of the other patrons that they had begun to exchange quick nods as greetings, but to assume that he cared about any of them was a joke. Right now, he was only looking for-

"Hey Brett." He made his way over to the wheelchair, resting his good arm on the handle. "Everything's done. But would you mind reminding me where the medic would be?"

Brett was beside the counter, checking his phone - and the app - when Eddy came straight to him. Well, not really straight; the younger man stumbled quite a few times before he finally reached him.

"How about you go upstairs in one of the rooms, lovely, and I will send the doc to your room? I think that is a perfect solution to the problem here."

He waved to his assistant - Jordon - to help Eddy with his problem because he had absolutely no intention to let the whole café drench in blood. His assistant rushed over with a towel in hand, wrapping it quickly and securely around the wound.

"Please Mr. Chen, sir, this way. I will show you to one of the rooms."

Brett just shook his head. Why was Eddy wounded again? Wasn't the man supposed to be a professional killer? He had to talk with him about that. That and his tendencies to come through the front door when injured. He should use the backdoor - quite literally sometimes.

The man in the wheelchair sighed and finished up working in the app before wheeling himself to the elevators so he could get into the higher floors. It was nasty and he hated it. But being thrown over the shoulders like a sack of potatoes and hauled up was something he hated more, so the elevator it was.