I pushed open the door to an alleyway bar. The door creaked like it wanted to announce that I had arrived. As if fulfilling this, all the heads in the bar turned towards me. I quickly disregarded it though as I approached the bartender at the front of the restaurant. He had bright blond hair as bright as the sun. Almost tranced by his eyes, I sat directly in front of him.
I started ordering drinks and drinking them slightly faster than normal. Only after regretting it as I realized how quickly the alcohol was affecting me tonight, did I hand over the box without a hint of elegance which I also only belatedly regretted.
'I told him my name is Ilia, with this and that, it's enough for the day.'
I grabbed my bag and tottered out the door as Sky was attending the other customers.
I felt a few presences follow me out of the shop and into the dark alley beside the shop.
"Hey"
A man with tattoos and a cigarette popping from his mouth called from behind me.
Sigh, this is something I may need to deal with going to such a shady establishment.
He grabbed me by the shoulder and spoke again,
"You're flashing that much cash, that's dangerous little girl. Why don't you pull out some for me and my friends as protection money? If you want you can also flash us some t-"
Before he finished his sentence I lost my patience and did a roundhouse kick, nailing the side of his head. His 'friends' were stunned for a moment before they made a sudden movement to their pockets, revealing daggers now in their hands.
I pulled out silver knuckle braces from my own pockets.
"You shouldn't attack others in such a shady place, don't you know? Everyone in such a shady, backwater place has a story. You think I would act as I please if I can't back it up?"
I tottered as I chided their decisions.
Perhaps I didn't look too convincing as one of the men yelled and charged at me. The other stayed behind as the alley was too narrow for them both to attack at once.
I dodged his fist as I slipped in a nearby puddle, but pounded in the back of his elbow with my silver knuckles. I heard a crack as I darted towards the final man standing. He was a bit shorter, so with a light jump, my right foot drove into his sternum and he stumbled over.
"Agh!"
I heard several body parts resound against the cobblestone tile. I lightly hopped off of him, lightly humming as I jogged away leaving the trail of groans behind.
"Sky~"
The moonlight was dim but it felt blinding.
I continued my shift at the bar even after the girl had left.
'Judging by appearances doesn't pay off at all.'
Sky thought to himself as he reminisced over the rich customer.
'Also, just look at me and you'll know its true.'
He bustled back and forth between the customers. Some were stingy, some gave decent tips, but none nearly as generous as his one customer who freely gave their name to him.
He was still only slightly hungry so he decided to go home peacefully again today.
The bar closed just before sunrise which was perfect for his routine. Thanks to his high paying customer he was confident he would be able to afford this month's rent despite the additional charges.
He sat in front of his window, thick curtains cast aside, enjoying the gap between night and day. He opened the box and decided to eat one. It had been days since he ate so a cookie may have seemed like a poor choice of a meal. However, it filled his stomach well, he drew the shaded and slept early.
After leaving the bar, I walked home in the moonlight. I passed by others on the street but luckily these ones left me in peace.
It was a long way home from the bar that had been my final stop tonight.
'It's been a long day.'
A faint smile warmed my face even more than the residual alcohol in my body.
It wasn't long before my consciousness faded.
"Hey!! Open up!"
I heard rapping on my door and a familiar annoyed tone.
Without caring for my appearance, I cracked the door open.
"What time do you think it- why… do you smell like booze?"
"Not just any booze."
"…So?"
"Expensive booze"
"Are you throwing your money in stupid directions? Can you do that when you are skipping your shifts"?
"I was scheduled?"
"Even though you're a bit good at this work, it doesn't give you an excuse to slack off. You've been so diligent until now too."
"Doesn't it? Anyway Jon, I had a celebratory drink. I'm taking the day off."
"It's already 3am! You had enough time off! But well… you smell like a dirty bar, you probably aren't suited for work."
"…I don't want to hear that from you."
I slammed the door shut.
"Hey!!"
My impatient colleague pounded on the door. 'Why won't he give up?'
I sighed as I grabbed my work tools and quickly changed.
"You already got a downpayment for the assignment this w-"
I opened the door and stared up in his eyes.
"Don't you feel bad for my neighbors?"
"Its your fault for locking me out."
I sneered back.
"Hey you're bleeding a little here."
Jon reached for my arm which I quickly evaded.
"We always get injured on the job. Thats the secret behind our wonderful hazard pay."
"They hate it when you call it that. Besides, that's almost never need it yourself."
Jon looked at me, I couldn't read though if his face contained worry or something else.
"It's a risk whether I do this or that."
I yawned as my drunken power nap was hardly enough for the night.
"Well, let's go protect somebody or something."
"Ilia, you're on the front line tonight. Did you forget?"
Jon for the first time tonight got a bit worried. Not only had she drank on a work night which she had never done before, she wasn't drinking with their coworkers or he would have known. She also didn't remember the mission for the day.
"Will this really be alright?"
Jon mumbled to himself as he started and the partially crescent moon only slightly peeking from behind the clouds.