louder than sirens

[pageofwands]

[➠and Death came to town ➠Best Laid Plans ➠Friends like these ➠there's a drumming sound]

It had taken Felix an eternity, but sleep had finally come for him. It was almost noon when he woke to the smell of cooked meat and coffee and stumbled into the living room where Brutus was taking several take-out packages from a delivery person at his door. He looked up as Felix shambled into the main room, flashing him a small smile.

"Ah, good, saves me the trouble from waking you. Here, eat something," Brutus ordered, setting the boxes out on the coffee table instead of in the actual kitchen. He was feeling generous, which usually meant something had gone right for him. At least something went right for one of them. Felix remained quiet until he'd shoved six pieces of bacon, an eggs benedict with salmon as well as ham and four slices of thick sourdough toast into his stomach along with several things of Brutus' nice coffee.

"When did you wake up?" he asked, rubbing at his face and wincing as he caught on some of the edges of the bruises that came from a broken nose.

"Early. I did some of my own recon, you seemed to need the sleep," Brutus said warmly as he ate at more of a sedate pace. He was a big man overall, so any lingering food insecurity he carried with him was less obvious on him than it was on Felix.

"Guess I did. Still, I could have-"

Brutus cut any protest off with a wave, shaking his head.

"You've been my boots on the ground dealing with this, the least I can do is let you get some rest and find your next move for you," Brutus said smoothly. "I found out where he's staying. The Death Icon."

Felix didn't think that was hard, he hadn't hid his presence much…His dubiousness must have shown, because Brutus smiled and continued.

"Floor and room number, several independent confirmations. As well as … that he hasn't returned to it yet."

The meaning was clear. It was open to vulnerabilities. Nobody was better at a break-in than Felix was. He shoved the piece of toast he was working on in his mouth and stood to get some spare clothing he kept at Brutus' place without a word.

"Fi! One more thing - gift for you by your door, don't forget it," Brutus called. Felix did not forget it - sleek suitcases were Brutus' style now, but he'd rustled up a nondescript backpack just for Felix. Inside it was crammed almost to bursting with plastic explosives.

"You get me the nicest things," Felix said with a grin.



Breaking in was easy. Felix had broken into several other rooms in this hotel before. It was one he liked, shame he'd have to explode some of it. Oh well. He watched long enough to make sure Death hadn't returned to it before slipping in, neatly cracking the lock in such a way it didn't leave damage and would still work. The point was to give no outward signs he had been here. Not until the time was right.

So of course, he set the bag down just inside the door and began to snoop.

Some hired men treated the job like something sterile, and their hotel rooms were the same. Clothes for the job, maybe a toothbrush, necessities. Nothing remotely personal. That there were signs of a person here was surprising for Felix, and he couldn't resist going through them. It looked almost touristy, some of it. Souvenirs of the city, which included a damn snowglobe of the skyline. Felix shook it to make sure it was even real, checked that it wasn't hiding drugs or something. Two silver coins - old - the old thief in Felix thought they might be worth something and he instinctively pocketed them for a moment before cursing and putting them back. No. This wasn't about petty theft.

He made his way back to the door, not wanting to waste more time, but his eye caught on a photo. Old. Death, and someone else - it took Felix a moment to place the sight of it. Judgment, he finally realized. A power broker who handled money for people with too much of it to do it themselves. That was more Brutus' area, and Felix was pretty sure he'd seen Brutus coming out of some fancy building and parting ways with the man before. It was hard to miss an icon.

If they were tight then there was no problem replacing a little bit of damaged property. It was practically a victimless crime.

Grabbing his bag again, Felix started to set up the explosives around the door.